Awkward Dates (Melanie)

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

“I don’t think being afraid of bees is irrational, especially if you swell up from them.” Melanie sipped the hot chocolate Kevin handed her and noted it was nice and thick—he must have used milk instead of water. She always preferred it that way herself. She knew he had a point, but he didn’t know to what extent she would go to avoid a bee. “Well, it is a little irrational to go out of your way to put fifty feet between yourself and a bee if you see one. Which is what I try to do,” she replied playfully as she waited for the answer to her question.

“I never thought my fears were irrational ones. There are a lot of things I’m afraid of, and I guess some of them are silly, but…they’re things I’m afraid of for a reason, yah know?” Melanie nodded with a smile, looking down to her lap momentarily. She was impressed he was actually admitting to being afraid of a lot of things. She didn’t meet many men who were secure in themselves enough to admit they were afraid of anything. Brandon wouldn’t even admit when he was afraid half the time, though she knew there were things that scared him. Like sinking. He had nightmares about sinking, drowning from time to time; but like Kevin said, there was a reason for his fear. Brandon was a sailor whose father had tied a rock around himself and jumped in the sea. Of course he was afraid of sinking.

“I don’t like guns.” She looked back at him, biting into her granola bar again. “Like, they freak me out to no end. I guess that’s maybe an irrational fear, but…well…guns kill and…They’re just dangerous. Weapons in general sort of bother me a little. When it’s too dark or too quiet I get sort of freaked. I like to sleep with the television on. I have a lot of strange quirky fears.” Melanie understood all of those fears. Kevin was, as they said in her youth, a lover, not a fighter. She liked that. Brandon was all gung-ho and quick to fight, but her father had never been like that, and she liked that Kevin wasn’t either. It was less to worry about and it showed the Kevin was a gentle man. They would work well together, if that’s where they ended up; she was gentle too, and she liked to keep it that way. As for the quiet, she slept with a fan because she didn’t like the quiet either. She got used to it while she traveled, but when she came back to Scriptor Bay, she took up sleeping with a fan again. The soft noise was comforting and she liked to feel the wind on her face.

“So what’s a girl like you still doing single, anyway?” Melanie blushed, surprised by the sudden question. She gave a bashful laugh at Kevin’s smile, looking down at her lap again briefly. “Did you just get out of a long term thing or something?” The woman shook her head, still smiling shyly but genuinely at her lap. Her eyes looked back up at him. “No, nothing like that,” she said softly. “I just...I guess I’ve been so busy with my job that I haven’t had time to really look for a boyfriend or anything. I’m also…well, I’m shy. I don’t really know how to act around guys.” She gave a nervous laugh, her eyes glancing down before coming back to Kevin’s. “I’ve only had one real serious relationship. I met this guy in Brazil…it was a short relationship but I really cared for him. I had to leave, though, and we just couldn’t manage the long distance relationship thing. It ended well, but we don’t talk anymore and I just haven’t really tried to find anything since…well, until now.” She blushed heavily, realizing she had just basically told Kevin that she wanted to be his girlfriend. Her smile was bashful and she looked back to her hands again, a little too nervous to look right into his eyes.

“What about you?” she asked, before she leaned back on her hands, stretching her legs out in front of her like him. Her fingers lightly touched his, almost as if it were unintentional, as she made herself comfortable and smiled at Kevin again. “How are you still single? You’re so cute and sweet!” She gave a little giggle, but she really meant it. Melanie was still surprised he was sitting with her like this.

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

“No, nothing like that,” Kevin sipped his drink and ate his granola bar while she talked. It disappeared in two bites. Kevin was never really good at just nibbling snacks. He was a growing boy, after all! And growing boys took big bites and lots of them.

I’m also…well, I’m shy. I don’t really know how to act around guys.” He gave a little grin. She had been a bit shy with him, but not terribly so. No more than he had been with her. Maybe that's why they felt so comfortable around each other. They were both painfully shy and uncertain about dating. "...but we don’t talk anymore and I just haven’t really tried to find anything since…well, until now.” He blushed right along with her, but he smiled also. Did that mean she was thinking they could be more maybe? He had thought it, too. Then again, they wouldn't be there together if they both weren't thinking the other was potential partner material.

“What about you?” What about him? “How are you still single? You’re so cute and sweet!” He laughed with her and shook his head. He wasn't either of those things! "Shy.." He offered with a shrug. "I don't approach girls. I just let them bump into me and spill their drinks all over me." He teased.

