Before we begin, I have a little timeline note for you. So this takes place in early July - 6 months after 'Sphere and Loathing In Outer Space'. I have the majority of season 1 and most of season 2 taking place in the fall/winter of 2015-16. Only outlier is 'A Christmas Peril'. With that out of the way - when last we left off, Milo had gotten a pair of half-heart shaped lockets from his mom, engraved to him and Melissa. What's the meaning of the lockets? How will they help bring Milo and Melissa together? And how will Milo and Melissa handle a long-distance relationship? Let's begin the road to finding out.


The day that Milo had been dreading all week had finally arrived. After more Milo and Melissa fun on Thursday, complete with one final sunset snuggle on the boardwalk, Friday had come. Today, Melissa would be on the move to Nashville to start her journey to become the next Taylor Swift. Milo knew this would be his last chance, at least for a while, to tell Melissa how he truly felt about her in person. Milo got up early and went through everything he needed.

"Shirt and sweater vest tucked in...hair straight...heart lockets packed..." Milo ran down as Diogee woke up and barked. "Diogee, what if this doesn't work? What if I totally mess up? This could totally wreck our friendship!"

Diogee barked again to encourage Milo and hopped on his shoulder.

"Thanks, Diogee. I think I'm ready to do what no man should ever do - talk about his feelings."

And with that, Milo was off to Melissa's house, a walk that he had made many, many times before. Who knows when he would make that trip again. But for now, this would be the most important trip of his life for today would be the day he would ask Melissa Sabrina Chase to be his girlfriend.


Over at Melissa's house, everything was all packed and ready to go. Melissa was talking a look at what used to be her room. Now it was bare, the house was prepared for another attempt at sale since the last buyers had dropped out (Milo had given them the 'Indian Burial Ground' speech and they fell for it).

"What am I gonna do?" Melissa asked herself. "I don't want to leave Danville...I don't want to be away from Zack, Amanda, Lydia, Joni, Bradley...or Milo..." she said, giving a wistful sigh when she said Milo's name. "Yet at the same time, I can't deprive myself of following my dream nor can I keep mom from taking on this new opportunity. I'm just at a loss right now..." added Melissa as her parents called her. Milo was here.


"Hey, Melissa..."

"Milo, what's up?"

"Oh, just thought I'd stop by to see you off...and to give you this..." the jinxed boy said, giving her a blue velvet box. Melissa opened it to reveal...

"A locket? For me?"

"Here, let me clasp it on..." Milo said, helping Melissa with the locket.

"It's beautiful, Milo! But why is it only half a heart?" Melissa asked.

"I'm wearing the other half," Milo said. "Look inside..."


Melissa opened her half of the locket to reveal that there was a picture of Milo inside.

"Does this mean..."

"Yeah. My half has a picture of you. That way, no matter how far apart we are, we'll always be close to our hearts. Hopefully someday, the halves will be together again..." Milo trailed off before finally confessing... "I love you, Melissa Sabrina Chase..."

Melissa was surprised. Her best friend...was in love with her? "What was that, Milo?"

"I love you, Melissa Sabrina Chase. I've loved you since 3rd grade. It just took me this long to finally figure it out..."

All Melissa could do was smile as she jumped into Milo's arms and kissed him. "Milo, I don't know what to say except...I love you too, my chaotic angel...I've had a crush on you since 2nd grade. I was just afraid to act because I thought it would wreck our friendship, plus you were crushing on Amanda just last year and I didn't want to interfere..."


Something inside Milo finally snapped as he kissed his redhead best friend. Melissa didn't resist, kissing Milo back. When they broke, Milo was the first to speak. "Melissa, I know you're moving away...but will you, after all these years, finally be my girlfriend?"

Melissa squealed at finally hearing the words she was waiting to hear since she and Milo were kids. "Milo, you have no idea how long I waited for you to ask me that! Yes, Milo! I will be your girlfriend!"

Melissa kissed Milo again, leaving a print of her lipstick on him. "You think we can make this long-distance thing work?" Milo asked. "I mean, I'll be here in New York and you'll be over 1000 miles away in Nashville..."

Melissa quieted her new boyfriend with another kiss on the lips. "Milo, we've done the near-impossible in the face of Murphy's law time and again. We can make this work. Just have a little faith..." she reassured Milo before singing to him.


Have a little faith in me

and day by day

I'll make your dreams all come true

Have a little faith in me

and as they say

Faith can move mountains for you

I'll lend a helping hand

when things go wrong

And by your side I'll stand

As I help along...

Have a little faith in me

that's all I ask

I'll keep the faith

Faithfully


Milo and Melissa fell into each other's arms, crying into each other's shoulders. "I don't wanna go, Milo! I don't want to leave you!"

"I know, Melissa...but this is a big opportunity for you and your mom...just promise me you'll be back in time for senior year..."

"I promise, Milo..."

"I sure hope so, Melissa..."


As Milo and Melissa kissed again, Mr. Chase honked the horn of his blue 2008 Chevy Silverado.

"Guess that's the signal. I'll call you when I get settled."

"Guess I'll talk to you soon..."

Melissa kissed Milo one more time before she climbed into her dad's truck. Her mom would follow behind as the Chase family drove off. With that, Milo was alone...Melissa would be in Nashville by day's end. Next time he would see her back in Danville would hopefully be in 4 years' time...senior year. But even that would seem like a longshot.


Milo would hole up in his room the rest of the day. He wouldn't talk to anyone, not even his own sister.

"Any luck, Sara?" Mrs. Murphy asked her eldest daughter.

"No. He wouldn't even come out for Dr. Zone," Sara told her mom. "Honestly, I don't blame him. You finally take the next step in your relationship with your childhood friend only to have her ripped away from you in a snap, especially with no guarantee of her returning even by senior year...I wouldn't come out of my room either. I don't blame him for not wanting to talk to anyone."

"Well, if he's shut himself off from his own family, what can we do? Who WILL Milo talk to about this?" Mr. Murphy asked. That's when Sara got the idea.

"Zack and Amanda! If anyone can get through to my little brother, they can!"

"Well, go ahead and call them!" Mrs. Murphy told Sara.

"On it!" the blonde fangirl confirmed. 'I just hope they can help Milo pull through...4 years without Melissa...I don't know if Milo can hold out that long...'


Next time out: Sara puts her plan into action. Will Zack and Amanda be able to help Milo out of his heartbreak? How will Melissa handle being down south without her new boyfriend? And how will Milo and Melissa handle long-distance? Plus will Melissa be back in time for senior year? We'll find out soon enough!