The Melaswen Paradox (Read 329,214 times)

[mae00]

Well I'm glad there some familiarity from Melanie. That's a good sign. Hopefully Andre is too far behind to stop them from getting off of the property.

[Kpatch]

I'm relieved Philip got Melanie out.

Leave it to Andre to find a way out.

Chase is really sweet.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 497

SALEM UNIVERSITY
As today was registration day, the halls of Salem U were packed full of incoming freshmen. A few older people were there, as well, but these were mostly the parents or siblings of incoming students, and a handful of students taking summer classes. Claire, Ciara and Chase had gotten into line together, with their parents just behind them.
SHAWN-D: It’s crazy to be back here after so long.
BELLE: I know! It’s changed so much!
CIARA: This place is huge!
Chase nodded.
CLAIRE: It looks really nice!
Steve, Kayla and Joey walked in.
JOEY: Hey, guys.
CHASE: Hey, dude.
Joey joined in the line with the kids while Steve and Kayla joined the adults.
STEVE: Sorry we’re late, dudes. Ran into some heavy traffic.
HOPE: You’re right on time. They haven’t been fully registered yet.
AIDEN: Abe had the right idea coming earlier.
JOEY: So, where’s Theo?
CLAIRE: For that matter, where’s Trix?
CIARA: I texted Theo last night, and he said he got his dad to take him as early as possible so that he could see as much as possible and learn exactly where his classes would be before school officially starts.
JOEY: Makes sense.
CIARA: As for Trix, I dunno. I told her what time we were all meeting here.
CLAIRE: Well, she and her dad probably just got held up with something, or couldn’t make it at the same time.
CIARA: I hope that’s what it is.
JOEY: Why would it be anything different?
Ciara glanced in the direction of the adults to make sure they weren’t listening.
CIARA: Not sure. I think things got a little weird after what went down after the party on the Fourth.
CLAIRE: You guys okay?
CIARA: I think so, I’m just not sure what’s going on with her. It’s not like anything happened, really, but I still think we should talk. And it’s not the kind of conversation I wanna have on the phone, so…
CHASE: I see what you mean.
CLAIRE: Hey, I’m sure everything will work out.
CIARA: Thanks.
Finally, the kids got to the front of the line. There were ten stations where incoming students could get registered. This was also where they would get their IDs. Claire, Chase, Ciara and Joey each went to a different station. The people behind the desks looked from their computers to them.
WOMAN #1: Name?
CIARA: Ciara Alice Brady.
CLAIRE: Claire Brady.
CHASE: Chase Jennings.
JOEY: Joseph Johnson.
MAN #1: Do you go by any nicknames?
JOEY: Joey.
WOMAN #2: Date of birth?
CLAIRE: September 27.
CIARA: December 29.
CHASE: January 23.
JOEY: May 16.
After filling in more of their basic information, each of the people at the stations printed off a piece of paper and handed it to the students.
MAN #2: This is your temporary ID. To get your permanent one, please visit the student center.
WOMAN #1: Exit this door, go to the right and it’s three doors down.
MAN #1: Also, your student e-mail address is on here. It’s normally your first initial, last name and then @salemu.edu. However, As there are two C. Bradys this year, yours will be cabrady.
WOMAN #2: Your password is your ID number. This will be the same for both your student e-mail as well as the Blackboard website. Welcome to Salem U

[heroicmuse]

I'm surprised Salem U doesn't do registration online, but that wouldn't be dramatic so I'm glad they don't

I hope Trix doesn't start ghosting Ciara over what happened. That won't help anything.

I can't wait to see the kids start college in the fall.

Great chapter André DiMera.

[Kpatch]

I feel like I'm starting school too!

