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Hunter.

There they were, all of the questions I didn't want to have to answer but knew needed to be discussed. I took a moment to think about how to best articulate my thoughts over the events of the past week and best explain to Mel how I have been feeling.

"Yes, it was true. I have been with different girls all week in an effort to keep you out of my head and move on, but if I am being completely honest it wasn't anything new for me. A week with a different girl over every night is honestly pretty commonplace for me. What was different about this week was you. I have never had a girl stuck in my head the way you were and it was scary for me. The connection I felt with you so quickly was scary because it was new." I wasn't sure if that made any sense or if she was buying my answer but I was being honest, maybe even brutally so, and I wanted more than anything for her to believe me.

After another pause to let all that information sink in I continued answering the next of her string of questions. "The girl from last night was Lauren. She is someone that I have been hooking up with on and off for the past semester, but that is all she is. She likes my status and popularity so she acts like she has some sort of hold over me."

After I finish, I wait rather impatiently for a response from the Mel. She sits up off the bed taking the warmth of laying next to her with her. I sit up as well, positioning us to face each other on either side of the bed. Her face is unreadable, but I can tell she is trying to process all of the information I just gave her. "Well, I am glad you were at least honest with me. I think I have a pretty clear picture now of what your life is actually like versus what you lead me to believe in the library."

I started to refute the statement but found myself stopping before I could get anything out because she was right. Everything I just told her was true, I was with a different girl every night and most of those girls were a lot like Lauren, hot but bitchy and superficial.

"Yes, that is what that part of my life has always been like, but there is so much more to me than that. I want to show you all of the good things in my life, not just the bad parts of my past."

She chuckled, which I didn't know if I should take as a good thing or not, and began to shake her head slightly. "Your past? Hunter, it was yesterday."

Okay, fair point, but things can change, I found myself thinking. I never truly said that though because I doubted myself. Could things really change?

Before I had a chance to decide whether I wanted to make that promise or not, Mel spoke again, "Listen, I actually don't think you are a bad guy. I mean the way you have cared for me this past night after everything that happened proves that you can be really sweet when you want to be. But everything in our lives is so different. It just seems like nothing could ever work out between us."

I feel my face fall as she says those words. The disappointment at her clear rejection is evident, and all I want to do is pull her close and beg her to reconsider. I decide to go for a more socially acceptable response instead, "That isn't true. I think we have more in common than it seems. I know you feel the connection between us too. It is like I am drawn to you somehow and I can't just let that go. Please give me another shot and I can show you things can be better. I can be better."

Well, so much for not begging.

A blush starts to creep up her cheeks again, giving me an indication that she liked what she was hearing, but then it seemed as if her brain caught up and her face turned down again. "I am not at all like the girls you go for, I would never be good enough for you and your group. I like my little bubble and honestly the thought of trying to break into yours just gives me anxiety. But you are right, I don't think I can let go of this connection either. I think we should be friends."

She isn't good enough for me? Is she crazy? She was way off and I intended to set the record straight, but I also thought about what she said about her anxiety around my group. I had never really stopped to think how intimating all this would be on her side being the shy and closed off person she is. I didn't want to push her to feel any more uncomfortable than I already had so I sighed in defeat. I would push my feelings aside and be her friend. For now at least.

"Melanie, that could not be farther from the truth. If anything I am the one that is not good enough for you, but I will take any time with you that I can get. If that is as friends for now I suppose I can deal with that." I added a smile at the end and received one in return.

Now that the serious conversation was behind us, the tension seemed to fade and the normal light-hearted feelings between us returned.

"I think I am going to head back to my room." Mel declared. It seemed all too soon for her to leave but I understood why she wanted to go home. All of the events of the past night had been a lot, and it was almost hard to believe that the party started less than twelve hours ago.

"Can I at least walk you home? Friends do that right?" I teased causing Mel to chuckle slightly and nod her head yes. "I suppose I can allow that." She joked back. "I just have to change back into my clothes from last night and then we can head out."

She walked toward my chair where she had neatly folded her clothes the night before. "It is cold outside, you should just keep my t-shirt on and I can give you a sweatshirt for the walk." I offered. Truth be told, I wasn't sure when I would get to see her in my clothes again and I wasn't ready for it to be over just yet.

"I'm not sure if that is really in friends territory but your clothes are too comfy for me to resist." She said as she slid her jeans up, carefully moving so that I couldn't get a peek at anything underneath the oversized shirt. Not that I was looking or anything, I am a gentleman after all. Well sometimes.

I walked over to my closet to grab a sweatshirt for her and one for myself. I handed her my football sweatshirt that had my number and last name on the back. It was my favorite sweatshirt, and I had never let anyone wear it before, but the thought of Mel walking around campus sporting my number seemed right.

When she saw what it was she looked at me quizzically, "Are you sure you want to give me this one? Isn't your football sweatshirt supposed to be super important or something?"

"Nah, it really isn't that big a deal." I lied in an effort to play down how big of a deal it actually was for me. She seemed satisfied with my response and tossed it over her head. As it fell it was clear it was huge on her, but the way it engulfed her was cute and I couldn't help but stare.

"Ready to go?" I asked as I pulled another one of my sweatshirts over my head. She nodded her head and I opened up my bedroom door for us to head out.

It was still early enough that I knew none of the boys would be up and out of bed so our chances of getting out unnoticed were pretty high. Once we made it out the door we headed into the brisk fall morning air and made the short walk to Mel's building.

We walked in a comfortable silence, and I fought the urge to pull her closer or hold her hand. Once we arrived outside of her building, she stopped and turned to me. "Thank you again for everything." She said for the seemingly tenth time this morning.

Instead of responding again, I pulled her close for a hug, savoring the sweet smell of her hair right under my nose. We held each other for slightly longer than appropriate for a friendly hug, and as she started to pull away I gently kissed her forehead.

She stepped backward and looked up at me with her big eyes and a small smile playing on her face letting me know that she was okay with whatever feelings were just wordlessly exchanged in our interaction.

"Have a good day Mel." I said before I turned and walked away. The only thing willing my feet to keep walking away from the beautiful girl was knowing that I would see her again. And with the way things were going I had a feeling it would be sooner rather than later.