Protecting Melody (2 page)

Tex: Yeah CC, I’m here
 

CC_CopyCat: Everything go OK with your friend?
 

Tex: Yeah
 

CC_CopyCat: I know we’ve only been talking to each other for a little while, but you’re not your usual self
 

Tex: CC, you have no idea
 

CC_CopyCat: You wanna talk about it?
 

Tex: You sure you want this? We can keep this light and fluffy and superficial. We can say hi every now and then and go on with our lives as we have been. But I’ll tell you. I’ve had a tough few days and could use more than that. But if we get deeper, I can’t go back to light and fluffy. You choose.
 

CC_CopyCat: I don’t like that you’ve had a shit day, and I’d love to talk to you about it, but I can’t give it back to you. I want to, I just can’t.
 

Tex: It’s OK. We can keep it light
 

CC_CopyCat: NO! Dammit Tex. You need to talk about stuff. You can’t keep it in. I didn’t mean that I didn’t want you to talk to me
 

Tex: I don’t need a therapist, I need a friend. I get that you’re cautious and it’s smart. I get it, but CC, I’ve enjoyed our chats over the last 2 months, but I’d like to be more real with you. We’ll never meet, so I feel safe talking to you about stuff. You can’t share my secrets ‘cos you don’t know who I am. I can’t share yours because of the same thing. Please, tell me something,
anything
, personal about yourself.
 

Tex sat back and held his breath. He didn’t know what it was about CC, but he really wanted to talk to her,
really
talk to her. He hadn’t lied. He
had
enjoyed talking to her. They’d
talked about their favorite foods (she liked Mexican, he liked Italian), favorite colors (hers was pink, his was blue), and many, many other superficial things. She’d even asked what his favorite Disney character was at one point. He’d thought it an odd question, but had answered her anyway.
 

But now Tex was at the point where he needed their relationship to be deeper than it was. He didn’t really know why, but he wanted to get to know her better. He liked her. She was funny and interesting and even though they hadn’t really talked about anything personal, he thought she’d be the kind of person he’d like to get to know better. He wasn’t satisfied with the superficial stuff anymore.
 

Tex waited another few moments and when CC didn’t respond back, he leaned forward and typed out a terse note, ready to log off and talk to her some other time.
 

Tex: OK then, I gotta go
 

CC_CopyCat: My name is Mel. It’s short for Melody
 

Tex: Thank you, Mel. You have no idea how much I needed that. Thank you
 

CC_CopyCat: Tell me about your shit day
 

Tex: A while ago, my buddy’s woman was kidnapped by Mexican slave traders. She was rescued and doing great. But recently she had a flashback and ran.
 

CC_CopyCat: Jesus, Tex. But she’s OK?
 

Tex: Yeah Mel, she’s OK. But for three days all she had was me. I called her every 4 hours to make sure she was staying put in the hotel. I listened to her go back and forth between reality and the shit that was messing with her head.
 

CC_CopyCat: I’m proud of you Tex
 

Tex: Don’t be. I’ve done some horrible things in my life
 

CC_CopyCat: Hasn’t everyone? Seriously, get off your high horse Tex. You aren’t the only person that wishes they’d done things differently. You aren’t the only one who has a crap background, or crap childhood, or crap marriage. You just keep moving forward. You learn from the past and keep going. Sounds to me like your friends are lucky to have you on their side.
 

CC_CopyCat: Tex? Shit. Too real? Not fluffy enough?
 

Tex: NO. Not too real. I’m just thinking.
 

CC_CopyCat: OK. Let me know when you’re done
 

Tex: Smart ass. You’re right. But I think the things I did are worse than the run-of-the-mill crap background.
 

CC_CopyCat: So what. Are you going to go off and continue to do those horrible things? Sounds to me like you’re trying to change that. That you’re doing good. I’m sure your friend would agree with me
 

Tex: Maybe
 

CC_CopyCat: No maybe about it
 

Tex: OK, you win
 

CC_CopyCat: Of course I do
 

Tex: Mel?
 

CC_CopyCat: Yeah?
 

Tex: I’m glad you didn’t choose fluffy
 

CC_CopyCat: Me too
 

Two Months Ago
 

Tex: Last time we talked you said you were scared all the time. I don’t like that.
 

CC_CopyCat: I don’t like it either
 

Tex: What are you scared of?
 

CC_CopyCat: People watching me. Getting shot. Getting kidnapped. Being sick. Being alone. You name it Tex, I’m scared of it.
 

Tex: Do you have depression Mel?
 

CC_CopyCat: No, why?
 

Tex: Most people who are scared of all those things are mentally ill
 

CC_CopyCat: So you’re saying you think I’m crazy?
 

Tex: You know I’m not. But I do want to know if there’s something really going on with you.
 

CC_CopyCat: I’m not crazy or depressed
 

Tex: Then what?
 

CC_CopyCat: Never mind
 

Tex: No, not never mind. TALK to me. Why are you scared of those things?
 

CC_CopyCat: I just am
 

Tex: Don’t bullshit me
 

CC_CopyCat: You ever get the feeling that you’re being watched?
 

Tex: No
 

CC_CopyCat: Well, I do. And it scares me. And thinking about that makes me think about the other stuff too. It’s a never-ending circle
 

Tex: Never take the same route when you go about your daily business. Always walk with your keys in your hand. Walk with your head up and look people in the eyes. If you get in an elevator, don’t turn your back to people. Never stay in an elevator if it’s only you and a man you don’t know. Tell someone when you expect to be home.
 

CC_CopyCat: You know a lot about this
 

Tex: Mel, I told you I was a Navy SEAL. We spend way too much time learning this kind of shit. If you get cornered or someone attacks you, go for their eyes, or their throat, or their balls. Don’t get in a car with someone if they try to take you away, you’re better off in a public place.
 

