September 2003
She had been volunteering in the hospital the whole time. They hadn't crossed paths at all, and she didn't know he was being treated. Until one day, that is, when she was in the oncology ward. She saw his name on a chart, and came immediately.
"Why didn't you tell any of us?" She had asked.
"Because it wouldn't have benefited anyone." He insisted.
She hadn't pushed it, but he knew she didn't believe him.
Now, they had settled back into their old friendship. She wore no ring, and lived alone in an apartment. She never mentioned Ned, and he never asked about him. She'd stop by to bring him meals when he was busy with work or hospital visits. Eventually she started spending time at his place to keep him company. They were platonic, but Schemer had never forgotten the way she made him feel. Distancing himself had worked when she was married, both had deterred him from thinking too much about her, but the daily acts of her kindness and company were constant reminders of what could have been. He thought he recognized the look in her eyes from their days of long ago, but tried to convince himself it didn't exist. They had tried it once, it didn't work.
But, as he sat nursing his coffee alone one morning, he couldn't shrug off the fact that it could have worked. It technically had never been broken, or fell apart, circumstances just got in the way. But he was having problems justifying trying to make it work now. Circumstances were once again getting in the way.
A knock on the door broke him out of his reverie and he got up to see her at his door. They greeted each other warmly, and he let her in happily. Sometimes they ate breakfast together, sometimes they just sat and read together or watched television. Today they were eventually going to head out for a walk around the downtown neighbourhood.
However, another knock was heard at the door, and Schemee walked in unexpectedly through the front door.
"Hey Uncle Schemer!" He called out from the front hallway, Schemer was in the kitchen with Stacy, which had an entrance to the right of the hallway. He momentarily panicked. His wig was in the living room. Schemee couldn't see him right now, but a few steps further would reveal his secret if he didn't go slip out and get it now.
"Hey Schemee, one second!" He called trying to keep his voice from giving away any panic.
"Distract him." He hissed at Stacy desperately, motioning to his head. He could hear Schemee fumbling with his shoes.
She nodded and rushed into the front hallway, while Schemer slipped past quickly into the living room.
"Hey Schemee!" She said cheerfully.
"Oh hey Stacy, I had no idea you were here." He said surprisedly.
"I was just visiting your Uncle, we were going to head out later today. Unless you needed him for something." She explained, meanwhile Schemer was rushing to put the wig on properly and look presentable.
"Nah, I was just stopping in for a visit. I can head out if you're busy." He said, just as Schemer was checking his hair in the mirror.
"You can join us if you'd like." She offered politely. Just then, Schemer popped into the front hallway.
"Hey Schemee, sorry about that. I just had to grab something." He said hurriedly. "Sure, why don't you join us?"
"Only if it's not a bother, I'm heading out for a week for away games after tomorrow." He said with a proud grin.
They ended up going to a restaurant to grab breakfast, and at the first opportunity when they were alone Schemer worriedly grabbed Stacy's arm.
"He doesn't know." He confessed, looking lost.
"I know." She said, he could tell she felt bad for him, but at the same time didn't agree with his decision.
"Could you, you know, not tell him?" He asked, trying not to sound like he was pleading.
"I won't, and I wasn't going to. That's not my place." She said simply.
"Thank you." He said gratefully.
Breakfast went without a hitch and Stacy and Schemee seemed glad to see each other once again. Schemer felt genuinely happy watching them interact, it seemed natural. It took away from the stress that had currently taken hold in his life. When they parted, Stacy and Schemer went back to his apartment. They sat in silence for a little bit, reading, but Schemer couldn't ignore what had happened earlier.
He sighed and put down his newspaper. "Look, I know you don't like lying for me." He said cautiously.
She looked up. "I'm not lying directly, but yes, I don't like it." She agreed carefully.
"I know I should tell him." He confessed.
"Yes, you should. I'm not going to lecture you for it, but, Schemer just remember that he cares about you and you're his only family left." She said, looking guilty for having to say it.
"I know." He agreed, looking away with unease. "I'll tell him, I don't want to hide it anymore."
"That's good, I'm proud of you for handling everything so well. It's hard when you're on your own. Sometimes you just need someone on your team." She put a hand over one of his.
He looked up and met her eyes. "Yeah, sometimes you do." He agreed, and lightly touched her chin with his fingers. Tilting her lips up he lightly kissed her.
She reciprocated by putting her arms around his shoulders and pulling him in closer.
Coldplay - Yellow
