Chapter Two: The Past Becomes the Present
"I still don't understand why you want me to do this Gene. She's most likely going to want to see you. Her and I weren't on good terms when you left, ya know... It's because I blamed her for you sudden departure. I mean, come one. You left not only her, but me and Jim for almost two years! No, I don't want to know what you were doing those two years, Gene, I just know that Jim threatened everyday that he would never speak to you again, even if you did come back. As it was, when you finally did come back home, he wasn't exactly friendly to you, though he did speak to you at least. And she left about a month after you did... We pretty much ran her outta here! I'm just saying Gene; you should be the one here at the station, not me. I should be the one at home on the phone talking to you while you stand here waiting for the train. Oh, here comes the train. What do you want me to do Gene? And you better make it quick."
"Okay, just go have lunch with her, Suzuka, and then improvise. Please, I just need some time. I just don't know what to do yet."
"Fine Gene. I'll think of something."
"Thank you Suzuka, I owe you one," he said, hanging up.
"Yes you do Gene. Yes you do," Suzuka said, hanging up her cell phone, just as Melfina stepped off the train.
Suzuka watched as Melfina walked out and looked around. The way she was looking around, you'd think she was looking for him, she thought. Suzuka sighed. It was time.
"Melfina! Over here!" She called, waving her arms. She could see the disappointment on Melfina's face as she walked over.
"Oh, hi, Suzuka. No offense, but you are the last person I ever thought would meet me at a train station."
"Oh please, none taken. Jim wanted to come too, but he had to help Gene with something around the house. Things keep breaking. But he sends his 'hello-how-are-you?', so don't feel too bad!"
"I don't mean to be rude Suzuka, but what are you doing here? You and I were not exactly on speaking terms when I left."
Suzuka smiled, thinking on how she was just telling Gene that. "Yeah, well, you know Gene. He wanted to be the one to meet you here, but um, he's kinda being a chicken right now. I just got off the phone with him, and believe me, I wish it was the other way around. But hey, now we can settle our differences over lunch, what do ya say? Come on, please?" She added, seeing the familiar quick look of 'I-don't-really-know-if-that's-a-good-idea' flash across Melfina's face.
"Well, I was kinda upset at the way we left things, so I don't really see the problem. I gotta stop at my house first... Just to drop things off."
Suzuka nodded, understanding the real reason for going to her house. Suzuka assumed that Melfina hadn't been 'home' since she left... Since her mom died... In a weird way, Suzuka was glad that she was able to be there for Melfina, especially since they had big differences.
At the house...
Melfina sat in Suzuka's Tahoe, and she looked at the house that she once called 'home.' She hadn't been there since she was 16. Since her mom died. That was over ten years ago. She wasn't sure she was truly up to this. Suzuka turned off the Tahoe, sensing, in her Suzuka-way, that Melfina just needed some time. Melfina took a deep breath, let it out, and opened the door. She walked (with what she hoped looked like confidence) to the door, and it was there that she hesitated again. I'm not ready for this. Then again... I don't think I'll ever be ready for this. She mustered up what was left of her courage and slid her key into the lock, hoping against hope that no one had changed the locks. When she heard the familiar pop of the lock, she opened the door, walked in, and let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She looked around. Nothing had changed. Well, it was extremely dusty, but nothing a good cleaning wouldn't fix. She would tackle that either later tonight, or first thing tomorrow. She thought it would be hard, going inside the house that she grew up in with her mom... The house that held all her good memories... Christmas with Mom, school days and problems, prom with Gene... Melfina let her thoughts stop right there. She closed her eyes, but it didn't matter. She could see the event as if it was really happening now, and she was just watching. She could see Gene walk in; looking excruciatingly handsome in his tux, and holding a simple white box that not only held her corsage, but a promise ring that he would give her later that night. She could hear her mom call up the stairs for her. She saw herself walk calmly down the stairs in her long shiny purple prom dress (the one she bought in November), as if this sort of thing happened everyday for her. She had felt elegant and beautiful in that dress, and she remembered that the look in Gene's eyes told her that he thought so as well.
Melfina stopped the movie that was playing in her head. She looked down at her hand to the odd 'ring' that Gene had given her. It was a nut, or a washer, or something... She wasn't quite sure what. It was the type of thing that you would use before/after you put a screw in. All she knew was that she promised to never take it off... And other than when she went swimming or took a shower, she never did. Gene meant that much to her. Melfina remembered Suzuka, who was sitting outside waiting for her. She dropped her bags in the middle of the floor, grabbed her purse and keys, locked the door, and half-ran to the Tahoe. She got in, Suzuka started the car, and they left for their lunch destination. Neither knew exactly where they were going, but they would when they got there.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *