A/N: The fifth in my series of song fics. Takes place about "Colorblind", unlike the others.
The series:
"Forever" – S/V
"Deliver Me" – S/V
"Morning After" – Sydney POV
"All Mixed Up" – Vaughn POV
Disclaimer: I don't own Vaughn – unless JJ Abrams wants to give me a Christmas present. I don't own Sydney or Alice either. The lyrics are from "Say Hello And Wave Goodbye" by David Gray.
Thanks to Daf9 for editing help.
When do you know? When do you stop thinking they love you and start knowing there's someone else? The night he comes home late, or
maybe the time he mumbles in his sleep, or when he zones out while you're eating in a fancy restaurant? Somewhere along the way it
happens. Then there's the night he doesn't come home. He says he had an emergency at work. Right. What kind of an emergency does an
accountant have?
Take your hands off me, hey
I don't belong
To you, you say
I guess I've known for a while. Sometimes I've wondered about the nights he'd spend 'at the office' or out of town. But this time its
different. His whole personality changes at the slightest thing. Like the night we had dinner and his phone rang. His eyes lit up like they
used to when he looked at me. Now he's looking at caller ID that way. Work, he says. That's all he ever says. Work. I'm not supposed to
ask questions, I'm just supposed to accept it.
Yeah right.
And take a look
In my face for the last time
I never knew you
You never knew me
"Where were you that night you didn't come home last week?"
He looks stunned. He wasn't expecting this. At least that's the feeling he's trying to convey. His eyes tell a different story. He knew I'd ask.
He opens his mouth to answer, but it doesn't matter. I can already hear the words. I know it by heart. "I was at the office, Alice, I told
you. There was this account that was overdrawn. . ." He trails off as he realizes I'm saying it with him.
"I say that every time, don't I?" He looks uncomfortable. He rubs the back of his neck. "God, Ali, I'm sorry."
Say hello goodbye
Say hello and wave goodbye
"Have a nice life, Michael." I've got my purse and my shawl and by the time I'm halfway to the door, he realizes I'm leaving and
tosses a few bills on the table before following me out to street.
Take your hands off me, hey
I don't belong to you, you say
And take a look
In my face for the last time
"Alice, what's going on?" he asks, taking hold of my arm. His gray-green eyes are stormy and I know that he's battling many emotions.
"I realized that I don't know you. Not really, Michael." We're just strangers who eat meals together and sleep in the same bed.
I never knew you
You never knew me
Say hello goodbye
Say hello and wave goodbye
I can see the defeat in his eyes. And the relief. "Alice. . . you deserve better."
A cab pulls up and he helps me into it. "Take care of yourself," he says.
"You too," I whisper. Then I'm waiving goodbye as the door shuts and I'm whisked off through the city traffic.
Wave goodbye