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It had been a year and ten months since Mel King had met Frank Langdon for the first time, a year since he had been back for good, 10 months since his divorce had been finalized (her being the first to know), and a bottle and a half of wine between her and Samira to get her to accept her growing crush on him and decide to make a move, well, make him make a move.
Apart from Langdon, Samira had been Mel’s best friend at the PTMC, bonding after a particularly hard night shift with a horde of burn victims from a nearby fire and the death of a pregnant mother, merely two months into Mel’s R3 year. Now they’d become quite close through helping each other navigate the emotional burden of the ER and, less honorably, their crushes on their very attractive superiors. Samira had always been very open about her feelings for Abbot, but Mel had been more reticent to accept, due to the peculiar circumstances of the situation.
Samira, with glossy eyes because of the wine and a grin, leaning closer to Mel, who was next to her on her couch, said: “Is today the day when you finally admit you’re in love with Dr. Langdon?”
Mel straightened on the couch, a red flush covering her cheeks in an instant.
“Samira! It’s like the millionth time you’ve asked me that.”
She tilted her head to one side, amused.
“That wasn’t an answer.”
With a sigh Mel buried her face in her hands, sinking into the couch.
“Fine, I do.”
Samira’s face beamed up.
“So you are in love with him?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
Mel's tone was exasperated, but a smile bled through her words.
“So what are you gonna do about it?”
Mel unburied her face, with a confused expression.
“What do you mean? I can’t do anything, he doesn't see me like that.”
Samira let out a laugh, almost spilling the nearly empty glass of wine in her hand, between laughs she managed to say: “You’re joking right, even patients who’ve been in the ER for less than half a shift can sense the tension between you two.” Mel’s confused face prompted Samira to continue “last week you and Langdon had a teen patient, the one with a migraine? Well, she called me over to ask when her CT results would be back, I didn’t know who was treating her, so I asked and she said, and I quote, ‘the ones that are together, I mean, they must be’ and as I was obviously confused she clarified ‘the blonde with the braid and mr blue eyes”
Mel let out an incredulous laugh, “No way, why didn’t you tell me?”
“I think it would’ve discouraged you from confessing your crush to me, but know I know and will tease you until you make a move”
Mel fell back on the couch, resting her head on the armrest and letting out an exasperated sigh, but a small smile formed in her lips.
· ─ ·✶· ─ ·
Mel opened her locker with a swift movement, leaving her bag inside and taking off her headphones. When she closed the door she almost jumped, Langdon was leaning against the locker wall, smiling softly and holding a cup of tea, her favourite tea, to be precise.
“Morning King, got you a tea because I know you must’ve not slept very well.”
Mel had to resist confessing right then and there, he had remembered she was having drinks with Samira, this crush knowledge was to make everything much much more difficult.
“Thanks Langdon, you remembered.” A cheesy smile escaped her lips, and his smile widened.
“Well of course, I suggested the wine.”
“Right, well thanks again, we loved it.”
He nodded, walking away but looking back to hold the door open for her, she looked up and smiled, holding the impulse to sprint to the board.
The day was quiet, no one mentioned it though, and she could take her time talking to her patients and, more consequential, staring at Langdon talk to his patients, Langdon helped a nurse lift a box, Langdon stretching whilst his scrub top lifted slightly… Mel blinked quickly, she had to focus on the chart in front of her, not the way he was calming a young girl in South 15 with that calming voice of his. Santos plopped down next to Mel, breaking her train of thought.
“Wanna go to Javadi’s birthday party this Friday? We’re just going to that new bar downtown”
“Uhhh” Mel’s brain went through her schedule quickly, finding no excuse to say no, “Sure, I’m free.”
“Great! I’m pretty swamped with charting so could you ask… Mohan, haven't seen her today, and…” she made a face “Langdon, Garcia doesn’t want to be the only senior resident”
Mel tried her best to appear calm to the request, but apparently not very successfully because she could only nod and as Santos stood up she shot her an amused look and chuckled under her breath.