He shook his head and drew his knees up a little, resting his arms on top of them as he looked out at the path. "I was in one long term relationship." He offered, his voice soft, but he shook his head. "It just didn't work. She was just.. We had known each other a long time, and she moved in with Kelsey and I. We were too young, too immature and.." He stopped and gulped wondering if she somehow caught on to his faux pas. "My grandparents didn't like her." He offered softly, trying to correct his mistake. "And neither did Kelsey. They were always at odds and she wanted me to ditch my sister. She accused me of all sorts of stuff; cheating and doing drugs and stealing from her. It was just a mess. When I finally broke it off she told me she was pregnant and got me to stick around for like four more months. I left Kelsey behind and... a lot of the trouble with her started then. Kels got into drugs and hung around bad people.." He frowned. "It was a long time ago but it sort of scarred me from wanting another girlfriend." He knew his past was a colorful one, and he didn't want to introduce any of that to Melanie. She seemed so innocent! She wouldn't understand.

"But you're not like Des. You're... you would never do something like that." He gulped, looking her over hopefully. "I don't like to surround myself with those sorts of people anymore." He offered more quietly, averting his eyes from her. "I never did, it was just... it happened I guess. It doesn't matter, it's not like that anymore." He cleared his throat wishing he had just shut up and not told her anything at all. She didn't need to know all that. "So what else.. uhh... I know your favorite color and kind of music. Why you became a nurse... tell me something else. Anything!"

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

“Shy…” Melanie’s smile grew. Kevin had a way of making her smile permanent, it seemed. “I don’t approach girls. I just let them bump into me and spill their drinks all over me.” She laughed, and watched as he sat up, bringing his long legs up into his chest some. He told her about his one serious relationship, how it was a mistake. His grandparents didn’t like her, and she understood how hard it was to stay with someone when your family didn’t like him. She had gone through that with Brandon several times before. But with Kevin, it was more serious. His girlfriend had wanted him to ditch his sister? How could she ask him to do that? Her face showed her disbelief at that. If anyone asked her to stop seeing Brandon, she would tell them where to go. She didn’t like to swear or say strong things, but she would in that case. And then she accused him of all sorts of things, things she didn’t think Kevin could ever be capable of doing, and then lied and said she was pregnant! What an awful person! And it even affected his sister…she felt angry at this girl she didn’t even know and bad for Kevin. He seemed well-adjusted, though...well, maybe not with his self-esteem. “It was a long time ago but it sort of scarred me from wanting another girlfriend.” Oh, no…that made a stone fall in the pit of her stomach. He…he didn’t want another girlfriend? Then why had he asked her on a date? He…he must have changed his mind. She hoped he had changed his mind…

“But you’re not like Des. You’re…you would never do something like that.” There was hope! She smiled a little and shook her head, assuring him she wouldn’t. Melanie wasn’t capable of something like that. She rarely got angry and she was a horrible liar. “I don’t surround myself with those sorts of people anymore.” Maybe that was part of why he came to Scriptor Bay from Texas. It was a long way from that life…she couldn’t make assumptions though. It just occurred to her. “I never did, it was just…it happened, I guess. It doesn’t matter, it’s not like that anymore.” Melanie gave a half-hearted smile, knowing he was avoiding the subject. She couldn’t blame him. It was their first date, after all. She wasn’t going to know all about the man after the first date. That kind of knowledge took time. She hoped they would spend enough time together to gain that knowledge of him.

“So what else…uhh…I know your favorite color and kind of music. Why you became a nurse…tell me something else. Anything!” Kevin just didn’t want to talk about himself anymore. That was okay. Melanie didn’t want to make him uncomfortable; not like that, anyway. But there was one thing she could think of to tell him. She bit her lip, looking at him with uncertainty. Should she? Could she? It would set the mood right again. Melanie sat up, tucking her legs alongside her as she leaned on her hands closer to Kevin. She touched her lips to his cheek gently, her own cheeks bright pink. It had been a long time since she had kissed a boy, even if it was just a kiss on the cheek. When she pulled away she stayed close and smiled gently at him. “How about, ‘I like you, Kevin,’” she said in a sweet, soft voice. She blushed more as she smiled wider, leaning away from him again. She sat back, her hands in her lap as she put her legs out in front of her once more, bashful now with her heart pumping hard in her chest. Her eyes fell to her hands in her lap, unsure what to do now. Would he say it back? She was so unsure.

