Plight of an overprotective brother

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

It had been the biggest fight they'd had since coming to Scriptor Bay. Kevin didn't like to fight with Kelsey, but it was inevitable. She was a chronic fuck-up and he was an overbearing asshole. He'd failed to protect her in their youth and now more than made up for it in their adult years, but now they they were pushing thirty Kelsey didn't want her brother hovering so close. She wanted her own life away from him, to follow her dreams, to do what she wanted without him checking in. She pointed out that she had been clean since coming to Scriptor Bay and had surrounded herself with positive people and he didn't need to cling so much, but Kevin didn't see it the same way. He saw this as her way of escaping him, of getting away and that he might never see her again. "But you have Mel now!" She had argued which only made him angrier. His girlfriend had been a sore spot for them. Kelsey didn't like Mel and he wasn't sure why, but he did know she liked how Mel had kept him out of the apartment for the better part of a month. Now that Brandon was home, so was Kevin, which meant Kelsey was home less. Now she was dropping the big news on him; she was leaving Scriptor Bay.

It had enraged Kevin and then depressed him. She said she wasn't doing it to hurt him, but it sure felt that way. She wasn't happy in the city, but he was! Why did she need to ruin everything? Why couldn't she just stay there! The whole thing upset him and the fight that went on was enough to have neighbors pounding on walls and it ended with Kelsey storming out. Apparently Kevin didn't understand her or her needs!

He wasn't surprised when she didn't come home, and though he sent over a dozen texts asking if she was okay and where she was, he wasn't surprised when she didn't answer. She wasn't a child, he knew that, but he worried! Kevin loved his sister. She was his only family and he would apologize over and over for things he didn't know he was doing if it meant she would stay. It wasn't until the wee hours of the morning that a text came through from her saying she was fine and for him to stop worrying about her and to start worrying about himself. Well, what did that mean? Of course he would worry about her! Why was she so difficult? But all this meant was he had to make a difficult choice; stay in Scriptor Bay with Melanie or move with Kelsey to wherever the hell she was going. Hollywood, New York, who even knew!

Kevin called Melanie in the morning asking if she could meet for dinner. Their work schedules didn't allow for lunch dates, but dinner was okay. He would have invited her over but he was afraid Kelsey might be there which would be odd, and the thought of discussing this with Brandon and Jo nearby seemed weird to him. He'd much rather surround himself with strangers.

The boy was melancholy from the moment Mel had seen him and once they got their seats he started on telling her how Kelsey wanted to leave. "She just completely flew off the handle!" He explained after the waiter took their drink orders. "I just don't get her, Mel. We've always been together, it's always been us.. I mean, we were apart when she went to rehab and then when she lived with her druggie boyfriends, but she always came back to me. I'm finally happy and settled and she wants to just pick us up and move! I can't let her go so far from me.. What if she starts using again? What if things don't work out and she has no place to go? She's not a baby anymore.. no ones there to pick up the pieces but me and if I'm so far how will I do that?" It was clear in his argument that he didn't know if he should go with her or let her go. "I have to protect her, yah know?"

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

It had been a busy couple of weeks for Melanie Garcia. She had returned to her job at the hospital and been greeted with open arms. It was strange to be back in her harness, but she was happy to be back at work. With all of the hustling and bustling, she felt stronger and slept harder. Not only did she have her job back, though, she was going to be an aunt! It was the best news she’d ever heard in her life and she had wept tears of joy when Brandon and Jo finally broke the news to her. Things had been a little strained between her and Jo just before they left the camp, but now that she was carrying Melanie’s niece or nephew in her belly, there was no bad blood between them. She couldn’t wait to spoil that baby rotten! Brandon had already told her she would be Tia Mel and that in itself made her cry again. She wondered where they would put the baby and if Jo would move into their little house with them, but those decisions would be made later. It was too exciting to think about now. Melanie had already suggested an OB/GYN at the hospital, the best in her field, and gave advice on pre-natal care. She would do the ultrasounds herself if she were a doctor! To say she was thrilled would be an understatement. She was positively ecstatic.

Her only cause for concern was Kevin’s sister Kelsey. She and Kevin were growing stronger in their relationship every day and the more she saw of him, the more she loved him. They doted on each other and spent almost all their free time together and it was obvious they made each other happy. So why couldn’t she make Kelsey happy? The girl treated her like an outsider every time they ran into each other and even though Melanie tried to be nice and play it cool, Kelsey continued in her icy demeanor. It upset Melanie, but she wasn’t going to stop trying to get into her good graces. She was Kevin’s twin sister! Melanie wanted Kelsey to approve of her. Lately it seemed like tensions were rising between the twins, though. Kelsey was pulling away and last night it became obvious why. She was planning to move out and go to a different city. Melanie knew how much that must have upset Kevin. The pair of them had shared everything together, even a womb, and he couldn’t protect her like he wanted to if she moved to a different city. Melanie had been nervous when Brandon left to travel as well and she’d been extremely reluctant to leave her father. She could understand why he asked for dinner together now that they were sitting at the table and he was explaining the situation.

