Chapter 4
"Merry Christmas, baby," Roger said, kissing Melanie as he met up with her outside of the school. It was the end of their last day of school before Christmas break, December 18th, and Christmas was only a week away.
"Merry Christmas to you, too, baby," Melanie said, looking up at him. "But it isn't Christmas yet, you know."
"I know, but there's snow, so I'm in the Christmas mood," Roger said, smiling at her. "Besides, it is only six days away."
"You're right," Melanie said, smiling at him. "So is everyone getting together for Christmas or are we being forced to stay with our individual families for the holiday?"
"Well, my mom talked to your mom via the hotline, and in the end, they agreed that everyone should come to your house for the holiday and spend the week there," Roger said. Melanie looked up at him, surprised. "I know you don't think you have enough room, so my mom said we'd only spend the day there and go home at night."
"Sounds great, but at least stay over on Christmas Eve, OK?" Melanie asked. "Otherwise, I'll miss you too much. I'm sure Mom will understand just once."
"I wouldn't dare miss out on my first Christmas with my girl," Roger said, smiling down at her.
"Good," Melanie said, grinning at him. "Is Collins coming home for the holiday as well?"
"He's planning on it," Roger said. "I'm pretty sure Mark is begging him to come home."
Melanie smiled. "Good," she said again. "I'm so excited to spend the time with you guys."
"So am—" Roger began, but his words cut off mid-sentence as a snowball came out of nowhere and hit him on the shoulder. He looked around for the culprit and the only person within range and looking at him was Benny. "OK, Benny, you asked for it!"
Roger picked up some snow, made it into a ball and lobbed it at Benny. It hit him on the side of the head.
"Hey, no head shots!" he yelled.
"Sorry," Roger said, grinning devilishly; he was not sorry at all. In fact, both he and Melanie were laughing.
Maureen and Mark came running over to join the battle. Soon, everyone was involved in a full-blown snowball fight. About half an hour later, they carpooled back to Melanie's house, soaking wet, sweaty, hot, and tired, but happy and in the holiday spirit.
As they were walking up to Melanie's house, she noticed a familiar African-American man walking down the street toward them, another familiar person by his side. Her mouth fell open. "Collins!" she squealed excitedly. "Brian! You're home!"
"Hey, Baby girl," he said, hugging her happily. "Did you have a good end of the semester?"
"It was OK," Melanie said. "But we've still got exams when we get back."
"Ew," Brian said, also hugging her happily. "My deepest sympathies are with you. We had ours last week, so we've got new classes to look forward to when we get back."
"I'll be glad when I get new classes, too," Melanie said. She looked up at her brother's baby-blue eyes. "Have you told Mom yet, about…?" She wanted to be discreet about it; even though the others had guessed one way or another that Brian was gay, she wasn't sure if he really wanted them to know yet, especially since he was Collins' partner.
"Not yet," Brian said. "I'm going to tell her tonight."
"OK," Melanie said. "I hope things go well."
"Thanks, sis," Brian said, smiling down at her. "I think I'm going to take her to dinner and a movie. We'll be back later tonight, though."
"OK," Melanie said. "I'm glad you're telling her. I think you'll feel better about it once you do."
"I hope I do, Mel," Brian said. "Come on, let's get inside. It's cold out here."
"Why are you all wet, girl?" Collins asked, pulling her into another hug.
"Snowball fight," Melanie said, grinning. "Benny started it."
"Good for Benny," Brian said, and he laughed as Melanie whacked him on the arm. "Hey, it gets you out of the house."
"I guess it does," Melanie agreed, and they all went inside.
"Mom, what did you get me?" Mark asked, looking at Mrs. Cohen nervously, as he looked down at his present from her. It was late and they were all opening presents, after Brian had gotten back from going out to dinnerwith Mrs. Schwartz. He hadn't yet told Melanie about her reaction, but he had promised to, so she knew he would.
"Go on, open it," Mrs. Cohen said. "If you're going to move to New York for college, you're going to need it."
Mark opened the present and pulled out a crocheted black-and-white scarf. "Oh, Mom," he said, blushing, "I like it." And he was telling the honest truth.
"I'm glad you like it," Mrs. Cohen said, smiling. "Put it on." Mark did; it looked really good on him. "OK, Collins, you go next."
"OK," Collins said, and he opened his present. He pulled out a warm, yellow vest. "Ooh, a vest. I like it. And"— he pulled out a black cap— "a black wool cap. Mrs. Cohen, this is great. Thank you."
"You're welcome, Collins," Mrs. Cohen said. "I'm only sorry it wasn't your parents that were giving it to you, instead of me."
