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Show All the Variables & Other Love Stories 48 declined. Beau Walker kept his head high, but when he was alone he felt miserable and wanted to cry. It was at the end of her daily breakfast ritual that Melissa Johnson finally met Jay Meeks. Beau had been detained by a hangover, and she was left to walk herself home. Jay stood with his back against the side of the recruiting depot, dry blood on his face and hate in his heart. When she saw him, she smiled, and he glared back at her horrible enough that it made her stop. Her eyes were confused. She searched him out. Tried to find him behind long greasy hair and battered skin. "How do you do?" she said, but he said nothing. "My name is Melissa, what's yours?" Jay shook his head, lit a cigarette. "Please don't smoke," she asked, and he exhaled at her. "It's very rude to ignore a person who only wants to be polite and make new friends." "Is it?" Jay Meeks asked. "Yes, it is," Melissa Johnson confirmed. "I am not kind," Jay Meeks said. "No, you're not," Melissa Johnson confirmed. "I can see that now, so pardon me." She made to walk past him, and he said, "My name is Jay Meeks, and I'll smoke where I like." |