A/N: Sorry it took so long. It's been absolute chaos here. Between preparing for my Sweet Sixteen Party and studying for midterms . . . – Shudders. – Anyway, a big thank you to the following:

PiperAngel39: Lol. Well, there are many theories about why Scott broke up with Melinda. Only I know the answer. Stay tuned to find out!

Charmedluver: Lmao. Very funny. But, why are Kerry and Bush strangling each other? – Mock confused expression. – Jk. Lol.

Matt91: Lol. Ah, more choking and strangling me. Ya know, you people need to get some help. Some of you are so violent. Lol.

CursedBlondie: Glad you aren't confused anymore!

Wyatt333: uh . . . I'm not going to promise anything. Sorry. But I've had a lot of people ask me to read their fics, and I just haven't gotten to it and I don't want to say I will and then I don't, But I'll try.

Cornett: You'll get the answers to all your questions soon!

Kay, hope this is longer. I still don't know. Lol. Let me know!

Please enjoy and please review!

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Numb, Melinda entered Halliwell Manor and headed right for the stairs. She had cried the whole way home and she didn't think she could cry anymore at this point. Her eyes were red and puffy and felt dry. Her mascara had pooled under her eyes and snaked down her face. Even her hair was a mess because she'd raked her hand through it so many times.

And she didn't think she could cry anymore. She felt all cried out.

Now all she wanted was to go into her room and shut herself in.

"Hey, how was dinner?"

Melinda gulped, but it hurt; her throat was dry and scratchy. She didn't turn around – she didn't want Wyatt to see she had been crying, because then he'd ask questions and she didn't feel like answering them.

"Fine," she lied. It came out sounding choked and scratchy because her throat was so dry.

"You okay?" Wyatt asked. He sounded truly concerned.

"I'm fine. I'm just tired, okay?" Melinda snapped, her voice shaking as fresh tears scratched her throat. She ran up the steps, hair covering her face so he couldn't see her in tears.

When she got to her room, she slammed the door, locked it, and collapsed on her bed, sobbing.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

(Two Days Later – Tuesday)

There was a loud pounding. Where was it coming from? It hurt her head.

"Melinda?"

Oh, the pounding was Wyatt knocking on her door.

"Melinda, open the door," came his muffled yet gentle voice.

Melinda ignored him, burying her head face first into the pillow.

He must have orbed in, because a second later, the side of her bed sunk slightly and she felt his hand on her back.

"Melinda, you're English professor, Dr. Lawson, called. He says you haven't been in class all week. And he says that he checked your attendance record and, apparently, you haven't been in to any of your classes at all since last Friday."

Melinda ignored him,

Every day, minus Sunday, Wyatt and Chris got up super early and went to P3 and usually didn't arrive back home until dinnertime, Melinda had classes at the local college, San Francisco Community College, from eight in the morning until three in the afternoon, so the guys didn't know that she'd stayed home Monday and today.

"Melinda, what's wrong? You've been a mess since Sunday. Are you okay? Did something happen?" Wyatt prodded gently.

"Just leave me alone, Wyatt," Melinda mumbled into her pillow, wishing he'd just go away.

"Melinda-"

"Please, just go away," she said, gritting her teeth slightly,.

"You can't just skip classes, Melinda," Wyatt said, a little more forcefully than before. "What's the matter with you? You can tell me, you know."

She ignored him this time. It wasn't any of his business that Scott – the love of her life, her boyfriend for over two years, the man she couldn't ever stop thinking about – had dumped her. For no reason, too. One minute he was leaving her notes saying he wanted to talk at dinner, eight o clock sharp, and the next minute he was late by an hour and acting like he didn't remember he had invited her over. Oh, yeah, and dumping her.

"I won't leave unless you tell me what's wrong," Wyatt threatened. His voice had grown soft, gentle, and almost father-like, again. That's how he always acted, being the oldest and all, even though Chris was only a year younger than him.