· ─ ·✶· ─ ·
Mel stood at the ambulance bay after her shift, fiddling with her headphones, waiting for Langdon to come out. She had seen him head for the locker room as she left and thought it would be a good time to ask him to go to Javadi’s party. It’s not like it was her party, she was just doing Santos a favour, nothing to worry about, but anxiety still found a way to seep into her breath and make her shoot worried looks at the door. When she was focused on queuing up some songs on her phone the sliding doors finally opened, the sliding sound and Langdon’s unmistakable steps made her look up, his eyes were already focused on her. “Hey, I thought you’d already left.”
“I was waiting for you.” Mel could feel her cheeks get red, why she didn’t know, it wasn’t her party she was inviting him to.
Langdon's eyebrow shot up in amused confusion, signaling for her to continue.
“Santos asked me to ask you if you wanted to go to Javadi’s birthday party this Friday, Garcia asked her to ask you but she… well she doesn’t like you very much.” Mel gave him an apologetic smile at the last part.
“Right,” Langdon sighed, but then smiled again “I’d love to go.”
“Great!”
“I’ll drive.”
Mel’s smile dropped, just a little bit, sitting next to Langdon, alone, for at least 20 minutes? She almost fainted at the thought.
“Oh you don't have to do that, I’ll take the bus.”
“Nonsense. Also, if you drink, I don't want you taking the bus alone.” He smiled, taking a step closer.
That was actually a relief, knowing she could have fun without having to worry, and the added factor of Langdon wanting to take care of her? Sounded like a perfect night more and more.
“If you insist,” she said softly, almost scared of him taking it back.
“Pick you up at 9? Send me your address.”
“Ok, sounds great!” He turned around to leave but looked back to smile, blue eyes shining as the sun hit him when he was far away enough.
· ─ ·✶· ─ ·
“What about this one?” Samira held up a short red dress, with a very short hem.
They were standing in the middle of a thrift store near Samira’s apartment, Mel had refused to pay full price for a dress so she took her there.
“I’m not 16 Samira, that dress is way too short.”
Samira put the dress back with a sigh, “so what type of dress do you want? You’ve turned down all my suggestions.”
“I don’t know…” she stopped as her hand grazed a bottle green dress, taking it out and smoothing the fabric, “I like this one, it's a nice fabric and shape without being too revealing.” shooting a look at Samira in that last part.
Ignoring Mel's remark, Samira clasped her hands together, “oh that one is perfect for you, compliments your hair and everything! And I just know he’s going to love it.” Her smile turned into a smirk.
Mel leaned against the dress rack with a sigh, containing her laugh.
· ─ ·✶· ─ ·
pov change
Frank tapped his fingers on the wheel, glancing nervously at his phone, open on Mel's contact. He had texted her a minute ago saying he was downstairs, she had only read it so he didn’t know what to do. The carpool offering had come to him very impulsively, driven by the excitement of spending time with Mel outside of work.
When Mel was being introduced to the ER by Robbie, he had to do a double look, her golden braid and soft demeanor had put him in a trance. His marriage to Abby was broken ever since Penny was born, and rehab was the last straw, she had served him divorce papers a month before he came back and 10 months later he felt he had waited enough. Despite what everyone in the ER might think, he was not a smooth heartbreaker, he had managed to marry Abby by pure luck and an accidental pregnancy, he had no idea how to get Mel, a girl so out of his league, to even look at him.
The door swung open, making Frank’s head swing towards it, so fast he almost pulled a muscle. Mel looked around for him and he waved, her face lit up and waved back. His gaze lingered on her body, hugged by a green dress, not too revealing but revealing enough to send Frank into a haze, he had never seen her with her hair down, neither had he seen her legs before; clearing his throat he opened his door and sprinted to the other side of the car to open the passengers seat for her.
