Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 TITLE: Alex and Melody - A Love Story
PART: 6 of 10 -- Valentine's Day.
AUTHOR: Big Al
KEYWORDS: MF rom nosex
SUMMARY: A sappy and romantic Valentine's day.  No sex until the 8th
chapter.

   **********



   "Bye, Mama!"

   Jeanne Grace stirred and muttered something that sounded like a fond
farewell as Melody bent down to kiss her head.  Melody grinned at her
mother as she went back to sleep, then grabbed her backpack - pink of
course - and dashed from the house, bouncing down the sidewalk.

   The girl opened the passenger side door to her boyfriend's car.  "Good
morning, Alex!" she chirped brightly, leaning in to kiss him.  They savored
their mingled taste for several moments, her sweet innocence and his musky
maleness, then Melody ran her tongue lightly along his bottom lip before
giggling.

   "Mmm," her handsome teacher said, looking groggy for a moment as they
pulled apart, before recovering himself; Melody always felt light-headed
herself after their kisses.  "Not a worry about the ice on the sidewalk,
huh?" he arched his eyebrow teasingly at her as she buckled in and he
backed out of the driveway.

   "Nope!" she laughed.  "Happy Valentine's Day!"

   Alex turned his head briefly from the road to look at her with such
heartfelt warmth and adoration that her young heart melted into a puddle of
goo.  "Happy Valentine's Day, sweetheart." She was transfixed by his eyes,
pools of dark chocolate brimming with life and passion, and sighed
blissfully as he turned his gaze back to his driving.

   "Got the valentines?" the 18 year old asked.  He nodded, and she peeked
in the backseat to see the bags of valentines that Alex had for his
classes. She'd helped write several of them with him, including Hannah's.
Her questing eye didn't see any bouquet of roses though.  Knowing how
romantic her boyfriend was, she expected one, and couldn't wait to receive
her first Valentine rose.

   Perhaps he was waiting till their date tonight, she postulated as Alex
pulled into the school parking lot.

   They were early, more so than usual.  As staff, Alex had to be at
Pioneer Academy before the students, so Melody had to be as well, since he
was her ride.  But today, they were arriving extra early - before her
mother had even awakened!  - since they had to set up the valentine
goodies.

   Hand in hand, they strode through the school halls, Alex gentlemanly
toting her backpack for her.  As they arrived at their classroom, he slung
her backpack across his shoulder, freeing his hand to unlock the door.  He
turned a smile of anticipation upon her, and opened the door.

   Melody's jaw dropped, and her cute mouth worked soundlessly as she tried
vainly to squeal her delight.  At the front of the classroom, in the empty
space where Alex typically stood as he taught the class, a small table and
two chairs were set up.  A single candle was lit at the center of the
table, filling the room with a slightly smoky fragrance.  Rose petals -
lots and lots of deep red rose petals - were strewn in a plush carpeting
beneath the table.  "Fur Elise" - the song to which they had first met -
was playing softly on the desktop MP3 player.

   She finally turned to her boyfriend, who was grinning at her.  "Melody,"
he said in that deep baritone that always sent shivers up and down her
spine, "will you be my Valentine?"

   The girl giggled, and managed to put on a coy face.  "Maybe," she
allowed.  "I'll have to think about it."

   Alex laughed, a twinkle in his eye, and offered his hand to her.  She
accepted, and he seated her in a chair before sitting down in his own.  As
if on cue - and probably by design, Melody reflected - two cafeteria ladies
came in, bearing platters of hot breakfast.  Buttery hashbrowns, scrambled
eggs with cheese and bacon bits, sausage links, and fresh plump biscuits
were laid down in front of them.

   The two women were beaming at them.  "Happy Valentine's Day, you two,"
one said proudly, looking for all the world as though their relationship
was her personal achievement.  Melody laughed and thanked her, and the two
women left.  "I told you they would make a cute couple!" she said to the
other cafeteria lady as they went out, and Alex and Melody blushed at each
other.

   "We do make a cute couple," Alex smiled at her.

   "The cutest," she agreed, digging into her breakfast with relish.  Alex
just watched her for a few moments, a softness in his eyes, and she paused,
swallowing a mouthful of eggs.  "What?"

   His next words surprised her, yet seemed completely natural, spoken in a
voice overflowing with warmth and affection.  "I love you, Melody." He did;
she could see it in his eyes, those big puppy dog brown eyes swimming full
with his love for her!

   Her young heart soared, and she felt like she was the happiest girl on
Earth.  "I love you too, Alex!" she said enthusiastically in her adorable
French accent, meaning it like she had meant nothing else before.

   His breath caught slightly, as though her words had suddenly made him
realize what he had just said.  "You do?" he said, as though shocked by the
idea.

   Melody reached over the table to rub his cheek, and he placed his hand
over hers.  "It's only obvious, silly."

   He grinned - not his typical crooked grin, but a big goofball grin of
utterly silly happiness.  "I love you, Melody," he said again.  "I never
thought I would meet such a wonderful, amazing, beautiful angel." He drank
in her face, alight with happiness at his words, her full pouty lips
smiling up into her rosy cheeks beneath those gorgeous twinkling sapphires.

