Silence reigned in the aftermath of Oliver's outburst. Music from the television played away in the background, yet it went unheard. Schuyler was staring at Oliver, his words playing through her head. Was she a complete fool? Had she fallen for a habitual cheater? She remembered the secrecy of their relationship, his desire for them to hide from Mimi and the others and a hard knot of anger began building in her chest.
"I'm an idiot." She struggled out finally, breaking the uncomfortable silence with her ragged words. "A complete and total idiot."
"No.." Oliver moaned and hugged her to him. "You're not an idiot. Don't ever think that Sky."
"But I should have seen it. Why he made me hide in the shadows, when he ignored me in front of her. God I was his affair." The tears started again, quieter and more wretched than before.
"Oh Sky come on. It's not the end of the world." Oliver's voice was gentle, soothing as he patted her back gently, feeling her shoulders heave beneath the cotton fabric of her shirt as she sobbed.
"I feel so stupid." Her voice was muffled, strained from crying. "I thought he loved me."
Oliver stared at the top of her head, unsure of what he should do. Beneath his hands, her body shook with heartfelt sobs and her tears soaked his shirt. "It's alright...it's okay." He murmurred the standard platitudes as he tried to soothe her. "I'm here."
With a supreme effort, Sky gulped back the next wave of tears and pulled herself upright. "Sorry Ollie." She muttered as she wiped her eyes with a clean tissue. "You don't need me crying all over you."
"Don't worry about it." Oliver stared at her stricken face and silently promised to punch out Jack Force the next time he saw him. Standing up from the sofa, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his mobile. "I recommend we have a night of pizza and cheesy movies." He announced as he scrolled through the numbers. Schuyler went to shake her head, but Oliver jumped in before she could."My treat."
"I don't know.."
"Come on.. when was the last time we had a movie night?" He cajoled, hoping to find some way to draw her out of the gloom she had descended into. "I'll let you pick the girliest chick flick you can find." He smiled encouragingly and was gratified to see the ghost of a smile touch her lips.
"Oh alright." Schuyler finally uttered, knowing that Oliver was only trying to help and grateful for his fumbling efforts. "You promise not to to heckle though." She wagged her finger at him as she tried to move beyond the crippling pain she was feeling.
"I promise nothing." Oliver replied as he rang the number for the pizza house and silently congratulated himself on at least getting a watery smile from her.
They were halfway through Mamma Mia and Oliver was giving serious thought to committing suicide when Schuyler's phone rang. Without a glance at the number, Sky answered the phone and stiffened almost instantly.
"Jack I don't want to.." Oliver jolted upright and stared at her, hoping that she wouldn't dissolve into floods of tears and wondering just what Force was playing at as she curtly ended the call and stared off into space.
"What is it?" Oliver paused the movie and caught her hand. "What did he want?"
"I've got to go to the Bank. The committee wants to see me." She looked around and stared at the clock on the wall. "I've got to get over there as soon as possible." She stood up and reached for her heavy Dr Martens and began lacing them.
"Why now?" Oliver asked, his curiousity fully aroused now as she stood and clumped across the floor to pick up her faded black velvet jacket. "And why do they want to see you?"
"Something about Rio and Lawrence." Schuyler dragged on her jacket and headed to the door.
"I'll come with you." Oliver pulled out a pair of trainers and put them on. "Moral support and all that." His voice brooked no argument and after a moment's thought, Schuyler gently nodded and they both left the cosy room.