Chapter 31

[Next Morning]

I woke up to the sound of my brothers arguing outside. For a quick second I thought I was back in Los Angeles back when I thought Nathan was in a coma and when I thought I was never going to see his clear blue eyes again. I laid in bed a little longer. Out there... there was reality and in here in my room... denial.

I could deny my life but... I had to work. I then remembered my ankle and how I wouldn't go back until next Monday so I stayed in my bed. I wanted things to be normal. I wanted Nathan next to me right now, I wanted to see his smile and have him tell me he loves me.

The door slammed open and Manuel and Victor jumped on top of me and yelled 'cannon'. I huffed as their weight came on me.

"You little squirts are a lot heavier than I remembered."

Victor gasps. "She called us fat!"

"Liar!" Manuel said.

I was happy to have them with me, but I should really tell them about Nathan. I didn't want them to ask in case he showed up to pick up the clothes from his drawer. My mom came in to tell us breakfast was ready and then she argued that I didn't have enough food in the fridge. I told her I usually ate out and she was mortified to say the least.

I told her I would be out when I changed. They all went out and I had a smile on my face. It's a good thing I had my family and friends with me right now because it would suck to be alone. I got up and went to the shower.

I removed the wrap and showered and then used a ointment to help with the pain and then wrapped it again. Brian helped me go to the kitchen. He got muscles.

"Thanks buddy." I said as he set me down.

A plate of eggs and bacon was in front of me. I dug in and ate very good. I almost forgot how good of a cook my mother is.

"When's Nathan coming over?" My mom asked.

Maya, Linda and I almost choked on whatever we were eating. I almost choked on a bacon strip. My mom patted my back as I coughed. My face turned red and I looked at Maya and Linda and they gave me a look that said 'you have to tell them'.

"He is..." I started and then cleared my throat. "Well, the thing is... he... is at work!" I laughed and then Maya and Linda gave me another look of disappointment. I couldn't do it and I don't know why, maybe because I didn't want them to know.

I didn't want to explain my problems to them. Suddenly I wasn't so hungry anymore. I told them I wanted to go to my bed. This time Jeff picked me up. He walked over to my room and set me on the bed.

He didn't leave. He sat on the edge of the bed.

"I know about Nathan, Mels." Jeff said.

I gasped. "How did you--Linda!" I cursed her name.

"Look, I might not be Rodrigo but I'm like your second best guy friend, right?"

The sound of Rodrigo's name always brought a hollow feeling to my chest. No matter how many times I hear it doesn't ever get any easier to do so. I thought about his question. Yes, he was my second best guy friend so I nodded.

"Then, Linda knows it and she told me. And Maya told Brian."

I scoffed.

"They have no secrets, Mels." Jeff defended them.

"Yeah but they shouldn't be telling my life story." I retorted.

"Right, but they care a lot about you."

"Uh-huh, so are you going to tattle tale on me to my parents?"

"Of course not, that's up to you to tell them." He said. "Now I only got a briefing when I cornered Linda--"

"Cornered?" I laughed.

He shrugs. "I had to anyway, so something about Peter and Nathan and Muse?"

I sighed. "All right here it goes and pay attention because I'm so not repeating myself twice."

He nods.

I took a deep breath. "For some reason Nathan thinks Peter is trying to get between but really he isn't. So one day actually... last Sunday Peter asked me to go to a concert--Muse--they were here in London for one single night and I said yes and he said I shouldn't tell Nathan because he would go a jealous hulk on us and I thought he's kind of right so I didn't tell Nathan. I told Nathan I was covering for a friend and so I went to the concert met the band--"

"Whoa, whoa... you met Muse?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, Devlin knows them and Devlin introduced Peter and Peter introduced me to them so--"

"Who's Devlin?" Jeff interrupted again.

"Oh, Devlin is an old friend of Nathan he backstabbed Devlin by sleeping with Lucy and so suddenly Lucy and Devlin appear saying they're getting married but I'm not so sure because I have this gut feeling is all a lie because Lucy 'accidentally' told Nathan I had gone to the concert with Peter and it started this huge fight about trust, secrets and betrayal. He thinks I'm sleeping with Peter."

"Uh, are you?"

