A Second Chance

[Guest]

She smiled and began unpacking the toiletries into a little pile on the kitchen table to take back to the bathroom. "Yes...I feel better about things. I think given a little more time we'll be fine...just gets a little getting used to. I just gained a roomate." She joked lightly and finally emptied the last bag of things, stuffing the empty ones into a smaller bag in the pantry.

"You know, bread and butter works wonders. Michael once did the same thing as you...he swore he couldn't taste any other foods for a week." She laughed at the memory, her cheeks flushing slightly when other thoughts entered her mind. "But bread and butter always works for me when I eat something spicy."

Motioning to the stuff on the table, she grabbed an armful. "I'll be back...just going to put these away."

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

Dan prepared himself a quick sandwich with a generous layer of butter and holding it in one hand he grabbed as many things from the table as he could and carried them after Mel to the bathroom. Muching on the bread he waited for her to put the things away and take more from him. She thanked him and Danny mumbled something with full mouth trying to spread butter in all the burning places. He fetched the rest of toiletries and helped Melissa put them away, smiling shyly as she smiled at him.

Daniel helped himself to another beer and was drinking it slowly, leaning on the kitchen table and looking outside through the window.

"I'm going for a smoke, Mel. Care to join me? It's so nice outside today."

 

[Guest]

“Alright…I guess that would be alright. It was nice earlier.” She said and fetched her jacket, not wanting to catch a chill. Together they stepped out onto the porch. Mel moved to the steps and sat down, regarding her neglected yard. “God…I never paid much attention before…” She rugged her forehead and frowned, “It definitely has seen better days.” She sighed softly and hugged her knees, staring out and enjoying the afternoon which was starting to fade into early evening. She glanced up at Daniel who had lit a cigarette and was still drinking his beer. Usually she hated both habits…drinking and smoking, but on him, she mused to herself, it was strangely, manly. She couldn’t think of a better word for it. He looked a little more relaxed.

“How’s your mouth?” She asked him softly.

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

Daniel puffed smoke up and out of the porch and met Melissa's eyes as she looked up at him. She looked even better now, sitting casually on the front steps to her house, her face lit by the sun and her hair getting a tempting red tinge. This scene made him feel genuinely calm and at peace for the first time since she'd got here.

"It's better now, thanks. Still burning but not as much. I guess the only way to make me taste something now will be to make it even more spicier," Dan replied with a smile and chuckled.

He killed the cigarette and sat down on the steps as well, to Mel's right putting some distance between them though. He took a swig from the bottle, winced as the cool beverage made contact with his irritated mouth and sighed as coldness travelled down his throat. He looked around, trying not to see the unkempt yard.

"It's s nice place, and a nice, calm neighbourhood. I can understand now why Mike wanted to settle down here. At the time it seemed like a wild idea but I guess I understand now, having looked around a bit and now sitting here like this with a smoke and a beer... It's cool!"

 

[Guest]

She turned her head to look at him, a slightly amused look playing on her face. "I'm not surprised you thought that. Heck, we both go t a lot of crap from people in the beginning of our relationship. I lost a lot of friends...they all thought I was crazy because I was young. My parents didn't agreed at first...although your parents were pretty supportive." She shrugged, "Maybe we were crazy...but we both knew what we wanted."

It was nice...for once, being able to talk about Michael without actually bursting into tears. She still felt the dull ache of loss in her chest...the small pang of panic, but held it at bay. She didn't want to break down, she wanted to be strong. To try and be happy, if for no one else by Michael. He wouldn't have wanted her to spend the rest of her life mourning him and crying herself to sleep.

Stretching her arms out and popping her neck, she gave Daniel a playful nudge with her knee and got up, "I'm going in to change. Do you want dinner or are you too full and too burned up to eat?"

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

"I'm fine, thanks. Guess I'll be dousing this fire inside until evening," Dan answered looking up at Melissa who already got up and was moving to enter the house.

He was a little shocked about this sudden final outburst and casual violation of his space. He didn't mind but it reminded him who it was he had been just sitting with and what kind of situation it was. Daniel knew she didn't mean anything by it just being friendly to someone whom she had basically just met and was beginning to get to know him.

Daniel tried to reassess his feelings towards his deprted brother. Sure, he could feel the loss and the pain that he had lost someone very dear to him; sure, he got emotional in the beginning but when he had come to terms with the fact that they would never again play football together or go for a beer or ten he just accepted this sad event as natural order of things, untimely though.