“She just completely flew off the handle! I just don’t get her, Mel. We’ve always been together, it’s always been us…I mean, we were apart when she went to rehab and then when she lived with her druggie boyfriends, but she always came back to me. I’m finally happy and settled and she wants to just pick us up and move! I can’t let her go so far from me…What if she starts using again? What if things don’t work out and she has no place to go? She’s not a baby anymore…no one’s there to pick up the pieces but me and if I’m so far how will I do that? I have to protect her, yah know?” It was hard to look sad and sympathetic in pale pink Hello Kitty scrubs with matching pale pink solid pants. But she managed it and she really did have a sinking feeling in her stomach. She didn’t want Kevin to leave…she never wanted him to leave. What if he did leave? Would she go with him? She had a niece or nephew on the way…she didn’t want to leave with such a monumental moment coming! And especially if it was far away…she’d traveled the world, but nothing made her happier than home.

Melanie reached across the table and took his hand in hers, frowning sympathetically. “I know you want to protect her, honey, and you’ve done a great job so far, but…she has to figure this out on her own. It’s like you said, she’s not a baby anymore. You’ll always be scared she’ll start using again until she proves to you that she won’t. The only way for her to prove that is to be on her own for a while. If things don’t work out, she has to know she can come to you for help. She’s going to avoid it if she can, but I have a feeling if she hit rock bottom, she would come back. But you would have to make that clear too; being angry with her isn’t going to assure her that you’ll help if things get too hard for her. I know you two are as close as two siblings can be and I know it’s hard to hear, but I think it would be good for both of you to have some distance for a while. Maybe you could ask her to call once a week—just once so you two can catch up and you can make sure she’s doing okay. And maybe if she’s close enough you could visit her once a month.” As she spoke, her voice was soft and soothing, much like she spoke to the children she took care of from day to day. She had perfect the soft and soothing tone without being condescending years ago. Her hand also kept a gentle hold on his and when she suggested he could go visit her, she gave a light squeeze and smiled a little for him. More than anything, she just didn’t want him to go. She couldn’t let him go so far away…

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

Melanie's hand in his felt good. Her fingers were long and thin and so soft in comparison to the rough, thickness of his own. It felt good to hold her hand and he was instantly comforted by the girl. "I know you want to protect her, honey, and you’ve done a great job so far, but…" He already felt the guilt seeping in. He hadn't done a great job. Far from it. She'd been to rehab and in and out of bad situations for as long as he could remember. If he had done as great a job as Mel said he had than none of that would have happened. "she has to figure this out on her own. It’s like you said, she’s not a baby anymore. You’ll always be scared she’ll start using again until she proves to you that she won’t. The only way for her to prove that is to be on her own for a while." He knew it was true, but it was one thing for her to be out on her own thirty minutes away, but out on her own sixteen hours away was a whole other story. "If things don’t work out, she has to know she can come to you for help. She’s going to avoid it if she can, but I have a feeling if she hit rock bottom, she would come back." Kevin looked hesitant, looking more like a young boy than the young man he actually was. "But you would have to make that clear too; being angry with her isn’t going to assure her that you’ll help if things get too hard for her. I know you two are as close as two siblings can be and I know it’s hard to hear, but I think it would be good for both of you to have some distance for a while." Would it? Would it be good for them to have some distance? For whose benefit? His? Kelsey's? Melanie's?

Would Melanie try to keep his sister from him out of selfishness? Was he really thinking that? He felt guilty for thinking it but part of him wondered if she was trying to get him to let his sister go so she could have more of him. It wasn't the first time someone had come between them and though he knew Melanie's intentions were good, he did wonder how much of it was for herself. Guilt racked him again as the paranoia washed over him. He couldn't turn on the only person who adored him no matter what; his human security blanket. "Maybe you could ask her to call once a week—just once so you two can catch up and you can make sure she’s doing okay. And maybe if she’s close enough you could visit her once a month.” She wouldn't be close enough and she definitely wouldn't call. She might answer if he called, but he knew that would probably end in an argument now and then with her complaining he called too much, because truth be told he probably would.

Her smile was encouraging and the way her hand gently squeezed him eased his mind a little and again made him feel guilty for considering for even a second that her motives were ulterior ones. She wanted what was best for both of them, and she loved him. She wanted Kelsey to be around even though Kelsey disliked her. Honestly he understood why Kelsey disapproved of his girlfriend, but he would never tell Melanie that. He always shrugged it off with an I don't know, deciding she wouldn't really get his sisters petty reasons, even if he did.

