Angie Dickenson was standing in the middle of the hall of the dog shelter she worked in, caged in dogs on either side of her, as she stared at one in particular; a large, German Shepard. She had been doing kennel cleanup, but stopped and started staring at this German Shepard - the nametag on the kennel read Lucky - partway through her efforts until one of her coworkers, an older woman named Marion stopped and patted her on the back, bringing Angie back to reality.
"Are you okay, sweetie?" Marion asked, as Angie snapped back into herself.
"Yeah, yes, um, yeah," Angie said, stammering, "yeah I zoned out."
"Dissociation is normal, especially when you're escaping something like you and your family are," Marion said, "you've only really known one life for so long that coming back to actual life is bound to be a little jarring. It makes sense. Why don't you give me the supplies, I'll finish doing cleanup and you go get everybody's food bowls ready, okay?"
Angie smiled, and politely thanked her before heading to the back where they kept the food. Angie had only been working here a few months, since her family had left Art's compound. Marion had taken pity on her, having grown up in a cripplingly overbearing religious organization herself, and wanted to do what she could to help, which Angie greatly appreciated, as did her folks. But as she started to scoop the kibble into various bowls, all she could think about was Lucky. She'd heard him in her head. Just like the dog at the park when she was a little girl. But she couldn't possibly tell Marion, or anyone else for that matter, that she was hearing things, hearing dogs speak to her, telling her to do the unspeakable. That wouldn't work. So instead she'd continue the medication regiment she'd recently been prescribed, and she'd hope for the best.
And for a while, the best worked. She was stable. She was good natured. Well meaning, earnest, hopeful. She felt like she could finally take on the world, fight for things she genuinely believed in. This is what led her to The Evergreens. This is what led her to Wyatt Bloom.
And then it all fell apart again.
***
"Here's your coffee," Kelly said, setting a mug down in front of Wyatt as she seated herself across from him. It was early, about 6am, and she was due into the studio at 7 to do the weather. Still, it was nice, to have this morning with Wyatt. It almost felt like they were an ordinary couple, even though they weren't a couple, nor were they ordinary in any way, but she liked playing house. Wyatt thanked her, sipped it, then continued scribbling onto paper with his pen. Kelly licked her lips and watched before saying, "I can pick up dinner, if you're gonna be here."
"I'm gonna be here," Wyatt said, not even looking up or giving more expressive emoting whatsoever.
"Yeah? Okay. I'll bring something back."
A long silence passed them by, and Kelly sniffled, then looked around the apartment before looking back at Wyatt.
"...why did you come here?" she finally asked, and Wyatt looked up.
"Well," he said, clearing his throat, "uh...aside from the fact that Scarlett would never think to look for me here, because she doesn't really know you, it just...it felt safe. You feel safe. I needed to feel safe for a little bit. I knew I could count on you for that, plus you have no roommates and I knew you had the space since I helped you move in, so."
"All true things," Kelly said, sipping more from her mug, "but...nothing other than that?"
"I...I don't know, what kind of answer are you expecting?" Wyatt asked, and Kelly shrugged.
"No idea," she said, shrugging, "...sorry, guess it's weird. I've never lived with a man. I've never actually lived with anyone but my parents, so. But I'm happy you're here! Please don't think I'm not. And you can stay as long as you need. I like your company."
Wyatt smiled, nodded, then went back to writing. Kelly looked down into her mug and sighed.
"It's just...I've also never slept with a man, not in my bed, not at all, and so, I mean, even though you're just a guest, my friend, it was strange having someone in my bed with me," Kelly said, chuckling.
"...wait, back it up," Wyatt said, "did you say at all? Like ever?"
Kelly then realized her slip up and shook her head.
"Yes," she said, "yeah, I said at all."
"So like...you've never had a guy stay over in your bed or like..."
"No, Wyatt, that isn't what I mean," Kelly said, "no. I mean that's also true, technically, but that isn't...no. I'm...a virgin."
That took Wyatt by surprise. He didn't know why, it wasn't like Kelly seemed the type to sleep around or anything, nor was it really any of his business, her sexual life, but still, it surprised him. A girl this pretty, this funny, this stable, with a good job? Just was unusual to him, but he also knew, being a somewhat late bloomer himself, that circumstances are circumstances and the opportunity doesn't always present itself.
