An Unexpected Encounter
Disclaimer: I do not own OLS or its characters, nor I intend to.
Note: The usual routine. Italics are for thoughts, quotes are for speech, etc. etc. If you have any questions, just write them in your reviews, e-mail me, or IM me if you want. Thanks! J
Chapter 4 – Melfina's Wish
Gene walked out of his room, followed by Jim, and over to the kitchen where Melfina was preparing some lunch for the crew…well, actually, just Gene. On the table sat Suzuka, sucking up a bowl of chicken soup and Aisha, licking her plate free of any excess breadcrumbs. "Shit, Aisha, why don't you just eat the whole darn plate?!"
Aisha stopped licking her plate and just put her head down in embarrassment.
"Gene, your food is almost ready," Melfina said.
Gene smirked and walked over to Melfina, stopping when he was practically all over her, with his hands on her shoulders. "Mmmmm….smells good," he whispered into her right ear.
Jim simply rolled his eyes and said, "Gene, cut it out!"
Melfina blushed, but held a stern voice. "Gene, stop it!"
Gene backed away and smiled. "Sorry, I couldn't help it, Mel…It's just that your—your food smells good."
"Ugh, this is so annoying. I think I'll go to my room and train until we reach the space port," Suzuka said with disgust, as she walked out of the kitchen.
"Hey! Wait for me," exclaimed Aisha, already embarrassed by her animalistic behavior, on the table.
Jim sighed, just looking upon Gene with disbelief.
"What?!"
"Nothing, Gene. I'll just go and see if we're near any good space ports," Jim said and left, silently.
"Oh great! Now he's mad at me again," Gene said, sitting down on one of the dining chairs.
"Are you ready to eat now, Gene," Melfina asked.
"No. I'm not hungry anymore," Gene sighed.
Melfina sat down, across the table from Gene. "Why not, Gene? Is it something that I said?"
"No, it's just that—Well, everyone seems to see me as this bad guy lately, and I don't wanna come off like that, ya know? …I'm sorry I disrespected you, Mel."
Melfina seemed disappointed and bowed her head down. She didn't want Gene to apologize. As a matter of fact, she loved every second of his touch. She loved the way he felt, and the way he caressed her with his rough, but gentle skin…She had missed those days when he was very affectionate towards her and those nights—Oh, those nights! How glorious they were when he made love to her. But she could not make him go back to the way they were. Gene was obviously not in love with her the way she had thought. "It's okay, Gene. I know you didn't mean any harm by it."
"But Mel, I was grabbing you like—like…," his voice trailed off, as he looked into Melfina's eyes. He saw something in there that he shouldn't have. Gene knew that Melfina still loved him, but he could no longer return the feeling. He had thought that Mel was the love of his life, but he was wrong. He thought that she was special, but again, he felt bad because she was just another girl that he toyed around with. He did have deep feelings for Melfina, but not the way she wanted him to. He really did try to make it work, but it just couldn't. He couldn't force himself to do something he didn't want to! Having sex (not making love) with Mel was torture and he did not want to make her life a living hell, so he just broke it off. To her, it might have been pleasing before, during, and after, but to him it was just something to do and after a while, he got tired of it…No! Stop looking at me like that, Mel…
"…Like the way you used to, Gene." She began to sob. "Oh Gene, why did you leave me so alone?"
Gene kind of felt sorry for Melfina. He had somehow managed to ruin the poor girl's life. She gave up her virginity to him and was so willing to do anything for Gene after they became one. She was so, and still is, in love with him. "I didn't leave you alone, Mel. I'm still here. You're still a part of the Outlaw Star crew."
Gene's words just made Melfina burst into tears. "But Gene, don't you see?! All I want is you!" And with that Melfina just popped out of her chair and ran to her room.
Gene called after her and was about to go follow her, but he realized that it was best to just let her be. She'll get over it…just like the rest of them…Shit, I don't know why I act like I don't care. I actually do feel bad this time. Mel was someone special, still is, but that spark is gone now that we know each other intimately. Maybe we somehow got involved with each other too fast…
As Gene thought to himself, he didn't realize that Jim had walked into the kitchen and sat down in front of him, where Melfina had just gotten up from. "You want to talk about it, big bro?"
Huh? "Oh, Jim. It's you."
"No shit. Of course, it's me!"
Gene came back to his senses and asked, "Talk? Talk about what?"
"Ya know, you dumb ass!" Jim slapped Gene on the side of the head. "Snap out of it, Gene! I saw Mel run out of here, crying. What's the deal?"
"Nothing, Jim. It's 'big people' talk."
Jim turned as red as a tomato, his usual color when he was upset, angry, or irritated. "Urgh…Hello, Gene?! I'm not that much younger than you!"
"I know, Jim, but I rather not talk about it. You know that Mel and I are not together anymore…I can't force myself to feel something that's not there for me. You understand, right, Jim?"
Jim understood Gene completely and nodded in reply. He never was in love himself, but he could kind of see where Gene was coming from, in a male point of view. But he also felt sorry for Melfina who was like another mother to him. She cooked for him, washed his clothes, and did all of those chores that only a mother would care to do for him…or his sister, for that matter.
As they sat in silence, Jim could only stare into space and think about what was headed their way. Will my questions be answered, regarding my dreams? Will Gene really help out and take off on an adventure to help me find an answer or is it just something he'll put off and forget about? No. Gene wouldn't do that to me…but I'm not all that sure that Lily's out there to begin with. I'll give her credit…She always was a tough girl…Hope she's safe wherever she is…I know she's out there…somewhere…
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