Kelly Schuester had had a bad day.
She'd gotten to work with a flat tire, had coffee spilled on her favorite dress - and then had to go on air wearing an ugly studio approved cardigan to cover it up - then had a mild hives breakout thanks to someone at the restaurant she went to for lunch not hear her order properly. She was informed by her bank that a credit card had been opened in her name, and while she hadn't lost any money, the legal loopholes she was required to jump through just to prove she was who she said she was were exhausting and time consuming, and then, just when she finally got home, she realized she had forgotten to get a birthday gift for a friend. By the time Kelly entered the apartment, soaking wet from the rain outside because she had forgotten her umbrella, all she wanted to do was curl up and scream. Instead, as she entered, she found the apartment full of warmth, both literally and figuratively. As she closed the door behind her, she noticed the gas fireplace in the sunken in living room was on, and Wyatt was standing in the kitchen, cooking, wearing an apron that said "Men Belong In The Kitchen".
"Wow," Kelly said, "that apron really is right. Who knew."
"Hey," Wyatt said, smiling as he looked towards her, "yeah it was the only one I could find in here, so."
"It was given to me as a gag gift," Kelly said, "not sure why, not like I ever had any men around to wear it."
Wyatt opened the fridge, then pulled out a soda in a glass bottle, and popped the top off, handing it to her. Kelly took it, blushing, thanking him. She had come home and he was making dinner and had her drink ready? What had she done to get so lucky to have such a good roommate and friend?
"You look a fright," Wyatt said, looking her up and down as he went back to slicing onions.
"Yeah, you know, for a weather girl, I do seem to forget my umbrella a lot," Kelly said.
"Well, the fireplace is roarin', I suggest you take advantage of it," Wyatt remarked. Kelly nodded, agreeing. She walked over to the sunken in living room and pulled her dress off, then stood over the hamper of clean laundry and sifted through it until she found some sweat pants and a t-shirt, pulling them both on. Wyatt turned to grab some spices from the opposite side of the counter and saw her. She was sitting on an ottoman in front of the fireplace, running her hands through her mess of sandy blonde hair, exhaling. Wyatt sighed, then grabbed a beer from the fridge and walked over, sitting beside her.
"Not a good day I take it?" he asked.
"Not particularly," Kelly said, "one of those 'anything that can go wrong will go wrong' sorts of days."
"Hate those days, and it feels like we have a lot of 'em," Wyatt said.
"How about yours?"
"It was...also not great," Wyatt said.
Kelly eyeballed him as she lifted her soda to her lips and sipped.
"...I found a dog," Wyatt said.
***
A few hours earlier, after having left Art's compound, Wyatt and Angie were sitting in Angie's car, parked in a hidden away hiking spot, just petting the dog and trying to think of what to do with it. The dog, Clark, was laid across Angie's lap, while Wyatt paced just outside her car door, the window rolled down. He had taken his fathers hand, removed the watch, and reburied the hand in a place he knew it would be eaten by animals and never discovered by people. He stopped momentarily and looked in through the window.
"He seems to like you," Wyatt said.
"Dogs always like me," Angie said, "I had this job at a kennel after we left the compound, and all the dogs there always liked me."
"That's a good trait to have, actually, shows you're genuinely trustworthy if animals trust you," Wyatt said, "so you should be happy about that. Angie, where are you staying currently? You're not staying with your folks, right?"
"No, and I don't wanna go back," Angie said.
"Alright," Wyatt said, "...how about this. For the time being, I'll pay for you to move into the motel Rachel and Ricky are staying in. Not their room, obviously, just...the same building. They'll take dogs too, so that won't be an issue."
Angie looked down at Clark, her hand stroking the fur of the top of his head as he panted in her lap, before she turned her gaze up towards Wyatt.
"You would do that for me?" she asked, and he nodded, folding his arms; she looked back down and fingered the tag on Clark's collar, saying, "he was once somebody's pet. The fact that he's free, and has been free as long as he seems to have been, kinda says that they didn't die, they just...let him walk away. They didn't care if he stayed or went. I know what that's like. To be told you're important, only to have them turn around and leave you to your own devices. I think, at this point, you've been more of a parent to me than my own parents."
Wyatt smiled weakly as she exhaled.
"Okay," she said, "we'll stay at the hotel."
