Page 34 of Wasted Oil

Damn, I miss the old days.

I have so many questions I want to ask her, starting with the scars. The second, how long she is staying. And the most important one, why did she leave with no goodbye along with ghosting me. Just that last question running through my mind has me snapping back to where it should have stayed. Don’t go soft on me yet, we both need this to follow through to the end.

I pull away putting space between me and Mel and climb out of bed and head to the bathroom. She only stirs a little, but not making it known she’s awake.

Closing the door, I reach for the faucet, turning it on to try to fill the silence while the noise in my mind grows louder. She deserves to feel the hurt you went through. Staring in the mirror, I settle back into the mind set where I play the act of a gentleman but the attitude of a cowboy. I cup my hands together to gather water and splash my face. Remember you want her to fall for you. Hard. Then to crush her completely when the time is right.

I wipe the remaining water from my face with the towel from the hook near the mirror.

Placing it back I head back into my bedroom not making my movements quiet while rummaging through my drawers and putting on my Calvins.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I can feel her eyes.

"What time is it?” She asks in a strained voice while stretching her arms out. Shutting the drawer, I head to the closet grabbing a black t-shirt.

"Bout 6:30.” I grunt out leaning down to grab my pants from the floor. I look to her, creating an image I plan to keep locked in my head for as long as I can without actually taking a photo.

Actually, maybe ju..? No. No. I don’t need to be reminded of this much less hold onto something I plan to throw away.

Her mess of clothes is scattered all over the floor so to hurry up this motive I scoop them up and toss them on the bed near her.

"Come on, I’m hungry and I’m sure as shit you are too.” I give her a cocky smile with a wink.

"So what's for breakfast?” Mel asks.

"Please tell me it’s Rita’s?” She turns, giving this cute praise with her hands and biting her lip that sends a feeling of wanting to grab her by the throat, latch my own teeth on her lips and claim that mouth once more. Fuck. Snap out of it dumbass.

I clear my throat giving her my best smolder.

“Like I’d go anywhere else.” I state.

The rest of the ride into town is silent but filled with the morning news broadcasting through the truck speakers. Every time I blink, flashes of last night appear, making me tense. I'm thankful my ray bans are blocking the view of my eyes because I’m a man, sue me.

I get fixated on a piece of Mel sitting on the opposite end of me. She has the window down and is waving her arm through the air. I glance down at her other hand that rests on top of her thigh.

Blink.

Damn the feel of her curved body formed all too well in my hands and molded to my body like a puzzle piece falling into place.

Blink.

The whimpers still ring through my ears like a melody from a song I can’t stop replaying. A song I can’t wait to play again.

Blink.

This may be harder than I thought.

Walking into the diner has this home welcoming kind of feel. Rita’s has been here for as long as I can remember. Mel, Johnny, Alex and I have been coming here since we were little. It became the hot spot for us almost daily after any game, test, or when we didn’t want to be home. That last one was mostly Mel. She spent a lot more time here than any of us growing up and not just because she worked here on weekends. Now that I think about it, she always found a way to not go home. I’m brought back to the vision of her back being painted in scars and the questions keep adding up.

"Lord please tell me my eyes are not giving up on me, Is that my Melly girl?” Miss Rita says from behind the register on the breakfast bar. A giggle escapes Mel’s mouth beaming the biggest smile on her face I haven’t seen in awhile. A warmth washes over my chest, and again I get lost in the moment.

"Hi Miss Rita.” Mel responds with quick steps to an embracing welcome home hug. Rita looks over Mel’s shoulder and winks at me. What the fuck was that for? I flinch my eyes in questioning then brush it off not really wanting to look more into that.

"You have to tell me everything, Tell me you signed a record deal? Oh sweetie, you have grown up into even more of a beauty and I didn’t think that was possible.” Rita has her hands cupping Mel’s face like a grandmother would do.

"Um, no sadly no record deal.” The tone change in Mel’s voice doesn’t go unnoticed.

"Well we can catch up another day sweetie. You two go grab your booth and I’ll be right there.” Rita drops her hands from Mel’s face and gestures to the area that’s been a second claim for the OG four, Jansens being the last. Alex's words not ours.

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