"She's not going to move close enough for me to visit. Kelsey doesn't do anything easy, and the places she mentioned were definitely the types of places you fly to." His heart was heavy and he looked down at his girlfriends hand, squeezing it. "I'm just afraid of losing her." He offered softly. Kevin had never been the one to share his feelings or what scared him. He was a tough guy and though he was sensitive, he had developed a rough outer shell due to his circumstances in life. Kelsey got to hear it now and then, but venting and letting it all out was new, because he didn't feel judged by Melanie. "It's just.. when my mom died.." He shook his head, not sure he was as comfortable with it all as maybe he had thought. The boy let out a long sigh. "It was just really scary. But it got worse when dad left. It just sort of feels like that. Like she's leaving me." He explained in a soft voice. "I've lost everyone.. and Kelsey isn't the type to want to call. I mean, she would do it for me now and then but then rush off before I would have a chance to know what was going on." His eyes searched hers, his head bowed slightly so his long hair was in his eyes. "I mean, what if something happened to her and I didn't know? It could be a whole month before I know somethings up! I don't know.." He shook his head again and looked up just as the waitress brought their drinks. He forced a small smile and pulled his hand away from Melanie's shyly, pulling it into his lap and looking down at his plate.

Kevin gave the waitress his order when she asked and waited politely for Melanie to do the same. He didn't look up again until the woman was gone and then he felt stupid for being so adolescent. "I want to follow her, Mel.." He said softly, just loud enough for her to hear over the table, his head bowing again not wanting to see the look in his girlfriends eyes. "She doesn't want me to, she made that clear enough, but.. god, why does she have to make everything so difficult? I swear she's punishing me!" He grumbled, slumping back and grabbing his soda, taking a deep swig from it. "I know you're right, just.. that doesn't mean I don't want to follow her though."

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

“She’s not going to move close enough for me to visit. Kelsey doesn’t do anything easy, and the places she mentioned were definitely the types of places you fly to.” Even as Kevin’s hand was squeezing hers, Melanie felt a lump rising in her throat. What could she say that would comfort him? What could she say to convince him not to leave? “I’m just afraid of losing her.” Melanie could understand that. She always felt she and Brandon were close, but their relationship wasn’t the same as Kevin’s relationship with Kelsey. If one of them moved away, they would call each other as much as possible; it’s what they had done for ten years while they were traveling. Kelsey wouldn’t do the same for Kevin, and that frightened Melanie even more. This meant he was more likely to leave…and Melanie didn’t want to lose Kevin. All her words were catching in her throat and she was relieved Kevin continued to talk, her eyes fixed on his. “It’s just…when my mom died…It was just really scary. But it got worse when Dad left. It just sort of feels like that. Like she’s leaving me. I’ve lost everyone…and Kelsey isn’t the type to want to call. I mean, she would do it for me now and then but then rush off before I would have a chance to know what was going on. I mean, what if something happened to her and I didn’t know? It could be a whole month before I know something’s up! I don’t know…” With every word it felt like the air was getting sucked out of her. She was happy…she was so happy, and now it was falling apart. Though she wanted to blame Kelsey, she couldn’t—this wasn’t what Kelsey wanted. She wanted to strike out on her own, find her own way. It was Kevin who wanted them to stick together and that’s what stung the most for Melanie. His hand pulled away and she felt her heart sink lower until she saw it was just because the waitress reappeared with their drinks and asking for their order. Melanie forced herself to smile though she could barely choke out words to put in her order. She didn’t know if she’d be able to eat, but she took a sip of her soda to try and get that lump out of her throat. She had to tell herself this wasn’t the end of the world.

When the waitress walked away, her eyes fell back on Kevin as he leaned a little closer and bowed his head. “I want to follow her, Mel…” Her heart sank so low she felt like it could make friends with the fossils it was now among. She could feel the tears already welling in her eyes and she tried to push them back, swallowing hard. “She doesn’t want me to, she made that clear enough, but…God, why does she have to make everything so difficult? I swear she’s punishing me! I know you’re right, just…that doesn’t mean I don’t want to follow her though.” Melanie didn’t know what to say. Not only that, but she knew if she tried to talk it was just going to start the tears hanging just at the backs of her eyes. She took a long sip of her soda to buy time for her to calm down before she tried to talk, her eyes trained on the table so she wouldn’t give away what she was feeling. Why did this always have to happen? Was it because she left Paolo in Brazil? Was that why her boyfriend was leaving her now? Well, there wasn’t anything set in stone…he could still stay behind. But could she really convince of that? Probably not. She could keep him here, she knew, but he would be miserable without knowing what was going on with Kelsey. This codependent relationship his sister and him had was unhealthy, but Melanie couldn’t tell him that. She didn’t want to hurt Kevin and she didn’t want to give him more reason to pull away from her. But then what could she do?