Wyatt reached in through the window and pet Clark on the head as well, causing him to thump his tail happily against the seat, both of them laughing at the dogs reponse. The funny thing was, Wyatt had never wanted to get a pet with anyone before. Not Scarlett, not Amelia back in high school, nobody. The way he saw it, having a pet was too much of an issue between two people, especially if one of those people died and the other suddenly had to take care of it. The commitment, in general, scared him. Humorous, he thought now, considering he had children with one of those women. But still...how funny was it that the woman he finally did get a dog with was Angie, of all people. They really were in it for the long haul together.
***
"Well at least you found a way to keep the dog, and Angie, safe and housed for the time being," Kelly said, sighing as she tugged her stockings off from under the legs of her sweatpants, balled them up and tossed them into the hamper across the room, adding, "cause I don't think they'd let me have a dog here, so."
"It was a weird day, overall, and I think that's why I came home and played domesticity," Wyatt said, sipping his beer, "cause, ya know, after all the weirdness, some normality was a much needed comfort."
That's when he noticed Kelly smiling, blushing, and he smirked.
"What?" he asked, laughing.
"You called this home," she said, "that's nice. I'm glad you feel like it's your home too," Kelly said, shrugging, "I don't know, guess I'm feeling good about how comfortable you feel here."
"Well why wouldn't I?" Wyatt asked, "I get to cook, I get to keep the place relatively tidy, and then I get to hang out with you when you get back from work. All in all it's a great system. How was your day? Hopefully better than mine?"
"Worse," Kelly said, "...much, much worse. Not that finding your fathers severed hand in a dogs mouth isn't bad, but mine was more...personal, I guess. I mean I told you all the other things that went wrong, and yet somehow none of that was even the worst part."
"How's that? What could've been the worst part then?" Wyatt asked, raising an eyebrow, sounding concerned.
"...someone at my job got engaged," Kelly said.
***
Kelly had been standing in the break room, trying to make herself new coffee since she'd spilled her own all over herself earlier. She was still itching a little from the mild hives breakout at lunch, and now she was hoping to just get through the day with a little bit of caffeine and get back home as unscathed as possible...and that was when the group showed up. A gaggle of coworkers, mostly women, marched excitedly into the break room, all laughing and talking excitedly and loudly. Kelly turned and watched as she finished fixing her coffee, leaning against the counter, when a page, Lewis, stopped beside her. Lewis was young, in his early twenties, and probably the only person at her job that Kelly truly liked.
"What are they all giddy about?" she asked, raising her mug to her lips.
"Jessica got engaged," Lewis said.
"Somebody asked Jessica to marry them?" Kelly replied, "yikes."
Kelly tried not to be catty, but when it came to some people, specifically Jessica Winters, she couldn't help but do so. Jessica was everything Kelly wasn't, in terms of success. She was one of the most popular anchors, not to mention gorgeous to boot. Kelly didn't think she herself was unattractive by any means, but Jessica was swimsuit model beautiful, and that's why, along with her skills, Kelly had to admit, she got the job, because not only was she good at what she did but she also looked good doing it. Jessica received a lot of fan mail, all from men, at the station, and Kelly had always felt inferior, especially because they didn't look all that much different in the end. Both were tall, lithe blonde women, both with fair skin and nice eyes, but Jessica had that...that certain something that Kelly didn't have, that gave her a pathway to success both career wise and romantically, and it was the second one that Kelly truly resented, seeing how she actually enjoyed her own career.
"I mean, she's only been dating this guy for like 5 months," Lewis said, "I'm young, and young people are rash and irresponsible, and even I can't imagine getting married after 5 months of knowing someone."
"That's because you're not a gold digger," Kelly said.
"No, I...I am," Lewis said, the both of them laughing; Lewis then asked, "well what about you, could you?"
And the thing was...Kelly could. She used to not be able to, but now she could...after meeting Wyatt. She easily could, yes.
"Doesn't really matter cause it isn't like anyone's itching to date me to begin with," Kelly said.
"What about that guy you're staying with?" Lewis asked.
"You've got a guy staying with you?" Jessica asked, approaching the cabinets, looking for paper plates for the cake she'd annoyingly bought herself for her own engagement announcement.
"Yeah, a friend of mine, he's having trouble at home and he needed somewhere to stay," Kelly said, shrugging, "it's no big deal. I've got the space."
"Wow, you're keeping a married man in your home," Jessica said, grinning, elbowing her playfully, "good for you, Kelly. I always thought you'd be a spinster, but hey, if you're looking at married men, then you've got more play than I anticipated and I'm impressed."
"It's not like that," Kelly said, trying to convince only herself, knowing damn full well it was.
