"I don't know. I didn't answer the phone. I let the machine get all the calls. Beth might have been trying to call," Chris made a face.
"Angela? Beth?" Renee whispered to Melissa.
"Angela is the chick Joe met. They finally met again and were smart enough to get each other's numbers. Beth is Chris's ex, who all of a sudden wants to get back together," Melissa explained.
"Hey, cutie," JC said as he brushed by, pausing long enough to kiss Melissa on the cheek.
"How big is he?"
"What?!" Melissa looked at Renee.
"Length? Diameter? Y'know, the basics?"
"Renee!"
"What? It was an honest question."
"Way to be sweet and innocent."
"Yeah, yeah."
"Hey, look who's back," Chris looked up from the book he was reading and saw Melissa and Renee in the doorway. "Welcome home."
"Thanks," Renee allowed herself to be led into the living room. "Have I missed anything important?" she asked as Melissa excused herself to find JC.
"Nothing Melissa hasn't probably already told you. Joe's got a new chick, my ex won't leave me alone, Lance and Justin are determined to figure out your...whatever. MELISSA AND JC ARE HAVING AN ILLICIT AFFAIR!" Chris purposely raised his voice.
"WE ARE NOT!" came JC's reply from another room.
"Yes, they are. But that's not the point. How are you?"
"Better. You'd think I'd learn from the last few times," Renee shrugged. "I hope this doesn't mean I'm following a trend to becoming an alcoholic. I don't wanna be a lush."
"Well, I don't know what to tell you, because I don't know the whole thing. So I can't help you."
"Yeah, I know. It's not something I tell everybody."
"Well, if you ever want to talk about it, you know where to find me," Chris patted Renee's knee and walked out of the room.
Lance wandered in about the same time. "Hey," his face brightened when he saw the occupant of the couch. "You're back! How're you feeling?" he sat down and put an arm around Renee.
That's when she broke down and cried. She let Lance hold her as she bawled and poured her whole story out to him.
"I never mean to completely drown anything out. I just want to get a little drunk and get a little silly. But it always goes too far. I don't understand it. I can go out to parties and just have three or four drinks and I'm fine. It's enough to make me do things I wouldn't normally do, but nothing serious. But in situations like this, something weird happens. I can't explain it, and I can't fight it," Renee looked up into Lance's green eyes, praying he wouldn't judge her, or think less of her in any way.
As if reading her thoughts, Lance said, "I'm really glad you told me this, Renee. And it won't change my opinion of you, so don't worry. I still like you all the same."
"I really like you, too," Renee replied.
"What about Justin?"
Renee shook her head, "With Justin it's more of a physical attraction. I realized that last night when I was thinking. You and me, it's so much more. We're on more of a personal level."
Lance's only answer was a huge grin from ear to ear.
"Really?" he finally spat out.
"Yeah," Renee nodded, smiling.
"Wow," Lance breathed. "That's great. That really is."
"Except, there's only one problem."
"What's that?"
"Well, um, Justin kind of gave me up for your sake, to save your friendship. If I hooked up with you, wouldn't that defeat the purpose?"
"Yeah, but, I dunno. I'll talk to Justin. I think you and I have more of a real connection. He should understand."
"I just don't want to hurt him," Renee sighed.
"Me either," Lance tipped Renee's head onto his shoulder, kissed her forehead, and sat with her in silence.
"Well, we know Chris's opinion on our situation," JC said in between kisses.
"I can't believe I ever let myself think I wouldn't do anything with you. But still, we really need to talk about what we're doing. We shouldn't be doing this," Melissa was talking about their recent goings-on, which had led them to where they were now -- behind a locked door, in the most passionate make-out session yet; Melissa could feel JC's excitement grow with each kiss. They were in JC's room, Melissa lying on top of JC on the bed. JC had no shirt on, and his pants were undone around his hips. Melissa was down to just her bra and underwear.
"But Melly, baby, everything about this feels so right. Whenever I'm with you...everything just falls into place," JC wrapped his arms tighter around Melissa's waist and began to sing softly, "And I will give you the best of my life, I will give you all that you need," as he kissed every inch of Melissa's face, starting at her eyelids and working his way to her lips.
"But, Josh, me and Michael...we're in love, we're getting married," Melissa weakly protested. "This is wrong."
She lifted her head from his chest and looked him right in the eye. "Isn't it?"
"God, this month went by fast," Renee sighed as she laid her head back on Justin's shin.
