Chapter 66

After they had coffee and mulled over the maps Machias had dug up from Crossbell City's archives, it was time to call it a day. She walked out with Ash, leaving Crow and Machias behind. Rosalie had left right after they did to get coffee, not a fan of it. "So, what time should I expect you for dinner? I figured you'd want to go home and clean up first. I know I do." And to get this stupid mask off her face.

Rosalie was a godsend, truly.

"Yeah, I'll be over in about an hour."

Ash figured he could wait long enough to shower and clean up before explaining earlier had been a misunderstanding and that he did trust her. They all did or she would have been kicked out of Crossbell by now, or run out, whatever. Right now, in the middle of a crowded street, was not the time to discuss such things.

"You know what I mean," He laughed when she gave him a look, they still had to make it back to the apartment complex. "I'll bring wine if that's okay." Spaghetti and wine, a perfect pairing. "Or dessert if you prefer." Why did this feel like a date? Or was that all in his head?

"Bring both, just…no gelato. That's all I ask." When Ash gave her a curious look, she shook her head, not wanting to go into details about it out here in the open. Maybe later she would explain. "I'll see you in a little bit."

Slipping into her car, she drove off while he did the same, both heading in the same direction. Ash didn't directly follow her and veered off toward another direction. He was probably going to get the wine and dessert he planned on bringing over. She giggled, shaking her head, and continued onto the apartment since she already had everything to make spaghetti. No matter what, she was planning on making it tonight, whether Ash showed up or not.

Ash was indeed going to get wine and dessert, wondering why she didn't want gelato. Gelato was delicious. Rean had, a few years ago, given it to him and Crow after trying it while 'out and about'. He had wanted to share and… those were good times, Ash shoved them out of his mind. He went with cheesecake, couldn't go wrong with cheesecake and he had them put the topping, strawberry, on the side in a to-go container just in case. It occurred to him that he knew a lot about Melyssa that most people probably didn't, but when it came to the basics, like her favorite foods, or the type of music she listened to, he was clueless. Well, maybe it was time to rectify that tonight. He picked up a bottle of red, sweet wine and headed home for a shower, pretty sure he was overthinking everything and should squash the nerves.

Why was he nervous?

It was just Melyssa!

Because it WAS Melyssa.

After a quick shower, Melyssa didn't bother putting the mask back on and started dinner. She had actually started the sauce while in the shower, letting it slowly simmer, after browning the ground beef to put in it. In a simple sky blue summer sleeveless dress, something comfortable and freeing, Melyssa had pulled her hair up to pile on top of her head, not wanting any hair in the food. That would not be appetizing. She had just finished setting the water on the stove to boil for the noodles when a knock came at her door. She knew who it was as she bounced over to open it, the smile on her face slowly fading away at the sight of Crow instead of Ash.

"Oh hi, what are you doing here, Crow?"

"I came to see how you're doing after today."

Today had been… well, a part of it, had been awkward and tense. Rosalie had an effect on people sometimes and she and Ash had a history of butting heads when they were put together in tense situations. Something smelled delicious and he inhaled, letting out a groan.

"Is that your Mom's recipe?" He asked curiously, seeing her nod and grinned, his eyes sweeping over the dress. Her hair was still damp, she had just gotten out of the shower and she looked… beautiful. Without the mask, her 'flaws' stood out, she was gorgeous and real. "Am I interrupting something, Lyssa?" He asked after a moment, beginning to feel a little uncomfortable because now he realized she had stopped smiling at the sight of him and greeted him with an 'oh hi', not exactly what he had been expecting.

The smile was back on her face as Melyssa gestured him inside by the arm, closing the door behind her. "Wait, what? No, noooo, no, no, no, I was just making dinner for me and Ash. I invited him over for dinner and a movie tonight to hopefully rekindle our friendship…" There was an unreadable look on his Crow's face and Melyssa didn't know what to think about it. "Why don't you join us? We're friends and there's plenty here for all of us. I was just boiling the water for the noodles. Ash is bringing wine and dessert, so if you wanna run home and grab a beer or something, you're more than welcome to." Now she was rambling like an idiot.

