Episode 54: Scene Three
Mel approached the chattering group of girls with caution. He had learned from experience that it wasn't wise to startle girls, for the claws would come flying out without hesitation. He tiptoed up to them and cleared his throat. "Hello, girls."
"Well look who finally decided to show up," Chantal teasingly grumbled as she got to her feet. "I've been looking for you, you know."
"Hey now," Mel laughed, "a man can only do so much at one time."
"Chantal was a wreck before you got here. Look at her fingernails, can't you tell?" Karen pointed at Chantal's perfectly trimmed fingernails, her eyes twinkling.
"You just hush, Karen Berkley," Chantal gave her best friend a playful slap on the top of her head.
"Hey, Jade," Mel greeted the last member of the group. "How is everything?"
"Well, let's see: my parents are away in Bermuda without me, my older brother is taking a trip to Jamaica before he heads to college, even my great-grandma is away to Rome, and I get to stay in dumb, dull, and drab Midway. I'm just great, Mel, how are you?"
"About the same. Where's Kendall?"
Jade's eyes darkened as her eyes shifted from Mel to her boyfriend across the room. "He's over there with that tramp Marlo, where else?"
"Is there something going on between them?" Mel inquired, taking a seat between Chantal and Jade.
"He says there's not, but when I see the look in her eyes...I know she's after him."
"But I keep telling her that it's all in her head. After all, who else would want Kendall?" Karen cast a teasing glance towards Jade.
"He may not be all there up here," Jade tapped on her head, "but he's certainly a looker. Look at his-"
"TMI," Mel quickly interrupted.
"What's that?"
"Too much information!"
The group shared a laugh before settling down into a tranquil silence. Chantal turned towards Mel and whispered, "Where have you been lately? I figured something was wrong since you haven't been banging down my door to make sure I'm okay."
"I don't have to. I know you could take your dad out any day of the week. Besides, I've been helping a friend with a problem."
Chantal's brow crinkled questioningly. "What friend with what problem?"
"It's too complicated to explain. But I know that I have to help them or else I'll be haunted for the rest of my life by it."
Chantal leaned back on her hands. "Don't you think you're being a little melodramatic, Mel? Nothing could be that serious."
"You wanna bet? Let me just say that this person needs my help more than they could ever imagine. They're in a situation that they most certainly won't be able to get out of by themselves."