Disclaimer: If I had any rights to the show lets just say a certain character cough cough Dean cough cough would have left a long time ago and our beloved Jess would still be here. Sadly, the reality is I own nothing, I have no rights – they all belong to ASP, whom I'm praying will one day in the near future resurrect the Lit story.

And I want everyone who hasn't yet to go and rent "Winter Break"... Milo + shirtless worth the money for rental fees : )

A/N: This chapter switches from first to third person but you'll know what part it is. Jess maybe a lil OOC as is Rory but I think it was needed to make this chapter work. Thanks and Enjoy!

Twenty minutes earlier….

For all her faults, my mother is one of the most intelligent people I know. A trip to Luke's for some pancakes was definitely an inspired idea. Note to self: thank her later.

The feeling of the sun light beating against my face was equivalent to the best wake up call I could ever had. It was a new day – time to start fresh. Well not exactly a new day but it was time for a new beginning. Hence the outfit, the make-up, the hair; All signify the beginning of the new me.

I forgot how much I missed doing this – being home – and just walking around town. It's amazing how things that didn't seem to matter before now make all the difference. I stopped in front of Gypsy's. She was busy with her head in the hood of Tom's truck… she wouldn't even know I was there.

Just for a second I wanted to relive that moment… that night... that kiss… everything about that night was incredible. I was just standing there with my hands shoved in the front pockets of my jeans when I heard someone calling my name.

"Rory," the accented, raspy voice called, "is there something I could help you with?"

"I'm sorry Gypsy," I said as I adjusted the weight between my feet, "I was just thinking."

"About?"

"Nothing," I said shaking my head, "Good luck with Tom's truck." I said as I turned on my heel to walk away.

"You look good Rory," I heard her yell to me as I headed to the diner.

I really hate to admit this but I kind of liked the attention and it definitely had served its purpose. The townsfolk were focused on me and I was focused on me… I wasn't even thinking about Jess. Well except for my stop at Gypsy's to relive that night but other than that… complete focus on myself.

Finally I reached the front of the diner, it looked different in the morning with the vast emptiness and the closed blinds and the locked door but full of people and chaos… I wouldn't have it any other way. I reached for the door and walked in. I could feel the stares – it felt like sharp daggers piercing my skin.

Glancing around the diner, I was searching for an open seat. I see Kirk and Lulu at a table in the corner, Babette and Miss Patty whispering in one of the booths, undoubtedly about my appearance today, I'd bet anything on their way out they'd make a comment to me.

I settled on a seat at the counter. I slid carefully into the empty stool and waited for Luke to appear from either the kitchen, the backroom, or from behind the curtain. If I had to take a bet right now, I'd say that he'd come from the kitchen – almost time for the lunch hour rush.

Two points for me.

Luke appeared from the kitchen with his notepad in hand… jotting down a few notes. He started walking the length behind the counter and stopped in front of me. Without looking up he asked, "What can I get for you?"

"The usual."

"Good to hear and that would be," he said as he glanced up then down again. He didn't even recognize me… maybe it was because he hadn't made eye contact yet… I'll give him a minute and maybe he'll catch on.

"How about a cup of coffee and a nice stack of blueberry pancakes?"

"I just had Caesar switch to the lunch menu," he said pointing back to the kitchen and then he finally started to look up at me. "I'd be happy to get you anything off…" He stopped mid-sentence. He knew it was me now. "Rory?"

"Luke."

"Rory?"

"If you really want to do this again it could be arrange but I think we did enough of this Tarzan/Jane exchange for one day."

"Wow!" He said as he did a double take and shook his head. "You look…," he said bracing his hands against the counter. He was at a loss for words. This really wasn't that surprising Luke and compliments don't usually go well together.

"Thanks."

"Going somewhere special?"

"Just around town for the day."

"Do I want to hear about New York?"

"Oh you mean the part where I drove all the way out there and he wasn't there. Yeah tons of fun."

"I'm sorry Ror," he said as he handed me a steaming mug of my favorite beverage.

"It's not your fault," I said as I took a taste of the hot liquid and swallowed hard.

