The Waitress

Mels and Tom against the world

The shift is imperceptible to the pair at the epicenter of this relationship. But it's an obvious shift to those around.

They have very obviously reached that moment when a relationship turns from meet-cute and just a little lust to friendship. When you start seeing under that layer of attractiveness and pheromones, to the real person below. When you see their faults. When it becomes more about friendship than making your heart race. Not that deep down that person doesn't still make your heart-race but it's no longer something you look for or openly admit.

And it started to happen that afternoon, the afternoon of the storm. By the time Tom had to get ready to meet with his cast mates and Liam was walking Melody back to the café to pick up her keys and phone and head home, the real bonds of friendship well on the way to being forged.

Tom was a doofus, over serious, a little self-absorbed and driven – well that was Melody's take on him and Mells was bossy, insecure and lost in Tom's opinion.

But Liam saw more, Liam saw both sides.

They were both insecure, intellectual, anxious, full of bravado and lost. And yet at the same time, warm, funny and giving.

And he liked them both.

He liked this friendship.

But if HE was honest there was another reason why he liked this friendship, why he quietly encouraged it.

Liam really liked Mells.

While she and Tom seemed determined to ignore attraction and enjoy an honest man-woman friendship, Liam wondered if she would ever actually notice him, if maybe with Tom off the table, he had a chance.

He was three years younger than her and she seemed to have relegated him to little brother zone. But they were closer in age than her and Tom. Melody Taylor was nine years younger than Tom and yet he wasn't a big brother, well maybe, maybe that's what he was. What she needed.

Family.

But Liam couldn't help wanting a little more – especially now.

She really was something else and they talked freely as he walked her back to the café, Tom had wanted to come but he'd be late for his meet-up (again) if he did. Punctuality was not his strong suits and half Liam's job seemed to be getting him organized! He would be on time for things if he had anything to do with it or the young Essex man would die trying!

But for the moment that didn't really matter.

For the moment he was focused on Mells. She was beautiful and funny and wickedly smart.

Yeah he knew she was out of his league. All those brains, that golden hair that just begged to have fingers run through it, those big green soulful eyes, those beautiful chiseled cheekbones and legs that went on for miles. Yeah his boss had good taste in friends.

She was kind too.

She asked him how he was going, if he was too homesick and they talked about his job a little. It was a relief. A chance for him to be a person in his own right not Tom's PA.

And she didn't take any shit!

"Oh hello – where have you been and who have you been doing it with?" Phillipe had asked when they arrived at the café.

Mells rolled her eyes expertly.

"No one expects the Spanish Inquisition – unless they work here," she sighs.

"Well dad there was rain and a wild orgy."

Liam laughed.

"I suppose I deserved that," Phillipe sighed.