Ok, I thought of this story, right? Well, I thought it sounded more like it should be some sort of movie, rather than a reading story. Heh... Sure, like that'd happen! Dream on! So... I haven't written it (or typed it, rather) until now because I couldn't think of any names for the leading males, so what I did was just take the names of the guys in my favorite band and applied them to the characters. (I do hope this is allowed! If it isn't, someone please tell me and I'll change it or something!) Please note that the characters in this fic do not take on the personalities of thoes they share names (and quite possibly mental images) with. Think of it as them acting out the parts, but keeping their names-- hey, just like a movie! Heh heh heh… Is this comprehensible enough? I don't know how else to tell you. Oh well. R&R, please!

A Saying Old

~Chapter1~

Melanie got up, dressed quickly, and walked to the living room to feed Charlie, her golden retriever. Once he had eaten she put him on his leash and went out, locking the door behind her. She went down a flight of stairs and headed to the coffee shop as she did every day. She went in the shop and was greeted by the woman behind the counter.
"Good morning, Mel!"
"Hi, Sam," she replied. "Slow morning?"
"Oh, no more than yesturday. Would you like your usual?"
"Yes, please," said Mel as she sat down at a table and pet Charlie.
"For here or to go?"
"Em, I think I'll take it to go today."
"Alright then." Sam turned behind her and yelled "One tall caramel mocha to go!"
"Thanks," said Mel.
"No prob. Hey, how's that sister of yours? I haven't seen her around lately."
"Oh, Emily's out of town."
"Really?"
Sam was interested.
"Yeah. Just a business trip, though."
"Oh."
Mel laughed.
"Did you expect something more?"
"No, I just thought maybe she did something more than business, that's all."
Mel laughed again.
"You know what she'd say to that! 'What is there to life but work? If you don't work, how do you live?' What a goof."
Sam came out from behind the counter.
"Here you are, Mel. One tall caramel mocha to go." She put the paper cup in Mel's hand.
"Thanks," Mel said, smiling up at Sam.
Sam knelt down.
"Hey, how's my buddy?" she asked scratching Charlie behind the ears. This he enjoyed. "Well, I suppose I'd better let you get on with your day, and I'd better get back to work," she said standing up and dusting off her apron.
"I guess so." Mel stood. "See you tomorrow, k?"
Sam laughed.
"Sure, Mel. Whatever you say."
As Mel neared the door Charlie began running.
"Charlie! Slow down!" she said. He didn't listen. They burst throught the door and out onto the busy sidewalk where they ran straight into a man in a trench coat. The coffee spilled over the both of them. Mel hit the ground and let go of Charlie's leash to use her hands to catch herself. "Charlie?" she said, scanning the ground for her dog. She felt two hands slip under her arms and lift her back up to her feet. She turned around to face the person helping her. "Thanks," she said.
"That's alright," said the man, "I like carmel mochas." His voice was calm and smoothe with an English accent. Mel liked it.
"Oh dear," she exclaimed, "I've spilt my coffee on you, haven't I? Charlie, here Charlie!"
"It's fine," he said. "It wasn't your fault. Now, where has your dog gotten to?" He looked around, then looked back at Mel.
"Charlie, come back!" It didn't work. She tried whistling.
"Do you see him?" he asked. Mel still faced straight ahead.
"No."
"Well, I can't find him all by myself. He's your dog, aren't you going to help me look?"
"I can't..." she said, her head tilted downward. He didn't know what to say. Just then Charlie came bounding back and stood at Mel's feet.
"Good boy, Charlie," she said and pat his head.
"I'm awfully sorry, miss," he said, stuttering a little.
"What for? I ran into you, remember?"
"Oh, no not for that, I- I just didn't realise you couldn't-- That you were--"
"Blind?" she asked. "Don't worry about it." She grabbed Charlie's lead again. He turned her in the direction of home.
"Miss, wait," the man called after her. She stopped.
"Yes?" she asked, still facing away from him. He caught up and stood infront of her.
"Can't I do anything for you?"
"No, I'm fine, thanks."
"Well... At least let me walk you where you're going?"
Mel thought for a moment.
"Alright," she said, "I suppose that's alright."
Charlie started walking again, Mel and the man just behind him.
"Have you much coffee on you?" she asked him as they walked.
