3.15

The next Monday night Mel drove out to Tabbi's house for The Collective meeting, knowing she was going to get questioned about where she had been the week before and why she wasn't there. She was still trying to figure out how she was going to play it. Should she tell them the truth and see who reacts in a way that would tip her off to who knew Paul, or should she only tell them half the story? Or maybe she should just lie through her teeth about everything, make up something that sounded convincing enough and leave it at that?
As she pulled up to the house she had almost made up her mind to completely lie, but she wasn't sure what to tell them yet. Before she could formulate a good enough story a set of headlights flashed in her rear view mirror and she knew she was out of time. She could just see Sadie's innocent eyes as she piled her purse and coat into her arms and opened the door. Mel did likewise and they walked in a comfortable silence to the front door. Since the night that Sadie had thrown up all over Tabbi's house and spent the night at Mel's to avoid a run-in with her parents, Mel and Sadie had a better understanding and respect for each other. They could talk easily or sit in silence and be comfortable in each others' company.
That night the two girls had sat on the giant couch in Mel's living room sharing a pot of coffee and getting to know each other. Sadie talked more freely about her breakup with Keith in a way that Mel had never realized had hurt her so deeply. Mel could easily see why it seemed to be the only thing Sadie talked about.
"I thought we were going to get married," Sadie said as a single tear sat perched in the corner of her eye threatening to run down her full cheekbone. "He always said that I was the only girl he had ever felt that way about. That I had everything on his list."
"His list?" Mel said inquisitively.
"Yeah, like a list of things that you're looking for and things that you aren't willing to compromise on. We've talked about it at The Collective before. Don't you remember?"
"Yeah I remember that, but I've never met a guy who had a list like that," Mel corrected.
"But I guess being everything on that list doesn't make up for one thing," Sadie said with obvious disgust layered in pain.
"What do you mean by that? You're great," Mel said, trying to make her feel better about herself.