(Subplot) A Conversation Resumed

Melanie practically skipped into the garden where she found James still sat outside ruminating about the conversation he'd had with her not long ago.

"I'm back!" she grinned as she took her place next to him on the patio again "Did you miss me?"

"What happened? Someone hired you for five minutes?" James asked in surprise.

"It's a long story, but it looks like I won't be going on any more jobs for the forseeable future. So you won't need to room with Tina anymore"

"Whoa! that's amazing Mel! I'm so happy for you!" James eyes lit up at the news "And I'll obviously cool things with Tina. But as for me and you sharing a room. I mean, how does that look? This is such a messed up situation"

"I know" Melanie sighed "And we shouldn't do anything until Lexie is back and I can talk to her about everything. She is suffered so much already and I feel genuinely terrible about all of this, especially if it looks like I am sneaking around behind her back. It doesn't mean you and me can't still hang out together though. Like, a lot. And we were already roomies so it would look weirder not to carry on with that, if you see what I mean"

"And what about when Lexie does get back to her old self? What happens then?" James couldn't help but ask.

"I think it's over with her" Melanie exhaled sadly "I feel like I just got caught up in all of the excitement of everything that happened before. And Lexie is amazing, and I do love her as a person of course. But then I could say the same thing about Sophie or Lucy or any of the glitches really. And the marriage? We all got married so quickly just to stay on the ranch. And then I think I just kind of played along with something that wasn't really me for the longest time. But now, whenever I am with you, I feel I can just be completely myself. I don't ever want that to stop"

"So we wait until Lexie is back and you can have the conversation with her, then you and I..."

"Yes, if that's what you would like?" Mel smiled.

"Of course it is!" James answered emphatically "But in the meantime, I suppose we had better keep things between us a little distanced. We'll get to hang out together loads in our room anyway. We don't want to cause any unnecessary drama "

"I know, I was thinking the same thing" Melanie admitted "But you had better be serious about breaking things off with Tina. Like, now!"

"Consider it done!" James affirmed "But when this all comes out, how do you think the others are going to take it. Do you think you will still be okay with them?"

"I hope so" Melanie shrugged "Probably not at first but eventually. Sometimes people split up. It has just been incredibly bad timing the way this has gone and I do know how bad it looks."

"Yeah, it may take a while but I am sure they will get past it. Even Lexie" James reassured her.

"And if they don't" Melanie rested her head on James' shoulder as she spoke "I'll always have you"