It wasn't until Friday that Michael was able to visit with Melanie, and when he did, he was glad for the time. Work had been harrowing, and the meeting with his clients had been pushed back. Melanie greeted him warmly and gave him a massage on the couch as he told her about his workload. He was still unable to get his sketch just right, but the main plans were coming along, even if he did have to change to a different manufacturer's product line at the request of the client. It was all very frustrating, and he poured it out to Melanie.
"Will you be able to finish on time?" she asked him.
"We should be able to. The meeting got pushed back another week or two. At the moment, it will happen when it happens; until then I have a lot of work to do. Fickle clients can be a real pain," he said.
Melanie quietly agreed and remarked absently about some commission work she had done that incurred similar problems. She was standoffish, and Michael had to turn to her with a curious eye.
"Are you all right?" he asked her.
"Fine," she replied and continued to massage his shoulders.
Something didn't feel right, but Michael couldn't place it.
"How's work?" he asked.
"Oh, nothing big going on there," she said. "So this client is a pain, huh?"
Michael missed the cue that something was in fact wrong and nodded his head. He continued his narration.
Behind him, on the couch, she listened and rubbed his shoulders. Her hands had little strength to knead his muscles, but she continued to try. As she listened to him talk, a small smile appeared on her face.
This was the first time that Michael had been in her presence and really unloaded to her. Up to this point, their conversations had been about art, or movies, or what food to eat and where. This felt different. He was troubled with work, and she could do nothing about it, but he still chose to share it with her; the act represented a comfort level that she wasn’t accustomed to in their relationship.
I'm going to miss this, she thought, as her smile turned to a frown. It did not escape her attention that she really didn't have enough experience with this level of intimacy in order to miss it. However, she was enjoying it now and knew she wouldn’t witness much more of it in the future.
Tired hands and fingers were causation for a bolder move, and Melanie began to dig into his shoulder with her elbows. Michael arched as she did and laughed aloud while accusing her of cruelty. However, he didn't pull away; he just leaned into her elbow and helped apply pressure.
It wasn’t long before Michael received the dreaded double tap. Being inexperienced in these matters, he took it in stride as Melanie patted him twice on the shoulder, stood upon the couch in her bare feet, and stepped to the floor. Michael watched her walk to the kitchen and begin to root around for something. She didn't dance. She didn't smile. She was all business as she performed her search.
"Melanie, are you sure you're all right?" he asked carefully.
"Yep, I'm fine," she replied simply without stopping her exploration of the cabinets.
Michael watched her continue her perusal. She certainly wasn’t as energetic as usual, and Michael began to wonder why.
Maybe she's just tired, he thought.
He went to her and gently hugged her from behind. She let him, but she didn't reciprocate. She didn't lean into him, and she didn't look up to him with a smile. He found that he missed that smile.
"Hey," he said as he turned her around. "What's wrong?"
Melanie suddenly put a smile on her face and chuckled.
"Nothing, Mr. Angel," she said with a laugh. "Don't worry about it."
Michael gave her an odd look, and she kept that smile in place. When he didn't respond, she stood on her tiptoes and he leaned down to her. She gave him a quick peck on the cheek, and then pulled him with her to the ladder of her loft.
"Come on," she said. "We haven't seen each other in three days."
Michael smiled and shook his head but obeyed as usual. He quickly followed her up the ladder and joined her on the bed. She received him warmly and helped him strip. He kissed her tenderly and Melanie allowed it. She was unusually passive for him, and he used the opportunity to pleasure her; a task made more difficult with her emotionally withdrawn state.
Their lovemaking was plain. They both enjoyed it to some degree. However, Michael was the most active, and while they both received pleasure, it felt like watching a movie that was poorly rated. It was ok, but nothing spectacular. As he held her for the evening, Michael stroked her hair. He was worried, but she still would not admit to anything being wrong. He debated forcing the issue, but decided to refrain.
