Chapter Text
Chapter One:
It had been three days since Tim had ended things with Lucy in the parking lot. She had tried to have an adult conversation with him, but he was refusing. He had been the one to convince her that it was worth taking the risk. She had been okay with staying friends, even if her heart knew she wanted more. Now she doesn't have him at all. She had lost her boyfriend right after failing to secure a detective’s position. Nyla and Angela were being weird with her, and to top it off, Tamara was moving out. Lucy had never felt more alone in her entire life.
“Hey,” She looked up to see Aaron approaching her. “Let me take over the paperwork, you head home and hang with Tamara.”
“No, I can’t do that to you,” She insisted. “Plus, Tamara is packing, and it’s making me sad.”
“Well, I’m not going to let you do it alone, so hand over half of that stack,” He replied, taking a seat next to her. She sent him a grateful smile, and passed over half of the paperwork. “Are you going to that thing at Lopez’s tomorrow?”
“I don’t think so,” Lucy sighed. “I feel like it was a pity invite, and I just don’t feel up for pretending like everything is fine. What about you?”
“Nah, things with Celina are still a little weird, so I think I’ll sit this one out,” Aaron said. “Hey, what if we did something together?”
“Oh, no, Thorsen you’re great but I’m not-”
“Not like that, Chen,” He chuckled, bumping his shoulder against hers. “I was thinking you could come over and we stream Vampire Cop in my home theater, maybe order some takeout?”
“That sounds nice actually,” Lucy smiled. “I’m not sure I’ll be the best company, though.”
“Me either, but that’s what friends are for, right?”
For a moment, Lucy thought of Jackson. Since he had died, she’d been surrounded by Tim and Tamara and Nolan and Angela, but without that support system, she felt truly alone. It made her miss her best friend. If he were here, she knew he’d be insisting on buying her sushi, and eating ice cream on the couch while she cried about her breakup. She felt a moment of guilt rise up in her at the thought of replacing him, but she knew he wouldn’t want her to be alone right now. He’d be glad that she was hanging out with Aaron.
“Right,” Lucy said. “What time should I be there?”
Tag teaming the paperwork didn’t take long. After they finished, Aaron promised to text her his address for their plans the following night. She thanked him again for being so kind, and for offering to wallow with her.
Lucy headed to the locker room to change out for the night. It was late, and she was hoping Tamara would still be awake when she got home. She had been sad when her roommate told her she was moving out, but she knew that it was time for her to fly the nest. She’d been considering offering the room to Celina, but was going to give it some time. If things didn’t work out with her friends, Lucy wanted Tamara to always know she could come home.
“Did I hear you say you weren’t coming tomorrow?” Angela asked as Lucy pulled a shirt over her head.
“Yeah,” Lucy confirmed. “I think it might be too soon for me to hang out with Bradford like that.”
“Bradford, huh?” Nyla asked. “Back to that?”
“I’m putting down boundaries,” Lucy explained. “He seems to think we can pretend nothing happened, and that’s simply not the case.”
“So you’d rather hangout with Thorsen?” Angela asked.
“Hey, Aaron is great,” Nyla said, nudging her fellow detective. “I trained him afterall.”
“Yes, but we’re Lucy’s friends,” Angela frowned. “Just because she and Tim broke up doesn’t change that.”
Lucy didn’t point out that when she failed the exam, she had felt like it had been the end of their friendship. They had been so distant with her afterward, and even though she knew Nyla had warned her about the trade, it had hurt to not have their support. She felt like she only mattered to them if she had a certain badge. It might have been silly, she knew her job as a patrol officer was to sometimes do jobs she didn’t want to do, but it had felt like a punishment from them. And then, when she was in the hospital after shooting that guy, no one even came to sit with her until Tim got there.
“I just need time,” Lucy said, closing her locker and picking up her bag. “There’s a lot of changes happening in my life right now, and I need space to figure everything out.”
“Just don’t shut us out, okay?” Angela requested. “We’re here for you, Lucy.”
“Thanks,” Lucy said with a terse nod. “I’ve gotta get going. Tamara moves out this weekend, so I want to spend as much time with her as possible until then.”
“Wait, she's moving out?” Nyla asked, sharing a look with Angela. “That’s awful timing.”