Ash and Melyssa having dinner...that just didn't sit very well for some reason. Maybe it was because he was protective of Melyssa since she was like a sister to him. Or maybe it was because he was protective of Ash since he was like a brother to him. Or maybe it was because of reasons he wasn't about to dwell on tonight.

"You sure? I don't want to interrupt anything… and to be honest, you didn't look very pleased that it was ME at the door." Now he knew why, she was expecting someone else. Ash. That was just… odd, it was ODD.

"I'm sorry, I just thought you were Ash since I'm expecting him…"

Melyssa didn't mean to be disappointed at who was at her door and frowned, seeing the hesitation on Crow's face. She recalled the two kisses they shared and then he had rejected her because he thought of her as a 'sister'. It hurt her, Melyssa would not lie because she thought for sure she would end up with Crow…once she discovered he was really alive. It was like the universe had literally pushed them together, but then…there was Rean and Ash. Rean turned out to be a colossal disappointment and a downright bastard, but Ash had forgiven her and stuck by her, no matter what. So had Crow, but then again, she was 'family' to him and nothing more.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Crow finally stepped inside since she gestured him in again, raking a hand through his silver hair. "I don't know what to think about the idea of you and Ash." He held up a hand when her teal eyes widened and her mouth opened. "I'm not saying there IS a you and Ash, but the idea is the first thing that popped into my head and it's…I don't know. I also know it's not my business."

Well, she DID ask him and he had given her a straight, blunt answer. "Crow, there's nothing going on between me and Ash. I don't even know why you care considering you said you thought of me as family and nothing more. But now you're standing here saying this stuff to me, and it makes me wonder if you really meant it or if you were just…scared of being with me, for some reason. So, which is it? Are you being overprotective and in brother mode or is there another reason why you don't like the idea of me and Ash together?"

She was just as blunt and straightforward as he was.

He knew he could give her a logical crap answer about them getting involved being stupid, given everything going on, but she'd see through his shit. "I don't know, maybe a little of both. " He wasn't going to lie. "And I care because you and Ash are both my friends, but if there's nothing going on then it doesn't matter."

"And what if there is? Or there ends up being something between me and Ash?" Melyssa folded her arms in front of her chest, trying extremely hard to keep her voice calm and neutral, but there was a hint of annoyance in her tone. "YOU decided you didn't want me, Crow. YOU told me you saw me as a 'sister' and nothing more, do you remember that? Do you remember rejecting me? And now that I'm showing the slightest interest in someone else, you're going to come at me with this shit? You know what I think? I think you don't know what you want, even after the past two years I've been gone. I think you were scared back then, though I have no idea why. And I think you're STILL scared and unsure of what you want right here and now and I don't have time to play games. I don't know how I feel about Ash either. And I don't know how Ash feels about me. I DO know he's become my best friend. I know I was in love with you two years ago, but I'm not now. And I know I had feelings for Rean back then, but those are gone as well. That's what I know and I'm not going to let fear hold me back from being happy, regardless of who it's with. I gave you your chance, twice, and you chose your path. You wanted to be just friends and I respected it, even though it nearly killed me because I thought you loved me too…as MORE than a sister." Walking past him, she opened the door again just as Ash went to lift his hand up to knock. "I changed my mind. You ARE interrupting us and I'm done with this conversation, brother." That was her way of telling him to get out of her apartment.

Crow got it loud and clear. "I hope Ash is never honest with you." He informed her on his way out.

Everyone who was honest with her got torn to shreds and he had seen it with others. If they voiced their opinion, or told the truth, how they felt or viewed something, and it contradicted her or was 'bad', they got torn. Rean immediately came to mind and he dismissed it.

"What'd I miss?" Ash asked, holding the wine tucked beneath his arm, the cheesecake on his palm and the other hand raised still like he was going to knock. "Or do I not want to know?" He probably didn't want to know, he wasn't getting involved between any crap between Melyssa and Crow. Ash hoped she wasn't cutting more people out though, she kind of needed them.

