True Love Never Goes Away Ch. 01

I started writing this last school year and misplaced the flash drive ... I recently found it and decided to post it for you guys to read and hopefully enjoy.

Ashira



:: Prologue ::

The air was clear, crisp and cooling as autumn conquered summer. The day was as perfect as it could be. A young woman sat on a bench over-looking a crystal clear lake feeding the geese and gulls that lingered at the water's edge. The birds cried out in distress as a car pulled up in the drive behind the bench. She turned around and smiled when she saw who was getting out of the car. "Hi Jason," she murmured, throwing the last piece of bread at the birds before wiping the crumbs from her hands and lap.

"Where have you been all day Mel? Everyone's been worried," Jason asked her, sitting down next to her on the bench. Melanie paused hesitantly before turning to Jason.

"I had a doctor's appointment and I needed some time to think," Melanie answered. Jason studied Melanie's face; her normally blue eyes were unusually hazy and unsure.

"What's wrong?" Jason asked softly, reaching out and taking one of her hands. Melanie played with the hem of her shirt. "Melanie, what's going on? Are you okay? What'd the doctor say?" Jason demanded to know. Melanie hesitated for another second before mumbling something almost inaudibly. "Mel?" Jason asked, growing slightly impatient.

Melanie sighed. "I'm four weeks late," Melanie said finally. Jason's eyes grew wide and he let go of Melanie's hand. "I'm pregnant Jason, the doctor just confirmed it this morning," she told Jason.

Jason paled, stood up and took a few steps away. "Jason, say something," Melanie pleaded, standing up and walking over to him. "I need some time to think," Jason said, turning to face Melanie. "I'll call you," he promised before walking back to his car and driving away.

:: Chapter One ::

"Hey Mel, have you heard from Jason?" Melanie looked up at her friend and shook her head. "No, Jul, I haven't," Melanie answered, tossing the pencil on the table and rubbing her forehead. "God, how could I have fallen for such a loser?" Melanie asked. "How could I not have seen that he would leave me like this?"

Julie shrugged and closed her history text. Both girls were in their junior year of college and ready to be done with it. While Melanie was tall with light red hair and blue eyes, Julie was slightly shorter with chestnut brown hair and emerald green eyes. "You made a bad choice in a guy, you aren't the first person to do so," Julie reminded her friend. Melanie sighed and rubbed her back. "You okay?" Julie asked. Melanie nodded. Melanie sighed and toyed with her pencil.

It had been nearly seven months since she had told Jason she was pregnant, and she hadn't seen or heard from him since. "What have his parents said about where the douche bag went?" Julie asked. Melanie shook her head. "All they said was he transferred," Melanie answered.

"Do they know about the baby?" Julie asked. Melanie shrugged. "I don't know," Melanie answered, stretching and glancing at her watch. "I have to get to work Jul, I'll talk to you later, okay?" Melanie murmured, grabbing her books and putting them quickly in her bag.

"See you," Julie said as Melanie headed out the door. As Melanie walked down the sidewalk to her car, she brushed the tears from her eyes while she mentally kicked herself for falling for Jason. Melanie drove as quickly as she could to the diner where she waited tables and chuckled its name; Homer's Dream.

"Hey kiddo," Homer said to Melanie as she clocked in.

"Hi Homer," Melanie replied, pulling on her apron.

"Is everything okay?" Homer asked.

Melanie shrugged. "As okay as things can be," she answered. Melanie glanced out at the dining room. "I have tables waiting," she added before walking out. Melanie walked up to her first table and smiled. "Hi, welcome to Homer's Dream, could I start you off with something to drink?" The woman at the table studied Melanie quickly. "Iced tea if you have it," she replied.

Melanie smiled. "We have it, and it's not the powder stuff either, we brew it fresh several times a day. Would you like honey or lemon?" Melanie asked, writing the drink orders down. "Lemon," the woman answered. Melanie nodded and turned to the woman's gentlemen friend. "I'll have the same, but with both lemon and honey," he told Melanie.

Melanie nodded, smiled and walked towards the kitchen to get the drinks. Melanie poured the tea into the glasses and headed back to the table. "Here you are," Melanie told them, setting the glasses of tea in front of them. "Have you decided on what you'd like to eat this evening?" Melanie asked. The woman studied the menu before turning a critical eye to Melanie. "How far along are you young lady?" the woman asked, studying Melanie again. Melanie shifted her weight. "Around seven months," Melanie answered.

The woman offered a half of a smile. "Are you and your husband getting excited?" she asked. Melanie sighed. "I haven't seen or heard from Jason since I told him, we were dating, not married," Melanie answered. She shifted her weight again. "Would you like a few more minutes to decide or have you decided what you'd like to eat?" Melanie asked. The woman opened her mouth to ask another question but her husband cut you off. "We'll take the number four special. No onions and light on the mustard," he answered. Melanie smiled. "The chopped steak is very good, I have it every week. How would you like them cooked?" Melanie told them.

