Melissa plopped down beside Jett and handed him one of the two beers in her hand. For a long time, the two sat on the roof, silently drinking their beer and watching the sun begin its descent into the west.

Melissa finally broke the silence. “Rotten luck, huh?”

Jett took a gulp of beer before replying. “Yep.”

“You gonna elaborate on that?”

“Nope.”

“You gonna give me more that monosyllabic answers?”

“Wasn’t planning on it.”

Melissa rolled her eyes at him, but he was busy staring into the sun. “Okay. Then I’m taking my beer and going inside.”

“Fine. Go. Have fun.”

Melissa only moved to bring her longneck to her lips. Jett cast a side glance at her and heaved a sigh. “Jesus, woman, go away and leave me alone.”

“Nope. Not happening.” Melissa took another pull of her beer. “We’ve been friends too long for me to quit my meddling now.

“You could try something new.”

“Old dogs, new tricks, hun.”

“Try very, very hard.”

“Nope, not happening.” Melissa took another sip of beer idly. “The way I see it, I can either sit here with you while we drink ourselves stupid and fall off the roof, or you can just tell me about it.

“Harpy.”

“Damn straight.” The two lapsed into silence again, each lost in their own thoughts. The sun continued its journey as the two friends worked their way through a six-pack of St. Pauli Girl.

“It just effing blows all to hell and back, ya know?” he said quietly. “I mean, I never really expected them to actually go for it, ya know?”

“I know. But you did a really good thing for both of them, and, well, I know that it will balance out somehow.”

Jett just laughed and shook his head. “Karma doesn’t exist, and if it did, who’s to say that this wasn’t punishment for some previous offense?”

Melissa rolled her eyes and elbowed him. “Not karma, you dumb ass, just…balance. Sow what you reap and all that.”

“What world do you live in? Do you need a passport to travel here from there, sunshine?”

“Look, just because you didn’t have the balls to stand up and tell her how you felt and your friend did doesn’t mean you get to take it out on me!” Melissa stood up and grabbed the now empty six-pack before whirling to climb back through the window.

“Well, Christ. That caps what’s been a perfect day from hell,” Jett muttered before angrily throwing his empty bottle into the woods below.