Reed's Apartment

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"Alan..." Reed said quietly. Despite the scientist's worry, the band director didn't seem to be madly in love, not like the woman before him. "This is my ex-wife."

 

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☸ Alan Brandt ☸

"The science of it all is simple."

His ex-wife?! Of all the stupid things Alan had to do, he had to find Reed's ex-wife and bring them back together. How could he have been so- No. No, there can't be anything between them. After all, they were divorced! But Alan knew he had to be fooling himself, the look on the woman's face saying it all. There was still love here, and Alan didn't matter anymore. Swallowing back the tears that threatened to fall once more, Alan wiped his sweaty palms on his pants before grabbing his keys from the front table. "I should go, then," he mumbled to Reed, pushing past him. "Let you two... catch up." At the door, he glanced back to Reed once, the tears brimming clear to be seen for a half-second before he looked back to the door. "I'll see you at school!" That said, he rushed out of the apartment and down the hall.

"The numbers never lie."

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Reed barely looked at Alan, giving the loving woman's look one of forlorn. They stood there, just staring at each other, even after the door closed. Finally,
"Why did you come here, Mary?" Reed sighed.
"Isn't it obvious?" the woman replied as she looked down at her twiddling thumbs. "I came to see you."
"Yeah, that part is obvious." the band director sighed again. "But why?"
Mary frowned and narrowed her eyes guiltily. "I want us to be together again."
"What?" Reed nearly wheezed.
"I've been thinking. All those things I said to you long ago, it wasn't fair of me." she mumbled and lifted her guilty eyes at his unconvinced ones. "I miss you, Reed, a-and I know Celina would-"
"Don't bring her into this!" he snapped, silencing her. He relaxed, expression softening, when he saw the sadness on her face. "Look, I know you want us to be together again, but it's just not possible anymore, Mary. Those things you said, we can't just erase them. Even if we could, it's never going to bring our little girl back." He looked past her tearful frown and to the doorway. "Look, I've gotta step out real quick." he said in a hurried tone and dashed outside. Hopefully Alan wasn't gone already.

 

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☸ Alan Brandt ☸

"The science of it all is simple."

Fortunately for Reed, the small teacher wasn't too far away, sitting just feet from the apartment on his knees and holding his fists up to his eyes. He sobbed as quietly as possible, the pain in his chest nearly too much to bear. He didn't really understand why it all hurt so much, why seeing that love between them made his heart feel like it was being tortured, but it did. It hurt so badly that he could hardly stand it. "Stupid jerk!" Alan didn't hear a door opening, only looking up when he realized he wasn't alone. The physicist looked up, wet eyes trying to glare, but only looking pathetic. "Go away!" he tried to command.

"The numbers never lie."

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Reed de Févin



"You were my everything."

Reed looked one way then turned the other when he heard hiccups and sobs. His eyes widened when he saw Alan crying against the wall. "Al?" he mumbled and started moving towards him, stopping when he was yelled at. He hesitated, but continued onward until he was right besides the scientist, crouching down to be eye level with him. "What's wrong? Why're you crying?" he asked, concern in his eyes.

"Your music will live on."

 

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☸ Alan Brandt ☸

"The science of it all is simple."

The young man, having never truly experienced agony like this before, shook his head and tried to scoot away, finding his body unable to move. "Just leave me alone!" He reached up to push Reed away, only to feel another sharp pang bite his heart as he touched the band director. "I hate you, Reed. You're making it hurt worse, this is all your fault!" He pointed to the door. "You and that God-awful woman. You're both making it worse! I hate you!" He wanted to take out his phone, call Dexter and beg him to come and get the inconsolable physicist, but his fingers wouldn't budge, only able to clutch at his aching chest.

"The numbers never lie."

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Reed de Févin



"You were my everything."

Reed hesitated again. Hate? Where the hell was all of this coming from? "What are you talking about?" he asked. "Mary? You were the one that set me up with her! Why are you getting so angry about what you did? If you didn't want me to date why'd you do it?"