Michael was his brother and closest friend at the same time and the person he was closest with in all his life. Now there was this emptiness and feeling of loneliness as Daniel knew there was nobody else he could talk his problems about with. Oh well, he would have to make do somehow.

He finished his beer and went back inside, slipping cigs and the lighter back into his jacket and throwing the bottle away in the bin. He sat in the living room and started flipping channels, hoping to find something interesting.

 

[Guest]

Knowing that she was probably not going to go anywhere else, Mel opted to change into relaxed, comfortable clothing. Looking through her things, she pulled out a pair of pink cottom pajama bottoms that had an overlay design of pink hearts all over them. Picking out a plain, white tank top, she shrugged that on underneath her robe and then padded back out to the living room where she found Daniel flipping through channels.

It was still odd having someone there again. Although there were many similarlities in him and Michael they were still very different. Daniel was deffinetly more reserved.

Passing him by, she went to the kitchen and grabbed herself a coke before turning to plop down in an overstuffed arm chair. Popping the top, she took a swig and motioned to the cabinet by the TV. "There are tons of movies in there if you're interested. I don't really watch that much TV, so it's up to you. I know that even with hundreds of channels, there is usually nothing on."

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

Upon opening the cabinet Daniel found it filled with video casettes and DVDs. Some titles told him nothing and some were his and Michael's favourites. He browsed the rich collection, not really knowing what to choose. Finally he pulled the DVD with "Dirty Dancing" and put the disc into the drive. Turning to return to the sofa he noticed Mel's attire for the first time and for a moment watched her in shock.

Then he felt the merriment rising within him. Pink pants, pink hearts... it's PINK! Daniel burst out lauhging so hard tears appeared in his eyes and he had to sit down or fall to the floor. Mel was looking at him confused but seemed to be catching his merriment and asking "What? What?" giggled a bit as well.

"Mel... pink? That's... simply cute. And those hearts... Oh God, I'm sorry, I just can't help myself!"

Daniel sat up and tried to blink the tears away from his eyes but each time he peeked at Melissa, a new wave of merriment swept over him.

 

[Guest]

Mel looked down at her pants and giggled, looking back up at him. It was wonderful seeing him laugh and smile...she had never seen him react like that to anything. His smile was handsome, really lighting up his whole face. She flushed, giggling and trying to mask her surprise. "Well, if I'd know that my PANTS were going to break the ice like that, I would have worn them the first day!" She teased, giggling again.

He looked so good, sitting there, half sprawled out on her carpet, blinking back tears. Her heart fluttered a little and her stomach did a funny little dip. She smiled and tucked her feet under her, pulling her robe closer. "So you going to start the movie or should I go and change so you can concentrate on the film?" she joked.

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

Daniel tried to compose himself but I was hard for him to keep his wits in check. Even as he fumbled with the remotes to get the player and the TV to cooperate the image of those pink heart on Melissa's pyjamas kept messing around in his mind, making him chuckle from time to time. He managed to play the movie and sat back, glancing at Mel who pulled her robe close around her so as not to provoke him and he couldn't help noticing how homely she looked now. He never saw Melissa like this, she was always elegant when they had a chance to see each other. And the atmosphere was never actually relaxed. But now at this moment Daniel saw Mel for the woman she really was. And he thought that this was probably the real Melissa, the Melissa Michael had married.

Dan smiled to himself watching the initial scenes of the movie. Just as she said, it seemed as if the ice was finally broken between them. He hoped that the situation would develop so that Mel would begin to feel alright again and come out of her dark place of mourning.

"I think I'll make us somthing to munch on as we're watching. Be right back," Daniel proposed and moved to the kitchen trying to sneak a peek at Mel's pink pants again.

 

[Guest]

The robe was intirely too hot and once Danny had left, she shrugged it off and lay it against her lap instead. A snack was good, she decided, focusing on the movie. Part of her wished that he hadn't quite picked out that movie. For a guy, he sure had strange taste. Most went for action, suspence, horror, but not romance! Although she had to admit...Patrick was looking mighty fine on the screen.

Snuggling down into her chair, she sipped on her coke and waited until Danny returned, this time with a big bowl of popcorn. She eyed it, eyebrows arched. "Make enough?" She teased.

He seemed to shrug and little self consciously, "Actually, I couldn't find two big bowls.

