The next couple weeks were complete bliss. Melanie was great, I was happy, and we were inseparable. One night, I had taken her to a sit down restaurant and we were having a good time, I thought. Something was off with her. It was a non-genuine happiness and I could see it her face. The smile on her lips was telling me she was happy, but her eyes were telling a different story. I tried making fun of some of the people around us to get whatever was on her mind out of her thoughts. She usually liked doing that. “I bet you anything, that guy right there tried Men’s Rogaine!” pointing to a guy going bald two tables away. “How about her. She probably stuffs her bra.” Still no reaction from her. I had one last attempt. “He looks like he’s about to fall over. Hahaha...” She smiled trying to look entertained. That was it. I had to know. “Ok, what’s going on? Your mind is obviously some where else.”
“I’m sorry, I’ve just had a lot on my mind lately.”
“Like what?”
“I’ve just been having to deal with old ghosts.”
“What, like family issues? I know your mom left when you were 10. Has she tied to contact you or something?”
“I wish, but no, nothing like that. An old ‘flame’ is following me around school. Don’t worry about it, though, it’s nothing.”
“Yeah right! Is he a threat?”
“No, not really. He’s a bunch of talk.”
“Who is he? I might know him.”
“Don’t worry about it, Nick. It’s no big deal.”
“Come on, who is he?”
“Fine. If you have to know, his name is Robert. We dated for almost a year, last year.”
“Robert Daniels? I know that guy! We had PE together freshmen year. That guy’s got issues.”
“Well, I left him because he was cheating on me. He had tried to hook up with four or five other girls while we were together. It was hell trying to get away from him. He left me alone for a while but, now he’s getting more… aggressive.”
“Aggressive? I thought you said he wasn’t a threat!”
“Well, HE isn’t. Yesterday, that kid, Spaz, sent Julie to the hospital after school, then, today Robert was taking Julie’s spot on the Prom Planning Committee. Every one knows those two are friends, it couldn’t have been a coincidence.”
“Jeez, ruthless much? How can he NOT be a threat?”
“Because he would never hurt me.”
“A guy who has one of his friends take out one of your friends so he could be near you on the P.P.C., who is also STOCKING you by the way, ‘wouldn’t ever hurt you’?!? How does that work? He’s psychotic!”
“He’s not psychotic, he’s… crap.”
“You’re right, he is a piece of crap!”
“No, crap as in ‘he’s here’, crap.”
Right then I flipped around just in time to see him barge past the seating hostess and head right for us. He looked like a bull right out of the pin. This 5’10”, 150 pound, short haired high school senior was coming right for us. I stood up blocking him from Melanie as he walks up. In the background I saw the hostess get a manager and point us out. The manager grabbed the closest waiter, kind of a big guy, and they both started to walk over to us. Robert was fuming. “Nick, sit down. This doesn’t concern you!” I, being a 6’3”, 250lbs meat wall, created quite a large obstacle blocking his advancement towards Melanie. “You’re not gonna take another step closer or else you’re eating table for dinner.” Robert shut his eyes tight sighing, sounding more calm then before, “I just want a word with her.” By that time, the manager and the waiter had made their way over. “Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to leave unless you are here to buy something.”
“Fine, get me a water.”
The waiter piped up, “Hey moron, water is free.”
“And yet, I still don’t have it!”
The manager continued, “Sir, we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone, so, you can either leave voluntarily or we can force you out. Your choice.”
“Robert, do as they say or I’ll help them.” I said hoping to make him leave.
“I’m not going anywhere until I talk to Melanie.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
“Well Nick, guess tonight just isn’t your night.”
Robert went to take a swing at me but the Manager and the waiter promptly grabbed both his arms and dragged him out of the restaurant. Robert yelled back at us, “This ain’t over! I’m waitin’ for you!” I just stood there, starring at him as he was thrown out of the front doors and stumbled backwards falling onto his back. The people sitting around us started applauding the manager and the waiter as they came back in. The waiter, being a kid around our age, was the first one in. He heard the applause and took a bow with a big smile on his face. As he came back up, the manager walked in behind him and smacked him upside the head. The manager came over to us and apologized for what had happened. I told him that it wasn’t his fault and we wouldn’t hold it against the place. I complemented their swift action and the good food and told him the waiter and the chef deserved a bonus. Then I sat down and they went on their way.