"Well, give it time, honestly," Jessica said, "cause usually trouble at home...that doesn't get fixed once they leave, that gets worse. So your odds of finally meeting someone have shot through the roof, even if only because you're what was available, and I don't mean that in a mean way, that came out mean, I'm sorry. I just meant, ya know, I don't picture you as someone who goes out looking to meet people."
"You're right, I don't," Kelly said, "but I also don't get engaged after 150 days of knowing someone."
Kelly finished her coffee, slammed the mug down on the counter and looked Jessica in the eye.
"Happy fucking engagement," she said sternly, before storming out.
She hated that it had gotten to her, but that was how Jessica was. Hell, that was how most women had always been towards her. They could smell her societal weakness. How she'd never been in love. How she'd never even had sex. How her perceived 'value' as a woman in society had been completely and utterly disregarded, considered not viable. Once out of earshot, down the hall and a few corners rounded, she stopped and cried against the chip machine. The thing was, she wanted those things. She always had. She just...had never had the chance. Jessica was right, yes, she wasn't the type to go out and meet people, but that didn't mean she didn't crave the very same things. And now...now she had that chance, and it was with Wyatt, and all her morality wouldn't let her do it because, well, he was married, and she respected that. She respected the sanctity of marriage, because she had grown up with parents who loved and supported one another, and so she couldn't damage someone elses marriage for her own selfish reasons.
So she cried. And she had a terrible rest of the day. But somehow it had been that little exchange that had been the worst.
***
"Jesus what a bitch," Wyatt said, Kelly chuckling, nodding in agreement; Wyatt scoffed and exhaled, "god I'm sorry. Guess we both had awful days. Guess that's why it's nice to come home to one another. Know you aren't alone, know you can tell someone who cares, you know?"
"I've always wanted that, either with a friend, like Rachel, or a roommate, or a lover, not that that one would ever happen," Kelly muttered, "but you're right it is nice."
Wyatt finished his beer and wiped his mouth on his sleeve, then looked towards her. Kelly looked defeated, dejected, utterly humiliated. He wanted to reach out and hold her, to make her feel better. Something he'd never once wanted to do for Scarlett. This was the kind of feeling that had only been reserved for Amelia, and now he was having it for Kelly as well. Wyatt bit his lip.
"For what it's worth," Wyatt said, "she wasn't wrong."
Kelly looked towards him, confused.
"Who, Jessica? About what part?" she asked.
"About the trouble at home thing," Wyatt said, "things were screwed up before all this started, I just didn't want to acknowledge or admit it. Scarlett and I are friends, but I think only she ever saw us as lovers. I mean, don't get me wrong, she's very attractive, very conventionally attractive, and sure, that's nice, but...but there's a difference between being attracted to a person because they're attractive and being attracted to a person because you love them. One is based solely on visuals. The other isn't. Scarlett and I...we just never connected in that way."
"What way?" Kelly asked, sniffling.
"The way you and I do," Wyatt said, and Kelly stopped breathing. The two locked eyes, and neither knew what to say next, but Wyatt kept trying, saying, "with you, it's...it's easy. And I don't mean that in a negative sense, you know? But you come home, we have dinner, we hang out, it's...it's the way things should be. Things should be like that. Things shouldn't be forced. Nothing with you has ever felt forced, and that's why I think our friendship means so much to me because, ya know...it's nice to have that level of comfortability in your relationship with someone else. Scarlett and I never really had that, not on this level anyway."
"But she's your wife," Kelly said.
"Yeah, cause my dad liked her," Wyatt said, "she was good enough for him, and I didn't want to fight him anymore, and I liked her well enough so I figured why not. And I love our daughter, don't get me wrong, she's my whole world, but...but a child isn't worth staying with someone if you can't be the best possible version of yourself for your child that you can be because you're with that person. Scarlett reminds me of...of everything I've done wrong, everything I did for him, and not myself. You..."
They looked at one another again, this time neither one breaking gaze.
"...you make me happy," Wyatt said, "you make me see new opportunities. New chances. With Scarlett, it felt like...it felt like living in a hotel. Any day could be the day you need to check out, so you never really allow yourself to get comfortable. You appreciate the ammenities, but you never really allow yourself to get comfortable. I look at her and I feel regret, and displacement, and like I'll always be in the hotel. But I look at you...I look at you, and I..."
Kelly pulled her legs up onto the ottoman and turned to face him, Wyatt stammering.
"...I feel home," he said.
A long pause, then Wyatt stood up and exhaled, shaking his head.
"I'm sorry," he said, "that was a lot. I just wanted you to know how much being able to be here with you means and-"
"I love you," Kelly said.
