May 2000

Mel and Jey were hanging out in Jey's bedroom, they were sat on his bean bags, surrounded by empty soda cans and pizza boxes, fully engrossed in a heated video game battle. The room was filled with the sounds of virtual gunfire and victory shouts as they laughed and teased each other.

"This game is horrible Jey!" Melody screeched as she attempted to beat Jey,  smashing the buttons on the controller. The dark eyed boy sat next to her let out a guttural laugh as he also smashed the buttons on the controller.

"Nah girl, you just suck!" Jey laughed as he managed to beat Mel once again. He placed the controller to his left as he turned to Mel with a big grin. Melody placed her controller in her lap and couldn't hold back the smile creeping upon her own lips. Seeing Jey happy made her feel all sorts of things. She knew she had feelings for him and the moment she realised, everything had changed between them.

"Thanks for letting me come over. I couldn't stand to be at home whilst they argue.." Melody said pushing a strand of hair out of her face before removing the controller from her lap and placing beside her feet. Jey had a look of sadness on his face. He had known that Melody's parents had been arguing and more frequently than usual. He also knew that she hated being around them when they got like it. Melody had told him that her dad had started getting physical with her mom and Jey could only hope that her father never laid a finger on her. He just wished that he could help her mom too.

"Anytime Mel, you're welcome here you know that. My parents love you, and Jimmy enjoys your presence just as much as me." Jey replies and Melody smiles sadly. She had wanted to cry but didn't want to see weak in front of Jey. She wanted him to see her being strong. Mel thought Jey had read her mind when he spoke once again. "Mel you can cry, it's not weak to show how you're feeling."

And just like that, the tears began to roll down her cheeks gently. She wiped them away but they kept coming and she couldn't control them. She bit her lip and looked away from Jey who cupped her cheeks and brought her face closer to his.

"I want to do something, and if it makes you uncomfortable just tell me to stop." Jey said and Melody felt her gaze flickering between his big beautiful brown eyes. Jey wanted Melody to feel like she was special, and she was to him. He knew this probably wasn't the most perfect timing but he felt they were both vulnerable to each other and it would make this moment even more special for them.

Jey licked his lips before slowly pulling Melody towards him, connecting his lips to hers. Melody relished in the kiss and for a moment she had forgotten all about her home troubles.

Melody deepened the kiss and slowly pushed Jey to lay on his back before she gently climbed on top of him, trying not to break the kiss. Jeys hands roamed the side of Melodys body, his fingertips igniting goosebumps.

"Mel are you sure you want to do this?" Jey questioned and she nodded. She sat on top of him, her arms at the side of his head and his hands on her hips.

"I want to do this Jey. I want you." She answered almost like she was breathless.

"But, you've not done this before.." Jey said. He had wanted to make sure he wasn't forcing or pressuring Melody into anything.

"Jey, I want to do this. I have for a while.. I just never had the guts to make the first move." Melody admitted and Jey couldn't stop the grin from coming out.

They resumed their kiss before Mel pulled at Jeys shirt, the fabric gliding over his head perfectly. Jey did the same to Melody before rolling them over so he was now on top. His eyes bore into hers and she smiled up at him.

"Melody I think I'm in love with you."

— — —

It's been 3 days since Mel last saw Jey and it was making her nervous. Loads of thoughts are going around her head about how he only used her and doesn't really feel the way he said he did. But she also knew Jey, and knew he wasn't like that.

Melody felt as if she was having deja vu, her parents were in another screaming match. She was sat on the stairs with her hands covering her ears but she could still hear the screams. She decided that covering her ears wasn't do anything so she placed them on her knees and rubbed them gently.

She glanced at her phone beside her and saw no text from Jey. Nothing. She really needed him right now but he wasn't here. She went to stand up before she heard the sound of a slap, and her mother lightly squeak. He had slapped her. Her own father slapped her mother.

What followed made Melody sick to her stomach when she could hear her father grunting and bangs coming from the living room. She quickly got to her feet and walked down the stairs before peaking her head around the living room door and saw her father throwing her mom around like she was rag doll.

— — —

It wasn't even 12 hours after the altercation when Melody found herself at the airport with her mom. She had minimal luggage and none of her most valuable items, she didn't even have a picture of her and Jey, her best friend. She had sent him another text saying that she was leaving San Francisco and going back to her home country, England.

Before they were called for their departure she had kept glancing at the airport entrance, maybe just maybe Jey would come and say goodbye and just maybe they could continue what she knew was a special connection. She'll come back, she knows she will.

— — —

Jey had ran as fast as he could to get to the airport. He needed to say goodbye to Melody, even if his lungs caved before he got there, he had to have one final kiss. He hasn't meant to ignore her texts but his grandfather had passed away and he was trying to spend time with his family. He was going to explain everything, but now he was worried he wouldn't get the chance.

As he got to the entrance of the airport he ran to the front desk, chest heaving and breath shallow.

"Excuse me, sorry.. what gate does the next plane to England depart?" He asked, his fingers gripping the edge of the desk almost turning white.

"The last plane for today departed 20 minutes ago." She explained. The moment he heard that sentence, Jey's heart sank to the bottom of his stomach. The pain in his chest increased and he wasn't sure if that was because of the sprint or the news that he might never see the love of his life again. "Sir, are you okay?"

Jey looked at the woman who looked concerned at his breathing and his face. He released us grip on the desk before steeping back slightly. "Yeah, I'm okay.. sorry to bother you."

As Jey was walking out of the airport he reached into his pocket and pulled his wallet out before looking at the picture he had kept.

— — —