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Mel unhappily disentangles herself from Parker to accept the stick and marshmallow that Emma is handing out and grabs one for her girlfriend as well. Parker makes a move to take her roasting stick from Mel, but Mel clutches them to her. She knows that she can make the perfect marshmallows, so she intends to do it for both of them, just as she always has for her and Becca. Parker allows her with a nod. Carefully, Mel crouches at the fire to place the marshmallows above the coals to ensure the perfect golden brown caramelization. She can feel Parker's eyes watching her, and when she glances up, her girlfriend is smiling so affectionately at her that it makes her heart swell.
Mel turns her attention back to the marshmallows. She is absolutely determined to make Parker and herself the perfect s'mores. Above her, there's giggling that she's pretty sure is Victoria, but she doesn't bother to check. The marshmallows are nearly done and she is fully focused on them. At exactly the right time, she pulls them off the coals and turns to Parker, who has the graham crackers and chocolate all ready for her.
Settling back into her seat next to Parker, munching on her s'more, feels more like home than she could have ever expected. Mel eats carefully, trying not to get extremely sticky the way Emma, who has housed three s'mores by now, is. Emma seems happy enough, but Mel knows it would drive her up a wall if the marshmallow got all over her.
"Once upon a time, not too far from here, there lived a beautiful young woman," begins Trinity, as she starts her scary story on the other side of the campfire. "She was raised in the woods, far from civilization, and was so lonely." Mel takes the last bite of her s'more and Parker hands her some wipes to clean up. Her heart flutters at how well her girlfriend knows her. As she wipes, she continues listening to Trinity tell her story. Her voice rises and falls as she weaves a story about this lonely young woman living in the mountains where they are sitting right now.
"Her father ignored her pleas to leave and explore the world with her lover, instead telling her to stay right where she was, caring for him and her siblings. So distraught was our heroine that she fled into the woods. She was not paying attention as she ran through the woods, over rocks and roots, with branches flying in her face." Trinity pauses for dramatic effect. "Finally, she stopped running, but when she looked around, she had no idea where she was. She heard a wolf howl in the distance." Trinity broke off to howl herself. Mel buries her face in Parker's shoulder. Ghost stories are so not her thing. Trinity grins wickedly at her captive audience. "She was never seen or heard from again, but they say that sometimes you can still hear her weeping and see a white figure running through the woods near where she disappeared."
Trinity stands up and takes a bow, but Mel doesn't move from her spot on Parker's shoulder. She's perfectly safe, she knows that, but still, the idea of seeing a ghost freaks her out. Parker slings her arm around Mel and pulls her in close. She leans down and plants a kiss on Mel's head, but doesn't try to talk to her or engage with her. Mel can feel herself relax as Parker chats with some of their friends. It's comforting to hear her voice.
Parker slides her hand into Mel's, and Mel tilts her head up. "Hey baby," murmurs Parker, "you doing okay?" Mel nods silently. Parker squeezes her hand. "We can leave whenever you want." Mel hums her understanding and leans back down on Parker's shoulder, watching the group now.
As the evening wears on and the fire crackles, Mel can feel herself getting sleepier and sleepier. Her eyes flutter closed once, twice, three times, so she taps Parker lightly.
"You ready to head out?" Parker whispers.
"If you are," Mel answers.
Instead of responding, Parker gently starts to rise. "It's been a pleasure everyone, but Mel and I are going to head out."
Trinity wolf whistles at that and everyone dissolves into giggles. There's a flurry of goodbyes and Parker and Mel walk down the short path back to the parking lot and climb into Mel's car.
"Back to mine?" she asks.
"Let's go, " answers Parker, settling into the driver's seat.