Christmas Wrapping (Read 3,244 times)

[mae00]

PHilip better not run into Melanie in person if he hasn't made good on what he said. Melanie always held him to his word. She may end up throwing muffins at him again. LOL!!!

Very cute scene between them but I was surprised by the soldier comment as well. I THINK I may remember her calling him that a couple of times, but it wasn't often. Honestly right now, I can't remember what her nickname for him was.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 4

JAVA CAFE
PHILIP: She did text me her number, and we texted a couple of times every now and then. But, we didn't get the chance to call or get together. Winter is always Titan's busiest time of the year, so it's not like I had a lot of opportunities to see her. Until Spring, that is.
SHAWN-D: Why? What happened in Spring?
PHILIP: Well...

CHICAGO BOTANICAL GARDENS – FLASHBACK
Philip and a bunch of executives from Titan were walking around.
PHILIP: Okay, I think that that is the end of the tour. We will conveien this meeting at Acadia in a half an hour.
All of Philip's guests departed. Philip was about to make his departure, but was stopped by a familiar figure.
PHILIP: Melanie?
Melanie turned around.
MELANIE: You know, you're lucky there's no muffins around.
PHILIP: What?
MELANIE: I thought you were gonna call me.
PHILIP: I know. I am so, so sorry about that!
MELANIE: Well, I could have picked up the phone, as well.
PHILIP: I know, but I said that I would call. I feel really bad about that.
MELANIE: It's...whatever.
PHILIP: No, I really am sorry. I just got caught up with stuff at Titan...
MELANIE: It's fine. Looks like you're doing well.
PHILIP: Yeah, I'm out here showing some executives around Chicago.
MELANIE: That's nice.
PHILIP: What are you doing here?
MELANIE: I stayed a bit longer in Salem than I expected, so I got an apartment in Chicago.
PHILIP: Oh, cool.
MELANIE: Yeah. So, I don't suppose you'd be up for lunch, would you?
Philip's face fell.
PHILIP: I would, but I have to take all of these executives out, and the plans have already been made.
MELANIE: Oh...okay.
PHILIP: Yeah, I'm sorry.
MELANIE: Hey, it's okay.
PHILIP: What about tomorrow?
MELANIE: Can't tomorrow, I'm going out with a friend tomorrow. How about next week?
PHILIP: Next week I have to go to Titan's Australia office in Melbourne, so that takes the next two weeks. What about after that?
MELANIE: No, by that time, I'll be in Switzerland, visiting my mom and Nicky.
PHILIP: Nicky? Why would you want to visit Nicole? And why is she in Switzerland with your mom?
MELANIE: No, not that Nicky. My brother, Nicholas.
PHILIP: Oh, okay. That makes more sense.
Melanie looked at her watch.
MELANIE: Hey, I'm really sorry, but I have to go.
PHILIP: Okay, I promise I'll call you this time.
MELANIE: You better.
PHILIP: I will.
Philip and Melanie hugged.
MELANIE: See you later.
PHILIP: Bye.
Melanie walked away.

JAVA CAFE
SHAWN-D: Wait, wait, so let me get this straight. So far, you'd met her once just after Christmas, but didn't have time to talk then. Then, you met each other in spring, and couldn't coordinate your schedules then, either?
PHILIP: That's about the size of it, yeah.
SHAWN-D: So, that's it? That's the last time you saw her?
PHILIP: The last time I saw her, yes. But, it's not the last time I talked to her.

[heroicmuse]

Hmm.. Philip sure has a packed schedule... or was it really?

I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next!

[Kpatch]

If Philip really wanted to see Melanie, he'd have made the time. Something is holding him back and that something is common sense.

Thanks for the surprise Saturday chapter!

[mae00]

Hahaha! Love it! I'm so glad the muffins were mentioned. Both seem to be jet-setters so it's no surprise that they couldn't coordinate their time. I hope they both take things slowly and not jump into anything on a whim.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 5

JAVA CAFE
SHAWN-D: So, you did talk to her more?
PHILIP: Of course. We'd finally gotten back in touch. So, we texted each other, called a few times. But, we were never able to meet up. We tried to a couple of times, but stuff just never worked out. Like last summer when I was getting ready for Titan's annual Fourth of July yacht party...