By the time she set her glass down, it had been over a minute since someone had said anything. Melanie’s heart was racing 750 feet into the ground below her, making her feel lightheaded and shaky. She didn’t want Kevin to leave, not so soon. “Family is everything…” she started softly, hardly audible since she was trying to keep the shaking out of her voice. Her ears were ringing as she looked at the table and not her boyfriend. “If you stay here, you’re not going to be happy without her. I know you’ll worry about her constantly…” She could already feel the tears stinging in her eyes and before long they were making her vision swim. “So…so you should go. I could try to keep you here, but I know you wouldn’t be happy. I don’t want you to go…but I don’t want you to be unhappy either.” Her hand was shaking too much and she slid it into her lap where she could clench her hands together to keep them from shaking. A tear slipped onto her cheek, but she brushed it away quickly and hoped no more would fall. She still couldn’t look at him. If she could, she would go with him; sure, her family was here and it was about to get bigger and it would kill her to leave her family behind her, but she would do it for him. She loved Kevin, but if things didn’t work out, she would always have a place with Brandon. Kevin couldn’t be so sure that his impulsive sister would be able to hack it without him. But she couldn’t just go with him—what if he didn’t want her to go with them? What if he wanted it to be just him and his sister still? What if he had decided she didn’t need to be a part of his life anymore? These thoughts were making her head spin and she felt dizzy even with her eyes trained on the table.

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

Melanie wasn't saying anything and the silence made him begin to pull into his shell further. She was angry. He'd gone too far; in the end Kelsey always got in the way of his relationships. It wasn't his sisters fault, really. She told him not to follow, that she wanted him to stay in Scriptor Bay, but how could he let her go? He'd protected her, or tried to, her entire life! She was all he had, save for Melanie. Even Melanie was questionable now. She would hate him, think he was an idiot for wanting to follow, be angry that he would consider it and want to uproot her from her home, pull her away from the little family she had just as it was growing, quite literally. Scriptor Bay had very much become his home and he wanted to stay there. Kit was there and Melanie was there, and though he and Brandon still had their differences they certainly got on better these days. Kevin was starting to forgive him, understanding why he'd done what he done, even if he didn't like how he'd gone about doing it.

“Family is everything…” She finally said and Kevin looked up nervously, his head low and his hair hanging in his eyes. He could feel his heart hammering in his chest and he had no idea why. “If you stay here, you’re not going to be happy without her. I know you’ll worry about her constantly…” He would worry about her constantly, but wasn't that his problem? Shouldn't he be letting her go? Even with her IN the city he was worrying about her constantly. “So…so you should go. I could try to keep you here, but I know you wouldn’t be happy. I don’t want you to go…but I don’t want you to be unhappy either.” Nowhere in that statement did she mention wanting to come with him and his heart throbbed. How could he leave her? She was everything to him. Well, almost. She meant as much to him as Kelsey did and the thought of leaving her made him nauseous. Could he choose? Would she make him?

Kevin looked up more at Melanie who was refusing to look back and noticed the trail of wetness down her cheek. Was she crying? Her hand slipped up and wiped it away as if to hide the fact she was. "Mel, you make me happy." He offered softly, realizing that she probably felt as trapped as he did. They both wanted to be with their families, and their families were not going to be in the same place anymore, which meant Kevin had a difficult decision to make; was Melanie important enough to make a new family with? He wanted to be with her. He wanted to marry her. Hell, he wanted to have lots and lots of beautiful winged babies with her, and he knew she loved him back, but was letting Kelsey go worth all of that? Would he be a terrible brother not to follow her? Not to be there to pick her up when she fell? He supposed Melanie made some good points earlier; she would crawl back if she had to. They were pushing thirty and it was time he let her do her own thing. If she messed up he couldn't stop her. Even if he was there holding her hand she would still fuck up, only she would resent him for witnessing it. He had to let her fail. He had to let her go. He had to stand on his own two feet and let Kelsey do the same and hope and pray that she would come out on top.

"I need you." He said in the same scared, hushed voice, afraid of letting his heart slip to his sleeve. He still wasn't great at this stuff, but he knew she needed to know how much she meant to him. She needed to hear it. "Baby, I love you.. and.. and if you can't come with me then I'll.. we'll stay." He gulped, his eyes searching her dark, moist ones. Kevin slid his hand across the table, reaching for hers and waiting for her to place it in his. He grasped it tightly, forcing a sad smile. He wasn't sure how he would let Kelsey go, but he was willing to try if it meant staying with Melanie. "I'll figure something out with Kelsey.. okay? I don't want to be without you. I don't know if I can do that.."

