Apple Corps.

Guilty

Paul and Jane sat across from each other on their couch. Neither of them were speaking yet, just staring in hopes that the other would start the conversation. Jane dipped her chin into her scarf and let her leg fall over and swing from the couch. "So how should we start this?" Jane sniffled a tiny bit and went to rub under her eyes. She flicked her fingers over a loose string on her pants.

"I-we should go to counseling" Paul mumbled and shuffled on his seat. Jane looked off behind him into the lamp in the corner of the room. Her eyes were misting as she opened her mouth. She tilted her head and lifted her head from her scarf.

"No, Paul. There's no fixing this relationship" she gestured between them. Their flat had lost all its warm light from the day and was just basking them with darkness with a tinge of light from the lamp. "I'm-huh" Jane interrupted herself to take a heavy breath. "Just not what you want....but you were what I wanted" She looked back at him.

"Jane, love. I love you and we can get through this, I'm not gay and I was never with George" Paul was so desperate to convince her. He grabbed her hand and rubbed small circles on the back of it. She looked at him and contemplated things that she'd sworn she had figured all out.
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Pattie walked over and kneeled down at Pete Bests desk. "So you think Paul and Jane are over?"

Pete gave a small snort and waved his hand. "No doubt. I've talked to him before, he and Jane just aren't gonna work." Astrid shot her head up and tossed a glare at Stuart before turning to the conversation she hadn't been apart of.

"I dunno, I think they might get through it. Least I hope so" she pushed her chair out to hit the back of Stuart's, who just let out a dismissive huff of breath. Pattie clicked her tongue in thought. But Pete spoke up again.

"Well, when he comes in today if he still has the ring on we'll know they're fine and if not..." He twirled his hand around and Pattie nodded.

Brian walked into the office and looked at his workers, lounging about and chatting and he sighed loudly. "Pattie, love? We forgetting where we're at?" Pattie looked up at Brian and twisted the pen in her hand.

"We're just deciding whether we think Paul and Jane are ok or not, depends on if he's gonna be wearing his ring today" Stuart leaned over from his chair and Brian looked around at them and scoffed.

"I'd say no, after yesterday they have no chance." Everyone smiled and Pattie took a pad of paper off Petes desk and made a column. She licked the tip of the pen and sat on top of Petes desk and raised her hand.

"Who's saying they're over?"

"Stuart, Pete, Brian, other Pete and Colin" Pattie counted and wrote down the names on one side of the column. "And who's saying they'll be fine?......Astrid. Looks like you're on your own" Pattie wrote her name down on the other side and put the pad on her lap. They all found busy work to do that they all slyly set aside once Paul entered the office with his hands shoved into his pockets. Once he was behind his desk he set aside his bag and went to typing away. Pattie winked at Pete and walked over with a few papers she'd yet to copy.

Once she was at the copier, she leaned over slightly to look at Pauls hands that were pushing hard into the keyboard. She flipped her back as she turned her head back to face everyone. She ran her hand across her neck and mouthed 'they're over'.

There was momentarily a celebration for those who'd said so but as Pattie stole another glance at Paul, her smile faded away guiltily and she clutched her papers and walked away. The rest of the office watched her go and tried to focus back on their work, stealing looks at Paul who's face stayed stoic and still. Stuart had been initially smug but The way Paul was holding himself was starting to make him feel that guilt that had been spreading across the office. Brian licked his lips and sighed, taking steps over to reception.