Chapter Two
It was a few weeks later, and Melinda was finally feeling much better.
Delia and Eli got engaged, and were due to wed in three months. Melinda was happy for them, but she secretly wanted a man, too.
She just also, at the same time, wasn't ready to move on with Jim.
She still cried during the night, watching Jim and Sam die over and over again.
Rick was staying with her too, just until he got the people that were renting his house to move out. He also begun working again, and working up the courage to ask Melinda out.
So, one night, Melinda and Rick were eating Chinese food at the dining room table for dinner.
He was sweating, wondering if she was ready yet.
"Mel?" she looked up from her dinner.
She smiled sweetly. "Yes?"
"Um… Uh… Um…. Uh…."
"What?"
"do you want to go to the movies with me?" he asked, wiping his head.
"As in… a date?" she asked, to Rick's surprise, smiling.
"Um, no! I mean yes! No! I don't know…."
"Rick, its ok, I'd like to go to the movies with you. I need to get out more."
"But… it's a date! You don't care if you date me?"
"Oh, yes, Rick, I've been waiting for a date with you for a long time. I love you." and she begun kissing him….
"Rick, are you ok?" Rick jumped out of his fantasies.
"Yeah… Melinda… I'm ok."
"Where were you?"
"No where, really."
"Rick, you're hiding something, I know it. So, just tell me."
"Do you want to go see a movie with me sometime?" he asked nervously.
Melinda smiled, pleased at his nervousness. "Like… a date?"
"I guess...."
"Uh, Rick, I like you, I really do, but I'm not ready to date yet. But, I would like to see a movie, though."
Rick looked upset.
"Rick, I'm sorry."
"No, you're not. Melinda, we both lost our spouses, and we're both single. We don't always get along, but can we at least try one date?"
"Rick, please, not now."
Then she got up and stormed out of the room.
Rick glumly looked down at his food.
"Damn, I liked the first scene better!"
***
A few hours later, Melinda came down after she took a long nap.
Rick was sitting on the couch, looking depressed.
Melinda came and sat down next to him.
"Rick, I'm really sorry."
"I'll get over it."
"We can try one date, Rick, if you really want to."
"Whatever."
"Why don't we go see 'The Uninvited?"'
"But that's a horror movie!"
"Please Rick, I'm agreeing to go on a date with you, can I at least pick the movie?"
"Whatever."
"Ugh, you are so damn frustrating Rick Payne!" she yelled, storming back upstairs.
He smirked, and turned on the TV.
***
It was the following Friday, and Rick and Mel were standing tensely in the ticket line.
After they got their tickets and bought both extra large popcorns and sodas, they went into the theatre.
During a horror scene, Mel jumped and dropped all of her popcorn.
"here, you can share with me." said Rick, and Melinda helped herself to his popcorn.
Once, they both reached for the popcorn, and their hands brushed together.
"Sorry." they both muttered, and they didn't look at each other, not even eating more popcorn, for the rest of the movie.
On the way out, Melinda tripped and Rick caught her.
"Thanks." she said nervously as she steadied herself.
When they arrived home, upstairs, at the doors of their bedrooms, Rick tried to make a conversation.
"Despite how awful our date was, I had fun,"
"Me too, a bit…."
"Well, good night Melinda."
"Night." then, hesitating a bit, she grabbed Rick's arm and pulled him closer.
She planted a quick but gentle kiss on his lips.
"I am, ready to move on." she said slowly after it ended.
"ok." Rick stuttered.
"But I'm not fully ready yet, so we'll need to take it slowly." Rick just nodded, and they both went into their rooms.
That night, Melinda slept better.
***
"Morning." Rick said nervously as he came into the kitchen.
"Hi." said Mel, also nervous.
"What's for breakfast?"
"Cherrios."
"Again? Let me cook, Mel. Do you want an omelette?"
"Just as long as you put onions and spinach in them."
"Oh my god, just like me! Oh, sure." while he was cooking, Melinda wandered off into the garage to look at some of Jim's old things.
It was something she needed to do from time to time once she feels she's drifting away from him, or somehow about to forget him.
She found one of Jim's old paramedic uniforms, and she brought it to her face and breathed in his smell that would one day disappear.
Meanwhile, Rick finished preparing breakfast, and went over to the door that led to the garage.
He peered into the window and saw Melinda, crying.
He was about to go in, but then he saw Jim's shirt nearby in a box.
Hurt, he went back into the house, wondering if she was really ready to date again.
A few minutes later, Mel came back in, and found Rick sitting at the kitchen table, looking down at his food, looking really depressed.
"Rick, are you ok?" she asked in alarm, seeing him this way.
"Breakfast is ready." was all he got out.
She sat down facing him.
After she took a bite she asked: "Rick, what's wrong?"
"Melinda… be honest with me, do you want to date me or not? Is it because your not ready yet, or I'm not as handsome and amazing like Jim was?"
"Rick, you seen me in the garage, did you?" Rick nodded.
"Rick, its not that I'm not ready, or I'm not attracted to you, its just that I really miss Jim, and I haven't fully moved on yet. But, I want to date you, and I find you very handsome, intelligent, amazing, and plenty more." Rick smiled a bit.
Then, she reached over and laid her hand on Rick's.
After they finished their breakfast, while they were filling the dishwasher, Rick had the guts to ask: "Mel, if you want to cool this relationship, anytime, you let me know, ok?"
"Rick, why would you ask me such a question?"
"I know that I'm not exactly the world's funnest person to be around, and I really don't want you to get uncomfortable around me. I don't want to lose the friendship we have, you're my best friend."
"And you're mine. No matter what Rick, we'll still be friends, don't you worry about that." she then put a hand on his shoulder.
He smiled at her, then she left the room.
Little did they know, soon, they would never be together again.
Dahdahdahdah! lol, plz review!
