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When asked if dinner was for a special occasion, Harvey had illuded that it potentially could be; which was more of an enigmatic answer than anything but drew her in with cautious curiosity. A curiosity that had been sufficiently satiated by the end of the conversation.

“Dinner was amazing,” Melody dried her hands off on the towel that hung from the refrigerator handle. He had cooked so she took it upon herself to put the leftovers away and take care of the dishes while he relaxed on the couch in the living room. “I really think you outdid yourself.” Rae would no doubt be impressed if she would have been here to enjoy the meal with them.

“You know…” she glanced out the sliding glass door that looked into the backyard as she passed by the dining room and walked over to where Harvey was sitting. Melody draped her arms over his shoulders and rested her chin atop his head, a playful gesture she had been tempted to do on a number of occasions but until now had always held herself back. “It’s still light out…”

Although it’d be hard for him to see the smile on her face, unless he perhaps caught sight of her reflection on the television screen, her tone carried a note similar to when she was about to ask him to do something she knew he’d probably say no to. “Is there anything I can do to convince you to go on a walk with me? Just to the convenience store and back. Maybe get a pint of ice cream to share.” Could either pull something up on Netflix or do something else. Either way, she was open to suggestions.

Her lips pursed and eyes narrowed in that playfully pinched expression of ‘you would do that…’ when he deflected the question back onto her. Behind him, Melody made a ‘tsk’ sound and poked Harvey in the space between two ribs in mock annoyance.

For a brief moment, she considered reaching for his phone, using its return as a means of bargain, but abandoned the thought just as quickly. Instead, she hummed in consideration of a few options and eventually settled on two that seemed rather fair.

“I can either, one,” she paused for dramatics and held up an index finger. “Give you full control over the remote when we get back and you can pick what we watch when we get back,” or don’t watch if it just ended up as background sound for other activities.

“Or two,” Melody raised a second finger. “I can give you a free pass for the next convention or faire.” No pestering him to join her, or allow her to make him another outfit so she’d have someone to dress up with.

“Hmm,” Melody hesitated a moment for dramatics as if she were considering adding another stipulation of her own. “And here I thought I was being fair.” It was more than fair if she considered past protests and displeased grumpy faces Harvey gave her when she asked him to try something on. But between the two of them, she was more comfortable in crowded groups and social settings.

She shifted behind him, moving from where her chin rested atop his head to the side, “But I accept.” Melody whispered into his ear a second before giving him a small kiss near his temple. “Just no pistachio,” she added before unwinding her arms from around his shoulders and taking a step away from the couch so he could get up without her hindrance.

Melody opened her mouth to dispute his comment but realized that there was perhaps more truth to it than she’d like to admit. However, his softened smile left her feeling a bit disarmed and instead just pointed a finger at him and replied with a “tu che” as she followed Harvey over to the door and put her shoes on beside him.

Out of everyone he had always known her best. Knew her antics, what made her tick, small gestures that brought her joy, whether it was the hangry Mel sitting on the couch or the other one.

How or why he had put up with her for all these years had always been a bit of a mystery but she was glad to have him continue to be a part of her life even if months passed between the times they spoke. The downside of being an adult is that time keeps on moving when you’re not looking. One day flows seamlessly into the next until finally the realization that a week has gone by comes crashing down.

Fortunately, reconnections always felt seamless, like they’d picked up where things left off despite the many changes.

When he offered to extend their walk, Melody rose to her full height, still shorter than him but not by much. Her expression softened as she observed his adverted gaze and the hint of embarrassment in his posture.

Despite her playful teasing earlier, she gently raised a hand and hooked a finger under his chin. “I’d like that,” she said with a genuine smile before lowering her arm and entwining her hand with his.

“I did say that,” she nodded slowly figuring that he’d want to know more eventually. Silence fell between them for a long moment, her head still bobbing as she tried to figure how best to answer him.

“I should preface this by saying you know my brothers,” not just Eric but William too, though perhaps not as well; she wasn’t sure since the eldest graduated with his master's degree in computer sciences as they finished their junior year. “How social they are, the types of friends they hung around with.” Usually other young fit guys with an active lifestyle or like-minded in their chosen fields. One of the bros that would like to get a drink but not get s**t-faced wasted unless the occasion called for it.

“You probably didn’t even know I existed at the time, but the first time I saw you was in Color Theory; during the second semester of our freshman year.” One of the classes they could take as an elective toward the associates' fulfillment and would also count as a prerequisite for later courses. “It was before you met Eric, I think.”

With her free hand, she reached up to scratch the back of her head knowing that she was already over-explaining and felt like she should move the conversation along.

“Anyway, normally you sat two rows ahead of me but I think maybe someone took your seat that day. I just remember talking to one of our other classmates when you tapped my shoulder and you said ‘Excuse me’.” Something so innocent and minor that’d be easily brushed off as a morning inconvenience but details matter so she continued. “I remember turning around and saying something, probably sorry...?” She shrugged since it was inaudible to her own ears, or at least her long-term memory, however, his eyes were something to get lost in. “But whatever I said, or my expression was, it made you smile, and when I finally had the mind enough to move I heard you chuckle and say thank you when you walked behind me.”

