"'Not allowed to go out for the month'...they do realize you're an adult right? That not allowing you out could be seen as unlawful imprisonment," Mel never liked the little things he heard about Caden's family. He liked them even less when they weighted on the young adult. He was twenty and already had so much on his shoulders. It made him want to hug the younger man and to be honest Mel was more than a little surprised Caden hadn't run up to him the moment he saw Mel. It was as though the energy that the boy was known for was slowly being pressed out of him. Which made Mel want to give Caden's family an even bigger piece of his mind. Mel wasn't happy about Caden's sleeping around either but damn it that didn't mean they needed to try and destroy his individuality. Then he'd just start sneaking around and the risk of him being assaulted or hurt would grow. It was better to make sure Caden was safe while he worked himself out and had someone to go to if something went wrong then to try and force their ideas on him. And if Caden's parents weren't going to do it then Mel would...and he sounded like he was trying to mother the boy. Maybe Chris and the others where right about that, but he didn't want Caden to end up mentally scarred.<br/><br/>Or dead in a ditch somewhere.<br/><br/>"And you don't have to say anything more about it than you want to," Mel continued, his voice still just as soft. Of course, Mel's voice was rarely ever loud. In fact, he didn't think Caden had ever heard him raise his voice. He did use a stern tone when he thought Caden was being a bit reckless, but he never got loud. Mel had found getting loud rarely helped, often doing the opposite and having people shut down. And in cases where people had suffered abuse, it could make the situation so much worse. Though he severely hoped Caden wasn't suffering from any type of abuse, not that the older man was holding his breath, "as for us carrying on like normal...we tried to, but when regulars stop coming in we always worry. Especially when they're in a dangerous position,"<br/><br/>Mel then gave Caden a gentle smile, "And even more so when we're fond of them,"<br/><br/>Sweet, outgoing, and willing to help Caden had most of the staff wrapped around his finger and didn't even seem to know it. Mel didn't think there was a single person on staff who didn't like Caden. The memory of Caleb's teasing bringing a slight flush to his face and causing his freckles to stand out more. Some were fonder than others, however, but Mel pushed that down. It wasn't time for that, he had to make sure Caden was really ok.<br/><br/>With that, he led Caden into a small break room. The tables and chairs were the same as the ones out front. Though there was also a long table that held two boxes of various donuts Mel had brought in that morning and an organizer holding various pamphlets. Some had information for volunteer opportunities to assist the students who worked there. While others were for outreach centers, mental health hotlines, rape crisis support and so on. Mel didn't want anyone to have to need the latter, but would rather have them there in case they were needed than have someone suffer in silence.<br/><br/>He pulled a chair out for Caden and gestured to the donuts, "I'm going to go grab some paperwork from my office real quick, go ahead and help yourself to a donut or two before Caleb gets here and eats all the good ones,"<br/><br/>Mel then sat down his tea and went through a small door at the back of the break room. He returned a minute later with a decent stack of paperwork and a few folders before claiming a seat across from Caden. Instead of picking up his tea he reached across the table to brush a lock of hair off Caden's face with long fingers. His happy expression twisting into one of concern as he looked Caden over again.<br/><br/>"You're really sure you're alright? You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to but all of this," the blonde gestured to Caden's clothes, but also meant to encompass his change in mannerisms, "has me worried. Not to mention being gone so long...no one-no one's hurting you are they? If they are and you don't want to tell me but there are places you can go. I don't want to pressure you into talking I'm just concerned. You're normally so happy and energetic and...seeing you like this is..."<br/><br/>Well, it scared Mel.<br/><br/>The older man looked away picking up his tea and taking a sip. The warmth doing little to dispell the cold knot in his stomach. Though he didn't see any signs Caden was being hit, there where other forms of abuse that were just as bad. Money didn't mean that one was exempt from suffering from them. Mel knew that personally and didn't want Caden to have to go through any of that.