Wyatt stopped, and slowly turned back around to face her. Kelly herself was now standing up, the both of them in front of the roaring faux fireplace, the rain only getting harder outside. Wyatt and Kelly stared at one another for what must've felt like minutes, but in fact was only mere seconds.
"....fuck," Kelly said, mumbling, running a hand nervously up into her hair, "um, I love you. I understand if that makes you have to leave. I understand if I've now ruined everything and, like everybody else, you have to leave now. I'm used to that, so don't feel guilty if you do. But I love waking up to breakfast and I love coming home to dinner, and I love just...hanging out and making jokes and feeling comfortable, for the first time in my goddamn life I feel comfortable. Truly comfortable. I love you. And I don't expect you to return it, I mean, how could you? I'm...I'm nothing compared to her. I'm just some fucking weather girl. Some weather girl with a fake leg. But I couldn't keep it to myself anymore."
"You never had to," Wyatt said softly, walking towards her, Kelly approaching him as he did.
"I didn't?" she asked.
"God no," Wyatt said, "I wish you'd said it sooner. I think...I think I only realized it myself in the last month or so, but..."
"You?" she asked.
"Yeah, me too," Wyatt whispered, "...life is, as you're aware, fucking awful. I'm embroiled in so much bullshit, so much bullshit you don't deserve to deal with-"
"But you don't deserve to deal with it alone," Kelly said.
"-and every day I worry that today will be the day it finally catches up to me," Wyatt continued, "that today will be the day that someone finally taps me on the shoulder, shows me a badge and asks me to come with them. To live with that fear and anxiety day in and day out is exhausting, and everyday that goes by where that doesn't happen only makes me more scared that the chances of it coming the next are vastly improved. But then...but then in between all that, I think to myself, how can I make Kelly happy while being here? You are an escape. And I don't mean that in the sense that that's all you are, but...you're security. Safety. With you, I don't have to worry about those things. I know you'd never judge me if that day came, and that helps. But I wake up and I think 'wow, I get to make breakfast for her again' instead of immediately wondering if today's the day it all ends."
"Please...keep making breakfast for me," Kelly whispered, on the verge of tears.
They were standing an inch apart, maybe less, looking one another dead in the eye. Thunder clapped outside, the fire roared beside them, and Wyatt reached up, running his hand over her face and up into her hair. She shut her eyes and felt her whole body quiver. She leaned up, as he put his other hand on her hip, and leaned down, being a bit taller than her.
"Wait," Kelly said, her voice low and breathy, "...wait...don't do this if it doesn't mean anything."
"Well then it's a good thing it means everything isn't it?" Wyatt replied, and kissed her. Kelly melted into him, and he kissed her harder. She pushed back against him, sending him tumbling down onto the couch where she climbed on top and the two continued to paw at one another. Soon her'd pulled her fresh t-shirt off and felt his hands on her smooth cool skin. She leaned down against him as he pressed his face into her neck and kissed, making her moan.
"Please," she whispered, "just please."
That was all she could manage to think of to say, and Wyatt chuckled. Kissing someone, even Amelia, had never felt more right than it did right now. And as they went further, and further, the couch eventually shaking with their passion as the fire warmed the room, and the rain watered her potted plants on the balcony outside, all either one could think in their heads was the word 'finally'.
***
Angie was brushing her teeth in the hotel bathroom, staring at herself in the mirror. Dark circles under her eyes, her skin a little dry. She'd really let herself go recently, and she wanted to start taking care of herself again. Maybe now, being out from under her parents watchful eye once more, she could do just that. She spit into the sink, rinsed her mouth and then exited the bathroom, only to find Clark laying on the bed, his tail thumping as he saw her, which made her smile. She stopped at the desk and started to jot down a few things she needed on the pad of paper the hotel provided.
"It's going to get worse you know," a voice said, causing her to stop. She slowly turned and looked towards Clark, who was now sitting up and staring at her.
"What?" she whispered, her voice shaky.
"It's going to get worse," he repeated himself.
"It is?" she asked, and Clark woofed quietly.
"You're gonna have to do some terrible things, Angie," Clark said, as she approached and dropped to her knees in front of the bed, staring at him, as he added, "I'm so sorry."
Angie was used to hearing dogs speak to her. That was an auditory hallucination she'd long since made peace with, so while it was unnerving even today, it wasn't new. It wasn't surprising or shocking. She had come to expect it, especially when she was off her meds. No. What was horrible, she realized...
