hidden in plain sight

[theo lovett]

Theo can't help laughing. "I get your logic," he says, following her to the cupboard where she found the mop. He quickly finds a box of dishwasher tablets, holding it up for her. "Once that's done, we'll put one of those in." He takes the mop, starting to work on the soapy mess on the floor. It was a huge place to try and keep on top of yourself, he'd give her that. "I'm good thanks. How about you think about what you want to eat while I'm in the shower? Have you got a towel I could borrow?"

[dolly weathers]

"Oh,” she nods, her blunder suddenly making more sense. "Yes, you know where those are,” she says but leading him to the linen cupboard to find him a towel anyway. "Here. Remember the floor heats if you flick that switch,” she hands him the towel, "thank you.”

[theo lovett]

He sets the mop against the kitchen countertop, banishing memories of kissing her on that very counter. Gratefully he takes the towel, always so much fluffier than any towel he'd ever had at home. Being here had never stopped feeling like a five star hotel. He steps into the waterfall shower, water pouring over him at the perfect pressure and temperature. God it was nice to be back, if weird. As soon as he's freshened up, he slicks his wet hair back, the towel wrapped tight around his waist. When he emerges, it's with a signature sheepish grin. "...I might have forgotten to grab my clothes from the car."

[dolly weathers]

Dolly throws her coffee covered clothing until the laundry baskets and freshens up with a pair of shorts and a plain t-shirt. She frowns at her bed, it's unmade state telling a story of her night of tossing and turning. As she exits her room, she spots a half naked Theo wandering the hallway. His softly tanned body looks like it's been cut out of marble and she can't hide her expression. "No, you're just punishing me,” she winces and turns back to her bedroom. "You have a few things here, hold on.” She pulls out a few forgotten pieces from her closet and carefully refolds them. In months after their break-up, she found herself pulling on his shirts when she missed him most. "I meant to give these back,” she says, handing him the pile.

[theo lovett]

Theo can't help glancing at her bare legs, looking as smooth and soft as ever. He grins as she compliments him, shrugging faux bashfully. Despite how long he's been awake, he feels refreshed by the shower and the clean clothes. He pulls on a t-shirt, boxers and tracksuit bottoms, all items smelling like Dolly from their extended stay in her closet. It makes his heart hurt. "Thanks, had no idea these were here. Now, did you decide what you wanted to eat?"

[dolly weathers]

"Pancakes? I think I have everything,” she raises an eyebrow at him, "you probably shouldn't indulge. You might break an ab.” They all through the bubbleless kitchen to the pantry and she starts to shovel things into his arms. "What do you need? Pancake mix, here. Or do you want to DIY it? Flour? Vanilla?”

[theo lovett]

"Doable," he says, heading back to the kitchen and letting himself be used as a packhorse. He lets out a short laugh. "Those abs are all down to you actually, I went to the gym every time I felt like crying," he says, shuffling items to one arm to allow him to flex the other. "Pancake mix," he confirms, starting to place items onto the counter and helping himself to a wide pan. "I did mention the 24 hour shift, right? 24 hours Dolly, can you even imagine."

[dolly weathers]

She pouts at him and teases, "awhhhh, poor thing. That must have been a lot of tears.” Dolly brings him a mixing bowl and sets a couple of eggs beside him. "Was it a bad shift?” While her brothers might have taken the piss over the fact that he wasn't as elite, Dolly had always thought highly of Theo's career. She couldn't imagine the willpower and mental strength it took to work long hours in chaotic conditions. "You can lay down if you want, before you go home.”

[theo lovett]

"So many," he confirms, hoping she can't hear the ring of truth in what he's saying. He had suddenly found himself very alone, dumped by Dolly, with Elyse visiting her grandma and Ollie busy with school. The gym had been one of the few places he could pretend everything was normal. "Same old," he said, putting the thought of stitches, overdoses and heart attacks out of his mind. "What about you? What are you going to do for work now, do you think?" He sets about making the pancakes, cracking eggs into the mix and stirring in milk. He nods, stifling a yawn. "Are you sure? I'm not sure I trust myself to drive."

[dolly weathers]

Dolly had mourned their relationship poorly. Drinking too much, going out to much, sleeping with other people. Less healthy ways than going to the gym and bad habits that seemed to help her forget about past mistakes. She pushes herself up on the counter to watch him mix the eggs in. "I'm not sure. I have a couple years of school left. I'll have to get a part-time job, I think,” she drums her fingers thoughtfully on the counter, "it's just hard because people are so nosy.” She nods assuringly, "of course I'm sure. Have your pick of couch or bed.”

[theo lovett]

"I'm trying to picture you with a normal job," Theo says, picturing her in a McDonalds uniform. She's right, of course. If she were to get a 'normal' job she would attract too much attention, the press would have an absolute field day. Not for the first time he feels sorry for her despite the decadence of her life up until this point. Butter sizzles in the pan and Theo leaves it to toast, before dolloping some of the mix into the middle. "I'll take the couch, if you're totally sure."

[dolly weathers]

"Picture this: you're at some cafe and bam. You bump into Dolly Weathers. Coffee all over her. Only, is she Dolly Weathers?” she sets the scene with a theatrical voice, grinning as she watches him flick a dollop of butter on the pan. This feels like the past. Her perched over him, watching as he tends to her. In the past she would have him attacking him with kisses and wrapping her legs around him. She hops off the counter and nods. "I'm sure. I'll put something on for us to watch and you can fall asleep to it.”

[theo lovett]

Theo winces. "Oh man, if that were me I'd never live it down." It's a bittersweet moment. He would love nothing more than to be wrapped up in her legs, losing himself in a kiss as the pancakes threaten to burn. But he's glad to be able to be friendly, enjoying her company whichever way he can get it. "I'm taking the first one, only because the second one is always the best," he says, flipping the fluffy disk over in the pan. It doesn't take long for him to have stacked two on each plate, adding knobs of butter to each and pouring a generous slug of maple syrup on both. "What are we watching?" he asks, bringing the plates over and handing hers over.

[dolly weathers]

"It was a present for my sister-in-law anyway. Fuck her,” she wanders around the counter and into the living room. "Okay, have you heard of this one.. Dated and Related. It sounds like it's about incest. But it's really a bunch of siblings watching their siblings hook up,” she switches on the television and pats the seat next to her. "These two siblings are the worst,” she nods to a pair of brothers on the screen and shoves a mouthful of pancake in her mouth.

[theo lovett]

He wrinkles his nose up at the suggestion, wondering why anyone would put themselves through that. The thought of Ollie returns, bringing with it a sharp pain expanding through his chest. Try as he may, Theo was finding it harder and harder to connect to his brother. He'd blamed a lot of his behaviour on chronic pain, but this was a new low, and he couldn't help but wonder what he'd done to make Oliver do this. "Sounds dire," he says, realizing he'd been too busy stewing to reply. He shovels pancake into his mouth. "I missed this couch," he says, sinking down into it and taking the liberty of putting his feet up on the coffee table. "Missed this whole place, actually."