Next Day, planning.

Meeting at work the next day was, to my surprise, not awkward at all. In fact it was very pleasant. The only difference in out demeanor was that I found her leaning forward a bit more than usual. As though she was purposely giving me a peek down the blouse she wore. Her eyes sparkled in the fluorescent lighting of the office.

We ate lunch together and set the plan for the next day. I'd pick her up at seven in the morning and we'd make the three hour trip to the house. I come to find out during the planning that we actually are both Metalheads as well, leaving me elated that I didn't even have to put any Pop crap onto my Ipod. Though she trends towards Hair Metal, whilst I tend to like Thrash more. It should make the trip there a lot better as we can talk about the current metal scene and complain about it at the same time.

As the day wore on and I spent more time than usual with Mel I began to notice a couple of the other secretaries whispering amongst themselves. Gossip annoys me, and more still when I know I'm at the center of that gossip.

"Mel, I'll see you later before people start talking about this."

"Huh?" She asks, then looks around as well. "Oh, gossipers! Damn it!" I watch as she gets out of her chair and marches over to the group in the break room. "Listen, John is helping me out with my family. I accidentally let slip that I had a boyfriend, which I don't, and my sister saw a picture of me and him at the picnic last year. She assumed, and I was to afraid to correct, that he is my boyfriend, which as stated I don't have. He agreed to accompany to a reunion as a fake boyfriend. That's it. What we're doing is getting our stories straight in case my family separates and interrogates us. Okay?" I stand there stunned as she walks back to her desk, "I'll see you later, okay?" she says, breaking me out of my stupor.

"Right, right. I'll see you later." I say walking away wondering. Wondering why her little speech gave me a chubby.