Collins smiled solemnly. His parents had died in aplane crash six years ago, when he was fifteen. One morning in November, he had just woken up without any parents anymore. He had to live with Roger and Mrs. Davis until he was eighteen and then he moved into his own apartment in New York City. Living there, it made sense that he attended college at New York University. He was at peace with his parents' deaths now, but he missed them a lot sometimes. He considered Mrs. Cohen and Mrs. Davis to be his two bonus mothers because, even if they seemed rather anal-retentive and control-freak-like sometimes, he knew they only wanted to take the best of care of Mark, Cindy, Roger, him, and the others as best as possible.
"And what did you get me, Roger?" Collins asked, looking at him as he came upon the present in his pile.
"Open it and see," Roger said, grinning at him.
It was somewhat bigger than Collins' present from Mrs. Cohen and Collins opened it to reveal a long, leather jacket.
"Wow, a leather jacket," Collins said happily. "Thanks, man."
"No problem," Roger said, smiling at him.
"And what did you get me, Mark?" Collins asked, looking at him as he opened the present from Mark. "Ooh, some stoli! Thanks a lot, man; just in time for my birthday next month."
"No problem, Collins," Mark said, smiling at him. "You're turning the big 21. I figured you needed something to celebrate it with."
Collins nodded and grinned. He could hardly wait. Little did Collins know just how vital those three items would become in a few years…
"Now Melanie," Roger said, looking at her and giving her a present.
"What did you get me, Roger?" Melanie asked, looking up at him curiously.
"If you open it, you can find out," Roger said.
"OK," Melanie said, and she opened it, revealing a green necklace of jade. "Wow, Roger, is this real jade?"
"It is," Roger said, smiling at her. "Do you like it?"
"I love it," Melanie said, smiling at him.
"Well, go on, put it on," Maureen said, and she helped Melanie put it on. "It looks awesome."
"Thanks," Melanie said, smiling.
"OK, Mo, your turn," Roger said, and he handed her a package.
"Oh, God, I'm a little scared," Maureen teased. She opened the present and pulled out a leather cat suit, complete with felt ears and faux claws. Her mouth fell open. "Oh, my God, this is awesome!"
"I knew you'd like it," Roger said, not daring to look at Mrs. Davis or Mrs. Cohen. He knew they wouldn't be too happy with him. "So when are you going to wear it?"
"Oh, I don't know, maybe right now?" Maureen said, looking around at them. "I could model it for you guys."
Roger and Mark grinned. "Do it," they said together. Maureen ran to the bathroom and put on the suit. When she came back, everybody— even Mrs. Cohen and Mrs. Davis— burst out laughing. It was skin-tight and made Maureen look sexy. She did some sexy dance moves to go with it and they all laughed again.
"Is Benny spending the holiday with Alison and her family?" Melanie asked, looking at Roger.
"Yeah," Roger said. "He wanted to make a good impression."
"Good for him," Melanie said, as the others rolled their eyes. "I hope he's having as much fun as we are."
Roger nodded. Then he looked around. "OK, who's up for another snowball fight?" he asked.
"I am!" Melanie, Maureen, Mark, and Collins said together, jumping up immediately. They all put on their coats and other snow gear and went outside to start the fight.
That night, after everyone had gone home, Roger lingered. "Wanna watch a movie, Mel?" he asked.
"Sure, I guess," she said. "We should try not to wake Mom up, though."
"Yeah, you're right," Roger said, smiling at her.
When they weren't quite halfway through the movie, Roger looked over at Melanie. Her green eyes met his and he felt his heart flutter. "Merry Christmas, baby," he said quietly, kissing her.
"Merry Christmas, Roger," Melanie replied, kissing him back. She seemed to be getting tired.
Roger closed his eyes and deepened the kiss. Melanie reached over with her eyes closed and grabbed the remote and quickly shut the movie off, just in time. Roger picked her up off the couch and carried her up the stairs to her room. They lay down on her bed and Roger climbed on top of her, leaning down to kiss her again.
"Are you sure you're ready for this?" he asked, breathing hard.
"Yes," Melanie said, "I'm ready. I know you'd never hurt me, Roger."
"I love you, Melanie Elizabeth Schwartz," Roger said, pulling his shirt off and leaning down to kiss her again.
"I love you, too, Roger Andrew Davis," Melanie said.
She smoothly pulled off her own shirt and Roger leaned down, unhooked her bra strap and began to caress her bare breasts. Then he undid his belt, took off his jeans, and threw them on the floor. He caressed Melanie's waist with his hands and Melanie gasped, feeling a tingle go through her body.
"What is it?" Roger asked, breaking away from kissing her again.
"Nothing; that just felt amazing," Melanie said, looking up at him.