“Hi”
“Hi”, Frank's voice caught in his throat, making it raspy.
“Thanks for picking me up”, she smiled up at him. “Of course”, he realized he stood stupidly in front of the open car door and she was waiting for him to move, and promptly did so, “sorry”.
Frank got back in the car, turned the ignition on and pulled out of the parking lot; to do that, Frank realized he had to put his hand behind Mel’s headrest, and as he did so her hair brushed against his forearm. The position also made him painfully aware of Mel’s perfume, a floral scent she’d never worn at work before, he had to contain the impulse to inhale it deeply, or they would have crashed into the other cars.
Mel grabbed the aux cord, “can I?” “As long as you don’t play kids songs, Tanner and Penny drive me crazy everytime I drive them.” She chuckled, “of course not”
pov change
Mel opened Spotify, angling her phone ever so slightly away from Langdon's sightline, she clicked on a playlist titled “Frank”, she felt like a teenager, sitting in her crush’s car, playing music that reminded her of him, so that he would maybe take the hint.
Dress started playing, she had bought that dress for that occasion after all, maybe so he could take it off was a bit too much, but she wouldn’t be opposed to it if it came to that.
I don't want you like a best friend, only bought this dress so you could take it off
Mel clasped her hands in her lap, regretting her decision, would he notice the song was for him? What if he did and didn’t reciprocate the feeling? What if he did?
“I’ve never heard this song before, I like it.”
His voice startled her out of her head, “really, I love it” “I think Penny is starting to get into Taylor Swift, but I don’t think she’d like this song” he turned at her and smiled, his eyes shining a dark blue due to the streetlamps.
“It is a bit… adult, I guess, but honestly I listen to way worse” she looked to the front, feeling blood rush to her cheeks (why did I say that oh my god he’s going to think I’m such a freak…) “Really?” he didn't sound disgusted, but rather amused. She could only laugh.
· ─ ·✶· ─ ·
pov change
Frank drives the car into the sidewalk parking strip, jumps out and opens her door again.
“I can get the door, you don’t need to take care of me.” “Oh but I want to.” Mel blushes and walks towards the door, he relishes on the thought that his words make her cheeks that pink, as he’s never seen anyone else make her blush, not like that.
Frank jogs to catch up to her and open the door, this time she just smiles and he follows behind her. The bar is loud and the lights are dim, alcohol and cigarette smoke clogs his nose. He sees Mel curl into herself and, without thinking, puts an arm around her, somewhat covering her ears between his chest and bicep. She relaxes, a surge of pride once again filling him.
“Melanoma!” Santos’ booming voice, clearly tipsy already, waves them over.
He reluctantly shrugs off her so she can sit down at the booth where Santos, Garcia, Javadi, Whittaker, Mateo, and Mohan talk animatedly.
The booth is definitely not big enough for all eight of them, but it doesn’t matter, Santos is shamelessly on Garcia’s lap, and Javadi is almost copying her, with her legs swinging over Mateo’s lap. Mel scoots closer to Whittaker so he can sit, the space being so narrow he’s forced (rather eagerly) to hold on to the backrest of the booth, his arm once again brushing against Mel’s hair, allowing him to smell her perfume again, and he indulges into inhaling it softly, the lights so dim and the noise so loud he hoped she wouldn’t notice.
pov change
Mel, although now sat with her friends away from the loud bar, missed the warmth of Langdon’s arm around her, and taking advantage of the seating arrangement, leaned on him more than what was necessary. Samira shot her a look across the table, and she just smiled.
“What do you want?” Langdon whispered into her ear, startling her, she hadn’t noticed that the waiter had approached their table.
“Uhh..”
“She’ll have a long island iced tea” Santos said across the table, a smug smile on her face.
“Sure” she looked up to Langdon, who relayed it to the waiter. “...and a coke zero for me, thanks.”
