PART EIGHT

*Melody*

A few days later, my determination still hadn't worn off. Sure, Fletcher's words had stung, but when I'd seen AJ at work the next day and every sound around me had faded away like it always did around him, I knew I had to keep going. After all, Fletcher knew nothing of the flame that had been ignited inside of me. He didn't know how determined I could be when I really wanted to.

So after the fourth day of recording, I headed for the local gym with my bag already packed and ready to work out. I had begun doing stomach crunches every night at home so my stomach muscles were slightly soar. Nothing that can't be cured with a little exercising, I thought and grinned as I pulled into the parking lot.

An hour later, I stepped off my bike and once again struggled to regain my breath. I had set the timer to let me ride for a half an hour and I looked up to see how many miles I had managed to cover. "5 miles?" I thought aloud and frowned. No, that couldn't be possible. I had never been able to ride more than about 3 miles in that time span. Could things have changed that dramatically?

"Wow," I said to myself and smiled. "Losing weight is pretty cool."

"Do you know that talking to yourself qualifies you as a basketcase in some countries?"

I immediately recognized the deep voice from behind me, but decided to play along for a while. Still without turning around, I replied with a crooked grin, "Well, I have to talk to an intelligent person every once in a while, now don't I?"

"Which gives me even more reason to wonder why you're talking to yourself."

"If I didn't know better, sir, I'd say that you were insulting me," I chuckled and turned around to look Kevin in the eye. His body glistened with small beams of sweat and his wife beater was soaked as well. It was pretty clear he'd been working out for a while.

"Oh, I would never do that," he chuckled and shook his head. "I just have to mark it off as another weird habit that creative people have. But since we're both here, how about joining me for a cup of coffee? If you're finished, that is."

"That sounds great," I smiled. "But I'm feeling kinda gross right now, so how about we meet in the cafeteria in a half an hour?"

"Sure, sounds good," he smiled. "Whoever gets there first finds a table."

"Sounds like a plan," I grinned and with a military salute, he turned around and headed for the men's shower room. I shook my head at myself and chuckled as I picked up my stuff and headed for the showers. I seemed to bump into the Backstreet Boys in the weirdest places these days.

*Kevin*

After showering and changing clothes, I stepped out of the locker room and headed straight for the cafeteria. Working out always made me crave for a big cup of coffee, and today was no exception.

I scanned the crowded room and quickly spotted Melody sitting at a table by the wall-sized window, looking outside as she sipped on a cup of coffee. This was the first time I saw her looking completely casual. She wore a sleeveless pull-over with a black cardigan and jeans. Her hair had two small braids and the front hair was pushed back by two butterfly clips. I had to say, she looked nothing like I had ever seen her. Not that it was a bad thing.

I made my way to the table and she looked up with a smile. "Hey, Kevin," she greeted. "Just sit down. I took the liberty of ordering for you. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all," I said and sat down. "As long as there's no sugar in, it's fine."

"Good," she nodded.

"So, I don't think I've seen you here before," I said and folded my arms on top of the table.

She shook her head. "No, it's my first time," she said. "Do you come here often?"

"As often as I can," I said. "When we're not touring, I need something else to stay fit."

"Funny, I always assumed you had your own private gym," she grinned as she took another sip of her coffee.

"Well, I do," I smiled. "But it's nice to come out between people sometimes. Nobody here really cares who I am, so it suits me fine."

"Yeah, I like this gym too," she said and looked out over the crowded room. "I think I'll keep coming here."

She looked back to see me glance at her with what must've seemed like a questioning expression. "I know what you're thinking," she laughed. "It doesn't seem like I've spent a day in my life exercising."

"That's not what I was thinking," I said quickly, even though it had been something along the lines of it. Well, it's not that she was that big, but it was safe to say she wasn't skinny either.

"It's okay," she smiled and shook her head. "I know what I look like. But I have to start somewhere, don't I?"

"Hey, I'm not judging," I said and held my hands in the air. "Exercising is great for everyone. But did you say you were just starting out?"

"Yeah," she nodded. "I started running last week. I'm watching my diet too. No more sweets for me." She patted her stomach with a chuckle.

I smiled, and couldn't help but admire her strong willpower. Then I said, "I hope you don't mind me asking, but have you lost any weight?"

"Oh, I don't mind," she said. "I've only lost two pounds so far, but I just started last week so things haven't really kicked in yet."

"I think it's great," I said with an encouraging smile. Two pounds was a great start for anyone, no matter how much they weighed.

"Thanks," she smiled and I noticed a slight blush in her cheeks. I couldn't help but wonder why she always seemed so shy whenever someone paid her a compliment. Maybe she didn't receive them that often.

"Anytime," I said and fiddled with my napkin. Suddenly I remembered I had to give her a message. "By the way, Brian asked me to tell you something," I said. "He had to hurry home today, but he wanted me to tell you that's he's bringing Leighanne with him tomorrow if that's okay with you. I was supposed to tell you after we finished up, but somehow it slipped my mind."

"No, I don't mind," she said. "Like I said, I completely understand if you wanna spend time together with your family. It's obvious you don't get to see each other often, and it's not like they're gonna disturb you while you're working anyway. If anything, I can sit and entertain when someone gets bored."