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

KEvin wasn't sure what she would say about herself, but he was hoping it would lighten the mood a little. he needed mood lightened since he had managed to, yet again, bring it down. Why did he keep doing that? He was going to scare her off, he was sure of it. He needed to start acting like everything in his world was fine or he would lose this incredible girl, which was exactly what he didn't want to do. It surprised him when she got on her knees and moved closer. He gulped, watching her warily. What was she going to do? was she... no.. no she wasn't going to...

Kevin held his breath as her lips met his cheek, making him gulp. When she pulled back he looked at her with surprise in his eyes. She'd kissed him.. yes, it was on the cheek and she was bright red, but she had actually kissed him! The corner of his lips quirked up a little on one side, a goofy, bashfully lopsided grin on his face.

“How about, ‘I like you, Kevin,’” she said in a sweet, soft voice, making him blush along with her. She pulled back further and was looking down at her lap and he found himself doing the same. "I like you, too." He offered softly, peaking up at her, his head still bowed slightly. He cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair, anxiously trying to build up more courage. Did she want him to kiss her? "A lot.." He practically whispered looking down again and gulping.

He felt like the prince in The Little Mermaid, unsure if he should kiss the girl or not. All the frogs were singing that he should, but he just wasn't sure. What if she didn't want to go there? What if his breath smelled? What if she wasn't attracted to him? He knew that was silly, all the signs were there, clear as day. She said he was cute, she said she liked him, she had leaned in and kissed him!

"Umm.. is it... I mean could I.." He licked his lips, looking back at her, as his eyes went towards her lips. He leaned towards her, his heart hammering. She wasn't stopping him, so he knew that she must be okay with his approaching her. He hesitated for a moment before pushing forward, his lips gently locking with hers. He didn't move a hand up to caress her face, keeping them nervously in his lap as he he offered the soft, short kiss.

After a couple seconds he pulled back, hovering close, unsure if it was alright. She hadn't stopped him so she must have wanted him to. "Was that okay?" He asked nervously, pulling back some more. "I don't wanna rush anything.."

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

“I like you, too.” Melanie felt her heart jump up into her throat and she looked at Kevin with wide eyes. It wasn’t really surprised, she was just elated. He liked her! “A lot…” A lot! She was bright red, as was he, and she was nearly trembling with all the adrenaline rushing through her. It was almost silly how giddy she felt, but she couldn’t even concentrate on slowing her heart rate. She let it pump freely, just watching him, still close to her. Her breathing felt quick and shallow, but she couldn’t even focus on it. All she could think about was Kevin liking her! And he was still close to her…close enough to…she couldn’t calm down, couldn’t relax.

“Umm…is it…I mean, could I…” His blue-green eyes were looking at her, as unsure and nervous as she felt, but they dropped from her eyes to her…to her lips. Oh, boy…He was leaning toward her, and she let her eyes drop to his lips too. She couldn’t even breathe now. Kevin sucked the breath right out of her. His approach was slow and uncertain, and when he hesitated, she looked at his eyes again. Finally he pushed forward and kissed her full on the lips. The world stopped. That had only happened once before, and that was when she shared her first kiss. It was enough to leave her frozen, her eyes closed and savoring how soft and warm his lips were.

Too soon, he was pulling away, and she suddenly realized she hadn’t been breathing. She caught her breath softly, opening her eyes to Kevin again. He was still close and she felt dizzy as she looked at him again. “Was that okay? I don’t wanna rush anything…” Melanie couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face, grinning from ear to ear. She felt like she was glowing. Her face was warm, she was smiling, and the sunset was bright on the two of them. Was that okay? That was perfect. Her hands rested on the blanket again as she leaned back into him and pressed her lips to his once more. This kiss lasted longer, her lips lingering against his gently. She felt her heart hammering in her ears, but she ignored it as she leaned more into the kiss. She was kissing Kevin! It felt like the world was falling away or spinning faster; it didn’t matter. She was elated.

When she pulled back her face was radiating heat, but she stayed close, opening her brown eyes once more. A nervous breath left her and she looked down to the blanket bashfully, biting her lip coyly. “Was that okay?” she echoed, letting her eyes come back to his shyly. Slowly she was beginning to calm down, her heart easing little by little. She liked Kevin a lot. Was it wrong to want more than just one date with him?

