Midnight In The Path Of Good and Evil (Part 4 )

JP with LSP, Redsword, and Cindy

Around 12:45 (until after 1:30 AM)

Matt grew concerned when the text came through but only texted back that he'd take care of it.

Melissa just said "OK" to Dante she didn't want to talk much.

The journey back was slow going but they made it. Courtney did spot Dante’s flip-flops and picked them up. They did make it back to the beach and Courtney led them the way the least amount of people would see them to the front of the guest house. As promised Matt was there with the nurse.

"Bring her this way." While normally the boys weren't allowed in there this was clearly a special circumstance. The nurse-led them to the first guest room on the first floor. There was a desk, chair, a few medical items set up. Clearly, it was used as the nurse’s room for the trip. "Put her on here." The nurse pointed to an exam table that was set up in the room. Once Melissa was on the table the nurse said that she needed to exam Mel in private. She also added that she would need to talk to Courtney, Conner, and Dante when she was done.

Courtney did what was asked but told Mel she'd be back soon. Then she left the room and walked outside. She took a few deep breaths, pulled out Mel's phone, and just stared at it for a moment.

"Do I need to ask?" Matt had come over when he saw Courtney emerge from the guest house.

"No," Courtney said. "Mel hasn't said what happened but I have a good idea."

Matt sighed. He wasn't that involved with all of this, much more than helping out Courtney but even he wanted to kick Doug's ass right now. He couldn't read Courtney the way Conner could but he did know Courtney had probably kept it together for Mel's sake. However, right now she seemed lost? Maybe. "You know you can say anything to me, right?"

"I should have kept a better eye on her."

"Don't do that. This isn't your fault."

"No, it's Doug's fault. The ass. But I feel like I failed at this."

"You can't be expected to keep an eye on her every minute of every day. That is an impossible task. She was fine when you went to get your jacket, right."

"Yeah."

"Then I don't know what else you could have done."

"I suppose so." She didn't sound overly convinced but Matt figured it'd probably pass.

After Conner calmed down some he walks over to Matt and Courtney. "Matt, I need to talk to Courtney alone for a sec if it is alright?" he asked. He looked over to Dante as well “hay Dante got a minute?" When the three were together. "What’s is the story going to be for us three? We were walking and found her? Or the truth and everything we know?" asked Conner.

"If we lie we will be complicit." Dante said. "We don't know what she's going to say. But we can't just lie. If we do we are protecting Doug and not Mel."

Conner was quiet for a moment "I was not going to lie. I made a promise to Mel not to say too much and I don't want to cover for Doug either. I was going to tell them I found her that way. we all know you or I can deal with Doug if need bee but If Mel does not say much the nurse will try to get out of us. Courtney, you know this situation best what do you think?" He asks Courtney

Matt had left and now Courtney sat there trying to figure this out. She was quiet for a moment; then said. "I don't think Mel will say anything. I think she's too scared of Doug." She turned to Dante. "There is something I think you should know. We suspect Doug has something on Melissa. I'm concerned about what he'll do, to her, if we say everything." Another moment. "I say we tell what we know to be true. That we went looking for them because we were concerned but that none of us actually saw Doug with her. Right now what we really have is a lot of suspicions and no real proof, even though we all know what happened."

Conner looked at the ground thinking "I am good with that explanation. Dante what do you think? besides kicking Doug’s ass." asked Conner

"I won't offer more than info than I have to." Dante said, "But if asked direct questions I won't lie." He added.

"I don't think any of us will lie," Courtney said. "I don't think any of us are saying to do that." She sighed. "I'm just saying we don't offer what we don't have first-hand knowledge of." Anything they didn't have first-hand knowledge of would be met with a lot of questions if they could prove it anyway.

"I agree none of us would lie. and all agree on that. We will just have to wait for the nurse and probably security depending on what Mel tells her. I think they have to make an injury report they do it all the time with sports or if you get hurt on school property" replies Conner.

Dante nodded. "Fine, I won't lie and I won't tell what I believe to be fact as if it is fact," he said, taking a seat on the steps of the guest house. "I should have just kicked his ass yesterday," he added.

Courtney sat down as well. She would talk more to Dante later. Right now, her focus was more on Melissa.

It took several more minutes but eventually, the nurse came out and went over to the three on the steps. "Melissa will be ok but she'll need to take it easy for the next few days. She'll probably need some help."

Courtney spoke up: "I'll make sure she's covered "

"Good." The nurse then spoke up again. "I didn't want to upset her by asking too much and she wasn't offering much information. Did any of you actually see what happened?"

How Courtney wished the question had been worded differently but as it was she could only say. "No. We found Melissa after she was injured."

The nurse then asked both Conner and Dante the same question. Did either of them see what happened? Just to make sure. Once they answered she went on. "OK, then I'm going to report this. You might be asked more questions when we are back at school." The nurse reached in her pocket and handed both Dante and Conner a card about the size of an index card. "In case Melissa needs more help than Courtney can provide her. Like carrying something. This gives you access to the girls’ guest house for the rest of the night and tomorrow. Don't abuse this. If we need to make arrangements at the school we can do that. Also, I informed the main chaperone at the boys’ guest house that you'd be late getting back." Just to let them know as it was past curfew but the nurse doubted any of them were thinking of it. "Melissa is in the room next to the exam room. Courtney, you can spend the night with her if you want. I'll get you a key card for it. " Turning back to Dante and Conner. "Melissa wants to see both of you. All three of you can follow me."

