Love Money

by Orion1227

Summary:

She didn't have much time.

Treatments, bills... They pile up quickly.

She needed a miracle.

One day, she came across a small stand.

Chapter 1: Epilogue

She really had tried. She had lost track of how many heirlooms and treasures she sold to keep afloat. For a while, she thought she had it handled.

But the combination of her meager salary, rent payments, and ever-growing medical bills were bound to catch up to her eventually.

She sat quietly in her poorly-furnished house, stewing in her helplessness. What could she do? Her current job took up too much of her time to consider getting a new one, and with her... condition...

She wasn't sure she could handle it, even if she had the time.

Saving money? Going without food and electricity was only bearable for so long, and she didn't exactly purchase more than that. She was saving every spare cent she had, (literally. She had long since combed through every remaining piece of furniture in her home for money... without much luck) and yet, she was quickly running out of options.

All she could do, now... was hope for a miracle.

Driving home from the store one day, she spotted a stand on the side of the road.

Chapter 2: Chapter 1

Notes:

Welcome to my story!

I have been pulled once again from the depths of writer's block to attempt telling a story. Lets see how it goes.

The small stand looked largely unassuming from a distance, but the words posted above a rather eccentric-looking man caught her eye.

'1 click = 1 dollar'

"One... click?" She thought, bemused. Nonetheless, she, somewhat shyly, approached the stand.

A man decked out in a light blue, almost 50's reminiscent suit greeted her.

"Hey there!" He greeted her with an English accent and a bright smile, "My name is Harvey Harvington, and welcome to my booth! Each time you click me, I'll give you a dollar!"

She blinked, smiling despite her nerves, and greeting the man in turn.

"Hi! I noticed your, uh, stand, when I was driving by, and I thought I'd... check it out? Um..." She giggled nervously.

She still didn't know what he meant by... 'clicks.'

"Like... in a video game?" She mused, becoming more and more unsure of this by the second.

He smiled again, noticing her hesitancy.

"Sounds like a sweet deal, doesn't it? Here's a little tip before we start- I always say clicks are like tiny magic spells. The more you believe in them, the more they'll do for you."

She listened, growing more confused by the second.

"Just- sorry, but... What do you mean by... clicks? Like... in a video game? Or..."

He blinked. Then blinked again. It seems he hadn't thought of that.

"Oh! Well... Yes, I suppose it's like that."

She stared. That didn't really... answer the question.

"So... What do I..."

He blinked at her, smiling patiently.

"...do?" She questioned.

His stare went blank for a moment.

"oh... Oh! Oh, well, to start off, you can just... touch! Poke! I dunno, whatever strikes you as 'clicking'."

Her eyebrows furrowed slightly. She was feeling less and less sure of this by the second, and she wasn't sure she particularly wanted to poke and prod at a stranger for money.

She nearly walked away. Made up some excuse about being late for work or something... When she stopped.

She thought of the overdue bills sitting on her counter.

She thought of the painful nights without pain medication or money to buy them.

She thought of her student's disappointed faces when the 'class parties' she threw consisted of nothing more than cheap juice and cookies from the dollar store.

Bills. Pain. Disappointment. Money would solve all of these problems and more.

She stayed put.

…but she was still unsure about how to proceed.

"You want me to... poke you? Isn't that kind of... mean? I mean- I don't want to like... hurt you. Or... annoy you?"

He laughed.

"No, no, it's fine. I appreciate your concern, but I'm here to help people!" He smiled. "Really, I don't mind."

She still felt unsure. Surely he would get aggravated with someone prodding at him... but he seemed to be encouraging her to do so anyways.

She took a couple of steps forwards, raising her hand... before hesitating.

Still smiling, the man tilted his head questioningly.

"...how should I..."

He seemed to think for a moment, before his eyed brightened.

He raised his own hand, lifting his pointer finger.

Despite herself, she giggled slightly, pressing his finger with her own... before jumping slightly as a small ding sounded above her. A counter she hadn't noticed before now read 1.

"See? Easy! Just keep clicking and see what happens!"

Somewhat awkwardly, she continued tapping her finger against his own until the counter read 100.

"Oh, hey, look! Once you reach a certain number, you can buy a cool new item! Check it out!"

Harvey reached under his counter, retrieving a wrapped parcel that he handed to her.

She looked questioningly at him.

"...item? Uh... What... 'item'... would I be purchasing? And... Why?"

He smiled slightly.

"Well, for the 'why', using an item makes the number go up faster! As for the what..." His eyes glanced at the package.

"I have no clue!"

...

"...What? But.. Then, how did you... How do you have the... 'items' without knowing what they are?"

He chuckled slightly.

"Well, I figured it would add some fun into it if even I didn't know what the items were, so I asked a stranger to pick some for me!"

She stared incredulously.

"A... stranger."

The box in her hands suddenly felt heavier.

"... are these... going to be safe?"

He laughed, waving a hand reassuringly.

"Don't worry, I didn't tell them what it was for. I'm sure they're all perfectly safe."

Despite his words, she could see his eyes tracing the box. She gulped.

She began peeling open the box.

"Let's hope curiosity doesn't kill the cats..."

 

Slowly prying open the box, she found...

A feather. She let out a slow sigh of relief.

When Harvey saw it, he laughed slightly, breathlessly. Seems he was a little worried as well.

"See! Nothing to worry about! Perfectly safe!"

It sounded as if he was trying to convince himself.

She picked up the feather, weighing her options.

Option A- she continues tapping his finger. A little embarrassing, sure, but not the worst thing in the world.

Option B- she tickles this man she just met and still doesn't really know in broad daylight.

Fading daylight. The sky was beginning to darken.

Option A, slower.

Option B... quicker, but...

She really wasn't sure she could handle the embarrassment.

As if sensing her internal turmoil, the man spoke gently.

"Hey, you don't have to do anything you aren't comfortable with. I know we just met and all, and this is probably... strange. But I promise that I just want to help, and I really don't mind doing so."

His gentle smile and reassurances, despite being somewhat cheesy... actually did help her nerves somewhat.

"...you sure? I don't wanna..."

She wasn't sure what she didn't want to do. She didn't want to bother this poor man. She also didn't want to continue being stuck in a financial sinkhole.

He chuckled slightly, nodding.

Hand shaking slightly, she slowly put the tip of the feather on his hand, looking up to the counter. Nothing.

"Damn it."

Taking a deep breath in, she moved the feather slightly. A ding above her signaled her success. The counter now read the number 2.

She brought her eyes to Harvey's. He smiled, gesturing down to the feather.

She clenched her teeth. Better to get it over with quickly.

In quite possibly the most awkward minute of her life, she continued ghosting the tip of the feather over his hand. When the counter read 500, she stopped, face red. Harvey's shoulders shook slightly as he held in his laughter, eyes focused on her.

She suddenly realized she was standing in an incredibly awkward position, holding the feather as if a weapon.

