@kingdonmicrofic day 7: karaoke. 498/420
When Emma invites Mel to her 26th birthday party, Mel feels absolutely floored.
Even if she truly got along well with Emma (they spoke about books and music or their apparent shared loved for craft fairs and little crochet animals), after working at the Pitt for over a year, she’d sworn to herself that even if she got along well with her co-workers, she wouldn’t convince herself that they were friends, it was easier to avoid heartache.
But Mel knew that since Emma moved from Michigan, the new nurse struggled to make friends outside of work with their hours, so she made the effort to go.
Only to be completely stunned when she found herself in a private karaoke room with a few other nurses from work and a hoard of strange young adults hyping up the current singer.
Completely in over her head, Mel stands in the corner, holding a gift in her hands,feeling awkward until she spots Emma in a short silvery dress. In that moment, she sees Mel and her expression widens as she attempts to run over to her.
“You’re here!” Emma slurs and hugs Mel tightly, catching her by surprise. They’d never hugged before.
“I brought you something.” Mel smiles when she pulls away and lifts the small gift bag. “Happy birthday.”
“Oh, thank you! You shouldn’t have!” Emma says and immediately pulls out her gift, aww-ing when she sees the little crochet platypus, quickly hugging Mel again.
Emma is a fountain of excitement and joy, inviting Mel to put a song in the queue and to join in with everyone else, as she walks away and goes to show off her new present.
Mel smiles, awkward. Uncertain of what to do, she keeps watching Emma who goes to Donnie and shows off the platypus she’d received. Mel is stuck looking, as Donnie smiles tenderly at Emma, one of his hands brushing over her hair, and something tugs in the back of Mel’s mind like a memory.
“Here I thought I was hot shit because I got her a bottle of wine.” A voice comes from behind her.
Seeming to have just arrived, Frank stands with said bottle in a gift bag in his hands, smiling towards Mel as she beams back and she hugs him quickly.
“Why didn’t you mention you were coming? We could’ve come together.”
“Emma just told me today, pretty she wanted me to be here for you.” Frank says, levelling his eyes to her own.
“I’m sure that’s not true. Why would she do that?”
“Because she knows that any party doesn’t start until Mel King walks in.”
Mel laughs that off, knowing how untrue it is. But the look in Frank’s eyes makes her stop laughing very quickly, as her eyes trail down to the smirk on his lips. Quickly, before she can escape he wraps an arm around her shoulders and starts bringing her into the room.
“Come on, King. Let’s find you a Meg song.”