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

“Mel, you make me happy.” Melanie dared to look up, another tear dripping onto her cheek and she could see Kevin meant what he said. She was glad she made him happy, but would that be enough to make him stay? Would it be enough for him to want her to follow wherever he and Kelsey went? She didn’t want him to ever be unhappy with her and especially not now when he was finally opening up more to her. What if he stayed and something bad happened to Kelsey? Would he resent Melanie or blame her for keeping him here? Melanie had imagined making a whole life here with Kevin, but she supposed that life could be had in cities other than Scriptor Bay. Would he want that? “I need you.” The words and the sincerity with which he spoke them made tears fill her big brown eyes again. It was what she needed to hear. He needed her and she wasn’t going to fail him; she needed him just as much as he needed her. She would be so unhappy without him. “Baby, I love you…and…and if you can’t come with me then I’ll…we’ll stay.” It was all she could do not to sob. Kevin’s hand came across the table and she reached out for it, their hand grasping tightly. She was holding on for dear life; without his hand she was afraid she would fall deep into the chasm of depression she had felt opening beneath her. Her heart was steadily finding its way back into her chest as she stared into those beautiful, kind blue eyes. If she couldn’t come with him? She could go with him, she just hadn’t been sure he wanted her to come. “I’ll figure something out with Kelsey…okay? I don’t want to be without you. I don’t know if I can do that…” Though tears were still leaking onto her cheeks, she smiled, her heart clenching tight in her chest. He didn’t want to be without her…

“Kevin, I love you. I never want to be without you either, but I don’t want you to be without your family. I just wasn’t sure you would want me to come along with your sister not really liking me and all. My family…well, Bran’s not going anywhere, not with Jo and the baby moving in. I know I’ll always be welcome here. It’ll be hard being away from them…but it’s nothing I haven’t done before.” She’d been separated from her brother for five years before; she could handle moving to another city. With a niece or nephew on the way, she didn’t want to live in another city, but she would do it for Kevin. She would do anything for him. Her hand reached up and wiped the tears from her face again, only this time she knew they would stay away, or at least she hoped they would. She smiled again softly, her hand tightly nestled in his; she remembered when they’d first held hands in the park. His hands were as warm then as they were now. “Bran’s starting his own life here…I could do the same no matter where we live. I’ll do whatever it takes to be with you. If you want to be with Kelsey then I’ll come too, and if you would rather stay here and try to live separately, then maybe I could move in with you and pick up Kelsey’s half of the rent.” Melanie wasn’t assertive and initiating a discussion about her moving in with Kevin made her blush, but she knew in the end it was a practical discussion. Money was tight these days and she knew Kevin would have a hard time living on his own. Besides, she would need to find a new place to live anyway with Jo moving in and a baby on the way. “Really, whatever you want to do, I’ll go with it.” She smiled more reassuringly, her stomach twisting a little. Talking about starting a real life with someone was nerve racking! There was no baby between them or anything and yet here they were, dating for six months and talking about moving in together, maybe to another city all together. But even though it was nerve racking, it was exciting too. Had she really found the one? She certainly hoped so!

Right now, she wanted to just kiss him. He wasn’t leaving her and she wasn’t abandoning him—it would be okay no matter where they ended up. Brandon was starting a new chapter of his life with Jo and Melanie had a chance to do the same thing with Kevin. Whatever happened they could be happy. She just worried about whether he could handle being without his sister. It made a thought pop into her head… “Maybe it would be best to do like a trial run or something. It sounds weird, but if you want to make sure she’s okay living without you, maybe we could move to her city for a year and see how she does with you right nearby. Or maybe you could try staying here and letting her go for a year and if you think it would be better to move to her city to keep an eye on her, then we could move. Either way, I think a year is a good time for a trial period. It’s plenty of time to figure out if you’re happy with the way things are or if you want to change them, no matter what we end up doing. One thing you won’t have to worry about is me, though—I’ll be there whether we stay or go.” The world wasn’t ending and she was allowed to go with him if he ended up following his sister. She would let him make his decision and figure it all out once he made it.

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

“Kevin, I love you. I never want to be without you either, but I don’t want you to be without your family. I just wasn’t sure you would want me to come along with your sister not really liking me and all." He raised his brows, surprised. What did Kelsey not liking her have anything to do with whether he wanted her to come or not? Of course he would want her with him! Kelsey dominated a great deal of his life, but she would never have a final say in who he fell in love with. "My family…well, Bran’s not going anywhere, not with Jo and the baby moving in. I know I’ll always be welcome here. It’ll be hard being away from them…but it’s nothing I haven’t done before.” Kevin felt his heart beginning to race. Was she telling him she would go with him? Kevin wasn't even completely sure he wanted to go. Not because he didn't want to be near his sister, because he did, but he had built himself a life there and he really enjoyed it. And though Melanie would come with him, Kit was still there in the city and he would have to reestablish himself again which would be difficult, and Melanie would too.