“Trust me, I know,” Lucy sighed. “But she wants to live with her friends, and she deserves that. She shouldn’t put that off just because I can barely…it’s just not her job. I’ll see you guys tomorrow. Have a good night.”
WCBFWCBFWCBF
Tim Bradford was really good at making a mess of his personal life. He had broken Lucy’s heart to punish himself, but he knew he was hurting her too. The look in her eyes when she asked him why he was doing it still haunted his dreams. He wasn’t sure if she’d ever forgive him, but he hoped if he went to therapy and put in the work, with time, they’d be okay again. He was looking forward to seeing her outside of work. Maybe they’d have a moment to talk at Lopez’s gathering.
He was one of the first to arrive, and was trying not to look too eager. Angela must have clocked him pretty quick. She took him by the elbow and pulled him into the kitchen to talk to him alone.
“Lucy isn’t coming,” Angela told him. “She has other plans.”
“Other plans?” He asked with a frown.
“She’s hanging out with Thorsen,” Angela explained. “I heard them talking about it, and asked her myself. She confirmed it.”
“Thorsen!?” He tried to push down the jealousy.
“It’s not like that, at least I don’t think it is,” Angela said. “She’s nowhere near over you, Tim. I think Thorsen is still hung up on Juarez, maybe it’s bonded to them.”
“Lucy is with Aaron?” Celina asked, stepping into the room. “I didn’t know they were friends.”
“They weren’t,” Tim confirmed. “I mean, she was always nice to him, but they never spent time together outside of work.”
“I hope he’s not using her,” Celina frowned. “She’s still…”
“Guys, come on,” Angela said, trying to bring the two back to reality. “Thorsen isn’t like that. He probably just wants to be a good friend to Lucy.”
“I hate it,” Tim admitted. “But I don’t want her to be alone in this either.”
“Well with Tamara moving out, she might need someone to lean on,” Angela said.
“She’s moving out?” Tim asked in surprise. Angela nodded. “Maybe I should talk to her, ask her to wait until Lucy’s had some time…”
“No, don’t do that,” Anglea and Celina both said.
“Why?”
“Tim, you aren’t Lucy’s boyfriend anymore,” Angela reminded him. “It’s not your job to take care of her. Besides, Lucy was adamant that Tamara doesn't put her life on hold because of Lucy.”
“I hate that this is happening to her right now,” Tim said. “I feel like I keep hurting her.”
“The best thing you can do for Lucy is figure yourself out,” Celina offered. “Get your aura in line first.”
“Uh, right, thanks,” Tim said. “I think.”
Tim still didn’t like the thought of Lucy hanging out with Thorsen, but he knew it wasn’t his place to say anything about it. He needed to give her space for now. Even if it was killing him.
WCBFWCBFWCBF
Lucy tried not to keep looking around at Aaron’s immaculate home. She knew he was rich, but seeing the mansion he lived in was still shocking. He had ordered Thai food for them, and was grabbing plates from the cabinet. She took in his kitchen, noting all the technology. His coffee pot looked like something from a futuristic movie, and she wondered if he even knew how to use the double oven with more buttons than she was certain was necessary.
“I actually can cook,” Aaron said as if reading her mind. “I order takeout a lot because after work there’s just not a lot of time, or I have my chef whip something up, but I use this kitchen more than you’d guess.”
“I’m surprised,” Lucy admitted. “I like to bake, truthfully, I’m not that much of a cook, but maybe we could bake cookies sometime or something.”
“Sure, Luce,” Aaron agreed. “For now, follow me to the theater.”
Lucy chuckled as he held an arm out for her to take. She looped her arm through his and let him lead her to the basement where the movie theater was. She gasped. It looked just like a cinema you’d go to. There was a popcorn machine, a candy station, and a soda fountain.
“The seats are heated, and they recline,” Aaron told her as she took a seat.
“All they need is a massage function,” She said.
“Push this button,” He instructed. She did, and it immediately started working on the knots in her back.
“Okay, it’s official, I’m moving in,” She joked. “This is great.”
“Can I get you a drink?” He asked.
“Oh, Cherry Coke please,” She replied.
“Coming right up.”