[fluffysmom]

I could picture the college registration.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 498

SALEM UNIVERSITY
All four had gone to the Student Center to get their IDs and set up their schedules.
CLAIRE: So, your Intro to Law class is at the same time as my Music Theory I?
CHASE: Yep. So, that works out perfectly.
Claire and Chase kissed.
CIARA: I wish Trix was here so I’d know what time her classes would be and we could coordinate schedules like Claire and Chase are doing.
Joey nodded.
CLAIRE: I’m sure you two’ll get in touch soon and figure things out. I mean, technically, your schedule doesn’t have to be finalized until mid-August, so if you need to switch things around, you can.
CIARA: Good point.
A while later, the kids were sitting in some couches in the Student Center, looking over each other’s schedules. A girl and a boy, who must have been two of the older students, walked into the room.
GIRL: Is this the incoming freshmen?
JOEY: Most of us, anyway.
BOY: All right, well, if you’re interested, we’re here to give you a tour of the campus, as well as the dorms. Guys follow me.
GIRL: And ladies, follow me.
Claire looked over at her parents.
CLAIRE: I’m gonna go.
SHAWN-D: That sounds good. Have fun, Claire Bear.
CLAIRE: Thanks.
Claire turned back to her friends.
CLAIRE: You guys coming?
Joey, Ciara and Chase looked to their parents.
STEVE: Go on, dude. Gotta get the full college experience.
HOPE: Have fun, honey.
AIDEN: See you later.
All four got up. Chase and Joey followed the boy, while Claire and Ciara followed the girl. Several other new students joined them, as well. Both groups started walking, but the one following the boy went right, while the one following the girl went left.
GIRL: All right, so, welcome to Salem University. Make sure you stick together. Find at least one person here to stay with at all times. If you don’t know anyone here, make a new friend. Please don’t wander away from the rest of the group, unless we’re exploring the dorms, and then please stay in that general area. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask, and I will do my best to answer. Now that we’ve got all that out of the way, hi! I’m Tawna, and I’m one of the R.A.s in the girls’ dorms, which, I figured, is the best place for us to start.
CIARA (to herself): Well, this’ll be interesting.
BOY: Okay, guys. First thing’s first, the name’s Rey. That’s R-E-Y, not with an A. And before you ask, yes, like the Star Wars character, and whatever comments or jokes you can think of, I can assure you, I’ve already heard them a million times. I like Star Wars as much as the next guy, but not that much. That, out of the way, welcome to Salem University. I figured we’d start out with a tour of the campus itself and then move on to the dorms. Any objections?
Rey looked around at the students. Chase and Joey looked to each other, and then back at Rey.
REY: All right, then. This way.
Tawna opened the door and waited for all of the girls to get inside.
TAWNA: So, this is the girls’ dorm. I know a lot of you are from Salem, but even if you are, and just want a little bit of independence, this is where you’ll be staying. As I said, I’m one of the two R.A.s here. I’m the daytime R.A. I’m here from 7 in the morning until 7 at night. The nighttime R.A., Rayne, is here when I’m not. Except for today, when she’s also giving tours of the campus. Now, feel free to look around the dorms, but please only go in a room where the door is open. If the door is closed, that means a student taking summer courses is staying there right now, and as much as I’m sure they’d love to meet new students, they’re likely busy studying at the moment.
CIARA: Come on, let’s go check out some of the rooms.
CLAIRE: Okay.
Ciara, Claire and the rest of the girls went into various rooms and looked around. They went into a room, and saw that a few other freshmen, who weren’t part of Tawna’s tour group, were already in there.
CIARA: Hey.
One of the girls turned around. It was Trix.
TRIX: Oh, hey.
CIARA: Trix. Hey. Uh, we need to talk.
CLAIRE: I’ll give you guys a minute.
Claire walked out of the room, as did the rest of the girls, except for Ciara and Trix.

[heroicmuse]

I'm glad Ciara ran into Trix. I had a feeling Trix was avoiding her. I'm interested to see how their conversation goes.

I'm not sure about these tour guides though, especially Rey. I hope nobody is looking for freshmen to bully.

Great chapter André DiMera. Will there be previews?

[Kpatch]

I didn't realize the kids were living on campus. I wonder what Ciara has against Tawna. Trix is missingin action.

[fluffysmom]

I wonder if they will all be living on campus.

It looks like Trix was definitely avoiding Ciara.

[André DiMera]

Thanks for reading and commenting!