Bran’s starting his own life here…I could do the same no matter where we live. I’ll do whatever it takes to be with you. If you want to be with Kelsey then I’ll come too, and if you would rather stay here and try to live separately, then maybe I could move in with you and pick up Kelsey’s half of the rent.” No one had ever tried so hard to stay with him, not even his own sister and in that moment he felt truly connected to Mel. Not even his own father wanted to stay with him, but Mel? She would follow him anywhere it seemed. Part of him was touched deeply, the other part was skeptical. How long would it take for him to scare her away? How long until she changed her mind and came back to Scriptor Bay or wanted to move out of his apartment if they decided to stay? How would he screw this perfect thing up? He was bound to, nearly thirty years had taught him that no one really wants to be around him for the long haul. He tried to put his self destructive thoughts to bed, though. Deep down he knew there was no way of knowing how long this would last, but that Mel was good to him and he should ride it out as long as he could. He'd be a damn fool not to. “Really, whatever you want to do, I’ll go with it.” He squeezed her hand, a tender, nervous grin barely turning the corners of his lips upwards. He didn't want to be in that restaurant with her. He suddenly had the urge to take her away just so he could hold her and kiss and never let her go. His soulful eyes reached hers and he tried to convey how grateful he felt in that moment with them, if not utterly terrified that he would lose her in the end. Kevin silently promised himself he wouldn't let her slip away easily, though. Unless, of course, he was certain he was holding her back in which case he would walk away if he could get over selfishly holding onto her. The months with Melanie and her constant affection was making him begin to believe that maybe he was deserving of it a little, though. She was very convincing..

“Maybe it would be best to do like a trial run or something. It sounds weird, but if you want to make sure she’s okay living without you, maybe we could move to her city for a year and see how she does with you right nearby. Or maybe you could try staying here and letting her go for a year and if you think it would be better to move to her city to keep an eye on her, then we could move." He tilted his head to the side slightly, watching her. They could do that.. Maybe he could let Kelsey have some time on her own, give her a chance to spread her wings so to speak. They'd been in Scriptor Bay for nearly a year and she was doing great, still going to her meetings and as far as he knew she was clean. She was even starting to work more steadily. Maybe she could handle it.. and if she couldn't Melanie would follow him. "Either way, I think a year is a good time for a trial period. It’s plenty of time to figure out if you’re happy with the way things are or if you want to change them, no matter what we end up doing. One thing you won’t have to worry about is me, though—I’ll be there whether we stay or go.” Kevin pondered it all for a moment and then nodded, still holding her hand tightly though his eyes moved back to the table. "You're right.. it's a good idea." He offered softly, licking his lips as he looked up at her once more, his head still bowed slightly. "Did, uh... did you mean what you said about moving in though?" He asked skeptically, his leg twitching a little under the table, a nervous habit. He cleared his throat and then licked his lips once more and looked back at the table again. "I mean, if we stayed and all.." He shrugged lightly. "Cause, uh.. yah know if that's something you're serious about, we could.." He bit his bottom lip, unsure if she would be ready for that sort of commitment. Would it scare her? She had offered but how interested was she in doing just that? The thought of living with Mel certainly lessened the blow of living without Kelsey. Not that he would worry less, but having his girlfriend at his side all night would certainly be a comfort he could learn to live with. Literally.

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

The more Melanie thought about this “trial period” the more she liked the idea. It was genius, really. She could bear to be away from home for a year at the least or she had just potentially bought herself another year to prepare herself for a move. Kevin’s slow nod showed that he liked the idea too and she gave a relieved smile, her hand tight in his. “You’re right…it’s a good idea.” Melanie would have to pat herself on the back for thinking of that idea! When his eyes met hers again, she could see the uncertainty in his gaze. “Did, uh…did you mean what you said about moving in though?” Her heart jumped into her throat and she blushed lightly in nervousness. Bold was never a word she would use to describe herself, but that proposal of moving in together had been just that: bold. Slowly she nodded in answer to his question, assuring him that she had been serious. “I mean, if we stayed and all…Cause, uh…yah know if that’s something you’re serious about, we could…” Now the heart in her throat was fluttering and she felt the smile break out on her lips and all the way across her face. She nodded again as she bit her lip, feeling as giddy as a schoolgirl. Kevin wanted to live with her! They could start a life together like Brandon was doing with Jo! She and Kevin had been together for several months, so she believed it was definitely reasonable for them to live together. “Yes! I’d love to live with you.” And it was a completely honest answer. She would love to come home to him and cook for him and sleep beside him and wake up beside him. It would be a dream come true to spend all of her spare time with Kevin! Without further ado, she got up from the table and slid into the booth beside him, an excited smile on her face as she leaned into him. She wasn’t worried about anyone seeing as she pressed her lips to Kevin’s in a sweet and loving kiss. Nothing was more exciting to her than starting a life with Kevin, as simple a life as it would be.

It wasn’t a long kiss, but when she pulled away she stayed close with a big smile on her face just gazing into his eyes. “I love you.” Her voice was soft and sweet as she spoke, her brown eyes warm with happiness. A sad conversation had turned into a happy one, if only for the moment, and Melanie kissed Kevin again briefly. Now the question was would they stay or go? It sounded like he was leaning towards staying. She pulled back from Kevin with a blush on her cheeks before she slid back out from the booth he was in and moved back to her original spot. Just as she was about to reach out for Kevin’s hand again, the waitress arrived with their food. Melanie would have really embarrassed Kevin if she had stayed a few moments longer kissing him in the booth! With a bright smile and a word of thanks for the waitress, she looked down at her burger and fries happily. Her appetite was back and she was glad she’d ordered even though she wasn’t hungry when she had. The smell alone, though, was enough to remind her stomach how empty it was. When she looked over at Kevin, the waitress was placing his food down too and the pleasant woman promised to be back in a few minutes to check on them. Melanie reached for the ketchup to slather on her burger before she could start enjoying it. She liked a lot of ketchup on her burgers, the saltiness of it pleasing for her. When she bit into it, the meat was perfectly cooked with some pink inside and the lettuce was a good, crispy contrast. She always liked the burgers here.