...was that he sounded like Calvin.
She'd gotten to work with a flat tire, had coffee spilled on her favorite dress - and then had to go on air wearing an ugly studio approved cardigan to cover it up - then had a mild hives breakout thanks to someone at the restaurant she went to for lunch not hear her order properly. She was informed by her bank that a credit card had been opened in her name, and while she hadn't lost any money, the legal loopholes she was required to jump through just to prove she was who she said she was were exhausting and time consuming, and then, just when she finally got home, she realized she had forgotten to get a birthday gift for a friend. By the time Kelly entered the apartment, soaking wet from the rain outside because she had forgotten her umbrella, all she wanted to do was curl up and scream. Instead, as she entered, she found the apartment full of warmth, both literally and figuratively. As she closed the door behind her, she noticed the gas fireplace in the sunken in living room was on, and Wyatt was standing in the kitchen, cooking, wearing an apron that said "Men Belong In The Kitchen".
"Wow," Kelly said, "that apron really is right. Who knew."
"Hey," Wyatt said, smiling as he looked towards her, "yeah it was the only one I could find in here, so."
"It was given to me as a gag gift," Kelly said, "not sure why, not like I ever had any men around to wear it."
Wyatt opened the fridge, then pulled out a soda in a glass bottle, and popped the top off, handing it to her. Kelly took it, blushing, thanking him. She had come home and he was making dinner and had her drink ready? What had she done to get so lucky to have such a good roommate and friend?
"You look a fright," Wyatt said, looking her up and down as he went back to slicing onions.
"Yeah, you know, for a weather girl, I do seem to forget my umbrella a lot," Kelly said.
"Well, the fireplace is roarin', I suggest you take advantage of it," Wyatt remarked. Kelly nodded, agreeing. She walked over to the sunken in living room and pulled her dress off, then stood over the hamper of clean laundry and sifted through it until she found some sweat pants and a t-shirt, pulling them both on. Wyatt turned to grab some spices from the opposite side of the counter and saw her. She was sitting on an ottoman in front of the fireplace, running her hands through her mess of sandy blonde hair, exhaling. Wyatt sighed, then grabbed a beer from the fridge and walked over, sitting beside her.
"Not a good day I take it?" he asked.
"Not particularly," Kelly said, "one of those 'anything that can go wrong will go wrong' sorts of days."
"Hate those days, and it feels like we have a lot of 'em," Wyatt said.
"How about yours?"
"It was...also not great," Wyatt said.
Kelly eyeballed him as she lifted her soda to her lips and sipped.
"...I found a dog," Wyatt said.
***
A few hours earlier, after having left Art's compound, Wyatt and Angie were sitting in Angie's car, parked in a hidden away hiking spot, just petting the dog and trying to think of what to do with it. The dog, Clark, was laid across Angie's lap, while Wyatt paced just outside her car door, the window rolled down. He had taken his fathers hand, removed the watch, and reburied the hand in a place he knew it would be eaten by animals and never discovered by people. He stopped momentarily and looked in through the window.
"He seems to like you," Wyatt said.
"Dogs always like me," Angie said, "I had this job at a kennel after we left the compound, and all the dogs there always liked me."
"That's a good trait to have, actually, shows you're genuinely trustworthy if animals trust you," Wyatt said, "so you should be happy about that. Angie, where are you staying currently? You're not staying with your folks, right?"
"No, and I don't wanna go back," Angie said.
"Alright," Wyatt said, "...how about this. For the time being, I'll pay for you to move into the motel Rachel and Ricky are staying in. Not their room, obviously, just...the same building. They'll take dogs too, so that won't be an issue."
Angie looked down at Clark, her hand stroking the fur of the top of his head as he panted in her lap, before she turned her gaze up towards Wyatt.
"You would do that for me?" she asked, and he nodded, folding his arms; she looked back down and fingered the tag on Clark's collar, saying, "he was once somebody's pet. The fact that he's free, and has been free as long as he seems to have been, kinda says that they didn't die, they just...let him walk away. They didn't care if he stayed or went. I know what that's like. To be told you're important, only to have them turn around and leave you to your own devices. I think, at this point, you've been more of a parent to me than my own parents."
Wyatt smiled weakly as she exhaled.
"Okay," she said, "we'll stay at the hotel."
