When We Meet Again

Melvin sat in Matthew's living room lost in thought. Ryan, David, and Matthew were there too, lost in their separate thoughts. Melvin had just told them about Alexia's calls a day before and how he had tried to ignore them but she would not stop calling. Melvin told them what Alexia had said to him when he finally picked the call up; she had just returned and needed his help desperately. Alexia did not say what the problem she had was.

"She wants me to come to the hotel to see her. She would tell me what the problem is when I get there and how she wants me to help out," Melvin had ended his conversation with that.

"What did you tell her?" Matthew asked.

"You did not agree to meet with her. Did you?" Ryan answered.

"I do not think he did," David said. "He would have spoken about it."

"let's hear directly from him," Ryan said. "Speak to us, Melvin. Did you? You might have done it because..."

"I have not agreed to meet her yet," Melvin answered.

"But you plan to?" Matthew asked.

Melvin groaned. "I never said I was thinking about going to see her."

Ryan shrugged. "You haven't said that yet, Melvin but we know you. We know..."

"I won't go to see her. Trust me."

"But you just said she had a problem. You sounded like you were worried," David said.

"That was because she sounded so serious about it."

"Then you are worried about her," Ryan answered but Melvin said nothing. Ryan was right. He has been worried about Alexia and whatever problem or trouble she could be in. He wasn't in love with her anymore; he was certain about that. He also doesn't want to have anything to do with her anymore, but that does not mean that he would help her out when she is in real trouble and needs his help.

"Did Charlotte know about this?" Matthew asked, after a while.

Melvin shook his head slightly. "No, she doesn't. I kept it from her."

"Why would you do that?" Ryan asked.

"I think she deserves to know," David said and Melvin nodded.

"I know but I could not bring myself to tell her. I do not want her to get hurt."

Ryan and Matthew stared at each other briefly, saying nothing. David was quiet too. They all seem to be lost in their separate thoughts again, wondering why Alexia suddenly needed help from Melvin and what the next step should be. They weren't sure of what to tell Melvin. They also suspected some foul play.

They had wondered why Alexia had refused to tell Melvin what her problem was unless he visited her. They also wondered why it should be him and not others helping her. They suspected that she could be lying about being in a problem just to get Melvin to visit her. She must have known he was back with Charlotte and wanted to destroy their happiness.

Did she finally realize what Melvin meant to him? David wondered. And now she wants him back.

Did she really, get into trouble like she did before? Matthew thought. And thought that she could run back to Melvin. Matthew sighed. He might have to find out about that.

What is Alexia planning this time? Ryan wondered. She would not have come back if she had nothing in mind.

Ryan knew Alexia would be up to something; he knew her more than the rest did. He became worried.

If Alexia came back because shw wanted Melvin, she wouldn't cause a scandal like she did when she first came or try to make them divorce like she did before. She would want to do something she thinks is better for her but worse enough to take Melvin and Charlotte's happiness which might separate them for life.

What do you plan to do now?" Ryan asked, breaking the silence that had lingered for a while. This wasn't the time for them to be quiet but a time to talk about the next plan. "Do you have anything in mind? When do you plan to tell Charlotte? You know you shouldn't keep it from her. You guys just got back."

Melvin nodded. "I know. And I do not plan to keep it away from her. I plan to inform her when everything is over." He sighed. "But I do not think that would be possible, though."

"Why did you say that?" David asked.

"I think she suspects that something is going on."

"Why did you think that?" Matthew asked.

"She has been asking me if everything was fine."

"And what did you tell her?" Ryan asked.

"That everything is fine, of course."

"Then why do you think she's suspecting?"

Melvin sighed. "I can tell from her eyes. She kept looking at me differently. I do not know how to explain this. I am beginning to believe that she suspects me."

"Do you think she overheard your conversation?" Matthew asked. "Because that is the only reason I can think of."

"I can't say."

"What was her reaction this morning?" David asked.

"I left the house very early. She wasn't awake."

Matthew sighed but said nothing; he didn't know what to say to Melvin. He was beginning to suspect, too, that Charlotte might have overheated Melvin's conversation. He could remember when she left the room a few minutes after Melvin did. She returned before Melvin did. Melvin could remember vividly now that her countenance was different from when she left.

Why did he not suspect that something was going on between them?

He sighed. "Melvin, if you are sure that Charlotte suspects something is wrong, then you need to tell her. Speak to her and hear her opinion. You can both decide if you should see Alexia or not."

David nodded. "Matthew has said it all. That is the best thing to do."

Melvin stared at Ryan. "What about you? What do you think?"

Ryan nodded. "I will say yes too. We can't let Alexia's return cause any trouble this time."

**

Melvin stood by the window and stared outside. He had just gotten back from Matthew's house and was thinking of how to talk to Charlotte.

"When did you get back?" Charlotte asked when she walked in; she wasn't in the room when he came back. She waited for his reply but none came. She moved closer to him and noticed he had a troubled expression on his face. She knew immediately that something was wrong. "Melvin?" She called and he turned to face her. "Are you okay?"

He nodded. "Yes, please."

Charlotte shook her head in disagreement. There was something wrong, no doubt, but Melvin didn't want to tell her about it. She wrapped her arms around him from behind, pressing her cheek to his back.

"Talk to me," she whispered.

Melvin turned, his eyes filled with a mix of frustration and regret. "Alexia wants to meet. She says it's important."

"And what do you think about that?" Charlotte asked, searching his face.

Melvin blinked. He had not expected Charlotte to be so calm about it.

"Talk to me. What do you think about meeting her?"

Melvin furrowed his brows. "You are not angry about it?"

Charlotte smiled. "You haven't done anything bad yet. Why should I be angry? I just want you to tell me what you think about it."

Melvin sighed. "I don't know," he admitted. "Part of me thinks I should hear her out for closure if nothing else. But I don't want to hurt you."

Charlotte's heart ached at the sincerity in his voice. "Do what you need to do, Melvin. I trust you."

"Are you sure about this?" Melvin asked and Charlotte nodded.

"Of course, I am."

Melvin smiled, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Thank you, Charlotte. I promise this won't come between us."

"I know," Charlotte. "Is this the reason you were sad?"

Melvin nodded. "I was worried. I wasn't sure how to relay this to you. I thought about keeping this from you until I can sort things out. I wanted to keep it away from you so you do not get hurt. My friends insisted that I tell you about it now but I was reluctant. I decided to tell you about it." He smiled. "I am happy I did."

Charlotte chuckled slightly. "I am also happy you did. I was worried that you might not tell me about it and I would end up having the wrong thought about it. I thought about confronting you about it. Maybe that will make you open up to me but I couldn't. I thought you might think I am being jealous and insecure because it involves Alexia..."

Melvin furrowed his brows. "You knew Alexia called?"

Charlotte nodded. "I do."

Melvin sighed. "I am sorry I kept it..."

Charlotte placed her index finger over his mouth. "Shh... You do not have to be."