   Her hand never leaving his cheek, the young girl came around the table
and climbed onto his lap, kissing him deeply.  Her eyes hooded as they made
out, her lips parting as her breath came short.  When at last they pulled
apart, their faces inches apart, Melody whispered, meeting his eyes, "I
love you more than anything, Alex."

   They sat like that for several long moments, staring blissfully at each
other, marvelling at the sensation of their warm breath blowing onto each
other's faces - Alex drinking in Melody's fresh sweet scent, she inhaling
his musky maleness.  Finally Melody stirred, and added, "Except maybe
breakfast."

   He snorted a chuckle, and she giggled as he kissed her nose.  She turned
around so that she was still sitting in his lap - her favorite spot in the
whole wide world - but facing the table.  She leaned over the table to grab
her plate, and spooned the food onto his.  "Share?" she suggested, picking
up her fork and digging back in.

   "Mmm," Alex murmured, his eyes closing briefly as he smelt her gorgeous
sunshine hair.  "A little late to ask, don't you think?" Melody giggled
impishly between bites of food, and his fork soon joined hers on the plate
as they ate their shared breakfast together, a man and girl deeply in love.

   The day went by on clouds.  Alex and Melody were clearly lost in a world
of their own, especially when it was 5th period, and he taught her class.
He would trail off in the middle of his lesson for long moments at a time
as they just stared dreamily at each other, while the other seniors would
giggle and nudge each other knowingly.

   When the valentines were revealed from each student's personally
decorated shoebox, Melody and Alex traded sly looks as everyone wondered
who their secret admirer was.  Of course, there were plenty more than just
the ones they had made in each shoebox.  Melody still had plenty of
admirers who sent her cards despite her relationship with Alex.  Hannah,
though, was surprised at the sheer number of valentines she had - she
didn't realize, but her dressed-up appearance at the Christmas dance two
months ago had made quite an impression on several boys.  She blushed as
she saw the card signed from Roger, and then gasped in shock as she saw
another one from Brian.

   But at last the day was over, and Alex dropped Melody off at her house.
Although they were planning to go out on a special date that night, she
wanted plenty of time to get ready and dress up.

   So it was that at about 5 o'clock that evening, Melody had clad herself
in a red Valentine dress and was putting the finishing touches on her
ringlets of hair as she donned her bow, when she heard something - was that
music?

   Moon so bright

   Night so fine

   Keep your heart

   Here with mine

   Crinkling her brow, she went to her window and pushed it outward on its
hinges, opening her bedroom to the brisk air.  Her eyebrows shot up in
delight as she saw Alex - dressed in a nice suit and holding a bouquet of
pink and red roses - standing beneath her second floor window and
serenading her!  His marvelous baritone echoed across the yard as he sang
to her, and he grinned in the midst of his a capella as she opened her
window.

   Life's a dream.......

   We are dreaaaaaming

   Her young heart fluttered with excitement and joy - it was like a scene
out of Romeo & Juliet!  - and she joined in, singing right back at him with
her rich lovely soprano.

   Race the moon

   Catch the wind

   Ride the night

   To the end

   Seize the day......

   Stand up for the liiiiiight

   Doors and windows started opening up and down the street as curious
heads poked out to hear.  Alex and Melody's voices joined in unison for the
chorus, lost in each other as they sang their love.

   I want to spend my lifetime loving you

   If that is all in life I ever do

   A first-floor window opened, and Jeanne Grace smiled broadly to behold
this wonderful spectacle of her daughter and the man she loved serenading
each other unashamedly.  Neighbors started gathering, listening raptly as
the lovers' duet plucked their heartstrings.

   Take my hand

   Dance with me

   I want to spend my lifetime loving you

   If that is all in life I ever do

   I will want nothing else to see me through

   If I can spend my lifetime loving you

   Their belted their lungs out, pouring their hearts into the song, their
passion evident in their voices and faces, and the world seemed to crash to
a halt around them as they reached the final crescendo and drew out the end
into a hushed afterglow.

   They just stared at each other, grinning, their cheeks rosy from the
cool air and the exertion, and then blinked in surprise as the gathered
neighbors began applauding.  Whistles and cheers and encores greeted them
as they noticed their audience for the first time.  Melody giggled as Alex
blushed beet red, and then she left the window, dashing downstairs to come
outside and fling herself into Alex's arms where they devoured each other
with kisses.

   When they finally pulled apart, they bowed and curtsied graciously to
their audience, laughing gleefully, and Alex handed her the roses, which
she sniffed appreciatively.  He offered her his arm, and led her to his
car, and soon enough they were driving off to their dinner date at the
Little Louvre restaurant.

   As the neighbors left, Jeanne Grace smiled after the vanishing car. 
Melody had left her bedroom window open, but her mama was too happy for her
daughter to care about the oversight.  Chuckling fondly, she climbed the
stairs and closed the window.

   She had a hunch that her daughter and Alex would, in fact, spend their
lifetimes loving each other...

   **********

   COMMENTS: Like many authors, I love hearing positive feedback and
suggestions!  If you like, email me: big DOT al DOT author AT gmail DOT com
   NOTE: All characters are 18+