Sensing his delima, she stood and walked over to the couch. "Well, that's fine. I'll sit here and we'll put the popcorn between us, how's that?"

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

Daniel bit back a chuckle as Mel got up form her armchair and moved to the couch, he just couldn't help glancing at the pink pyjama and his eyes glided higher towards her bottom. Embarrassed he blushed and turned his gaze away. He quickly approached the other side and sat down, putting the bowl between them and taking a handful from time to time.

Soon he became so lost in watching he forgot all about his problems and even the fact that two feet to the right Mel was sitting and watching the movie as well, munching on popcorn.

 

[Guest]

She glances at Daniel from time to time with a slight smile. He seems taken by the movie, so she gets comfortable, munching on popcorn and trying to focus on the movie. After several moments, her eyes begin to drift shut. She blinks, trying to keep herself awake or get up the energy to go to bed, but can't seem to muster either. Half way through the movie, her head lulls to the side, resting against a pillow and she drifts off to sleep. For the first time in months, it's a peaceful sleep...

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

Daniel's hand hit the bottom of the popcorn bowl and without looking searched for bits to grab but found none. Looking to the side he noticed that Mel had fallen asleep, curled on her side. Dan smiled, seeing her doze so peacefully and leaned over to cover her loewr body with her robe. Then he slowly reduced the volume of the movie so that no sudden outbursts of music wake her up and continued watching until the end.

Dan switched the channel to some peaceful music and slowly got up, moving to the kitchen and cleaning the bowl. Mel didn't so much as notice that the movie had ended or that he got up from the sofa. He considered waking her up but she looked so peaceful and this day was so full of action for her he decided against it. Then it came to him that he could carry her to her bed but she might wake up.

Daniel crossed to the room and searched for a blanket. Finding one he delicately removed Melissa's robe, stifled a chuckle seeing her pink pyjamas and covered her with the blanket, throwing the robe on the armchair. He left the TV on and went out for the final smoke this day.

 

[Guest]

In her sleep, Mel mumbled something and turned, snuggling deeper into the couch and stretching out her legs. She was tired and the dreamless sleep was a welcome change. The soft sounds that Daniel made while covering her and switching things off before going outside didn’t disturb her. She was warm and content for the first time I an long while. With a deep sigh, she got herself more comfy and pulled the blanket closer, burying her face into a pillow.

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

Daniel smoked in silence trying to blow circles but just couldn't make them appear and gave up on them, blowing the smoke out like usual. The evening they spent was calm and peaceful and things were definitely looking up now that they had reached some mutual agreement about things. It wasn't very late but Dan decided to go to bed right away and be fresh and ready for tomorrow's work in the yard. Much was to be done.

Danny killed the cigarette and threw the butt away. Entering the house he carefully locked the door behing him. In the living room he switched the tv and light off and quitely went to his room. He was asleep 10 minutes after leaving the shower.

 

[Guest]

Mel slept peacefully through the night and woke up to birds singing outside and a blade of light hitting her square in the face. She yawned and stretched, sitting up and swinging her legs over the side of the couch. She felt better, although a little stiff from sleeping on the couch.

Standing, she rubbed her eyes and walked to the bathroom, shuffled her feet a little as she tried to wake herself up. No sounds were coming from Daniel's room, so she assumed he was still asleep.

Grabbing a quick shower, she brushed her teeth and pulled her hair up in a pony tail again and moved to her bedroom where she slipped on a pair of shorts and another tank top, ready to tackle the yard.

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

Danny woke up early as usual and left for his morning jog after brushing his teeth. Crossing the hall he peeked into the living room to see Mel still fast asleep on the couch. He smiled at the peaceful picture and quietly left the house. Crossing the yard he shook his head, there would be at least a week's work to be done on cleaning, weeding and ordering everything up. And then they would sow the seeds and perhaps buy some new plants. Dan sighed and left the premises to start his run.

This morning his thoughts weren't as cloudy as the day before but he was far from being calm. It seemed he and Mel had reached some kind of general, unspoken agreement about common things but it was only a matter of time before something unexpected came up. Oh well, he would deal with things as they are coming. For the time being they had the garden to occupy their thoughts with.

This day his usual run took him a bit longer as he explored a different route around the neighbourhood. Luckily because of early time he didn't encounter anyone who would look at his curiously and later gossip about a new member of the community.