"Yes, yes it did. But it was a good month. I mean, look at all that happened. JC and Melissa fell in love, if they weren't already, even if they won't admit it; I met you, a wonderful friend; you met Lance."
"And I still wonder if you're as okay with that as you say you are."
"Rae, I've told you like a thousand times. I was being selfish at first, but Lance is better for you than I am. Not only the physical attraction versus chemistry thing, but he's much better at keeping up a long-distance relationship. I can't do that. I don't have the patience. Besides, what you and Lance have...I'm not sure what it is...but I can see it. It's like what JC and Mel got, you just don't have the newlywed rabbit syndrome."
Renee laughed so hard she almost rolled right off the dock. "But Mel said they haven't done that."
"And you believe this? Are you nuts? Please! They've been boinking for weeks."
"They have not! Mel wouldn't -- she couldn't...she'd do other stuff, but not...it's just," Renee groaned. "She'll probably kick my ass for telling you this, but she's still a virgin. She's kinda spiritual when it comes to sex. We've talked about it, and she said Michael and JC are the only ones she'd even consider. As long as she's with Michael, he'll be the only one, and that won't even happen til they get married. I'm almost afraid of what's gonna happen when we get home. Mel is so honest, she tells Michael everything, and if she tells him about JC...I just don't want any of them to get hurt," Renee looked up. "Sorry, I'm babbling."
"That's okay, that's what I'm here for. Don't worry, I won't say anything."
"Thanks."
"C'mon, let's get back, you still have to finish packing."
"Yeah. How come I always seem to have more stuff on the way back?"
They climbed to their feet and walked back to the house so Renee could pack.
At the beach house, Melissa was sitting on her bed, two open, half packed suitcases on either side of her, sobbing uncontrollably. JC was leaned against the wall, slightly shocked, unable to provide any comfort for her.
"What?" he asked again.
"Please don't make me say it again," Melissa shook her head. "I can't."
"That's because you don't mean it!"
"Yes I do."
"No you don't!" JC exploded. "You can't mean it. You can not look me in the eye and tell me you don't love me. What about this past month? What about last night? My God, Melissa, we made love last night! You, the one who would defend your virgin ways to the death, who insisted on saving it for 'the one', gave in to me! Now how can you sit there and tell me that?"
"Josh, you have to understand! I love Michael, don't you see? Do you see this?" Melissa thrust her left hand in JC's face. "We're getting married. I love him."
"Well, if you love him so much, how come you let me inside first?" JC said coldly before leaving.
"Josh," Melissa called reluctantly, only to be answered by the slam of the door and the start of the Jeep's engine.
"Damnit!" she cried. "I'm so stupid." She resumed packing, dry tears still rolling over her cheeks. As she finished, she heard the front door open. "JC?" she called.
"Nah, just us," Renee called back. "Me and platinum-head." She appeared in the doorway with Justin. "Oh my God! What's wrong?"
"I told him."
"Oh, Mel. You didn't."
"I sure did."
"But why?"
"It went too far. Waaay too far."
"What do you mean, too far?" Renee looked at Melissa with the feeling she already knew.
Melissa just looked at Renee, confirming her suspicions. She put her arms around her friend and looked up at Justin. He nodded in understanding and left.
"I lied, Renee. I told him I don't love him, but I do, oh God, I do."
"Oh, hon, I told you not to say it if you don't feel it."
"But it was the only was out."
"There had to be another way. Melissa, you've gotta tell him the truth," Renee insisted.
Melissa shook her head. "It's too late," she said listlessly. Renee moved the suitcases off the bed and laid her friend down, allowing her to cry herself to sleep. She'd need a good night's rest to drive home the next morning.
"Well, guys, it was a great month. You two are so much fun. Especially clubbin'. You've gotta come to Buffalo sometime," Melissa said to Joe & Chris. She and Renee had stopped by on their way out to say their last minute good-byes.
"How come you're not with JC?" Joey asked, only to be answered by an elbow to the ribs from Chris. "Um, nevermind."
Melissa smiled weakly. She had told Chris all about the situation. "It's alright. I'm the moron there, remember?"
"Are you gonna say good-bye?" Chris asked gently.
"I don't really know," Melissa said, looking up the stairs, where JC was holed up in his room.
"Hey, Mel, we're getting behind. If we wanna make it back at a decent hour, we need to go now," Renee strolled into the room on Lance's arm.
