Chapter 3: Test
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Disclaimer: I own nothing.
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A/N: Hmm too bad I didn't make this like Jane Eyre ;) Haha. Im sure no one would have liked that. "OH by the way Mitchie! I have a wife locked in a closet!"
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Shane walked the past the guest room and peeked in to see if Mitchie needed anything. She was passed out on top of the comforter and the television was still on. He sighed and went in to turn it off. He softly pried the remote from beneath her and stopped before he hit the power button. She had been watching their wedding video. He sighed and shut off the tv and left the room.
Shutting the door to his room Shane had the terrible realization that after 10 years of marriage he was going to have to move on, before his wife was even dead. He had placed himself in a position where he had no choice, and he hated himself for it.
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Mitchie stirred in the bed and rubbed her face. She slowly opened her eyes and squinted against the harsh light. She groaned and put a pillow over her head waiting for the light to become a little less painful. Her eyes were gluey and her hair hurt. She groaned rubbing her face feeling whatever make up she fell asleep wearing smear.
She had forgotten she had been wearing makeup in the first place the day before, but now looking at the aftermath of forgetting about it she decided she would go without it for as long as possible. She sighed and stripped getting into the large shower that was next to the guest room she was staying in. She sat on the floor of the shower letting the hot water beat down on her as she slowly felt herself return to Mitchie, and leave behind Stacy. She softly ran her hands through her hair washing out the product the stylist had put in the day before.
Turning off the water and getting out she stood in front of the mirror staring at herself as the steam dissipated. She was trying to conceive a possible catch for this whole situation. For the situation she had been placed in this all seemed too good to be true, and that was exactly why she refused to believe it was true.
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Shane sighed as he rubbed his forehead talking to one of Stacy's doctors on the phone.
"Just do whatever you think is best. No, I dont want to hear the other options, I pay you for a reason. You have already told me she is dying so why does it matter." He ignored the footsteps he heard coming down the stairway as he sat down at the table in the kitchen closing his eyes and squeezing the bridge of his nose. "Look, just do what will make her feel better. If she doesn't want drugs fine. As long as she feels better like that. Dont call me about anymore stupid questions." He sighed hanging up pressing the thumb and index finger on his right hand next to his eyes.
"Everything okay?" He looked up to see Mitchie wearing sweatpants and a tanktop, her hair pulled back and her face clean.
"Yeah. You hungry?"
"I wouldnt be in the kitchen otherwise."
"Put on something similar to yesterday along with the makeup. Well go out. Consider it your first test in case we run into any of Stacy's friends."
Mitchie felt her chest constrict but she nodded, "Okay. Give me 20."
"Take as long as you need." She nodded again and ran back up the stairs. Shane sighed leaning back in the chair taking a deep breath. He couldn't keep dealing with this. With doctors calling to ask a question about every little thing. Stacy was dying, but she was capable to make decisions for herself. Shane had given up a while ago. He had give up Stacy and recognized the fact that this was going to happen eventually, it just happened about 40 years sooner than expected. He couldn't deal with this. He had to though.
Shane then proceeded to do the one thing no father should ever do, he wished that he and Stacy had never had a child. It only created a larger headache through out this whole mess. Getting calls once a week from Gwen asking if she could talk to Mommy. Asking how Mommy is doing, and proceeding to list off things that they can do together after the lie from Shane that Stacy is doing better. Shane just hoped that Mitchie would be a good alternative, and that she would be able to make Gwen believe that she was Stacy.
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Mitchie glanced up from the menu looking around. She was dreading the thought of having to actually be 'Stacy'. She didn't bother saying anything to Shane because for all she knew he could just hand her over to someone else or he could snap, she dreaded to know what would happen if he snapped. Any one could take one look at the man and recognize that he was under stress, and that he was not happy. She dreaded asking him what was wrong so she just went along with everything.
"Stacy? Shane?" Mitchie's stomach twisted in dread as she heard those names.
"Hey Molly." He tried to smile as Stacy's friend came over. "Where's your family?" Molly sighed sitting down at the extra chair at their table.
"I managed to escape them today. Meanwhile Im surprised to see you guys out and about." Shane smiled weakly and looked over at Mitchie who was hiding behind her menu.
"Well Stacy has been feeling a bit better so we decided it would be nice to go somewhere other than the house or the hospital. Right Stacy?"
Mitchie nodded weakly, and softly squeaked, "Yeah."
"So where is Gwen?"
"She's still at school. No reason to pull her out till break. Besides if she likes the school Ill have her stay there."
"Ah," Molly looked down at her watch and got up. "Well I have a book club waiting for me a few tables over, but Stacy let me know when you feel well enough to do something, and Shane, when shes on her feet again Im harassing you for not telling me that she was feeling better."
"Of course Molly."
"Good. Ill see you later hun." Molly softly squeezed Mitchie's shoulder and left. Mitchie let out the breath she had been holding through that whole ordeal and sheepishly peeked over her menu at Shane.
"You just failed."
