Time Goes On
by Chelle

~ CHAPTER 20 ~

I sit staring at Isaac... I was unable to move or speak. I wondered how long they had planned this. Who else in the family knew that Ike was going to take me to see her. Courtney obviously knew more about me than I did about her. I couldn't believe they were going to such lengths. "Melissa?" Courtney's voice pulled me back from my thoughts. "Huh?" I looked at her.
"I asked what happened to your forehead." she replied. "Oh," I said, reaching up and running my finger across the cut. "Zac told me and Tay last week that she got hurt on the entertainment center, then two days ago he said it was a door. She told mom it was the door today. On the way here, she said it was the entertainment center." Ike said. Courtney nodded. "Yeah, I ran into a door a lot when I was dating Zac. Sometimes, I even tripped and fell down the stairs, or I banged my arm on the kitchen counter. Once, I hit my forehead on the bedpost. Of course, I'd never been that clumsy before and I haven't been since." She sighed and Ike sit back on the couch and looked at me. "I really thought Zac would be different with you Mel. I thought he'd finally changed. He liked you a lot, that's why I wanted you to tell him you liked him. Taylor and mom, all of us thought that he was not going to do this anymore. We all thought he'd changed. Even Courtney didn't believe it at first." She nodded and laughed a little, "I really thought that he'd be different with the next girl. I couldn't believe that he was doing this to someone else. I know you feel like everyone's trying to break you guys up but no one wants for you to be unhappy. It's just that he needs help. It'll only get worse as time goes on."
I stood up and pulled my jacket on, "Ike, I want to go, now." I said.
Both of them glared at me and then she said "I didn't mean to upset you. I want us to talk. Please stay." I just shook my head and said "No, I want to leave." Ike took my hand and asked "Why? Why won't you just stay and talk about this. I thought you'd want to talk to her and..." I jerked my hand away. "NO! I want to leave now, Ike! Are you going to drive me home or do I need to start walking?" He sighed and said "Melissa, if you'd just stay for a while and..." I walked toward the door and said "No, I'm leaving now. I don't want any part of this!" My heart raced and all I could think about was getting out of there. I can't explain it, I just knew I didn't want to talk to her. Isaac stood up and said "Ok, ok, we'll leave." He grabbed his jacket and he and Courtney came to the door where I was standing. They hugged and Ike whispered "Thanks." and then she hugged me and said "Diana has my number." I just said "Bye."
Ike and me got into the car and drove home in silence.
Tons of thoughts were running through my head. When we pulled into the Hanson's driveway, Ike turned the car off and turned to face me. "Mel, she was right. It'll only get worse and next time he..." I interrupted him "Isaac, I don't want to hear this!" I looked at him and saw an expression of worry, anger and sadness. "Ike, please try to understand. I just don't believe that..." I sighed, "Zac loves me and I love him and we want to be together." He just shook his head and replied "Hell, Melissa, I just don't know what else to do. I went on this ride with Courtney and I just can't do it again. Just remember that I love you like I love my sisters. I will always be here for you." We hugged and I had never felt so safe. I felt the tears in my eyes as his hug got tighter and he began to sing softly in my ear as I cried. "When you have no light to guide you, and no one to walk beside you, I will come to you, oh I will come to you." He was very comforting and I knew that what he said was true. I really had made him run out of options. Still, I knew if I ever needed help, he'd be the one I'd call. He was like a constant source of strength and someone who would never say "I told you so."
I went inside and said a quick goodbye to everyone and kissed Zac. Then I drove home and mostly spent the rest of the night drinking coffee and thinking about the day. I thought about what Courtney had said and the tightness I'd felt in my stomach hearing her words. I thought about the way I felt a sense of a knife in my back. I thought about Isaac and the warmth and safety I'd felt sitting in his car hugging him. I thought about Zac...

The morning sun woke me out of the 4 hours I'd slept. I'd told Diana I'd be at their house early to help her with final preparations. I quickly showered and got dressed. Then I drove over to their house and Jessica let me in just as she was leaving to pick up her cousin. "She has no clue how to get here." Jess had laughed on her way out. "Mom's in the kitchen." I smiled and went into the kitchen to find Diana mixing a cake batter. "Hi Mel! Come on in sweetie! Oh, I'm so glad you're here!" I smiled and hugged her. "Is everyone, well besides Jess, still asleep?" I asked. "No," Diana shook her head as she poured the cake batter into a pan and slid it into the oven. "Walker went to pick up his brother and nephew in Little Rock, he took Mac with him. Avery is cleaning upstairs, with Zoe's help. Tori and Karen are both getting showers and dressing." She sighed heavily as she pulled another box of cake mix out of the cabinet. "What about the boys?" I asked as I got out the eggs and handed them to her. She smiled and answered "They're still asleep." We both laughed and Diana said "Melissa, Ike said you were upset yesterday and I want you to know that none of that or anything else will be brought up today. So relax and have fun! The family is really looking forward to meeting you." I felt a rush of relief flow over me and smiled "I'm looking forward to meeting them too." For the next few hours, the Hanson household took on all the craziness of trying to prepare a holiday meal for 35 people. I became aware at that time for Diana's wishes for a big kitchen when they had the house built.
At around 2:30 that afternoon, everyone started to arrive. Zac and I had retreated into his room and Walker had knocked on the door to let us know everyone was here. As we were walking out, I glanced in the mirror and made sure my hair covered the fading cut and bruise on my forehead. Then I walked downstairs and was greeted with hugs and handshakes and questions coming from all directions by everyone. Zac kept his arm protectively around me and once things settled down, I began to relax. We started dinner at around 5 and it was wonderful. I felt good being around such a close family. Since I didn't have my own, it was a comfort to at least have a boyfriend who had a close family. They had welcomed me with open arms and everyone was very friendly but not nosy... their questions were general and we laughed and talked throughout the whole dinner. Once in a while things would get quiet and we'd listen to the children laughing at their table in the den.
After dinner and a hour spent sitting in the living room talking, Zac decided to come home with me. He'd explained to everyone that we really hadn't spent a lot of time together lately and so we were excused without too many questions. We hugged and said goodbye to everyone. Ike hugged me at the door and whispered "Be careful." I nodded and Zac and I got into my car and drove back to my house.

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