"Alright. Bye guys, see ya next time," Melissa and Renee gave each of the guys a quick hug. "We'll call you when we get home. GOOD-BYE JOSH!" Melissa called up the stairs.
"Bye!" the guys all waved as the girls got into the car.
"Mel, wait!" JC thudded down the stairs and flung open the door in time to see the purple Cavalier cruise down the street.
"Ah, home sweet home," Melissa burst through her apartment door, hoping her cousin and his friend had kept the place up.
"It's about time you got back," her cousin, Andy, called from the kitchen. "We were starting to run low on food and didn't know what to do."
"What?" Melissa shrieked.
"He's just kidding," Andy's friend, Shawn, said. "We left your food alone. Brought our own."
"Good. Damn, see if I ever let you stay here again. Good God," Melissa dropped her bags in the hall. "So what or who have you done all month? I don't have to disinfect my bed sheets, do I?"
Andy glanced sideways at Shawn. Melissa caught the look and shook her head. She looked at Andy, who pointed at Shawn. Melissa followed the gesture, and stared Shawn in the eye.
"I'll wash them," he sighed.
Melissa shuddered. "You're like family. I don't need to think about these things." She took her bags to her own room and threw them in the corner, intending to unpack later.
"So I assume you want us to leave soon," Andy stated as he flopped onto the couch and flipped on the television.
"Yeah, well don't rush, you might hurt yourself. Slow down!" Melissa plucked the remote from her cousin's hand.
"And with my bad back and all," Andy groaned.
"Yeah, that too," Melissa swatted him on the back of the head.
"Hi, Renee!" Maggie Larson said as she almost cornered the girl in ToPs.
"Oh, hey, Mag," Renee wasn't at all enthusiastic with her reply.
"How was your vacation?" Maggie asked.
"Oh, it was fun," Renee tried to brush her off. How did she find out I went on vacation?
"Where'd you go again?"
"Florida. Look, I'm kind of in a hurry. I'm late for work," Renee said. "So, I gotta go."
"Oh, okay," Maggie watched her walk away, a confused look on her face.
Renee shook her head in the next aisle. Maggie was a really sweet person, but once she started talking, you'd be there awhile. And the vacation was something Renee really had to think about for a while. Plus, she was in a hurry. She had to get home, Lance would be calling soon.
When Renee got out to her Tempo, I Want You Back was just starting on the radio. An eerie sensation came over her, like Justin was singing right to her. She couldn't help but wonder what their relationship could be now if they had become more than just friends.
After Shawn "moved out", taking the soiled bed sheets with him, Andy stuck around to help Melissa tidy up the apartment.
"So did you even go to any of your classes all month?" Melissa asked.
"Hell, no," Andy replied. "I have my syllabus, I know what the course entails."
"But did you do any of the work on the syllabus?"
"Of course not. And neither did you. You were in Florida."
"So? I only have class twice a week, so I missed eight classes. Big deal. I worked ahead, so I wouldn't be behind when I got back."
"Yeah, well, maybe I did that too."
"Dork," Melissa opened her suitcase and started throwing clothes at Andy, who dropped them into two piles. She threw a bra, "Dirty pile," she dictated.
Andy held the bra at arm's length between his thumb and forefinger and dropped it into the blue basket, just in time to get hit with another. "Clean," was the order, so he dropped it in the white basket. Melissa looked up to see how Andy was handling her undergarments.
"Oh please, like you've never seen one before."
"Not ones that have been on you."
Melissa rolled her eyes and continued, "Clean...dirty...dirty...clean...dirty...clean...clean...cle--ooh!...uh...nevermind," she quickly moved JC's boxers off to the side.
"WHAT WAS THAT?!" Andy made a horrified face.
"Oh, chill out," Melissa's eyes wandered back to the boxers, and the events of a few nights ago flooded back to her. JC had been so tender, so gentle. Why did she tell him she didn't love him?
Andy saw the look on his cousin's face and showed concern, "Are you okay?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Let's finish sorting."
"You sure?"
"Yeah...Um, Andy? Would you mind staying another day? I shouldn't be alone this way."
Andy narrowed his eyes. "You're not getting all suicidal on my ass, are you?"
Melissa cracked a smile. "You wish, asshole. I'm just really pissed at myself. I could kick my own ass right about now."
"Oh, allow me," Andy took a menacing step toward her.
"You stay the hell away from me."