Nighttime would soon fall, and everyone hurried to pack away the rest of their wares and clean up the town square. Heat Miser and Melvin folded the table they had used, looking extremely pleased.
"I can't believe we sold every last thing!" Heat exclaimed, shocked.
"I told you you'd sell out!" said Melvin.
"Well, I had a lot of help. Word travels fast, I suppose." Heat then looked at Melvin. "Hey...thanks a lot for doing all this for me."
"Shucks, it was no problem, Harold. That's what friends do. I'll help you carry this table back home."
"Wait," Heat told him, hesitating. "Let's worry about that later. Can I talk to you somewhere private?"
"Uh, sure. We could go over by the grocery store. Hardly anyone is around."
"No, I mean somewhere where we're sure we'll be alone."
Melvin thought for a moment, then snapped his fingers. "I know the perfect spot! It's a bit of a walk, though."
"I don't mind."
"Follow me, then."
The two men set the table down out of the way, then Melvin led Heat Miser to a grassy spot a little out of town in the opposite direction of the cemetery. Melvin stopped near a tree. "Nobody ever comes out here. Nina and I used to play here when we were kids. She taught me how to climb trees on this very one. I was almost too scared to do it!" He chuckled at the memory.
Heat chuckled a little, as well, but mostly out of nervousness. He said, "Melvin, these past few days have been the best ones I've had in my whole life, and I have you to thank."
"Well, I-"
"Wait. Let me finish. Please." Heat looked away for a moment, then took a deep breath. "I've never met anyone like you before. You're so kind and cheerful and understanding. You're a great friend, and...I'd like you to be more."
"More?" Melvin's eyes lit up with intrigue.
"Yeah. I really, really like you, and I was hoping...maybe...we could try going steady." Heat's voice cracked and faded when he spoke the last part.
Melvin's face softened, and he smiled with pure elation. "Harold, I'd love to! It might be long-distance, but we can work it out."
"There's something else I need to tell you before we talk about anything else." Heat became anxious.
Melvin picked up on this and asked him, softly, "What is it? Whatever it is, you can tell me."
"I'm not...exactly...human. At least, not fully."
Confused, the blond-haired man asked, "What?"
Heat stepped back. "It would make more sense if I showed you." He gave himself space, took a deep breath, and slowly changed into his original form. "My real name is Heat Miser," he explained. "I'm half-human and half...well..." He held up his hand and created a fireball. "I control warm weather in the Southern Hemisphere, and I have fire powers."
Melvin watched Heat Miser, first in surprise, then horror. His face went pale, and he stepped back, shakily. "Y-you're a god?"
"I wouldn't say a god. I don't know what I would call myself. But I'm not human, and I figured if you and I are going to be dating, you deserve to know the truth." Heat then noticed Melvin's expression and quickly stated, "Melvin, this doesn't change anything. I'm still the same guy you met and became friends with."
"Har-Heat Miser, this changes everything. You don't even realize-" Melvin cut himself off. "I'm sorry, but I can't see you anymore."
"But I'm still me!"
"I am really sorry. Please, just stay away."
"Melvin!"
"Goodbye, Heat Miser. Harold. Whoever you are." With that, he walked away toward his house.
Heat Miser called after him but eventually gave up. He could have run after him, but it wouldn't have done any good. He just stayed there, giving himself some time to process what happened before going back to Snow Miser and Nina's house.
When he entered the house, he just told everyone he was going to bed. Noticing his sadness, Snow and Nina tried to ask what was wrong, but he wouldn't talk to anyone until morning.
Heat Miser sat on the front porch in his human form soon after the sun came up, and Nina sat by him with two cups of coffee. She held out a red mug that had a lot of steam coming from it. "I made yours just the way you like it."
"I don't want it."
"Did something happen last night?"
Heat paused before answering her. "I was right. All humans are alike."
"What are you talking about?"
"I revealed my true self to Melvin, and he rejected me. He never wants to see me again."
Nina looked concerned. "He rejected you just because you're supernatural?"
"Of course, he did!" Heat narrowed his eyebrows. "Why else would he have done it?! I'm an idiot! I should have expected this! He's just like every other human: cruel, selfish, and small-minded!"
Nina shook her head, thinking. She mumbled, "This can't be right. This doesn't sound like him at all."
"Would you stop defending them? Humans are horrible creatures, and this just proves my point!"
"Heat, I know Melvin. He doesn't judge a book by its cover," Nina insisted, standing up. "I'll go talk to him."
"Don't you dare! It'll just make things worse! He'll hate me even more!" Heat burst into tears. This was the first time Nina had ever seen him cry.
Nina sat down and hugged him. "He doesn't hate you. There's no way he hates you. At least let me find out what's going on."
"Do whatever you want; I don't care," he sniffled.
Nina got up again and walked into the house. She told Snow Miser what was going on, then went outside to go to Mr. Bennett and Melvin's house while Snow Miser sat outside to comfort his brother.