Chapter 14

"En el nombre del padre, del hijo y del spirito santo, amen." The priest said during the funeral at church. (In the name of the father, son and the holy spirit.)

Nathan had his arm around me and I leaned on his shoulder. Rodrigo was in a coffin. I couldn't wrap my head around it. It was all so surreal. I always thought he and I would grow old together and stay best friends.

I thought we had more time to go to travel the world. Makes you really think of the saying 'You really don't what you have until you lose it.'

My mom and dad didn't ask about Nathan and I wasn't ready to explain, plus I already forgave him. As much as how wrong he was I love him. I love him too much to stay away.

After church it was time to go to the cemetery. Linda and the others had a few cuts and scraps but since the impact came from the drivers side--Rodrigo was driving--he got the worst.

His parents looked extremely sad and it made my parents more protective.

At the cemetery I placed a wallflower meaning Friendship and Adversity. I walked back to Nathan. Rodrigo's mom had to be taken away because she couldn't stop crying. I felt a little hollow hole in my chest every time I took a breath.

We drove in the same limousine with my family.

"Where are you staying, Nathan?" My mom asked.

"At the Holiday Inn, ma'am."

"You should check out and stay with us." She smiled at him.

I looked over to my dad and he seemed fine with it. I squeezed his hand and he smiled.

"I can't believe he's gone." I said.

My brothers that were sitting across from me and Nathan they looked sad as well.

"I keep thinking... he's going to call me." I choked back some tears.

"He will be missed, hun." My dad said.

The driver stopped at the hotel Nathan was staying and I helped him get his stuff and check out. Soon we were back in my old house. I thought back to the time Nathan lit a whole bunch of candles while 'Hero' played. I think he was thinking about it too because we looked each other at the same time.

I led him to his room. I still had two more days before I had to go back to work.

"I think you need a day to relax." He said kissing my cheek.

"What do you propose?" I asked.

"You just change into something comfortable." He was out of the room before I could say anything.

I trusted him so I went to my room and changed into a pair of skinny jeans and a Joker shirt. I pull my hair up and as I looked at the mirror I noticed the bag under my eyes and how puffy they were.

The last thing that mattered to me was how I looked. I removed the runny make up and reapplied it. Ten minutes later Nathan and I were in a car going to the city. He drove, which surprised me because of his leg.

"How's your leg?" It's only been, what four or five days since I found out he's alive?

"Better. I can still drive, Mels. Don't worry."

"Yeah, cause last time you drove everything ended so well." I said recalling the accident that made me lose my memory. I was joking and messing with him, nothing serious.

He pouted and faked hurt. "I am insulted. I happen to be a very good driver and that only happened once."

I giggled. "Sure... and I'm a bald man."

"That would be gross since I still want to kiss you."

We laughed. I couldn't remember being this happy.

"It feels like I'm betraying Rodrigo." I confessed looking out the window.

"Explain that."

I shrugged. "I shouldn't be having fun."

"He would want you to have fun. Now, put that bandana to cover your eyes."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Come on, love, trust me." He said as he looked back and forth between me and the road.

I sighed and took the bandana and covered my eyes.

"You're not taking me to a romantic getaway are you?" I smirked.

"Of course not."

I gasped and he laughs. "It's ten times better than a romantic getaway." He promised.

I had no idea where we were going but it took half an hour to reach our destination.

"I forgot how LA's traffic is murder." Nathan mumbled and I laughed.

I heard as he opened and closed the door and I waited for him to open mine. When he did I reached for his hand, I took it and got out. Then a familiar sound came to me. There was many voices and I smiled from ear to ear already knowing where we were.

Then I felt his hot breath on my face.

His lips attached to mine and I couldn't help but wrap my arms around his neck and bring him closer. He was so addictive.

He breaks it away and I whimper and he laughs.

He removes the bandana.

It was the old skate park. I looked around and saw as teenagers did tricks, flips and fell on their asses. I looked back to Nathan who was watching me watch the skate park.

"You know you're the most wonderful guy in the entire world?!" I kissed him again for a couple of minutes before he popped the trunk and took out a skateboard.

"Due to my condition, I still can't skateboard."