"Medium well," the woman answered. Melanie nodded, took the menus and headed off for the kitchen. The woman flagged down another waitress. "May I help you ma'am?" she asked. The woman nodded and her eyes focused on her name tag. "Nancy, I'd like to speak with the manager, or owner, or whoever is in charge," the woman said. Nancy hesitated. "Is something wrong with your service?" Nancy asked. The woman scowled at Nancy. "Are you in charge?" she asked. Nancy met the woman's gaze. "I'm the head server, but Homer's in charge," Nancy replied.

The woman took a sip of her tea. "Then I want to speak with Homer, now," she told Nancy. Nancy nodded and went to find Homer.

When Melanie came back to the table with the order, she was surprised to see Nancy, and Homer standing near the table. "Here you go," Melanie said, setting the plates down on the table. Homer stepped forward. "Melanie, come to my office please," Homer said quietly.

"Have I done something wrong?" Melanie asked. Homer smiled gently and shook his head. "Just come to my office please," Homer said softly. Melanie followed Homer to his office. "The couple you were waiting on, they're Jason's grandparents," Homer told her. Melanie gasped in surprise. "He told them where you worked and asked them to come and give you this," Homer added, handing Melanie an envelope. "I'll be back in a few moments," Homer said, standing up and walking out of the office.

"Melanie,

I'm sorry it has taken me so long to write you or call you after you told me about the baby. It was wrong of me to keep you wondering what I was thinking and what I was feeling. Obviously, I'm scared to death, I've never been good with kids, and well, I'm not sure I want a baby to be honest. I know it's too late for that, because you're pregnant and I know you wouldn't lie about who the father is. I'm also sorry for taking off on you like that, my cousin was in a very bad accident at school, and you know Mark is Chemistry major, I've talked about him. Let's just say one of his experiments kind of blew up in his face. We all went to help my aunt and uncle out as they were dealing with Mark and his medical expenses. I should be home in a few weeks and I can't wait to see you. I will be there for you, I promise. I love you Mel.

Jason"

Melanie wiped the tears from her eyes and looked at the date, it was dated nearly five months previous. A knock at the door made Melanie look up to see Jason's grandparents in the doorway. "Why am I just getting this?" Melanie wanted to know.

The woman sighed. "My name is Helen, and this is my husband Thomas. Jason's letter explained his absence," Helen answered. Melanie nodded slightly. "Yes, for the first month or two, but not this long," Melanie retorted.

Helen bristled but Thomas put a hand on her arm. "Jason wanted to be here with you very much," Thomas began.

A feeling of dread passed through Melanie. "What happened?" Melanie asked, even though she wasn't sure she would like the answer.

Thomas sat down in the chair across from Melanie. "He was in an accident on his way back to school, and fell into a coma," Thomas asked. Melanie gasped and her face went pale. "Is Jason alright? Why didn't Carol and Steve tell me?" Melanie wanted to know. "I've called looking for Jason so many times," she added.

Thomas nodded and sighed. "My son and daughter in law aren't as trusting as my grandson. Jason is still in the coma; the doctors want to take him off of life support," Thomas answered. Melanie closed her eyes and willed the room to stop spinning.

"Are you alright?" Helen asked. Melanie opened her eyes and blinked slowly.

"I want to see him," Melanie said softly. Helen sighed. "Carol doesn't want you to see Jason," Helen told Melanie.

Melanie laughed dryly. "She never really liked me," Melanie muttered. She studied Helen and Thomas carefully. "I dated Jason for almost four years, how come I've never met you before?" Melanie wanted to know.

Thomas laughed. "Carol doesn't like us either. We've been forbidden from seeing Jason on a regular basis. We get to see him at Christmas and that is it," Thomas answered. "And yes, Jason told us all about you. He told us all while we were waiting to see if Mark would pull through. He thought it would cheer people up," Thomas told Melanie. Melanie wiped away a tear that trailed down her cheek. "We'll take you to see Jason tonight while his parents are consulting another doctor," Helen said, putting her coat on. Thomas stood up and reached for his wallet.

Melanie shook her head. "Dinner's on the house tonight," she told Thomas.

"Are you sure?" Thomas asked. Melanie nodded as she stood up. "I need to get my coat from the break room, I'll meet you out front," Melanie told them. Thomas nodded and Melanie walked away.

"Are you okay?" Homer asked. Melanie shook her head and gave Homer the details of what she had just been told quickly as she pulled off the apron and slid into her jacket. "Take the price of their meals out of my pay please Homer," Melanie said softly. Homer nodded as he watched Melanie hurry out of the restaurant.