by Jason Zandri
Her mother’s comment embarrassed her, and her face grew warm.
Karen smiled. “Goodnight, Melissa.”
“Goodnight, Mom.”
Melissa let her breathing come back to normal, and then got up to look out of the front windows. Matthew’s van sat parked out front, and frost patterned the windows.
Melissa pulled the drape closed then sat down in the easy chair near her.
“I guess that answers that,” she to herself. “Given the chance, I’d jump him … or let him jump me. God … I need a cold shower.”
Melissa turned got up, turned off the lights in the room, and headed to bed.
***
Fully dressed and with her jacket next to her, Melissa sat in the chair near the front door with her coffee. She looked out the window in the early morning twilight to see Matthew head out to start his van to warm it up.
Quickly, she put on the jacket and went outside.
“Hi,” she said, looking at him all bundled up in his winter coat. She couldn’t help but flash back to her dream from last night and remember the way she thought of him in only his briefs.
“Hi, you’re up early,” he said, heading back to the apartment. “Did you need something?” He looked at his watch and opened his front door.
Melissa followed him inside. “I assume you have a few minutes before you head off to the store while you’re letting the van warm up?”
“Sure,” he said, then took off his coat and sat on the couch. Melissa took hers off as well and sat next to him.
“We agreed before, no secrets, right?” Melissa asked.
“Right.” Matthew looked her over quickly. “What’s on your mind?”
“Liz,” she said.
Matthew leaned back. “Okay, what about her?”
“Have you seen her recently?” Melissa asked.
“No, not in the past week or so,” Matthew said.
“Before that?”
Matthew looked over at her, and then a little past her shoulder and at the wall behind her. “Probably; I can’t remember the last time I saw Michael. I am sure in the past few weeks I’ve seen her.”
Melissa frowned. “You sound like you’re avoiding my questions.”
“That’s not true; you’re asking, and I’m answering.”
“Yes, but you’re giving ambiguous answers,” she said with narrowed eyes.
“I’m giving you honest answers; if there’s something specific you want to know then ask. Just make sure you don’t ask a question you don’t want to hear the answer to,” Matthew said, finally meeting her gaze.
Melissa flinched. Matthew looked at his watch, and then back to her.
“Have you gone over to her house to see her?”
“Yes,” Matthew said.
“Once?” she asked.
“No.”
“More than once?”
“What is this?” Matthew stood up, aggravated. “You asked me ‘once’ and I answered ‘no,’ so therefore, it has to be more than once. What do you want to know? Did Donna put you up to this?”
“No,” Melissa said and stood too. “I assumed she didn’t know.”
“I didn’t tell her. I didn’t hide it from her, exactly, but she didn’t ask me where I was on the given nights or what I did. I figured she’d have an issue with it. To my surprise, you’re the one who does. My concerns were that she wouldn’t trust me, and yet you’re the one that doesn’t.”
“How could she trust you or not; you never told her what you were up to,”
Melissa said.
“Liz asked me to stop by to talk; she asked me not to tell anyone if I could avoid it, and so that’s what I did.” Matthew took a step toward his jacket.
“Why would you extend her that courtesy? She’s been a royal pain this year … all senior year.” Melissa said.
“She hasn’t had the easiest life, and you know that. Her parents fight all the time, so there’s that strife in the house. Her older sister got pregnant early last year, and the boyfriend kicked her out, so she’s back home with the toddler.”
“We all have different stressors in life; not everyone takes things out on everyone around them,” Melissa said.
“You’re right; there’s more, but she asked me not to divulge it, so I won’t,” Matthew said while picking up his jacket. “With respect to your question of ‘why would you extend her that courtesy’; why wouldn’t I?
We’ve been friends for seven years. She needs something, within reason, she’s got it. Just like you would, or Tim, or Michael. Hell, if Carrie or Alecia needed something of me, I would make the effort for them, and they don’t
like me all that much when you get right down to it.”
“Then why would you?” Melissa asked.
“They’re your friends; they’re important to you. You’re important to me, and so I would help them. Generally, listening to someone or helping them figure out something, all that costs me is time. That, I can spend on others.”
Melissa recoiled. “I’m sorry for my questions. I didn’t mean to insult you or sound accusatory.”
Matthew nodded and put his coat on. “I need to go and get the store open.
If this is bothering you, we can talk about it later, but don’t discuss it with anyone. Liz asked me not to divulge anything where and when possible.”
“So why did you tell me?” Melissa asked. “You could have avoided the question or said less and claimed she asked you to honor a request.”
“I am honoring that request by not telling you all the details. Beyond that, I have a promise to keep with you as well. No more secrets. I’m trying to honor that at the same time.”
Melissa smiled.
“I have to go; lock the door when you leave, please.” Matthew headed out.
Melissa sat on the couch for a moment and listened to the van pull away.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Melissa sat at the burger place with Carrie and Alecia. The three girls were eating their food when Donna walked in with Marie. The pair headed straight over.
“Hi,” Donna said.
“Hi,” Melissa said, looking up.
“We stopped in because I saw your car, Alecia, and I hoped Melissa was here with you.” Donna took her hat off. Her hair looked mussed from the hat and the March winds.
