Melina came over almost everyday to help Peter. She was very smart, and funny, and beautiful and she was really nice. Peter really liked Melina, more then a friend.

On Peter's 13th day at the cottage, it began to rain and later started to hail. Melina was over that day and was stuck at the house and had to stay the night.

As Peter's room was the only guest room in the cottage, Peter offered it to Melina, but she declined politely saying that she would prefer not to kick Peter out of his room. Of course, Mrs Macready could not stand for Melina to sleep on the couch, so she put a spare mattress in the room. Peter insisted for himself to sleep on the mattress. After a while, Melina agreed. When it was time for bed, Peter and Melina went into their cramped room. Again Peter had to convince Melina to let him sleep on the mattress on the floor.

Mrs Macready came in again and turned off the lights.

"So, how does your father know me again?" Peter asked, as soon as he could no longer hear Macready.

Melina laughed "I told you! It's a secret" she whispered to him.

Peter chuckled, "well, will you give me a clue?" Melina thought for a moment.

"He isn't like normal people" she said slowly.

"That's not a very good clue…" Peter chuckled again

"Ok, um, you have met him twice"

"Can I please have a good clue?" Peter asked. Melina hit Peter with her pillow playfully.

"These are good clues" they both laughed, a little bit louder then they expected. They heard Macready's footsteps and quickly pretended to be asleep.

She peered though the door, seeing that they looked asleep, she returned to her room. Melina and Peter laughed again making sure that they were a lot quieter this time.

"What's his name?" Peter asked. Melina sighed,

"I'm not going to tell you" she yawned, "good night Peter." And then she fell asleep.

Soon afterwards peter drifted off. He was in Narnia again, within a forest. Around him he heard beautiful music. A sweet, musical giggle turned Peter's attention around. Melina was dancing around the trees, she looked beautiful. She was wearing a long white dress, with no shoes. She continued to dance, and then she went to Peter and slowed. She walked slowly towards him, with wonder on her face. Her hand reached out to touch Peter's face. Then Peter woke up.

He heard a slow creak of a door. He turned to the wardrobe and was just in time to see Melina's foot come out.

"What are you doing?" He asked. Melina froze.

"Um, I… I… I was cold. I was getting a coat" she said. She didn't sound very convincing.

"You're not a very good liar" Peter informed her.

"I normally am, just not around you."

"Then what were you actually doing in the wardrobe?" Peter asked. Melina stayed quiet for a moment.

"It… it reminded me of my mother." Peter was confused.

"Sitting in a wardrobe reminds you of your mother?" he asked.

"No, the coats do. My mother use to wear them all of the time."

"Use to?" Peter asked. Melina stayed quiet again.

"My mother died when I was 5." Melina sniffled. Peter got up.

"I'm so sorry" he felt terrible for bringing it up. He rubbed her shoulder to comfort her. When he felt a warm drop of water fall on his arm, he knew he needed to comfort her more. He took a step closer to her and lightly wrapped his arm around her. At first Melina froze, not expecting this but then she relaxed and slowly wrapped her arms around him.

When Melina stoped sniffling, Peter knew it was time to let her go, even though he didn't want to. Melina returned to her bed, peter watched her walk before lying back down on his own.

"Peter?" Melina asked though the darkness.

"Hmmm?"

"You're a really great friend. Thank you" then she turned over on her bed and went to sleep. That's when it dawned on Peter, that's all they would be. Friends. Even if Melina did like him, at the end of the summer, Peter would have to leave. And he didn't know when or if he would be coming back.

***

In the morning, Melina left early before Peter was awake. Whilst he was having breakfast the professor turned to him.

"Peter, my boy, you have been studying very hard with Melina"

This was more or less true. Peter and Melina did get through a lot of study when she was over but Peter never really paid attention on the work. He was always focused on Melina; it was hard not to be.

"Anyway," the professor continued, "I thought that tonight you could take a break from all your study and come with me and my wife to the new swing club in town?"

This did not at all seem appealing to Peter. He liked swing, but he didn't like the idea of being out in public with the Macready. Plus, he truly didn't want to see her dance.

"I'm not sure…" Peter played with his porridge.

"Well, Melina is going to be there…" Peter looked up to see the crazy smile that the professor always had when he had figured out something. "I know you like her" the professor whispered so Mrs. Macready couldn't hear them. "I see the way you look at her" he said, still with his crazed smile on his face.

Peter looked away. "I don't know what you are talking about"

The professor laughed. "She likes you as well…" this caught peter's attention.

"It doesn't matter anyway, at the end of the summer I'm leaving here and going back to school." There was no point in trying to hide the truth from the professor because he would always find out the truth.

"What do you mean it doesn't matter?! Everything matters, my boy. And anyway, you never know, Melina could end up going to St. Finbars."

"As in the school Susan and Lucy go to?" Peter asked. The professor nodded. "Why would she go there anyway? She lives here. St. Finbars is miles away."

The professor gave out a small laugh. "She does not live here. She is merely visiting, just like you, Peter." Peter smiled. "Did she not tell you that?" the professor asked.

Peter shook his head. "Where does she live?" The professor's crazed smile left his face.

"Nowhere and everywhere at the moment, but her father wants me to help Melina choose a good school for her. So I might lead her in the direction of St. Finbars, if you would like?" the crazed smile returned to his face.

"Why does her father not choose her school himself?" Peter asked. The professor sat up straight.

"Melina's father is a very busy man and he wouldn't be able to come and see the schools that Melina would be able to attend." Peter sighed.

"I think everyone is mistaken, I don't think that I have met Melina's father. He seems like a very busy man and I don't know many busy men."

The professor laughed, "Trust me. You do know him."

Then Mrs. Macready walked in to the room "Dear have you asked peter if he would like to come to the swing club tonight?" the professor nodded.

"We are just waiting on a decision." The professor looked expectantly at peter.

"yes, I will come."