Before, During & After: Melina Caterina Madison

Twenty Five

Melina:

 I lay next to Spencer as we watch TV. Well more like he is watching TV and I am sprawled across him. I'm laying on my front, my leg thrown over his waist and my hand on his chest. His arm is rubbing up and down my back. 

Suddenly I hear a ruckus down stairs causing me to sit up. Just then the door opens with a bang and one by one Jude, Henry and then Joseph pour in. Jude is the first to attack me by jumping on the bed and hugging me.

When I hiss from the rough hug he immediately pulls away and takes me in. They all do. All the happy and smiling faces suddenly do dark. "I-I fuck...." Jude says as he takes my chin and turns my head to have a better look at the state of me.

I feel something wet hit my hand. I realise it's a tear. Jude's tear. "Please don't cry." I rest my  hand on his cheek. He goes back in for a hug this time being really gentle. 

When he move the other two come my way and hug me also. "Doing okay?" Joey asks me. I nod and then look at the clock. "I've actually gotta take my pills soon." The doctor at the hospital had prescribed me pain killers and anti biotics for the cuts.

"Here eat first." Spencer goes and hands me a box that is from the diner in town. When I open it up my mouth water immediately. "Yumm..." I mumble causing the guys to laugh. 

We all sit in silence each of them touching me in some way as I eat. Henry gets off the bed at some point and returns with my medicines in hand from where they sat on the table downstairs. 

I take what I need and then we all settle back in. It doesn't take long before the pain meds kick in and I am dosing off again. 

~~~

Spencer:

A little while after we all settle into Melina's bed I look over at her and see she has fallen asleep. Taking the remote I mute the movie on the screen causing my brothers to look at me. "We need to talk." I state.

"About?" Joseph says in a low voice being considerate of the sleeping beauty beside me. "I told Melina how I feel about her. I gave her the ring." My brothers and I had discussed how to broach the topic to Melina many times. 

The most recent was while she was gone. We had agreed that since I'm the oldest and technically the lead of our group that I would go first and see how open Melina was to being with us. 

They all look so happy, Jude barely containing his excitement. "Well? How did it go?" Henry asks delight in every word he speaks. "Part one of the plan went well. She was, well she's everything." I blow out a breath.

"When she wakes I think it's a good idea that we all tell her about our harem and ask her what she thinks. But we need to make it clear that it is up to her. That there is no pressure on her to say yes." With everything she has been through the last thing I want is for her to feel pressured into something.

Even if it ultimately means that we all stay friends. I'd rather that than to lose her all together. "I agree. I don't want her to feel anything but happy. But have a good feeling." Jude says with a big smile on his face. 

We all go quiet when Melina takes a big breath in and moves to lay on her stomach. I make a face hoping she doesn't hurt her arm.

Fuck, I'm so gone for this girl.

~~~

Melina:

Groaning I open my eyes and look around. Jude is sitting in my desk chair typing on a laptop. Joey is lounging on the end of my bed sleeping with a hand thrown over his eyes. Spencer is not in the room and Henry is on his phone beside me. 

He is the first to realise I am awake and I give him a shy smile. He smiles back but there is something else hidden underneath that I can't quite place. 

"Good afternoon." He says to me making the other two look over. As soon as they see that I am awake Jude's laptop is abandoned and Joey sits up not longer tired. 

Then Henry's words sink in. Afternoon? How long was I asleep?

 Grabbing my phone I see that it is three in the afternoon. Wow. I slept for so long but I really needed it. "Hey." I say looking at all of them. We make small talk for a few minutes before Spencer comes back with a bag of take out in hand.

"Hey! You're awake." He gives me a lop sided smiles that I can' t help return. Spencer passes the food out from the Thai place near here. When we all finish Jude take the trash downstairs and when he comes back Spencer clears his throat. 

I look at them all weirdly. I take them all in, really looking at each of them and it hits me that they seem nervous or something. "W-what?" My eyebrows pinch together wondering what has them like this. 

"We all need to talk."