After a couple of minutes their drinks arrived, and now settled into the flow of the conversation she felt brave, aided by the alcohol in her veins and Langdon’s warmth against her body, she impulsively put a hand on his thigh and turned to him “I wanna dance.” His eyes widened, just for a second, and took his arm away. She had to contain a groan but then his body leaves her side and she instinctively jumps up next to him; he moves as if to sit down, but her newfound confidence grabs his hand and pulls him to the dance floor.
pov change
“What are you…” Mel's hand pulls him towards the dance floor. Her hand is soft and warm against his, she smiles as she looks back. He knows she’s drunk and wants nothing but to take care of her, but if dancing would make her happy he would dance forever, as shit as he was at it.
Some song Frank didn’t know faded out as Mel put a hand on his shoulder, his other hand instinctively jumped to her waist, but she didn’t flinch, more like she melted into the touch, as if it grounded her. Just as he shot her a shy smile, Dress started playing.
“It's our song!” her smile widened, hardening her grip on his shoulder.
our song, our song, our song.
Frank had suspected that Mel playing that song in the car was a hint, more he had hoped it was a hint. Now he was sure, under the dim lights her hazel eyes glowed through her eyelashes, looking up at him with such an intensity he thought he might faint right there. Her hand left his to settle in the crook of his neck, he moved his to the other side of her waist, keeping her steady as if she might float away if he let go.
My hands are shaking from holdin' back from you (ah, ah, ah)
Her lips started to mouth the lyrics, his gaze fluttered down to her lips, to try to read them, which was unnecessary because the speakers were so loud they could break his eardrums.
I don't want you like a best friend
Only bought this dress so you could take it off
Take it off
Carve your name into my bedpost
'Cause I don't want you like a best friend
Her hand leaves his neck to secure his shoulder, and his travels up from her waist to her neck keeping her anchored to him, slowly inching closer to her, when her eyes widen and she breaks all contact, rushing away from him. He feels cold and empty where her body was just seconds ago, despite the sticky heat of the bar.
He manages to compose himself and follows her to the darkened corner of the bar she had run off to, realising its the bathroom. Mohan approaches him, “she in there?”, he can only nod and she walks in.
pov change
Mel feels the spell of the long island iced tea dissipate as she pukes into the toilet, cold hands grab her hair and push it out of the way, “hey, I’m here” its Samira’s voice. As much as she wants Langdon's hand up in her hair she’s thankful he doesn't have to see her like this, “you don’t drink much, do you?”
Mel jerks her head back and shakes her head, “no” it comes out with an exhale. Samira chuckles “guessed as much.”
Mel stands up slowly and moves towards the sink, she washes her mouth off and takes a mint from her bag.
Samira’s expression changes from concerned to amused, “don’t,” she ducks out of the door and almost crashes into Langdon’s chest.
“Whoa, you ok?” His eyes travel up and down her body, looking for an injury but it just makes her stomach tighter, not because of the alcohol. Samira slides behind them and smiles at Mel conspiratorially.
“The long island didn’t agree with my stomach it seems…” she looked up “sorry for running out on you, I assume you wouldn’t have wanted me to puke all over you” she chuckled, looking at her shoes, embarrassed.
His hand grabbed her jaw, softly forcing her to look at him, “you don’t need to apologise… want me to drive you home?”
She nodded, and he let her face go, just to grab her hand and lead her out of the bar.
pov change
Frank’s thoughts are going a mile per hour, first Mel, looking like that presses against him in a warm bar, then she dances with him, then she mouths very suggestive lyrics. (she might've just been drunk, doesn’t mean she likes you…)
our song, our song, our song.
· ─ ·✶· ─ ·
They reach Mel’s apartment, and after opening her door she stumbles, not enough to fall but he notices. “Want me to walk you up?” Her smile makes his breath hitch, “thanks.”
They walk up the steps slowly, he rests a hand on the small of her back, convincing himself it's to keep her from falling but she already had a hand on the railing.