Roger smiled and smoothly undid Melanie's jeans and pulled them down off her. She quickly kicked them off and he added them to the pile of clothes on the floor, leaning down to kiss her. Melanie explored the design of his boxers with her fingers. Roger shuddered violently with pleasure before she smoothly removed them as well. All that was left was her underwear, which Roger quickly did away with, leaning down to kiss her again.
"Roger," Melanie said between gasping breaths, "we should… you know… use protection."
"Why?" Roger asked, kissing her neck and making shivers go through her body again. "It can't happen on the first time."
Melanie sighed. "Yes, I guess you're right," she said.
Roger kissed her again and then they began to make love. Melanie groaned with pleasure. It was the first time for both of them, and since it was Christmas, it was extra-special. When they were done, Roger laid down next to Melanie, breathing hard and desperately in love.
"I love you, Melanie," he said, looking down at her from where he was propped up on one elbow.
"I love you, too, Roger," Melanie said, smiling at him, and after Melanie got into her pajamas and Roger put his boxers back on, they fell asleep together.
"Hey, rise and shine, sleeping beauty," whispered a voice the next morning.
Melanie gasped and sat up quickly, afraid it was her mother and they'd been caught in the act. "What the hell?" she said.
"Shhh, it's just me," Brian said, looking at her. He rolled his eyes. "I should have known."
"Shut up, will you?" Melanie said. "Or you'll wake Mom up. Get in here if you want to talk."
Brian looked at Roger, snoring softly next to Melanie. "I think I'd rather not," he said.
"Oh, fine, don't, then, but at least shut the door, will you?" Melanie hissed.
Brian looked at Melanie. "So you decided to, huh?" he asked.
"Yes, I did," Melanie said passionately. "It was amazing, Brian."
"Melanie Schwartz, what have they told us in school all these years?" Brian asked. "You could get pregnant or get an STD or something."
"We used protection, Brian," Melanie lied, trying to get her brother off her back.
"Well, good, or I might have to give Roger a piece of my mind," Brian said, seemingly satisfied, "and I'd rather not. Are you going to tell Mom?"
"No, I'm not," Melanie said. "It's just between me and Roger. You shouldn't even be here."
Roger stirred next to her, and when he realized she was talking to someone, he sat bolt-upright. "Roger, shhh," Melanie said quickly, afraid he'd yell at Brian and wake Mrs. Schwartz up.
"Brian, what the hell is your damage?" Roger snapped irritably.
"Well, I came to tell you two that Santa's been here, but I was only expecting Melanie to be in here," Brian said.
"Oh," Roger said, and he deflated some. "Is that all?"
"Yes, that's all. Now get dressed, you two, and come downstairs. Actually, scratch that; Roger, you'd better get out of here before my mom wakes up," Brian said. "Sorry to ruin your Christmas, but..."
Roger nodded. "It's OK," he said. He leaned over and kissed Melanie. "I'll be back in a couple hours, OK? You go back to sleep."
"OK," Melanie said, "I'll save your stocking for when you get back. Merry Christmas, Roger."
"Merry Christmas, Melanie. I love you," Roger said, and he kissed her again before he got out of bed and dressed after Brian left the room.
"Through the garage and out the back," Brian murmured to Roger as he passed. "Mom will never know you were here."
"Thanks, man," Roger said, looking at him before he left.
Brian went back inside and upstairs to Melanie's room after Roger had left. He knocked quietly and then went in. "Hey, Mel, you wanted to know what Mom's reaction was, right?" he asked her.
Melanie sat up. "Yeah, of course," she said. "What did she say?"
"She said that, while she was surprised, she was glad I came out to her, and that she hopes she can truly accept me for who I am," Brian said. "She's glad I'm so happy with Collins and she knows he'll take care of me."
"That's great, Brian," Melanie said, smiling at him.
Brian nodded. "Well, I just wanted you to know," he said. "You can go back to sleep if you want."
"Nah," Melanie said, "now that I'm up, I'm up. I might as well seize the day."
Brian smiled. "Do you want to go for a walk or something?" he asked. "We could talk and catch up for a while, until Roger and the others wake up and everyone wants to open presents."
"OK," Melanie said, "that sounds great. Give me ten minutes and I'll meet you downstairs."
"Great," Brian said, smiling at his little sister, and he left the room.
I know people have been reading this story, but no one's reviewed. Please review to tell me what you think. I personally really like this story and the first several chapters have been coming to me very easily, to be written down to share with all of you. I think my favorite part of this chapter, personally, was seeing all the future essential RENT items (such as Collins' vest and Maureen's cat suit) being given out at Christmastime. I thought of that and knew I just had to use it. If I missed any other essential RENT items that you guys can think of, let me know andI'll try to write up more scenarios, even if they aren't Christmastime scenarios. I hope to get some feedback soon, but regardless of if I do, I will continue to post as quickly as possible. Thanks for reading.
Until next time, lots of love,
Renthead07