Entering the house, dark patches of sweat on the breast and back of his jumper, he noticed that Mel had already got up and probably was moving around the house. He crossed to his room and took a shower, shaved himself and put on some old, worn out clothes for yard works. Daniel went to the kitchen to busy himself with breakfast.

 

[Guest]

Mel was surprised to hear the shower start in the bathroom and then Daniel move through the house as she struggled to find one her shoes. Muttering to herself, she crawled around on all fours, her butt dancing in the air as she reached under the bed to find her other sneaker.

Finally snagging it from behind a box, she struggled to get them on her feet and then left the room, each step making her pony tail sway a little from side to side.

She heard him rustling around in the kitchen and walked in, smiling softly. "Good morning...I see you've beat me to it."

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

Daniel turned from the pan on which he had two eggs stubbornly trying to mix with each other. At the same moment the toaster sneezed and spat out two slices of bread. He smiled helplessly, trynig to control three devices at the same time when the kettle whistled.

"H-hey, Mel," he stammered looking her over, his eyes sliding over her legs. "Mind helping me a bit? I guess I'm better with a knife than a frying pan."

Reluctantly Daniel drew his eyes off Melissa and turned to the frying pan to save eggs' from committing an indecent intercourse.

Mel was stunning this morning.

 

[Guest]

She grinned at him, feeling a bit self conscious all of a sudden in her shorts, but shrugging the thought away. This was Daniel, he was family...sort of and Michael's brother. He didn't care what she wore.

Moving quickly to his side, she took the frying pan carefully from him, bumping him with her hip. "OK...let me get this and you get the toast and the kettle for whatever you're making there." She turned down the heat and worked on frying the eggs, saving them from being burned to a nasty crisp. She flipped them with ease and slid them around on the pan until they were done and then plopped them on each other their assigned plates. "Voila!"

She chuckled lightly, sitting down at the table and taking a sip of OJ from an already filled glass. "Remind me never to let you loose, alone in my kitchen."

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

With eggs out of his hands Daniel quickly put the toasts in a basket, prepared morning coffee and pored the orange juice, from the fridge taking some marmelade, butter, cheese, milk and a box cereal from a cupboard. Thus armed he checked if everything was ready and found Mel already at the table, smiling. He chuckled and imagined her younger and swinging legs from her chair.

Daniel sat down, made himself a bowl of corn flakes and started wolfing it down. After his morning run he had great appetite and needed to gather strength for their work.

"So, how do we go about this? And where do we start?" Dan asked, spreading marmelade on a toast and pouring himself some coffee.

 

[Guest]

She thoughtfully munched on a slice of toast and eggs, "Well..." She said, swallowing, "I was thinking first you need to mow the lawn so we can see what's what. I'm going to take down all the decorative flower boxes from around the house and empty them and start from scratch. Once we're done with that, we can see about the flower beds and such...see what's what, so to speak."

She took a long swallow of milk and licked her lips. "You're going to make me fat with breakfast every day. At least to this extent." She joked, relishing the taste of a decent breakfast as the day before.

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

Daniel wanted to say that she needed to gain some weight as she got thinner from the last time they had seen each other but thought better than to verbalise it. He might offend her by such a comment and he preferred to soothe her rather than annoy her. Biting his toast with marmelade and chasing it down with juice he nodded and mummbled acknowledgement.

"Okay, fine with me. We can put those muscles to some use," he joked bending his arm. "Right, I'll go for a smoke now and take a closer look around."

Daniel got up from the table and put his dishes into the dishwasher, the took his cup and smokes from his jacket and trying to chase the sight of Melissa's naked legs from his mind, went out to the porch. Once there he took a sip of coffee, it was still too hot to drink, and lit a cigarette.

Danny went for a stroll around the yard, noticing that weeds had grown around the house and near the kerbs surrounding the premises. And the mower wouldn't reach there so some good, old-fashioned weeding was awaiting them. Dan smiled, physical work always made him feel fulfilled and completed.

 

[Guest]

Finishing up her breakfast quickly, Mel cleaned up the mess and then headed outside to join Daniel. It was a crisp morning, but would be warm by the afternoon. She walked down the porch steps and spotted him looking around and smiled. Maybe with a little elbow grease, they could get this place looking good again. God knows the neighbors would appreciate the effort.

She waved at him from a small distance and pointed to the shed, "You'll find what you need in there!" She called and then went to work taking down the flower boxes and lining them on the porch steps in rows, ready to be cleaned and filled again.