Since You Came

Ch. 23

Melissa's hair is shorter than I remember. Other than that, everything about her is familiar.

Her hazel eyes are as beautiful as ever, along with the long, dark eyelashes that frame them. Her perfectly tanned skin hasn't changed. She's not as tall as I thought she'd be.

It's weird, seeing her walk into the small coffee shop after almost a year without her, but when she smiles at the sight of me, all the memories of her flood over.

I feel tears appear behind my eyes when she pulls me into a hug. Everything about her is so familiar. I haven't realized how much I miss her until my chest hurts from crying.

"You're taller," she comments when the hug breaks. A small smile plays at her lips. "You're still as ugly as ever, though."

"Put a sock in it, Harley," I remark, smirking. I order a small mocha when we reach the counter.

She rolls her eyes, orders her coffee and soon the smile fades. "Nothing back home is the same without you," she says.

I shrug. "Well, nothing here is anything like back home without you. I missed you, Mel."

"I know, I missed you, too," she says, nodding. We head to a table against one of the walls, taking our seats. "But onto the real matter at hand. What's new in your life? Tell me everything."

A small laugh escapes my lips. Melissa was, and still is, never one to waste time. "A lot has happened. Can I start at the interesting stuff?"

She nods once. "Yeah, do it before I fall asleep," she yawns for extra effect.

My eyes roll. "Shut up. Anyways. I am dating the hottest boy to walk the planet. That's interesting thing number one."

"Nuh uh. Show me a picture," she says.

I pull out my phone from my pocket. I show her my screensaver, a photo taken of Dan and I at his graduation. His smile is wide and sincere, and I feel heat rush to my chest. My eyes glaze over the image, over his perfect, shining hair, over how his teeth gleam in the sunlight, over how illuminating his icy, blue eyes are. His graduation cap is slightly crooked on his head.

"Oh my gosh. How'd you end up meeting this beauty?" Melissa asks, staring at the phone screen.

"It's Daniel Lewis," I state. I watch her expression change, and a knot grows in my stomach.

"You're dating that... That dirtbag?" she asks. Her brows furrow as she frowns, looking away from the screen.

I fight the urge to laugh. Melissa's insults are ridiculous, much to the fault of her vow to never cuss. Nevertheless, my insults are the same. Then, "I am. He's changed. I learned a lot about him, and he's probably the only thing I found here that could help me cope with my family and leaving home and all that."

"But he gave you depression," she says plainly, her tone flat. I can feel the tension in her voice.

"People don't give you depression. I gave myself it. It wasn't his fault, and I rarely ever even think of what happened in elementary. He's a lot better. When he comes back for Thanksgiving, you'll have to meet him."

"I guess I will," Melissa says. I can here the doubt in her voice.

I nod and watch her expression. It's full of thought and worry, but I know Dan. He's not what he used to be.