Chapter Text
Stacey found herself inundated with questions but devoid of answers. While she assumed everything stemmed from the drunken kiss, certainty eluded her. She had no inkling of how long this had been going on or why neither Scott nor Wallace had confided in her. Nevertheless, now was the time to uncover the truth. As soon as Gideon left the room, she turned to face Scott and Wallace, her arms crossed and determination etched on her face.
"You two better start talking, and this time, I want the truth—the whole truth," she demanded, fixing them both with a stern gaze. If she was going to be their only defence in this mess, she needed to know precisely what she was dealing with, from start to finish.
Scott fell silent, grappling with the tumult of emotions swirling within him. He felt numb, lost in a haze of regret and self-loathing. After everything that had transpired, he wasn't sure how to proceed. Curling into a ball on the bed, he struggled to articulate the turmoil consuming him.
Meanwhile, Wallace heaved a heavy sigh, acknowledging the futility of expecting much from Scott in his current state. Taking a deep breath, he turned to Stacey, steeling himself to divulge the truth, no matter how painful it might be.
"Okay, look, most of what I told you was true," Wallace began, his voice wavering with emotion. "I kissed Scott while drunk, and that's where it all started. But I swear, none of this occurred before that. There were... sparks between us, and we both... liked it. We kept seeing each other, knowing it was wrong but unable to stop ourselves. Scott told Ramona about the drunken kiss, as I mentioned yesterday, but he didn't disclose the full extent of our affair. He was actively cheating on her with me," Wallace admitted, casting a regretful glance at Scott.
"I know we shouldn't have done this," Wallace continued, his voice heavy with remorse. "But I've wanted him for years, and I let my selfish desires cloud my judgement. I'm to blame for a lot of this mess," he confessed, grappling with his newfound realisation.
Scott listened in silence, his guilt weighing heavily upon him. With a trembling voice, he eventually spoke up, acknowledging his own culpability. "I was selfish too... I thought I could have both Wallace and Ramona. I didn't want to lose either of them, but I messed up. I'm sorry for everything," he choked out, tears streaming down his cheeks.
In a moment of compassion, Wallace enveloped Scott in a comforting embrace as he cried. "Shh... it's okay, guy. If anyone's to blame, it's me," Wallace murmured, gently stroking Scott's hair.
Stacey observed the poignant scene, torn between anger and empathy. "We all make mistakes," she offered, her voice softening. "But now, we need to focus on moving forward. Scott, you need to apologise to Ramona, and Wallace, you too," she urged, hoping to steer them toward some semblance of resolution.
Scott understood that he couldn't evade confronting Ramona indefinitely, despite his reluctance. He acknowledged that he couldn't avoid her forever and that it would be unfair to disregard her after causing her pain, especially considering their once strong relationship. Despite his deep affection for Wallace, a part of him remained sorrowful about losing Ramona, as he still harboured feelings for her. However, he recognized that he couldn't have both.
Scott sniffled and nodded silently, his heart heavy with the weight of what transpired. He longed to mend the shattered pieces of their relationship, wishing for a chance to make things right. Yet, anger simmered within him, directed partly at himself for entertaining thoughts about Wallace's timing and what could have been different if feelings were revealed earlier. The temptation to assign blame, even to himself, gnawed at him. Perhaps there was no avoiding the entanglement with Ramona after she entered his subspace, but the thought left him feeling like a flawed individual. The overwhelming torrent of thoughts made him question his own character, wondering how many others he had inadvertently hurt with his actions. Was he truly as bad as he feared?
Wallace continued to hold Scott tightly, gently stroking his hair as he tried to offer solace. He was consumed by guilt and a sense of responsibility for the situation. He yearned to make amends but was at a loss for what to do or say. So many thoughts raced through his mind, yet he struggled to articulate them.
He couldn't shake the feeling that it was all his fault. None of this would have unfolded if he hadn't kissed Scott. Even then, he berated himself for not stopping there, for continuing to flirt and confuse Scott with his actions. He recognized the selfishness in his behaviour, realising that he pursued Scott relentlessly simply because he wanted him. Now, faced with the consequences of his actions, he felt the weight of his own mistakes bearing down on him.
Stacey frowned, crossing her arms uncomfortably as she watched her brother struggle. Despite feeling sorry for him, she couldn't deny that he brought this upon himself. With night creeping in, she realised they all needed rest, especially with a big day awaiting them back in Canada.
"I'll take the couch. You two can have the double bed," she said with a tired sigh, rubbing her eyes. The evening had been overwhelming, and she wished it hadn't ended so abruptly. Missing Julie deeply, she felt she hadn't spent enough time with her, and now she found herself consoling her brother instead of being with her female friends – not that she didn't consider Wallace and her brother as friends, but she craved the company of her female peers.