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

When Melanie smiled again, Kevin stopped breathing once more. Was she amused by him? Was it absurd that he had kissed her? Or maybe she was just elated? He wasn't entirely sure, but he watched with awkward anticipation to see what she would do or say after that smile. He gulped, not sure if it was okay. Maybe he had kissed her too soon. All the signs were there, but Kevin knew he wasn't an expert. Novice at best. Sure, he had a girlfriend once, and he'd slept around here and there, but the girls he'd been with made it perfectly clear what their intentions were, and often he was too drunk to really consider that maybe he shouldn't be doing what he was doing. But right now he wasn't drunk. He was sitting there, having just kissed a girl, and had no idea if it was alright or not.

He had just begun to panic slightly when she leaned forward and kissed him once more. All the confused, negative thoughts slipped far away as he lost himself in the feel of her lips on his. It was deeper this time, more passionate, but still just a light kiss. He raised his hand and rested the tips of his fingers on her cheek and chin, hardly grazing them, trying to keep her there weakly.

The longer the kiss lasted, the more he wanted it. He liked kissing her, and it only made his urge to keep her around stronger. He decided he would do or say whatever it took to keep Melanie around for a time. He knew how lucky he was to have scored a girl like this and he was starting to fear losing her now that he had somehow managed to obtain her.

When she pulled away she looked down at the blanket and he watched her, now feeling unsure once more. Why was she looking away? “Was that okay?” she mirrored his earlier question and his eyes moved from hers to the way she chewed at her bottom lip, making his stomach squirm with need. He bid himself to not think such filthy thoughts about the girl in front of him but it was difficult when she was so damn cute and they had all but made out on the blanket

"That was more than okay." He said, his smile growing though it remained bashful. "You feel free to do that any time you like." There was a playful edge to his voice and he looked down at his cup and swirled the contents, taking a sip from it before looking back at her. "I'm glad I didn't freak you out." He laughed nervously, though his grin was genuine. "Those first kisses are kinda tricky.. yah know?"

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

“That was more than okay.” Melanie smiled wider than she could remember smiling in a long time. Her face was hot with blush, Kevin’s face still close to hers, and she was lightheaded with joy. She could still feel the soft tingle of his fingers on her chin and cheek. “You feel free to do that any time you like.” With that kind of permission, she could kiss him all the time. She wanted to kiss him every hour of every day and she was resolved to keep him around so she could do so. Well, maybe not that much, but she definitely wanted to keep lip locking with him. He looked down to his cup and she did the same, picking it up off the blanket to drink some more. No hot chocolate in the world tasted better right now. When she looked up, she saw an older couple passing by, smiling at them. Melanie gave a smile back, thinking that maybe she and Kevin sitting close and kissing on a blanket reminded them of their younger years. How sweet!

“I’m glad I didn’t freak you out.” She looked back at him with surprise and laughed with him, also a little jittery still. “Those first kisses are kinda tricky…yah know?” Melanie smiled warmly and nodded. “Well, I give you permission to kiss me whenever you feel like it,” she said sweetly, giggling a little. “And I think it would take a lot for you to freak me out, Kevin. I don’t scare easy.” She liked Kevin too much to let herself be freaked out by anything he did. But she didn’t even want to think about what it would take to freak her out! She was determined to make something happen with him. So far, it was going very well in her opinion. Melanie leaned forward and sealed her assurance with another light kiss, finding she was becoming addicted to his lips. That kind of addiction wasn’t bad; not at all. She smiled a little as her lips brushed over his, unable to help herself.

When she leaned away, she brought her cup to her lips again and took a sip, hoping maybe the hot liquid would cool her head a little. She just couldn’t stop blushing! What was something she could talk about to get her mind off kissing him? She didn’t want to come off the wrong way by kissing him too much. She went with the first thing that came to mind and she smiled at him. “So, have you heard about the legend of Scriptor Bay since moving here?” she asked curiously, suddenly becoming aware of how squished her wings felt. It would feel so good to let them stretch when she got home.