"It's sweet of you to think of it like that," I smiled and leaned back in my seat. Even though I had only known Melody for about a week, I could already see what a sweet and caring person she was. Thinking and worrying about someone besides yourself was a rare thing in this business. It wasn't often you found someone who was this easy to talk to either.

"It's nothing," she smiled and brushed it off with a wave of her hand. "I heard Lilith is coming tomorrow too."

"Ah yes, Lilith," I said softly and couldn't help but let a deep sigh pass my lips.

"You don't like her either?"

I looked at Melody and smiled. "I think that's putting it mildly," I replied and crossed my arms over my chest. "Honestly, she's gotta be the worst choice AJ has ever made in a girlfriend. Sure, she's beautiful, but I think that's all he sees in her. Her beauty."

"So ... beauty matters to him?" Melody asked hesitantly and looked down to her fidgeting hands. "In girls, I mean."

I caught on to the small glimmer of despair in her voice and raised an eyebrow. "I think so," I said softly. "But each person is beautiful in their own special way. I've heard him say that too."

"That's just a phrase made up by someone ugly," she said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Why the sudden change?

"I don't believe that," I said with a shake of my head. "We all have a different perspective of what beauty is, just like we all have something different we go for. That's why they say that there's someone out there for everyone."

"You really think so?" she asked and looked at me for the first time in a while.

I smiled softly and placed my hand on top of hers. "Absolutely," I said. She smiled gratefully and gave my hand a little squeeze. Then I removed it again and took a sip of my coffee.

"I'm sorry I turned so glum," she said apologetically. "It's just sometimes I think I'll never find someone for me. And when I do ... he's already taken." The last part had been spoken in an almost complete whisper and she looked out the window on the clear afternoon sun.

I looked at her intently for a moment, trying to figure what she meant by those words. Then I struggled to add it all together. "What are you saying?" I asked hesitantly. "Do you like AJ?"

Her attention darted back towards me like a bullet. "What makes you say that?" she asked quickly.

"It seems pretty obvious," I said and shrugged. "Correct me if I'm wrong anytime here."

She looked at me without saying anything for a while, as if she struggled to find an excuse. "You know I can't do that," she then smiled halfheartedly. "You're a lot smarter than I thought, Richardson."

I grinned and shook my head. "Not really. But tell me, why AJ of all people?"

"That's like asking why the sky is blue," she smiled softly. "I have absolutely no idea. All I know is that I wanna change so I can get him to notice me. I can't explain it really, it's just ... he makes my heart flutter every time I see him."

"I know that feeling," I said softly. "But is that why you're so set on losing weight?"

"It's part of it," she nodded. "It's what got me started. But I've always wanted to lose weight. I just don't think I've wanted it enough to face the sacrifice that comes along with it. But now I take it as a challenge that I'm determined to overcome. It's actually a pretty great feeling."

I nodded with full understanding. "I hear what you're saying, but I can tell you right now that AJ doesn't care about that stuff. Sure, every man likes a girl who takes care of herself, but in the long run it's not what matters the most."

It was actually pretty easy to see AJ and Melody as a couple, now that the thought had been planted in my head. They both had the same humor, same sense of independence and stubbornness, cared about people around them and both smoke like chimneys. But there were a few problems in the way. Lilith, of course. And then the fact that I doubted Melody was AJ's type. And not because she wasn't skinny ... well, maybe that was part of it. But also because it seemed unlikely that AJ would ever see Melody as anything but a colleague, maybe a friend at the most.

But I didn't tell her any of that. She looked so encouraged and ready to face the challenge that I didn't bear to burst her bubble. It would be too cruel. And who knows, I could be wrong. Lord knows I would much rather see him with Melody than Lilith.

"I hope you're right," Melody said, snapping me back to reality. "But I'm gonna try and do this anyway. But promise me you won't tell him."

"Of course not," I said quickly and shook my head. "I would never do that."

"Thank you," she smiled softly. "And thanks for listening to me. I know it's a lot to take in after only knowing each other for such a short time."

"I don't mind," I said honestly. "But sad as it is, I really have to get going. My wife's probably wondering where I am by now." I got up from my seat as she stood up as well.

"Yeah, I need to head home too," she replied. "Gotta get ready for tomorrow."

I grinned. "I see we've got a workaholic on our hands."

"You better believe it," she said with a crooked grin. "But considering I'm working for you, you should be thankful."

"I never said I wasn't," I smiled back. I walked over to hug her and she responded without any hesitation or awkwardness. "I hope you'll get what you want, Melody," I said softly. "I think you deserve it."

She pulled away and smiled. "As do you, Kevin," she said. "Although it seems like you've already got everything you want."

"Yeah, I have," I smiled as I grabbed my wallet and left money for the coffee on the table.

"Oh no, my turn to pay," she smiled and put the money back in my hand. "It's only fair to allow me to be polite as well."

I smiled and nodded. "All right then, for this time," I said and hooked up in my bag. "See you tomorrow. And thanks for the talk."

"I should thank you," she said. "And yes, I'll see you tomorrow."

With a final smile, I turned around and walked out of the cafeteria to head back home. "What an amazing woman," I thought aloud as I got into my car and headed out for the main road. "I really do hope she gets what she wants."

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Chapter 07 » Chapter 09