"It's complicated," Kelly said, continuing, "um...like...well, first of all, nobody's ever really wanted to date me, so there's that. Then there's the other side of that coin which is that I've never really wanted to date anyone, not seriously enough to get physically intimate anyway. Hell, I've like...never even been out on a proper date, so. Yeah, it just never happened. But it's no big deal. I mean, whatever. I focus on my job and stuff. That keeps me more than satisfied."
"I'm sure the rainclouds make sure you're plenty wet," Wyatt said, the both of them laughing.
Wyatt then went back to his letter as Kelly finished her coffee, gave him a hug and said she'd be back after work, said he was welcome to anything in the apartment, food or entertainment wise, and to make himself at home. Once out in the hall, Kelly walked down to the elevator and entered, heading to her car. As she leaned against the elevator door, she couldn't help but bite her lip and realized, without a shadow of a doubt, that if the opportunity were the somehow arise, she wouldn't hesitate for a second to go to bed with him. She'd never felt this strongly for a man before in her life. But a lot of things would have to happen for that to be a reality, she knew. First off, his marriage would have to end, and the likelihood of that, she figured, was slim to none.
But hey, he was living with her currently, and that was good enough for her.
***
Rachel waited until Sun Rai was out of the apartment before going in herself. Once inside she took three separate showers to get fully cleaned, and then took her clothes to a laundromat before heading back, changing into nice clean clothes and then pacing, wondering how she was going to ever possibly explain her absence to Sun Rai. She could say she went to see her parents after the show, that Wyatt had dropped her off there, but Sun Rai wouldn't believe that. Rachel had made the effort not to speak to them even over the phone since their last interaction. She could say she just crashed at Wyatt's for the night, that she and Scarlett had a girls night, and while she knew he would cover for her, she knew Scarlett would be confused as to what it was they were lying about, especially if Wyatt wasn't in on it and it didn't really happen.
Rachel's options were limited, she knew, and she hated it.
What could she possibly do? She had to come up with something. Like Wyatt, she didn't want to bring her significant other into their business, but at this point...fuck. She didn't have much of a choice, other than to just lie outright and hope Sun Rai believed it, no matter what it was. Sun Rai didn't know Wyatt and Scarlett much, perhaps she wouldn't push on the lie if that's what Rachel went with. But it was too risky, and it also risked exposing Wyatts lies to his wife. She couldn't jeopardize everything like that. Rachel finally sat on the couch and exhaled, running both hands up into her hair, feeling like she was going to cry. There was no way out of this. There was no lie that was going to smooth everything over. There was only one option.
And it meant the end of her relationship.
***
"You have always been a special member of this commune," Art said, as he poured Angie some blackberry tea and sat down with her, "and that's why I'm willing to help you, because you matter to me. All my members matter to me, but you especially, Angie. I'm proud of you for doing what you did, standing up for someone, protecting them. Nobody else will tell you that, perhaps sans the guy you protected, but I will."
Angie nodded, staring at the cup in front of her as Art lifted his to his lips and took a long drink.
"You're no longer on medication, right?" Art asked, and Angie shook her head; he smiled and nodded, "Good girl. That dulls the senses, clouds your thoughts. We need your capable of critical thinking, Angie, that's the only way to work towards your goals. And a firm grasp on your beliefs, OUR beliefs. I'm glad you came back to the fold."
Angie was listening, but only barely, and she could't help but think about the dog.
"When..." she started, "when I was a little girl, my grandfather died. We'd been close. We'd been really close. Losing him hurt a lot. But then I started to see this dog at the park everytime I went, it belonged to this nice old lady in the neighborhood, and she always let me play with him. But he talked to me. He sounded like my grandpa. And then...after we left the commune and I got a job working at a dog kennel, it happened again. This German Shepard named Lucky. He sounded like you. I...I'm not sure if it's...part of the psychosis and I just...overlay important peoples personalities onto these animals, or if they're really speaking to me."
"The impossible isn't as impossible as the secular world would like you to believe that it is," Art said, "who's to say you aren't a prophet? Who's to say that these animals aren't speaking to you as a higher calling? You're gifted, Angie, I always knew that about you, it's why I took a special interest in you that I didn't take in most other members."
"But when I was on medication, it stopped happening," Angie said, "and I've been off it for a while now, and it hasn't happened since, but...but doesn't that mean it is just a symptom of my illness if the medication quelled it?"
