1. All characters are 18+
2. No characters resemble real people
3. Enjoy the fiction
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CHAPTER 6
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In my flight from Melody's house, I realized she still had my phone. I also realized that, while I hadn't responded to any of Harmony's messages, I also hadn't deleted any of the pictures she'd sent. Melody would easily see several pictures of her little sister that, while none were nudes, all were pretty risque.
I did have a land line phone at my house, which I rarely used. I tried to call Melody several times that day. She wasn't answering.
I wracked my brain. How can I fix this? Who can help me?
I could only think of one person who could help. Harmony. She was close to her sister, and could potentially help plead my case. Especially since it was her fault I was in this mess. Harmony might not want to help me, though. She might think it was finally her chance to hook up with me. If I was to talk to her, I'd need to persuade her.
I made the call. "Hello?" Harmony asked.
"Hi Harmony. It's Tom."
"Hi Tom!" her voice exuded excitement. "I'm glad you called."
"Have you talked to Melody?"
"No, why?"
I had to tell her. "She saw the pictures of you on my phone, and now she won't talk to me."
"Oh well, her loss!" she said coyly. "Now you and I can have fun."
I knew she'd have that reaction. I knew it would be difficult to persuade her. "No, we can't. I love your sister. And it's your fault she's mad at me, so you're going to help me fix it."
"Why would I do that?"
"Because she's your sister and she's upset."
"Hmm." I could almost hear her shrugging through the phone.
"Because she's got my phone with your pictures on it."
"Hmm."
"Because if she breaks up with me, you'll never see me again."
A pause. "I can find you. I know where you work."
"You can't get in the building without a key card," I told her. Another pause. I'd gotten her thinking about it. I continued, "And I'll have to get a new cell phone. You won't have my number."
"Fine! Damn you. I'll talk to Melody," she finally said.
"Thank you."
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I waited by the phone for hours, into the evening. How did people live without cell phones? Trapped in the house, with only my worries, I couldn't relax. I thought about eating but I wasn't hungry. I only waited for a call.
Finally, around 7:45, the phone rang. I picked it up right away. "Hello?"
"I'm still mad at you." Melody's voice. Thank goodness she called me.
"I know. I'm sorry. I should have told you right away."
"Yes you should have."
"I never asked for those pictures." She didn't speak, so I continued. "Can I come over and explain?"
"No. I need to be alone tonight." My world was breaking with those words, then she said, "Come over tomorrow night."
"Yes. Thank you. I will be there. I'll bring dinner."
"Ok." Then the phone clicked. She had hung up.
I was still in trouble, but I had hope. I needed tomorrow night to be absolutely perfect. I immediately planned to get Chinese takeout (her favorite) and a bottle of wine to bring to her house.
But it didn't seem like enough. I needed an ace up my sleeve. I was going to go back to the flower shop.
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At 6:00, I was knocking at Melody's door. On one arm, I had a bag containing sweet and sour chicken, vegetable lo mein, fried rice, and a bottle of white wine. In the other arm, I carried another bouquet of glittarium flowers. Chen had chuckled when he saw me walk in his shop again. I had explained that I was in the doghouse, and he understood without me getting into the details. He told me much of his business came from men in trouble with their women.
Melody opened the door. She looked a little tired, like she'd been crying the night before. Despite that look, she still looked as cute as ever, wearing a short denim skirt and a black tanktop, her blonde hair in a pony tail behind her neck. She smiled slightly at me, then her smile got a little wider when she saw the flowers. "Hi," she simply said.
"Hi. I'm sorry. For everything."
She backed away from the door, letting me in. I put the food and flowers on the table. She stood a few feet away from me, keeping her distance, and locking my eyes into a penetrating gaze.
"Have you been sleeping with my sister?"
That one I knew the answer to. "No. Absolutely not."
She stared at me. "Do you want to sleep with my sister?"
Same answer. "No. Absolutely not." I reached for her hand, and she reluctantly gave it to me. "I swear to all the gods, on everything, you're the only girl I want. Ever."
She kept her silent glare. She was still clearly upset. She glared at me for a long time. "You did say you thought she had a crush on you," she said slowly.
"Yes," I said, suddenly seeing hope out of this predicament. "I did tell you that."
She finally broke her glare, and I breathed. I realized I hadn't been breathing the entire time. I felt light-headed, and sat down. She sat down with me.
"I'm sorry I freaked out," she said. "I just got a little insecure. I know you don't want Harmony. I even noticed that you never responded to the pictures she sent. Not even a single text."
I nodded. "I did tell her to stop. I even told her again when she flirted with me at your parents' house."
Her eyes crossed, but she wasn't mad at me. "No wonder she was acting weird the other day." I just gave her an unknowing look, so she explained. "Harmony's usually shy about guys. But with you, she's more extroverted. Like the song she sang yesterday. She hates playing in front of our parents, but she was playing that song yesterday for you. She looked at you the whole time."