Lucie woke at 6.

She needed to get better curtains. Stupid sunrise waking her up a whole 15 minutes before her alarm was meant to go off.

She lay in the bed for the extra 15 minutes, closing her eyes firmly against the world, spiting her alarm clock to go off again. Unfortunately, it worked perfectly and sent its shrill scream out into the morning. Lucie's hand flailed around until it hit the correct button and the sound stopped. For a few seconds she could have sworn she still heard it ringing in her ears, but then her unwilling groan drowned it out and let her hear the actual sounds filling the morning air.

Coffee had very much become her friend since she'd moved to the farm. The mug that sat on her table seemed to mock her slightly, the steam rising enthusiastically and dancing about the air in her one-roomed home. It was using up all its energy instead of giving it over to Lucie, and she was so tired this morning.

Why films viewed two guys arguing over a girl as romantic, she would never understand. It was mortifying. Alex was being a dick for no clear reason, and Lucie felt her face burn at the memory of Shane's behaviour. Why he felt the need to step in - she had it. She was handling it, then he had to try to defend her as though she was some helpless little girl.

Although, he had been very sweet once they got out of sight of the town. He'd actually talked to her about the farm, about her grandfather and a little about himself, which caught her off guard. He seemed genuine - but then he had that time on the pier as well. And the next morning he was so abrupt and rude.

It was as if he was an entirely different person when the sun went down.

Lucie looked into her mug of coffee, half surprised to find that she'd drank it all. A plan formed in her mind, and she rolled her eyes at herself. But she needed to find out if the man she'd met in the evenings lurked somewhere in Shane in the day as well, so her terrible plan would be enacted later that morning. But first, the crops needed watering.

And she needed to get a hen house - no that could wait.


Shane's morning started by him falling out of his bed. Normally, his sleep state was more of a drunken stupor and so he was usually completely stationary throughout the night. When he hadn't drunk enough to pass out Shane fidgeted. When he fidgeted, he was prone to falling out of bed, and that was never a fun start to a morning.

He grumbled at the floor, blaming it for the ache which now spread through his shoulder, and decided to go back to sleep. He was sound asleep in seconds.

The door hit something as Marnie tried Shane's door. She peered around the wooden door and sighed when she saw that it was his foot that she'd hit. He lay on the floor in a tangle of bedsheets and clothes. The stench of beer hit her nose and the sigh turned into a much more heart-wrenching version of itself.

"Shane." She tried to make her voice sound scolding, but fell short. The concern and despair filled his room, but he didn't move. "Shane - you'll be late for work. Come on!" Beer cans lay scattered around his room, Marnie wasn't sure if they were new additions or if they'd been there for weeks. With Shane it was impossible to tell.

The bell of the door sounded, and Marnie felt her heart sink even lower. She shut the door, trying to preserve some dignity for Shane and went to go deal with the customer.


Lucie lurked by the till, uncertain if simply walking into Shane's room was acceptable or not. She had last night, but that was mostly because she didn't trust Shane to find his own bed and get in it successfully on his own. Walking a slightly too drunk man home was different to simply barging into his room with coffee, wasn't it?

Of course it was, stupid girl. Why was she even considering walking in his room - why did she care so much? Shane clearly had things to work through, so why should she fall for his hot-cold routine?

Was it even a routine?

"Lucie? How can I help?" Marnie's surprised question startled Lucie back out of her head. She lifted her head to see Marnie shutting Shane's door silently behind her, her hand resting on the doorknob still.
Lucie raised the thermos in her hand, and half smiled at Marnie. Her cheeks flamed slightly, now that there was someone in front of her she felt ridiculous.

"I thought Shane might like a coffee for his walk to work? He seemed a little… out of it last night," Lucie explained. She was over explaining, but she couldn't stop her mouth. "I have loads of these, so no worries about keeping it, and it was a dumb thought. I'll just -" she gestured behind her and scuttled towards the door. "-go. Now. Sorry."

Marnie moved quickly towards her and caught her wrist. The hold was gentle. Lucie could have pulled away with almost no effort, but she didn't. Marnie's eyes were full of pain when Lucie lifted her eyes from the hand.

"You took him home last night? Can you do something? He's out cold."

Lucie paused, and nodded. Wordlessly, she followed Marnie into his room.


The smell hit her first. It reeked of stale beer and mustiness. In the middle of the floor lay Shane, half-tangled in a blanket, a single bare leg poking out from under the blue covering. Hair fell over his face, throwing his face into an unreadable shadow, and all around him lay beer cans.

There were more on the window sill, more on the bedside table. A handful filled the bin, and more sat on his desk, more on a small bookcase by the door.

Lucie glanced around the room and sucked in a slow breath. Then, she unhooked the watering can from her belt and emptied it over his head in one swift movement.


Outrage.


Shane spluttered upright, knocking over a couple of the beer cans by his feet, moving towards the source of the water. Lucie had moved back towards the shadows by the wall, but he noticed the water can hanging loosely from her hand nonetheless.

"What the fuck?" He demanded, wiping water from his face and glowering at her.

"Shane," Marnie said, her voice starting soft. Then she frowned and started again. "What's the matter with you? All you do anymore is mope around your room and drink!" She folded her arms and looked at Shane accusatorially. Shane turned away, kicking an empty can and moving towards the window.

"You wouldn't understand," he muttered, rubbing a hand against his face. Staring out the window, he didn't notice Jas sneak up towards the doorway, her big eager eyes taking in the whole room.

"I'm worried about you, Shane," Marnie said, reaching out to comfort Shane, but faltering before her fingers could touch his shoulder. "What are you planning? Don't you ever think about the future?" Jas moved next to Marnie, still unnoticed by anyone but Lucie. Both Lucie and Jas watched the scene, knowing they shouldn't be there, but unable to extract themselves from it.

"Plan?" Scoffed Shane. "I'm not planning on being around long enough to need one." The words were quiet, but everyone in the room heard them as clear as day. Lucie swallowed harshly at the words, Marnie pressed her fingers to her mouth.

Jas, however, burst into tears and fled the room, her wails following her. Shane whirled around to see the tail of her dressing gown flutter out of his room, and Marnie's scolding look that she shot his way before following her.

"Jas…" Shane whispered. He sank back to the floor and turned away from Lucie, pressing his hands to his temple. "I'm sorry, Jas."