Maybe it was just a bad day at work, he hoped.
Chapter 12
A knock on the apartment door caught Michael's attention. He frowned and looked up from his phone and turned to Melanie. The little lady was absorbed with her music as she flipped a pancake. He tapped her on the shoulder, and she looked up at him; he spoke loudly so she could hear him.
"Someone's knocking on your door," he said.
Melanie nodded and then pointed to the door with her spatula as if to tell him to answer it. Michael shrugged and complied.
"Sup?" Dagger said as she entered. Amber merely offered a pleasant hello. While she was slightly toned down in attire this morning, Dagger looked much like she had at the Rave.
"Ladies," Michael said as he let them in."How did you get through the lower door?" he asked with a puzzled look on his face.
Amber held a key up for him to see and the question was answered.
Dagger went into the loft and plopped onto the couch. She picked up a small throw pillow and began plucking at it. Michael watched with amusement; the girl just didn't seem to care about much. When he turned his attention to Amber, she was eyeing him again as if he was a piece of meat. Michael understood the look but chose to ignore it.
"So, what do you ladies have planned for today?" he asked.
"Ooh, I like being called a lady," Amber said with a smile.
"Whatever," Dagger said. "It's about the same as being called dudes."
Michael threw an odd look to Dagger, but it went unnoticed; she was still plucking absently at the pillow. Amber waved at Melanie who was focused on making pancakes. It took a moment, but Melanie finally noticed her and waved the spatula back and forth. There was no verbal response, and Melanie returned to cooking.
"What's her problem?" Amber asked.
"I don't know," Michael replied as he watched his lover.
He turned back to Amber. "Will you do me a favor and look out for her today?"
"Sure, but what'd you do—piss her off or something."
Michael shook his head and denied any wrongdoing. At least to his knowledge, he didn't do anything wrong.
"Probably her asshole dad," Dagger piped up.
"What's the story with that anyway?" Michael asked.
He had kept his mouth shut about that situation, but Dagger's comment had introduced the topic again, so he figured it was safe to follow where it led.
Dagger whipped around on the couch and stared at him. Amber mimicked the look.
"Not for us to say," Amber stated.
Her face was serious, and Michael held her stare for a moment. She didn't break; no more information would be forthcoming, and Michael nodded his head.
"Well, I will leave you to it," he said.
"Oh, you're leaving?" Amber asked. She seemed disappointed.
"Yes, I have work to do, and Melanie said that you two had some serious plans today."
"Not that I know of," Amber said. "She just texted us this morning and wanted a girls day."
Michael was surprised by this comment, but he hid it well. At least well enough that the two girls didn't suspect anything. Melanie had mentioned to him only that Dagger and Amber would be stopping by; she had neglected to mention that it was just this morning that she had invited them.
He walked over to Melanie and kissed her on the forehead. She was focused on her pancakes
and hadn't turned to him, so his kiss landed on her temple.
"I'll see you later," he said loud enough for her to hear him.
Melanie stopped suddenly with a look of surprise. She pulled her ear buds.
"Don't you want breakfast?" she asked him.
"No, that’s all right. You're friends are here and I know you want to spend time with them."
Michael looked over to the guests. Dagger continued to pick at the pillow, and Amber flicked Dagger's ear in an attempt to annoy the girl; it didn't appear to work. He shook his head and couldn't help but judge them. They were nice enough, but immature. Then again, so was Melanie, but Melanie's immaturity was an innocence of spirit not of responsibility. Michael had to wonder if the two girls on the couch could even pay their utility bills.
When he turned back to Melanie, he saw that she was watching him watch her friends. She didn't appear happy, but then again, she hadn’t been happy all morning. She wasn’t sad per se, but she certainly wasn’t her normal self.
Maybe it is her father, he thought. Maybe she just needs her girlfriends.
He wanted to ask but refrained. Instead, he smiled, gave her a gentle kiss, and once again asked if she were all right.