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

“Well, I give you permission to kiss me whenever you feel like it,” He grinned and nodded, licking his bottom lip a little before pulling it into his mouth and grinning bashfully. He almost wished she hadn't given him that sort of permission. Now he wanted to kiss her again. And again... He tried not to think about it as she talked about not being offended easily, which was good. Maybe he could relax more when he spoke to her, and maybe he could try and be a little more forward. Touching was still a taboo thing for him, but as always he put that away in his mind. He didn't hate to be touched, it was just one of those things that was strange to him. He wasn't coddled as a child, and the only person who truly ever touched him was Kelsey. He was smacked around quite a bit, and he wondered if that was why he didn't like people touching him much, but he tried not thinking much on it as he watched her...moving close once more.

He didn't fight her or move away, but simply smiled as she kissed him, loving how eager she was with this new thing they were allowed to do with each other. He watched her when she pulled away and sipped her hot chocolate with a look of content adoration. He wanted Melanie to continue to like him. He wanted her to fall for him.. it would be nice to have someone in his life like that, someone who could distract him from Kelsey but not so much that he lost sight of her. Someone who would understand when things got rough; if they became rough. Kevin hoped things would be better now.

“So, have you heard about the legend of Scriptor Bay since moving here?” she asked curiously and his face contorted a little. He looked into his cup and cleared his throat and shrugged. "Yeah, a little." He explained. He had not only heard the legend, but had witnessed a Guardian shift at the full moon. Kit's secret was one he would be bringing to the grave most likely, but he couldn't tell Melanie he knew it was true! She'd probably think he was bonkers anyway. "Sounds like just a silly story, though. People protecting a tree?" He shrugged. "I've heard better stories." He offered, sipping his drink again and looking at her. "Do you believe it?" He asked after a moment, his voice softer.

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

Melanie watched as Kevin looked into his cup, clearing his throat as he did so. “Yeah, a little.” It was strange how nervous he seemed, like he was uneasy talking about the legend. She couldn’t help but wonder why, but she didn’t really know how to ask that question. “Sounds like just a silly story, though. People protecting a tree? I’ve heard better stories.” Melanie smiled, but felt her heart sink in her chest. He certainly had a surprise coming when she finally told him what she was. Well, if they made it that far in their relationship. It made her even more nervous to tell him, whenever she did. She took a long gulp of her hot chocolate and finished it off.

“Do you believe it?” Melanie brought her eyes back to his and shrugged a little. “I like to,” she replied lightheartedly. “I like to think there’s some magic in the world. Even if it’s silly, I like to think there are guardians looking after that beautiful old tree. All legends come from some truth, right? But maybe I just like to think this town is special.” She laughed softly, setting her cup on the blanket. “I’ve heard so many stories, over the years, though, of people seeing others disappear into thin air or seeing people with wings out on Megsy Isle. I have a friend at the hospital who swears she saw this same gargoyle on top of City Hall in one spot one day and then in another spot the next day. And everyone swears those statues disappear at night. One of my classmates in high school swore she saw another classmate change into a dog behind the school when no one else was around. With all those stories, I really like to think there are guardians.” She gave him a shy smile and shrugged. “I hope you don’t think I’m crazy,” she said softly. If he thought she was crazy now, wait until she showed him her wings. The thought made her stomach squirm.

The sun was bright orange now, setting steadily, and it appeared some fireflies took that as their cue to come out for the evening. One flashed just in front of her face and her eyes went wide as she leaned back with a laugh. She reached up carefully and cupped the tiny bug in her hands, announcing, “Aw, a firefly!” She peeked in between her hands, seeing it blaze to life briefly, making her smile. With a bright smile she looked at Kevin and showed him the bug tickling her fingers. “I used to catch these all the time as a kid and put them in a jar with holes in the top,” she reminisced fondly. “Did you have fireflies in Texas?”

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

He listened to her examples and couldn't help but feel fascinated by them. Kit had a strange view on the legend, and he knew it was probably skewed. He'd mentioned other guardians in passing but Kevin knew little about them. People could disappear? Gargoyles moving? Winged men? He knew about the shape shifters. Kit was one and he'd watched him change before. Hell, he remembered the night that Kit told him what he could and the panic that ensued after. They had, for some time, thought Kit was one in a million. Who could turn into a dog? They thought he was a broken werewolf, but turned out he met someone else who could shift back in Vegas. A girl he'd dated, and she had known a little about Scriptor Bay.