My eyes widen. "OF COURSE NOT!!!" I yelled.

"Sorry, but back in LA you and him used to be pretty tight. I mean he was there when you went to rehab and--"

"Yeah, yeah... look I know but I've always loved Nathan and I still do. I would never cheat on him with Peter. I'm not that kind of girl and you know it. I know what it feels like to be cheated on... to be lied to and so I know it's partially my fault."

He smiles. "At least you're taking responsibility for your mistakes."

"Yeah and I still end up boyfriend-less."

The door opened and my mom peeked in her head. "Mija, the boys want to go around London to see stuff, and so do your friends... will you be okay alone for a few hours?"

"Yeah," I smiled and looked at Jeff. "I recommend the restaurant near Big Ben it's so good."

"All right, Jeff, sweetie we leave in ten minutes." My mom send me a kiss.

I looked back to Jeff. "I wasn't lying about the restaurant."

He chuckled. "All right. Well, I'll see you later and thanks for clarifying things."

"No problem, I have nothing to hide."

Ten minutes later they all said good bye and I was left alone. My dad brought the TV to my room and my mom brought me munchies so I wouldn't have to go to the kitchen. I turned on the TV and watched some shows.

I don't know their names because I mostly watched movies and Emo Power Rangers. I went to my lap top which was on my desk top. I checked my e-mail. Dr. Albright asked me how I was.

I wrote to her I was fine since my family and friends had flown in for the holidays. She replied pretty soon because she said she would be honored to meet my parents at the Christmas Eve party.

During the after noon Marcela, Alondra and Mike called.

"Your family came all the way from Los Angeles?" Mike said in awe. "Mine won't even send me a Christmas card."

Someone took the phone from him. "It's Marcela, how's the ankle?"

"It's fine. I'm just useless right now." I whined.

"Hey! You helped a pregnant lady after she nearly smashed in two." Marcela said. "You should be proud."

"How's the baby girl?" I asked. "Has any relatives come forward?"

"No, nothing. We found her wallet-the mother's-but there's nothing. No one to come forward."

There was another shift of the phone. "It's Alondra, if no one comes forward the little girl she's going to an orphanage..."

"Wait... the mother died?"

"Just a few hours ago. We couldn't stop the bleeding and..."

Alondra knew I knew the rest. I sighed.

The doorbell began to ring. I groaned.

"Someone's at the door guys, I'll call you later."

"Bye!" They all chorused. I set the phone down. It was going to be trick to get to the door.

"WHO IS IT?!" I yelled.

"It's Peter!"

Okay, so I didn't have to get to the door now. "USE THE SPARE KEY!!!" It was under the fire extinguisher not too far from my door.

I heard as he opened the door.

"Where are you?!"

"Bedroom!" I yelled back.

Soon he was opening the door. He stepped in and when he saw me he gave me a small smile.

"Devlin told me about your ankle, how is it?" He asked as he sat on the edge of the bed.

I sat up straighter and let me foot touch the ground just a bit.

"Yeah, he tackled me to the ground." I said remembering. "Hurt like a mother-cracker."

He chuckled. "What happened to the pregnant woman?" He asked.

"She uh... died this morning but her little girl is all right, but we can't find any family so... she might have to go to an orphanage." I said sadly.

"That's horrible."

"Who knows? Maybe a nice family will adopt her." I thought positive for this.

"Right. I also heard about the fight and possible break up between you and Nathan."

I looked at him and sighed.

"Devlin, again, huh?"

He nods.

"It's mostly my fault. I lied to him and he feels betrayed for some reason."

"We didn't do anything, does he know that?" He asked.

"He keeps thinking something is going on with us." I laughed a little and then stopped. "Sorry."

"I care about you, Melinda." He said getting closer. I didn't think any of it so I didn't move. "I would never doubt your words."

"Don't start, Pete--"

"Why do you insist on staying with a jerk who doubts you?" I sensed the anger and jealousy behind his words.

"I'm the one who planted the doubt by lying to him! Why are you acting like this?"

"Because I'm sick of you wasting your time on someone who isn't going to believe you. Who isn't going to be there for you when you need the most." He gestured to my ankle. "God, Melinda, if you were with me I would give you everything you wanted. Attention, love and most of all honesty! I wouldn't let anything happen to you. I would make the world bow down to your feet."

