Title: Out of Reach

By: Spoonvonstup

Rating: G

Summary/Explanation: Just a floofy one-shot, exploring an image that's been running around my head. Maggie and Patrick seemed to be a perfect match and were well on their way to falling in love. until a new arrival at the office steals Patrick away. Maggie puts her feelings aside in order to save her heart...at least...she tries...

The cheap plywood cupboards in the apartment rattled as Maggie slammed the door. The keys were thrown roughly into their little basket followed closely by the purse on the countertop while further down the counter, the paper towels teetered and fell to the floor. Cursing under her breath, Maggie considered righting it for just a moment, then turned on her heel towards the living room.
The space was neat, filled with clean lines and used but respectable furniture. A few magazines were neatly stacked on the glass coffee table, remote to the television just beside them. A potted palm stood next to the set itself, a weak attempt to bring some element of design to the room, and just beyond stood the doorway to the dark bedroom. After a brief survey of the area, Maggie perched on the edge of the couch with a sigh and placed her head in her hands.
What a day... What a horrible, horrible day. As the events replayed in her mind, tears came unbidden to her already red eyes. She'd thought she was able to deal with it, with him, with the whole horrible situation. And she'd been wrong. The sight of him, of his smiling face every day at work, was too much for her. too much.
Maggie Finn had a problem. And the name of her problem was Patrick Birkin. Or rather, Patrick Birkin and the new arrival at the office, Shawna Walters. Maggie grimaced at the name. Shawna... the stereotypical perfect blonde. For almost a year now, Maggie had felt herself growing more and more attached to the teasing intellectual a few cubicles down the row. It had started fairly innocently, greetings in the morning, chatting by the coffee machine, sitting together at lunch break for convenience. Then the friendship had grown to something more, with out of office meetings and lunches becoming frequent and habitual. The two had even attended the office Christmas party together. And just when things were getting interesting, she arrived.
The moment Shawna waltzed into the building a few weeks ago, every virile male eye was glued to that perfect figure, that shining hair, the perfect smile, those long legs. And she had conveniently attached herself to Maggie's only interest within ten square miles! Maggie closed her eyes again, pushing some stray hairs from her face. She caught her reflection in the dark television and almost let loose a cynical laugh. Dishwater hair, swollen eyes, mascara tracks, runny nose. No wonder Patrick chose someone else over her. She was pathetic.
Sighing, she made her way to the bedroom door and flicked on the light. Shoes were left in the middle of the room as her stocking feet padded to the dresser for pajamas. All she wanted to do right now was sleep, sleep and forget what a fool she was for still loving Patrick.
Maggie climbed into bed, snuggling gratefully under the covers. But as she reached over to turn out the light, her eyes lighted upon her notebook and pen. The temptation to simply go to sleep was strong in her, but the wish for some for of closure was greater. Readjusting herself against the pillows, she opened to a new page. "I fear that my affection and longing for Patrick will never be anything more than a stupid dream made by a silly naïve girl. I was a fool for being so blind, for believing so long: a silly fool. So, for the who-knows- how-many-th time in the past few days, I am giving up hope. But this time I am not kidding myself. I will only strive to be as good a friend to him as I am able... nothing more. That is all I will allow myself to do. I will bury my feelings, deep, deep inside, so he won't see the pain and joy in my eyes when I see him. I must do this, for I cannot continue to see him, day after day, beaming and happy and knowing I have absolutely nothing to do with it. It eats at my heart every day. I can't take it anymore." She paused for a moment to wipe her eyes. "A part of me dies today. Goodbye Patrick. I loved you."

A few stray tears fell onto the page, the ink of the last few words running together. With resolution, closed the book, placed it on the table, and turned out the light.

RING RING RING . . . . . . RING RING RING . . . . . . . RING RING RI- "Hello?" Maggie asked through her sleepy haze. A quick glance at the clock showed her a blurred 11:30pm. Not late at all, but her eyes were tired and sore.
"Maggie? It's Patrick... I need to talk."
Suddenly, she was wide-awake.