"Yes, Ma'am "replied Conner as he followed the others.

"Yes, Ma'am." Dante echoed, dusted the sand off his feet and stood with others.

They were led past the front desk, down the front hall to the room which was next to the exam room. The nurse entered the room with a key card. She then said. "I'll get the extra key card. I'll be right back." Leaving the four of them in the room together.

Melissa's right ankle and arm were in velcro support braces. Her eye was forming a bruise and was a little swollen. To the left side of her bed, against the wall, was a pair of crutches. Seeing the three of them almost made Mel want to cry, again but she held it back. "I just wanted to thank all of you for finding me. I didn't think I'd need a rescue party the first week of school but I'm glad you all showed up." She knew, without them telling her, that they had come looking for her. She really couldn't do more than to thank them but it didn't feel like enough.(edited)

Conner looked at the other two and answered "No problem Mel. Any time you can call me and I will come to help you out on or off stage" he said with a cute grin.

Courtney smiled at Mel and pointed to Conner. "What this guy said. I always have your back. Although, maybe I'll leave the on-stage stuff to others from now on." It was a light joke to lighten the mood. And it did get a slight but brief smile from Melissa.

Dante rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry, I kind of feel like this is a bit my fault." he said, "I didn't think this would happen."

Courtney gently touched Conner's arm and asked him. "Can you help bring down mine and Mel's things?" She then turned to Mel. "Is it just the two bags? I can get the beach things tomorrow if you're up for it." Melissa said it was just the two things and her charger. Which reminded Courtney. "Here's your phone." She had removed the broken tempered glass when they were outside. So, Melissa would be able to use her phone. Courtney then turned to Dante. "Do you mind waiting here a moment?" She wanted to give the two a chance to talk.

"Yeah I can stay, so long as the nurse is okay with my being the only one in here." Dante responded.

"I'll check with her. " With that Courtney left the room coming back a moment later. "She said it was fine. Just leave the door opened a crack." Really the nurse had said she wasn't really worried about anything happening given Mel's condition.

"Alright," Dante said, leaving the door cracked and pulling up the chair in the room. Dante began again in a lower tone. "I know you'll say it’s not my fault. Still kind of feel responsible." he said, "I poked the bear, I won't lie to you, part of me was looking for a reason to teach him a lesson. 'Self defense' he swings first I've got carte blanche to lay him out. But didn't realize he was a mental as he is, thought he was just an angry prick."

Conner was not sure what Dante was up to in the end but wish he could do more to help Mel. He had promised not to get too involved. Conner knew if he saw Doug tonight he personally did not know if he could hold himself back. He heard what Courtney asked him but did not answer right away. Conner was thinking about what was next and would he just sit back like nothing happened. "Oh, Courtney ya I will get the bags no problem." Conner paused "Dante, there is no excuse for what Doug did regardless of what you did he is a coward. He will be dealt with at some point." said Conner now sounding a bit irritated.

Courtney pulled out her phone to text Sam so she could warn the girls in their room she'd be coming in with Conner. Then she led Conner to the elevator. Up to the third floor and down the hall to the room but before they went into the room and said. "How do I stop that from happening, again? I can't watch her all the time."

Conner and Courtney left before Melissa spoke up. "I don't blame you. Things weren't good before your song." She wanted to actually say Doug's name but she couldn't. She was scared of the retribution if she did. So, she never said his name but she knew that they knew Doug had done this to her. "Some guys are just angry. No matter what. I think I just provoke it in some people." There was something in her voice like she was thinking of something past. She blamed herself, though it wasn't her fault, yet, in her mind, the fact that this kind of thing had happened before was making her think, maybe, it was her. "I really wish you wouldn't blame yourself. But I'm not sure that'll happen." This was maybe an odd statement to make given that she had just blamed herself but she certainly didn't blame Dante.

Conner thought on Courtney's question as they walked. "How do we keep it from happening again," mumbled the question a few times again in thought. “ She needs to stay away from him or if she is with him always be in a public place. But we both know that's not going to happen. But if he does it again I will not hold back and I will kick his ass. That's if Dante does not get to him first. I am sure there will be a line of people that will want to beat Doug into the ground." Conner paused as someone walked by he waited until they passed. "Just be careful around Doug. If he even touches you, So help me I will break his arms. That's If Matt does not do it first." Conner gives a sigh "I am just getting angry now. That's how I feel and think about it." He says almost sounding depressed.

Dante nodded, "I'll try, just to give you some piece of mind but I don't know if I fully will accept that I didn't at the very least cause some harm. The way things went the other day I figured things would go different." Dante squinted at her his face looking trapped in thought but he just couldn't really see all the well. "You don't provoke anger in people." he added, "Angry people are just drawn to people they think are easy to manipulate, like flies to shit. Most of those people tend to be angry more so at themselves but are too damn proud to admit THEY are the ones that need the help and take it out on others. How I see it..." Dante lowered his voice, "He's a tiny man with a tinier dick, and he takes out his impotent rage on women who'll never love him for anything but the money that is actually daddy's money."

Melissa didn't even know what to say to Dante's words. She had such a hard time believing she wasn't at fault for things that had happened. If she had only done this differently or said something else but maybe in the pockets of her mind was thought that it wasn't her fault.

The nurse entered the room right after Courtney and Conner and said. "Ok, you two," clearly speaking to Dante and Conner, "it's time to go. Melissa needs her rest." She stood by the door waiting for their departure, closing the door after them when they left.