�Just one more kiss�� Nick pleaded, cornering Melissa�s body. She was left without a lot of room in the Spanish-tiled shower stall. There was no way to be free, and Nick�s breath was steadily growing more hot against her neck. Knowing no other way out, Melissa relented. She pressed her lips towards Nick�s. Eagerly, he took her head in his hands. Nick traced her lips with his tongue, begging to be let inside.

Though she hated it, Melissa realized she had to put an end to the situation. She broke the kiss, turning her head away. Melissa reached for the shower knobs. Abruptly, the constant stream of hot water that had cascaded down their naked bodies ended. �Nick- we have to stop.�

�Aww, come on baby girl�� Nick pleaded. He jutted out his bottom lip like a child. �Just a little bit longer.�

�No, Nickers.� Melissa said forcefully. �My roommates have to use the bathroom, too�Plus, if we don�t stop now I won�t be able to afford my water bill next month!�

Nick laughed. �I guess you have a point there.�

Melissa stepped out of the shower and into the bathroom. She grabbed two towels, and passed one to Nick as he stepped out of the stall. Wordlessly, they both began to towel off their bodies.

�You done in there?� Hollered out a voice from the other side of the bathroom door.

�Almost, Phillip. Almost!� Melissa yelled back. She tossed her damp towel into the laundry hamper. Having already climbed in to a trusty pair of boxer briefs, Nick handed Melissa her pajamas. She threw the oversized AVS hockey jersey over her head. �Okay Nicky boy, let�s head out.�

�Took you long enough,� Phillip said sarcastically. The couple had just emerged from the bathroom. �I�m surprised you�re not all shriveled up like prunes.�

�I�m sorry, sugar daddy.� Melissa said. She kissed her roommate on the cheek. �Its all yours now.�

�You�re a doll. Now go get your man.� Phillip said. Cluelessly, Melissa turned around to see what Phillip was motioning about. She was just in time to see Nick disappear into her bedroom. To encourage his roommate along, Phillip spanked Melissa�s bottom. She took the suggestion, and hurried back to her room.

�Sugar why�d you disappear on me like that?� Melissa asked as she entered her bedroom. Nick had already settled into bed, lying on top of the covers. Melissa grabbed a hairbrush from her vanity and crawled onto the bed next to Nick.

�I was trying to avoid getting hit on by Phillip- again.� Nick stated.

�Well, I guess that�s understandable,� Melissa agreed with a laugh.

Melissa took a chunk of her hair and began an endless task. With as long, thick and curly as her hair was, brushing out the tangles was quite a feat. On bad days, it would take Melissa a half an hour until she was satisfied with her hair.

�So you never did tell me,� Nick asked. �How do you think tonight went?�

�Surprisingly well,� Melissa admitted. �I couldn�t believe how understanding your family was of our situation.�

�I told you,� Nick gloated. He leaned over and kissed Melissa on the cheek. �My family adores you.�

�Well, what can you blame �em?� Melissa said cockily. Setting down her hairbrush, she blew on the tips of her fingers, then brushed them against her jersey. �Nah�just kidding. I can�t believe how cool they were with all of this.�

�Honestly, neither can I,� Nick admitted. He watched as Melissa pulled her wet hair into a messy ponytail on the top of her head. �But I�m glad everything worked out the way it did.�

�Me too,� Melissa agreed. She climbed on top of Nick, straddling his body and sitting on his hipbones. Nick took Melissa�s face within his hands, and pulled her into a kiss. It was soft and sweet, lasting for a few long moments. After pulling themselves away from one another, Melissa smiled down at Nick. Being with Nick in her bedroom was Melissa�s favorite time of the day. She relished their time together.

�Oh, hey- what was in the big box your mom sent you home with?� Melissa asked. A goofy grin appeared on Nick�s face. In a teasing manner, Melissa tickled his sides. �Is that a blush I see, Nickolas Carter?�

�Its too embarrassing to say,� Nick said, shaking his head. He struggled to stay away from Melissa�s touch.

�Aww, sugar.� Melissa pleaded. �You don�t have to be embarrassed around me. Besides- if you can�t tell me, who can you tell?�

Nick groaned. He knew Melissa too well. If he didn�t tell her, she�d tear it out of him. �You promise not to make fun of me?�

�I swear on my Britney Spears doll,� Melissa said solemnly. She placed a hand on her heart to testify.

�Alright�well, it�s a box of stuff I�ve saved throughout our friendship. I hid it in my parents� attic after our big fight.�

Melissa�s hand flew to her mouth. �Aww, sugar! That�s so cute!�

She leaned over and gently kissed him on the lips. A thought occurred to her, and she quickly pulled apart from Nick. �Ya know what?�

�What?� Nick asked, a huge grin on his face.

�I have a box of mementos I�ve saved from the our relationship too.�

�You do?� Nick asked, surprised.

�Yup. In fact�� Melissa momentarily climbed off of Nick. She leaned over the side of the bed. When she reappeared, Melissa was holding a plastic storage box. �Here it is. You know, we should go through our boxes together. It�d be fun.�

�No way,� said Nick as he shook his head. Swiftly, he flipped Melissa over. Before she knew it, Melissa was lying on her back. Nick had straddled Melissa�s hips, pinning her arms above her head. He leaned down and whispered into her ear, �Let�s make love instead.�

Melissa kissed Nick�s lips gently. �As much as I�d love to- I�ve got to conserve my energy. I�ve got a full day of dancing ahead of me tomorrow. And you know how you wear me out.�

Nick laughed. He rolled off Melissa. Both sat up and they resituated themselves. They faced each other, sitting cross-legged. Melissa took Nick�s hands within her own. �Why don�t you want to go through our boxes, sugar?�

Nick shrugged. �I just don�t feel like getting all sentimental and girly.�

Melissa rolled her eyes. Lord! I can�t understand Nick when he gets like this. That boy has some serious problems. I just can�t understand why Nick can�t express his feelings, like a normal person. He just bottles up his emotions and avoids any opportunity to express them.

�Well, if you don�t want to look through the boxes, do you mind if I do?� Melissa asked.

�Suite yourself. Mine is downstairs in the front hall.� Said Nick, with a shrug. He leaned over to the nightstand and grabbed the remote.

Slightly angry, Melissa left Nick to channel surf. After reaching the ground floor, Melissa located Nick�s box just inside the door. She took it into the living room, where she settled on the shag rug. Wrapping a woven Mexican blanket around her shoulders, she pulled the box closer to her body.

�Achoo!� She sneezed. Lordy, this is dusty, Melissa thought. She took the top off the box with caution. The very first item that met her eyes was a yellowing envelope. She recognized her own childish hand scrawled across the front. �To: Nickers From: Lissie-Liss.� It read.

Smiling, Melissa took the envelope in her hands. She flipped it over and opened the back flap. When Melissa pulled out the card from within, she had to laugh. It was handmade in orange and brown markers:

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