"It's all right, you can watch me kick ass." I winked and went over to the nearest ramp. I thought I would forget how to do it, but it was like riding bike: you never forget.

With both feet on the bolts and I kept my balance--not too low or too straight--knees bent. I pivoted--or turned for a couple of seconds. I press down with the back foot and a little with my right, that's popping.

After getting my act together I did a couple of ollie's. I was so proud of myself when I accomplished it he first time.

I did good for a couple of tries until my fifth when I lost balance and I fell on my ass. A couple of people laughed as always and so did I. I forgot how much I missed to have scraps and bruises.

"I hella missed this." I cheered as I went over to Nathan who was sitting next to him and removed the sweat from my forehead and smiled.

He kissed me and we were lost in each other for the next couple of minutes. We were making up for lost time.

[Peter's Point of View]

I had to do something. Something fast because if I don't I'll lose Melinda forever. I couldn't allow that. I wouldn't allow that.

I did one of the most desperate things I could do.

Her phone rang twice.

"Hello?" Her voice was still shrilling even after all of these years.

"I have some great news, love."

"Peter Watson?" She asked.

"The one and only?"

"What do you want?"

"Don't you want to know about your precious Nathan?"

That got Lucy's attention. "What is it?"

"Did you know he's awake? Has been for the past three years."

She gasps on the other line. "Where is he?"

"He'll be back at London in a couple of days."

"Why are you telling me this?" She asked.

I smirked. "I thought we could form an alliance, you see Melinda and Nathan are back together and that doesn't benefit neither of us."

"Melinda?" She spat her name with venom. "I'm in, what do I have to do?"

Chapter 15

[Melinda's Point of View]

"We heard about your grandmother's death, Melinda." Marcela put her hand on my shoulder.

It's been a week since Rodrigo's death and I'm back at London I wish I could've stayed a few more days but I could lose my job and it's a pretty good job. But as Marcela told me the lie I said I felt so bad.

"Oh," I said trying to sound casual. "Th-thanks, um thanks."

"My grandmother died when I was five but I do remember we used to have hot chocolate whenever I used to cry for any reason." Marcela said. "I miss her."

"I know how you feel. My grandmother used to make everything beter with a boli

."

She blinks and tilts her head to the side confused.

"It's like a snow cone but in a plastic thing. It's a Hispanic ice cream, I guess."

"Is it good?"

"In the hot summer it is." I said with a smile. "Once my nana caught me trying to sneak one before dinner and she smacked me so hard I never did it again." I laughed.

"'Nana' is that what you called her?"

"Yeah, that and Abue which means grandma or Abuelita meaning the same."

"Back to work ladies." Dr. Albright said.

We went back to work. As always I followed Dr. Albright to the rounds and met happy couples, but that's not always the case.

"Melinda..." She told me before entering the room. "This girl was raped by her stepfather--he's in prison--but... of course she's pregnant. She's very young."

"How young?" I asked.

"Thirteen."

"That bastard!" I spat. "I hope he gets butt raped!"

She laughs and nods. "That's what I thought as well. I think you should also know that she tried to commit suicide... about a month ago so don't be surprised when you see bandages on her wrists." I nod.

We enter the room and the girl's mother was with her. The girl had red hair with freckles and she had this sad smile on her face.

"Hello Hannah, how are you today?" Dr. Albright spoke to the girl.

"Okay." She answered quietly.

"Hannah I want you to meet Melinda Gomez she's a midwife and she'll be assisting me with my patients."

I noticed the T-shirt she had was of Metallica. I haven't seen a single kid with that here mostly it would be Coldplay, U2 or Muse, don't get me wrong; you know I LOVE Muse but it's nice to see an American band.

"My favorite song is The Unforgiving."

She looks at me with wide eyes. "You're American."

I giggled. "Close, I was born there but my parents are Mexican, so I'm a Chicana."

"I've never met someone with an American accent before."

"It's all right."

"You like Metallica?" She says. "I've wanted to see them for so long but when they come I never have the money... and because of this." She pointed to her stomach. "I'll never get to go."

I frowned. I leaned to Dr. Albright to whisper. "Is it all right if I have a few minutes with her?"