"That's what medical science would like you to believe, certainly," Art said, "but that's because they're scared of those who can hear the word of God. The word of any Gods. They want to shut down anyone who doesn't follow the one organized religion they've deemed to be acceptable, and they'll go to any great lengths to shut us down, shut us up, keep us placated and obedient. But you're not like that, Kelly, you're better than that."
Kelly nodded, listening, but not exactly believing. She didn't know who to trust now. She still felt so loyal to Wyatt, but Art and she had so much more history. Art took another long drink from his cup, then sighed.
"I will have someone hide the body," Art said, "so you don't have to worry about that. But I want you to do something for me."
"Y...yeah?" Angie asked, glancing from her lap up at him now, feeling scared.
"I want you to keep not taking your medication, but I also want to meet Wyatt Bloom. I think it's time we talked," he said, smiling.
***
Wyatt knew what Scarlett's schedule was, knew when she'd be out of the house with their son, and when Mona would be at school, so he knew when was the best time to go to the house. Once there, he let himself in, turned off the alarm and gathered two suitcases full of his things. Clothes, some books, bathroom supplies. Once he was packed and everything was in the car, Wyatt then stood in his kitchen and pulled the envelope from his coat pocket, plopping the letter on the table. He then turned, ready to leave, before seeing the photos hung on the fridge by cute magnets. Photos of him, his family. Him and Scarlett on vacation, Mona's past birthdays, various holiday celebrations and many many photos of just random moments forever captured in time by the snapshot of film. Wyatt reached out and plucked one of himself and Mona at an amusement park, tucked it into the inside pocket of his jacket, and headed to the door. He turned the alarm back on, arming the system once more, being climbing back into his car and heading back to Kelly's. He was, surprisingly, looking forward to this evening. To having dinner. To not feeling scared for a change.
When Wyatt got back to the apartment, he cleaned up for her. He washed down the bathroom, did her laundry, all sorts of chores and domestic duties so that, when she got back, she wouldn't have to do a thing. After all, she was letting him stay here, so it was the least he could do for her. But then he turned to the kitchen and looked, hands on his hips, biting his cheek. He knew she had offered to bring food back, but...he smiled, and he got to work. When Kelly entered the apartment in the early evening, she not only found it spotless, but she found the lights had been dimmed, the table had been set with candles and fancy silverware - or as fancy as she had anyway - and an entire meal had been cooked. She set the takeout on the counter and entered, somewhat in shock, before Wyatt came out from the hall, dressed nice and well groomed now, and smiled at her.
"Shoot, you're back, I wasn't fully ready," he said, chuckling.
"...the hell is this?" Kelly asked, and Wyatt stopped at the table, pulling a chair out for her.
"Well," Wyatt said, "I mean, this morning you said you, uh...you had never really been on a proper date, and okay, we're not dating, we're just friends, and we're not going out, but...I figured I'd do something nice for you. So I made dinner, and I put this whole thing together and you should really sit down. You've probably been on your feet the whole day."
Kelly wanted to cry on the spot. This was the single sweetest, most romantic thing any man had ever done for her. She pulled her jacket off and Wyatt took it, hanging it on the wall hook, before pushing her chair back into the table and then taking a seat across from her.
"You made a whole duck? And side dishes and stuff?" Kelly asked.
"Yeah, I figured, hell, we both could use a good meal," Wyatt said.
Kelly picked up her fork and started to eat, occasionally picking up her glass of white wine and taking short sips, not used to drinking alcohol. Wyatt, eating himself, would look up every now and then and look across the table at her, his heart racing when his eyes landed on her again, every time. Kelly, with her should length shaggy blonde hair and her cobalt blue eyes, her braces on her teeth and her black dress showing off her shoulders, her collarbone. Her face, softly illuminated by gentle candlelight, he couldn't deny it any longer.
"I took the letter to Scarlett," Wyatt said quietly.
"Was she there?" Kelly asked.
"No," Wyatt said, "I'm a coward, can't do this face to face. But it's there."
"What did it say? I mean, if that isn't too personal," Kelly said, biting into the duck on her fork.
"Uh, basically that I...I can't come home, and that we need to talk about things, and that my father..." Wyatt said, stopping, taking in a breath, "...that my father left town and that I don't think it's good for him to be around the family. That we need to discuss our relationship. She and I, not my father and I. It was all kind of a mish mash, honestly. I wasn't in the best headspace. But I had to do it."
"I'm sorry," Kelly whispered.
"Don't be, I'm not," Wyatt said, "I loved her, but...we were really only together because my father accepted her more than he did my previous girlfriend. But he's not here anymore, and maybe that means I can do what I want now."
