Same Old Gang Chapter Fourteen

I spent the better part of the day packing up my desk and saying goodbye to some of my favorite students on the last day of school. I had rented a summer house with a couple of the teachers and I was excited to be going away for a month. I was starting to pack when my phone rang. I didn't recognize the number but I anwsered it anyway.





" Hello?"





" Is this Melany Myers?" a very buisness like voice asked me on the other end of the line





" Yea, who is this?"





" I'm calling from Mercy hospital. You're father was admitted through the emergency room early this morning and this was the emergency number that he had listed in his files."





" Oh my god. What happened? Is everything all right?"





" I'm not suppose to give you any information over the phone but it looks like he had a major heart attack. We have him stable and resting as comfortably as possible but I think that it would be best if you got here as soon as possible."





" Thank you. Can you please let him know that I will be there as soon as I can?"





" Sure."





I hung up the phone and quickly threw the remaining clothes that I had laying out in my bag. I threw it in my Jeep and called my friends to let them know that I probably wouldn't be able to join them but that they could keep the money that I had given them to pay on the house. My mind was racing as I made the long drive back to my hometown. Even though my dad had a couple of slip ups since the day that he had gotten help he had basically been sober all of these years and we had gotten closer because of it. I hated to think of him in any kind of pain and I prayed that he was going to be alright. It wasn't until I pulled into town and saw the sign announcing Thunder Bay as the home of nhl players Eric, Marc, and Jordan Staal that I even thought about what else coming home could mean.





" Shit" I muttered to myself. The last person that I wanted to see was Jordan but with any luck I would just be able to avoid him. Regardless I needed to be here for my dad.





Even though it was late I drove straight to the hospital. I went right to the desk and they gave me the room number. I made my way to the room and was upset by what I saw. He was laying in the bed with tubes sticking out of various parts of his body and he looked frail. I went over to his bed and gently took his hand. He cracked open his eyes and smiled when he saw me.





" Hey sweetie."





" Hey dad. How are you?"





He gave a short strained laugh.





" I've been better."





" Yeah I can see that."





" I'm glad that you came though. I know how much you hate spending time around here anymore."





" Dad you know that there isn't anywhere more important that I have to be"





" So just last week Linda and Henry were asking how you were doing?" he said changing the subject. It made my heart ache a little to hear that. They had become surrogate parents to me in the time that I had spent with them and I missed them like crazy but I didn't feel right keeping in contact after things had ended between their son and me.





" Really? And what did you tell them?"





" That you were doing really good and that I couldn't be prouder of you. That seemed to make them really happy."





" Um that's good."





" Why don't you go to the house and get some sleep. I'll still be here in the morning I promise."





" Alright. I'll be here bright and early."





I left and I started to head home but on the way I saw the bar that we had taken my dad out of that night and I couldn't resist stopping for one drink. I made my way inside and slid onto a bar stool. I ordered my drink and sat there keeping to myself. I was lost in my thoughts when I heard someone behind me. I turned around to see Marc standing there with a tall thin blond who was looking around the place like she had just smelled something bad.





" Wow look at you. All grown up and sophisticated." I said as I pulled him into a tight hug. I didn't realize until now how much I had really missed him and the other boys.





" I can say the same about you. How's everything been?" We got caught up and he introduced me to his girlfriend from New York, Marissa. I immediatly knew what kind of girl she was but she seemed to make him happy. We talked for a few more minutes when I spied a familiar figure walking through the door with a girl that looked similar to Marc's girlfriend. He looked around the room and I had always thought it was a stupid saying but time seemed to really stop as his eyes met and held mine.God he looked even better than the last time I had seen him. My instinct was to get up and bolt out of there as fast as I could. I stood up and Marc's eyes went to where I was looking. He grabbed my arm and tried to get me to stay.





" Despite everything that happened between you two I know that my brother will want to talk to you so please don't run. Besides Eric, Tanya and Jared will be here soon and they will kill me if they found out I let you leave before they got a chance to say hi ." I thought about what he said and nodded my head as I sat back on my seat. I was an adult and damn it I could deal with this like one.








