NOTES: Ew, a time skip. Lizzy's POV— pretty short length. Kind of an exposition chapter— we're coming in hot, people!
Will post again soon, and thanks for reading, y'all! ~Vinny
It was foggy today. The gray clouds laid to rest between the sparkling buildings, lethargic and swirling, seeming to lack the energy necessary to pull themselves back up into the sky. Rain splattered intermittently across the gutters, half drowned by the dead-and-gone leaves.
Lizzy stood outside of her office-building. Her raincoat was the color of cherries. It glistened with rain. Her hood was down, her face tilted up to the sky. The raindrops flicked across her nose, cold and light.
She was seized with the sudden impulse to run all the way to the city, tear it apart, and bury her face in Fitzwilliam's warm winter coat.
She had tried to call him again last night.
She should be used to disappointment by now.
It had been a week since she had last seen Fitzwilliam, in the mall; a week since she had stopped returning Violette's calls and started sleeping with the light on. All the days began to merge, blurring into the melancholy and metaphorical fog that surrounded her.
Suddenly she couldn't feel the droplets on her face. Lizzy's eyelashes lifted, and she was confronted with the skeletal inside of an umbrella. It was being held by a familiar man, with light stubble, clear glasses, and a waning smile.
"Hey," Joey said, nudging her, "You okay?"
Lizzy wiped the remaining water from her cheeks. "Yeah!... Yeah… I just…" She forced her expression not to convey COMPLETE destruction of hope. "I tried to call Fitzwilliam again."
Joey started, the umbrella throwing off droplets as his shoulder jumped. "You did? Wasn't he— the guy who broke.. um…," he trailed off helplessly.
She sighed, and waved him inside. They walked together into the office as she explained. "I told you about the breakup, right? Well… I miss him. A lot. I think… we were both wrong, but.. I'm ready to make up. I just want to see him again, really."
Lizzy was busy unbuttoning her raincoat and brushing off the wet that clung to the sleeves; she didn't catch the flicker of anguish on her young friend's face. It was gone in a second, anyhow.
"But he doesn't feel the same!" She said, loudly, trying to be sanguine. "He never called back— any of the times I called. He hasn't tried to reach out… Not that I can blame him. I was.. I was awful… leaving him like that.. Hm. But… it's been so long… ya know? And… I wish I could just move on."
"Hey." Joey put both of his hands over her shoulders. "It's not your fault. If he can't see— see how wonderful you are? Then that's his problem. Okay? And I- I'm for you. Lizzy. Whenever you need me."
Lizzy smiled up at her childhood friend, one of the few people in her life who wasn't towering over her height-wise.
"Thanks, Joey. I needed that."
He smiled, and, cautiously, he put his arm around her shoulders. Lizzy leaned into him, grateful for the support.
"Also," she said, as they walked to her desk, "My dad's surgery's tomorrow, so my emotions are kind of high."
"What!" Joey cried, his arm muscles tightening. "Already?!"
"Yeah, I think the insurance company's really worried we're taking them to court," Lizzy snorted disdainfully. Then she sighed, and rubbed her face with both hands. "Ugh. It's gonna be a nightmare, waiting for news."
"Well.. anytime you need me..," He trailed off as Blondie rounded the corner.
The boss' finacé looked sternly at the younger man. "Hey, pipsqueak. Got a minute?"
Joey reluctantly let go of Lizzy, waved her an awkward goodbye, and trotted after the much older man. "What's up?"
"What's up with you and Lizzy?!" Blondie challenged, whirling on him. "Don't you know she JUST went through a breakup?"
"I know! I know!" He raised his hands as if to defend himself, realized that was a stupid instinct, and let his arms fall limply to his sides. "She told me."
"SO, why are you clinging to her like that? Don't you know this is a workplace?!"
Joey's brow lowered past his glasses rim. He drew himself up to his full height. "I do know that," he said, as calmly as he could manage, "But I care about her. And when some asshole breaks her heart and leaves her on read, then I should be able to—"
"Leaves her on read?"
"What?"
Blondie's wild eyes locked on his. "You said, 'Leaves her on read.'"
"Uh, yeah," Joey said, pausing. "She called the guy 'again' last night, and he never responds. She feels horrible about it, and her dad's surgery is coming up, and she really needs a friend to just be there—"
"I need to go," Blondie said in a rush. A grin lit up his face as he whipped around, already pulling out his phone. Joey was left there, blinking in the office lights, as the older man sprinted down the hall. He shrugged, and went to get to work.
An email was sent that morning. Another in a long (and growing) list of correspondence.
'Dear Best Man,
It's rainy today where I am. Foggy, too. We should prbly check the weather the day we're planning this party— I think the weather is getting worse as the month drags on.
Also, I finished that movie you mentioned— the one in Russian, with the subtitles. ALSO HOW HAVE YOU NOT WATCHED THE PRINCESS BRIDE OH MY GOSH YOU UNCULTURED OYSTER
Despite this, haha, I think you are a good person, and a good friend. You should call the little sister— I'm sure whatever prank she pulled on you should only warrant a week's worth of silence, not more.
Also.. I've had kind of a bad day so far. Nothing major— just stress and bad sleep. Bad weather makes it worse, ya know? Anywayyy… If you're open to chatting around the lunch break, I've got nothing going on!
(And I KNOW you're not gonna be in that meeting with Mr What's-his-Face, so CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULE, BUSTER)
Btw, do you like cupcakes or brownies? We need to plan a snacks table
Looking forward to hearing from you again!
Sincerely, your favorite pen pal,
The Maid of Honor
P.S. Would you ever be open to meeting in real life, before the party? If your job allows, I mean. I feel like we would really get along, and I could use someone who I can count on. :)'