Pity Party

The Raleigh-Durham airport was especially busy as the trio found a parking spot and made their way inside. Shannon immediately went off on his on leaving Mel and Jamie to find the gate on their own.

"I'm really sorry you didn't get the job with Norfolk General Hospital. Did they give you a reason?"

"Yeah, I don't have enough experience." Jamie shook his head. "How the hell am I supposed to have experience when I can't get hired because of the lack of experience?"

Mel touched his arm lightly. "You know they say when one door shuts another opens."

"And you know I say whoever 'they' are don't know shit."

"Right you are J, but I'm sure it will all work out for the best. Maybe your land a job closer to Baylor since you want to got to Grad school there."

"Maybe." He nervously raked a hand across his short brown hair. "Anyway, I don't want a pity party. Let's find your sister and go out to eat or something. My treat."

She smiled and linked her arm with his. "Sure J. If that's how you want it."

They made their way to gate number 17A and waited for a glimpse of Mel's younger sister Autumn. Jamie's thoughts were being pulled in a thousand different directions. He was counting on that job at the hospital in order to keep him close to Mel. As a pre-med major in his senior year and her, Journalism major in her senior year they were setting out on different paths. And he was afraid this would be their last few months together unless he landed a job closer to Norfolk. She was determined to move back home to be near her grandparents despite job offers from New York, California and a few other states. He wasn't so sure, why he was so concerned because it wasn't as if he had built the nerve to tell her how he felt. Their friendship was so amazing that he wasn't sure how she didn't see the signs. Then he was hit with another thought, what if she was ignoring all his subtle hints and actions? What if she just didn't want to hurt his feelings? "Great J, now you're being paranoid," The little voice in the back of his head told him. Jamie glanced over at Mel who was watching the people walk out of the corridor leading from the plane her arms wrapped protectively around her waist she bobbed up and down on her tiptoes trying to see over the crowd. Now wasn't the time to tell her but if he didn't say something he would not be able to hush that little voice in his head. "Mel there's something…"

"There she is!" Mel ran off to greet her sister leaving Jamie behind with yet another void in his heart. Jamie watched from a distance as she hugged and laughed with her sister. He was about to make his way over to the two when Shannon caught up with him.

"Hey man, so that's Mel's little sister?"

Jamie nodded.

"So what's she like?" Shannon asked before taking a sip of his coke.

Jamie shrugged. "She's a city girl. Fashion designer, high maintenance, party girl, and probably not going to be the least bit interested in you hot shot."

"Who say's I'm interested in her?" Shannon shot back indifferently.

"Oh you are definitely interested. Come on I'll introduce you."

Before the guys even made their presence, known Autumn squealed. "Jamie!" She ran over and engulfed him in a gigantic hug. "It's so good to see you J!"

"It's good to see you too Autumn." Jamie blushed. "This is Shannon, my roommate and sometimes friend."

Autumn nodded and smiled brightly. "Hi Shannon, it's nice to meet you."

"Likewise." Shannon mumbled with a goofy grin plastered to his face. Jamie elbowed him and Shannon quickly averted his attention away from the stunning brown-haired woman.

"Do you want us to get the rest of your luggage or is that it?"

Autumn laughed. "Jamie you know I don't travel light. But my luggage should be waiting by the carousel since I am basically famous now."

Mel snorted. "Famous? You're joking right."

"No. My design was featured on the runway of LA Fashion Week." She shoved a local Los Angeles newspaper in her sisters' hands. "See right there."

Mel, Jamie and Shannon all read the article and saw the picture of Autumn with some fashion designer at fashion week. "I'm so proud of you!"

"Yeah, yeah. So can we get of this grimy airport or what?" Autumn protested and tucked the newspaper back into her purse.

"You want to grab something to eat before we head back to campus or what?" Mel asked her sister as Jamie and Shannon trailed behind them.

"Sounds good to me." She smiled brightly before linking her arm with Mel's and heading toward the luggage claim.