Okay... getting a little scared now.

He was getting closer and closer.

"Why can't you see how much I love Melinda? I love you so much it hurts every night to lay in my bed alone when I know you deserve to be with me and me only."

Before I could push him way he got on top of me and started to kiss me. It was a forceful kiss. He pressed his lips against mine. I used my hands to try to push him away but he got my wrist and put them above my head, he used his body to make me stop squirming.

This wasn't good.

I wanted to scream but his lips were kind of over mine. I did try to wiggle out even though his body was keeping me in place. Then a bright light turned on and I kneed him. He groaned and the grip on my hands is loosened. I take the opportunity and push him away, since he was caught off guard he fell to the floor. I didn't care about my ankle and I got up and as he looked up at me I raised my fist and gave him a right hook right across the face.

I cradled my hand since it hurt like hell. I raised my foot to kick him but he caught it and he twisted it. I fell to the floor since my right leg was bad. He tried to crawl on top of me again but I used my feet and pushed him away. I crawled backwards to get away from him.

He tried to get me again but I used my free foot and hit him again across the face, bad choice because it turns out I used my sprained ankle to do it and I just hurt myself even more but at the moment--with the adrenaline pumping--I didn't care about my ankle.

I got up using the counter as support and as Peter tried to get himself together I looked for something to defend myself. I found an umbrella next to the counter, it wasn't much but it was going to help me defend myself. I took it and pointed to Peter, I leaned on my left foot and crippled my way over to the middle of the room. I took a stance of defense.

"Get the hell out, Peter!" I snarled at him.

Peter spat blood on the floor. I guess I kicked him on the nose and it brought blood. Good. That bastard deserves that and more.

"Melinda, ple--"

"No! I don't want any fucking excuses! I want you out of here and don't ever try to contact me Peter or I swear I'll get a fucking restraining order."

"I didn't mean to--"

"I don't care! Get the hell out!" I yelled at him. I didn't feel as mad or angry as I felt betrayed. He was supposed to be my best friend. He got up and looked at me with pleading eyes. I shook my head. "Get out. Just get out, Peter."

"I'm not giving up Melinda because you belong with me! I'll make you see." His eyes were full of something I've never seen before. There was so much anger, jealousy and most of all determination.

Without another word he left the room but I didn't loosen my position until I heard the front door close. I fell to the floor exhausted. What took over Peter? I've never seen him so aggressive before. I took at my wrist and they were red and my lips felt bruised. I ran my hand through my hair and I tried to calm down. I wanted to cry. This reminded me so much of the time Jacob--Nathan's cousin--tried to rape me... it was the night Nathan saved me.

Now, he didn't because I drove him away. I did something my pride usually didn't let me do. I crawled to my phone and called Nathan.

For some reason he actually picked up.

"Hello?" He answered.

When I heard his voice I just broke down. Everything just came tumbling down on me.

"You were right." I said through my sobs. "Peter... he..."

"What did he do?" There was panic in his tone; he cared about me that made me feel a lot better.

"Can you please come? I don't... want to be alone." I confessed. I was afraid Peter might come back. I was afraid of my best friend! Ex-best friend.

"I'll be there in ten minutes."

We hung up. I smiled a little. He was there for me. I stayed on the floor and after about ten minutes the door opened of my room and Nathan was wearing a suit. His eyes searched the room until they landed on me.

He was by my side in seconds. He knelt down and cupped my face.

"What happened?" He asked.

"He broke... he just lost it." I said.

His eyes searched for wounds on my body.

"He tried but nothing happened." I said.

His hands went down to mine and I saw the anger flash through his eyes.

"He hurt you." He growled.

"I can't believe I didn't see it before... I just shrugged it off all of the time but... I shouldn't have." I said.

"It's not your fault... I should've been here." He said. "What happened to your ankle?" He asked as he looked at it.

"Oh, um... I almost got ran over yesterday." I said like nothing.

"What?!" He yelled.

"I'm fine, Devlin pushed me out of the way and in the process I guess I sprained my ankle though it hurts a lot more since I used it to kick Peter in the face." I winced a little when I tried to move it.

"You were almost run over and you didn't call me?"