After she’d swallowed, she looked over at Kevin and could tell the question was still weighing heavy on his mind: would they stay or would they go? Melanie set her burger down so she could focus on him, finding her boyfriend to be much more important at the moment than her stomach. “So…what do you think will be best? To stay or go? Like I said, I’ll be with you either way.” The happiness was dulling a little now as it came down to what Kevin would decide for them. The bigger part of her hoped he would want to stay, let Kelsey get on her own two feet and he could start a life here with Melanie. True, a large part of her reasoning was selfish, that she just wanted to stay with her friends and family in Scriptor Bay, but she knew this would be good for Kevin and Kelsey too. Kelsey wasn’t a girl who liked to be held down by strings and Kevin had her tethered to him tightly; it was no wonder she wanted to break free and discover a new city and a new life on her own. Melanie would gladly be tethered to him for the rest of her life, but she knew she could never replace Kelsey in a million years, and she wouldn’t try. She just wanted to help ease the blow, anything to make this transition easier for everyone. So what would Kevin decide?

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

Kevin felt the tension bubbling in his stomach. Would she say maybe not yet? Maybe she had just said it without meaning it, or really thinking much into it deciding he wouldn't want to. Or maybe he would have missed that detail in her little speech. She looked pleased though, and it eased him a little. "Yes! I’d love to live with you.” He couldn't hide the grin forming on his lips. He couldn't have hoped for a more enthusiastic response to his question! He watched her with questioning eyes as she scooted from the booth and then smiled once more and when she nestled in there beside him, turning his head to smile warmly at her. He accepted the kiss though his cheeks flushed slightly at the very public display of affection. He didn't mind it all so much but he was still shy about kissing his girlfriend in public. He didn't like looks, either good or bad. But he kissed her non the less, his hand coming to her waist gently holding her there until she pulled away, his dark sea colored eyes meeting her chocolate ones.

“I love you.” Her voice was soft and sweet an Kevin felt his heart swell a little. How had he managed to make her love him so? She was too good for him, he still believed it with all his heart, but his views had changed some. He was determined to hold onto her as long as he could and determined to keep her blinders on, knowing surely if she saw him for who he was she would fall out of love. He still had a hard time believing he was even worthy of this amount of affection, but God how he craved it. It's what he always wanted and finally got, and not from someone worth settling for, but for someone worth trying to achieve. "I love you too." He said in a small, hoarse voice.

She left the booth and he was sad to watch her move away, though grateful at the same time, not wanting any attention from the other diners. Just as Mel got to her side the waitress brought their food and Kevin blushed a little offering little eye contact. He focused on the plate set before him, reaching for a fry and then the ketchup once Mel had put it down. He watched her dip into her meal, his head bowed slightly and his hair in his eyes. She was the epitome of perfection. Could he tear her from her family, though? Could taking her away from her niece or nephew and brother so he could watch his grown sister destroy what they had? He had to keep her. He had to hold onto Melanie. He also knew he had to let go of Kelsey but the thought terrified him. What if she just never came back. What if she gave up like their father did? Or died like their mother? What then?

Mel's eyes came to his and he blushed. “So…what do you think will be best? To stay or go? Like I said, I’ll be with you either way.” It was as though she had read his mind and he leaned back, sighing and averting his eyes from the beautiful creature across from him. Kevin didn't know what to do and no one could make this decision but him. A hand came up and swept through his mop of dark hair, keeping his hand at the back as the hairs slowly slipped from the prison of his hand and fell back across his forehead. He pulled his hand away and set it on his lap, all the hair cascading in a waterfall around his head and he shrugged his shoulders, slumping lower in his seat. "I have a life here that I don't want to uproot. I'm happy here.. happier than I've been anywhere else. I have a steady job, a steady girlfriend.." He smiled slightly at her and then looked at his food. "My best friends here.. I love this city. I love my sister, but.. well you're sort of family now too and I know you'll come and really, I appreciate that, but.. but I don't want to leave. I just wish she would stay. I don't want to lose her, but..." Again he shrugged, knowing he had to let her go. It was the right thing to do, let her fly. "We should stay." He gulped and looked across at her, his eyes nervous. "You should be here for your brother now and.. well Kelsey doesn't want me to follow. I need to trust her and if you're here with me then maybe it won't be so bad. Just.. I mean if things get bad I might have to leave suddenly. I don't know. Not permanently or anything, just.. she has to come first. Even a thousand miles away. For me, not you.. I have to clean up her messes, but if she screws up.." He shook his head and ran a and through his hair once more. "I have to let her. I have to let her grow up. I have to let you be there for your brother too.. cause we're a team now. right?" His eyes were pleading, liking the thought of having someone on his team finally.