Her face grew hotter.

She set down the feather, letting out a deep breath.

"I... I think I'm.. Done. Th-uh, thanks, for, uh, this, and... uh. Yeah."

A moment of silence.

Harvey bursted out laughing, leaning back in his chair slightly.

"S-Sorry, hah, I just-" He laughed once more, wiping faux tears from his eyes before handing her a wad of cash.

"Here. Thank you."

She took the bundle gently, blinking slightly.

"Thank... me?"

He chuckled again, nodding.

"For the laugh. Feel free to come back anytime."

She blushed. Again. Her face had to have been aflame.

She awkwardly stuttered out a thanks before retreating to her car.

That had been the single strangest interaction she ever had.

 

As Harvey watched her walk away, stumbling slightly (he couldn't help but laugh again), he realized he had never caught her name.

He also realized that, though he had said as much to her, he really did hope he would see her again.

Notes:

Thank you for reading! As always, comments are greatly appreciated!

Chapter 3: Chapter 2

The money was immediately stashed into the safe when she got home. It was her lifeline, her miracle, and she would be damned if it somehow got misplaced.

This was a start.

...but would it be enough?

 

Her doctor sighed as he read through her files.

He didn't like what he saw.

She sat across from him, picking nervously at her fingers. At his sigh, she felt her body go cold.

"...Miss Y/L/N..."

He went silent for a moment before taking off his glasses. He looked at her with...

Pity. She had been getting that look from doctors a lot recently. She had come to learn it only meant bad things.

He sighed once more, looking at her papers in his hands.

"...It didn't work." Her voice felt unsteady. Her lip quivered slightly. She forced it to stop.

"Be strong."

"...No. Your condition is maturing quicker than we had expected, and the medication you were on couldn't make the impact needed to stop it. It..." He closed his eyes for a moment.

"I believe it may be time to consider more aggressive treatment."

She swallowed. She could hardly afford the pills they had her taking.

Sighing shakily, she braced herself.

"...Be straight with me. How much... How much would that... cost?" The words felt dirty leaving her mouth.

He looked down once more, reading over something.

"After your insurance... Somewhere around 25,000. There are payment plans we can consider-" He continued on about paying over time and resources she could use.

She stopped listening when she heard the number. She felt her mouth move and, seeing as he moved to scheduling her next appointment, it was something coherent. She didn't have it in her to care.

She walked out, pamphlets about treatment in hand, and sat down in her car. She blinked slowly at the number circled in red staring her down.

25,000.

That was more than she made in 6 months.

Her vision blurred. The red ink began to smear down the page.

She sobbed.

 

Her students could tell that something was wrong. She had always- despite her circumstances, despite her attitude, despite everything- put on a brave face for her kids. She did her best to make school fun. Her students could count on a chipper, friendly face waving them in every morning.

Today... She was silent. As her students were seated and began their morning work, she felt her eyes begin to well with tears once more.

"Goddamn it. Keep it together. Be strong. Be-"

Her thoughts were cut off when one of her students, a little girl named Maisey who cried when anyone squished a spider and who would help anyone struggling without a second thought, walked up to her desk.

"Miss Y/N?"

She blinked. Very quickly. Cleared her voice.

"...Y-yes, Maisey, how can I help you?"

The girl raised a handmade drawing to the teacher. On it, a childlike depiction of the teacher holding hands with little stick figures that resembled the students of her class. The different styles of the figures told her that multiple people had worked on this picture.

"Um... We- We saw you was sad... And we wanted to make you feel better! We made you 'dis drawing so you don' feel sad no more!"

The woman's hand trembled as she picked up the gift. Atop the drawing read the words-

"WE LUVE MS Y/N!"

A droplet on the paper. Her face felt wet. She quickly reached up to wipe at her face while chuckling gently.

"T-Thank you, all of you. So much. This is the most beautiful drawing I have ever seen. This.."

She felt herself choking up.

She had to get out of there.

"I think... I need to go hang this on my fridge immediately. Would you all like that?"

Resounding cheers from the classroom. She smiled, lip shaking from the force of holding back her tears.

She couldn't do this to them. They deserved a happy, healthy teacher.

She asked her aid to watch the classroom that day, which she was more than happy to do, shooing the teacher out, albeit quite lovingly.

"You go home and feel better, dear. I'll take care of things here."

The woman promised that she would go home and rest.

But she had a stop to make, first.

 

Harvey hadn't had anyone stop by in hours. The last person simply stopped to chat for a moment before going on their way. He sighed, leaning into his hand. Who knew trying to help people would be this hard?

He closed his eyes, grumbling slightly, before he heard a car stop close by. Perking up slightly, he sat up straight to look around.

He almost didn't recognize her.

A pale yellow sundress dotted with images of crayons and rulers.

A large tote bag that seemed to be years old and was bursting to the seams.

A face, red and puffy, that looked as if she'd just finished crying.

When he noticed the last detail, his eyebrows furrowed in concern. Still, he regained his cheerful demeanor when she approached his stand.

"Hi there! It is very nice to see you again!"

She blinked, slightly taken aback. He... Remembered her?

She then remembered how horribly awkward she had been during their last encounter, and felt her face get slightly hot with embarrassment.

"Um... Hi. It- It's nice to see you, too."

They smiled at each other's pleasantries for a moment before her face seemed to fall as she remembered something.

"U-Um... Listen. I..."

She shifted in place slightly, holding her tote closer, as if to shield herself.

"I have a question."

He was... Slightly concerned. The puffiness around her eyes and the way she looked as if he had already told her to get lost was... concerning.

It took him a moment to remember that she had asked an almost-question.

"Oh! Of course! What can I help you with?" His tone remained cheerful, but she could hear the undertone of concern lining his words.

She took a deep breath.

"Do... Do you have like..."

She grimaced. This was a difficult question to ask, and she was sure it would be a difficult answer to hear. How many people just go around and ask random strangers for 25,000 dollars?

...

Actually, she'd rather not know the answer to that.

"...Do you have... a limit? On how much you're willing to... give?"

As the words left her mouth, she scrunched into herself, preparing for the inevitable answer that would leave her broke and sick and dead-

"Nope!"

...

"Huh?"

"...Huh?"

He chuckled slightly, before taking on a more serious tone.

"I told you, I'm out here to help people. Why put a cap on that?"

She took a slow, deep breath in. He... probably didn't get it. How much she was asking from him.

"I... Are you..." She didn't want to ask. To risk hearing that she was crazy for asking this. That she's crazy for expecting this much from him.

"How much do you need?"

She blinked at his question.

"...Twenty five thousand dollars. But I couldn't possibly expect you to-"

"Then we better get started!" He smiled at her, seemingly... Relieved?

"Like... Twenty five. Thousand. With three zeros."

He nodded at her.

She stared at him.

He sighed, slightly, before gesturing for her to put up her hand. Slowly, she did so, still seeming to be unsure.

