Chapter 38

The rest of the school day seemed to fly by. Mel was confused about whether or not Mike still loved her, and while her heart was saying yes, her head was screaming no. From what he had told her in French, he hadn't wanted to leave her. He had done so to protect her from Maryse. Even though it still hurt her that he had dumped her, could she really hate him for doing it for her own good?

She was still contemplating this when the very guy that had been filling her mind appeared right next to her. She glanced at Mike quickly before returning her attention to unlocking her locker. "What do you want?" She fought the urge to bite her lower lip.

"When should we meet up to do our project for French?" Mike asked, leaning up against the locker next to hers. His voice was cool and airy, and Mel felt her heart plummet. So much for him still loving her.

"It doesn't matter," she responded, trying to sound just as indifferent as he did. "Whenever you want, I guess."

Mike leaned close all of a sudden, and she had to suppress a shudder as his warm breath landed on the side of her neck. "How about my house tonight?" he whispered, his voice noticeably more affectionate.

Mel frowned, confused. What was he playing at? "I don't know," she said. "I have a lot of other homework to do, and the project isn't due until next Tuesday."

Mike's blue eyes burned into hers. "It's really important that we do it tonight," he said in a low voice. There was a look on his face that was almost desperate, and she was suddenly extremely curious as to why he needed to work on it right away.

She lifted one shoulder in a lazy shrug. "Okay. Fine." She tried not to sound too excited; she didn't want to set herself up for disappointment and pain again.

"Good." Mike sounded almost relieved. He straightened up, and just like that he was cold and uncaring again. The transformation was so quick and easy that for a moment Mel wondered whether he was acting or not. "I'll see you later tonight." With that, he spun and walked away, leaving her more confused than ever.

Later that night, Mel sat with Mike at his house, working on their slideshow. She had told Zack that she was hanging out with Punk, and had gotten Punk to confirm her story. She still wasn't sure where she and Punk stood, but either way he was being an amazing friend.

"Okay," Mike said, leaning back and rubbing his eyes with the palms of his hands. "I think it's finished." They had been working on it for two and a half hours, scouring Mike's house for pictures of the two of them. It had been a shock to Mel to find one of her still sitting on the table by his bed, and that had warmed her heart. She had clutched it to her chest and just stood there for a long time, trying not to cry.

"Awesome," Mel replied. She had been scanning pictures onto Mike's laptop for a really long time, and she felt like her fingers were numb. She set the stack of pictures aside and scooted her chair over so she was next to him. "Let me see."

Mike turned the computer screen a little so it was easier for her to see, and then he clicked on the play button. The slideshow began, and Mel's breath caught in the back of her throat. Mike had chosen a beautiful song to play in the background of the presentation, "Kiss You Tonight" by David Nail. He was one of her favorite country singers, and as she listened to the song and watched some of their happiest moments flash across the screen, she couldn't help but think that the music fit perfectly.

Do you find yourself wondering,

If I still think about you.

Every thought, every step.

Every tear, every breath.

I swear I do.

Yeah, it's all I ever do.

Pictures of them at the Homecoming dance, being goofy at school, and just hanging out filled up the screen, and despite how hard she tried to hold it in, a tear rolled down Mel's cheek. She reached up to brush it away, but Mike was quicker. He gently wiped it away with his thumb, and she turned her head to see him very close to her. She bit her bottom lip out of habit and then looked away, focusing her attention on the computer screen again.

The song continued to croon on in the background, and Mel and Mike sat in companionable silence and watched the rest of the slideshow. When it ended, Mel rubbed roughly at her eyes, trying to make the tears that had formed there disappear.

"Melly," Mike said softly, and there was something in his voice that made her look up at him.

Suddenly his lips were on hers, and it was such a welcome feeling. She had missed kissing him, being around him, even just inhaling his scent. She almost started crying again, but instead she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.

Mike didn't even need to ask to know that she still loved him, and Mel could tell from the kiss that he still loved her. He broke off the kiss only to stand up, and then he lifted the petite brunette into his arms. She leaned her head against his chest as he carried her upstairs, listening to the steady beat of his heart. It was a sound that had always soothed her, and she had never thought that she'd get to hear it again.

When Mike lay her on his bed, she held her arms out for him immediately. He undressed first, as did she, and when their bare skin touched electricity flew between them. Mel pulled him closer to her and kissed him again, and the two of them got lost in the feel and taste of each other.