"Oh, em, I'd say I got the better part of that tall caramel mocha," he replied, laughing a little.
"I'm sorry about that. Why don't you come in? I'll get you cleaned up." They stopped infront of her apartment building. The man looked nervously in either direction, then down at his shirt. "Ok," he said. She opened the door and Charlie led them both up to the apartment. Mel fumbled with her keys and dropped them.
"Shit," she said, and began to lean down to find them.
"Here, let me." He bent down and picked them up. "Which one is it?"
"Um," Mel said, brushing some hair behind her ear, "the one with the rubber thing on it."
He found it easily and unlocked the door; swinging it wide and letting her pass. Once in she unhooked Charlie, who walked calmly away. The man closed the door behind them. Mel stood in the middle of the floor.
"Well?" she said.
"Well what?"
"I can't clean your shirt if you still have it on!"
"Oh! Right." He looked around. "Em..."
"You don't have to be shy," she said, "I can't see you, remember?"
"Ah, right." He unbuttoned his shirt and gave it to her. She put it in the sink, ran water on it, and soaped it up, then returned to her guest.
"I really am sorry about that," she said.
"You've told me that already."
"Oh. Yeah. Right."
They sat down on the couch.
"You have a TV," he said questioningly.
"Oh, that's for my sister, not me."
"Your sister?" He looked around.
"Yeah. She's not here right now. Out of town on business."
"Ah, I see."
"I don't." She laughed. He shifted uncomforably. "Oh, no, it's alright. If you can't laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at?" He smiled, then remembered she couldn't see him.
"Right."
She got up and rinsed his shirt out, then hung it on the towel rack to dry.
"It might be a while," she said. "Did you have somewhere you need to be?"
"Em, no. Atleast, I don't think so."
"Oh. Alright then."
They sat awkwardly for a moment. Then he turned towards her.
"Would you mind taking off your sunglasses?" he asked her.
"Why?"
"I'd- I'd like to see what you look like."
"Alright," she replied, "but only if you let me see what you look like."
"But how do you--"
She removed her glasses, locking him in a blank stare with a pair of lovely grey eyes.
"Wow..."
"What?"
"Uh... Nothing..."
"Alright." She brought her hands up to his face and felt his chin, his ears, his hairline. He smiled. She had a gentile touch. She moved on to his forehead, then his nose and around his eyes. He had a lovely face. It was a shame she couldn't see it. She reached his cheeks. He put his hand over hers. Finally, she ran her fingertips over his lips. He took her other hand in his and kissed it lightly. He kissed up her arm and reached her neck. When he was close to her ear he whispered to her.
"You're very beautiful," he said.
"So are you," she replied. He laughed.
"What's your name, beautiful?"
"Melanie..."
She knew it wasn't quite the thing to do with people you take in of the street, but she stood up, still holding his hand, and walked slowly to her bedroom in the back.
He didn't think he should follow her at first, being blind and all, he felt as if he would be taking advantage of her, but then he decided she was a grown woman, and could decided what to do for herself and let her lead him over to her bed. It was a short walk.
Mel sat down on the bed and pulled her t-shirt up and over her head.
God, she was beautiful. Her long brown hair fell in curtains about her shoulders and back. He sat down beside her and began kissing her neck...

~*~

Mel woke once again only this time she could feel someone still beside her; warm and breathing slowly. He was asleep. She got up and put some clothes on. Walking back to the kitchen she remembered about the shirt. It was dry. She heard movement and went back to the bedroom. The man was sitting on the bed tying his shoes.
"Here's your shirt," she said. "I'm sorry it took so long."
"Don't be." He leaned over and kissed her. "They were the most worth while two hours I've ever spent on laundry." She smiled. He looked at his watch. "Oh, shit. I've got to go."
He walked past her, picking up his coat on the way. He opened the door and walked out. She ran after him.
"Wait!"
He turned.
"I've given you my name, don't I get yours?" she asked.
"The name's Ben," he called back up the stairs. "I'm sorry I couldn't stay longer. It was a pleasure meeting you. Perhaps you and your Charlie will run into me again some day."
She laughed.
"Good bye, Ben," she said, but he was already gone.