Getting Into Bed

Melody is crawling into her sleeping bed. Apparently you were done talking, so you lay down, turning your back to her.

A sort of silence falls over the two of you. Despite your trying to sleep, you can't. You're too hurt. Too angry.

You open your mouth to speak a few times, but you never do say anything.

Eventually the crying on Melody's side of the bed subsides. You figure she fell asleep, as you do shortly after.

The next morning, you're the second to wake up. Melody's stuff was all neatly packed into a corner.

'Of course,' you thought bitterly. The trip was over now. Neither of you would be able to have any fun now.

You step out of the tent and Melody is sitting by the fire pit, wearing a sweater that was too big for her, your sweater, while staring at the ground, her arms wrapped around herself. You go and sit opposite of her.

"It's serious then, your relationship?" you ask.

Melody just nods.

"Where'd-- where did your boyfriend transfer to?"

"It's James, he-- New York."

The anger that had dissipated by the time you woke up that morning suddenly surged back.

"New York?! As in other side of the fucking country New York?!" you yell, jumping to your feet.

Melody sniffs, and then nods again.

"When were you going to tell me?"

"A-after our trip."

You run a hand through your hair and sit back down.

"Before or after you left?"

This time Melody jumped up. "Before! Of course! How could--" She sits back down and resumes staring at the ground. "How could you ask that?"

You ignore her question. "It's over, isn't it?"

Her eyes snap up to yours, they were red and puffy and had tears in them. You know you didn't look much better.

"I don't know," is Melody's response.

"How could it not be? You're moving to New York!"

"I could visit! You could visit!"

"So we see each other every six months?!"

"It's only for two years!"

"And then what? You go back to England? Settle down in New York?"

Melody looked away.

"It's not like it matters. James probably won't like you being friends with me."

"No! I told him all about you! He said he'd like you!"

"That was before I tried kissing you. Not that the kiss would've mattered anyway, you don't feel the same way."

Melody jumped up again. "You don't tell me how I feel Jack!"

Your heart jumps. "Do you?"

The silence drags on for what seems like forever. The two of you stare at each other.

"I love James," Melody answers.

Your heart falls, and you've had enough. Without another word you head back to the tent and start packing. Melody follows to grab her stuff.

Neither of you look at each other as you take down the tent and clean up the campsite, and the drive home is much the same.

"I'll pick my stuff up when you've gone," you tell Melody as you jump out of the passenger seat at your house. You slam the door before she can say anything back.

You don't turn around, not even when you get inside your house, but you know Melody was sitting there the whole time.