She nods. "Mrs. Cook, come there's much we need to discuss."

Her mom smiled at me and mouthed 'Thank you' and I nodded at her. They walked out of the room and I sat next to her on the table.

"You're going to tell me that was wrong of me to say?" She spat.

"I'm not here to judge you, Hannah."

"You don't know what I've been through!" She started to cry.

"I know people have told you this but have you gone to see a therapist?"

"I'm not really comfortable telling a stranger how my stepfather raped me over and over again." She growled.

"But you seem to have bottled up feelings and you need to let go of that anger, Hannah because whatever you feeling your baby is feeling as well." I said placing my hand over her stomach.

She placed her head on my shoulder and I hugged her. We stayed like that for two minutes.

"He would wait until my mum was fully asleep and he would sneak in my room." She started and I didn't interrupt. "He would threaten to kill me and my mum. He would start to touch me and I've never felt so disgusting in my life."

She told me everything. Her body relaxed more and more as she continued. She told me how much she hated to have his baby and how she tried to kill herself because she couldn't live with the embarrassment.

"It's not it's fault--" I said but she interrupted me.

"Her... it's a girl." She said looking down at her stomach. A small smile appeared on her lips.

"It's not her fault," I corrected myself. "It's cruel of you to blame her or yourself."

"He told me that I seduced him." She scoffed. "I wore baggy clothes, black baggy clothes!"

She cried a little more and then she started to calm down.

"You're the nicest nurse. The others would whisper behind my back. They thought I wouldn't notice the disapproving looks they would give me. It hurt."

"Don't let them get to you. They're bitches that have nothing better to do."

She laughed.

"It's all they do, gossip because they're own lives is nothing but suckiness."

She laughed harder. If she smiled and laughed more often she could be happy.

She hugged me. "Thank you... Melinda, you just became my best friend."

I smiled. "Pinkie swear?" I said holding mine out.

She entwined hers with mine. "Pinkie swear. Now let's bring back Dr. Albright back so we can see how she's doing."

-Lunch-

"That girl hasn't talked about what happened to no one except when she went to the police, how did you do it?" Dr. Albright asked.

"I was almost raped once I know the horrible feeling."

Her eyes widen. "I'm so sorry dear."

"It was a long time ago."

"You said almost raped, someone stopped him?"

I smiled remembering how a drunk Jacob almost raped me but Nathan saved me.

"Yeah, he saved me. I should go. I told Marcela and the others I would meet them by now."

"All right, have a good lunch."

I walked in the cafeteria and when I got to our usual table I saw Mackenzie. They looked like they were consoling her. She met my eyes and she narrowed them.

"You!" She yelled at me. Half of the cafeteria stopped and looked. "It's all your fault!"

I furrowed my eyebrows. "What are you talking about?"

"You took Nathan away from me." She stood up and met me face to face.

I pushed her lightly. "Don't get so close, I strike when cornered." I warned and she flinched in fear.

"This isn't over!" She took her purse and walked out.

Everyone else whispered about what happened. I sat down with my friends.

"Wait... you're with Nathan Fullerton?" Alondra asked.

I almost jumped out of my seat when a single tulip appeared in front of my face. I looked over and saw Nathan. My whole world lit up as I saw him. He looked so happy like me.

"I've come to whisk you away, milady." He said.

I laughed. "Oh, Nathan meet my friends, this is Alondra, Mike and Marcela."

Nathan shook each of their hands.

"Guys this is Nathan my boyfriend."

Alondra and Marcela aw and Mike looked happy for me.

"That is so cute you came all the way here to be with him." Alondra said. "That is so romantic."

"You don't mind if I take her away, do you?" Nathan said.

"No, of course not. Go." Marcela answered.

I smiled and waved good bye to them and followed Nathan out of the cafeteria.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"A place far, far away." He pecked my lips but I brought them back again for a longer and deeper kiss. "Hmm, don't tempt me because we won't even leave the hospital if you continue to seduce me like that."

I laughed. "Ooh, is that a challenge?"

Chapter 16

It's been two months since Nathan and I got together. It's been nothing but heaven between him and I. We go out sometimes but most of the time we stay in and play video games or watching movies.