PHILIP'S HOUSE – FLASHBACK
Since moving to Chicago, Philip had bought a small house. Nothing elaborately fancy, but it was nice. He was sitting at home, and had just picked up the phone.
PHILIP: Hey.
MELANIE (over phone): Hey. How are you?
PHILIP: Good. You?
MELANIE (over phone): Been better.
PHILIP: Everything okay?
MELANIE (over phone): It will be, eventually. What's up?
PHILIP: Well, Victor is throwing a party this weekend for the Fourth of July. It's gonna be on the Titan Yacht. He said we should all bring plus ones. I know it's short notice, I was wondering if you'd like to go with me.
MELANIE (over phone): That'd be awesome! I'd love to...
PHILP: Awesome!
MELANIE (over phone): You didn't let me finish.
PHILIP: Oh, sorry.
MELANIE (over phone): I'd love to, but I can't.
PHILIP: Why?
MELANIE (over phone): I'm kind of in the hospital.
PHILIP: Oh my god! What? Are you okay? What happened?
MELANIE (over phone): Like I said, I will be.
PHILIP: Melanie, what happened?
MELANIE (over phone): You know how the last time we talked I said I was going out to the beach with some friends?
PHILIP: Yeah, and I would've come, too, if I hadn't had a board meeting in New York that week.
MELANIE (over phone): Right. Well, my friends and I went to the beach. And, me, being the genius that I am, I forgot to bring sunscreen.
PHILIP: Surely some of your other friends had sunscreen, though.
MELANIE (over phone): They did, and don't call me Shirley. Anyway, it was really overcast that day, so I didn't think I would need sunscreen. Well, it didn't stay overcast for very long. But, I was having so much fun, that I didn't bother to ask my friends if I could borrow their sunscreen. One thing led to another, and I ended up with third degree sunburn all over my face, back and shoulders.
PHILIP: Which hospital are you in?
MELANIE (over phone): Condell.
PHILIP; I'll be there in an hour.
MELANIE (over phone): No, Philip, go to your dad's yacht party. I'll be fine.
PHILIP: You are not fine, you have a major sunburn.
MELANIE (over phone): Look, my parents both came out here, and they're taking good care of me. Besides, you do not want to see me, I look like an overdone lobster.
PHILIP: Are you sure? Because you know I don't have any problem with skipping my dad's party.
MELANIE (over phone): I know, and that's sweet. But, like I said, I'll be fine.
PHILIP: Okay. I'll let you go so the doctors and your parents can take care of you. I hope you get better soon.
MELANIE (over phone): Thanks. Bye.
PHILIP: Bye.
Philip hung up the phone.

JAVA CAFE
SHAWN-D: Ouch! That had to hurt!
PHILIP: I can imagine it did. She sent me a picture and...it was not pretty.
SHAWN-D: How bad were those burns?
PHILIP: Third degree.
Shawn-D winced.
SHAWN-D: But, once she got out of the hospital, she called you, right?
PHILIP: Yeah.
SHAWN-D: So, you guys did get together, right?
PHILIP: No. I already told you, Spring was the last time I actually saw Melanie.
SHAWN-D: Right. So, what happened next? I'm assuming there is a next?
PHILIP: Oh, there is.

[heroicmuse]

Sounds like a series of bad timings and misadventures. Typical Melanie, forgetting to put on sunscreen and ending up in the hospital. LOL

[Kpatch]

Melanie has such a fair complexion. She needs to be wiser about being out in the sun. I'm guessing by Christmas, they will end up seeing each other, hence the title of the story. LOL. Thanks for the chapter!

[mae00]

I feel for Melanie. I've done the whole sunscreen thing before. I've even used the spray sunscreen that was low enough in the bottle that it was nothing but water. Fortunately I didn't end up in the hospital but it was still a bad burn.

[fluffysmom]

I'm enjoying the story. Neither of the songs sounds familiar to me so I have no idea what you have in store for us.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 6

JAVA CAFE
PHILIP: Of course there was a bit more texting, and a phone call or two. Thankfully, Melanie's recovery went nicely. I got a box of her favorite chocolates and flowers and sent them to her. Then, it got to be October, and Titan started getting busy again. But, I found the perfect reason to see Melanie again.
SHAWN-D: What was it?
PHILIP: The annual Titan Halloween party.

PHILIP'S HOUSE – FLASHBACK
Philip sat in a chair, he was talking on the phone.
PHILIP: Well, I'm glad to hear that. Sounds like everything's going pretty well for you.
MELANIE: Yep, it is.
PHILIP: So, what are you doing this Halloween?
MELANIE: Well, I was gonna just sit at home, watch the Great Pumpkin, and hand out candy to the little kids. All of my friends are out of town, at the moment.
PHILIP: Why don't you come over to Titan's Chicago office? I'm throwing a Halloween party.
MELANIE: That'd be awesome! I'd love to come!
PHILIP: Great! Of course, it's a costume party, so you'll need to dress up.
MELANIE: What are you dressing up as?
PHILIP: I don't really know just yet. I'm thinking of dressing as either Cyclops from X-Men, or Captain Hook, from Once Upon a Time.
MELANIE: Well, if you go as Cyclops, I'll go as Phoenix.
PHILIP: Which one?
MELANIE: Dark Phoenix, of course.
PHILIP: Ooh, I like that!
MELANIE: I hope so. I'm really looking forward to this now. Thanks for the invite!
PHILIP: No problem. Then, maybe after the party we could have that dinner we've been trying to do since last Christmas.
MELANIE: Sounds good to me.
PHILIP: Okay. Party's at 5.
MELANIE: Awesome! See you there.
PHILIP: Yep. See ya.
MELANIE: Bye.
PHILIP: Bye.
Philip hung up the phone.

