Melanie's Witch Series: Part 6

Holiday lights are key to discovering happiness in the darkness of winter.

He told her to meet him by the children’s carousel. She was a little early and paced around it in a circle. People began to stare at her, and she started to walk away just as he walked up . Melanie could recognize James from a mile away. He was rock-n-roll through and through. He had the stereotypical rock-n-roller long straight jet black hair, black leather jacket that looked so worn in it was ready to fall to threads, black boots big enough to stomp anyone who tried to get on his stage, and he always looked like he had a stubble of a beard, even after he just shaved. Damn that is sexy she thought. He had tattoos of music notes, skulls, and tribal ink on his neck, hands, and arms. He looked like an extreme rocker who could kick anyone's ass. Why had she agreed to meet him? He was her deceased boyfriend’s bestie, and her guitar tutor; nothing good could happen from meeting him out in the real world. In his studio it was all professional and safe, but out here among society anything could happen.

He sauntered up to her all swinging hips and his hands relaxing in his front jean pockets, and damn he looked so good. No, no she thought, friends, nothing more. When he got closer she noticed that stubble on his neck, cheeks, and chin, and he smelled like a mix of bourbon and oak. She tried to stand totally still. She tried to keep the same expression on her face, but she could feel the heat rise to her cheeks and felt herself blush when he said hello. She tried to say hello back but for fear of stuttering like a school girl on a first date, she just smiled back. He went to give her a hug like he always did when she saw him, but this time his embrace was different. This time he held her a little tighter, a little longer, and it seemed like there was a moment in the embrace that was more then just friends.

They turned to walk toward the midway where all the other fair rides were. The roller coaster, the swings, and the Ferris wheel. All lit up and all flashing to get their attention, but they scuddled slowly shuffling their feet and neither one talking nor looking at the rides. They glanced at each other a few times, and before they knew it they had walked the whole midway and ended up in the food court. James looked at Melanie and asked if she was hungry, she just nodded. Great so far she hasn’t actually talked to him. She hoped he didn’t notice that. He scuttled ahead, turned toward her, pointed to all the booths, and said “what’s your poison?” She hadn’t noticed all the booths. They had a yellow and green one with hot dogs and hamburgers. They had a red and white one with pizza including pepperoni, cheese, or everything. They had a green and red one with meatball subs, which smelled delicious. They had so many different goodies; fried apple dumplings, hot pretzels, funnel cakes, ice cream, and peach cobbler. She just looked stunned. He walked back over to her and said “ Melanie?” She knew she would have to talk, she knew she would have to eat, and finally she spoke “Pizza”.

“Ah you do speak” James said.

Melanie smiled a genuine smile for the first time since her boyfriend’s fatal motorcycle accident. She was beginning to feel comfortable around James.They had all hung out as the band, but never alone with him. He got them two slices of cheese pizza and found a spot on a picnic table for them to sit and eat. He handed her her slice, took a bite of his slice, and waited for her to talk. He waited in silence for what seemed like a decade, and he finally decided to speak. “So this is awkward huh?” She chuckled this time and he commented on her sweet laugh. She blushed a deep crimson red this time.

That night both lay in bed replaying over the whole day. He wondered if she blushed because she likes him. She wondered if he noticed her blushing. Both wondered if they are only interested in each other due to their grief. Both fretted and tossed and turned till they both huffed, sighed, and gave up on sleep. She wondered if he was up and texted him. He replied instantly. They flirted well into the early morning, where they both fell into a deep peaceful sleep that both have not had since their mutual friends death.

The next day Melanie went about her day. She had not heard from James since their text at 3AM. She was sure both of them were dead tired, but maybe not since he was a musician who played gigs all night. She always hated that about her and her boyfriend that their schedules were so different. He was tired when they did things in the day and she was dragging when she went to his gigs at night.

Melanie kept trying to focus on her work, but felt herself drift off to a daydream. Her computer screen glaring at her ready to do some work. She liked James but her boyfriend hadn’t been deceased that long. How long is long enough she pondered. James must have sensed she was having trouble dealing with seeing him as more then friends, because he emailed her and said,

“Good morning Melanie, I really enjoyed our time together in person and in text last night, but I realize it may be to soon. I like you. I do not want to push you in anyway. If you would like to go out again just say the word and if not I will understand and see you next week for your guitar lesson. Thanks for making my world a bit brighter with your smile yesterday. James”.

Melanie read the email over and over throughout the day. He cared for her, he wanted to make sure she was OK. She thought about it for a minute. Am I really OK? I hadn’t been since suffering such a loss, but yesterday felt amazing. It lightened her heart to smile, to blush (she forgot she could blush), and perhaps she was ready to date. She typed a

one sentence email back.

“ I look forward to our next date.”

And just like that she had taken a leap of faith back into the world of dating.

Happy Haunting!

xo

Debbie

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