"And what do you want?" Kelly asked, the both of them looking up at one another across the table. Would now be the time? Both wanted it, but both were so scared.
"I don't know," Wyatt finally said, "but I do know it wasn't what I had. All I know is that, right now, there's nowhere else I'd rather be, and no one else I'd rather be with."
Kelly blushed and nodded, as they continued eating. It wasn't technically a date, but to Kelly, it was better than any date could possibly be. Meanwhile, Rachel was sitting on the couch at the apartment when Sun Rai finally entered. As soon as she shut the door behind her, Rachel looked up and the two locked eyes. Sun Rai didn't even have a facial expression at this point, and she walked right past Rachel to the bedroom, shutting the door, locking it. Rachel got up and walked to the door.
"Sun," she said, almost in tears already, "Sun please, talk to me, it-"
"You need to go," Sun Rai said.
"This is MY apartment," Rachel said, half laughing.
"Well I'll leave in a day or so, but you need to go right now," Sun said through the door, and Rachel pushed her forehead against the door, tears rolling down her face. She didn't know where else to go. She sighed, gathered the bags she'd packed in the potential reality of things going this way, and walked out of the apartment and out to her car. Once there, she drove away, going to the one place she figured she could. As Wyatt cleaned up dinner, the two of them in the kitchen, laughing and making jokes as they did, he couldn't be happier. This was the lightest he'd felt since Calvin's death, and it felt great. Amazing. Kelly handed him another dish to wash as she opened up a new can of soda and drank.
"You don't really drink, do you?" Wyatt asked, and she shook her head.
"Nah, alcoholism runs in the family on my dads side, but both my parents never drank, so. I don't wanna risk it, and besides it tastes bad," Kelly said.
Wyatt dried his hands on a small towel, then turned and looked at her. She set the can on the counter as he approached her, and she felt her blood rush to her head.
"Are we...is that it, are the dishes all done?" she asked quietly, and Wyatt nodded; she smiled, adding, "good" before leaning on her tiptoes, their faces inches apart when a knock came at the door, much to both their dismay. Kelly turned quickly on her heel, annoyed, yelling, "who the hell is it?!" before yanking the door open, only to find Rachel standing there, holding her things.
"Hi," Rachel said, "I don't take up much space, a cupboard would be fine."
"....alright," Kelly said, letting her in, and shutting the door behind her.
"Are you okay, sweetie?" Marion asked, as Angie snapped back into herself.
"Yeah, yes, um, yeah," Angie said, stammering, "yeah I zoned out."
"Dissociation is normal, especially when you're escaping something like you and your family are," Marion said, "you've only really known one life for so long that coming back to actual life is bound to be a little jarring. It makes sense. Why don't you give me the supplies, I'll finish doing cleanup and you go get everybody's food bowls ready, okay?"
Angie smiled, and politely thanked her before heading to the back where they kept the food. Angie had only been working here a few months, since her family had left Art's compound. Marion had taken pity on her, having grown up in a cripplingly overbearing religious organization herself, and wanted to do what she could to help, which Angie greatly appreciated, as did her folks. But as she started to scoop the kibble into various bowls, all she could think about was Lucky. She'd heard him in her head. Just like the dog at the park when she was a little girl. But she couldn't possibly tell Marion, or anyone else for that matter, that she was hearing things, hearing dogs speak to her, telling her to do the unspeakable. That wouldn't work. So instead she'd continue the medication regiment she'd recently been prescribed, and she'd hope for the best.
And for a while, the best worked. She was stable. She was good natured. Well meaning, earnest, hopeful. She felt like she could finally take on the world, fight for things she genuinely believed in. This is what led her to The Evergreens. This is what led her to Wyatt Bloom.
And then it all fell apart again.
***
"Here's your coffee," Kelly said, setting a mug down in front of Wyatt as she seated herself across from him. It was early, about 6am, and she was due into the studio at 7 to do the weather. Still, it was nice, to have this morning with Wyatt. It almost felt like they were an ordinary couple, even though they weren't a couple, nor were they ordinary in any way, but she liked playing house. Wyatt thanked her, sipped it, then continued scribbling onto paper with his pen. Kelly licked her lips and watched before saying, "I can pick up dinner, if you're gonna be here."
"I'm gonna be here," Wyatt said, not even looking up or giving more expressive emoting whatsoever.
"Yeah? Okay. I'll bring something back."