Wyatt reached in through the window and pet Clark on the head as well, causing him to thump his tail happily against the seat, both of them laughing at the dogs reponse. The funny thing was, Wyatt had never wanted to get a pet with anyone before. Not Scarlett, not Amelia back in high school, nobody. The way he saw it, having a pet was too much of an issue between two people, especially if one of those people died and the other suddenly had to take care of it. The commitment, in general, scared him. Humorous, he thought now, considering he had children with one of those women. But still...how funny was it that the woman he finally did get a dog with was Angie, of all people. They really were in it for the long haul together.
***
"Well at least you found a way to keep the dog, and Angie, safe and housed for the time being," Kelly said, sighing as she tugged her stockings off from under the legs of her sweatpants, balled them up and tossed them into the hamper across the room, adding, "cause I don't think they'd let me have a dog here, so."
"It was a weird day, overall, and I think that's why I came home and played domesticity," Wyatt said, sipping his beer, "cause, ya know, after all the weirdness, some normality was a much needed comfort."
That's when he noticed Kelly smiling, blushing, and he smirked.
"What?" he asked, laughing.
"You called this home," she said, "that's nice. I'm glad you feel like it's your home too," Kelly said, shrugging, "I don't know, guess I'm feeling good about how comfortable you feel here."
"Well why wouldn't I?" Wyatt asked, "I get to cook, I get to keep the place relatively tidy, and then I get to hang out with you when you get back from work. All in all it's a great system. How was your day? Hopefully better than mine?"
"Worse," Kelly said, "...much, much worse. Not that finding your fathers severed hand in a dogs mouth isn't bad, but mine was more...personal, I guess. I mean I told you all the other things that went wrong, and yet somehow none of that was even the worst part."
"How's that? What could've been the worst part then?" Wyatt asked, raising an eyebrow, sounding concerned.
"...someone at my job got engaged," Kelly said.
***
Kelly had been standing in the break room, trying to make herself new coffee since she'd spilled her own all over herself earlier. She was still itching a little from the mild hives breakout at lunch, and now she was hoping to just get through the day with a little bit of caffeine and get back home as unscathed as possible...and that was when the group showed up. A gaggle of coworkers, mostly women, marched excitedly into the break room, all laughing and talking excitedly and loudly. Kelly turned and watched as she finished fixing her coffee, leaning against the counter, when a page, Lewis, stopped beside her. Lewis was young, in his early twenties, and probably the only person at her job that Kelly truly liked.
"What are they all giddy about?" she asked, raising her mug to her lips.
"Jessica got engaged," Lewis said.
"Somebody asked Jessica to marry them?" Kelly replied, "yikes."
Kelly tried not to be catty, but when it came to some people, specifically Jessica Winters, she couldn't help but do so. Jessica was everything Kelly wasn't, in terms of success. She was one of the most popular anchors, not to mention gorgeous to boot. Kelly didn't think she herself was unattractive by any means, but Jessica was swimsuit model beautiful, and that's why, along with her skills, Kelly had to admit, she got the job, because not only was she good at what she did but she also looked good doing it. Jessica received a lot of fan mail, all from men, at the station, and Kelly had always felt inferior, especially because they didn't look all that much different in the end. Both were tall, lithe blonde women, both with fair skin and nice eyes, but Jessica had that...that certain something that Kelly didn't have, that gave her a pathway to success both career wise and romantically, and it was the second one that Kelly truly resented, seeing how she actually enjoyed her own career.
"I mean, she's only been dating this guy for like 5 months," Lewis said, "I'm young, and young people are rash and irresponsible, and even I can't imagine getting married after 5 months of knowing someone."
"That's because you're not a gold digger," Kelly said.
"No, I...I am," Lewis said, the both of them laughing; Lewis then asked, "well what about you, could you?"
And the thing was...Kelly could. She used to not be able to, but now she could...after meeting Wyatt. She easily could, yes.
"Doesn't really matter cause it isn't like anyone's itching to date me to begin with," Kelly said.
"What about that guy you're staying with?" Lewis asked.
"You've got a guy staying with you?" Jessica asked, approaching the cabinets, looking for paper plates for the cake she'd annoyingly bought herself for her own engagement announcement.
"Yeah, a friend of mine, he's having trouble at home and he needed somewhere to stay," Kelly said, shrugging, "it's no big deal. I've got the space."
"Wow, you're keeping a married man in your home," Jessica said, grinning, elbowing her playfully, "good for you, Kelly. I always thought you'd be a spinster, but hey, if you're looking at married men, then you've got more play than I anticipated and I'm impressed."
"It's not like that," Kelly said, trying to convince only herself, knowing damn full well it was.
