Work Text:
Chk
“Graves Residence. Leave a message after the beep. If you’re calling about my daughter, fuck off.”
Beeeep
“Ah… Well, eh… You probably don’t… remember me, I’m uh, Kelly, but we went to the same high school and I wasn’t sure how to really… Do this, so… Maybe we could like, talk? My number’s [irrelevant].”
Nothing. For months. Did she even see it? Must’ve gotten lost.
Chk
“Oh stop~ This is Renee and Douglas, we missed you~ Leave a message after the beep~”
Beeeep
“Hi, it’s uh, it’s Kelly again. Been a while, figured you didn’t want to talk about… that stuff… Honestly kinda stupid of me to call, I mean-“
Stupid, stupid, idiot, why leave a message when that’s her machine response! Fuck, you blew it.
Chk
“…Graves Residence. Leave a message… Douglas… Please come back…”
Beeeep
“Hi! It’s Kelly, it sounds like you need a talk. Like I said before, my number is [irrelevant], maybe give me a call? I’d love to see- er, talk to… talk to you!”
Fuck. Couldn’t control yourself, huh? Guess you’re just a pathetic loser who can’t keep her thoughts straight… Then. The phone rings. Your heart sinks. Could it be her? If it is, then… What do you say? With eyes screwed shut you answer the phone. “Hello?”
“…Hello.” The voice was the same one on the machine. Renee Graves. “I don’t know who you are and how you got my number but-“
“No, no I can explain, give me five minutes, please?” You interrupt, panicking internally and definitely externally. Your once chance is almost blown. There’s a hefty amount of silence from Renee. You realize after about ten seconds that she’s definitely waiting for you to speak. “Aha, of course I uh, I, actually heard how you were doing a few years back and- I wanted to reach out, but that was a bad time and, and I just uh, I wanted to check in and heard your machine message and just, you sounded drunk and sad and…”
“…I’m not joining your religion.” Renee states.
“It-It’s not that, I just-“ Think, think. She just has to see you and all will be much easier. “Wanna take you to dinner???” WHY DID YOU SAY THIS?! Fuck, she’s gonna clock you immediately! Does she even like women??? The silence is maddening. She’s probably trying to articulate how disgusted she is, fuck.
“…Sure.” What? “Where?” Welp.
One hour later
With a cute dress, you waited outside. It was a modest place all things considered, your budget wasn’t really that high, but… The prospect of meeting Renee was intoxicating. You play with a strand of your long brunette locks anxiously. She said she didn’t live too far from here, she had to be here soon. She couldn’t have stood you up, could she?
Then, she arrives. Her beauty, what some may call marred by age and child birth you call enhanced, her figure and demeanor just making that little spark in your belly light to a fire. You need her, it reminds you how much you wanted her back then too, how much you’d kicked yourself for screwing up so many times before she met Douglas. She was wearing a simple button down shirt with a vest atop it and jeans, a little necklace around her neck and hair tied into a high ponytail. Drop dead sexy. “Oh, hah, hi, hi!” You say without thinking, waving her over. She definitely does not recognize you, except for the voice. “It’s me, Kelly!”
Renee would stop and look you up and down. “…Right. Kelly.” She says, repeating the name as if it would help her. You motion for her to follow you and you both get a move on! Soon you’re seated at a little table near the back, it was fairly light today so there weren't any worries of people listening in. After placing orders, and after a bottle of wine and glasses are brought to the table, you lean against it and smile whilst Renee works on her second glass already.
“So…” You remark with a smile. “How’ve you been holding up?”
“Like shit.” She remarks. “Husband leaves me for someone he barely knows and I have to pick up the pieces for my son.”
Your smile turns to a frown. “Oh… Uh… That’s terrible.”
“And then people keep pointing out ‘hey aren’t you the mom who raised a killer’ like fuck you, I didn’t ask for your opinions on my children.” She spits, rolling her eyes and leaning back, swirling the wine in her glass a little. “She was a fucking monster and that place they locked her up in is the only place that can handle her.”
And on and on she goes. Maybe she’s actually opening up, or just likes the chance to say all this vile stuff about her ex-husband and daughter. You… Definitely were a bit concerned, but maybe she’s just having a hard time. Especially as she continues with the boozing. Manages to drink basically the entire bottle. Must’ve been some fairly strong wine too as by the end of the meal she’s definitely looking a bit tipsy.
“And… and itsjust, I, doesheven love me??” Renee grumbles, burying her face in her hands against the table, clearly sobbing. “I gaverything for this and…”
You make your move. You stand up and pat her shoulders. “It’s okay…” You say softly. “You did everything you could. Sometimes people just… Are assholes.” She looks up at you, face red. “…You want me to drive you home?” She nods. One payment for the meal later and you’re off…
The next morning
You’re back home. You spent the night with Renee. It was… Pleasant.
Laying on your bed, phone in hand you kick your feet. “Beeetty! You would not believe who I just met last night.”
“Eh…?”
“Renee!”
“…Ech…”
“What?”
“…I’d rather not talk about her.” Betty would remark, clearly a bit uncomfortable.
“Oh come on! You don’t wanna hear about it? I mean- I think she might even, well, uh ya know… like women like I do!” You say, whispering that part as if it was still high school.
“…I’m sure.”
“Come on, I didn’t sleep with her, I just ya know… We had a date and we talked and then I took her home!”
“…Kelly. I’m dating Douglas, I… Don’t really think you should be doing anything with Renee.” You pause and blink. Betty didn’t exactly hint at anything of the sort, but even then if she’s dating a new guy you’d want to hear about it!
“Well… That means she’s single right? And being single is kinda pathetic, and like I said in high school, it’d be less pathetic to hook up with a girl right?”
“Kelly, we’re not exactly in high school anymore, and besides, Renee is Renee. Why would you even want her?”
“She’s just got a… A charm, you know? It makes me feel like dirt, but, it’s kinda… Charming in that way?”
“Look, I gotta go, sorry. We can talk later.” Then. She hangs up. A bit abruptly too. Ugh. She’ll never understand you. No one you knew in high school does. They just see Renee as a bitch, a whore, and just a general piece of shit. You see the real person beneath. And god does that real person get your rocks off.
…She never did call you after that night. Maybe it’s for the best. You always were optimistic. The world alas fears optimism down.