Mel turns the key and opens the door, revealing her apartment, small but cozy. Illuminated by warm lights he could discern a worn couch and shelves full of books and trinkets, it felt like Mel.
“Langdon…”
“Frank.”
“What?”
“Call me Frank, we’re not at work” he smiled tentatively.
“Frank,” she smiled, “do you wanna come in? Becca’s with Adam so it wouldn’t be a problem.”
“Sure!” it came out more eagerly than he intended, but she matched his smile and walked in, taking her heels off and sighing in relief.
He looks up at the clock on her wall, 2am, “wow, it’s really late, didn’t feel like that long when we were at the bar.”
Mel, who apparently was also unaware of how late it was, shot him a concerned look.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, I made you drive more than you should’ve, and it's so late.” She made a pause, “you should stay here, I can’t make you drive all the way home tired.”
He bit his lip to avoid smiling, but he felt his ears grow warm, “don’t apologise, and, that would be nice, thank you.” He allowed himself a small smile. “I’ll take the couch.”
She furrowed her brow and stood between him and the couch, “nonsense, your back would kill you, I’ll take it.”
She was so good, too good, too good for him.
“I’m not taking your bed, I'm your guest.” A selfish voice in his head prayed she would disagree.
“Well, I didn’t think you’d let me anyways.” He could have sworn her voice had gone up and her cheeks flushed, but he was too distracted by the fact Melissa King, the woman he was pretty sure he was madly in love with, had just accepted to share a bed, he felt giddy.
“Oh-okay”
She smiled and walked down the hallway, “I’ll give you something to use as pajamas and you can change in my room.” Frank followed like a puppy.
Mel opened the door to her room, a big lava lamp on her bedside table was the only source of light, and it bathed everything in a warm orange haze. The room was so Mel, he thought, full of little trinkets, books, medical journals, and pictures of her and her family. Mel opened her closet and pulled out a pair of grey sweats and a Fort Pitt shirt, both way too big for her.
“The sweats are from a convention I went to years ago, didn’t have the nerve to tell them they were the wrong size,” she smiled sheepishly at him. He smiled back and grabbed the clothes, his face lighting up when he saw the Fort Pitt logo, “oh my god I love that place, I used to go with my parents when I was young!” “Really? I had to drag Becca as soon as we were settled in, it was at the top of my list of places I wanted to visit in Pittsburg.” “Well, when we both have a day off I’ll take you, I’ll be your private guide, I know everything about it!” he realized that might have been too much and added “if you want, of course.” Mel’s smile got bigger “I’d love that!...gimme me a sec.” and she went into her en-suite bathroom, closing the door behind her.
Frank left the clothes on her bed quickly changed into them, inhaling deeply into the shirt as soon as it was on, breathing in the intoxicating scent of it, a mix of Mel’s shampoo and something so inexplicably Mel it made his heart ache. He sat on the corner of the bed to wait for her, but only a second after she opened the door, her face bore an expression of slight annoyance and she turned to face away from him, “could you help me? The zipper keeps getting stuck and I can't see.” He stood up and walked towards her, his hands grazed the freckled soft skin of her back, dragging the zipper slowly, its metallic sound breaking the silence. The only thing Frank could think about was that song, their song.
Only bought this dress so you could take it off
When he was done she muttered a quick “thanks” and walked back into the bathroom. He sat back down on her bed, quietly groaning into his hands. She opened the door once again some minutes later, but now she was wearing a pair of tiny sleep shorts and an oversized plain lavender shirt that hung off one shoulder, the sight made Frank’s brain shortcircuit, but he quickly recomposed himself, closing his jaw and clearing his throat, “hey.” (omg Frank why did you say that so stupid she’s going to think you’re a creep, but god those shorts are my favourite thing in the world right now)
pov change
“hey, should we, um…” she pointed to the bed. Despite the electric anxiety that filled her body due to the fact she was about to have Frank Langdon sleep in her bed, she could feel the hangover claiming her, and she really was tired, “o-of course.”