“I hope you don’t think I’m crazy,” He shook his head. "No." He assured quietly. "It's nice to have something to believe in, even a legend that seems far fetched. Magic is definitely something people like thinking exists." He shrugged. He believed the stories because he'd witnessed one, but he didn't want to sound like the crazy one. "I don't think you're crazy at all. Pretty... but not crazy." He gave a bashful smile and then looked away shyly at the compliment he offered.

The way Melanie reached for the firefly made his heart ache a little. She was so childlike and innocent, and he liked that about her. He feared somehow he would corrupt that if he wasn't careful enough, and he vowed never to do that. “Aw, a firefly! I used to catch these all the time as a kid and put them in a jar with holes in the top,” she reminisced, showing him the bug. He smiled at it as it crawled across her fingers. Fireflies were one of the few insects women didn't cringe at. They were essentially miniature flying roaches that could make their butts light up, but somehow women saw them as something else entirely. Something they didn't mind catching and allowing to crawl on them. “Did you have fireflies in Texas?”

Kevin gave a nod at her question. "Yeah, we did." He laughed softly. "I caught them sometimes." He offered. When he lived in foster homes sometimes they would catch fireflies and stick them in jars. "I used to live with.. er near this kid who would catch them and wait for them to light up and then crush them. Then he would push the dead bug to his forehead and wipe it across it to make a glowing streak on his forehead. It was mean and gross, but really cool. I always wanted to try it as a kid but was too chicken to. Even then I knew it was sort of mean, and Kelsey said she would punch me if I did." He laughed. Kelsey loved the fireflies.

"I like firefly season. I used to love watching them glow outside the windows at night. It was comforting somehow, a little light in the dark. Like an analogy for life." He laughed watching the bug take off into the air and blink its way upwards towards the sky. The little lighted bugs were whizzing here and there though and it wasn't long until another floated near. He reached a hand up and caught it int his fist and then held it out to Melanie, opening his palm and presenting it to her. "They're kind of slow." He laughed.

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

“Yeah, we did. I caught them sometimes.” Melanie giggled at the thought of a miniature Kevin chasing around fireflies and putting them in a jar. He was probably so cute as a kid! “I used to live with…er near this kid who would catch them and wait for them to light up and then crush them. Then he would push the dead bug to his forehead and wipe it across it to make a glowing streak on his forehead.” Melanie gasped, appalled, but she couldn’t help but smile at the thought. What an evil thing to do to that poor bug! “It was mean and gross, but really cool. I always wanted to try it as a kid but was too chicken to. Even then I knew it was sort of mean, and Kelsey said she would punch me if I did.” She laughed with Kevin, thinking of him and his twin sister arguing over crushing the poor flying bugs. “Well, good! I’d punch you too!” she replied playfully, her voice still soft even when talking loudly. Melanie couldn’t even hurt a fly. She hated them because they reminded her of bees, but she didn’t like hurting anything. They were alive too, and she didn’t want to cause them pain.

“I like firefly season. I used to love watching them glow outside the windows at night. It was comforting somehow, a little light in the dark. Like an analogy for life.” She smiled warmly, agreeing with Kevin’s poetic notion of the fireflies. In her father’s dark days, she would think the same thing as she watched the fireflies and encouraged him to do the same. Her father loved those fireflies. Melanie opened her hands, letting the little bug fly free with a soft giggle. There were so many of them, though! Another one floated by and Kevin caught one in his big fist before showing it to Melanie. “They’re kind of slow.” She laughed, putting her finger to his palm and watching the bug crawl on. “He almost smooshed you, didn’t he?” she said to the bug in a slightly higher pitch. The bug’s butt lit up as if to answer her, and she giggled. “Don’t worry. I’ll punch him if he does,” she assured. Her smile was bright as she looked over at Kevin, laughing with her threat.

The bug stayed for a moment and then took off, only to land again in Kevin’s mop of shaggy brown hair. Melanie laughed again, watching the bug light up in the strands of hair. “He likes you,” she commented before reaching up and combing her fingers gently through his hair to encourage the bug to fly away once more. It did and when it did, she smiled back at Kevin, blushing a little at having touched him. She still felt strange about doing that, but in a good way. It made her stomach twist delightfully. Once more she leaned forward and kissed him, her hand in his hair slipping down to his jaw lightly. This kiss lasted longer than the others and it made her heart race again. She hoped he didn’t mind how much she was kissing him, but she was pretty sure he wouldn’t. He had given her permission to, right? She just liked the rush it gave her every time she kissed him and she couldn’t get over the fact that it happened without fail. Her eyes closed against the rush as she gently let her lips brush over his.