"Well, give it time, honestly," Jessica said, "cause usually trouble at home...that doesn't get fixed once they leave, that gets worse. So your odds of finally meeting someone have shot through the roof, even if only because you're what was available, and I don't mean that in a mean way, that came out mean, I'm sorry. I just meant, ya know, I don't picture you as someone who goes out looking to meet people."
"You're right, I don't," Kelly said, "but I also don't get engaged after 150 days of knowing someone."
Kelly finished her coffee, slammed the mug down on the counter and looked Jessica in the eye.
"Happy fucking engagement," she said sternly, before storming out.
She hated that it had gotten to her, but that was how Jessica was. Hell, that was how most women had always been towards her. They could smell her societal weakness. How she'd never been in love. How she'd never even had sex. How her perceived 'value' as a woman in society had been completely and utterly disregarded, considered not viable. Once out of earshot, down the hall and a few corners rounded, she stopped and cried against the chip machine. The thing was, she wanted those things. She always had. She just...had never had the chance. Jessica was right, yes, she wasn't the type to go out and meet people, but that didn't mean she didn't crave the very same things. And now...now she had that chance, and it was with Wyatt, and all her morality wouldn't let her do it because, well, he was married, and she respected that. She respected the sanctity of marriage, because she had grown up with parents who loved and supported one another, and so she couldn't damage someone elses marriage for her own selfish reasons.
So she cried. And she had a terrible rest of the day. But somehow it had been that little exchange that had been the worst.
***
"Jesus what a bitch," Wyatt said, Kelly chuckling, nodding in agreement; Wyatt scoffed and exhaled, "god I'm sorry. Guess we both had awful days. Guess that's why it's nice to come home to one another. Know you aren't alone, know you can tell someone who cares, you know?"
"I've always wanted that, either with a friend, like Rachel, or a roommate, or a lover, not that that one would ever happen," Kelly muttered, "but you're right it is nice."
Wyatt finished his beer and wiped his mouth on his sleeve, then looked towards her. Kelly looked defeated, dejected, utterly humiliated. He wanted to reach out and hold her, to make her feel better. Something he'd never once wanted to do for Scarlett. This was the kind of feeling that had only been reserved for Amelia, and now he was having it for Kelly as well. Wyatt bit his lip.
"For what it's worth," Wyatt said, "she wasn't wrong."
Kelly looked towards him, confused.
"Who, Jessica? About what part?" she asked.
"About the trouble at home thing," Wyatt said, "things were screwed up before all this started, I just didn't want to acknowledge or admit it. Scarlett and I are friends, but I think only she ever saw us as lovers. I mean, don't get me wrong, she's very attractive, very conventionally attractive, and sure, that's nice, but...but there's a difference between being attracted to a person because they're attractive and being attracted to a person because you love them. One is based solely on visuals. The other isn't. Scarlett and I...we just never connected in that way."
"What way?" Kelly asked, sniffling.
"The way you and I do," Wyatt said, and Kelly stopped breathing. The two locked eyes, and neither knew what to say next, but Wyatt kept trying, saying, "with you, it's...it's easy. And I don't mean that in a negative sense, you know? But you come home, we have dinner, we hang out, it's...it's the way things should be. Things should be like that. Things shouldn't be forced. Nothing with you has ever felt forced, and that's why I think our friendship means so much to me because, ya know...it's nice to have that level of comfortability in your relationship with someone else. Scarlett and I never really had that, not on this level anyway."
"But she's your wife," Kelly said.
"Yeah, cause my dad liked her," Wyatt said, "she was good enough for him, and I didn't want to fight him anymore, and I liked her well enough so I figured why not. And I love our daughter, don't get me wrong, she's my whole world, but...but a child isn't worth staying with someone if you can't be the best possible version of yourself for your child that you can be because you're with that person. Scarlett reminds me of...of everything I've done wrong, everything I did for him, and not myself. You..."
They looked at one another again, this time neither one breaking gaze.
"...you make me happy," Wyatt said, "you make me see new opportunities. New chances. With Scarlett, it felt like...it felt like living in a hotel. Any day could be the day you need to check out, so you never really allow yourself to get comfortable. You appreciate the ammenities, but you never really allow yourself to get comfortable. I look at her and I feel regret, and displacement, and like I'll always be in the hotel. But I look at you...I look at you, and I..."
Kelly pulled her legs up onto the ottoman and turned to face him, Wyatt stammering.
"...I feel home," he said.
A long pause, then Wyatt stood up and exhaled, shaking his head.
"I'm sorry," he said, "that was a lot. I just wanted you to know how much being able to be here with you means and-"
"I love you," Kelly said.
