Melody’s P.O.V

It’s has been a week since the accident and still Richie’s mother won’t let me see him. That first day at the hospital Richie heard me crying and yelling, and he came out of the bed against the orders of his doctors. When he fainted I felt my whole word collapsed. I screamed and shouted for them to tell me what was wrong with him, but they never did. His mother had me removed for the hospital. However, that didn’t stop me.

I’ve still been coming to the hospital every day and thanks to his best friend Max, I’ve been able to see him. I’m at the hospital right now, Richie still hasn’t woken up yet. According to the doctors, he hit his head very hard and is in a coma. They were all very surprised that first day, when he heard my voice and got up. They are saying the extra strain he put on his body, could be the reason he’s hasn’t awaken yet.

Something else I did to him. I keep hurting him, I feel like I should stay away from him and I will. I just need to see this through until he’s awake, then I will give him the space he needs.

His best friend Max has been really sweet to me. He makes sure I get to spend a little time every day with Richie. He keeps me informed and updates me on every progress. I haven’t been to school since the accident, my every waking hours has been spent at this hospital.

The school has called my parents, but my parents don’t really give a shit what I do. My mom told me I will end up being a hoe and my dad just shrugged his shoulders. I haven’t been able to eat or sleep properly since the accident. I think I’ve drop a few lbs because my clothes are falling off of me. It doesn’t really bother me though, I’ll eat and sleep as soon as Richie open his eyes.

I’m sitting in the waiting room of the hospital, waiting for the go ahead from Max. Then I’m gonna go in and spend a little time with Richie before I go home.

Now about Max, I liked him from the moment I met him. White boy has gotta lotta swag, and he’s funny too. We met on the day of Richie’s accident, he was there when I had my break down. After they took an unconscious Richie away, Max came over and introduced himself. 

I was overwhelmed at first, and didn’t know whether I was coming or going. I just wanted answers and no one was giving me any. Max had been the one to calm me down, I remember him saying something like, “Hold your horses shawty, you don’t wanna hurt your fine self. Just calm down mama and big Max is gonna take care a you.”

I remember thinking, who the hell is this fool. He needs to get his Eminem wanna be hilly billy ass outa my face. This fool in the right place, because when I smack his crazy ass into next week, he ain’t gotta go far for medical attention. I’m not too sure, but I think my reply went something like this.

“Boy you better get yo crazy ass outa my face, before I slap you right back into yo mama’s womb. I ain’t got time to be dealing with yo shit, I’ve got my own shit. Why this hospital be letting yo crazy ass out, did you escape from the mental ward or some shit?”

I know what you’re thinking. Why you gotta be so ghetto. But it’s not my fault, when I’m stressed my ghetto side takes precedence. And I was very much stressed that day. Max didn’t take offence to my words though, he threw back his head and laughed. And I must admit, a tiny smile did appear on my face.

He took a seat next to me and stretched out his hand. I looked at him like, fool I don’t know where yo hands been. He chuckled, shaking his head.

“I’m Max Hoskins, Os is my home boy.”

I was like, who the hell is Os? “Who?”

“Right, you called him Richie. What’s up with that?”

I smiled at him taking his hand. “I’m Melody Gibbs, it nice to meet you, Max.”

He might be Richie’s friend but, I didn’t know him. I’m a bit reserve about giving strange people info on any part of my life, my name is the most you’re gonna get from me. And this white boy was bout to find out.

“So are you dating my homey? And what’s up with the name Richie? I never even heard about you before today. What, were you guys keeping it on the down low? ”

I frowned my face at him, letting him know that his questions were pissing me off.

“What the hell are you, five-0? Are we suddenly playing 21 questions? Look you seem like a nice kid, but all I want to do is find out if Richie is ok and get the hell outa this place. So can you do that for me, instead of sitting here interrogating me like yo ass work for the CIA?”

He laughed, like I said something funny.

“Damn shawty, you a woman after my own heart. So much sass, a ride or die kinda chick, plus you fine. Listen, I’m a go get you the info that you need, then I’m a be right back. Don’t you be going nowhere now shawty, you just sit yo sexy ass right there and let big Max take care a you.”

