Doctor's Orders

Teenage Dream

Chapter 8

Melissa

“Mommy! Wake up!” calls Jake. But my eyes are too heavy to open.

“Ask Will to make you breakfast, sweetie.” I grumble, “And please turn off that loud music, please.”

“That’s not me, Mommy,” says Jake, “It’s from outside.”

I listen to that familiar song. That song from almost 3 months ago.

You think I’m pretty without any makeup on

You think I’m funny when I tell the punchline wrong

 I know you get me, so I let my walls come down. Down.

I quickly get out of bed and run towards the window as I hear the voice singing the song. I see William down the street on a stage, wearing the same outfit he wore the moment we met. Topless and jeans. Mic in hand, he continues to sing next to a familiar girl next to him.

A marching band appears from the other street as William continues to sing.

Let’s go all the way, tonight

No regrets just love

We can dance until we die.

You and I. We’ll be young forever.

As soon as the chorus hits, another familiar-looking woman takes over and belts out.

You.Make.Me. Feel like I’m living a. Teenage. Dream.

“Mommy! That’s Katy Perry!” Jake shouts in excitement.

A cavalcade of ripped men in skimpy clothes marches down the road, holding balloons and enlarged pictures of William and me.

Don’t ever look back. Don’t ever look back

William crosses the road after Katy Perry sings the last line of the chorus and knocks on the door.

I nearly stumble as I run down the stairs and open the door. William smiles, “You like it?”

I step out of the door and look at the crowd gathered outside. “This is too much, Will! Is that really Katy Perry?”

“You betcha,” she replies on the mic and waves back to me. “I love your lingerie, darling. Is that Victoria’s Secret?”

It takes me a while to notice that I am standing outside of my house wearing nothing but my underwear on.

“I don’t know if you remember, but this is what I was wearing when we met three months ago,” he explains.

“That doesn’t explain all this!” I scold.

William laughs, “The months fly by so fast, Melissa. I barely notice the time when all I ever see with my eyes and in my mind is you. That’s why, before I lose any more time and before I move on to the next step in the journey of our lives, I want to do over how we met.”

“You really had to hire Katy Perry for this?” I complain.

“Honey,” Katy interrupts, “Just keep quiet and let the topless hunk speak.” The crowd laughs.

“Thanks, Katy,” says William before turning back to me, “Hi! Your tires now all fixed up and ready to go.”

He stops and stares at me as if waiting for me to say my line.

“Oh. Uh. Thank you, kind sir?” I awkwardly reply.

“No thanks, necessary,” William continues, “But I do sure hope you’d at least give me  your name and would be willing enough to join me for dinner tonight.”

Silence again fills the air; only this time, I can see the crowd behind William waiting in anticipation.

“Oh. Uh. Sure. My name’s Melissa. Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, Melissa. Pick you up at eight?”

“Sure.”

“Great,” William replies before kneeling in front of me. The crowd gasps at his sudden act.

“Melissa McAdams,” Michael continues, “This has been the craziest last three months of my life. Who could have known that this damsel in distress would end up saving me instead? Before I met you, I had already slept with around 134 girls and ghosted them as soon as the sun rose up. Hell, had I met Katy three months ago, she would have been Miss 135.”

“In your dreams, jerk,” Katy replies on the mic, “But if ever she dumps your sorry ass…” she jokingly hand gestures at me to call her and winks. The crowd laughs and boos Katy. I smile and raise my middle finger at her.

“It was a joke!” she defends, “As if you wouldn’t do the same in my shoes.”

Michael turns back to me, “But here’s the thing, I didn’t only meet you, I also met Jake, your beautiful, brave little boy. And I came to realize something. I had been sleeping and leaving women most probably because of the hate I received when I was younger. I saw that when I saw Jake. The only difference is, Jake embraced who he is, while I hid from it, bearing all the hate thrown at me back in high school. And I will be forever grateful for that, Jake.”

Jake slowly peeks out of the door. The crowd gives a warm round of applause to Jake as he waves back at them.

Michael gestures for the crowd to quiet down. “Melissa, knowing that you and Jake made me and continue to make me into a better man. And I want to make sure that I can continue to help Jake inspire other people the same way he inspired people when the video of him singing ‘I Kissed A Girl’ went viral. So, without further ado, Melissa McAdams and Jake McAdams, will both of you take me as your husband and father?”

He grabs a small box from his pocket and reveals a massive diamond ring. I burst into tears almost immediately.

“Yes, William. I always will!” I answer and hug William. The crowd erupts.

“Hit it, boys,” demands Katy at the marching band as she continues to sing “Teenage Dream.”

The group of ripped gay men run together and hoist William, Jake, and I of us on their arms and carry us to the stage. One of them hands each of us a mic.

“What are we supposed to do with this?” I ask William. Jake already sings along with Katy Perry.

“Just follow the man of the house,” William replies.