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

Melanie waited patiently for Kevin to consider his answer, reaching for a fry in the meantime. It was a hard decision for him to make and she wouldn’t push him to rush with it. As he swept his hair back from his forehead, his fingers running through the long, dark strands, she admired how handsome he was even when in distress. The hair slowly slipped from his fingers until it fell lazily back to his shoulders once his hand dropped back into his lap. She suddenly had to urge to snuggle up to him again to get the defeated look off his face. Her eyebrows knitted sympathetically, knowing how difficult this must be for him. Kelsey was the only family he had left. Even Melanie had two uncles, Tio Charlie and Tio Michael, who came around on occasion, though only when they were back in the area from their travels. Not to mention Kelsey was his twin sister. They had spent nearly every second of their lives together—the bond between twins was even stronger than the bond between other siblings. It would be hard for Kevin either way and Melanie knew she had to be there for him no matter what. Finally Kevin shrugged his shoulders, sliding lower in his seat. “I have a life here that I don't want to uproot. I'm happy here…happier than I've been anywhere else. I have a steady job, a steady girlfriend…" Melanie returned the small smile Kevin gave her, though she could feel her heart beginning to race again. Did that mean they were staying? "My best friend’s here…I love this city. I love my sister, but…well you're sort of family now too and I know you'll come and really, I appreciate that, but…but I don't want to leave. I just wish she would stay. I don't want to lose her, but...We should stay.” Melanie realized she had been holding her breath and she let it out softly. This would be good for them. It would be hard for Kevin, but she would do her best to ease him. She was sure once they spent enough time apart and Kelsey proved she was okay on her own, it would get easier for Kevin to live his own life in Scriptor Bay…with her. She felt butterflies in her stomach at the thought of what this meant for them. This was the furthest she’d ever gone with any boyfriend. She’d never lived with a boyfriend before and that meant big things for her and Kevin’s future. Could they actually get married and start a family someday? The promise of living together certainly invited dreams of that happening…She had told him she would never hurt him and she’d vowed to stay by him, but the prospect of that actually coming true had never hit her quite so strongly and she found she was excited by it.

"You should be here for your brother now and…well Kelsey doesn't want me to follow. I need to trust her and if you're here with me then maybe it won't be so bad. Just…I mean if things get bad I might have to leave suddenly. I don't know. Not permanently or anything, just…she has to come first. Even a thousand miles away. For me, not you…I have to clean up her messes, but if she screws up…" It must have been such a burden for him to feel that way, to feel like he had to be there to clean up after his sister. She felt so sympathetic for him and grateful at the same time that Brandon wasn’t that way. Now more than ever she was glad she had stuck by Kevin’s side. He needed someone to support him right now. "I have to let her. I have to let her grow up. I have to let you be there for your brother too…’cause we're a team now, right?" His beautiful eyes searched hers and it warmed her heart to hear how much he needed her in his voice. It wasn’t the first time he’d sounded so desperate for her to stick around, but it never got old for her. With a warm, caring smile, she nodded her head and reached across the table to take his big hand in hers. Had she ever loved anyone so much? “Yeah, we’re a team.” They were a great team. The reliance on the other person was mutual. Melanie was terrified to lose Kevin because of how much of her heart she had put into their relationship, but she wouldn’t change it either. If he had her back, she would have his; and she was certain there would come a time when she would need him just as much as he needed her right now. Like after the camps…he had let her stay in his arms as long as she needed him, and she would return the favor.

“I really appreciate you taking my feels so much into account. It means the world to me. But if it ever becomes too hard to be apart from Kelsey, I want you to know you can talk to me about it. I meant it when I said I would move with you if that’s what you needed. And if you have to suddenly leave to take care of her, I’ll understand completely. I don’t want you to lose your sister either—I’d never want that. Just let me know if you need to go to her, okay?” Her voice let on just how sincere she was. She would do anything to keep Kevin happy: leave her job, her home, her brother…Anything. The only thing that wasn’t replaceable was her brother, but she knew he was in good hands with Jo and he would be happy with her and the baby. All she had to do at the moment, though, was be there for him, and that was exactly what she would do. She leaned over the table and kissed his fingers briefly with pink cheeks and a surreptitious glance at the other tables, none of whom were watching them. Her brown eyes were soft and warm, like her smile, and she gave his hand a gentle squeeze before she released it to pick up her burger again. “Now let’s talk about this moving in business,” she said with a glitter in her eye and her smile growing some. She wanted to change the subject to something happier. The worry was ebbing and being replaced by excitement at the idea of living with Kevin under the same roof. She would be so happy to see him every day and night! It was like a dream come true.

---------------------------THE END---------------------------