Burning through the darkest night

 Melvin could see it already unfolding. He shivered to think how could he possibly stop it from happening.

He could see Caitlin running to Tommy and it would be like a rock song only legends could sing about. It would probably be the best night she would ever have. Oh, it was like THE KILLERS song on instant replay. Why did Caitlin have to be so weird? Just to get back at Tori, he guessed. 

Melvin noticed how she reacted when Dylan started chatting with Tori. Pure jealousy.

But in an instant, he reached out to Caitlin as she walked past and wrapped himself around her. It wouldn't happen tonight if he could help it.

"What are you doing?" His warm breath came to her ear and he felt her bend into him. Her frown was small but she said nothing.

Melvin only smiled as he began to invent Tommy's instant history. "You know, he's got something no one talks about anymore. I guess he's well medicated, but would you really want to chance it? HIV." He almost hurled into laughter as he whispered this into her ear. He couldn't stand the thought of Tommy touching her.

She only let out a small sigh.

"You're with me now, babe." And he kissed the back of her neck as if she should remember who she'd been with.

She moved from him but he wrapped both hands around her. It didn't matter who was watching. Besides, Dylan was busy chatting with Tori and Tommy was making plans to play a new gig somewhere. Melvin hugged her from behind. His fingers touched her stomach yet yearned to touch her breasts. Maybe if they stayed this way everyone would go away. They could call it a night.

But he wanted her. It was the only way to keep from going mental. Finally, he took her hand and held on tight.

"Come on, let's get out of here," Melvin said. Still, she said nothing but looked at him blankly as if he might be out to kidnap her, or maybe this was how it should be.

They went into the dark cold street.

"I don't know why, you're like this," she pulled away from him.

"Because, you're like this," he snapped but gently keeping her close to stay warm. "Let's go for walk." He'd decided he would not take her to his place. "Let's get coffee." He felt certain Cori would say this. Just this once he'd be Cori and see how it turned out. What would Cori do in a situation like this?

Caitlin fretted, but it was as if she had no choice as he kept her close, her hand in the pocket of his thick overcoat. He took off the scarf Tori had given him earlier and wrapped it around Caitlin's neck. "You'll catch cold."

"All because of you," she scowled.

Finally, they made it to the all-night diner. Not a person around except an old masked waitress who looked to withered to even get them coffee.

"We need pie and coffee," Melvin told her to bring whatever they had. He sat next to Caitlin making sure she wasn't going anywhere.