Signals Crossed

9

Ad had to practically run home. Suzie had driven him to the party and they were pretty much done. Something he wanted to talk about with his best friend who was kissing his other best friend. He closed his eyes and tried to shake his head to get the image out of his head.

When he arrived at home, he ran over to her window and threw some pebbles. There was no response. He then ran into his house. He knew he had the walkie talkies.

"Adam, sweetie. How was the..."

He stopped halfway up the stairs. "Can we talk in the morning, Ma?"

"Okay." She said then closed her eyes and sighed. "Please Lord don't let him be on drugs."

When he swung his door open, there she was sitting on his bed holding one of his pillows.

"Hi there." He said calmly.

She shook her head. "I dunno what happened."

Ad jogged over and sat on the edge of the bed facing her. "Did he hurt you?"

Mel bit her bottom lip and shook her head. "He was..."

"He was what? What was he?" Ad asked impatiently.

"My first kiss." She said blushing.

"Big deal. I kissed you when we were 7 on the playground."

Mel squinted her eyes at him. "First of all, you kissed me on the cheek while we were playing Star Wars cause I got stuck playing Leia and you were Han. Plus after you shoved me and said I had cooties."

Adam chuckled. "Still counts as a kiss."

"Does not."

"Does too."

She rolled her eyes and shook her head.

They sat in silence for a bit until Ad said, "So what, are you two gonna date now?"

Mel's eyes widened in horror. "What? No! Why would you think that?"

Ad shrugged.

"Do you like him or something?"

She squinted her eyes at him. "Why are we freakin' talking about this?"

"You are the one that swapped saliva with Yauch...Yauch of all ppl!"

"He is not a bad looking dude."

Rock fell back on the bed and made sounds of disgust.

She slapped his arm. "Don't be a dick."

Ad sat up quickly. "You just kissed right? Right?!"

She smirked. "What's it to you Horovitz?"

"Melanie!"

"Obviously not ya perve."

He fell back down onto his back and smiled staring up at the ceiling. His adorable crooked smile that she could stare at all day.

God she wished she could tell him how much she loved when he said her full name. How although she felt something kissing Yauch, she still longed to kiss him. Just once, she thought to herself. I just want to know what it would feel like for him to hold my face or touch me gently instead of the pushing and shoving, she thought to herself.

When she left, Yauch was sitting on his bike outside waiting for her.

"Hi."

He got off of the bicycle and walked up to her. "I just needed to make sure you were okay."

"I'm fine. It is late."

"Let me walk you home."

She smiled. "I live next door dude."

"Please?"

She nodded and they walked down the sidewalk towards her house. Yauch walked his bike along his side. "How is Ad doing?"

"He had a tantrum but is okay now."

"Yeah. He sort of reamed me out a bit." Yauch admitted.

"I'm sorry."

"He is protective of you. I get it. We all are. I guess I just got carried away in the moment. The game and everything."

"Oh."

"Are we cool?"

She nodded.

"Hug it out?" He asked sweetly.

Ad-Rock watched from the window. It appeared that Yauch was backing off. He smiled and nodded.

~ "That was when I knew."

"Knew what, Adam?"

Adam turned and stared out the window for a few moments. "I knew he was loyal...like a brother loyal. Ya know?" He asked turning back to the doctor.

He nodded. "He gave her up for me. That was him. So fucking loyal." Ad said with a catch in his throat.

"Did things go back to normal after that?"

"Sort of. I mean. I think we all needed it to. Ya know? Things didn't get weird again until Junior year. The boys and I had become locally well known. We'd play at some parts and just started sneaking into clubs."

"How were things between you and Melanie?"

"Still pretty good until we sort of had more and more groupies. It was around that time our friendship was tested."

~
Ad, D and Yauch were writing rhymes at a local cafe. They took full advantage of off campus privileges.

"Did Mel say if she was comin'?" Ad asked.

"She wasn't sure." Yauch responded.

Ad rolled his eyes. "Is she with 'Twinkle Douche again?"

Mike laughed.

"I think he really likes her."

Ad shook his head. "I don't give a shit. He is a fuckin' douche. She can do better."

"Better like who?"

"Don't start this shit. Come on fellas." Mike pleaded.

"Hello."

"Sup...My roni and cheese."

Mike cracked up, but instantly covered his mouth.

"It's Myron, Adam."

Ad stood to him. "Its Ad-Rock, MyRone."

"Myron." He corrected.

"Hey, Mels! Come here!" Ad said calling her over to the table.

Yauch noticed that the two were holding hands. This bomb was about to detonate. He waited for eye contact with Mel. He smirked at her and she blushed.

"Mel, come on. Shit."

Myron cleared his throat. "Do not talk to her that way."

"Uh oh." Mike said softly.

Ad turned and stepped to him. "Excuse me?"

"I've noticed you can be quite rude to Melanie and I ask that you stop."

"Who the fuck do you think you are?"

"Her boyfriend."

"