"Go away, Wyatt," Melinda demanded. She could feel her eyes filling with tears and she didn't want him to see her crying. She wanted him to just go away and leave her alone so she could sulk.

"Does it have to do with Scott?" Wyatt asked.

Melinda was silent. How did he know?

"He stopped by the club yesterday to give me some of your stuff from his apartment," Wyatt explained, as if he had read her mind. "Did something happen between you two?"

"It's none of you're business," she grumbled angrily.

"Melinda, please . . .?" Wyatt asked gently, sensing that his cousin was near the breaking point.

"Scott dumped me, okay?" She sobbed, sitting up and turning to face him, her eyes narrowed in anger but a look of utter sadness and hurt lingered in them.

Wyatt frowned sympathetically, but didn't seem too surprised; it was what he has suspected when Scott dropped by the club earlier.

"Why would he do that? You guys love each other so much."

Melinda scowled. "I don't know and I don't want to talk about it. Please leave now."

"I know you're upset about Scott, but you can't let it ruin your life," Wyatt said, standing. He turned to leave.

"Wyatt-" Melinda said suddenly.

Wyatt turned around and looked at her, his brown eyes caring and gentle and expectant.

Melinda looked down at her bed and mumbled a "never mind."

Frowning, Wyatt orbed down to the living room where he found Chris.

"Is she okay?" Chris asked. He had a habit or ragging on Melinda quite often, but he still loved her and worried about her.

"Scott broke up with her," Wyatt explained, sitting on the couch beside his brother.

"What?" Chris asked, his eyes widening in surprise. "But he was crazy about her!"

Wyatt nodded. "I know. I can't figure out what happened, and Melinda won't tell me anything. You know, she skipped classes yesterday and today. Her professor called to make sure she was all right."

"You're kidding me right?" Chris asked. When Wyatt shook his head no, he wasn't kidding, Chris said, "That's not at all like Melinda. I know she loved him a lot, but she would never skip classes just because of a guy."

"I know. But she did and I don't know what to do. I mean, I'm no girl-"

"You sure about that, Wy?" Chris asked with a slight grin.

Wyatt glared at him, but chose to ignore the comment and continued, "-and I really don't know how to help her or how to get her to open up. She won't talk to me except – well, I think she almost did. But then she stopped."

"Should we go talk to her again?" Chris asked.

Wyatt shook his head. "No. Not a good idea. She needs time to cool off. Scott really hurt her . . . and if Melinda doesn't get over it soon, I just might have to hurt him."

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Melinda paced her room. She'd been in the bathroom several times in the past week, -and trice that much just that day – for several different reasons. Now she was waiting. Waiting for – just waiting.

Oh, right, she was waiting for the call that would determine the rest of her life – and no, not Scott calling to tell her what an asshole he'd been and how he desperately wanted her back, although that would have made her day.

The phone rang.

Melinda lunged at it, picking it up before Wyatt or Chris could pick it up downstairs.

"Hello? Yes, it is. Yes, this is she. Yes . . ." She gulped. "Thanks. Bye." And she hung up, slowly sitting on her bed and staring at the ceiling.

Then there was a knock on her door. She didn't say anything, but Wyatt and Chris came in anyway. Apparently, to them, waiting five minutes was enough for Melinda to cool off.

Well, that, and Chris had been impatient.

So they sat on her bed. Wyatt did, anyway. He sat beside her, while Chris stood near the bed.

"Look, we know you probably don't want to talk to us right now, but Wyatt's – I mean, we're worried about you," Chris said.

"Skipping classes just isn't like you, Melinda, guy or not," Wyatt added.

Melinda felt tears prick her eyes as she listened, not looking at either or her cousins, but staring straight ahead. She tried not to cry, though because crying in front of your male cousins? Yeah, kind of embarrassing

But Wyatt noticed.

"We didn't mean to upset you, Melinda. We're sorry," he said quickly. "But we were worried and;"

"No, it isn't that. I-it's . . . I," Melinda took a deep breath to calm herself. "I need to tell you guys something."