Category: Melissa

If you want to go back and read part 1 of Melissa’s story, click here.

To read part 2 of Melissa’s story, click here.

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Arriving in front of her dorm with an amazingly attentive and kind man, instead of alone, was a first for Melissa. Gavin somehow managed to keep her talking their entire walk home. She blinked in surprise as she stared up at the large building. They hadn’t been walking long enough to already be there. She wasn’t ready to be done talking with him, even if he was doing most of the talking. That actually worked better for her.

“Did we get the wrong place?” Gavin broke into her dumbfounded staring. “You suddenly look a little lost.”

“Oh…I…no. I live here.” Melissa blushed. In a few seconds, she managed to refocus on his face, though the blush didn’t fade as clarity returned. “Yes, this is my house…room…dorm. Ugh!”

Gavin stood there smiling, watching. “So now that we have arrived at your living space…” He winked. “I find myself nervous to ask you my question because I really want your answer to be yes.”

“You will never know the answer if you don’t ask.” Melissa glanced around as her flash of outgoingness faded. “Of course, you can always ask later.”

“I can’t tell if you’re trying to encourage or discourage me.” He laughed. “Melissa with the unknown last name, will you go out to dinner with me this friday night?”

“It’s Janson.”

“Is that a no?” He sighed. “I thought you told me there wasn’t a guy I had to worry about. Why string me along if you were just going to say no?”

Melissa staggered back. Tears stung her eyes as she blinked. He was no longer smiling. In fact, his disappointment quickly changed to a scowl. 

She stumbled over words and her feet. “I…what?”

And just like that he was walking away. Melissa stood there staring after him, unsure whether she even wanted to stop him.

“Janson is my last name.” She finally called out. Not waiting for whatever response he may or may not give, she ran inside. The tears were coming and she couldn’t stop them. 

Just inside the door Melanie stood there shaking her head. “What happened? Gavin went from smiles to scowls in less than a second.”

“I told him my last name.” Melissa slowed only long enough to get past her before she sped for her room.

Slamming the door shut behind her, Melissa immediately walked over to the window and stared out. Though she couldn’t figure out what had happened, a small part of her wanted to see him one last time. He had been so nice and patient at the party. He had been the first guy other than Devin to talk to her since she arrived on campus. Maybe she had been naive to think that he’d also be her first date.

Looking out she noticed that Gavin was still down there, arms crossed and glaring, while Melanie spoke to him. She poked him in the chest and stormed away shaking her head. Whatever Melanie had said must have sunk in because he slumped and looked up at the building. He didn’t look mad anymore.

“Melissa?” Melanie’s voice came through her door a short time later. “I know I may be overstepping. I asked Gavin what happened and I told him how much of an idiot he is.” There was a long pause before she spoke again. “He’s out there hoping to apologize if you are interested in hearing him out.”

Melissa stared at the door, unsure, for several minutes. When she opened the door, Melanie was gone. She went back to peek down and see if Gavin was still out there. After seeing him down there pacing she sighed and headed back out. With arms folded tight, she slowed as she neared him.

“Melissa.” Gavin stopped his relentless pacing with a jolt. “I didn’t think you’d come back out.”

“Melanie said she already told you that you were an idiot so I don’t think I need to but I would like the apology she said you were waiting to give me.” She took a step back when he moved toward her.

He stopped immediately. “Melissa, I’m sorry. My brain stopped working. I thought you were telling me you had a boyfriend and were blowing me off after teasing me. All I could think of was getting out of here.”

She nodded. For a second she felt like she was back at that party, trying to fade into complete invisibility in the corner. She shook herself and refocused back on Gavin who was still speaking.

“Again, I am sorry for how I reacted and I’m also sorry for awkwardly lingering after I’m the one who got mad at you. Don’t worry. I will leave you alone, I promise. Forget I asked you on a date. Maybe I can someday overcome the mess I’ve made of tonight. If you ever give me the chance to ask you out again it would be so much better than this so let’s pretend that I didn’t ask.”

“Does that mean you are asking me to forget the whole night? Forget I know you? Are you wanting a complete restart?”

