"Well we've decided," Sandy said, "oh Ryan you can tell her!" Sandy said because Ryan was grinning real wide.
"Hey Mel, welcome home." Ryan said punching her shoulder playfully.
"You-you mean it?" Melanie asked.
"Yes," Kirsten said, "any family of Ryan's is family of ours."
That broke Melanie. She hugged Kirsten.
"Thank you so much! You have no idea what this means to me! I promise I won't be a burden. I'll clean and do chores that you want me to. Thank you!"
Kirsten looked taken aback. She looked over at Ryan who was shaking his head and laughing. She loved to see Ryan happy. Ever since Lindsay had left Ryan had been depressed, not that he'd let anyone help him, but it was great to see him smile again.
Sandy grinned at his wife as Melanie let go, a little embarrassed about acting out like that.
"Well, we'll need to buy you some new clothes." Kirsten said with a small smile.
"Oh, but, I brought some and-"
"Are they all like that?" Kirsten asked, implying the clothes rips and tears.
"Well, yeah. But I don't...I don't have any money." Melanie said.
"Don't worry about it! Do you think we'd let you stay here if we weren't prepared to supply you with food and stuff?" Sandy asked.
Melanie liked Sandy, he was real nice, not like anyone she knew. Yeah, she could get used to this.
Seth had a glazed look in his eye that clearly showed how bored he was.
"Wanna play PS2 Mel, Ryan?" Seth asked.
Ryan shook his head. "I've got to study for my math test."
"Sure!" Melanie said and she followed him into the pool house.
"So this is Ryan's room?" Melanie said in awe.
"Yeah, you're gonna have the guest room, but then it won't be a guest room, it'll be your room." Seth replied to her.
Melanie laughed and then she and Seth started to duke it out playing some sort of racing game, she was beating him too.
"You're good at this." Seth said, "Are you sure you've never played before?"
"Nope, and I'm still beating your sorry ass." She said, grinning.
Yeah, she could definitely get used to this.