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

With every passing minute, Kevin was falling harder for the beautiful girl sharing a blanket with him. She was the perfect mix of sweet and sassy and he laughed when she told the bug she would punch him if he hurt him. "You would do that? To me?" He asked with mock astonishment, but he laughed when she did, wanting to kiss her again. He was feeling that urge to do so much more than kiss her, but he wouldn't ever play into those dark desire, not so soon. He was still a boy, but a respectful one. Or so he liked to believe. Truth be told had he been bolder he might have asked her for more, but he was too bashful for that.

The bug took off and he went cross eyed watched it fly towards his head and out of sight. Melanie suddenly laughed and reached for his head and it only took a moment to realize the bug had nestled itself somewhere in his mop of brown hair. “He likes you,” she teased, brushing the bug away. He had grown comfortable enough not to wince away at her touch, but he wasn't completely comfortable with it yet, and he could see the blush creeping onto her cheeks. Had she picked up on his strange uneasiness? He had tried to bottle it up so it wouldn't show, but that didn't mean she hadn't noticed.

The closeness made him want to kiss her again, but before he could build up the courage to do so, she moved in and slid her lips to his once more. He felt the gentle caress of her fingers on his jaw which did little to the many urges he was desperately trying to fight back.

Kevin took more initiative this time, kissing her back as his hand moved to rest on her leg. His thumb moved back and forth over the bare skin, but he kept his hand low enough that he was touching in an appropriate area. He even let his lips part more, tasting Melanie as he kissed her, only making him want her more. When the kiss ended he pulled away only slightly, enough so that he could see her though they remained close. "You're making it difficult on me to be the pursuer." He teased, his thumb stopping its rubbing movement, though he didn't move his hand yet. "You're making a lot of things difficult...like trying not to kiss you all night." He leaned in, kissing her again gently. "Maybe we should walk again before I get too caught up in this. Otherwise we might be here kissing all night."

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

Melanie felt a jolt spark through her as Kevin’s hand rested on her leg, feeling jittery as his thumb moved back and forth over the skin. He deepened their kiss, encouraging her to do the same. Her face was hot, she was breathless, and her whole body was tingling as she sank into the kiss. It…made her want more. That made her even more bashful and breathless. She couldn’t want that so soon! It was official—she needed to cool her head. But how could she when Kevin was so close. Even when he pulled back, she just wanted to lean back in. She refrained, though, and watched him with pink cheeks and a racing heart. “You’re making it difficult on me to be the pursuer.” She smiled again, liking that his hand stayed where it was. It was warm and felt nice on her skin. “You’re making a lot of things difficult…like trying not to kiss you all night.” Another jolt ran through her and she gave a soft, breathy laugh as he leaned back in. Her eyes slid shut as he kissed her again, making her weak. She wouldn’t mind kissing him all night. It made her dizzy and giddy and so, so happy. Her hand was now resting between his neck and his shoulder, needing to touch him to believe he was really there.

“Maybe we should walk again before I get too caught up in this. Otherwise, we might be here kissing all night.” Melanie giggled, staying close to Kevin’s face. “That doesn’t sound so bad,” she said in a voice barely above a whisper, her tone playful. Her nose brushed against his lightly before she gave him a light peck and then another, hating the idea of moving. With a little sigh, she finally pulled back, smiling at Kevin sweetly. “But maybe you’re right. Don’t they say something like you should play hard to get on the first date?” she said with a giggle. It was so difficult to tuck her legs under her and get back to her feet. Her knees buckled a little and she had to catch herself from falling with a laugh. “My legs are jelly,” she told him with a blush and a bright smile.

While he packed up the thermos and the cups, she shook out the blanket and folded it for him, handing it to him with a cute smile. Her eyes wandered around and she realized it had gotten noticeably darker since they sat on the blanket. All that kissing had made her lose track of time! Once they were packed again and Kevin had slung his backpack on his shoulder, she slipped her hand into his again and started back to the path. She wondered how many people had passed them kissing on the blanket. Normally, she wasn’t a fan of public displays of affection, but she couldn’t help it with Kevin. She felt so good, she could fly…literally. She might have to do that at some point this weekend so she could get the urge out. It would certainly be invigorating. “So you mentioned you moved here because of a friend. How did you guys meet?” she inquired, looking up at him once more with a curious smile.

