"Wow. It's you." Rory said after Jess exited the bar. He said it was the end of his shift, even though Rory saw the lying look in his eyes. They knew each other too well for things like that.
"So you remember what I look like," he distractedly replied while fumbling for the door handle of the Employees Only exit. The beach was dark and empty. They walked quietly anyway.
"Why are you here?" Rory asked quietly, turning to look at his face. She was drowning in it, as if when she looked away he would be gone again. She barley blinked until he answered.
"You know…soaking up the rays, hanging out with the Baywatch crew, you just can't get enough of it," He rambled in a very Rory-ish way.
"Girlfriend?" she asked, smirking.
"Roommate," He stared at his shoes for a minute before sitting down on the cool sand. She followed suit. "So how is everyone?"
"In town? Demented." They both laughed in a natural sort of way, even though the awkwardness was still there. He gave her a special look, full of meaning. "Really, how is everyone?"
"Okay." She said, her voice also matching his silent code. She was okay. She might be a little mad and a little sad, but she was okay.
"Still going to Yale?" he asked, almost echoing a conversation from yesteryear.
"Still going to Yale," Rory half-giggled. "Paris is my roommate."
"Don't you love irony?" He paused for a second. "I still can't get over you trying to buy a beer. Illegally, might I add."
"I'm a bad girl on Spring Break. Just go with it." Continuing the pattern, they were quiet for a moment. "Things have changed."
"Yeah they have." This time the quiet was reflective, but Jess could feel it pressing down on him. Sure, he was usually the monosyllabic one, but at least they could usually keep a banter going. This was just wrong. "You really should meet him."
"Huh?" Rory was thrown off by the sudden subject change.
"My roommate, Rob. He's a geek, but he likes music, too. Reminds me of Dave a little." Jess fully stopped, thinking of where this conversation could lead. Dave meant prom, which lead to questions. They weren't ready yet, they needed a minute more on the surface.
"Hmm," Rory lightly responded, acknowledging Jess's silent wish. For once, though, he needed to dig deeper. Their conversation was feeling coded and it was now or never.
"I'm sorry," he said in almost a whisper. It sounded foreign on his lips.
"Did you ever wonder why it didn't work?" Rory asked in a similar voice. "I think we both had too much baggage. Mostly me, with the town. They drive me crazy, following my every move. Things are better when you get away."
"Rory," Jess said harshly, standing up now. "You know we're never going to work. I love you, you know that? But it's just not going to happen."
He watched as a tear rolled down her face. He cupped her face lightly, kneeling in front of her, wishing he could take back what he's just said.
"Your wrong," she backed away from him. "I love you, too, but life takes effort."
"I'm not Dean. You can't fold me up and adjust me to your schedule. I don't suddenly appear just to be jealous 'cause some guy breathed on you, or to suck up to your mom."
"I never asked you to! I asked you to try and be civil to my mom so you wouldn't end up dead. Sure I was a little mad when you never called me, but I never told you and I just got over it. I lied to my mom about going to a concert with you. And you ran away. But not before getting in a fight with my ex-boyfriend 'cause I looked upset at a party. Sure, that was his fault, but it was still frustrating."
"But - " Jess began.
"Shut the hell up!" Rory commanded, and Jess listened for once. "I know the fight was my fault because I'm stupid and…"
She started crying again, this time slightly louder. Jess moved forward to hug her. She pulled away again, taking his pity feeling away and making him mad.
"You know, this sad thing is starting to wear off. You said this whole damn thing was my fault, then you go around talking about how stupid you are for causing it to happen. Your just a spoiler rich brat and that's all you'll ever be."
"I need a drink," Rory said, standing wobbly on her half-asleep legs. She waited for him to chase after her, but he didn't. He didn't some at all.