I rolled my eyes at him, but I was smiling. And every day since that day, Max has been sneaking me into Richie’s room to see him. I’ve been spending a lot of time with Max, he filled me in a lot on Richie’s life. I found out that his parents are a lot like mine, in the sense that, they don’t really care about him. His father is jealous of him and his mother wants to have control over the money his grandparents left him.

Maybe that’s what drew us together in the first. One lost soul recognised the other. Max also talked about all the girls Richie had and I tried not to let my emotions show. Because hearing about Richie’s other women, made me feel queasy. If I wasn’t on my period at the time, you would have thought. This sista done got herself knocked up.

I’m sitting in the hospital room with Richie and talking to him. They say that when a person is in a coma, they can still hear when people talk to them. So that’s what I’ve been doing, just talking to him.

“So, your mother saw me again today, and from the look she gave me you’d think I committed a crime. I think if that woman could have thrown me in jail for existing, she would have already. Your ass better wake up soon cause I’m getting tired of this hide and seek shit. I swear if you don’t open your eyes by tomorrow, I ain’t gonna come back to see you. Well, not until the next day anyway… Please Richie, just wake up for me.”

I watch all the tubes and wires that he’s hooked up to and it makes me feel like crying all over again. I did this to him, I put him here. Why won’t he just wake up and tell me that he’s ok, maybe if he did I’ll stop feeling this pain in my heart like something valuable is missing. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked up to see Max. He has a sad, understanding expression on his face. Max is a very handsome, blonde hair blue eyes boy. He’s as tall as Richie, 6 ft. so they both tower over me.

“He’ll wake up Melo, I promise you. And when he does you’re gonna be the first face he sees.”

I smiled and nodded my head. He is really sweet. Max started calling me Melo since that first day. He said it’s because my ass looks as soft as a marshmallow. Max was about to say something else, when we heard footsteps and voices moving towards Richie’s room.

“Shit! That’s mama Richards. We’ve got to hide you. Quick let’s get into the clothes cupboard.”

I am on my feet before the last word is out of his mouth. Just as we got into the cupboard, which was just small enough to hold one person, Richie’s mom came into the room.

“I’m having my son removed from the place and brought home as of this instance. Since you people can’t seem to do your jobs right. I am taking my son home where that horrid girl won’t be able to sink her gold-digging claws into him. It’s his birthday in a couple of hours, he needs to be home with family not in this place.”

“If that’s what you feel is best, Mrs Richards, you’ll just have to come and full out some paper work with me first, if that ok with you.”

I could hear the irritation in the doctor’s voice. But I am more shock with the fact that she’s moving Richie. How am I supposed to see him if he’s gone? I felt the tears and I rest my head on Max’s chest. He put his arms around me offering comfort. We are so close to each other in this small space.

When they left the room, we came out. I’m still shock, I don’t want her to take him away. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I grabbed onto Max for support, every breath is more painful than the next. My air way is closing and I’m seeing dark spots. Why I’m I feeling like this? I can’t explain it, no matter how hard I try.

“Breathe slowly Melo, you’re ok. You’ve got this. Deep slow breaths, come on try it with me. Breathe in… now out.”

I nodded and follow him. Slowly my breathing came back to normal and Max held me as I settled myself. We stayed like that for a few minutes then Max called my name.

“Melo you ok, now?”

I smile up at him and he does something I am not expecting. He leans down and kiss me, pushing his tongue into my mouth. It takes me a while to understand what’s happening. However, I snap out of it and push on his chest for him to let me go. He let’s go but, reluctantly. I looked at him confused. Why did he do that? Why would he kiss me? I see a look in his eyes that I have never seen before and I gasp.

“I can’t, Max I’m sorry I…”

“Why?” He cuts me off “You said you and Richie are not dating. What’s stopping you?”

I feel bad because I don’t return his feelings. “We’re not, but it complicated between us.” I myself don’t understand it.

“Then un-complicate it, Melo.” He says holding my hands. I shook my head.

“It’s not as simple as you think.”

“Of course it is, it’s as simple as this.”

He dipped his head and kissed me again. Pulling me flat against him. It does feel good to kiss him, but it doesn’t feel right either. It feels wrong completely and horribly wrong. It feels like I’m betraying Richie in some way. I pushed Max away. I can’t do this.

“Max, stop. Just stop. I can’t do this I’m sorry… it’s just that…”

I turned my head to look at Richie and gasped.

“Ohmygod! Richie you’re awake?”