JAVA CAFE
SHAWN-D: Let me guess, since you say Spring was the last time you saw her, either she didn't make it, or you didn't.
PHILIP: Well...
Just as Philip was about to continue his story, Belle walked in.
BELLE: Hey.
SHAWN-D: Hey.
Shawn-D and Belle kissed.
SHAWN-D: What are you doing here? I thought you said you and Aiden were working on a case.
BELLE: We were. But, then Aiden realized that he needed to pick something up before the Horton Christmas party tonight, and that the case could wait until after Christmas. So he said we could go home early. Hey Philip.
PHILIP: Hello, Belle.
BELLE: So, what's up?
SHAWN-D: Philip here's just been telling me about this crazy year he's been having, trying to get together with Melanie and never succeeding.
BELLE: Melanie?
PHILIP: Daniel Jonas and Carly Manning's daughter.
Belle sat down next to Shawn-D.
BELLE: So, what happened?

[heroicmuse]

That's what I want to know. What happened. Was Melanie dressing as the Dark Phoenix tempting fate so Andre swooped in??? LOL Inquiring minds want to know!

Great chapter André DiMera!

[Kpatch]

Belle didn't seem surprised to see Philip. I would think she knows who Melanie is unless she didn't know Philip got married again.

[fluffysmom]

I wonder what happened with the Halloween party.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 7
JAVA CAFE
Philip and Shawn-D had gotten Belle up to speed on the events of Philip's life over the past year.
BELLE: So, you guys met up twice, but barely had any time to talk, you tried to get her to come to a party on your yacht, but she was in the hospital for a bad sunburn, and then you tried to get her to come to the Titan Halloween party, which she said yes to, but there's still more?
PHILIP: Yep.
BELLE: What happened?
PHILIP: I tried finding her at the party...

TITAN – FLASHBACK
The annual Titan Halloween party was in full swing. Philip had dressed up, as he had told Melanie he would, as Cyclops from X-Men. A handful of his assistants had also dressed up as different members of the X-Men. There were many other people there dressed in a variety of costumes. Philip was searching all night for Melanie. Philip walked up to Sarah, one of his assistants, who was dressed as Rogue from X-Men.
PHILIP: Hey, Sarah, you haven't seen a girl dressed as Phoenix from X-Men, have you?
SARAH: Nope. Sorry. Bye the way, I love the idea of a costume party.
PHILIP: Thanks.
Philip asked Jerry, another assistant, who was dressed as Wolverine.
JERRY: Nope. I've seen Rogue, Storm, X-23, Jubilee, I've even seen a pretty risque White Queen outfit. But, I haven't seen any Pheonix, Dark or otherwise.
PHILIP: Okay. Let me know if you do see one.
JERRY: You got it, boss.
Philip's search went on, as did the party. Finally, around Midnight, Philip's cell phone rang. He excused himself into another room.
PHILIP: Hello?
MELANIE (over phone): I am so sorry!
PHILIP: Melanie. Where are you?
MELANIE (over phone): I was on my way to the party, and this idiot pulled out right in front of me and hit my car.
PHILIP: Oh my gosh! Are you okay?
MELANIE (over phone): I'm fine. My car isn't. It's a mess. I had to wait an hour to get it towed. Then, they suggested that I get checked out. Of course, because it wasn't an emergency and I wasn't severely injured, I had to wait forever. I'm just now getting out and waiting for a cab. How was the party?
PHILIP: It's winding down now. It was okay.
MELANIE (over phone): I'm really sorry. I really wanted to come.
PHILIP: I know. Don't feel bad. You can't control what idiots who don't know how to drive do on the road.
MELANIE (over phone): I know, but I was really looking forward to seeing you tonight.
PHILIP: Well, I'm sure we'll see each other some other time.
MELANIE (over phone): Yeah.
PHILIP: Well, I hope your car gets better.
MELANIE (over phone): Thanks.
PHILIP: I'll talk to you later.
MELANIE (over phone): Okay. Bye.
PHILIP: Bye.

JAVA CAFE
BELLE: Well, that sucks.
PHILIP: Yeah, no kidding.
SHAWN-D: Is there more to it than that?
PHILIP: Nope, not really. Since then, we've only texted a few times. Nothing serious.
BELLE: Gotcha.
PHILIP: I do have a question for you, Belle.
BELLE: What's the question?
PHILIP: When you walked into the Brady Pub, you didn't seem surprised to see me. I've been out of town for months, nearly over a year. So, why weren't you surprised to see me?