Wyatt stopped, and slowly turned back around to face her. Kelly herself was now standing up, the both of them in front of the roaring faux fireplace, the rain only getting harder outside. Wyatt and Kelly stared at one another for what must've felt like minutes, but in fact was only mere seconds.
"....fuck," Kelly said, mumbling, running a hand nervously up into her hair, "um, I love you. I understand if that makes you have to leave. I understand if I've now ruined everything and, like everybody else, you have to leave now. I'm used to that, so don't feel guilty if you do. But I love waking up to breakfast and I love coming home to dinner, and I love just...hanging out and making jokes and feeling comfortable, for the first time in my goddamn life I feel comfortable. Truly comfortable. I love you. And I don't expect you to return it, I mean, how could you? I'm...I'm nothing compared to her. I'm just some fucking weather girl. Some weather girl with a fake leg. But I couldn't keep it to myself anymore."
"You never had to," Wyatt said softly, walking towards her, Kelly approaching him as he did.
"I didn't?" she asked.
"God no," Wyatt said, "I wish you'd said it sooner. I think...I think I only realized it myself in the last month or so, but..."
"You?" she asked.
"Yeah, me too," Wyatt whispered, "...life is, as you're aware, fucking awful. I'm embroiled in so much bullshit, so much bullshit you don't deserve to deal with-"
"But you don't deserve to deal with it alone," Kelly said.
"-and every day I worry that today will be the day it finally catches up to me," Wyatt continued, "that today will be the day that someone finally taps me on the shoulder, shows me a badge and asks me to come with them. To live with that fear and anxiety day in and day out is exhausting, and everyday that goes by where that doesn't happen only makes me more scared that the chances of it coming the next are vastly improved. But then...but then in between all that, I think to myself, how can I make Kelly happy while being here? You are an escape. And I don't mean that in the sense that that's all you are, but...you're security. Safety. With you, I don't have to worry about those things. I know you'd never judge me if that day came, and that helps. But I wake up and I think 'wow, I get to make breakfast for her again' instead of immediately wondering if today's the day it all ends."
"Please...keep making breakfast for me," Kelly whispered, on the verge of tears.
They were standing an inch apart, maybe less, looking one another dead in the eye. Thunder clapped outside, the fire roared beside them, and Wyatt reached up, running his hand over her face and up into her hair. She shut her eyes and felt her whole body quiver. She leaned up, as he put his other hand on her hip, and leaned down, being a bit taller than her.
"Wait," Kelly said, her voice low and breathy, "...wait...don't do this if it doesn't mean anything."
"Well then it's a good thing it means everything isn't it?" Wyatt replied, and kissed her. Kelly melted into him, and he kissed her harder. She pushed back against him, sending him tumbling down onto the couch where she climbed on top and the two continued to paw at one another. Soon her'd pulled her fresh t-shirt off and felt his hands on her smooth cool skin. She leaned down against him as he pressed his face into her neck and kissed, making her moan.
"Please," she whispered, "just please."
That was all she could manage to think of to say, and Wyatt chuckled. Kissing someone, even Amelia, had never felt more right than it did right now. And as they went further, and further, the couch eventually shaking with their passion as the fire warmed the room, and the rain watered her potted plants on the balcony outside, all either one could think in their heads was the word 'finally'.
***
Angie was brushing her teeth in the hotel bathroom, staring at herself in the mirror. Dark circles under her eyes, her skin a little dry. She'd really let herself go recently, and she wanted to start taking care of herself again. Maybe now, being out from under her parents watchful eye once more, she could do just that. She spit into the sink, rinsed her mouth and then exited the bathroom, only to find Clark laying on the bed, his tail thumping as he saw her, which made her smile. She stopped at the desk and started to jot down a few things she needed on the pad of paper the hotel provided.
"It's going to get worse you know," a voice said, causing her to stop. She slowly turned and looked towards Clark, who was now sitting up and staring at her.
"What?" she whispered, her voice shaky.
"It's going to get worse," he repeated himself.
"It is?" she asked, and Clark woofed quietly.
"You're gonna have to do some terrible things, Angie," Clark said, as she approached and dropped to her knees in front of the bed, staring at him, as he added, "I'm so sorry."
Angie was used to hearing dogs speak to her. That was an auditory hallucination she'd long since made peace with, so while it was unnerving even today, it wasn't new. It wasn't surprising or shocking. She had come to expect it, especially when she was off her meds. No. What was horrible, she realized...
...was that he sounded like Calvin.