“What’s up?” Melissa asked, taking a few fries off the tray.
“Would it be all right to step over here?” Donna asked, pointing away to the opposite side of the room and an open booth.
Melissa looked at her friends and shrugged. She stood, looked at Marie, and said, “Play nice.”
Marie smiled and took a seat.
The two girls stepped away and sat in the empty booth.
Donna said, “Okay. I need a favor, and it’s about Matthew. It may not be my place to ask you—you’re his friend—but he’s not being honest with me about something, and I’m not sure how to address it.”
Melissa nodded. “I can try to help if it’s not going to put me in an awkward position. I don’t want to be a go-between.”
“I understand,” Donna said. “I wouldn’t ask that of you; I wouldn’t put you in that position.”
“Thank you,” Melissa said with a slight smile. “So?”
“So, was Matthew in school today?”
Melissa thought about her question for a moment. “Now that you mention it; no, I didn’t see him at all.”
“Can you remember back to last Monday?”
Melissa again thought about what Donna asked her. “I honestly can’t; most days I see him, but once in a while I don’t. I’m more confident that today he likely wasn’t there because I remember looking for his van where he normally parks on the way out, and it wasn’t there.”
“Liz wasn’t in school last Monday. She wasn’t in today either.” Donna fidgeted. “When do you plan to be home tonight?”
“Well, I was going to head home after we ate; I have homework. Why?”
“Can you come with me to talk with Matthe
w?” Donna asked.
“You’re going to confront him?” Melissa asked.
“Yes,” she said. “I thought it might be helpful if you were there too.”
“Or it might make him overly defensive that he’s getting ganged up on,”
Melissa said.
“I would be more comfortable.” Donna flattened her palms on the table and held Melissa’s gaze. “You don’t owe me any favors, but I’m asking for one anyhow.”
Melissa looked over at her friends and Marie; all three just sitting quietly at the table.
“Okay. He’s working, but the store closes in half an hour. We’ll follow you to Colony Convenience, and I’ll ask Alecia to take Marie home, so it’s only you and me going in.”
“Thank you,” Donna said.
A short while later, the two cars pulled into Colony Convenience. Marie and Donna exited Donna’s car, and Melissa got out of Alecia’s.
Melissa bent down to Alecia, “Thanks for taking Marie home.”
“No worries; we’ve got your back. If you need either of us tonight, call us. We’re going home,” Alecia said.
Melissa waved to Carrie. Marie walked over to get into the car without saying anything.
Melissa walked over to Donna. “Uh oh,” she said.
“What?” Donna asked.
“Diane, my sister, she’s still here.” Melissa looked over at the garage bay of the store. The doors were down and most of the lights off. Melissa looked at her watch then over to where Matthew had parked his van. “My sister is usually off by three; she opens the store at six in the morning, and there’s afternoon help.” Melissa craned her neck to look around. “Peter’s in there too; what the heck is going on?”
Melissa stepped forward, and Donna followed. When they entered the store, Diane waved them over to the hallway near the office but seemed hesitant.
“What’s going on?” Melissa asked in a loud whisper.
“The school called; Matthew ditched classes today. I guess this is the second time in two weeks.”
Donna and Melissa looked at one another.
Diane said, “Mark let it slide last time, but now that it’s a pattern, he tried asking him about it, and Matthew blew up. They’re still out in the garage bay now, discussing it.”
“Matthew blew up?” Melissa asked. “I’ve never seen him frazzled by much.”
“I know,” Diane said, turning to see them coming back through the store.
“It was a minor blow up, but for him it was a big deal.” Diane dropped her voice to a whisper, “It caught Mark off guard.”
Matthew entered the front area of the store and, seeing Melissa and Donna standing together, stopped short.
“Hi,” Donna said to him.
Melissa raised her hand to wave.
“Matthew,” Mark said, following up behind. “We aren’t done here.”
Matthew turned around slowly. “Yes, Dad, we are.” After a brief pause, he said, “I needed to be out of school today, and I’m not at liberty to explain why. It won’t affect my grades. It won’t affect my graduation since my attendance has been perfect this semester up to these events. It’s likely that I’ll need one more day off. It’s no different than an adult needing a day off from work.”
“An adult needing a day off would state why,” Mark said.
“No, they would put in for a day, or they’d call out sick with an ‘I’m not feeling well.’”
“I expect an answer from you; you’re still living under my roof,” Mark said in a raised voice.
Matthew responded calmly and in an even tone, “I wanted to move out on my own; I’m eighteen and could do so, but you’re offering me a better opportunity and a lower rent if I wait until summer, which I’m happy to do.
It’s a smart move for me. I can’t be coerced on this, Dad. If you’re going to rely on ‘you’re under my roof,’ or extending your point to ‘I’ll cut your hours here,’ and/or, ‘I won’t rent you the room,’ then you don’t have a valid argument, and you’re trying to make your point stick when it otherwise won’t.”
Mark looked over at Diane, who stared at him, apparently unable to add anything to the discussion. He then looked at his son, turned, and walked into the office.
Once the office door had closed, Matthew let out a huge breath of air from his lungs, and then turned to Peter. “I’ll close up if you want to take off.”