“Nick, You’re not going to fight him are you?” I could tell in her voice that she was really shaken up by the whole thing. “I won’t touch him unless it’s in defense of you or me. I promise.”
“I just don’t want you to get hurt. I’ve seen him fight. He fights dirty.”
“Don’t worry, he comes out swinging. He doesn’t think. He just does. And if he’s not trained, like I know he’s not, he’ll end up looking like a fool.”
“I don’t know. He’s pretty crazy.”
“Yeah, but he’s a coward. He won’t fight me. Plus, I’m 5” taller than him and I’ve probably got a good 75-100 pounds on him.”
“I still don’t want you to.”
“Fine, I won’t. But if he starts it, I’m finishing it.”
We finished our dinner and ordered dessert. I ordered her favorite. Chocolate cake on top of a huge scoop of vanilla ice cream, with hot fudge drizzled on top of everything topped with crushed walnuts. It’s one of their best desserts by far. That seemed to cheer her up.
On our way out, I was looking around for Robert but I didn’t see him. I figured he had got tired of waiting and decided to go get back up. Robert never really fought anyone alone. He usually brought along Spaz or Don. Luke was just one of the wannabe’s who followed them around hoping for some action. Robert used him from time to time as a decoy when Robert wanted to make a surprise attack on his victim. They never fought more than two people at a time, that way they always had the advantage. They’re all cowards.
We got into the car and we headed back home. The ride back was quiet. Not much was said as we watched the street lights pass by, creating the effect of a slow strobe light in the car. I would glance over to see Melanie’s face slowly change in every passing light. I couldn’t tell if she was becoming happier or blocking out the fear of something happening. I wished there was something I could have done for her but I didn’t know what to say. When we got to her house, I got out and opened her door for her. She stepped out and mumbled what I could only assume was a thank you. As I walked her to her front door, I put my arm around her, trying my best to comfort her. Before she went inside, she turned to me, placed her hands on the back of my neck, leaned me in and kissed me. Then I knew for sure she was worried about me. It was one of those prolonged last kisses that you never wanted to end because you didn’t know if you would ever see them again. Then she said “good night” and thanked me for dinner. I said she was welcome and stood there until she locked the door. Then I turned to leave.
I was walking back to my car when I got pegged in the side of the head with a paint ball. It hit me in the temple and instantly I became disoriented. The gun must have been chronoed up to at least 500 fps. Everything went fuzzy for a second and I could feel the adrenaline rush through my veins. I tried to focus on where the shot came from when things were just starting to become clear. I rubbed my eyes to clear things up more just in time to see Robert swinging an aluminum bat at my head. I ducked at the last moment but got pelted in the side by Don and his dang paint ball gun! Seemed to me that any time I got a chance to get away Don was to shoot me with a super powered paint ball. I turned around, rubbing my eyes again, to see Robert coming back for another swing. I stood up, getting ready to catch the bat. As he came in full speed, I caught the bat in my stomach with my arms. I stepped to the side, away from Robert, taking the bat out of his hands and spinning around holding him between Don and me as he took a few shots from Don. Robert got hit three times, once in the chest, one in the thigh, and once right in the groin. I repositioned Robert into a sleeper hold as I walked towards Don, using Robert as a human meat shield. Don kept trying to hit me, though (moron). He missed me but hit Robert pretty accurately 5 more times. By the time I got to Don, he’d taken a few steps back and Robert was knocked out from my hold, so I threw him to the side and knocked the gun from Dons hands. He took a swing at me, but I saw it coming. I ducked, punching him in the stomach at the same time. He doubled over as I just stood over him. I pulled out my phone to call 9-1-1 but as I did, I felt a sharp pain in the back of the neck. Before I could react, I felt my body start convulsing, and then everything went black.
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