A long silence passed them by, and Kelly sniffled, then looked around the apartment before looking back at Wyatt.
"...why did you come here?" she finally asked, and Wyatt looked up.
"Well," he said, clearing his throat, "uh...aside from the fact that Scarlett would never think to look for me here, because she doesn't really know you, it just...it felt safe. You feel safe. I needed to feel safe for a little bit. I knew I could count on you for that, plus you have no roommates and I knew you had the space since I helped you move in, so."
"All true things," Kelly said, sipping more from her mug, "but...nothing other than that?"
"I...I don't know, what kind of answer are you expecting?" Wyatt asked, and Kelly shrugged.
"No idea," she said, shrugging, "...sorry, guess it's weird. I've never lived with a man. I've never actually lived with anyone but my parents, so. But I'm happy you're here! Please don't think I'm not. And you can stay as long as you need. I like your company."
Wyatt smiled, nodded, then went back to writing. Kelly looked down into her mug and sighed.
"It's just...I've also never slept with a man, not in my bed, not at all, and so, I mean, even though you're just a guest, my friend, it was strange having someone in my bed with me," Kelly said, chuckling.
"...wait, back it up," Wyatt said, "did you say at all? Like ever?"
Kelly then realized her slip up and shook her head.
"Yes," she said, "yeah, I said at all."
"So like...you've never had a guy stay over in your bed or like..."
"No, Wyatt, that isn't what I mean," Kelly said, "no. I mean that's also true, technically, but that isn't...no. I'm...a virgin."
That took Wyatt by surprise. He didn't know why, it wasn't like Kelly seemed the type to sleep around or anything, nor was it really any of his business, her sexual life, but still, it surprised him. A girl this pretty, this funny, this stable, with a good job? Just was unusual to him, but he also knew, being a somewhat late bloomer himself, that circumstances are circumstances and the opportunity doesn't always present itself.
"It's complicated," Kelly said, continuing, "um...like...well, first of all, nobody's ever really wanted to date me, so there's that. Then there's the other side of that coin which is that I've never really wanted to date anyone, not seriously enough to get physically intimate anyway. Hell, I've like...never even been out on a proper date, so. Yeah, it just never happened. But it's no big deal. I mean, whatever. I focus on my job and stuff. That keeps me more than satisfied."
"I'm sure the rainclouds make sure you're plenty wet," Wyatt said, the both of them laughing.
Wyatt then went back to his letter as Kelly finished her coffee, gave him a hug and said she'd be back after work, said he was welcome to anything in the apartment, food or entertainment wise, and to make himself at home. Once out in the hall, Kelly walked down to the elevator and entered, heading to her car. As she leaned against the elevator door, she couldn't help but bite her lip and realized, without a shadow of a doubt, that if the opportunity were the somehow arise, she wouldn't hesitate for a second to go to bed with him. She'd never felt this strongly for a man before in her life. But a lot of things would have to happen for that to be a reality, she knew. First off, his marriage would have to end, and the likelihood of that, she figured, was slim to none.
But hey, he was living with her currently, and that was good enough for her.
***
Rachel waited until Sun Rai was out of the apartment before going in herself. Once inside she took three separate showers to get fully cleaned, and then took her clothes to a laundromat before heading back, changing into nice clean clothes and then pacing, wondering how she was going to ever possibly explain her absence to Sun Rai. She could say she went to see her parents after the show, that Wyatt had dropped her off there, but Sun Rai wouldn't believe that. Rachel had made the effort not to speak to them even over the phone since their last interaction. She could say she just crashed at Wyatt's for the night, that she and Scarlett had a girls night, and while she knew he would cover for her, she knew Scarlett would be confused as to what it was they were lying about, especially if Wyatt wasn't in on it and it didn't really happen.
Rachel's options were limited, she knew, and she hated it.
What could she possibly do? She had to come up with something. Like Wyatt, she didn't want to bring her significant other into their business, but at this point...fuck. She didn't have much of a choice, other than to just lie outright and hope Sun Rai believed it, no matter what it was. Sun Rai didn't know Wyatt and Scarlett much, perhaps she wouldn't push on the lie if that's what Rachel went with. But it was too risky, and it also risked exposing Wyatts lies to his wife. She couldn't jeopardize everything like that. Rachel finally sat on the couch and exhaled, running both hands up into her hair, feeling like she was going to cry. There was no way out of this. There was no lie that was going to smooth everything over. There was only one option.
