oh it's a show all right

 "Melvin's got a show," Caitlin did her best as if she was happy about it, but not really. Why did she care? She was indifferent about her whole status with him. Were they even really friends? But for Cori's sake she went on to say, "and it's gonna be big. And Cori is the drummer."

"Really?" Megan's eyes lit like he might be the next big thing since BTS. She hugged Cori from behind while he was trying to get the chicken and veg evened out in the sizzling skillet. He gritted a smile as she jumped for joy. "I'm so excited!" She was all grins.

Caitlin smirked as she rolled her eyes. It would be a dud, she was certain of it, but oh well.

Cori finally turned to Megan who hadn't let go of him. He went with her straddling him as if he would cook dinner without any interruption. "Nobody has asked me anything," Cori blurted. "I'm pretty sure that Tommy guy has it all worked out. Maybe they don't even need a drummer. He can probably set his own baseline." He sounded as if music was full of shortcuts.

"I know you could do that too." Caitlin chimed in as she texted Melvin demanding him he better put Cori in the show.

"Brilliant!" He texted back which disgusted Caitlin evev more. He really did think he was Harry Styles after all. She snarled her nose for a moment, but finally faked a smile when she turned back to Cori still hard at work in the kitchen with his girlfriend hugging him from the backside. Caitlin showed Cori what he texted. Next thing she knew Melvin texted he was coming over.

She snarled her nose again wondering who was more demanding.

So there Melvin was just in time for dinner. Like old times. There was only one time, thought Caitlin. Okay, maybe second since the first was a bit of a blur now. She didn't want to reason that she'd done anything wrong with Melvin other than partaking a substance and hanging out with him. Instead of a lot more touchy-feely stuff than she wanted to admit which she might have started. It might have been good, but NOT GREAT, she kept reminding herself all through dinner.

Of course, Megan was so naive, grinning like an idiot as if Melvin was somehow the beacon of joy to Cori's future rock life. It was totally useless to dream so big, but Caitlin kept quiet and filled up one more tortilla of Cori's fajita goodness. At least, she wanted to keep Cori here to cook for them if nothing else.

And she would stand her ground with Melvin. Silent as the iron maiden who might kick him where it hurt if he came close. But he was ignoring her, which she couldn't stand even if that was not a bad thing.

All he talked about was the practice. They didn't even have a place to practice and the whole show would be in some abandoned park in the back of somebody's flatbed truck. It didn't seem feasible to Caitlin but she kept reminding herself, what did she know.

It was as if he might as well be selling life insurance, rocker style. Megan and Cori were buying it lock stock and barrel. Caitlin sighed wondering what sort of novel chaos had she started. 

Melvin turned to say something to her. Caitlin stuck a chip in his mouth with hot salsa.