Author's Note: WOW! What a response to my first little chapter! Thank you so much! Okay, here's the next installment. I hope you enjoy! Please review.

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Luke heard the door bell jingle behind him. A customer, but it was late and he was closed.

"I'm sorry, we're closed," Luke said, not turning around.

"Luke," the person replied.

Luke stopped cleaning the toaster and turned around. The voice was unmistakable.

"Jess," Luke said, unsure of how to proceed.

The two men looked at each other. Luke looked exactly the same - blue hat, scruffy beard, plaid shirt. Jess, however looked slightly different. His hair was shorter and lighter from the sun. He was also tanned.

"Can I sit down?" Jess asked after a long silence.

Luke hesitated. "Sure."

Jess sat on a stool, folded his hands, and places them on the counter with his shoulders hunched. He gazed everywhere but at his uncle as he shifted uneasily in his seat.

"How...how are you?" Luke asked after another long silence.

"Alright," Jess replied equally uneasily. "You?"

Luke was surprised that Jess asked him a question back, at least feigning interest in his life.

"Same, same," Luke answered.

Jess nodded, searching for something else to say. "So...how's Nicole?"

"Oh, uh, well, we, uh, broke up," Luke rambled.

"I'm sorry," Jess said rather politely. He was relieved that his uncle hadn't kicked him out immediately, so he tried his hardest to be courteous.

"Don't be, it's alright. Just realized, you know, that we just weren't the right ones for each other. What about you? Some girl crazy enough to let you call her your girlfriend?" Luke replied.

Jess shook his head. "No one."

"I see."

"That you do."

There was more silence until Luke had to ask what was on his mind since Jess got back.

"Look, Jess, not that it's not, uh, interesting having you here again, but why exactly are you here?" Luke asked.

Jess looked straight into Luke's eyes and replied, "I don't know."

"Are you in any trouble?" Luke asked, concerned.

Everyone always thought he was in trouble if he came to them, but he couldn't blame them. "No, no trouble," Jess replied. At least not the trouble Luke was thinking about. Jess' trouble was more elusive, a lacking in his life that he just couldn't pinpoint.

Luke became flustered. "Well, does Jimmy know you're here?"

"Yeah, I told him that I was leaving for a while."

"So this isn't a permanent move back?"

Jess looked at Luke curiously. "You would consider having me back?"

Luke sighed. "I don't know, Jess. The way you left last time...I don't know. You just...it was really upsetting. I felt like I failed you but I also knew that I tried my best to help. But still, it just wasn't enough. So I don't know, I really don't."

"You did all you could, I just didn't wanna listen," Jess replied sadly. He had so much more to say before the air would be at least a little clearer between them. "Luke, I...I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being the ungrateful prick that I am. And...thanks for...for not giving up on me until I pushed you too far," Jess said ineloquently.

Luke looked at his nephew as though he was a complete stranger. "You're welcome, Jess," he said, in amazement at Jess' humbleness.

Jess nodded his head and began digging through his duffle bag. He took out a white envelope.

"Here," Jess said, pushing the envelope across the counter to Luke.

"What's this?"

"Open it," Jess said, shifting uncomfortably again.

Luke opened it. Enclosed was some sort of certificate and money.

"For the damages at Kyle's house," Jess explained, looking at the money. "Sorry it took me so long to pay you back."

Luke smirked and looked at the certificate.

"My GED. I took this easy test and it's the exact same thing as a high school diploma."

Luke's smirk turned into a genuine smile. "Good job, Jess," he said, a hint of pride in his voice. He passed the certificate back to Jess.

"Thanks. No, keep it. I'll probably lose it," Jess said, regarding his GED.

Luke laughed. "I'll frame it," he teased.

"Ah, jeez," Jess replied, slightly annoyed but smiling nonetheless.

"So, how's California?" Luke asked, happier.

"Hot," Jess replied.

"You don't say?" Luke retorted. Both men smirked.

Jess shrugged. "Jimmy owns a vintage hotdog stand in Santa Monica. I work at a bookstore near the beach. I consider it a step up from Wal-Mart."

Luke chuckled. "Do you have a group of friends of anything like that?"

"There are a couple of locals I sometimes hang with. Nothing big. How are things here? Taylor dead yet?"

"No, not yet. His Soda Shoppe is a big success, actually, which only inflates his overly-inflated ego more. But he pays his rent on time and so I really can't complain. But he's still as anal as ever."

Jess nodded in understanding. There was more silence, this time it was more comfortable though.

"She's here, you know. It's her winter vacation," Luke said.

"Who's here?" Jess asked innocently.

Luke scoffed. "Okay, act like that if you want."

"She probably doesn't wanna see me," Jess said.

"You're probably right. I wanted to kill you after you left for hurting her like you did," Luke replied.

Jess looked down at the counter. "She got over me."

"Who said?"

"She did."

"You called?"

"Sorta."

"Well, what was she supposed to say, Jess?" Luke asked, annoyed.

"She got over me," Jess repeated, this time a little softer.

Luke sighed and shifted his cap. "Well, let's just say she has never brought a Yale guy home."