He gently tapped his pinky finger against her own. A small ding sounded above them.

"I want to help. I promise. It's what I'm out here to do." He smiled slightly, tilting his head. "And, honestly, you're helping me, too."

She shook her head slightly in disbelief.

"...How?"

He grinned, looking up at her.

"By keeping me company."

She gaped at him, mouth slightly open.

Laughing, he tapped his finger against hers again.

"C'mon, the sooner you get started, the quicker it'll be."

A few hundred taps later (she couldn't bring herself to bear the feather again) they were both laughing, telling stories about their work.

"Y-Y'know, I once tried to be a radio host." He giggled at her, watching her face change to curiosity.

"A radio host? Why that?"

He looked around for a moment, then shrugged.

"Sounded interesting. I had heard there was decent money in it... and you get to sit down while you do it. Talking someone's ear off and I get to sit down? Dream job, for sure. Didn't end up working out, though."

At the tilt of her head, he sighed.

"They told me I had a face for something else, and a voice for... Literally anything else. I think they just got tired of hearing me talk, to be honest."

She furrowed her eyebrows.

"But... Your voice is fine? I like listening to you talk."

His face reddened slightly.

Clearing his throat, he leaned forward.

"Right? Anyhow, that's enough stories from me. Your turn."

She gulped, looking away for a moment. He felt her finger stop tapping his own.

He touched her finger lightly, jolting her.

"You don't have to, if you don't want to. I mean, if you like my voice thaaat much I can just keep talking."

She giggled slightly before sighing.

"It's not that.. I don't want to. I just... I've only ever taught. I don't really have any interesting stories about jobs or anything like that."

He laughed.

"Well, I'm sure you have stories from that which would be plenty interesting, but they don't have to be about jobs. Tell me anything!"

She looked down for a moment before smiling.

"Well... I do have a couple stories about parents. If you'd... Like to hear those?"

His eager face was answer enough.

Their laughter continued well into the early evening.

When it began to grow dark, she looked up at the counter.

It read 1050.

He smiled gently at her.

"Guess that just means you'll have to come back tomorrow, right?"

She smiled back.

"Guess so."

And so she did.

Notes:

Thank you for reading! As always, comments are greatly appreciated!

Chapter 4: Chapter 3

They built a nice little routine over the next few days. She would stop by after school let out and they would share stories and jokes. The counter began to read lower and lower. She would spend more time talking than she would tapping.

Honestly? She didn't even realize. She was having more fun chatting with the man than she had anything in... a long time.

Of course, it couldn't last forever.

Her first appointment of her new treatment came quicker than she had hoped.

It was tough. Afterwards, she was physically and mentally drained. and wanted nothing more than to go home, lie in bed, and watch shitty reality tv.

But her and Harvey had set up a routine. She didn't want to let him down.

When he spotted her approaching, he could tell something was off. She was pale. Sweating. It looked as if she was ill.

"Hey, Harvey. How's it going?" Despite her best efforts, her tone displayed how she was feeling. And she hated how she could see that look come into his eyes.

Concern. Worry.

Pity.

"Hey yourself. Are you.. feeling alr-"

"I'm fine." Her sharp tone cut him off. She sucked in a breath.

"S-Sorry, sorry, I didn't-" She sighed. "I shouldn't have cut you off. I'm sorry. You're.. Right. I haven't been... feeling very well today."

"Don't apologize. Really. You should go home and rest."

She closed her eyes, smiling slightly.

"I'd hate to deprive you of my presence for the evening. I know I'm just the light of your life." Her joking tone was slightly undercut by the pure exhaustion that underlined it.

Harvey cracked a smile.

"I'll be here tomorrow. Go home and rest." His voice took on a gallant tone. "I will await your presence with horrific boredom. Whomever will keep me entertained as fantastically as you?"

She laughed.

"...seriously though... Are you sure? I don't mind to stay and keep you company." She placed one of her hands on the table as she spoke, subconsciously.

He smiled gently at her, placing his hand over hers for a brief moment.

"Go home and rest. I'll be okay."

Smiling gently at him, she returned to her car.

 

She didn't have it in her to go the next day, either. Throwing up 4 times in the same hour will do that to a person. She told herself that she would go tomorrow. No matter what.

 

When she couldn't sit up in bed without feeling dizzy the next morning, she started to feel frustrated.

 

After a few days, she was ready. She hadn't been sick or woozy at all that day, and by god she was going to see Harvey if her life depended on it.

When she pulled up, there was someone else at the booth.

The sudden spike of jealousy surprised her. It was a public booth, for god's sake. Obviously other people were going to stop by.

Telling herself this did nothing to quell the feeling. She grumbled to herself.

After a few minutes, they were still there. She decided to (not at all creepily) watch their interaction with Harvey. They were friends! She was allowed to make sure everything was all good. Groovy. Chilling.

Ugh.

...

She decided to keep watch anyways.

 

The interaction seemed to be going... normally. Harvey seemed.. A little nervous? But maybe she was just seeing things. The person at the booth didn't seem to have threating body language, they seemed to just be... poking him.

After a few minutes of this, a small ding sounded out. Harvey slowly pulled a out a parcel and handed it to the person.

She couldn't see what it was from this angle. She leaned closer.

A shine of metal.

What...

She opened her door and stepped out. Their conversation became audible. Or, rather...

Harvey's pleas.

"-let's not go crazy here, okay? You don't actually want to... I mean, you wouldn't, right?"

Silence.

The person raised their hand-

and brought the hammer down hard across Harvey's face.

If she had been listening, she would have heard him cry out. But she wasn't. The air flying past her ears as she ran towards them made it difficult.

"HEY!"

Both parties turned to look at her. From this angle, she could see blood running down a mark on Harvey's cheek.

She wouldn't describe herself as physically strong. To be perfectly honest, she never was. But they say adrenaline goes a long way.

Enough so that, when she reached them, the resounding force of her body against theirs knocked them to the ground.

Unfortunately, that's where that strength seemed to end.

The individual managed to flip her off of themselves, throwing her against the stall in the process. Her vision was blurry.

She could see a figure coming towards her.

At the last minute, she stuck out her leg to trip them. The hammer rolled away, resting between the two.

They leapt for the weapon.

She got it first.

Their fist found its mark against her cheek.

They picked up the hammer, moving to stand over her.

She tried to dart out from under the figure when their foot caught her in the stomach.

She looked up the see a metal glint in the sun as the weapon was raised above her head, crashing down onto her-

Arms encircle the figure, dragging them away from her.

Harvey.

It's almost comical, him dangling off the tall person. Until they fling him off.

Luckily, that gave her just enough time.

Just as they turned around, her foot caught them.

In the crotch.

The force of which brought them both down.

The person ran off. Guess she put more force into that then she thought.

Harvey ran to her, kneeling beside her.

