SUMMER
If it's hot on Earth, it's only pleasantly warm in Heaven. The sun is full but gentle; it's summery enough that Lola and Mel can walk arm-in-arm down main street with smoothies, mango and passionfruit blended with ice, sipping and talking and laughing.
In fact, it's like a perfect Saturday, ones Mel only had a few of back at home. Running around London for the day, and having the time of her short life. She and Lola have pretty much the same taste in guys, and a system is quickly set in place—a nudge means omigod, look now!
They sit on a bench and discuss clothes, History Club, Mr. Allbright being a duck. When Lola falls silent, Mel immediately looks over to where she's gazing.
There is the most beautiful boy she has ever laid eyes on. It makes sense he'd be in Heaven—all those times Sky said someone was 'Heavenly', or Karms went on about someone being 'the best-looking thing this side of Heaven' takes on a new meaning. And he looks up and smiles and Lola sighs—for which Mel is glad, because she can't make a sound.
"He's Orlando," Lola tells her later. "Some kind of prodigy. I'm in love with him." She gives a warm little chuckle. "Well. I say I am. Almost every girl here is. He's never had a girlfriend, though. I think he might be gay."
"Pity," Mel replies, her smoothie mere drops of orange-coloured juice now, and she licks the taste of tangy citrus from her lips. But she has a kind of feeling that she'll find out about Orlando, really, once and for all. And he's not gay, in the end.
She exists in a kind of heat-haze with him, only coming back to ground when they're not together. Then, she engages with her friends—and Lola's happy for time spent with her, since Mel plays hard to make up for time spent with Orlando—and there's only one blip, a boy Lola says she knows but Mel doesn't like all that much. The feeling appears to be mutual, so she doesn't worry too much, and enjoys her time with her newfound love. It will last forever and ever, and they do stupid things like sharing ice-cream and picking fruit together.
In the dying dog-days of summer, work beckons him away. Mel understands completely. It doesn't make it hurt any less, and the heat-haze leaves. Everything looks slightly less shimmery now.