Somebody to Love

The following day, I had Maddy meet at my house to meet the infamous Melanie before the game. She seemed to be a bit...um...apprehensive about it, since she was the woman Nick cheated on me with. Melanie was nervous as could be, knowing she was the other woman in her friend's relationship and that she probably hated her. I don't know why she's so nervous about it.

"Will she like me?" Melanie asked.

"Of course she will."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Why would you even doubt that?"

"You know why."

"She doesn't know you. Just like I didn't know you till over a week ago."

She nodded.

A knock on the door startled her, so I went to answer the door.

"Hey." I said embracing her.

"Hey. How are you?"

"Good, you?"

"Good."

"Ready to meet Mel?"

"Yeah." she said taking a deep breath.

We walked into the living room where Melanie was sitting on the couch. She stood up as we reached where she was.

"Maddy, this is Melanie. Melanie, this is Maddy."

"Nice to meet you." Maddy said.

"Nice to meet you too."

Things seemed tense for about five minutes, but then it eased up and they got to talking.

"So, how long have you and your boyfriend been dating?" Melanie asked ten minutes later.

"About three-four months ago, we met while I was out running errands. He's a high school science teacher in the same district I teach in."

And off they went to talking up a storm while I walked into the kitchen to make homemade sesame chicken and rice aka my specialty for lunch.

"What's that wonderful smell?" Melanie asked.

"My famous sesame chicken and rice."

"Mmm..." I heard from Maddy.

I laughed.

"I haven't made it for a while, so I'll make it now and again when Marc comes back from Ottawa."

"You don't make it all at once?"

"No. I want to make it fresh for him. A welcome home meal, if you will."

"So, I get to have it twice?" Melanie asked excitedly.

I laughed again.

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Yes!" she cheered.

About twenty minutes or so, lunch was served in the living room.

"How is it?" I asked Melanie especially.

"Delicious. When did you learn to make this?"

"When I started college. One night, my dormmate invited me to dinner at her parent's house. So, her mother made sesame chicken for dinner and it was absolutely amazing. I told her I wanted to learn to make it, so she taught me how."

"That is awesome." Melanie said.

I nodded. Just minutes later, we heard a knock on the door. I was afraid that it was Nick looking for Melanie. She had her phone yesterday afraid of him getting a hold of her. I kinda wanna tell her to get a new number, but it shouldn't be too hard to get rid of him for good.
She looked at me worriedly, not wanting to answer the door.

"I'll get it. Don't worry. If it's Nick, then I'll find a way to get rid of him. If it's not, we'll be fine."

She nodded and sat closer to Maddy who wrapped an arm around her. I smiled. I opened the door to Nick who immediately punched me the way he did seven months ago.

"Where's the bitch?! Where is she? I know she's here."

They ran as far as they could and hid in a guest room.

"I'm not telling you where she is. You don't deserve to know!"

He hit me again, breaking my nose and knocking me to the ground. I got up and pushed him and ran to where they were. He tried to catch me, but he couldn't, so I took the opportunity to call 911.

"Open the door! Please!" I cried.

They did and I shut it behind me, locking it.

"Are you okay? What happened?"

"I don't know. He came in, punched me the way he did all those months ago and after I didn't tell him where you were, he hit me again and broke my nose and knocked me to the ground. The police are on their way."

I then heard me violently knock on the door. They embraced me and we cried.

"LET ME IN!"

"Are you gonna call Marc?" Melanie asked.

"Yeah, but I don't know when. I need him right now, but he has a game tonight. I hate this." I said as my heart continued to race.

Less than ten minutes later, I heard the police come in. They knocked on the door, but I knew I had to yell really loud.

"COME IN! We're hiding!"

And they did. They busted through the door and I heard them knock him to the ground.

"Miss?" an officer asked opening the door.

"Yes?"

"Are you harmed?"

"Yes. He punched me in the eye and I think he broke my nose."

"Come with me." he said holding out his hand.

We all walked out to find an officer putting cuffs on Nick and walking him out the door all the while reading his rights; rights he doesn't deserve. We made our way out front and each gave our statements. Then, I got my face looked at it and I was right. I broke my nose.

"How are you?" Maddy asked with a hand on my shoulder.

"Ok. You?"

"I'm fine. I was just terrified and worried about you."

"Me too." Melanie agreed hugging me as did my best friend.

"I love you guys, you know that?" I said with tears in my eyes.

"We love you too." they said hugging me tighter.

After the police and ambulance left, I decided to call Marc with my friends by my side on the couch. I took a deep breath and pressed his number on speed dial.

"Hello?" he asked after three rings.

"Hey." I said in a hushed tone.

"Is something wrong?"

"Um...there was. Nick came here asking for Melanie."

"Are you okay? Is everyone okay?"

"I'm okay. They're okay, but he came in and immediately hit me they way he did months ago and broke my nose."

"Oh mon Dieu. I'm gonna kill him!"

"No, you're not. He's in custody and I pressed charges."

"I don't wanna be here tonight."

"Please. You'll be home Tuesday night. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?"

"100%. Everyone will be okay."

"I'm taking your word for it."

"Good. Thank you."

That night, we relaxed and sat down to watch the movie, but honestly, how can you really relax during a hockey game? Luckily, my boys won 4-2 as Marc had an outstanding game. I couldn't wait for the next one.

Notes