"Oh my god, are you okay?'

She stared at him.

"I just watched you get hit across the head with a literal hammer and you're asking if I'm okay?"

"Yes?!"

They stare at each other for a moment.

Harvey's eye twitches.

She bites her lip.

 

Then, they both burst out laughing.

 

After a few minutes, they sobered up enough to look at each other.

 

A gash traced Harvey's face.

 

A bruise was beginning to bloom against her cheek.

 

Slowly, gently, her hand came up to brush the seeping blood from his skin. He winced, slightly, his own hand resting atop hers.

 

Silence. They continued to watch one another, eyes tracing their various injuries.

 

Suddenly, her cheeks reddened. Pulling her hand away, she hopped up, brushing her clothes off awkwardly.

"U-Um, well, I'm glad you're- I mean-" She took a deep breath. "I'm glad you're okay. That must have been... Scary."

He chuckled, somewhat lifelessly, looking down at his hands, which were littered with small pinpricks. Scary... didn't really begin to describe it.

He sighed, raising to stand facing her.

"It would have been..." He smiled at her. "...had there not been my knight in shining armor come to save me."

She blushed.

"I-I wouldn't really-" She stammered, taking a step back, "-really say it like that. I just- You're my- My-" She closed her eyes, hearing her voice stammer to the point of being incoherent.

Smiling gently, he reached out a hand.

"How about... a 'friend'?"

Her eyes met his own. A silent question brewed behind them. After a moment, she rested her hand atop his.

Seems she found her answer.

Notes:

Thank you for reading! As always, Comments are greatly appreciated!

Chapter 5: Chapter 4

Notes:

reader does NOT want him to know.

unfortunately, harvey is a curious little guy.

"You're kidding."

Y/N laughed, shaking her head.

"Nope. She actually expected me to drive him to school and back everyday. I-" She laughed, "I really wouldn't have minded, honestly. He's a sweet kid! If she had a real reason besides wanting to sleep in during the week, I totally would have."

Harvey shook his head, bewildered.

"And- Get this, right- I asked if it was something with her job, y'know? Maybe she worked nights or something. But-" She leaned in closer, "-she said she was a stay-at-home mom. She actually told me that she could have brought him, but she just 'didn't feel like it.'"

She leaned back, looking down.

"It.. Actually made me pretty sad. For the kid, obviously, but... She said that in front of him. Who does that?"

Harvey scoffed, eyebrows scrunched in anger.

"That's horrible. That poor kid. If she knew she had the time, why couldn't she just take him in the morning and then- oh, I don't know- go back to sleep when she got home? Or, even better, enjoy the time she gets with her kid when she's taking him? They're only little for so long."

"You sound like you know the feeling."

Harvey's eyes shot up, surprised. He looked down, a sad smile growing on his face.

"...Yeah."

Her eyes widened. She gently laid one of her hands on the table in front of him.

"You- You don't have to talk about it. I'm sorry."

He chuckled slightly, face brightening.

"No, no, don't be sorry. You're right. I..." He sighed, leaning back in his chair for a moment, seemingly in thought. "I do. Have a kid, I mean. A little boy. He..." Harvey swallowed, looking down. "He's the light of my life. I don't... Get to see him as often as I'd like. Hearing about people having that chance and wasting it just..." He shook his head. "Grinds my gears."

She nodded, somewhat surprised. Harvey hadn't struck her as the kind of person to have a child, but with the loving, wistful look in his eyes as he talked about his son... Yeah, she could see it.

"I'm sorry. That you don't get enough time with him. Everyone deserves that."

He looked at her, quiet. A small, melancholy smile accompanied his words.

"...Yeah. Thanks."

He leaned back and chuckled, demeanor changing slightly.

"Well, that got deep quick... Did I ever tell you about the time I tried to be a grocer?"

She laughed, shaking her head.

"Please do."

 

Work had been... Difficult. The kids were rowdy, her aid was absent, and there had been a surprise observation that, to say the least, did not go well. Her fuse was lit, fanned, and extinguished. To top it off, she had another treatment coming up.

The day could only get better from there.

 

She sighed as she walked up to the booth, Harvey's bright voice greeting her.

"Hey, Harvey. How's it going?"

He raised an eyebrow at her tone, which betrayed her exhaustion.

"It's... Going. How are you, uh, doing?"

She laughed, leaning against the stall.

"That obvious, huh? I'm fine. Just... Tired. Today was... A lot." She sighed, smiling tiredly. "It's alright. I'm just happy to be here instead of..." She shook her head. "Can we just... Talk? Like we normally do? I think that would... Help. Maybe."

"Are... You sure? If you'd rather just go home and rest, there'd be no hard-"

"No!" She stepped forward, voice raised. He blinked up at her, visibly confused.

She stopped.

She hadn't meant to do that.

Wincing, she took a measured step back.

"I-I'm sorry. Gosh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-" She groaned, frustrated, before flopping down on the ground, an arm thrown over her face.

She heard him lean over the table to look at her, silent. No one moved.

Then, a shuffle of feet. Footsteps.

Harvey plops down in the grass beside her.

"Hey. You alright?"

A groan.

Her muffled voice answers.

"...yeah. Work was just... so much. I mean, it always is but... Today was. Extra."

A laugh.

"I get that. Did I ever tell you about the time I crashed the city's economy?"

Slowly, she moved her arm, eyes staring incredulously at him.

"...What?"

He chuckled, leaning back to rest on his hands.

"Yeah. That was a prettyyy rough day."

She sat up, hugging her knees to her chest.

"...tell me?"

He smiled, arms gesturing around him as he began his story.

 

"...and then, and then he pulled out a piece of paper. A sheet I had filled out. I couldn't see anything wrong with it. Do you know what I did?"

She knew he was trying to cheer her up.

She'd be lying if she said it wasn't working.

"What? Did you forget a number or something?"

"Nope." He leaned in closer. "I added an extra zero. Totally messed up the machines. He fired me then and there."

She gaped at him.

"What?! Just for that? Isn't that like unlawful termination or something?"

"You would think so," he laughed, "but apparently it's only unlawful if they don't have a 'valid reason', and, as their lawyers were quick to assure me, that counts as one."

"But- But that's crazy? Over one mistake?"

"One mistake that costed them supposedly a lot of money, time, and trust within the community. But, to be honest, if they hadn't fired me, I would have quit. Real shoddy work they do over there."

"Must be if an extra zero is enough to tank the economy."

They looked at each other.

They proceeded to burst out laughing.

 

"Y'know, I don't think I ever asked you." She turned to look at him, head tilted. "Is there something specific you're saving up for?"

Her stomach dropped. The only people who knew about her condition was herself and the workers at the hospital.

She wanted to keep it that way.

If she told him... She knew he'd get that look. Everyone did.

It wasn't their fault. What are you supposed to do when someone tells you they have cancer? Congratulate them? Obviously not. Wish them good health? Too little, too late.

