Jimmy and Mel

Chapter 2: Lucy Chang

• JIMMY •

I rolled over and pulled the covers of my bed over my head to warm myself. I could hear Mel moving around somewhere outside my cave of blankets, so I instinctively checked the clock to see if she could for once wake up after 9:00, deciding to focus my attention outside the window as my head came up for air.

It was 7:22. Seven twenty-goddamn-two.

She's a vampire, I tell you.

I could tell by how quiet her steps were that she was trying not to wake me up, and I took that into consideration while I contemplated yelling at her for getting up so early.

Suddenly I heard her footsteps stop, and I could almost hear her breathing as she stood in my doorway. My back was to her, so I don't think she could tell I was awake.

I heard her sigh, almost abnormally long and drawled out, and walk away. I was tempted to get up and follow her, but I held myself where I was and turned back towards the door.

Awkwardly, and with an odd pit deep in my stomach, I let myself fall back into a restless, tense sleep.

•
•
•

I've been confused about my relationship with my girlfriend recently. I really do think I love her, but then I realize I keep using the word think.

Think is not healthy in a relationship.

It should be know. But, alas, it's a simple, lonely think.

I was going over this in my head, back and forth for maybe an hour in my kitchen before Mel came home after a run, sweaty and panting. She pulled her headphones out of her ears and set her phone on the counter.

"Dear God, Mel," I laughed. "You're really out of breath. And shape."

"Gee," she smiled sarcastically, taking a long swig of the water bottle she'd brought with her. "Thanks, Jim."

She bent down to untie and take off her shoes, and I awkwardly had to look away to resist temptation. My God, something is wrong with me. Wouldn't you think?

"Hey," Mel said, snapping me from my intense stare at the wall. "What's Lucy doing today? I think she left her shirt here or something."

"Yeah, she did," I was a little relieved for the topic being about Lucy, because it sort of brought me out of the strange feeling I was having. "She took it off when..."

I stopped myself, sparing Mel the details.

"Yeah, no," Mel took another drink and laughed. "That's a good place to stop. Anyways, you should invite her over."

"Why?" I was confused at why Mel suddenly wanted to be buddy-buddy with Lucy. I mean, they were never particularly rude to each other, but they both mutually just ignored each other's company, with respect and politeness, of course.

"What do you mean why?" she asked. "Did you ever consider the fact that maybe I want to become her friend?"

I stood up and went to retrieve my phone. "Sure, I considered it. I just didn't think it was possible."

I heard Mel laugh sarcastically from the other room. I smiled a bit, satisfied I even got a response, and pulled my phone out of my jacket.

Searching through my recent calls, I found my girlfriend's name and hesitated a bit. Something inside of me didn't want me to call Lucy, because there was another girl I'd rather be talking to. I shook that feeling, that stupid, filthy, terrible, retched, awful, and any other synonyms you could come up with, feeling off.