“Well…” Gavin chuckled weakly. “After all that trouble convincing you to tell me your name, you want me to start completely over?”

Melissa sighed. “Maybe. How are you going to convince me of anything if you run off and hide?”

“I’m not going to hide. I’m trying to bow out gracefully. Give you some space. Be a gentleman and all that.” Gavin kicked at some of the gravel on the sidewalk.

“Then when will this convincing and overcoming happen?” Her arms were still folded but her shoulders relaxed.

Gavin gave a sort of sheepish half smile. “Tomorrow?”

“I have class most of tomorrow. However, I’ll be studying at those tables over there at 2.” Melissa shrugged. “I’m done at 3 and I won’t be sitting around waiting for anyone to come.”

“2 o’clock. I’ll be there.” He gave a quick nod. “With the exception of that last minute of our walk, I want you to know that I loved walking you home. You are a great person to talk with. I’ll see you tomorrow, Melissa Janson.” With a little bow he walked away.

If you want to read part 1 of Melissa’s story, click here.

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It took longer than Melissa had expected to shake Gavin’s company. He was courteously persistent in making sure she wasn’t alone and having a good time. Eventually another partier needed him who he couldn’t foist off till later. Something about someone about to break someone, or something. Whichever the case, Melissa took that tiny opportunity to make herself invisible once again.

After a good half hour of dodging and hiding Melissa was ready to leave. Looking around, she couldn’t find Devin. In fact, she hadn’t seen him in a while. She searched the main floor for him but was not about to venture upstairs and go interrupting who knew what. With a shrug she headed toward the front door. Walking home alone was better than staying.

Luck was on her side as she spotted a girl that she was pretty sure lived down the hall from her. Mustering up all of her social bravado, Melissa approached the tall blonde.

“Hi. Melanie, right?” Melissa stumbled a little.

The girl nodded. “That’s right. You live near me, right? I see you all the time.”

“Yes!” Melissa nearly cried. “Are you headed home?”

Melanie nodded. “Yeah, a group of us are going. You want to come?”

Melissa took one more careful glance around the room. “Is that alright? My ride disappeared.”

In minutes she was out the door and surrounded by several giggly girls throwing their names at her as if she was going to remember any of them.

“Melissa!”

She turned at the sound of her name, however it wasn’t Devin that was running after her. “Gavin?” The entire group of girls stopped to look. At the sight of Gavin they began to preen and toss their hair. Melissa shrunk into herself as he came closer. 

Thankfully one of the girls stepped forward to meet him. “Where are you going? Don’t you have a party to host?”

“Eh. They won’t notice.” He shrugged, tossing his charisma into his full watt smile. He pinned Melissa once again, looking around the girls between the two of them. “Besides, you were leaving.”

Another one of the girls stepped up. “That is so sweet of you to come give out personal goodbyes. Your party was killer.”

“Thank you.” Gavin nodded to several of the girls. “I am pleased you liked it. I’ll have to throw another one.”

Rachel or something that started with an R, grabbed his arm. “Oh would you? It is so hard to find good parties to come to.”

Gavin grounded Melissa to the gravelly sidewalk with a smile. “I’ll throw an even bigger, better party next weekend. On one condition.”

Melanie nudged Melissa when she didn’t say anything. “What condition would that be?”

“Melissa agreeing to go on a date with me.”

“Me?” Melissa blurted with a laugh.

Rachel pouted. “Why are all the good guys taken?”

Melanie snatched at Rachel’s arm. “Don’t be silly. Let’s give these two a little space to talk.”

“Oh, go ahead.” Gavin motioned down the street. “If I can manage it, I’m going to convince Melissa to let me walk her home.”

“You’ll manage it.” 

Melissa couldn’t see who had spoken. However, the entire group walked off giggling and laughing. Only Melanie glanced back and shot Melissa a quick wink.

Gavin’s smile grew slightly serious as he looked over at the departing group. “If you truly would feel more comfortable we can stay in sight of the group.”

“And have them glancing back every two seconds to catch a glimpse of you? No.”

He laughed. “Well then, in that case, if you trust me not to murder you or anything creepy, crazy, or whatnot I have a better way home.”