It was easier if no one knew. Simpler.

"Um... No, n-not really." She hoped he'd get the hint. She didn't want to talk about it.

Unfortunately, he wasn't a mind reader.

"25,000 dollars is a pretty specific number. Gotta be something you're gunning for with that." He smiled unknowingly at her. "What, new car? Down-payment on a house?"

God, she didn't want to tell him. She was perfectly content with their dynamic as it was. Why throw something like her condition into it?

"Haha, I wish, but... No. Not really. I just..." She cleared her throat, tucking her knees a little tighter. "I just... Need it. For something."

"Something 'specific', huh? And what, pray tell, could that something be?"

He was playing around. She knew that. There was no malice in his tone, nor in his words. He was genuinely curious.

She still couldn't stop the sinking feeling in her chest.

"Just. Something. Something important, okay?" She was being defensive. She didn't want to talk about it. He could pick up on that.

Right?

"I'm just curious! You rush up here one day with such a specific number in mind... I'm just... I don't know! Curious as to what that money is going towards!" He's smiling. Laughing. He doesn't know.

She stands.

"I have to go."

He rises, incredibly confused.

"Wh-wait, what? I- what's wrong?"

"I just- I have to go. I-" She bites her lip. She couldn't tell him.

"I-I'm sorry."

Turning over her shoulder, she begins the walk to her car.

"Wait!" A hand on her shoulder. "Wait, I'm sorry, please. Don't leave."

He was so kind. Funny. She had never enjoyed another person's presence this much.

She couldn't risk ruining that.

Looking over her shoulder at him, his pleading face, she felt her face grow hot. Wet.

His eyes widened at the tear trickling down her cheek.

"I'm sorry. I-" Her vision was blurry. "I can't- I-"

She inhaled quickly, turning to walk (run) to her car. As soon as she closed the door, she drove away.

She could see his face in her mirror.

Pain, confusion. Regret.

Notes:

Thank you for reading! Updates will hopefully continue semi-regularly as I transition into college.
As always, comments are appreciated!

Chapter 6: Chapter 5

The school bustled with activity. Children darted back and forth from class to class, filling the halls with laughter. For the first time since August, every student was present. She should have had plenty to keep her mind occupied.

But.

She found herself thinking of him.

She hadn't mustered the courage to go see him.

Cowardly? Maybe. Slightly dramatic? Probably.

It would be so easy. She could write it off as a bad day, say she wasn't feeling well. Or something. Maybe he would even believe her.

Or maybe she would lie to him and he would know. He would hate her forever. Never talk to her again. Never-

"Miss Y/L/N?"

Her eyes shot to the door. Mrs. Kimberly, one of the secretaries, was calling for her. Odd. Parent's requests usually got called over the intercom. What could she-

A small figure, holding a stern-looking woman's hand, walked into the classroom.

She was immediately struck with an odd sense of familiarity. As if she knew the little boy, blonde curls bouncing excitedly as he bounded into the classroom.

"This is Toby. He just transferred from Park View, and he-"

"He can introduce himself, thank you." The woman interrupts. Mrs. Kimberly blinks, slightly taken aback. The boy- Toby, she thinks, is gently pushed in her direction. He immediately shied behind who she assumed was his mother, a woman with matching blonde (dyed?) locks and a semi-scowl painting her face.

"...h-hi."

She shook herself from her stupor. Teacher mode- on.

"Hi there, Toby! It is so nice to meet you!" She walked around the desk, bending down to meet his eyes with a gentle smile on her face. "Would you like to tell me a little more about yourself?"

Pushing his face into his mother's leg, he shook his head.

She smiled, softening her voice.

"That's just fine. Would you like to look around at some of the activities we're doing right now? I think that..." She rose, looking around the class. Maisey was looking towards her with a hopeful look on her face. She laughed. "...Maisey would love to show you around."

The little boy looked towards the girl, who practically vibrated in her seat. He looked hopefully at his mother. She sighed.

"Go on, then."

He bounded off towards a waiting Maisey, who immediately began to ask him questions and show him around.

"So." The boy's mother began. "You're the new teacher. I trust that you will be a good influence on Toby. We strive for only the best, and anything less than that-" She glared at the teacher, eyes narrowing, "-will be noticed and reported. Immediately."

She had met many parents like the woman before. Most of them had their child's best interests at heart, and were just trying to look out for them.

For some reason, this woman did not strike her as someone like that. It may have been the way she hadn't looked back at her son since he walked away. It may have been the way she was shifting slowly towards the door, as if she couldn't wait to leave.

If she was honest with herself, however...

She just... Had a bad feeling about the woman. As if... She knew something.

It unsettled her.

"...of course. I make it my mission to take time with each child one-on-one to focus on any areas they may be struggling in. Do you have any specific concerns you would like me to prioritize?" Her voice sounded robotic. As she asked the question, the woman scoffed.

"Well, that's your job to find out, isn't it?"

She turned and left the room without saying goodbye to her son.

 

The teacher blinked. And blinked again.

What a strange interaction.

 

But she didn't have time to dwell on that. Print the papers, grade the assignments, read the stories.

When their 'independent' time came, where all the students are expected to be reading or working on assignments, she walked over to Toby, who had made a fast friend with Maisey.

"Hi there, you two. Maisey, do you mind if I take some time to talk to our new classmate? I believe the newest 'Junie B. Jones' book is back on the shelf."

The girl, observant as ever, quietly hopped up and went to grab the book... Although the woman noticed her eyes flickered over to them every so often.

Toby had grown quiet again, looking down at his unfinished coloring sheet. Seeing his nerves, she grabbed a couple of colors and presented them to him.

"I think that one of these would look lovely in that blank space. Would you like to choose one?"

Shyly, he nodded, picking a muted pink.

"Do you like to color? Or is there something else you like doing more?"

The boy raised and dropped one shoulder.

"I like to color, but I've never been very good at it. It looks like you're a natural artist already, though." She smiled down at him. He looked at her, seemingly surprised.

"...really? But... But I colored out of the lines. You're supposed to stay in the lines."

She smiled, noting his use of a developed vocabulary.

"I think it looks lovely. In fact-" As he finished the drawing, she held out a blue crayon, "-I would love if you would sign it so that I can hang it on our art wall."

Slowly, he took the crayon, carefully signing his name in bold letters.

 

It took the boy a few days before he started speaking out in class. After a while, though, she could see his hungry mind in the way he asked questions about nearly everything. In the way his was always the first hand up to provide an answer.

She could also see something brewing behind his eyes, something deeper. A couple of times, during their one-on-one, he would open his mouth, prepared to say something, before closing it and asking a different question instead, one she was sure he wasn't originally planning to.

During their end of the week review, however, she could see a sort of tiredness behind his eyes. He hadn't spoken once during class, even when prompted directly. After their review, he walked up to her, picking at his fingers nervously.