CC_CopyCat: Tex, I got it. I’m probably just imagining it anyway
 

Tex: I bet you aren’t. Anytime I got in a situation where I felt weird, in 100% of the cases, it turned out I was right.
 

CC_CopyCat: OK, I’ll be careful
 

Tex: If you need me, you shoot me a note, I’m here
 

CC_CopyCat: But we don’t really even know each other
 

Tex: Don’t care. Just agree
 

CC_CopyCat: You’re awfully bossy
 

Tex: Agree
 

CC_CopyCat: OK
 

Tex: Good
 

One Month Ago
 

CC_CopyCat: Tell me about your friends. You talk about them all the time, and it’s obvious they have some seriously awesome wives and girlfriends.
 

Tex: Yeah, they’re all great. You know I was a SEAL. I worked with some of them when I was in the Navy, but after I retired they found themselves
in need of my computer abilities. I can usually get them what they need faster than going through proper channels and with the issues their women have had, thank God that I can.
 

CC_CopyCat: What are their names again?
 

Tex: Wolf, Abe, Cookie, Mozart, Benny, and Dude
 

CC_CopyCat: I’m sure there’s some good stories behind those names
 

Tex: Of course
 

CC_CopyCat: Who do you rely on?
 

Tex: What do you mean?
 

CC_CopyCat: When you need someone, or something, who do you rely on?
 

CC_CopyCat: Tex? Shit, sorry. Did I overstep?
 

Tex: No
 

CC_CopyCat: Forget I asked. I’m sorry
 

Tex: As weird as this might sound. You.
 

CC_CopyCat: What?
 

Tex: You, Mel. When I’ve had a crap day, I get on here and talk to you. You don’t judge me, you don’t ask me for anything, you just talk to me.
 

CC_CopyCat: I won’t be around forever Tex. You need to get out more. Find someone there you can talk to.
 

Tex: People don’t “see” me as you do Mel
 

CC_CopyCat: Maybe you don’t give them a chance
 

Tex: No. I live in a military town. Most can tell by my limp that I’m not whole. They pity me. I can’t stand pity. I was a fucking SEAL. And if I’m wearing shorts? Forget about it.
 

CC_CopyCat: Not whole? Tex. Over the last months of me talking to you, I can tell you’re one of the most alpha men I’ve ever met. You’re bossy and you tell me what to do all the time. But at the same time you’re compassionate, you worry about your friends, and you drop everything to help them, even when they don’t ask. Believe me when I say that those people who see the surface that is you aren’t seeing even one tenth of who YOU are. Fuck them. See yourself as I do.
 

Tex: Shit Mel
 

CC_CopyCat: No, I’m not done
 

CC_CopyCat: I think your friends take advantage of you. They’re always calling you to help them. To help their women, but you haven’t talked about them coming out there to see you. To thank you in person.
 

Tex: Mel, listen
 

CC_CopyCat: No
 

CC_CopyCat: You listen
 

CC_CopyCat: Tex, If you were my friend I’d never take advantage of you. Ever.
 

Tex: You
are
my friend
 

CC_CopyCat: Damn straight
 

Tex: Thanks for making me feel better
 

CC_CopyCat: Anytime
 

Tex: What about you?
 

CC_CopyCat: What about me what?
 

Tex: What about your friends?
 

CC_CopyCat: I’ve got friends
 

Tex: Who? You never talk about them.
 

CC_CopyCat: Amy. Amy is my friend
 

Tex: Just Amy?
 

CC_CopyCat: Yeah. I trust her with my life. I miss her though. I’ve been away and I haven’t been able to talk to her as much as I’d like
 

Tex: Why?
 

CC_CopyCat: It’s complicated
 

Tex: You see me going anywhere?
 

CC_CopyCat: Amy’s back home. She has a husband and two kids and works for a contractor. She tells me all the time that her company builds stuff that kills people, but her job is to finance it. I have no idea what that means, but I laugh at her anyway.
 

Tex: She sounds funny
 

CC_CopyCat: She is! Sometimes we have complete conversations using hashtags
 

Tex: #likethis?
 

CC_CopyCat: #yeah
 

Tex: So why don’t you talk to her much?
 

CC_CopyCat: Well, she’s home, and has a life to live. And I’m not there, so it’s just hard.
 

Tex: I won’t push, but that sounds like a cop out
 

Tex: I know you’re not telling me the entire story, and I don’t like it. But as I said, I won’t push. But I AM going to send you my cell phone number. You don’t ever have to use it, but I want you to have it in case you want to ever talk. I think we’re good enough friends now that we can move our online relationship to the next level. I’d love to hear your voice sometime. I feel like your friend too. So, what are you doing today?
 

CC_CopyCat: Well, you know I work from wherever I am, so I’ve got two jobs today and otherwise I’m just hanging out. You?
 

Tex: I’m going to check in with my friends and make sure all is calm there, then I think I’m going to do something crazy today.
 

CC_CopyCat: What’s that?
 

Tex: There’s a new thriller out I’ve been meaning to read
 

CC_CopyCat: LOL. Crazy day for you
 

Tex: You know it
 

CC_CopyCat: Seriously Tex, you need to get out and interact with people more
 

Tex: Pot meet kettle
 

CC_CopyCat: Yeah, but you’re you. I haven’t seen a picture of you, but I bet you’re beautiful. You’re probably tall and built. Your hair is probably a bit too long and there’s not one woman who passes you who doesn’t take a second look.
 

Tex: Men aren’t beautiful
 

CC_CopyCat: The hell they aren’t
 

Tex: Well, I’m not. I don’t think my hair is too long, but the only reason women take a second glance at me is to pity me because of my injuries