Crow could voice his opinions all he wanted, but the SECOND she did the same thing, voiced HER opinion, it was considered ripping people apart? Talk about a double standard and a double-edged sword! What was she supposed to do? Stand there and listen to Crow's crap about how he wasn't comfortable with what happened between her and Ash? That he MAY have feelings for her that were more than thinking of her as family? The man REJECTED her and maybe she did still have some ill thoughts and feelings towards him.

First Rean and now Crow – was Ash next?

"Tonight's not a good night to do this, Ash. I'm sorry, I just want to be left alone." She closed the door in his face and flipped the lock on it, finally allowing the tears to flow down her cheeks. Hearing the pot boiling with water on the stove, Melyssa walked over to turn it off and tossed it all in the sink, not caring if she made a mess.

I hope Ash is never honest with you. Those words struck her hard, like a knife straight through her already mangled heart. Maybe leaving Ouroboros wasn't the right thing to do, after all. I don't trust you. Another stab right in the heart and she could hear Rean's words echoing in her mind.

Nobody trusted her; Aurelia was dead wrong on that assumption, even after she explained everything. It didn't matter. That was why Rean refused to help them because he didn't trust her. She had saved these ungrateful people and sacrificed her own freedom for them AND THEY DIDN'T GIVE A DAMN!

"I'm done." Wiping her tears away, Melyssa decided it would be strictly business between her and all of Class VII from here on out. Enough was enough, she could not take anymore and, honestly, Melyssa was afraid of having a nervous breakdown.

Ash had absolutely no idea what he had missed and he kept reminding himself he wasn't getting involved.

Tomorrow at work was going to suck majorly.

Crow had already decided he was going to be polite and if Melyssa wanted to continue her overreacting bitch fit, that was on her. He wasn't going to let her inability to let other people say what was on their mind, or admit when they weren't sure about something, without stripping them down, interfere with who he was or what he did. Melyssa was turning into Rean 2.0, she had the savior complex and had sacrificed herself for everyone, people were all siding with her. If she didn't check herself now, she'd keep on the same path where Rean was currently.

Bitter and alone.

Maybe tomorrow he'd try talking to her, definitely not tonight though.

She was his family, whether she liked it or not.

"My Lysa, did you honestly think I didn't know what was going on? I have spies all over Crossbell City, not just you." The Grandmaster smiled at her newest Enforcer, steepling her fingers together. "Obviously, you have learned a few things, I'm assuming?"

"Yes."

"Such as?"

"Nobody trusts me. All I have done is protect them and…they don't trust me because I joined up with Ouroboros and became an Enforcer." Melyssa spoke quietly, honestly, her head remaining bowed.

"Of course, they don't, child. Do you know why? Because you haven't been through what they have. You haven't gone to war with them by your side. Rean Schwarzer has always had a hero complex and when he couldn't fulfill that role, it destroyed him." The Grandmaster knew all and saw everything, including Rosalie Millstein's interfering ways, which was a little troublesome, but nothing to be TOO concerned about. They had dealt with the witch once before and would have no problem doing it again. "Will you allow this to destroy you? If you wish to pull out of Crossbell, I will have no problem sending you elsewhere."

Melyssa thought about it and shook her head, slowly looking up at the Grandmaster. "I will stay and fulfill my duty as Enforcer No. XVII, Grandmaster."

She smiled. "Go then, child."

Melyssa nodded, bowing to her, and walked out, waiting until she was driving off from the compound to text Machias. It's done.

Machias had ordered her to go to the Grandmaster for her next meeting and convince the woman, or whatever she claimed to be, that Melyssa was 100% on their side. There was a rift going on between her, Crow, and even Ash. She had hardly spoken to them for the past week and Machias could feel the tension thick in the air. He figured doing this would help ease it a little since they still had no idea how to take Ouroboros down for good.

Crow had tried talking to her and she was giving him the cold shoulder.

The Grandmaster wasn't wrong, Melyssa HADN'T gone to war with any of them and that was something that tended to build trust, being in the heat of constant battles where one's very life hung on the line and they HAD to rely on their partner. It was easy for them all to say they trusted her, but truth was, they had no choice but to trust her and hope she was playing this straight. Even for all her guff and bullshit, Crow knew she was because at her core, Melyssa was a good person.

Even good people had sticks up their backsides at times.

Get back safe.