Lucas's face was very red by now, and it felt like his heart stopped at the last thing Melissa said. 'I love you so much'. Oh my God. "I-I love you too, Mel…" He replied weakly, not even sure what to do with himself anymore. He clung to her as though he were afraid she'd leave and abandon him. He couldn't lose her. She was far too important.
(Also Lucas and Melissa: Yeah we're just friends)
(Legit, though I feel there's a difference in seasons… what will happen after the school year starts??)
She was barely holding herself together anymore. He only kept melting her with his looks, and words. It made her heart skip a beat. Whenever she saw him, or heard his voice. Saw he texted her, or heard he was looking for her. It always made her fall back in to the trap she couldn't escape. Though he wasn't thinking of her the way she thought of him. There was no way.
(. . . After he basically admitted his feelings… sometimes I wonder if I'm that oblivious…)
(Uhhhh… school things? Looking at each other from across the room? Passing notes, maybe? Meeting up between every class?)
Lucas was sure Melissa must be able to feel his heart considering how hard and fast it was pounding. He was clearly flustered, and he actually felt a bit lightheaded from all this. There was no way this was real, right? Of course not. Melissa was just affectionate to everyone; she'd always been that way. She didn't actually love him the way he loved her. Absolutely out of the question.
(True……. yeah, I dunno anymore)(Eheh)
Melissa went half limp in his arms, just listening to the sounds all around. She could feel his heart beat, but she just assumed it was because she was so close. "Should we head to your house soon?" She wondered out loud, taking in the warmth of his body gladly. Normally she felt she was a naturally warm person, but she was feeling oddly chilled, while he was holding her.
"Can we just stay here a little longer?" He asked quietly, closing his eyes and allowing himself to relax. He didn't want to think about his house. He just wanted to stay here in this moment forever. He wasn't sure if he was ever going to be able to let Melissa go.
Her face lit up with delight, yet she was still surprised. "Of course Lu, we can stay as long as you want." She whispered, an idea beginning to form in her head. It only grew, making her feel better the longer she thought. "We could spend the night at my house instead, if you'd like." She whispered, tracing his back.
"Really?" Lucas looked up hopefully. "We… we could do that? You wouldn't mind?" He asked. Of course he'd like to not be in his own house. He didn't feel safe there at all, and he typically didn't sleep super well due to the constant fear. Sleeping at Melissa's house, even if it was just on the couch, was highly preferable.
"Sure! It could be fun, we just probably wouldn't be sleeping on the same bed." She hummed, giving him a reassuring smile. "We would just want to stop by your house to get a few things. I'm assuming at least. But we can wait to do that." Melissa knew he didn't want to go back to his house, and she didn't want to make him, but there were some things she knew had to happen.
Lucas nodded. "Alright… I just really don't want to leave right now…" He sighed, resting his head on Melissa's shoulder again. "What all do you think I'll need?" He asked. "I can try to grab my sketchbook while I'm in there."
Melissa was carefully rubbing his shoulder, as she rested her own head on his. "We don't have to Lu, I was just saying for when we do." She only continued to rub his shoulder tenderly. "You'd probably need PJs, and a toothbrush. And clothes for the next day." She hummed, reaching out to take his hand in her own.
He nodded again, relaxing once more at her touch. Something about it was just very calming to him. "Alright… I think I can do that. Just… later. I really wish we didn't have to leave… I like it here a lot."
"I know you do, and we don't have to leave until it starts getting dark." Melissa spoke slowly and clearly, because she felt herself getting a little drowsy. She felt completely emotionally drained, after everything that had happened today. Though she made herself stay awake.
"Okay…" Lucas stayed quiet until the sun began sinking below the horizon, at which point he sighed in resignation. "Alright… I… let's go." He carefully climbed out of the tree and reached one hand up to help Melissa get down.
Melissa looked down to him with a frown. “You sure you’re ok?” She asked softly, tossing her shoes down to the grass below them. Leaning in, she took his hand as a stabilizer as she climbed down.
He nodded. "Yeah… just a bit anxious. Nothing new." He smiled weakly and held onto Melissa's hand as he walked out of the clearing.