"Miss Y/L/N? I..." He bit his lip, looking away. "...I need to talk to you. Please."

She asked her aid to watch over the class while she brought him out into the hallway.

"...My mommy says... that she isn't gonna let me see my daddy anymore." As soon as he said the words, his eyes began to tear up. "She says that... he's a bad inf-uence on me, and that he's not good, and that he's a bad daddy, but he- he's not!" The words began to spill out of him, as quick as the tears running down his cheeks.

"Toby, honey, will you take a deep breath with me? I'm going to count with you, and we'll both breathe together. Okay?'

Shakily, he nodded, following her instructions as they both took a series of deep breaths. After a moment, he sniffled.

"I miss my daddy. He likes to build my Legos with me. And he helps me with my homework. My mommy says that I'm too old for her to do that. But daddy still does."

She slowly bent down to one knee, listening with a broken heart to his words. No second grader should ever have to worry about things like that. Her heart splintered.

"That must be very hard. Have you told your mom how that makes you feel?"

"She-she don't listen. She says that I'm too little to know but- but I know my daddy! He's good! He is!"

She really didn't know how much more her heart could take.

"I believe you, honey. I do." She sighed inwardly. There was only so much she could do in her position, and interfering in the lives of her students wouldn't do her any good.

All she could do was make sure this little boy knew he was heard. That his feelings were real.

She wished more could be done. She wished she could do more. For now, unfortunately, she would just have to do her best.

They walked back into the classroom and continued the lesson. She just had to hope that things would change.

 

Hours later, she sat in her home, thinking over the conversation.

That sense of familiarity was still biting at her. Why did the two seem so... familiar? She was sure she'd never met them before, she would have remembered such... lively characters. So why did she feel like she already knew their situation? Like she already knew...

She paused.

 

A son. Who he doesn't get to see.

A young son, by the sound of it.

A wife who won't let them see each other.

 

No way.

 

The very next day (a Saturday, thankfully) she drove until she spotted the small stall. She very nearly hopped out and ran over-

-before she remembered how they left things off.

 

Would he even want to see her? Would he want to listen to her poor excuses?

...Would he even want to know?

This question stopped her. Would he want to know that his child was in her class? That his wife was intentionally keeping them from one another? That she was telling their son that as though it was already happening?

...

She didn't know. Anything. She was terrified. What if she made things worse for him? By the sound of it, their relationship was rocky already. If she told him...

Wait. She didn't even know for sure yet if her assumption was true. What if she ran up telling tales about something that wasn't relevant?

Fuck.

 

She sat in her car for a long while, simply, thinking (panicking) about the situation. She may have spent all night there.

If she hadn't received a phone call.

It was her doctor.

"Miss Y/L/N?"

Shit.

"You had an appointment at 12:30 today for treatment. If you still wanted to come, there is another time slot open at 5:30."

...Shitshitshit-

"Oh my god, I am so sorry. Yes- Yes I'll be there, thank you so much."

The line disconnected.

 

After the treatment, she was lying in her bathroom floor. Not willingly, of course, but she was afraid that if she moved anywhere else she wouldn't ever get back that cleaning deposit. So, there she was.

Lying in a puddle of sweat, vomit, and regret.

She cried.

 

Harvey had seen her car from the moment she arrived. His heart fluttered slightly. They hadn't seen each other in days.

He missed her.

But he remembered. The look of pain on her face when she left. Her insistence against telling him what the money was for, and yet he kept asking. God, he regretted it. He would give anything to go back and smack himself across the face so he'd stop talking. It was obviously private information, and he dug for it.

He really couldn't blame her when she drove off, then or-

He watched as she drove off.

Now.

Notes:

oh reader, didn't you know communication is the baseline for all good relationships?

Thank you for reading! As always, comments are appreciated!

Chapter 7: Chapter 6

Wednesday.

4 days had passed.

She really hadn't meant it to take this long. But.

Her treatments had become more frequent. She was now visiting the hospital at least once a week, sometimes more.

She hadn't been able to find anything out about Toby. Asking around had brought her nothing more than the information she had already been provided. 7 years old. Lives with mom. Bright, happy student.

No information on file about dad. Strange. The only person on his emergency card was his mother. It was uncommon for there to not be at least a grandparent or another family member on file. Not impossible, of course, but... Uncommon. Especially for a father that was still in the picture.

...he was still in the picture, right?

She hadn't heard anything more from Toby about it, but...

She shook her head. There was still no confirmation that he was in fact Harvey's son, and it would do her no good to make blind assumptions about one of her students and her best friend.

She paused as the thought went through her head.

Her best friend.

...huh. He really was, wasn't he? She didn't exactly socialize with anyone else, and she had told him things she had never told anyone before. She felt like she could tell him anything.

Almost anything.

The thought of telling him made her sick.

...oh, literally. She ran to the bathroom, losing her stomach. She gasped, kneeling on the floor. This was getting. Inconvenient. There were very few hours in the day that she didn't feel sick, now.

She had also started to notice things.

Her ribs, which had been covered by a healthy layer of skin and muscle before, were now clearly visible. Her cheeks appeared slightly sunken in.

Her hair had begun to fall out. Clumps came along with her brush. Her hair had always been one things she loved about her appearance.

Seeing the bundle that she had pulled from her brush earlier made her sick again.

She thought about what hats she owned. Not very many, really. She would have to find more.

Once she got paid.

She groaned, thinking about the bills sitting on her counter. God, everything really was going downhill. Sure, she hadn't really focused on the money part when she was talking to Harvey, but it was still something. Losing that had put her in a hole.

But goddamn her if she was going to go back just for the money. Their relationship, which had started from a need, was now. A want.

Honestly? The thought scared her. A want. She wanted to see him, to talk to him.

To tell him.

She wanted to tell him. No matter the consequence, no matter what came of it, she was tired of lies. Tired of pretending.

She sighed.

 

Suddenly, she heard a knock at her door. She panicked, looking at her rather foul state in the mirror. Hair in clumps, eyes sunken, face flushed. She hurriedly threw on concealer and a baggy sweatshirt, rushing to the door afterwards.

The woman standing at the door glared at her.

It was Toby's mother.

Her eyes traced over Y/N's state, showing faint disgust.

"What do you think you're playing at?"

Her tone took the other woman by surprise. Accusatory.

"Um... What? Wait, wait wait wait-" She shook her head, "-how do you know where I live? Why are you here?"

"What interest do you have in my personal matters?" She blatantly ignored the question, glaring.

She was, to put it lightly, astounded. What could she possibly mean?

"I... What? What do you mean? I haven't..."

The woman scoffed, barking out a laugh.

"Oh, please. I've heard about your 'interest' in mine and my son's lives, and I would like to know what business you-" She stepped forward, nearly across the threshold of her doorway, pointing a finger in her chest. "-seem to think you have looking into us. Is your life really that boring?"

