How To End In Order To Begin

The sky was blue and the sun bright as Mel and Carter stepped outside to the area with the picnic tables.

"I'm nervous about this," Melissa confessed. "What if he loses it?"

"I'll be right there, and if he does try anything we have these remember." Carter held up his cell phone, then nodded towards the table full of the main group, "Besides, it looks like you have plenty of backup."

Mel stopped in her tracks when she saw all the people at the table with Courtney. "I wasn't expecting that."

"He's here already," Carter noticed Doug at a table by himself. Perfect. "You ready?"

Taking a deep breath, the girl nodded. "As ready as I'm going to be."

The two friends walked towards Doug who didn't look happy but he never looked happy.

"What did I tell you two about spending time together without me?" Was the first thing out of Doug's mouth. "Melissa, come with me."

"No." Mel quietly spoke, Carter gently put his hand on her arm.

"What did you say to me?" Doug started to stand, Mel stepped back.

"No, I won't go with you. Not again. No more of your "walks." I'm done Doug. Done with this relationship. Done with you." Mel had found her voice.

"You know what will happen," Doug said half under his breath, not loud enough for anyone else to hear.

Carter scrolled through his phone and held it up.

Mel simply said, "Show him."

One movement of Carter's finger, and Doug was watching himself and what had happened yesterday. No one was supposed to know and now they did.

Doug practically fell back into the seat. "How - you can't - it would destroy me at this school."

"And now you know how it feels," Melissa responded, "Stay away from me and Carter or this will go all over school, and clearly you know it would be worse than what you have on me. We're done."

Doug's anger didn't subside for long and as Mel tried to walk away he grabbed her wrist.

"Let go of her, " Carter said and held his phone back up.

"Where are you going?" Doug hissed but let go of the girl.

"To sit with my friends." Mel responded.

With that Mel and Carter walked away and took seats at the table. Carter sat by Blossom. Mel sat by Courtney.

Doug stood up, glared at Mel and Carter and stormed off.

It didn't matter, for the first time in what seemed like forever, Melissa and Carter were free.