CHAPTER 14

MEL'S P.O.V.

I was still crying by the time I got home. I tried, severely, to stop but, I couldn't stop. No matter how hard I tried. I even opted sending my thoughts somewhere else but, I couldn't

It was my fault. It was all my fault

It didn't matter what they said, it was all my fault. If I didn't do what I didn't, that would not have had to happen. I shouldn't have tried to help, I should have just done what I was told to do.. It happened because of me. All because of me

As soon as I got home, I just went straight to bed, I couldn't even try to consider doing anything

"Hey mom" I greeted my mom

I decided before sleeping that I was going to visit her. I had called Alex that I would not be able to come to work today

"Sorry for not visiting you earlier" I told her but she did not answer. Sometimes, I had wished that she would answer. The only thing she could do was was to stare at me; she could even comfort me, but strangely, I often feel comforted even time I visit her.

I stare at her. There were four pictures; some were framed, while some were left bare. One was of her, my dad and me, another one was of her and my dad. The third one was of me and her while the last one was just her

The columbarium. That was one place I hated and didn't ever want to go to, but unfortunately, I had been coming here ever since I was eight. At the beginning, I came with my dad but, I started coming by myself, alone

"I'm so sorry, mom"

The tears started coming again

"It's all my fault. I'm so sorry mom" I told her

I gave her favorite flowers, spent some time with her, then left

It was around evening by the time I went home but, it was worth it. As I checked my phone, I saw twenty two missed calls from Jace. I don't usually take my phone with me, just in case there might be distractions, and in the case, there would have been. I wasn't really angry with him. It was my fault. I could have just left him alone. And also I knew he didn't really mean it; it was a result of his anger. Someone might give up, I even wanted to give up but, no matter how much I told myself not to bother him anymore I couldn't do it. I was not usually like this, even if I wanted to help someone, I would like if they reject it the first but, why couldn't I do that now? I don't know for myself

I looked at my phone again, even if I wasn't really angry at him, I was, for sure, angry

"Mel?"

"Hey Alex"

"It's you"

"Yeah. Uhm, I was wondering if you could give me Jace's address?"

"I can but, why do you want it?"

"I may or may not be attempting murder"

He laughed

"I see. Do I need to get prepared to be called to a police station?"

I smiled

"No, don't worry. I intend to clean every trail up well, so no one would even consider me as the suspect. You just have to pretend as if you know nothing"

"Okay. Well then, good luck"

He gave me the address after which we hung up

Luckily but without sense, Jace left his front door opened

Doesn't he have a sense of something called security?

I didn't want to call his name, so I checked where he was but he wasn't anywhere downstairs. With a prayer not to see anything I was not meant to see, I set up the stairs. As I opened what I assumed to be his bed room door the first thing I heard was

"MEL!!!" him screaming my name into his phone and like the mannered woman that I was

"What?" I answered

"I'm sorry for shouting at you that day, Mel. Please trust me when I say that I didn't mean it. I just _" he hesitated

"Snapped" I finished the statement for him

"Yeah" he agreed bending his head slightly

Although I knew what the answer might be, I still couldn't help but to ask

"If I ask you why, would you answer?"

"I don't know but _" he raised his head

"You would not snap again, right?" I asked wanting to lift the atmosphere a little bit and it worked

"No, not this time" he answered with a slight smile. " I know you mean well but, I just can't"

"Can you at least tell me why you can't tell me?" I asked hopefully

"Mel"

" Please?" I persisted

He signed but raised three fingers up, placing one down after the other

"One, you may not mean what you say. Two, it's may be dangerous for you Mel. Very dangerous. And three, I don't want to rely on someone. I may be hoping for me to be able to rely on you, Mel, but I don't want to. It would be painful when you are not there anymore"

After he finished, I stood up and walked over to him. I smiled at his questioning look and hugged. I could feel him stiffen immediately; he was probably not used to someone hugging him.

"I don't know what happened and I don't know when or how but, I will get you to open up." I told him

"Mel" he tried to disintegrate but I was not agreeing to that

"I will always be there, Jace. No matter what. I will show you that you can rely on me and that when you do, I won't leave" I continued

He signed and relaxed a bit on me

"But for now," I retreated, "I have to leave. I tend on going to work tomorrow and it's getting a bit late" I went to picked up my bag for the couch

Before I completely left, I turned to him and with a smile

"Bye. See you tomorrow, Jace" I said and left

8:30

Not bad

I took a shower and wore a black blazer and jeans along with a pair of beige flats

I managed a peanut butter sandwich before I set off to work

I got to work at 9:24 which was okay by me. Since his bag wasn't here yet, I knew he had not yet resumed for duties. I didn't want to settle down yet, so I just placed my bag on my chair and went to the lab

"Hey Olive"

"Hey Mel"

"You are here early" I stated

"Yeah. Woke up early, didn't want to log around the house, so I just came early" she explained

"I see"

"What brings you here by the way?" she asked me

"Oh, nothing much. I was just wondering about but, I guess my feet brought me here"

"That's great then. I was getting to regret coming to work earlier than usual"

I smiled

We talked about random things. Oliver and I were friends, But I think I am closer to Sky. Nevertheless, the three of us were good friends

"My, would you look at the time?" Olive said

I looked at my watch; 10;05

"I guess we talked into work time" I said smiling

"We did. See you later, Mel"

"Sure"

"Hey" I greeted Jace. He was in the office this time

"Hey" he greeted back

There was something I was going to tell him but, I forgot

What could it b..?

"That's right" I remembered

I dragged my chair over to beside Jace while he just looked at me quizzically

"I found a way" I said

"A way to what?" he asked

Has he forgotten, or does he still think I'm joking? I asked myself

"We should get to know each other better. If we do that, you may feel more comfortable around me, and then, who knows" I shrugged at the 'who knows'

"Mel?" he called pinching the bridge of his nose

"So I was thinking. Why don't we hang out, maybe go out for dinner and talk? We can even do something else you want" I ignored his subtle complaint

"You don't give up, do you?"

"Nope, so when do you want to do it? As far as I have nothing to do at that time, we can do it whenever you want"

He was about to respond but, a knock interrupted him.

"Guys, we have a new case" Sky said

Subconsciously, I turned to look at Jace

Oh no