They started watching their show, and Lucy for the first time since the breakup, was having fun. She put Tim out of her head for a bit as she and Aaron made jokes about the show, and giggled at the horrible acting. The hole in her heart was in the back of her mind for a little bit, and for that she was grateful for her friend. She had needed this without even knowing it.
“How are things with Celina?” She asked him as they paused the show to make some popcorn.
“Awkward,” Aaron admitted. “I’ve been talking to Dr. London, and I just feel like she’s not hearing me, you know?”
“There’s nothing wrong with finding a different therapist,” Lucy told him. “Not every therapist is a perfect fit for every client, and you won’t make progress if you aren’t comfortable with her.”
“Do you have any suggestions?” Aaron asked. “The guy I saw after Patrick died lives in Boston now.”
“I have a few connections from my undergrad that I can reach out to,” Lucy offered. “I’m really proud of you, Aaron. I know how hard it is to open up and get the help you need.”
“Luce, I know you don’t want to talk about it, but just know if Tim is seeing Dr. London too, it means he wants to change,” Aaron said. “I think he knows he needs it.”
“I don’t want to talk about Tim,” Lucy said quickly. “Not tonight.”
“I’m here if you change your mind,” Aaron said, squeezing her hand.
Lucy smiled at him, grateful he didn’t push it. She hoped that Tim would talk to Dr. London about his PTSD, and everything from his past. But, she wanted him to want it for himself, not for her. She wasn’t sure if she would ever be able to forgive him for just giving up on them like that, but she still cared about him. She wanted nothing but good things for him. He deserved to be happy, even if it wasn’t with her.
Aaron handed her the popcorn, and they turned their focus back to Vampire Cop. She was scrolling on her phone as they watched. She turned to her friend.
“Would it be silly to post a hot picture to make Tim regret his life choices?” She asked. Aaron chuckled.
“I mean, it’s pretty harmless, and if it makes you feel better, go for it,” Aaron encouraged.
“I just, I feel pretty down about myself currently,” Lucy admitted. “And he probably wouldn’t see it. Tim doesn’t do much social media. I forced him to get an Instagram so I could send him reels. He put his foot down with ClipTalk, so I compromised.”
“You deserve to be hyped up,” Aaron replied. “Even if he doesn’t see it, everyone else will.”
“That’s a good point,” She nodded.
LucyyChen19 posted a new photo
Caption: Thanks @TheAaronThorsen for a great movie night, and for having a bathroom with great lighting (that’s literally the size of my apartment!) 🩷
Comments:
TamTamCollins: Luce you are so cute! 😘
LucyyChen19: Love you 🥺
TheAaronThorsen: Rock those jeans girl!
LucyyChen19: lol thanks 😂
BaileyNuneNolan: Yes girl!
LucyyChen: 🩷
AngelaWopez: We missed you tonight!
NylaHarp: But you look great mama 😘
LucyyChen: Missed you too!
Celinathespiritual: My girl! I love you! 💛
LucyyChen: 💛
WCBFWCBFWCBF
Tim stared at his phone. He had been looking at the photo Lucy posted for a good five minutes. She was stunning. He was always happy to see her smile, but it also hurt to know he wasn’t the one making happy. He had a lot of work to do, he knew that, but one day he would make it up to her. He still believed Lucy was the love of his life. He wanted a future with her, and as soon as he finished working on himself, he would prove it to her.
“How are you doing?” Angela asked him.
“I’m okay,” He lied. “She looks good.”
“She always does,” Angela pointed out. “It doesn’t mean she’s moved on, Tim.”
“I know,” he nodded. “I just hope it won’t be too late for us.”
“Have you tried talking to her?” Angela asked. “From what it sounds like, she doesn’t know you think this breakup is temporary. I think she thinks it’s the end for good.”
“No,” He shook his head. “She can’t possibly think that.”
“Well what did you say to her?” Angela gave him a pointed look.
“That I can’t give her what she’s looking for,” Tim said. “Which is true.”
“Ugh, it’s true right now, but you’re talking to someone to find out why you sabotage every good thing in your life,” Angela replied. “She needs to know there’s something worth waiting for.”
“You’re right,” Tim agreed. “I’ll talk to her.”