Jordan's Pov





We had gotten into town the night before and I had agreed to go out with my brother and all of their girlfriends or in Eric's case his wife since him and Tanya had gotten married a few years back. I was leading Trina into the bar when I suddenly stopped dead in my tracks. I had to be seeing things. That couldn't possibly be Mel sitting at the bar talking to Marc. I stared and her eyes finally found mine. She looked like she wanted to run and it appeared that was exactly what she was going to do but as she went to get up Marc grabbed her arm and pulled her down enough to say something to here. Whatever it was made her stay and for that I was grateful. I was brought out of my thoughts when I felt nails dig into my arms. Apparently Trina had seen her to and didn't like that I was staring and this was her way of letting me know. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders as I led her over to where they were sitting. She already knew who my brother Marc was and he introduced us to his girlfriend. Marc looked at Mel, who was sitting beside him looking at the beer bottle that she was currently holding in her hands.



" Trina this is Melany. Melany this is Trina."



" His girlfriend" she added



" Yeah I kinda figured that." She snorted finally looking at Trina and finally me. I didn't think it would be possible but she was even more beautiful than I remember her.



" So Mel was just telling me about her job at a school in Toronto as a guidence counseler."



" Really? That's great" I said with probably way to much enthusiasm



" Yeah I really love it. It's so great knowing that I can help someone who needs it like I did." she smiled a genuine smile and it made me wish that the smile on her face was because of me



" So all you do is sit around and listen to teenagers whine about their problems. And you get paid for it? Must be nice." Trina snorted



I gave her a look that was meant to convey that she needed to stop being such a bitch and she must've gotten the message because she muttered " What?" but stopped. Soon enough everybody else showed up and they were all glad to see her. It made me jealous to see my brothers able to hug her when I wasn't allowed to touch her but I hadn't had that right in a long time. The time pasted quickly and by the end of the night we were all drunk but she was totally three sheets to the wind. I knew that it would start a fight but I offered to take her to her house so she wouldn't have to drive.



" Trina she needs a friend right now. Please just go with Eric and Tanya and I'll be home in a little while I promise."



" Fine but when we get back to Pittsburgh your going to take me shopping so I can buy that bag that I've been eyeing for a month."



I let out a sigh. It was always about money with this girl.



" Sure babe whatever you want. I'll be back as soon as I can."



She pouted but she went with Eric without anymore argument. I went to the entrance of the bar where Mel was leaning heavily against Marc and giggling for some unknown reason.



" Jordie's going to take you home okay?"



" Hmmhmm"



I grabbed her and picked her up in my arms. Her hand went to the back of my neck and her head heavily on my chest. I loaded her up into my suv and we left. I was pretty sure that she had passed out so I was surprised when I heard her voice.



" I'm sorry Jordie. About everything."



" I know babe. So am I."



I felt a familiar weight as she leaned against me.



" I've missed you so much. There hasn't been anyone since you"



I knew that she wouldn't be saying these things to me if she weren't so drunk but it made made my heart jump to hear them anyway. She sat up so I could feel her breath on my ear and side of my neck. I couldn't help but shiver.



" Remember the first time that we made love? You were so gentle and sweet and when I tried to get you to hurry up you said we had a lifetime ahead of us to hurry and that you wanted to take your time so you could get to know every part of me."



" Yeah I remember" I choked out as memories of that night flashed through my head. Thankfully we pulled into her driveway before she could say more. I managed to get her out of the car and into the house before she had to go to the bathroom and throw up. I held her hair off of her neck until she was done and than helped her into bed.



" Don't leave" she whimpered as she wrapped the comforter around herself. I knew that it wasn't right but I couldn't pass up the oppourtunity to be with her. I took off my shoes and laid on top of the blanket. I didn't have any idea how she would react to me being here in the morning but right now that was the farthest thing from my mind as she curled into me and went to sleep.