“I felt entrapped,” Melody admitted, as she found comfort in the fact he was beside her now and could not see her face as her gaze followed the edge of the sidewalk while she continued with the story.

“I didn’t learn your name until sometime after class. Stephanie told me when she caught me glancing towards the door when you left the room.” That girl had a memory like no other and probably memorized everyone’s names well before their teacher. “I kind of wanted to sit by you the next day, or at least say hi, but…” she paused a moment, chewed on her lower lip realizing now she was rambling because he put her on the spot. “But you had got there before me and both the seats next to you were already taken.”

“So I kind of abandoned the idea and left things as they were at least until there was a reason to talk rather than being that awkward girl my brothers often gossiped about that turned guys off because they were too forward.” Or something like that.

“A part of me wished that we did connect sooner,” Melody admitted quietly. “It took a while for me to forgive Eric after I learned he pulled the ‘bro code’ brother card and warned you away from me.” To that, her smile faltered a bit.

“I’d heard him say something similar to guys before back in high school and especially junior high.” Back when even her father said she was too young to date. On one hand, it made it difficult to get asked out to a school dance, but to the few she did go to as a group, there were usually a couple that at least saved one song for her so she never really felt left out or lonely.

“I guess I never took it as seriously as I probably should have, otherwise I might have said something to you sooner.” Or at least lied to Megan when she asked if the two of them were dating to give herself time to approach Harvey about her feelings before she could swoop in and take him.

“I’m sorry,” Melody leaned her head to the side against his shoulder. “I promise I don’t mean to sour the mood, It’s just- It’s perhaps the one regret I’ve held to the longest.” One missed opportunity led to many, many missed memories that could have been theirs but instead shared with another. “I had feelings for you, but I didn’t know how to communicate them.”

It was not unknown that she was brought up by a single father and two older brothers who kind of fumbled their way through raising her after her mother disappeared when she was four, or five, years old at the time. Sometimes they just didn’t know how to help and unfortunately gave bad advice. Which, despite his best intentions, happened on a few occasions with her eldest brother, William. The most memorable one being that no… no you don’t throw a dodge ball really hard at the boy you have a crush on because either they go crying to the teacher when you hit them in the face or they throw it back with twice the strength and leave her crying instead.

Hindsight being 20-20 she felt certain now that was his way of making her be the one to scare boys off so he didn’t need to have the talk with them.

“For all the magic in the world, if there was one thing I could change, it’d be that I’d like to have had the courage to not let you go so easily.” It was heartbreaking to be the bystander and watch someone else find happiness with the one person she had genuine feelings for.

“I’m sorry… that was- that was a very selfish thing of me to say,” Melody’s voice was full of remorse as lifted her head to look up at him. For all the comfort he afforded her in this moment, she felt an overwhelming level of guilt for her thoughtlessness. “I know how much Rae means to you, I would never do anything to compromise your relationship with her.” For as much as she wished things were different, she knew restraint and could resist the temptation of such desires

“You were one of the few people that actually knew me that I felt comfortable around and could trust with just about anything.” Mel slowed her steps to a stop so she could look him in his eyes. “Our friendship is what has mattered most to me. So long as you were still a part of my life, I could be happy for you.” It’s if he was ever told to keep his distance from her that she’d be truly devastated. The piece of her he’d take unknowingly would leave behind a hole that could not easily be filled.

“Its-” she hesitated to continue. “Its why I tried to keep these feelings to myself.” Which was perhaps how she might have inadvertently given him the impression that the adoration and trust she had in him was akin to a brotherly bond. “I didn’t want to complicate things for you…”

“I don’t want to make that mistake again,” she whispered as she tenderly cupped his cheek. “I’m all yours. Now, and for however long you’ll have me.” Mel echoed his words, and let them resonate for a moment longer before standing on her tiptoes to give him a gentle kiss, hoping he wouldn’t pull away.

Stunned into momentary silence, Melody numbly nodded as she withdrew the hand that had cupped his cheek and touched the spot where he had bumped his forehead against hers; not because the spot hurt, but to hide her face from him as she adverted her gaze to the side.

The sting of rejection hurt her pride more than anything and caused both her face and ears to redden from embarrassment. “I’m sorry,” her lips moved but the hammering sound of her heartbeat made it difficult to know if she’d spoken anything at all.

“I-” her voice cut off by the growing lump in her throat. I definitely misread the moment… How foolish and naive of her to try and be the one to take the first move. I should have left it well enough alone, stayed home, and called it a night.

Should have, could have, but didn’t.

Mel cleared her throat in an attempt to find her voice, chuckled dryly at her snowballing mistakes, and shook her head. “No, it’s- it’s ok.” Her hand moved to tuck her hair behind her ear as she turned to stand beside him as she had been. “You’re right, we should wait.”

Working at a theater had its advantages, sometimes. She wasn’t sure if this was one of them but when Melody looked up to smile reassuringly at Harvey, she certainly hoped it was convincing enough considering she genuinely wanted to swan dive into a ditch at the moment.