Melanie & Ruth, Rated G
It was rare for there to be an engineering emergency in the hospitality office, but when the PA system went down, Melanie volunteered before Bennett and Javi could even process the phone call they’d received from Ruth reporting the problem. They both shot her a concerned look but said nothing; they knew she still harbored a lot of guilt about what had happened between her and Ruth, and that she wanted to fix things-if at all possible.
Ruth scowled when Melanie came in, saying nothing. Melanie worked in the awkward, angry silence between them-doing her best to ignore the palpable tension. When she finished she stood, turning and exhaling shakily.
“Should be all good now,” Melanie informed her, a nervous smile on her face, “Won’t know until you test it, though.”
Ruth nodded sharply, “I will. After you leave.”
“Ruth-”
“Don’t,” Ruth cut her off.
Melanie nodded now, deflating, “What will it take, Ruth?”
After a long moment of silence Ruth finally replied in a clipped tone, “You better leave now.”
Melanie relented after a minute, “Fine. See you around, then.”
“Unfortunately,” Ruth muttered under her breath, huffing and rolling her eyes as she once again slammed the door shut behind Melanie.
Melanie stood with her back to it for a long moment, closing her eyes in a failing attempt to hold back tears. Opening them, she looked at the ceiling and blinked rapidly as she tried to compose herself-coming back to the engine crying was not an option.
Finally she exhaled a noise that was almost a sob. Nodding again to herself, she pushed off the door and left. No matter what it took, she vowed, she would find a way to get Ruth to forgive her. Even if the other woman couldn’t ever be her friend again.
She had to.