taking it to the limit

 Cori knew he was no help to Melvin these days. Except, he did show up for work and put in more hours than he should have to keep the pizzeria going. Melvin was low-key and he never asked about Caitin.

Perhaps Megan was Cori's weakness, but how come he felt she was a life-line, too. Waking up as if every day was a fresh start. Only he hadn't spoken to Caitlin recently about Melvin. A part of him knew he was definitely the worst friend possibly.

But there was Megan to make everything better with a smile, a hug, a kiss, he hardly felt he was even studying these days. He was certain his mother wouldn't like it if she knew he was with Megan. She would find it foolish and certainly no way the correct thing to do, but he hadn't contacted her in months and it had been weeks since he'd said anything to his brother.

Of course, there was a time he'd been waiting for his brother to call him when he left. After all, he was in his brother's care, and at the moment he knew his brother could care less about what happened to him. His brother's girlfriend was expecting and priorities were different now. His brother needed room and was long overdue enjoying his own life. 

Maybe Cori didn't want Meg to know. Yes, he'd looked different from his own family and he didn't want her to feel he was anything less. Perhaps this was the best journey to take and let the past be the past.

And finally, he was alone with Caitlin while making dinner. Meg was off on a phone call with an old roommate.

"You know, Melvin's in a band," he started.

"So I guess you must be playing the drums," she shrugged.

"No," he winced thinking he wasn't any part of the band. He went back to his slicing and dicing for the stir-fry of fajitas. 

"But, he seems to think you're the best," Caitlin made it sound Cori would be the one to save Melvin's life not her.

"Oh, well.." Cori was puzzled as to say anything more.

"You know, you will. You have too." Caitlin told him he was a far better musician than he knew.

"I'm..not that good." He winced he'd been warned long ago by his mother that he had no talent and did he want to starve his life away. Of course, she'd been the one to make him take all those piano lessons like some punishment. His music teacher practically tortured his fingers from time to time, but he'd always played music in his head when there was nothing else to do.

"I doubt Melvin's that good of a singer," Caitlin remained indifferent as she stole a slice of hot pepper on the counter. Naturally, the heat of the pepper didn't bother Caitlin. "But you'll do it, because you know he needs you."

Cori put the onion in the hot oil then and he watched it sizzle. Honestly, he didn't think of himself that way. He was just here wanting to see what Megan might want next. Now Caitlin made him feel he was Melvin's better half.