Sparks Reignited (The Extended Hobson Family Trilogy: book 2)

Dylan's Point Of View 5: Working Things Out

I sit down in the chair next to Ben. I place my hands in my lap and wait for him to say something first.

"What do you want?" Ben asks, sternly, obviously not wanting to talk to me.

"Can we talk?"

"It's not like I have anything else to do right now."

"I'll take that as a yes then. I know I upset you earlier, but hear me out please." I wait for a rebuttal, but it doesn't come. "I know you think that by Meli marrying me, you'll lose her, but-"

"What are you talking about?" Ben asks, confused.

"That is why you're so upset about this, right?"

"No! I just don't think you're right for Meli." Ben folds his arms across his chest and stares at me in challenge.

"What do you mean?"

"After what you did to her, and now you come back and act like nothing happened. It's just not right."

"I don't act like that!"

"Yeah, you do."

"I think we should have a different opinion in this argument." I walk over to Andy, who is sitting with Gwenn and ask him to help Ben and I out. I wait to say any more until Andy and I take a seat on either side of Ben.

"What do you two need me for?" Andy asks, a little annoyed.

"Do I really act like nothing happened between Meli and me? You know, the whole not talking to her for six years thing. Be honest with me Andy."

Andy shifts in his seat uncomfortably before answering. "Well, um, kinda."

"Really?"

"Yeah. You just kinda ignore the fact that you had nothing to do with her for six years. You act like the last six years really didn't even exist. You want to start from where the two of you left off. Fact is Dylan, the past six years did exist. Meli has changed and grown from when you left here six years ago. So have you. You two aren't the same people you were, so you can't really pick right back up from where you left off."

"So in other words, I need to take the whole relationship slower?"

"Yeah, I guess you could say that."

"What do you suggest I do to slow down?"

"You could leave again." Ben murmers and I barely catch it.

"Why would I do that Ben? Better yet, why don't you seem to like me? I remember you used to think I was pretty cool."

"Maybe because I- nevermind."

"Come on, tell me. What do you have aginst me?"

"I missed you, okay. You left without telling me goodbye! You said goodbye to everyone else, but you left both Meli and me out. You didn't even stop by to say "Hi" to me the few times you came to visit."

"So that's what this whole thing is about? You're mad that I left? I didn't realize just how much it would hurt you. I didn't think I was that important in your life at the time. I thought I was just one of Mira's friends to you. I'm sorry Ben. I really didn't mean to hurt you."

I gently move my hand onto his shoulder, thinking he would retract from my touch, but he doesn't. Ben leans over in his chair and gives me an unexpected hug, which I return. Andy, seeing as Ben and I working things out, stands up and goes back to his seat next to Gwenn.

"I'm sorry Dylan. I just thought that you would leave again. Then Meli would be sad again. It was hard for her when you left. She refused to love anyone the same way again. She just barely warmed up to the idea that maybe, just maybe, she could love Danny the same way as she does you. Danny really does love her, but I think her heart is still for you. I don't think she thinks of Danny as any more than a really close friend, more like a brother. She really does love you Dylan."