They both got into bed, she lay on her back, but he shifted slightly towards her, she only knew because she could feel his eyes on her neck. If he only knew what he did to her.
“Thanks, for being there for me and taking care of me.” Mel whispered, half scared and half too tired to care.
“You don’t have to mention it, I like taking care of you, it makes me feel needed.”
Mel turned her head and saw a pink blush start to cover Frank’s face, she could feel her cheeks do the same.
Despite the rush of sharing a bed, the warmth of Frank’s body merely centimeters away from hers and the calming sound of his breath quickly lulled her to sleep.
· ─ ·✶· ─ ·
Sunshine bleeds from the slightly parted curtains, falling onto Mel’s face. She wakes a little bit, suddenly aware of something warm against her back, too warm to be the sun. Her eyes spark open, memories from the night before rushing back, including her pathetic plea to Frank, who, by the way, was the warmness against her.
He rustled against her, tightening his hold around her waist and pressing his face into her neck, breathing out into it, making Mel’s breath hitch.
The faint moment was enough to wake him, but just slightly, because he whispered “morning sweetheart”, his voice deep with sleep.
Mel started panicking, what would happen once he realized it was her in his arms? Her voice came out a little shakier than she wanted “morning.”
pov change
Her voice was sweet like honey, and it pulled him fully out his haze. He was the luckiest man on earth, Melissa King was wrapped within his arms, and her soft hair brushed against his cheek, smelling of vanilla.
They stayed together, not daring to move, for what seemed like hours, until Frank resigned and leaned over to whisper in her ear “should I make us some breakfast?” She turned around, his arm still around her waist, and nodded, a soft smile appearing on her lips. He returned her smile, impulsively squeezed her hip, and climbed out of bed.
pov change
As soon as Frank had disappeared from the doorframe she turned around and pressed her face into the pillow he had used (her pillow) and inhaled deeply, it smelled like aftershave, something forest-y, and something so inexplicably Frank she could die.
She turned around again and grabbed her phone from her bedside table, she quickly opened her thread with Samira.
Mel: You will never believe what I’m about to tell you
Her phone pinged back instantly, as if Samira knew she would be getting a debrief in the morning.
Samira: please tell me he’s laying next to you right now
Mel: He was, he’s making breakfast right now.
Samira: omg I can’t believe you finally got him in bed
Mel: Don’t get too excited, we only slept (literally, not metaphorically) together, and woke up cuddling, and he called me sweetheart when he woke up, and right now I’m trying not to freak out.
Samira: he’s totally in love with you, tell him the truth when he comes back!!!!!
Mel: Ok I’ll try, gtg I can hear him walking back.
Samira: good luck!!!!!!!!
Mel left the phone on the nightstand and sat up as Frank walked in with a tray in his hands. Mel allowed her eyes to travel freely over his body as he set the tray down in front of her, his hair was all mussed up from sleep, his biceps flexed within the soft cotton of Mel’s shirt, his (her) sweats hung low on his hips…
“Strawberry jam’s your favorite, right?”
His voice shocked her back to reality, her eyes darting to meet his, “yes, you remembered!” “Of course” He offered a shy smile and sat on the bed across from her.
They ate for a couple of minutes in comfortable silence, but Mel knew something in the air had shifted, now there was a new layer in their relationship, one that knew how the other looked like in the morning, how their bodies felt against each other.
Mel broke the silence first “do you have any plans today?”
His gaze shot up from the coffee he was drinking, fixing on her face, a mix of confusion and something Mel thought seemed a little like disappointment.
“um, not really, we’re both off today, right?” he paused, shy almost, “why? Do you want me to leave?”
“What? no, no, I was just trying to make conversation, you can stay as long as you’d like” forever, Mel hoped.
He relaxed, his nervous expression turned into a loose smile and his blue eyes fixed on Mel’s.
“Have you got any plans?”
