Picture Perfect- *Chapter Two: Mudpies and Chocolate Chips*

Marissa looked around the all too familiar room Karen had led her to. From what she could tell, it was the one room that hadn’t been changed at all in the entire house. The walls were still light lavender with white trim and the bed was still the same one that had lived there her last week in town. Marissa looked over at Karen, who smiled.

“He said he wouldn’t change this room for the world. I don’t know why... Melinda said she didn’t want to change it either, said she liked the quaint little room. I don’t know why... it’s not that great.”

“I love it. It’s perfect, thank you.”

“Get yourself settled. I have to go shopping; I’m going to bring Melinda with me so that she doesn’t bother you; she tends to pester people who are new in her life.”

“That’s fine, I don’t mind.”

“No, I’ll bring her with me, make yourself at home.”

“Very well. Thank you for your kindness.”

Karen left the room quietly, leaving Marissa alone in the nostalgic room. She watched from the window as the two climbed in Karen’s car and drove off. She grabbed her small suitcase and searched the contents. She pulled a pair of faded, ripped jeans from it from disgust. She hadn’t realized she had packed them and soon realized that they were the only pair she had brought with her. She put them on, telling herself that the first thing she would do after seeing Tara was buy herself a few pairs of jeans. She grabbed a turquoise cami and pulled that on with a black sweater. Then she sat on the bed and pulled out her laptop. Her mail icon flashed wildly from the screen.

‘Marissa:

We have a MAJOR problem. Andy screwed up our clients and sent the wrong ads to the wrong companies. We don’t know what to do! Marissa, we need you to get back here! Rival companies are going to be getting their opponents’ ads. You need to get back to Chicago now, before he puts the company belly up.

Laura’

Marissa read the message aloud to make sure her brain wasn’t playing tricks on her. She swore under her breath, angry at Andy, but more angry at herself for leaving the incompetent moron in charge.

“So, when does your plane to Chicago leave?” a voice said, startling her.

“What?” she asked, looking at the door where Aiden stood.

“I heard your e-mail, when you read it out loud. You are heading back to save your company aren’t you?" he asked sarcastically.

"Aiden... I can't..."

"Just go then... you can't even stay for your best friend's death! Which is where you really should be!"

"Aiden, you didn't let me finish. I can't leave you guys, not now. Laura can deal with this. It's happened before and we survived this just fine. They can handle without me. I just have to send them a few instructions," she said as she typed quickly for a few seconds.

"You're not..."

"Leaving? No. I'm here to stay... for a little while anyway."

Aiden looked at her as though waiting for her to say 'psyche!', and when it didn't come he smiled. Marissa smiled back and took a picture from her suitcase, giving it to him. Three young, smiling, faces smiled back covered in mud. Aiden gazed into three pairs of eyes, brown, blue and emerald green.

"Do you remember when that picture was taken? It was my birthday and we decided to celebrate by making a giant 'mud pie'."

"How could I forget? I was washing mud out of my hair for like a week!"

"Then my mom found out and decided we should be more productive by making chocolate chip cookies," she laughed.

"If I remember correctly, there weren't that many chocolate chips left when we were done."

"Yeah, we ate so many! I was sick for ages!" The two of them laughed together. Aiden laughed so hard he fell into her on the bed. His blue eyes gazed into hers and he stopped. Marissa gazed back for a second, then sat up and laughed it off.

"I saw Tara... I told her you were here."

"And?"

"She told me to send you home. I'm sorry Issa, but she doesn't want to see you."

"But..."

"Stay a little while, let me wamr her up. I promise you, you'll see her my the time you go home."

"I hope I can be strong enough."

"You will be. You will be."

Aiden smiled at her and put a reassuring arm around her shoulder. She smiled back confidently.

"If anyone can break down her wall, it's you. I trust you."

"Get some rest, Issa. It'll be a long day tomorrow."

Marissa laid down on the pillow and Aiden covered her with the purple comforter.

"I'm sorry for the stuff I said earlier, Issa. I'm glad your back. I wish I could convince you to stay longer. It's really good to see your face again," he whispered before shutting the door without giving her a chance to respond. She fell asleep with a tear rolling down her cheek.