“You don’t know where I live.” Melissa folded her arms tight. She was doing better now that she was out of the house. There was much more air as well as plenty of space to breathe it in.

He tilted his head, watching the girls go. “If you were walking with Melanie, you probably live near her. Which means that you are either at the same dorm or close. I’ll get you that far and if you don’t feel comfortable telling me any more specifics, I will say goodbye at the corner. Deal?”

With a nod Melissa moved to follow where the girls had gone. Gavin stopped her by offering his arm. Once she took it he led her off in the opposite direction. 

Melissa let out a tight bark of a laugh. “See, now I’m not so convinced about the whole serial killer thing.”

He stopped so quickly that Melissa stumbled. She looked back to find him frozen in shock. He tried to turn her back around. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”

“Maybe if you told me where you wanted to go.”

“I was just going to take the scenic route. I guess I was being selfish, trying to get as much time as I could get with you, maybe convince you that I was worth saying yes to.”

Melissa smiled but didn’t move even though he tugged back toward the direct way home. “Saying yes to what exactly.”

“A date.” Though his smile was a bit sheepish it still packed a punch.

She nodded and found that she was still nodding a minute later. 

Gavin chuckled. “I haven’t asked yet but I’m starting to feel like I can take that nod as a yes?”

Immediately she stopped nodding and blushed. “You’d have to ask first.”

“I vote that we take that walk first. That way I have a fighting chance.” He tapped her hand that was still loosely on his arm. “How about you choose our route home?”

Melissa gave a short little nod.

As they began to walk Gavin spoke as he looked back over at his house. “So, you never did tell me who convinced you to come to my party. They must be someone pretty important to get you there.”

Melissa tried to pull out her hand but he squeezed a little. Not enough to stop her, just enough to let her know that he didn’t want her to let go. She took a breath. “Just a friend from home who promised my mom that he would make sure I didn’t stay tucked away in my room.”

“He?”

She had his full attention now. “Yes. He.”

“Romantic interest there? Do I have competition?”

With a laugh she shook her head. “Devin is not interested in me. He’s known me way too long for that.”

“Devin? Devin Deja?” Gavin’s instant scowl shot nervous tingles up Melissa’s spine.

“You know him?”

His scowl didn’t fade. “Yes. You could say that. However, I do not want to get distracted talking about that twit.”

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Click here to read Part 3 of Melissa’s story!

“Are you going to hide in this corner all night?”

Melissa turned to face her new corner mate, easily snared by his twinkling eyes. “If all goes well…yes.”

“Why come at all then?” He leaned back against the wall next to her, his broad shoulder brushing against hers. She shifted but was already leaning against the corner so she only managed to rub shoulders with him again, sparking tingles to her fingertips.

“I was invited.” She looked back out at the crush of partiers.

“To the corner? Or to the party?” He also gazed out at the people talking and laughing around the room.

Melissa huffed. “I am going to ignore you now.”

“Aw come on.” He nudged her shoulder with his. “You can’t think that this is you being at a party. You’re just watching it happen. You could do that from outside the window just as easily.”

Folding her arms, she pointedly kept her gaze anywhere but his direction.

“You realize you are choosing to ignore the one person at this party who has come over in an attempt to include you in the very party you are pretending to be a part of. Right?”

Her jaw clenched tight.

“Am I getting to you? Maybe you can choose to not ignore me for two seconds and allow me to introduce myself?”

It was getting harder to not respond. She stared harder at the far wall, willing to have him give up and go away. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see him smile and lean closer.

It startled her when he whispered in her ear. “Are you being obstinate on purpose? Are you scared? You could just go home, you know.” When he paused, she almost sighed in relief but then he kept going. “Well, since you won’t give me your name, I suppose I must provide you with one. I vote Starla. Any objections?” 

She again tried to lean further away so he couldn’t reach her ear so easily. She couldn’t decide whether she wanted to smile and laugh with him or if she was ready to punch him in the face and storm out.

“Starla, it is. Though I may have to change it to something more provoking if you keep up the silent treatment. Now Starla, the main reason to go to a party is to meet people that could become friends. If you are sitting in the corner, curled up in a ball, ignoring everyone, you are missing the point of a party, especially this party.”