“Well, I was planning on staying in, Becca is spending the day with Adam, so…”
She left it open on purpose, hoping he would suggest anything that would involve both of them.
“Maybe I could cook you lunch?” he asked tentatively, Mel beamed up, “I’d love that! you're a great cook.” Mel could've sworn he blushed as he stood up, taking the tray back. She stood up and tried to take it from him, he held it up, out of her reach. “Nu-uh, go shower, I’ll clean up and we can choose what to cook later.”
Mel crossed her arms, feigning annoyance but a smile escaped her lips, “Fine, you can put music on if you want, the remote should be on the couch.” Frank smiled back and walked out of her room.
Mel got in the shower, hurrying, wanting to be back in his presence as soon as possible, she wondered what he would want to cook for her. So disgustingly domestic it all was, she thought, wondering what they would have for lunch after sleeping in.
Standing in front of her closet, door locked, Mel picked out a pair of jeans and a tank top, casual.
pov change
Frank could hear her moving around her room, shutting the shower off and the rustling of clothes; he, on the other hand, was frozen. Sitting on the armrest of the couch he had turned the tv on to play music, but was now staring at the last played playlist on Mel’s Spotify account, one titled “Frank”. It was full of love songs, more pointedly, Dress sat at the top of the list.
our song, our song, our song.
The door opened, Frank swung his head to look at her, sure his cheeks were red. He followed her eyes as they went from him to the tv. Her face dropped, eyes widening, standing so still he thought she might pass out.
He stood up and slowly walked up to her, they were so close now all he was aware of was the smell of her shampoo. Frank lifted his hand up and gingerly grabbed her jaw, that made her snap out of it.
“Mel,” his voice was barely above a whisper, rough with anticipation, “what does that playlist mean?”
he lifted his other hand to fiddle with her damp hair, she melted into the touch and whispered back, “you know what it means” her voice was drenched in fear.
“I love you, Melissa King; god you don’t know what you do to me, all this time I’ve looked for a sign and last night, our song, and now the playlist… please tell me I'm right.”
pov change
His pupils were so dilated the blue was a faint shimmer around the black. Mel wanted to pinch herself, Frank was in her house, in her clothes, in her hair, telling her he loved her.
“...What?”
He laughed softly, “I love you, I love the smell of your shampoo, the way you talk to the kids in the ER, the way you light up when talking about the things you like, the way you make me feel so alive I could die of happiness, the way-” she jumped up to shut him up, placing her lips on his. He instantly melted into the kiss, his lips were soft and familiar in a way she’d never felt before. The kiss was short and sweet, she broke it to breathe and Frank laughed.
“I love you too, Frank.” Mel was the happiest she’d ever been, she wanted to live on that high forever. He wrapped his arms around her and let his head fall on the crook of her shoulder. She could feel him smiling against her skin.
· ─ ·✶· ─ ·
Mel sat in the passenger seat of Frank’s car, holding a warm thermos of her favourite tea, she tilted her head to look at Frank but he was already looking at her, thank god they were parked.
“What?” she laughed and Frank held out a hand that Mel took without hesitation.
“I’m just looking at my beautiful girlfriend.” he replied, smoothly. She felt like 17 sitting in her boyfriend's car, getting called beautiful; she had never actually been 17 with a smoking-hot boyfriend so the feeling was brand new.
They walked in together, hand in hand, they didn’t want to keep it a secret and honestly everybody knew before even they did. Samira was the first to react, she was hunched over a cup of coffee but as soon as her eyes drifted to them she straightened and smiled so brightly Mel couldn’t help but laugh, Frank followed her gaze and shrugged his shoulders, grinning widely.
A high-pitched scream broke through the air “I knew it! Perlah, you owe me 50 bucks!” Santos came running to their side and slapped Mel on the back, “I knew y'all would come to your senses.” She turned to look at Frank and narrowed her eyes, jokingly, this time it was him who could only but laugh.