---

Next week...

[/div]
Ciara and Trix finally get to talk.
CIARA: What's going on?

And the tour of Salem U continues.
CLAIRE: This is gonna be awesome!

Meanwhile, Brady has a request for Marlena.
BRADY: I need to ask you to do something.

And while Philip's mission was accomplished, things might not be going back to normal as soon as he expects.
PHILIP: You're not serious.

All this and more next week on THE MELASWEN PARADOX!

[heroicmuse]

I can't wait to see Ciara and Trix's conversation! I hope they can clear the air.

I hope Salem U is as great as Claire thinks it's going to be.

Wonder what Brady wants from Marlena and if he is beginning to accept his actual identity.

And I am curious what Melanie's reaction to all this is and whether she wants to go back to "Father".

Great previews André DiMera.

[fluffysmom]

Philip should be worried that Andre knows he's the one who rescued Melanie.

Thanks for the previews André DiMera.

[Kpatch]

I wonder what Brady wants from Marlena. Thanks for the previews André DiMera.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 499

BAYVIEW SANITARIUM
Brady was sitting up in his room. Marlena was sitting across from him.
BRADY: ...so there’s that. Also, my memories of being...I mean, thinking that I was Lexie, are finally going away.
MARLENA: It seems to me that you’re making excellent strides in recovery. Your memories are almost entirely back, and while you still have the occasional echoes of Lexie’s life, they’re becoming fewer and farther between. Does that sound correct?
Brady nodded.
BRADY: Yes. I know who I am now. I know for sure that I’m Brady Black, that I have a wife, Theresa, and a son, Tate. And I am definitely not Lexie Carver. And I’m finally comfortable with that, though thinking that I was Lexie seems really bizarre.
MARLENA: I imagine that the trauma that you have had to confront recently has been difficult to comprehend. That’s why I am glad to hear that you are dealing with it appropriately, and that you are now secure in your identity.
Marlena looked at the clock on the wall.
MARLENA: Unfortunately, our session is up for today. Before I go, is there anything else I can do for you?
BRADY: Well, now that you mention it, Marlena, there is something I’d like to ask you.
MARLENA: All right.
BRADY: Can I see my father and Hope?
MARLENA: Well, I’m sure that they’d be delighted to come and visit you. I’ll tell them that you asked to see them.
BRADY: Thank you. I wasn’t finished, though.
MARLENA: I’m sorry. Please, continue.
BRADY: I’d also like to see Abe.

SALEM UNIVERSITY
Trix crossed her arms.
TRIX: So, you wanted to talk.
CIARA: Well, I think we should. Don’t you?
Trix shrugged.
CIARA: Okay, I’ll start, then. What’s going on?
TRIX: How d’you mean?
CIARA: With you. With us. Why are you avoiding me?
TRIX: I’m not.
CIARA: Yes, you are. Trix, all day yesterday and today, you haven’t responded to any of my texts or calls. Did I do something wrong?
TRIX: It’s not you.
CIARA: Then, what is it?
TRIX: I don’t know. I just...I feel weird about what happened the other night.
CIARA: Right. I mean, I do, too.
TRIX: It’s just, I don’t do things like that. I’ve never done anything like that. To be honest, I’m a little embarrassed.
CIARA: I am, too. I was really stupid that night.
TRIX: Well, neither one of us was all that on the ball. And then we woke up in bed together the next morning. And don’t get me wrong, I love you...I just was hoping that the first night we spent together would be one I’d remember.
CIARA: And it still can be. Claire said that we didn’t actually do anything once she put us to bed, and she’d know. If something had happened, Claire would have told us.
TRIX: I guess. When did she say that?
CIARA: The next morning while she helped us sober up.
TRIX: Ah. That must’ve been when I was reenacting The Exorcist.
CIARA: Possibly.
Ciara reached for Trix’s hand.
CIARA: But, hey, nothing happened. Aside from us both getting way too drunk and being sick the next morning.
TRIX: I know. Still feel kinda weird about it, though.
CIARA: Me too.
TRIX: So, where do we go from here?