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

“That doesn’t sound so bad," She said, giving him two more light kisses which made him smile against her lips as he returned them. "But maybe you’re right. Don’t they say something like you should play hard to get on the first date?” she was giggling and Kevin grinned back, shrugging his shoulders. "I don't believe in things being traditional, but.. if you'd like to play hard to get, I'll play along." He teased pulling his hand back from her leg and getting up with her. “My legs are jelly,” When she had nearly tripped, but he put out his hands to catch her just in case. "Careful, I don't need you getting hurt on the first date and giving your brother a reason to hate me, especially if I'm innocent." He joked.

Kevin knelt packed up their things as Melanie folded the blanket up. He looked up and reached for it when she handed it to him, thanking her softly as he slid it into the backpack and stood up, throwing it onto his back. He accepted her hand gratefully this time, less aware of it now than he had been before their little blanket make out session. He was feeling much more confident now with her, but still nervous he would screw up if he wasn't careful enough. He would need to be careful..

“So you mentioned you moved here because of a friend." He gave a little nod, looking down at her as they walked together. "How did you guys meet?” His heart sank. Well, we were in the same foster home together when we were kids, and then later on we met up again when we were in a group home. He thought knowing he could never say that. What could he say though? His mind raced through a million excuses to tell her, looking straight ahead.

"We went to summer camp together." It was the first thing he thought of. "Yeah, every summer we went to this sleep away camp and Kit and I were always bunk mates. It was.. we had a lot of fun doing all that outdoors stuff. Nature trails and archery and dodgeball and stuff.." Kevin had never stepped foot in a camp and had no clue if that's what kids really did there or not, but it was what they did on TV! "We just stayed really close. He even dated my sister for a while when we were teenagers. I mean, it wasn't serious, but.. we were all close." He licked his lips and looked ta her, wondering if she bought it or not. He thought he sounded convincing enough.

"Did you, uhh... ever go to camp or anything as a kid?" He asked, trying to get the attention off himself once again. He hated lying to her, but he had always wanted to go to summer camp, and in his bullshit alter reality, he had!

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

“We went to summer camp together.” Melanie grinned wider at the thought of a little Kevin running around with a bunch of other boys, learning survival skills. The picture she had in her mind was so endearing, she walked a little closer to him, her shoulder bumping his upper arm gently. “Yeah, every summer we went to this sleep away camp and Kit and I were always bunk mates. It was…we had a lot of fun doing all that outdoors stuff. Nature trails and archery and dodgeball and stuff…We just stayed really close. He even dated my sister for a while when we were teenagers. I mean, it wasn’t serious, but…we were all close.” It was such a picture perfect image in her mind, just the kind of human life she always imagined. As a child, she wanted to go to summer camp and meet other girls and boys her age, be out on her own for a few weeks. She wanted to do everything normal children did, but that was impossible. She had wings on her back, wings which she always had to keep concealed.

“Did you, uhh…ever go to camp or anything as a kid?” Melanie looked back up at him a smiled again, shaking her head. “No. I always wanted to, but my dad wouldn’t let me. He kept me pretty sheltered, but I think the money issue may have been part of the problem as well,” she explained with a soft laugh. “When I got older, though, me and other…kids from my church, we would go to Megsy Isle and spend weekends camping. So eventually I got to do it, just not until I got older.” She had almost talked about the other Avisailles she knew, but she knew neither of them was ready for that conversation yet. But it still made sense; lots of kids went camping with their church groups. “I still like to go out to Megsy Isle and spend a day out there every now and then, though. It’s so peaceful and pretty out there. I’ve stayed in touch with a lot of people from my church, but I wouldn’t say I was particularly close with any of them. I think it’s nice that you and your friend have known each other for so long and stayed so close. I only have a couple friends who even come close to that for me. With all of my travelling, I sort of ended up a loner.” She gave a sweet smile, swinging their hands lightly between them.

“We should go out to Megsy Isle sometime. If you want to, that is. It’s nice and quiet out there, since it’s so secluded.” She gave a little shrug, smiling a little bashfully. “Just a suggestion.” Melanie wanted to see him many, many more times than just tonight. Perhaps making plans to go to Megsy Isle was a little premature, but she loved the thought of spending that time with him. And maybe, just maybe, she could show him her wings.