“Sure, Matthew,” he said, and then walked over to punch out his time card and grab his jacket from the office hallway.
Diane poked Melissa a little and backed her way into the office.
“So,” Matthew said, leaning against the counter. “I suppose the two of you are here for the same thing. Better today than another; go ahead.”
Donna looked at Melissa.
“We’re worried, Matthew,” Melissa said quietly.
The door opened, and a customer walked in. He took a coffee, paid for fuel, and left. Melissa used the opportunity to collect her thoughts.
“You’re acting totally out of character,” Melissa said. “We’re your friends. No one is closer to you than the two of us. She’s your girlfriend. I’m your best friend. I know things you’ve never told Tim. What’s going on?”
“You were with Liz today,” Donna said.
“Are you asking me or telling me?” Matthew folded his arms.
“You were with Liz today, weren’t you?” Donna asked.
“Yes,” Matthew said.
“And last week. You took two days off from school to spend time in her company, when you know she and I have been in a heavy conflict; a lot of it over you. It never dawned on you to mention it to me? Beforehand? Like,
‘hey look, I know this is going to be sensitive but I’m doing this thing with Liz …’”
Matthew looked at Melissa then back to Donna. “It did,” he said. “Liz needed my help with something and asked me not to discuss it. I honored that request.”
“Over your girlfriend’s wishes?” Donna asked.
“When I gave my word to her, I didn’t realize you’d be so extreme about this,” Matthew said. “You never said, ‘I do not want you doing anything one on one with Liz.’”
“And if you could go back—” Donna said, with tears welling up in her eyes. “—and redo it, knowing how I feel about it—”
“I still would’ve given her my word and not discussed it with you. Either of you.”
In full tears now, Donna turned to Melissa. “I need to leave.”
“I can get home from here,” Melissa said in a gentle voice.
Donna looked at Matthew, who hadn’t moved and hadn’t taken his eyes from her. “Do you have any idea how badly you’ve hurt me?”
“I’m catching up to the idea of how bad this is,” Matthew said quietly.
“And you’re not sorry? You’re going to let me walk out of here this hurt?”
“I am sorry, Donna; the last thing I would ever want is to hurt you this
much. I gave my word; I can’t go back on that now,” Matthew said.
“And if I go? I won’t come back to you.”
“I can’t make you stay if here with me isn’t where you want to be,”
Matthew said and his face locked up.
Donna turned and bolted from the store.
“Oh my God, Matthew!” Melissa yelled a second after the door closed.
“Go after her.”
Matthew didn’t move.
Melissa let out a huge, exasperated sigh and followed Donna out to her car.
***
Diane closed the office door behind her. Mark held up a hand and glanced at her. “Before you get started—” he said. He stopped when Diane took his hand into hers.
“You only came in here because you felt frustrated that he argued you into a corner,” she said. “He isn’t totally wrong on his points.”
“I know that,” Mark said, sounding aggravated. “I just want to get him away from making too many rash decisions.”
�
�He’s got a level head; you taught him that,” Diane said.
“I know, but lately …” He sighed and ran his free hand through his hair.
“Everything is moving so fast. I’m moving in, we’re getting married, and he’s graduating, moving out, going to take on full-time work. It’s a lot. I can’t promise you that 1988 will be any slower, but maybe it will be. Can we not let things spoil the rest of our 1987?”
Mark sat in thought for a moment, and then he smiled at her. “I love you; I really do.”
Diane smiled and squeezed his hand.
“Should I go out and say anything to him? Apologize or something?”
“No,” Diane said in a soft voice. “I have this sinking feeling that Donna and Melissa are going to rake him over the coals now, and he’s going to be in a foul mood. He’ll have to shake it off on his own. Alone time is what he needs tonight.”
“Yeah. I figure he’ll spend the evening at the apartment,” Mark said, looking up into Diane’s deep blue eyes.
She nodded and let his hand go.
***
Melissa reached Donna at her car just before she got into it.
“You can’t go,” Melissa said. “This upset, you’re not going to drive well.”
Donna’s hands shook while she looked at Melissa. “I need to go. I want to go home.”
“Only if you’re sure you’re calm enough to drive,” Melissa said.
“I’ll wait a minute or two,” she said, sniffling. “But then I’m going. I need to go home and process all of this … clear my head.”
Melissa took a deep breath. “Do you trust Matthew?”
“He broke my confidence,” Donna said.
“That’s not true,” Melissa said, turning slightly to block the gusty evening wind. “In fact, it’s that sense of honor and code with one person that’s getting him in trouble here with you.”
“He should have said something to me about it, discussed it, before agreeing to help her with whatever it is she needed help with,” Donna said. “I trust Matthew; I don’t trust Liz.”
“You don’t have to trust her; even if she tries something, he’ll say no.”
“But it’s never a simple ‘I want to sleep with you’ from her. Okay, that’s not entirely correct either,” Donna said, and a small smile crept out. “She will try that. She knows that won’t work with Matthew. To get to him, you have to invest the time—be slightly underhanded and inconspicuous about what it is you’re trying to do—if you want to try to manipulate him.”
