Chapter 10

 

By Danielle

The Next Day

Nick's View

We've been on the tour bus for about 2 hours now and Melissa has been hanging out in the front most of the time. I've been in the back playing Nintendo. Brian kept beating me so I just gave up and got up.

"You are one sore loser," Brian laughed.

"Shut up," I mumbled and then made my way to the front. Melissa was sitting in one of the seats with headphones on her head reading a book. I knew she was mad at me. I could just tell. She hasn't talked to me at all since the show last night.

"Hi Mel," I said sitting next to her. She looked over and me and then went back to reading. I looked at her and then pulled the headphones gently off her head.

"Nick I'm reading, do you mind?" she asked irritated.

"I'm sorry, I just wanted to talk to you," I said.

"About what?"

"Last night."

"Oh, what about it?"

"Are you mad at me?"

"You could say that," she said simply.

"Did I do something wrong?"

She looked at me like I was an idiot and said, "What do you think?"

"Was it the whole dancing, singing thing?" I asked. She nodded her head.

"Oh...did it embarrass you?" I asked. She nodded her head again.

"I'm sorry Mel, I didn't think it would. I say things to make people laugh, I thought you'd take it as a joke," I said. She looked at me and then said softly, "Well I didn't."

"I really am sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you. It wasn't my intention to make you angry, upset or embarrassed. I just wanted you to feel welcome and part of the family."

She slightly smiled at me and said, "Thanks Nick."

"You're welcome," I smiled back at her. "So we're friends again right?"

"Of course! We have never not been friends...well before I met you but you know what I mean."

I lightly laughed and looked at her again. Now that I thought about it, Melissa was one pretty girl. I never really looked at her like that but once you just look at her face...just focus on her face...she's a real beautiful
girl. Not only that, but she has a beautiful soul. I wonder what could be so bad that is putting her life on the line.

"Mel...could I ask you a couple personal questions?" I asked slowly. She looked at me, nodded her head, and then put her headphones and book to the side. She turned to me and got in an indian style.

"Shoot Nickerz," she smiled at me. I smiled back at her and then asked, "Would you mind telling me what's wrong with you?"

"What do you mean?" she looked at me puzzled.

"Sorry, I kinda said that weirdly."

She laughed lightly and said, "That's all right."

"OK, lets try this again. What is putting your life on the line?"

"Oh! You mean what am I sick with?"

"Yeah," I nodded.

"I have Aids..." she said softly.

"Aids?" I asked a little shocked. I had no idea that she would say that. She just nodded her head.

"How...how did you get it?"

"I was born with it."

"But can't they treat Aids?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Then aren't you getting help?"

"Yeah but it doesn't do anything. It just lets me live for a couple more months," she shrugged.

"But...I thought if you get treated you won't die."

"That's true," she said.

"I'm confused..." I said looking at her with a puzzled face.

"If you catch the virus early enough you can treat it and you'll be fine...but the doctors caught it too late for me," she said softly. I frowned deeply and looked down at my hands. I then looked back up at her. Her eyes started to get moist.

"When are you expected to..."

"Die?" she finished for me. I nodded my head slowly and she said, "Late next February."

"That's less than a year away," I said.

"I know," she said quietly.

"You don't seem sick..." I said. She shook her head and said, "I'm not really effected by it yet. I get sick once in a while and I get dizzy but nothing major. The doctors told me I'll be losing weight, I'll get tired more often and I'll lose some of my memory in the final months."

"That's horrible."

"I'm not really looking forward to it," she said softly. I didn't know what to say. This was just shocking. I couldn't imagine her, beautiful, friendly Melissa, dying. I looked down at my hands and starred at them. I heard her take in a shaky breath and I looked up at her. Tears were falling from her eyes and slowly creeping down her cheeks. She tried to wipe them away but the tears kept coming. I frowned and scooted closer to her. She immediately wrapped her arms around my neck hugging me tight. I wrapped my arms around her waist and said softly, "Things are going to be OK."

"I'm just so scared," she cried softly into my shoulder. I rubbed her back and kissed her cheek, "Don't be scared. I'm here, I'm here."

She just cried more into my shoulder. I sat there rubbing her back not knowing what to say or do. All my mind was telling me was to hold her and be there for her. That's all I wanted to do at that very moment, I didn't want to do anything else.