After finding an extra blanket in the linen cupboard and rearranging one of the couch cushions for comfort, Stacey settled down, her belongings still at the hotel, leaving her with nothing to change into. She simply lay down, closed her eyes, and hoped for a peaceful rest.
Wallace moved slightly away from Scott, who rubbed his eyes before kicking off his shoes and climbing into bed properly, pulling the sheets down to cover himself. His eyes were red and swollen from crying so much. Following suit, Wallace removed his shoes and slid into bed beside Scott. He edged closer, wrapping his arm around Scott and pulling him close for comfort. Scott sniffled once more, feeling congested from his tears. He shifted, burying his head into Wallace's chest, finding solace in his embrace. Wallace held him tightly, pressing a tender kiss to his head as he spoke softly, his voice tinged with regret.
"I’m sorry for everything" Wallace still carried the weight of responsibility.
Scott remained silent, but his tight embrace conveyed forgiveness to Wallace. Before long, exhaustion overcame him, and he drifted into slumber. The events of the night had undoubtedly taken their toll on him—between the party, the confrontation with Ramona about his infidelity, and the subsequent tears. As their bodies shifted slightly, Wallace lay still, staring up at the ceiling with a heavy heart while Scott slept soundly on his chest. Despite his own fatigue, Wallace couldn't find rest, his thoughts consumed by guilt and self-doubt. He longed for sleep, but his restless mind refused to grant him reprieve.
What was troubling Wallace? How could he justify any of his actions? How could he betray someone he cared for deeply, his closest companion? He allowed his emotions to override his judgement, failing to consider the impact on Scott. He prioritises his own desires because of his love for Scott, but if he truly loved him, he would have respected that Scott's heart belonged elsewhere and refrained from interfering. Despite achieving what he wanted, Wallace couldn't find happiness. With Scott in his arms, free from Ramona's influence, he felt only shame and disgust at his own actions. This wasn't how things were supposed to unfold. But what if this was Wallace's only opportunity to be with Scott? Should he have stood idly by, watching Scott love someone else indefinitely, or was he right to take action? Uncertain of the morality of his choices, Wallace grappled with guilt. He hadn't won Scott's affection the right way; he had cheated in the game of love.
Unable to bear his own thoughts any longer, Wallace gently moved Scott aside and laid his head on the pillow. He rose from the bed and made his way to the bathroom, leaving the door ajar. With a turn of the faucet, cold water splashed onto his face, but it offered no relief from the sickness gnawing at him. Stacey, a light sleeper, stirred on the couch upon hearing the running water. Rubbing her eyes, she peered into the bathroom, recognizing immediately that Wallace was troubled. She quietly slipped off the couch and approached him from behind.
"Hey... want to go for a walk?" she offered, her concern evident in her voice.
"It's, like, 2 a.m.," Wallace replied, not surprised that he had woken Stacey. "And we're in New York... I don't want us to get lost out there," he added.
"Come on, we won't. You need to get out," Stacey insisted, her determination clear.
"Are you sure? I don't want to burden you," Wallace hesitated, turning to face her.
"Yes, I'm sure. Come on, put your shoes on," she urged, gently nudging him forward.
Putting on their shoes and grabbing the key from the bench, they left Scott undisturbed to continue his peaceful slumber. Exiting the building, they made their way down the elevator and onto the streets of New York City. The city was adorned with shimmering lights and towering buildings, casting a serene ambiance despite the hour. Setting off on their walk, they decided on a simple plan: to walk in a straight line for a while and then turn back, ensuring they wouldn't get lost.
As they strolled through the streets at 2 a.m., Stacey and Wallace found solace in the quiet beauty of the city. The first few minutes passed in silence, allowing them both time to process their thoughts. It was unusual for there to be such a silence between the two friends; typically, they always had something to say to each other. But after the tumultuous events of the night, they felt apprehensive about speaking, wary of overstepping boundaries. Eventually, it was Stacey who broke the silence, sensing that Wallace wouldn't initiate conversation.
"How are you holding up after tonight?" Stacey's words were gentle, spoken with care.
Wallace tensed, unable to mask his true feelings. He didn't want to burden Stacey with his emotions, especially since she had never seen him get too emotional before.
"Not great," he admitted bluntly, trying to maintain composure and prevent his voice from betraying his inner turmoil.
Stacey's expression softened into a frown. "Talk to me, Wallace. I won't judge you. We've known each other for so long, and I just want to support you. I know tonight has been rough, and I can see you're struggling. You don't have to pretend to be okay," she reassured him.
Taking a shaky breath, Wallace fought back tears as he spoke. "I never meant to hurt Scott. I love him so much, Stace. I just couldn't bear the thought of losing him. If I hadn't confessed my feelings, he would have stayed with Ramona. I know I should have let it go, but I couldn't. It's all my fault, and now everyone will blame him," he confessed, his words pouring out in a rush.