She had quickly slid on her shoes before they made their way out. “Don’t be, I’m right here by your side.” She smiled brightly, holding his one hand, with both of hers.
Lucas nodded and sighed shakily. He led her through the streets and eventually reached his house, which was far more derelict looking since the last time Melissa had seen it. The windows were cracked, the shingles were falling, the lawn was unkempt, and the door hung loosely on its hinges. "Hell sweet hell…" He muttered.
“Lu…” She said softly, reaching up to pet his cheek. “Come on, don’t be like that.” Melissa hummed, bringing him closer to the door. “Is there another way inside the house?” She questioned, looking around the building.
Lucas shook his head. "This is the only way." He was quiet for a few seconds. "Can you wait out here while I go in? I don't want him to hurt you. If he's asleep, I'll come out and get you, okay?"
Giving him a worried look, she nodded gently. “Yeah, sure thing.” She sighed, walking off the porch. Sitting on the edge, she looked up to him with a slight smile. “Be careful.”
"I'll try my best." Lucas took several seconds to prepare himself before he pushed open the door. He tried to walk as quietly as he could, and he didn't see his dad at first. Maybe he's asleep? I'll just grab my stuff and get out… He hurried to his room and grabbed his sketchbook and a few clothes before hurrying back out.
"Who the hell're you?!" A slurred, angry voice came from behind him. He froze, terrified.
"D-Dad, it's just me. Lucas. I'll be out of your hair in a second."
"Get out of my house, thief!" Lucas's father smashed his empty beer bottle on the side of Lucas's head, making him cry out in pain and stagger.
Melissa was sitting outside still, chewing on her lip as she waited. “He’s fine Mel, you’re just overreacting.” She told herself, humming softly under her breath. Clearly it didn’t matter what she was saying.
Heart pounding faster, she heard a muffled cry. Thus causing her to panic. Shooting up, she grabbed onto the door handle to pull it open.
Lucas was cowering against the wall by now, trying to shield his face with his arms. He was shaking violently and clearly trying to keep himself from panicking. His dad threw the rest of the bottle at him and started throwing clumsy, albeit still strong, punches. Neither of them seemed to notice Melissa.
Melissa pushed in to the room, watching everything in horror. "Stop it!" She screamed, rather foolishly at Lucas's father. "That's your son! Stop it!" She continued to yell, coming up behind the man. Anger and fear were blinding her, causing her to act irrationally.
Lucas's head snapped up at Melissa's voice, his eyes wide and his face ghostly white with terror. "M-Melissa! P… Please go back outside… p-please… I don't want you to get hurt– ah!" His father dragged him roughly to his feet by the collar of his hoodie and pinned him to the wall. The man either didn't hear Melissa or didn't care. Lucas was bleeding from several places, most notably his head where the glass had shattered. His blonde hair was stained bright red wherever the glass had cut him.
Tears streamed down her face, and she ignored Lucas. “Let him go!” She continued to yell, grabbing the older man’s shoulder, and did her best to yank him back. “You drunk bastard, let him go!” She spat, digging her finger nails into his shoulder. “Stop hurting him!”
Lucas's father dropped him, making him collapse on the floor, trying his damndest to stay conscious. "Who the hell do you think you are, girl?!" He growled, turning towards her. Lucas was shaking so violently that he couldn't move, so he just had to watch fearfully. "M-Mel…" He whispered weakly, his voice breaking. "Please… just… just c-call the police, p-please… don't let him touch you…"
“Who do you think you are?!” She asked him coldly, pressing her finger to his chest sharply. “No civilized human being should beat their child. No matter what they’ve done.” She growled, still managing to ignore Lucas. “Don’t you dare put a hand on him again, not even to help him. Don’t touch him, don’t look at him.” She demanded him, getting too close for comfort.
Lucas's father clearly wasn't intimidated by Melissa. He just scoffed as though he were amused by her efforts and shoved her aside. "This is none of your business, girl." He turned away from her, back towards Lucas, who flinched at his glare.
“This does concern me, sir.” She claimed, after gaining her balance once he had shoved her. “Lucas is my best friend, he deserves so much better than what you are.” The signs to back down from this, were glaringly obvious. But she only continued to ignore them, getting more mad the longer she stood here in the room.