I awake to the sounds of birds chirping.
By the sun's slant through my window, I'd say it's about 11 am.
I lie there a moment, gradually letting things come into focus as my eyes adjust to being open again.
"Ahem."
I roll over.
Melody's standing there, looking impossibly cute and appealing in one of my university sweatshirts and a pair of jeans that are probably mine as well, since they hang low on her and I don't remember her wearing jeans last night.
"Morning", I grin.
"It's about time you're up." She tosses me a set of keys, "Here. Go to my house and get me a change of clothes."
Wait, what?
"Um, excuse me, but why do -I- have to get your clothes for you? You're dressed. Go out and get them yourself or just put on..." My eyes dart around the room, finding her discarded white dress, crumpled in the corner, "..that dress from last night.
She sighs impatiently, tossing her hair in that indignant way that girls know how to do so well, "Because I'm not going to be seen walking out of here wearing your clothes like some slut and I never, -ever- wear the same clothes two days in a row."
I'm still only half-awake and while I apparently had the presence of mind to drink some Gatorade last night, judging from the half-full bottle on my nightstand, I've still got a mild headache. Fuck, I don't want to argue about this.
"Fine."
She nods and sits on the bed, picking up the textbook from history class, "Good. I'll just sit here and read until you get back."
Why am I not surprised that she reads textbooks for leisure? I just grunt in answer and head out into the hall and down the stairs.
"Hey stranger. Hope you're not too worse for the wear after last night."
Becky's coming up the stairs, carrying a bowl of soup in her hands. It smells damned good and I'm suddenly a little hungry as I grin at her.
"Hey. Sorry about taking off on you last night. But, well... you know..."
"Yeah I know", she smiles, "It's okay. Drake was a fun date and at least one of us got what we wanted." She looks at the bowl in her hands, "I'm bringing Bobby some soup... He'll need it because he's probably pretty depressed right now, if I know him."
I shake my head in disbelief, "Why are you even bothering? I mean, Caveman's made it clear he doesn't like you like that, so why keep hurting yourself?"
Her smile turns sad then, as she shrugs, "Because I love him. And besides, Bobby's fire. Fire people need someone to tend to them or they'll destroy themselves."
...Huh?
"Um, fire people?"
She brightens, nodding, "Yep. Everyone in the world has the four elements in them: fire, earth, air, and water, although in different proportions and one element will always be the dominant one. Bobby's fire, you're water, Melody's earth and Drake and I are both air."
I think she's on crack and from the disbelieving look I give her, Becky sees she's going to have to explain this one a little bit better.
"Fire people like Bobby are capable of great change or great destruction. They are the creative spirits, the geniuses, the ones who challenge the world around them and either alter it or themselves in drastic ways.
Air people like Drake and I are able to dart from place to place, always ready to discover and explore new ideas and able to fit in any situation and talk to anyone.
Earth people like Melody are conservative, constant, and unyielding. They're the rock on which society depends to keep it going in an orderly, steady fashion."
"Heh, sounds like Melody all right... Believing she and her fellow richies are the ones to maintain the world and rule it."
Becky giggles, "Yeah, you're probably right. Now let me finish. Water people like you are essential to life. You just go with the flow, adapting yourself to your environment and affecting quiet, subtle changes on the world around you. You're the unseen strength, the support that allows others to go and do the grand things they were destined to do."
"Hmmm, sounds like I'm not one destined for fame and riches by your account", I quip.
She looks at me with a surprisingly serious and thoughtful expression, "But would you really be happy with money and fame, Nick?"
She's right. I wouldn't be. Melody's got that right about me, too. It's just one more thing to think about it in the confusion my life's become since getting to know Melody.
"Anyway, the elements don't exist in a vaccum of course. There's relationships between them all. Air feeds fire and ruffles water's harmony, earth traps air and is burned by fire, and..."
...I have no idea what she's talking about.
"And...?"
"And water, your element, douses fire and erodes earth. In other words, Nick, you're able to calm Bobby's most destructive impulses and you eat away at Melody's defenses."
I can't help but grin at that. Now -that- I understand and it's certainly true enough.
"Sounds like I'm the super element then. Nobody can stop Nick the Amazing Water Boy! Roar!"
Becky laughs, starting up the steps again. She pauses when she's alongside of me and leans in to whisper.
"Water's weakness is air. Like I said, we air people disrupt your harmony and leave you befuddled. So be careful, Nick... or you find your smooth waters stormy."
She giggles and dashes off up the stairs, leaving me shaking my head as I go to the door.
That element stuff is absolute hogwash. After all, if what she said is true, then Drake would ruffle me and I certainly don't feel ruffled by him. In fact, he's my best friend in the chapter.
Ugh. I'm going to have to get some more Gatorade. My headache's killing me now after that weird Becky crap. Better pick up some for Melody too on my way back from her house. She didn't look hung over, but a $1.49 ounce of prevention is worth three hours later of her bitching about a hangover.
I <3 realist theory of international relations.