"I'm fine," she said. "Are you sure you don't want any breakfast?" she asked.
Michael unconsciously looked over to the girls on the couch and politely declined. He would let them have their girl's day and informed Melanie of that fact. He then made certain he had all of his items, said good bye to everyone, and left quietly.
Melanie watched him go and it hurt her to do so. She had been pushing him away ever since he had arrived the night before, but now that it had worked, she was saddened. She had hated herself for what she was doing, and she now hated Michael for leaving her; she could hardly blame him; she’d pushed for this. She understood the logic of the situation, but she did still blame him and that bothered her.
Amber and Dagger were behaving like asses on her couch, and she watched the idiots play. Michael had looked at her friends oddly, and Melanie knew he disapproved. It didn’t matter, Michael probably wouldn’t be with her for much longer, and while she thought she was ready for that to happen, she began to realize she really was not.
"So, what's up, Art Girl?" Amber asked as she came to the kitchen island and snatched a pancake; she began to eat it with her hands.
"Oh nothing, I just wanted time with you."
"Bullshit," Dagger said as she finally got off the couch and joined them in the kitchen area. "You got a guy like that and you kick him to the curb for a day. You're either an idiot or something is really wrong."
"Nothing's wrong. I just wanted to hang out," Melanie lied.
"Uh huh," Dagger said. "Did he piss you off or something?"
"I bet he didn't have sex with her last night."
"Oh, we did that. It was all right?" Melanie stated plainly, as she turned her burner off and set the pan aside.
"All right?" Amber asked and shook her head. "Sex that is all right is for people that are married."
"Like you would know," Dagger said.
Amber hit Dagger and Dagger pretended as if it didn't hurt. Melanie cleaned her area and remained silent.
"Well, I would ask you if you told him about your dad, but he asked me about it a few minutes ago so I know he doesn't know."
Melanie whipped around quickly.
"You didn't tell him did you?" Melanie asked. She suddenly had a possible understanding of why Michael had left before breakfast, and anger flashed in her eyes.
"Whoa," Amber said as she waved her hands back and forth; an action that appeared almost comical as her pancake flapped about.
"We didn't say a thing," Dagger replied.
Melanie calmed for a moment, hung her head, and returned to the dishes.
"Are you going to tell him," Amber asked.
"Eventually," Melanie replied.
"Why?" Amber asked.
"He needs to know," was the reply.
"Whatever," Dagger said. "Look, the guys kinda cute. Just let it be and keep your mouth shut. What he doesn't know won't hurt him."
"Yeah," Amber said. "Michael's a great guy, just let it be."
"That's just it. He deserves better than me," Melanie said."Even his mother thinks so."
The girls gave her a funny look, and Melanie began to tell them about her lunch with Mrs. Angel. Melanie had understood each prod and every insult. Her attempts to ignore them had not worked, and neither had her attempts to mitigate the situation. In the end, Mrs. Angel had been clear, and Melanie had to agree.
"That bitch!" Amber exclaimed.
"I would have punched the woman," Dagger said.
"Why? She's right. Michael is a great guy, and look at the three of us. Do you really think he fits in," Melanie said.
She was trying to convince her friends of the folly of a relationship as much as she was trying to convince herself. The hurtful truth of her situation was that she was beginning to believe she wasn't good enough for Michael.
"So, I'll tell him and that will be the end of it," Melanie said as she picked her pan up and tossed it into the kitchen sink. It hit a glass and the glass shattered.
"Damn," she said. She went to the sink and began to pick up broken pieces of glass.
The girls watched the outburst, and Amber slowly came to a realization. She gasped and drew in a deep breath before she spoke.
"Oh my God, you're in love with him!" she exclaimed.
Dagger appeared shocked and looked at Melanie for confirmation of Amber's words. Melanie didn't acknowledge the comment at first; she was busy cleaning the sink. After a moment, she just shrugged her shoulders.