The other woman blinked. What could she possibly...

Oh. Wait.

She had been looking into them. It wasn't... Really a secret. Nearly ever office worker had been posed a question about the pair, during her search for information.

Still... The woman's demeanor was enough to furrow her eyebrows.

"...Excuse me? I..." She took a deep, careful breath in. "I have been concerned for my student. He has shown certain signals in class that I, as his teacher-" She took a step forward, the woman stepping back, glaring all the while. "-have full right to investigate."

"Then why, as his teacher, do you seem to have such a special interest in his father?"

Her eyes widened.

Had... She really been that obvious? Sure, she had asked if there was anyone else on his emergency card, but... She could have been asking about anyone. She actually had been very purposeful in her avoidance on the matter, so... Where had she gotten this from?

"Oh, don't look so shocked. You think no one sees you? You think I'm an idiot?"

She shook her head, laughing humorlessly.

"He's better off without that ingrate in his life. No job, no aspirations, nothing worthwhile to provide for his son. He-"

"Have you asked Toby how he feels about that?" Her sharp voice cut through the other woman's rambling.

She looked surprised for a moment, a mean smirk painting her face.

"Please. Like he knows better than his mother what's best for him. I-" She gestured to herself, eyes narrowing. "-know what's best for him. And it is not-" She pointed back at the other woman, jabbing a finger against her chest as she spoke. "-that fucking worthless shell of a man. He has nothing. And I plan to keep it that way."

"...what?"

She grinned, stepping back.

"I'm sure you've heard by now, with how much time you spend together. That last job? Let's just say..." She chuckled. "...he should have thought a little harder before taking a job from my brother. He was never meant for anything, and I plan to show that to him."

...oh god.

"...why the fuck would you do that? What... What kind of fucking villain are you trying to be?"

"He is worth. Nothing. To me. Do I need another reason?"

"I was talking about Toby!" The woman's eyes narrowed.

"You would know if you listened to him! If you gave him the simple fucking time of day for him to tell you how smart, caring, and hurt he is when you brush him off! Why would you keep his dad from him? What kind of fucking monster are you?"

She snarled, taking a step back.

"You will not talk to me about my son."

The fucking audacity. That was what set her off.

"Then who will? You obviously don't bother to listen to Toby when he speaks, so someone has to speak for him!"

She opened her mouth, to retort, to curse, to say something. But she closed it, wrinkling her nose as if the other woman was trash on the sidewalk she couldn't bare to look at.

"What kind of a mother are you?"

She froze, back turned to the house. Before she walked to her car, she spoke over her shoulder.

"I hope you weren't too fond of your little job. Because you just blew any chance you have of working in this town ever again." She turned her head slightly, hair blowing in the breeze.

"At your last little visit, do me a favor and tell Harvey to go fuck himself."

 

Shit.

Notes:

omg guys reader was right

i promise they'll talk soon guys next chapter i swear

...maaaybe :)))

Thank you for reading! As always, comments are appreciated!

Chapter 8: Chapter 7

Summary:

She's put it off long enough.

Finally, they talk.

She sat up in the hospital bed, groaning as the tube was removed from her chest. This one was bad. She felt like a stranger in her own skin, floating just above herself, looking down at her emaciated body. She hadn't been back to work in a week. She couldn't let her kids see her like this.

She hadn't done much of anything in the last week. The treatments were happening more frequently, and the toll it was taking on her body was becoming more apparent by the day. Her bones were showing through her skin. Her hair had thinned out considerably. Her face had lost nearly all color. It took far too much effort for her to even walk through her home, let alone go out. Physical effort, yes, but the mental toll it took when she caught sight of herself in the mirror made it even more difficult, to say the least.

She told herself that was why she hadn't been to see him. She told herself that it would take too much effort. That she could wait until she was better.

She was a liar. A convincing enough one for the last week, yes, but a liar nonetheless.

She was scared. Scared to talk to him about what she knew. Scared about what might change. Scared.

About what he might think.

She used to think of herself as relatively attractive. Sure, she wasn't a model or anything, but she looked alright. Now?

She could hardly look at herself.

 

But she knew this couldn't go on. Not with what she knew.

 

As the end of the week approached, and with her final treatment of the week done, she left the hospital with a plan.

She was going to talk to him.

 

...riiight after she drove home to throw some makeup on. Maybe it was silly, but some part of her was still desperate to cling to some sense of normalcy. After caking her face in just enough foundation to cover her gaunt appearance, she got in her car.

It was time.

 

The day had been relatively normal for him. Sure, there were some... interesting people, who decided the best use of their time was to harass him, but even that was nothing new.

He longed for something. Someone. The last week had been torturous. He hadn't seen his son but once, and only to drop off a pair of shoes left at his house. Eun-mi hadn't even let the two talk for more than a moment before shuffling Toby off to some 'event' that he was 80% sure didn't exist. It was becoming unbearable.

He missed her. A lot, actually. She always seemed to bring some light into his day with stories and jokes, even when it was clear her day had been less than great. He missed her laugh. Her smile. As the days passed, he wasn't sure she was going to visit him again. He couldn't blame her.

They hadn't exactly ended things on good terms, and with how much time had passed since then, he wouldn't be shocked if she has simply moved on from him. He sighed, leaning against his hand and closing his eyes. He just wanted to see her again, even if only for a moment.

"Still... running the booth, huh?"

His eyes shot open.

There she was.

And she... looked terrible. Her skin looked almost translucent, eyebags peeking from under layers of hastily-applied makeup, and she seemed to sway on her feet. Still, her face wore a weary smile, and she was leaning against the side of the booth with an almost relieved expression.

"You- You're here! You-" He blinked, shaking his head slightly. She laughed, leaning more of her weight against the stand.

"I'm here. I'm..." She sighed. "I'm sorry it took so long. I-"

"It- It's okay! I'm just happy to see-"

She put up a finger, expression pained. She took a deep breath.

"I... I nee to talk to you. Please. I can't... You deserve to know." Blinking, she, with visible effort, stood upright.

"I need to ask you something."

He stared at her, mouth slightly agape, a mix of worry, confusion, and... something she didn't quite have a name for. But he deserved to know.

"...what is your son's name?"

He blinked, leaning back slightly.

"Is that all? Gosh, with all that buildup I thought it was something dreadful. His name is Toby." He looked down, smiling, before looking back up, slightly confused. "Why?"

Okay. So. She was definitely right.

But now she had to tell him.

"Okay. Okay. Well- I-" She groaned, eyes closing for a moment. How could she possibly tell him that his ex-wife was plotting to keep his son from him? That his son knew? That she had been teaching him for weeks and hadn't said anything?

"I... I met him. And- and your wife. I mean, I mean your- your ex-wife, obviously, but... I met her. and Toby. He- He's been in my class for the last few weeks. And- and he-" She gasped, looking up, eyes clouding over.

