The moment Rory hated the most was when she had to press the button to end the call, disconnecting her from Jess. She knew it had to be her. He always left it up to her. Maybe he was trying to atone for all the times he'd walked away before she was finished. Maybe he just hated that moment as much as she did.

She lay back against her pillows knowing she really should have been in the shower already but unable to make herself move from the bed. She hadn't doubted they would be, but his words, his new book, were somehow even better than his first. He'd matured as a person in the time that had passed in between and it was reflected in his writing. She wondered for a brief moment what her writing said about her? Hugo had been sending her drafts back with notes lately where before he'd just made minor adjustments for her now he wanted her to rework her view. Her standards were slipping. She needed to step it up or she might not even get to choose whether the trail was for her or not if she lost her spot in the meantime.

Hugo had been great really. The criticism stung but she knew from her own experience as editor of the Yale Daily News that it was meant constructively and was also essential to producing a quality publication that everyone involved could be proud of. She'd been a little surprised when Hugo had accepted her proposal for and subsequent review of The Light and The Dark and there had been no notes sent back to rework it only one brief comment: Terrific job, this is where I need all your articles to be at. The only trouble with that was politics and literature were apples and oranges, or maybe salad and pancakes was a better analogy. She had to channel the 16 year old version of herself who'd once written an incredibly insightful article about paving and remember that every seemingly boring story had an interesting angle just waiting to be discovered.

Rory had wasted away all her getting ready time and had to settle for pulling her hair back in a ponytail and washing her face in lieu of a shower. She dressed quickly in the clothes she'd laid out the night before, grabbed her bag and headed for the bus.

She still sat up front on the bus and some days Annie sat with her but today she was back in the middle and Rory was happy in her solitude. She sent Jess a message, despite having already spoken to him this morning. He was the only person she felt like sharing her thoughts with today.

Rory: what do politics and literature have in common?

Rory stared out the window as she waited for him to respond.

Jess: is this some kind of test?

Rory smiled when she read his words.

Rory: no, just thinking and I wanted a second opinion.

Jess: well, I guess they don't have much in common as such but they each have a great influence over the other?

Rory thought this over and decided he was absolutely right. She had an idea for how to make her next article more compelling and complex, less bland and superficial.

Rory: have I ever told you I love your mind?

Jess: I take it you agree with my opinion?

Rory: I'm feeling freshly inspired. Hopefully no more late night rewrites.

Jess: well, in that case I'm definitely glad my mind could be of service to you.

Rory but her lip and could feel her cheeks getting hot as she dared to type out her next message.

Rory: maybe if we're both free tonight we can enjoy a quiet night in together.

Jess: so I can read you more of my book?

Oh, he was such a smart ass! Such a loveable one though.

Rory: amongst other things...

Jess: call me when you're ready.

Rory fought the urge to call him right then and there, reminding herself she was on a bus full of fellow reporters on their way to work.

Rory: later xx

Jess: x

Rory tried her best to push thoughts of later out of her mind and began to jot down a few ideas she might be able to incorporate into today's coverage. She paused mid thought and dug around in her bag to find the book she'd been carrying around since the first day on this journey. Opening it she read began to reread Jess's margin notes. Somewhere between the covers of The Fountainhead she felt certain she'd find a new angle for her writing.

At the end of the day Rory turned down Annie's offer to get dinner together and instead grabbed a takeaway pizza and headed straight up to her room. She'd made a start on her article during her lunch break and again on the bus back to the hotel and was keen to get it finished. It didn't seem like such a chore today and she knew that was a good sign. She sent off her first draft, finished the last slice of pizza and then got into the shower. It felt so good to wash the day away and she felt refreshed and ready to call Jess. She checked her emails one last time and squealed when she saw Hugo's quick response to her story: Glad to see you've found your voice again Rory.

It felt good to have it back.

Rory dialled Jess's number and sank back against the pillows feeling lighter than she had in weeks.