It Started at the Diner- A Devin Booker Story

The next day, Devin and Melanie both wake up early, took Bruno on a walk, and were now in the kitchen making breakfast. Devin was currently on the phone with his neighbor upstairs. "Okay, well, if you do see him, just let me know... thanks," he says into the phone as he puts Bruno's food bowl down before hanging up. He looks at Melanie, who was making banana hazelnut pancakes. "That was Ms. Alvarez upstairs," he says to her. "She said Schneider didn't even show up all day yesterday."

Melanie looks confused as she puts the pancakes on the plates. "That's not like him," she says. She sighs as she turns off the stove. "Devin." He looks at her. "Do you believe he's drinking again? And be honest with me." She drizzles a little bit of syrup on the pancakes.

Devin sighs and looks at her. "Honestly, no. He's been sober for eight years, he wouldn't just throw his sobriety away like that." He takes the plate she hands him and goes to sit at his dining table.

Melanie follows his actions. "And I trust you on that, but we still gotta be cautious of him."

He nods. "I know, and I am." He sighs. "It's just, he's my friend."

She nods and rubs his arm comfortingly. "I understand, babe."

They look into each other's eyes. Devin smiles a little bit. "Come here," he says. They lean in for a kiss, but they jump and pull away when someone busts through the door. They look at each other, hoping it was Schneider. "What up, lovebirds?" the familiar voice says.

They groan in annoyance when they realize it was Kelly coming in with Rachel behind him. He looks offended at them. "Damn, someone spit in y'all's pancakes, or what?" he says to them.

Devin takes a deep breath and shakes his head. "Nah, sorry, man," he says. "Schneider might've relapsed, and he was supposed to have dinner with the Alvarez's upstairs, but they said they didn't see him all day yesterday."

Rachel gives them a confused look. "What do you mean he relapsed?" she asks.

"He's a recovering alcoholic, but he might've fallen off the wagon," Melanie replies. She looks at Kelly. "And shouldn't you be resting? You're still in recovery."

Kelly shakes his head. "Nah, I feel better," he says. "And we just saw Schneider before we came up here."

Devin and Melanie snap their heads at him. "What?" Devin asks.

Rachel nods at him. "Yeah, he said hi to us when we parked the car," she says.

"Did he say where he was going?" Melanie asks.

Kelly shakes his head. "Nah, he just said a quick hi and left."

"Why don't we check out his place to make sure he didn't slip?" Rachel suggest.

Melanie gives her a look. "Good plan, but how are we going to get in?"

"I have a key," Devin says, earning weird looks from everyone else. "What?"

"Why do you have a key to his place?" Kelly asks him.

Devin gives them a look. "Why does he bust into my place everyday?"

"Good point," Melanie says.

Melanie ends up making Kelly and Rachel some pancakes with the extra batter she had. She ended up finishing her breakfast before everyone else and picks her phone up. "I'm gonna call Avery and see if she's seen him," she says. They nod at her as they finish their pancakes, and Melanie takes their plates and leans in to kiss Devin on the cheek before going to the kitchen.

Devin sighs stressfully and picks up his phone. "I'm gonna call Schneider and see if I get anything," he says, getting out of his seat and to the balcony.