We locked eyes both of us knowing the answer to his question. He scooped me up and set me on the bed.

"Why did you call me?"

That I could answer.

"My family's here and I didn't have anyone else to call. I didn't want to worry them." It was only half true.

"Your mum and dad are here?" He asked.

I nodded. "Plus the twins and Maya, Linda, Brian and Jeff."

"So the whole gang." He smiled a little bit.

I laughed a little too. "Yeah."

He checked my ankle and the touch of his skin against mine felt so familiar and safe. I winced again when he turned it a little.

"It's not broken, but you'll definitely need to stay off of it for a while." He said.

"Great," I muttered. I wiped away the tears from my eyes. "Could you not mention this to anyone?"

"You don't want to worry your friends and family, I get it." He said.

"They came for the holidays oh and they don't know about the car incident. I told them I fell while running at the hospital."

He wasn't looking at me as I told him but he did laugh a little when I finished.

"What?" I asked.

"You're still lying."

I blushed of embarrassment.

"They're called white lies."

"But lies nonetheless, Melinda."

"I'm only trying to protect my mo--"

"You've got to stop lying."

"You are not the greatest example, Nathan." I growled a bit.

He nods. "True."

"Thank you for coming, I wasn't sure you were."

"What makes you say that?" He asked.

"We haven't talked in days... you're mad that I didn't listen about Peter, even though you were one hundred percent correct." I muttered.

"I understand why you didn't believe me. He was your best friend, I get it. I went about it the wrong way." He admitted. "I should've not blown up like I did."

"I should've have lied about the concert. I'm sorry and I swear on everything that's holy to me I didn't sleep with Peter."

We locked eyes again and I knew he believed me.

"I know that."

I blinked. "You do? For how long?"

"Since you told me the first time." He sighed.

I scoffed. "Really?"

"I know it was stupid of me to have even thought about it but... I just I've always known he loved you." He said.

"It doesn't matter if he loves me or not. I don't love him and that's what you should've counted."

"How do I trust you again?"

"I trusted you after what you did to me." I said. I raised my hand before he was going to talk. "You lied to me for years... how do you think I felt when I saw you awake? I felt betrayed... like I wasn't good enough for the truth."

"That's how I felt too." He said.

A silence took over us. Neither of us wanted to say anything and the silence was just so hurtful.

"So what now?" I asked.

He opened his mouth but the front door opened and a roar of laughter filled the air. My family was here.

"Please don't say anything all right?"

"Of course." Nathan said a bit sourly.

Nathan scooped me in his arms and picked me up from the floor. At this level I was able to look at him straight in the eyes. I wanted to kiss him so much but I controlled my urge. He sets me down and I straighten up until my back hit the backboard. Since the door was already opened my family walked inside and they all stopped when they saw Nathan.

"Evening." Nathan said with a sweet smile.

"Nathan, how lovely to see you." My mom spoke first and walked to Nathan and greeted him. Others followed her and did the same. My father was a bit hesitant. He knew better than anyone what I went through when I thought Nathan was in a coma.

He paid for the rehab and the therapy sessions. Nathan and my dad shook hands and everyone felt the tension.

"What are you cooking tonight, mom?" I broke the silence that filled the room.

My mom smiled widely. "I am making sopes and since I'm making them from scratch I should get started now. Mi amor, why don't we go and leave the couple?" My mom winked.

I only smiled. I wasn't sure if Nathan and I were a couple. He still seemed mad at me. Everyone left and Linda and Maya gave me encouraging smiles. They closed the door. I was starting to hate this room.

"They don't know about our break up." Nathan concluded.

I blushed. "No, but I'll tell them soon. I promise."

Nathan closed his eyes and then turned back to me with his eyes opened. He was hurt.

"I have to take care of some things." He leaned down and kissed my forehead.

He walked out of my room and as corny as it is he took my heart with him. God, why couldn't life be like in movies where we would kiss and make up? Why couldn't it be that simple? Because life wasn't simple.

Yeah, it sucks.

Maya and Linda walked in shortly after Nathan. They hugged me without saying a word. I hugged them back, suddenly I was thankful and grateful to have such great friends, though I wished Rodrigo was here with me. This was the time where he would