Strangely enough, Eun-mi's words echoed in her mind.

'He has nothing. And I plan to keep it that way.'

No. She couldn't wimp out of this. He needed to know. Taking a deep breath, she looked back down at him (although his blank expression at the mention of his wife and son didn't exactly make her eager to continue talking).

"...I didn't realize that he was your son. I wasn't sure at all until... Until Eun-mi came to my house. She- She knew we had been. Talking. And she made it very clear that... that she didn't want that. You to-" She grimaced, "-to be happy. She- she told me that-that she has plans to keep Toby from you. That she is going to make sure you can't see him anymore. And that-"

She stopped. Telling him about Eun-mi's threat to her job would do nothing but make him worry more, and he didn't need that. The look on his face was answer enough.

"...and what?" His tone was dangerous. She gulped.

"... she said that she is going to make sure neither of us has a job in this town anymore. She- she told me to tell you to go fuck yourself. She... she meant it. I- I am so, so sorr-"

"That fucking bitch."

She blinked, a fat tear rolling down her cheek.

"How- how dare she interfere in my life like this? Our lives? What the fuck- what the fuck is her problem? She got everything, the house, the money, the child support- What more enjoyment can she possibly get out of fucking me over?"

A dark chuckle escapes him.

"But if she thinks she can keep my son from me and threaten you for her own sick pleasure, she has another fucking thing coming."

Her lip quivers. He looks up at her, tears streaking down her face and bringing half her foundation with them.

He jumps up, moving around the booth to her.

"Woah- Hey, hey what's-"

"I- I'm so sorry! I didn't- I didn't mean to- to cause this much trouble in your life, you don't deserve- I- " She broke down into sobs, face towards the ground.

He brought an arm around her, leading her back to the chair behind his stand and helping her to sit, taking a knee beside her.

"That's not- you haven't caused me any trouble, love, you don't-"

"No! You- You deserve to live a happy life with- with your son and- and with someone who can make you happy- and I just- I just fucked that up! I fucked everything u-up, and now you're stuck in an impossible position and- and-" Had she been in her right mind, she would have cursed herself for crying. He didn't need one more thing, and she was just adding to it with her fucking breakdown. She wouldn't be surprised if he walked off and left right now, she definitely deserved it-

A hand rests against her shoulder. The other comes to brush a strand of her behind her ear.

"You certainly didn't. Listen. All of this would have happened anyways, and you just happened to be kind enough to bring it to my attention. You didn't mess anything up. And-" He smiled up at her, tilting his head slightly. "-I can't think of anyone I would be happier to be with right now."

She took a shaky inhale. That look he gave her before. She couldn't put a name to it, but she could put a name to the feeling inside her stomach. The feeling that she got when she caught him looking at her halfway through a bad joke with fondness painting his features. The feeling she got when he accidentally brushed up against her arm or leg when they were lying next to each other, watching the clouds pass by.

It was that feeling she saw echoed in his eyes.

She had to tell him.

"I have to tell you something."

He frowned, brushing his hand down her arm comfortingly.

"Y/N, you don't have to tell me anything else if you're not ready. It's okay."

Oh, how she wished she could just brush this aside. Pretend everything was okay. Go on with their lives as they had, with laughs and smiles and butterflies. But he deserved more than that. He deserved to know.

She just wasn't sure she could handle the heartbreak when he inevitably turned her away.

"...you deserve to know. You... You remember when you asked what I needed the money for?"

He nodded, eyebrows furrowed.

"I... I have... Um. God, this is so awkward. I just- I just don't want... Things to change. And I know that's a lot to ask, especially since you don't even know yet, but-"

"It doesn't have to be. Here-" He reached forwards, linking his pinky with her own. "I promise, that whatever you tell me, nothing has to change. I-" He looked down and chuckled slightly. "I really... Don't want to lose you. So whatever you tell me, we'll figure it out. Okay?"

God, he was so sweet. She really didn't deserve this. He didn't even know. And yet, he was promising her that nothing would change.

"...okay. So... A couple months ago, I went in for a routine checkup. Just, y'know, normal stuff. Blood pressure, vision, the works. Well, my doctor noticed something. A freckle. Looked like nothing, but, y'know, gotta check. Well, turned out to be potentially cancerous. So, more tests, more poking and prodding, and they told me I was clean."

"...well, that's- that's good right?"

She huffed out a laugh, closing her eyes.

"That would have been nice, yeah. But, uh, next checkup, they looked again, took another sample, and it came back as, uh, cancer. Gosh, you should have seen the looks on the doctor's faces when they had to tell the 26 year old that she had stage 2 cancer. Don't envy them. But, uh, I've been having treatments for the last couple of months and they think it's working, but hospital visits are, haha, expensive, and a teacher's salary doesn't exactly cover that. It, uh-" She caught sight of his face.

Comprehension. Realization.

Despair.

"...why didn't you say anything?"

She closed her eyes, a grim smile on her face.

"...You want me to be honest? I was scared. I really... Didn't believe it, for a while. It was easier to just ignore it, but... I mean, you're not blind. Hard to ignore it when it's staring you down in the face every morning. I..." Sighing, she poked at the chair with her free hand. "I understand if... This is too much. It's a lot. For anyone. But especially for someone who has as much on your plate as you do right now. If... If this is too much... I would- I would understand." Another tear streaked down her face. She moved to pull her hand away-

-his other hand came to hold hers in a tight grip.

She gaped, looking down at him. Their eyes met.

He reached up, lacing a hand through her hair. Gasping, her hand came up to meet his.

His eyes traced her tear-stricken face, looking for something.

When she leaned gently into his hold, he exhaled softly.

"...can I-"

"Please."

He leaned in, slowly, pressing his lips against her cheek. He moved across her face, pressing gentle kisses to the tear tracks adorning her skin. Then, he moved down.

Their lips met. Her shoulders stiffened. It had been a long time. Slowly, gently, she leaned into him, a hand coming to rest against his cheek. When he pulled away to take a breath, she followed. She never thought she would get to feel like this again. Warm. Cared for.

Loved.

He pulled back when he felt tears against his face. To their surprise, they were his own.

"S-sorry, sorry, I just- I just never thought-"

She smiled, somber. "...I know."

Taking a deep, shaky breath, he gently rubbed his thumb across her cheek.

"I can't lose you. I won't. We- we're going to figure this out. I'm going to figure it out."

She wiped a tear from his cheek, smiling.

"We're going to figure it out. Together. Okay?"

He laughed, holding her hand against his skin.

"Together."

 

They stayed wrapped in each other's arms for a while after that. Everything could wait just a while longer. For now, they enjoyed each other's company with soft kisses and gentle laughter.

Notes:

sorry for the wait, folks! i hope this makes up for it.

i also want to say i really, truly appreciate all the love for my silly little story. it means more than you all will ever know.

as always, thank you for reading, and your thoughts are always appreciated!