And it meant the end of her relationship.
***
"You have always been a special member of this commune," Art said, as he poured Angie some blackberry tea and sat down with her, "and that's why I'm willing to help you, because you matter to me. All my members matter to me, but you especially, Angie. I'm proud of you for doing what you did, standing up for someone, protecting them. Nobody else will tell you that, perhaps sans the guy you protected, but I will."
Angie nodded, staring at the cup in front of her as Art lifted his to his lips and took a long drink.
"You're no longer on medication, right?" Art asked, and Angie shook her head; he smiled and nodded, "Good girl. That dulls the senses, clouds your thoughts. We need your capable of critical thinking, Angie, that's the only way to work towards your goals. And a firm grasp on your beliefs, OUR beliefs. I'm glad you came back to the fold."
Angie was listening, but only barely, and she could't help but think about the dog.
"When..." she started, "when I was a little girl, my grandfather died. We'd been close. We'd been really close. Losing him hurt a lot. But then I started to see this dog at the park everytime I went, it belonged to this nice old lady in the neighborhood, and she always let me play with him. But he talked to me. He sounded like my grandpa. And then...after we left the commune and I got a job working at a dog kennel, it happened again. This German Shepard named Lucky. He sounded like you. I...I'm not sure if it's...part of the psychosis and I just...overlay important peoples personalities onto these animals, or if they're really speaking to me."
"The impossible isn't as impossible as the secular world would like you to believe that it is," Art said, "who's to say you aren't a prophet? Who's to say that these animals aren't speaking to you as a higher calling? You're gifted, Angie, I always knew that about you, it's why I took a special interest in you that I didn't take in most other members."
"But when I was on medication, it stopped happening," Angie said, "and I've been off it for a while now, and it hasn't happened since, but...but doesn't that mean it is just a symptom of my illness if the medication quelled it?"
"That's what medical science would like you to believe, certainly," Art said, "but that's because they're scared of those who can hear the word of God. The word of any Gods. They want to shut down anyone who doesn't follow the one organized religion they've deemed to be acceptable, and they'll go to any great lengths to shut us down, shut us up, keep us placated and obedient. But you're not like that, Kelly, you're better than that."
Kelly nodded, listening, but not exactly believing. She didn't know who to trust now. She still felt so loyal to Wyatt, but Art and she had so much more history. Art took another long drink from his cup, then sighed.
"I will have someone hide the body," Art said, "so you don't have to worry about that. But I want you to do something for me."
"Y...yeah?" Angie asked, glancing from her lap up at him now, feeling scared.
"I want you to keep not taking your medication, but I also want to meet Wyatt Bloom. I think it's time we talked," he said, smiling.
***
Wyatt knew what Scarlett's schedule was, knew when she'd be out of the house with their son, and when Mona would be at school, so he knew when was the best time to go to the house. Once there, he let himself in, turned off the alarm and gathered two suitcases full of his things. Clothes, some books, bathroom supplies. Once he was packed and everything was in the car, Wyatt then stood in his kitchen and pulled the envelope from his coat pocket, plopping the letter on the table. He then turned, ready to leave, before seeing the photos hung on the fridge by cute magnets. Photos of him, his family. Him and Scarlett on vacation, Mona's past birthdays, various holiday celebrations and many many photos of just random moments forever captured in time by the snapshot of film. Wyatt reached out and plucked one of himself and Mona at an amusement park, tucked it into the inside pocket of his jacket, and headed to the door. He turned the alarm back on, arming the system once more, being climbing back into his car and heading back to Kelly's. He was, surprisingly, looking forward to this evening. To having dinner. To not feeling scared for a change.
When Wyatt got back to the apartment, he cleaned up for her. He washed down the bathroom, did her laundry, all sorts of chores and domestic duties so that, when she got back, she wouldn't have to do a thing. After all, she was letting him stay here, so it was the least he could do for her. But then he turned to the kitchen and looked, hands on his hips, biting his cheek. He knew she had offered to bring food back, but...he smiled, and he got to work. When Kelly entered the apartment in the early evening, she not only found it spotless, but she found the lights had been dimmed, the table had been set with candles and fancy silverware - or as fancy as she had anyway - and an entire meal had been cooked. She set the takeout on the counter and entered, somewhat in shock, before Wyatt came out from the hall, dressed nice and well groomed now, and smiled at her.
"Shoot, you're back, I wasn't fully ready," he said, chuckling.