Stacey halted their walk, placing her hands on Wallace's shoulders. "You can't solely blame yourself for something you both agreed to. Yes, you kissed him while drunk... but he kissed back, didn't he? He didn't stop you that night. He was just as involved in this as you were. You're both responsible. You can't carry all the blame because you were in love. It seems like Scott was in love too. And although you both went about it the wrong way, with Scott cheating on Ramona, you can't shoulder all the blame yourselves. You both played a part, and you'll both work to make it right. It's going to be okay, and I'll be here for both of you," she assured him, her words filled with compassion.
Wallace swallowed hard, shaking his head in dismay. "But he tried to do the right thing... He went to Ramona and confessed immediately. It could have ended there! But then he... he wanted to leave, to move out. My jealousy consumed me, and I don't know what I was thinking. I started coming onto him again, unable to bear the thought of losing him. I was certain if Ramona found out, she would never trust me alone with him again. I felt this surge of anger towards Ramona, even though she did nothing wrong. I began to flirt with Scott to spite her because I knew he liked me. I knew there was chemistry between us, and I convinced him to cheat on Ramona. I knew what I was doing, and I did it anyway. If I hadn't flirted with him that night when he came back to collect his things... maybe none of this would have happened," Wallace finally confessed, his voice heavy with guilt.
Stacey absorbed Wallace's words, trying to process the weight of his confession. It was a lot to take in, but she refused to be angry with him. Even though Wallace felt he manipulated Scott into their relationship, Stacey understood that Scott was a grown man capable of making his own choices. Despite Wallace's actions, Scott had agency in the situation.
"Look, Wallace," she began, taking a deep breath. "I can't deny that your actions played a part in convincing Scott... But he's a grown man. He could have said no, he could have gone home. But he stayed, and there's a reason he chose you," she reasoned, shaking her head slightly. "I don't condone cheating, I don't condone what either of you did... But perhaps it was inevitable at some point? It's hard to imagine why it wouldn't happen... I've had time to think about it, and I can see it now. All those times you flirted with him... But he was too oblivious to notice. Finally, it clicked in his mind, and all he could think about was you. It makes sense," she added with a slight chuckle. "He loves you, Wallace... Maybe he has for years and just didn't realise it."
Stacey crossed her arms, feeling the chill of the night. "But that doesn't change what has happened or what you both need to fix. Ramona deserves closure. You both hurt her, and she didn't deserve that."
Somehow, Stacey's reasoning managed to ease Wallace's burden, and he couldn't help but smile faintly as he crossed his arms against the chill of the night. He felt fortunate to have a friend like Stacey.
"I wonder why you're still friends with me," he mused, a mixture of amusement and seriousness in his tone.
Stacey turned her head slightly, curious. "Why's that?"
Wallace shrugged, his expression thoughtful. "All I did was constantly flirt with your brother, steal your boyfriends from time to time... I caused all of this. I can't say I'm a very good person, yet you still stick around."
Stacey shrugged in response. "I think you're a good person. You do bad things, but that doesn't define who you are. And what would I do without my favourite gossip buddy?" she teased with a smile. "You have flaws... but we all do," she admits. “I mean…. Scott has a lot of flaws!” she added before they shared a laugh.
"It's getting cold, huh," Wallace remarked, sensing the need to change the subject.
"Yeah, we should probably head back now. Are you alright?" Stacey asked, concern evident in her voice.
Wallace nodded as they began walking, with Stacey following alongside.
"Yeah, I think I'll be okay... but you might need to have the same talk with Scott," Wallace suggested, a sweet smile playing on his lips. "He needs a talk, and I've noticed his little sis always makes him feel better."
Stacey chuckled, her grin widening. "I'll do my best tomorrow. He needs rest tonight. We've got a big trip back tomorrow. I'll probably be sitting with you two on the plane back... I don't think Ramona would want to talk to either of you tomorrow... Honestly? We might as well take the later flight... Let Ramona get back before us. I'm sure Gideon can arrange that," she proposed with a shrug.
“Probably, that guy is loaded.” Wallace chuckled.
. . .
The two of them returned to their room, taking off their shoes and preparing for bed as the clock struck 3 a.m. Stacey, before settling onto the couch for sleep, made sure to check on Wallace's well-being.
"You sure you'll be okay?" she inquired with concern.
Wallace nodded, offering a weak smile. "Yeah."
With that reassurance, Stacey laid down on the couch, and Wallace slipped back into bed with Scott. As soon as he settled in, Scott instinctively snuggled up close to him. Wallace sighed softly, planting a tender kiss on Scott's forehead. Finally unburdened by his thoughts, he felt a sense of relief washing over him. Perhaps Stacey could serve as an unofficial therapist—he had confided in her for the past few days, after all.
With that comforting thought, Wallace closed his eyes, hoping for a peaceful night's sleep.