“I’m standing.”

“She speaks!” He pulls her into a hug. “Hello. And yes, I know you are standing.”

“I’m not talking to you.” She scowled.

“Oh ok.” He bit his lip to try and stop the smile but it burst out anyways. “And while we are not talking, do you mind shouting your name out into the universe? I love knowing who I am not talking to, unless it is Starla. Then I am a fantastic guesser.”

Instead of answering, Melissa pushed off the wall and went into the nearby room where a bunch of people were gathered around, watching two couples playing pool. She picked a table and sat.

“Bold move. Joining the party to avoid me. Luckily, I know how to follow.” He whispered as he sat down beside her.  “I’m Gavin.”

She noticed that several people nodded or smiled his way. And there were several girls who were glaring at her. She shrunk a little.

“Are you popular or something?” She muttered.

His focus broke away from the game and lasered into her. “Why would you ask that?”

She nodded in the direction of a few glarers. The instant he looked their way their daggery gazes melted into cheery smiles and flirty waves.

“Because of them?” He shrugged. “I wouldn’t say that a group of girls who think that a pretty smile is going to win them a date makes me popular. It only means that I’m attractive.”

“Ego much?” Melissa clamped her mouth shut, realizing she was no longer avoiding talking to him.

“Not really.”

Melissa pointedly watched the pool game, not taking her eyes off the green table, until a hand landed on hers. She swiveled to look at him.

“Don’t go back to ignoring me.” He gave her an exaggerated puppy dog look.

They were interrupted by several dolled up girls flouncing up.

“Hey Gavin.” One of them cooed, leaning in and laying her small delicate hand on his forearm. “You going to come dance?”

“Not now, Tracy.” He smiled. “Besides, wouldn’t Tommy be hurt if you weren’t dancing with him? Last I heard, the two of you were still dating.”

Tracy stuck out her lower lip in a pout. “He never wants to dance with me.”

“Sounds like something you need to talk to him about.” Gavin’s eyes landed back on Melissa but before he could say anything, another one of the foursome leaned onto the table.

“I’m single.”

He flashed her a devastating smile. He wasn’t even directing it toward her and Melissa was affected by it. “Yes, Layla. I know.”

Melissa held in her laugh but from the way his eyes lit up as he watched her, she could tell that he knew she was struggling to keep it in.

“Right now, I am trying to have a conversation with….” He nodded at her across the table, eyes sparkling with amused mischief.

Melissa rolled her eyes. “Melissa.” She begrudgingly supplied.

“Melissa.” Gavin smiled at her.

Another one of the girls looked confused. “Who’s Melissa?”

Melissa thought she would die from all the laughter she was holding in.

Gavin only smiled and pointed at Melissa.

“Ohhhh.” Miss Clueless nodded. “Hi Melissa.”

“Hi.” She gave a quick half wave.

“Let’s go find Tommy.” Tracy flipped hair over her shoulder and shot Gavin a pouty look.

Another minute and the girls were gone.

“Sorry about that. The hazard of being at a party where people know you, they always want to talk to you!”

This time she couldn’t hold it in.

His smile lit up even more as she laughed. “You have a beautiful smile.” He declared with a nod. “Want to play a game of pool?”

“In front of all these people?” Melissa looked around at all the people watching the current game. “No.”

“Who brought you here?” Gavin asked with a surprising edge to it.

Instantly, her jaw clamped together and she shook her head, looking away.

He tilted his head to get back in her line of sight. “You aren’t going to tell me? I can find out anyway.”

“How?”

He shrugged. “You have to leave sometime.”

“So do you.” She quipped. 

But he was already shaking his head as he smiled. “No I don’t.” He raised his hands and presented the room to her. “This is my house.”

“Oh…” She stopped, unsure what to say. “Well, hi.”

“Now I earn a hi because I own a house.”

“You own an incredibly beautiful and classy house.” She gave a small smile.

He grinned right back at her. “Don’t think you can distract me.”

Her shoulders caved inward a little. “I came with Devin Deja.”

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Click here to read part 2 of Melissa’s story!