"...the hell is this?" Kelly asked, and Wyatt stopped at the table, pulling a chair out for her.
"Well," Wyatt said, "I mean, this morning you said you, uh...you had never really been on a proper date, and okay, we're not dating, we're just friends, and we're not going out, but...I figured I'd do something nice for you. So I made dinner, and I put this whole thing together and you should really sit down. You've probably been on your feet the whole day."
Kelly wanted to cry on the spot. This was the single sweetest, most romantic thing any man had ever done for her. She pulled her jacket off and Wyatt took it, hanging it on the wall hook, before pushing her chair back into the table and then taking a seat across from her.
"You made a whole duck? And side dishes and stuff?" Kelly asked.
"Yeah, I figured, hell, we both could use a good meal," Wyatt said.
Kelly picked up her fork and started to eat, occasionally picking up her glass of white wine and taking short sips, not used to drinking alcohol. Wyatt, eating himself, would look up every now and then and look across the table at her, his heart racing when his eyes landed on her again, every time. Kelly, with her should length shaggy blonde hair and her cobalt blue eyes, her braces on her teeth and her black dress showing off her shoulders, her collarbone. Her face, softly illuminated by gentle candlelight, he couldn't deny it any longer.
"I took the letter to Scarlett," Wyatt said quietly.
"Was she there?" Kelly asked.
"No," Wyatt said, "I'm a coward, can't do this face to face. But it's there."
"What did it say? I mean, if that isn't too personal," Kelly said, biting into the duck on her fork.
"Uh, basically that I...I can't come home, and that we need to talk about things, and that my father..." Wyatt said, stopping, taking in a breath, "...that my father left town and that I don't think it's good for him to be around the family. That we need to discuss our relationship. She and I, not my father and I. It was all kind of a mish mash, honestly. I wasn't in the best headspace. But I had to do it."
"I'm sorry," Kelly whispered.
"Don't be, I'm not," Wyatt said, "I loved her, but...we were really only together because my father accepted her more than he did my previous girlfriend. But he's not here anymore, and maybe that means I can do what I want now."
"And what do you want?" Kelly asked, the both of them looking up at one another across the table. Would now be the time? Both wanted it, but both were so scared.
"I don't know," Wyatt finally said, "but I do know it wasn't what I had. All I know is that, right now, there's nowhere else I'd rather be, and no one else I'd rather be with."
Kelly blushed and nodded, as they continued eating. It wasn't technically a date, but to Kelly, it was better than any date could possibly be. Meanwhile, Rachel was sitting on the couch at the apartment when Sun Rai finally entered. As soon as she shut the door behind her, Rachel looked up and the two locked eyes. Sun Rai didn't even have a facial expression at this point, and she walked right past Rachel to the bedroom, shutting the door, locking it. Rachel got up and walked to the door.
"Sun," she said, almost in tears already, "Sun please, talk to me, it-"
"You need to go," Sun Rai said.
"This is MY apartment," Rachel said, half laughing.
"Well I'll leave in a day or so, but you need to go right now," Sun said through the door, and Rachel pushed her forehead against the door, tears rolling down her face. She didn't know where else to go. She sighed, gathered the bags she'd packed in the potential reality of things going this way, and walked out of the apartment and out to her car. Once there, she drove away, going to the one place she figured she could. As Wyatt cleaned up dinner, the two of them in the kitchen, laughing and making jokes as they did, he couldn't be happier. This was the lightest he'd felt since Calvin's death, and it felt great. Amazing. Kelly handed him another dish to wash as she opened up a new can of soda and drank.
"You don't really drink, do you?" Wyatt asked, and she shook her head.
"Nah, alcoholism runs in the family on my dads side, but both my parents never drank, so. I don't wanna risk it, and besides it tastes bad," Kelly said.
Wyatt dried his hands on a small towel, then turned and looked at her. She set the can on the counter as he approached her, and she felt her blood rush to her head.
"Are we...is that it, are the dishes all done?" she asked quietly, and Wyatt nodded; she smiled, adding, "good" before leaning on her tiptoes, their faces inches apart when a knock came at the door, much to both their dismay. Kelly turned quickly on her heel, annoyed, yelling, "who the hell is it?!" before yanking the door open, only to find Rachel standing there, holding her things.
"Hi," Rachel said, "I don't take up much space, a cupboard would be fine."
"....alright," Kelly said, letting her in, and shutting the door behind her.