A Silent Melody

The Word

The following few weeks passed relatively quickly for both Matt and Melody.

They saw each other more often. Matt would head to Melody's place throughout the week to help her with homework. They'd grown used to being in each other's presence and would laugh and kiss unconcernedly throughout. Matt abstained from making any sexual advances. He didn't want to rush things and wanted Melody to come to him at the right moment for her.

They would continue seeing each other throughout the weekend, going to the beach, the movies, or simply having coffee at Polly's, happy to be in each other's company.

Other times they would sit in Melody's room listening to their vinyl records. Melody would be laying on her bed, Matt would be leaning back upon it on the floor, the two of them holding hands as the record spun, parting hands only to flip the record or play a new one.

Matt was simply happy to have Melody by his side once more. His heart fluttered and his stomach dropped at the very thought of her. Each day he'd eagerly await the hour he'd get to see her again. They'd text constantly whenever they weren't together, sending each other selfies and pictures of their surroundings. Matt enjoyed seeing the world through her eyes.

He'd still go to work occasionally, though clocked in fewer hours with every passing week. He would go to his classes more often, however. Melody had pressured him to do so, threatening to stop seeing him throughout the week if he didn't. As such, Matt's grades had gone up, and he was gathering a lot of favor among his professors. Matt would even go to their office hours when he found himself with nothing to do, further gaining their praise.

Matt and Peter saw less of each other now that they were in their own relationships. Peter still wouldn't tell Matt who he was seeing, much to Matt's annoyance. He promised to tell him once they got the chance to sit down and talk, but Matt saw no point in it. Why couldn't he just tell him there? What was he hiding?

Whatever the case, they agreed to reunite for one of their traditional Friday excursions to the beach. The weeks passed, however, and each week brought a new delay along with it. They saw no way around it, so they waited patiently for the chance to fulfill their agreement.

He heard very little from Sadie as well. He would get the occasional text message from her inviting him and Melody to a party, but he'd always decline. He'd had enough of her for a while.

Matt's life went on like this for weeks. The quarter soon approached its end, and Melody asked Matt for some time to prepare for finals. Matt reluctantly agreed. He didn't want to have to part from her again, but it was a necessary, temporary parting. He convinced himself that he also needed to prepare for finals. So it was that they stopped seeing and hearing less from each other for the final two weeks of the quarter.

As was the case, Matt found himself free the Friday before finals week, as did Peter. They agreed to go to the beach that evening to finally discuss Peter's relationship.

Matt went to the liquor store after his final class of the quarter. Melody was fine with him drinking lightly and didn't mind him seeing his friends when he needed to. She was very lenient on that, much to Matt's surprise. He'd always taken her to be a more conservative person but was delighted to know she liked to have her share of fun.

Matt arrived at the liquor store, empty bottles and bags littering the floor outside. It was just as he remembered it. The smell of stale liquor emanated from the floor as he went inside.

Ernesto was at the counter and smiled as Matt came in.

"What brings you around here, my friend?" Ernesto asked. "You haven't visited Ernie in a while. What did I do to make you angry?"