The Interning Assistant

Maybe We Should. . .

Stuart's POV

After lunch, I walked around Google campus hoping to calm down before going back to work. When I walked into the office, Liz was already at her desk. My blood boiled as I noticed her tense shoulders and the pen in her mouth that she usually chewed when she was over-thinking a project.

"Hey," she mumbled not looking up from her computer, with the pen still in her mouth.

"Hey. How was the meeting?" I asked with no emotion.

Eric and Kenny have no idea how hard Liz works. Maybe they do, but they still believe that she doesn't deserve her job. They go around Google campus, talking shit about her and not caring how or what happens to her because of it.

Now they are spreading the rumor that Liz is sleeping with her interning assistant. Well she is, but the rumor could ruin her career. Which is exactly why they were spreading it.

"Boring," she sighed running her hand through her hair. "Not like that should surprise. . ."

She looked up and stopped talking when she noticed me still standing in the doorway, looking at her with soft sad eyes.

"You okay?" She asked as she stood up and walked towards me.

"I'm fine," I stuttered running a hand through my hair.

"No you aren't."

She grabbed my hand and led me over to the couch. "What's going on?" She asked once we had sat down.

"It's nothing, Liz. Really. . ."

She shook her head and cut me off. "Stuart," she said firmly. "What's wrong? Did something happen at lunch?"

When I didn't answer she gave my hand a gentle squeeze. "You know you can talk to me, right?" She whispered.

I looked at the soft smile on her face and instantly felt guilty. "I ran into Eric and Kenny at lunch today."

"Please tell me you didn't punch them again," she said with a soft giggle making me smile.

"No," I laughed. "I almost did though."

Her eyebrows furrowed when I mumbled the last part. "What happened?"

"Liz," I sighed. I bit my lip, unsure of how to phrase what I had to say next. "They know."

"They know? Eric and Kenny?" She asked. I held my breath as I nodded. My heart sank when I heard her take a slow, shaky breath. "What do they know?"

"Well, they think they know. But I don't think they know that what they think they know is actually true. They think they are just spreading rumors."

"Stuart," Liz said calmly, interrupting my nervous ramble. "What is it?"

"They are spreading the rumor that you and I are sleeping together," I rushed out.

I bit my lip when I heard her breath get caught in her throat. "What?" She asked softly.

"They think it's just a rumor, but. . ." I didn't finish my sentence. I didn't know how.

"Well," she cleared her throat, letting go of my hand.

"Liz," I sighed. She stood up and walked to her desk before I could stop her. "Liz," I said again, trying to get her attention.

"Liz, look at me." I stood up and caught her wrist, stopping her. "Please," I whispered.

She took a deep breath before slowly turning towards me. "Stuart," she said, her voice breaking.

I reached up and caught a tear that had fallen. "It's going to be okay," I whispered. "No one will believe them anyway." I tried to joke but she just shook her head.

"What are we going to do?" She asked so softly that I almost missed it.

"What do you mean "what are we going to do"? There is nothing we have to do. Liz, you know that no matter what, Chetty would never believe a word either of the Evil Stepsisters say until he's talked to you first."

"But what if people believe them? What if they. . . What if. . ." I resisted the urge to wrap her in a hug. Instead I led her back to the couch and made her sit down.

"Liz, it's going to be okay," I tried to reassure her but she just shook her head.

"You don't know that," she said looking at me with sad eyes. Suddenly she quickly looked away. "Maybe we should. . ." She started, but didn't finish.

"Maybe we should what?" I pressed.

"Stop this," she said softly as she avoided eye contact.

"No."

My comment made her look up at me. "What?"

"I'm not going to end this just because of Mr. and Mrs. Asshole, okay? I'm not destroying the one thing that has made me happier than I have been in years because of two jealous dicks."

"Stuart," she sighed.

"I can't," I stuttered, my voice breaking. "I can't lose you."

"And I can't lose you, but. . ."

"But nothing," I said my voice breaking. "Liz, please."

"Maybe we should take a break for a while," she said looking at our hands.

"Liz," my voice broke again.

"I'm sorry," she said finally looking at me with tears in her eyes. I jumped up when Liz started to leave.

"Liz, wait."

"I'm so sorry, Stuart."