Lane wiped the film of sweat off her forehead as she set the last guitar amp on the stage. Being a stationery roadie wasn't her dream job, but it gave her a few extra dollars for the Fender Strat she'd been eyeing up.

But it was tiring. Going to class all day, then spending nights in a bar setting up gear, then having to pack it all up again for visiting bands. Sure, she'd gotten to meet a few semi famous musicians, but somehow, it never really made up for all the hard work she was doing.

It was a decent venue. Just about always pulled in a good crowd, but Lane always felt like she was taking a step in the wrong direction whenever she set foot in the building. She should be the one playing to screaming crowds… Not being a bands go-for. She went to a prestigious music school. She'd been in a band for a few years before that, still performing on stage Lane was not.

"Check, check, 1 2..."

The invasive sound check stirred Lane from her thoughts. Around her, the bands roadies plugged in guitars, bashed away on drums and paraded across the stage with various bits of equipment like there was nowhere they'd rather be.

She sat down on the edge of the stage, slid off it, and headed to the bar. Her boss was there drying glasses for the expected patrons that intended to drink up large as usual.

"Give me a time and date Lane and I'll book you." Liza, the cheery bar manager winked.

"How's 10pm on the twelfth of never sounding?"

"Hey kid, enough with the enthusiasm! You'll have everyone bursting into song with that attitude!" Sarcasm laced in Liza's voice.

"Yeah, I'm just having' one of those days. I'll be fine tomorrow."

"Care to share?"

"Nah. Just everything is getting to me today. Lack of love life. Lack of money. Lack of free time. Lack of anyone decent to even contemplate starting a band with. The usual." Lane reeled off to her boss-come-friend.

"Lack of love life? That's your own doing! I've seen the guys round here trying to pick you up. Most of them are half decent."

"Meh. It's complicated." Lane tries to justify herself.

"What's complicated about it? You talk to a guy. He's nice. He takes you out for a drink. You hit it off, voila! Love life." Lane rolled her eyes. If only it were that easy. Growing up under Mama Kim's thumb didn't exactly give you the right qualifications for 'Dating as an Adult'.

"Yeah…" Was all Lane could come up with.

"You make me laugh Lane. You're so quirky, with all your quirks I'm surprised some weirdo hasn't fallen madly in love with you already." Liza giggled. Lane slid a couple of empty glasses across the bar to Liza and smiled half-heartedly.

"Yeah. Wonders of life hey? I'm gonna head home if you're done with me."

"I am for now. You go out and find you a weirdo! I'll see you back here at 8?"

"As always I am your faithful servant. See you later." Lane removed the maroon vest of her uniform as she headed towards the exit.

She shielded her eyes as she stepped into the daylight. The sky was mostly overcast and people rushed past her, going about their lives.

"Nice vest." Someone commented as she brushed past them. She turned around to see who it was, still struggling to see as she waited for her eyes to adjust to the sun, all Lane could make out was a silhouette of a thin, average height male, with wild hair framing his head. Crap. Lane closed her eyes as she tried to think of something civil and nonchalant to say.

"Hey." Hey? All I could come up with is 'Hey'? Ugh.

"Hey." Jess replied. They both stood awkwardly for a few seconds, neither knowing what the next move should be.

"Okay, so good to see you." Lane lied, heading in the direction she was going before the interruption. Jess waited momentarily, before jogging to catch up with her. She kept walking as he spoke.

"Lane, look. I'm sorry how I handled everything. What happened at Holman's Lake shouldn't have happened. What happened at your dorm shouldn't have happened either. I…"

"It's okay Jess. You don't have to explain yourself to me. I was quite happy to forget all about everything." Lane sighed, turning the corner into an off street, away from the traffic.

"Is that what you want? To forget about everything?" Lane didn't answer. She focused her gaze straight ahead and kept walking. Jess following beside her, pulled her arm gently, forcing her to come to a halt. "Answer me. Is that what you want?"

Lane sighed for the second time in two minutes. "I don't know what I want Jess. I thought I wanted you to come back to Stars Hollow and make things work with Rory. Then I thought I wanted you to come to Stars Hollow for me. Then I thought I wanted Rory to know that I liked you. And I thought I wanted Rory to be okay with it. Then I thought I never wanted to see you ever again. All of which are things I never wanted at all." A look of confusion crept across Jess's face.

"So you didn't want me to come back to Stars Hollow, but you want to see me, and you don't want Rory to be okay with it?"

"Like I said, I don't know. You obviously still have feelings for Rory, and I can't deal with the baggage of an ex lurking in a relationship."

"She's your best friend Lane. She's not going to just disappear."

"Exactly. Which is why…" Lane took a breath and let it out slowly. "Which is why I think you and I are better off as friends. There is too much history and too many complications for anything else."

"You don't get it…"

"Please?" Lane interrupted him mid-sentence. "Leave it Jess. I think I finally know what I want." Jess nodded in submission.

"Okay. I'll walk you home. As your friend."

"In this sea of lonely, the taste of ink is getting old; it's 4 o clock in the fucking morning…"

Lane sighed as she was elbowed in the chest by yet another drunkard, trying to make his love for the band clear. Hopes sinking by the second, Lane wanted nothing better than to go home and curl up in a ball in bed. The Used brought in the biggest crowd this bar had seen since Nirvana first started out and they had the bruises to prove it. Nothing beats a kick in the stomach from an enthusiastic mosher.

Lane flinched as someone tapped her on the back. She prepared herself to be hit on again, and held her tray in front of her as she turned. As she saw who it was her eyes welled up. She didn't know why, but the façade she'd been holding up all day was finally wearing thin.

"What can I get you?" She asked, her voice breaking ever so slightly.

"A ten minute break for the lady standing in front of me?" Jess asked all-knowingly.

Lane pushed her way to the bar and leaned over to talk to Liza. After a few exchanged words, Lane put her tray on the bar, removed her apron and made her way back to Jess. Without a word she took his hand and led him towards the exit.

Once outside Lane released Jess's hand and sat on the step. "Your aunt just came down with a serious illness and you need me to drive you to the hospital to see her. But I'll be back here in two hours to help with the clean up, and the pack out." Lane sighed with a breath of relief.

"My poor aunt. How ever will she manage?"

"We will soon find out!" Lane giggled. It felt good to be in the fresh air. All day all she'd wanted to do was drown herself, but that urge had worn off somewhat. Whether her current company was the cause, she wasn't sure.