He would stay over at times and we would completely forget about the world outside of my apartment.

He would come over at lunch and he would talk to my friends.

I haven't heard from Peter since the night I left the restaurant. I don't blame him. It was fucked up of me to do that. I don't know what I was thinking.

He didn't deserve that. He's been there for me and I wasn't there for him when he needed me. I promised myself that I would go over to the restaurant whenever I could.

But right now I'm with Nathan watching 10 Things I Hate About You. I smiled. Heath Ledger was so cute. I liked the bad boy attitude.

The best part of the movie--hands down--is when he sings for her. I sang along with him.

"I love you, baby. And if it's quite alright, I need you, baby, To warm a lonely night.

I love you, baby. Trust in me when I say: Oh, pretty baby, Don't bring me down, I pray.

Oh, pretty baby, now that I found you, stay And let me love you, baby. Let me love you." I sang.

Nathan laughs.

"What is so funny mister?" I said looking over at him.

He pecked my lips.

"You're just so darn adorable." He said.

I brought his lips back to mine. "I love you."

He kept his hand on the nape of my neck and I had my arms around him. We stopped paying attention to the movie. He moved from my lips to my neck. It was incredible to feel his skin against mine.

It was like feeling whole.

I felt his hand on the skin of my hip it literally gave me electrical shocks but tiny ones.

"I'm ready." I said with a shaky voice. God, I can't believe I just said that. I sound like every teenager in America.

Nathan got what I was saying and pulled away. "Melinda, we don't have to do anything you're not--"

I kissed him showing him how much I wanted this and I wanted this badly.

I wanted him to be the one to 'deflower' me.

"How about..." He said pulling away. "We plan this ahead, love? So you can be absolutely su--"

I kissed him again but this time I went to his neck.

"It's kind of hard being a gentleman when you attack me like so." Nathan said but I knew he was enjoying it.

I laughed. "But I'm truly ready, Nathan."

He looked at me and I looked at me. I wish I could know what he was thinking exactly. I touched his cheek.

"I promise you, I'm ready." I assured.

Nathan sighed. "I want your first time to be absolutely memorable."

"Ah, this is going to sound so cheesy and overused but here it goes: as long as it is with you it will be absolutely memorable."

Nathan laughed. "Wow, that was cheesy and overused."

I pushed him off of me and he continued to laugh.

"Mels, come on, love. You're special to me I mean seven or six years ago I wouldn't have cared less but... I'm older and I'm actually in love with you."

"Yeah, I guess being in love does count." I sighed and he glares and I laugh. "Okay, fine. But I'm telling you that I've been a virgin long enough. I mean, Linda and Maya aren't anymore! Do you have any idea how that felt?"

"Embarrassing?" He suggested.

"Humiliating!" I growled a little.

"Right, okay. We'll have sex... but tomorrow night. Let me make it special for you."

"Are we really planning the day I lose my virginity?" I hid my face in my pillow.

He laughed a little. "Yeah, but we're not like most couple, love."

"True. We've gone through a lot of stuff." I said lifting my head from the pillow. "Okay so today is Friday, which means tomorrow is Saturday. You have a whole day to make the day special."

"You have to go out though."

"Why?"

"So it can be a surprise!" He said.

"Ugh, fine. I'll call Marcela, Alondra and Mike so we can have a day of shopping or something."

"I love you." Nathan said.

"I guess I love you too."

[Next Morning]

I was dressed

.

I held the umbrella and my cell phone with my other hand. It was raining rather hard today. Nathan thinks I'm going out with my friends but I'm actually going to visit Peter. I know it's the last place I should be going because I'm going to lose my virginity tonight.

Wow, never thought I was going to say that.

[Peter's Point of View]

His phone only rang once before he answered. I knew I was playing with fire but for Melinda I would take the risk of getting burned.

"O'Brien." He answered.

"Good morning, mate." I said leaving out any fear in my voice.

He sighed. "What do you want Watson?" Devlin yawned over the other line.

"Who is baby?" It was a female voice on the other line.

I smirked. "Busy night, eh?"

"Not your business, now don't waste my time and tell me what you want!"

"All