"It doesn't matter. He doesn't love me," she said.
"Have you asked?" Amber queried.
"No need, his mother's right," Melanie said, and then turned around to throw away the glass and address her friends directly.
"Well, I can always ask for you if you like?" Dagger suggested.
"This isn't high school, Moron," Amber said as she shook her head.
"Neither of you will do anything. I will tell Michael all about me, and that will end it," Melanie said. "I've had my fun; he's a great guy, now it's time to end it."
"But you don't want it to end, do you?" Amber asked.
"No," Melanie said as she hung her head.
No one spoke for a moment.
"Want my advice?" Dagger asked.
"No one wants your advice, Dagger," Amber snorted. Dagger punched her friend, and Amber cried out. The Goth then turned back to Melanie.
"Tell that bitch mother of his to mind her own business, have fun with Michael, and keep your damn mouth shut," Dagger said.
Melanie thought about the words of her friend and believed it was a good plan. She then remembered how Michael had left just a few minutes before, and she worried about what he was thinking at this moment in time. She suddenly wanted to talk to him and actually looked for her phone. It was right where it was supposed to be, but she couldn't bring herself to go get it.
No, she decided. She would let it be for the moment. Maybe this would all blow over. She didn't believe it though. She had been down this road before, and each time it hurt. Thank God the last few men she dated were just boys that she didn't really care for; their judgments were painful, but endurable. However, the thought of Michael's censure terrified her.
Chapter 13
The microwave beeped and Michael punched the button for the door. He grabbed the popcorn, and like any man, he had to make all kinds of noises as he insisted on opening the bag while it was piping hot; he poured it into a bowl, still making funny sounds as he did so.
"Are you getting comfortable?" he yelled across his house.
"Yep," he could hear Melanie say.
Michael smiled and shook his head as he began to chuckle. It was Tuesday night, and he’d suffered the entire weekend without seeing her. Monday had been a pain as well, and now he was just glad that he could get her to hi
s house for the evening. That had taken some convincing, and it worried him that it had taken so much effort. However, now that she was here, she seemed much happier.
When he had picked her up, she had looked worried and uncertain, but when he smiled at her, she looked at him oddly and then smiled herself. She even took the time to give him a long hug. There was no kiss, just the hug, and after a few seconds, he fell into the action and hugged her dearly. She seemed to need comforting, and he gave it to her.
"Okay, here's the popcorn," he said as he brought the bowl into the living room. The flat screen was already turned on, and the image of the DVD player was the only symbol showing. Melanie sat on the two-piece sectional couch and smiled as he brought the bowl. She was like a child experiencing the first time at the movies, and Michael enjoyed seeing her like this.
"You seem happy," he said as he handed her the bowl.
"I am," she replied. "I guess I just missed you more than I thought."
"Well, whose fault was that, pipsqueak?" he asked as he sat on the couch; she quickly curled up next to him.
Melanie glared at him with mock anger; he only smiled in return. She watched him smile and shook her head with a chuckle.
"So, what are we going to watch?" she asked.
"It's a Steampunk movie," he said. "I hope you haven't seen it."
Melanie's eyes widened. She was genuinely surprised.
"I haven't seen any Steampunk movies," she replied.
Now it was Michael's turn to look surprised.
"You haven't? How is that possible?" he asked.
"Do you remember seeing a plethora of TV's at my place?" she asked in return.
Michael thought about it, and it only now occurred to him that her apartment was devoid of a TV. It somehow made sense though, and the lack of a cable bill would make it easier to live given a limited income. He shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, hopefully you will like this one," he said. "No spoilers, but it's really good; and the steam powered sky ships are well designed."
"You've seen it?" she asked
"Yep," he said nonchalantly as he grabbed the remote and started the movie. "I came across of few of them while I was downloading some Steampunk music. I really like the orchestral effect, and some of the violin solo's are very haunting. It would be nice if a local symphony played some of the arrangements."
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