July 1998
It had been over a year since Schemer and Schemee had moved to the state's capital. Though it was hard at first to settle in and essentially start over, they had managed. Due to changing high schools, Schemee was brought into a school that had much better coverage by university scouts and had landed himself a full ride scholarship as a shortstop on the state university's baseball team. Schemer had used his extra savings to start up a new business. He was trying to ride the internet popularity by buying into the internet cafe industry. It was simple, if not dull, and paid the bills with money to spare. He owned three across the city and couldn't complain about finances.
On the outside, he was still boastful and a braggart. To anyone else, his success seemed like it meant the world to him and nothing could be better in life. However, Schemee found his Uncle had gained a hollowness about him since leaving Shining Time. It wasn't anything impeding or obvious, it was just in the little things. Like when the silence set in and the loneliness etched itself on Schemer's face. Schemee wasn't too worried, the city was a big place and left his Uncle with many options to meet new people and they had only been here a year after all. But maybe it was too big of a place.
Schemee had just brought the mail up to their condo and placed it in front of his Uncle, who was sitting and reading the newspaper.
"How're the stocks doing Uncle?" He asked nonchalantly.
Schemer shrugged. "Alright, Apple is lagging behind a bit, I was going to go sell them this morning."
He was going to, but then something caught his eye peeking out from the pile of mail, and he forgot all about selling. A pink envelope was addressed to him in a familiar handwriting. He knew what it was before he opened it, and while he had been expecting it he just wasn't prepared to come so soon.
"What is it?" Schemee asked curiously.
Schemer's eyes flicked upwards sharply. "Some wonderful news." He said sarcastically.
Billy wasn't expecting Schemer to appear at his doorstep on his day off but he wasn't upset either.
"Schemer? It's been too long!" He said sincerely.
Schemer haughtily strode through the door. "Time flies by, business has been booming, it feels like yesterday since I left." He threw himself down into an armchair and casually flashed the invitation. "So when did this happen?" He asked nonchalantly.
"Uh, well, it's been going on since last summer. I'm guessing this isn't just a random visit?" Billy asked as he slid into another armchair.
"Why didn't you warn me that this was coming?" Schemer straightened up and his expression turned serious.
"Schemer, surely you knew this was coming."
"Not this soon! Who in their right mind gets married a year after getting together?! Ridiculous. And how tacky is a pink envel-"
"Schemer!" Billy barked sharply, cutting him off. Schemer looked up, startled and annoyed.
"I don't care if you show up unannounced for a visit, I'd actually be happy about it because you disappeared off the face of the earth, but do not barge in here and start insulting my other best friend. You left. You made that choice. It's not anybody's fault that you didn't try and keep up with any of us."
Schemer stared at Billy, mouth gapping open in shock, before slowly turning his head to stare at his folded hands. "I... I guess I should have seen this coming."
Billy clapped him on the shoulder gently. "It's okay, I know you weren't over it."
"How could you tell?" Schemer asked, looking up.
"Because you never came back." Billy said simply.
"I didn't want to dwell on it." Schemer said, hands steepled under his chin.
"No, and you did the best thing for you. You have your new business up and running and it's going well. Schemee has been successful with school and sports. What you did was admirable, and even if you're still hurt you moved on with your life." Billy explained gently.
"Is she happy?"
"Yes, she is. I may not like Ned that much, he's too traditional for me personally, but she does. And that's all that matters."
Schemer looked up with a crooked smile. "Say you don't like Ned one more time."
Billy just laughed.
Schemer went to the Station to deliver his invitation response, he was prepared to talk to Stacy and be cordial. But for whatever reason she wasn't at her desk. Being back at his old workplace was slightly uncomfortable for him. The nostalgia just made him depressed and the office that had been placed on top of the arcade seemed so final.
The nameplate "Paul Miller" hung on the door, Schemer wrinkled his nose in disdain.
He didn't feel like waiting around so he dropped it on her desk and left quickly.
Cheers, Darling - Damian Rice