"Your music will live on."

 

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☸ Alan Brandt ☸

"The science of it all is simple."

"I just wanted to make you happy! I didn't know that I-" Alan stopped himself, looking down at his lap as his hands fell. Was he really sure about this? Was it really as easy as just saying it? His green eyes grew slightly wider as he looked up at Reed again. Maybe this was a bad idea, telling him his feelings. If their friendship ended, Alan didn't know what he'd do. Reed was the most important person in his life now. To lose him would break Alan's heart. But this needed to be said. He needed to tell Reed what the truth of it was.
Alan wiped away the tears on his cheeks, trying hard to keep more tears from coming. "Reed, I... I don't want you to be with anyone but-" He stopped himself again, looking to the door. Could she hear them?

"The numbers never lie."

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Reed de Févin



"You were my everything."

Reed furrowed his eyebrows in concern when he saw the look on Alan's face. He moved a hand towards him and opened his mouth to see if he was okay, but stopped when the scientist spoke to him again. He paused, feeling his breathing stop when he heard him. Anyone but...?
The sound of a creaking door made Reed turn around to see Mary stepping out with a hesitant look on her face.
"Is everything okay?" she asked, one hand lingering on the still open door as the other was balled up against her fist.

"Your music will live on."

 

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☸ Alan Brandt ☸

"The science of it all is simple."

Alan's eyes flashed an angry jealousy at the sight of the Jezebel, He looked back at Reed, the tears rising once again. "I have to go!" he managed to strangle out of his throat, standing and rushing away. The elevator would take far too long to open for him, so he opted for the stairs. The physicist ran as his thoughts jumbled around in his head, trying so hard to decipher what exactly what he was planning to say. What, that he only wants Reed to be near him? To hug him? To laugh with him and smile at him and cook with and eat with and-
Oh God.
Alan stopped at the foot of the stairs, finally understanding how he felt. He was in love with Reed. The man looked up, and seeing no one, grit his teeth and started running again. Like hell he'd wait around to see those two lovebirds laugh at him! He was out of the building in minutes, but it wasn't quick enough. He couldn't get away fast enough.

"The numbers never lie."

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Reed de Févin



"You were my everything."

"Have you eaten? You want me to make you anything?" Reed asked as he unlocked his door and entered his small apartment. It didn't change - save the removed Christmas decorations. There were still instruments here and there and sheet music scattered around. The only change was that there were a couple fundraiser catalogs and bags of money from kids that turned in their fundraisers early. "Have you been eating well at all? You haven't changed back to your slice of bread diet, have you?" Reed asked suspiciously as he moved to the kitchen.

"Your music will live on."

 

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☸ Alan Brandt ☸

"The science of it all is simple."

Before Alan could answer, his stomach answered for him. He blushed, then tried to explain. "I haven't eaten today, but I've been filling up on takeout lately. I haven't been trying to get out of my apartment very often. It's actually really messy in there right now." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I haven't really had the motivation to do much else than watch crap TV and eat popcorn. You really did a number on me." The physicist sat on the couch, setting down his bag and placing his hands on his lap. He didn't really know how to react, now being in Reed's apartment as more than a friend.

"The numbers never lie."

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Reed de Févin



"You were my everything."

"Hey, I kept calling you and trying to find you so I could explain." Reed said in his defense as he got a couple pans out. "I'll make some spaghetti tonight since that's basically all I've got. Want to come grocery shopping with me tomorrow after school?"

"Your music will live on."

 

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☸ Alan Brandt ☸

"The science of it all is simple."

"That sounds nice," he smiled, rubbing his thighs in an attempt to get the feeling back in them. Alan finally stood and walked over to the kitchen, leaning on the counter. "So, I don't really know how to ask about this. Um... Are we dating now?" he finally asked, awkwardness bring a dark blush to his cheeks.

"The numbers never lie."

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