"Maybe Jess had a good reason for not being there."

"Luke, I appreciate what you're trying to do and it means a lot but don't try to make this easy," I explained. Luke was trying so hard… no one wanted to place Jess as the bad guy and I didn't see it that way. Things just weren't meant to be this time. "Jess wasn't there and you know maybe it was a good thing... maybe the timing was just not there."

"You never know," he began as he refilled my mug, "things have a funny way of working out."

What was going on? Why was Luke giving me the same line my mother gave me? What do they know that I don't know? All these questions… no answers. "That's hilarious."

"Why?"

"My mother said the exact same thing to me about an hour ago. It makes me think you two know something that I don't."

"No. No. Why would you think something like that?" He was blushing – stumbling over his words – he was most definitely lying to me. The question was why and about what. Me thinks there lays a conspiracy within the relationship between Luke and my mother.

"No reason," I said as I nodded my head and took another sip of the delectable coffee.

"How about those pancakes you wanted? Blueberry right?" He said as he started towards the kitchen.

"I thought you said you're only serving lunch now," I asked with a raised eyebrow. Something was definitely wrong about this whole situation.

"For you, Rory, anything," he said as he placed his hand near his mouth and yelled to Caesar, "Stack of blueberry pancakes. Pronto."

"Thanks Luke," I said with a smile.

"Anytime," he replied as he braced himself against the counter, "How's your mother?"

"Fine. She was kind of freaked about me taking off without telling her."

"Can you blame her?"

"No," I answered. This was the opening I needed. If I start in on the Jess-angle now maybe I could squeeze something – anything out of Luke. "But I'm surprised that she didn't want to kill Jess after I explained to her everything." A small smirk spread across his face. "Aha!" I yelled and pointed at him.

"What?"

"You are so unbelievably busted. You and my mother know more about this Jess thing then you're leading on."

"No," he said shaking his head.

Light bulb! "Oh my god," I said as I placed my hand over my mouth. "You both know. I know you know. It all makes some sort of weird sense now. My mother with the not freaking out and practically shoving me in this direction and you with the smirk when I said mom didn't want to kill Jess. You both know where he is or at least where he's going."

"Rory, I have no idea where Jess is going and if I knew where he was I would just tell you."

"Yeah sure buddy," I say as I slid off my seat and headed towards the door.

"What about your pancakes?"

"I'll be right back Luke. Promise." I said with a devious smile as I walked out the diner.

"Rory dear," I hear a soft, spoken voice call from behind me. I've been spotted or followed. I turn around and see Miss Patty. Followed. "You look exquisite. Special occasion dear?"

"No Miss Patty," I answer with a smile on my face. I think I maybe blushing. A moment later Babette joined us. No surprise there.

"No offence doll," Babette starts in, "but the getup is a little – what's the word I'm looking for Patty – extreme?"

"Over the top. You know for just for a day in town," Miss Patty corrects her trying to make it sound nicer, "Are you meeting someone special?"

"No."

"We thought you were all dressed up to see Jess, you know he's…" Babette said as she nudged my arm.

"Well," I began before stopping mid-sentence. Back up. Jess? How'd she know about Jess? Better yet who knew about Jess? And New York? And last night? "Wait a second, what do you know about Jess?"

"We thought Luke told you," Miss Patti started in.

"Or even your mother," Babette finished. "They had a huge spat over it a few hours ago. Whole town saw it. Taylor mentioned something about it being the topic at the town meeting Thursday night."

"Why is Taylor having such a cow over my mother and Luke arguing about Jess? It's not the first time it's happened. Then again this is Taylor Doose."

"Yeah," Miss Patty admitted, "but then again if Jess is moving back, then Taylor does have a point. It needs to be discussed."

"After what he did to you," Babette began.

"He went to California to live with his dad," I jumped in to defend him.

"I was talking about the whole I-love-you-drive-by darlin' but if you want to talk about that one we can," Babette deadpanned.

"Hold on!" I yell so I can have a second to process everything. Too much information. Jess. Moving back. This can't be true. No way. "Jess is moving back?"

"We're not exactly one hundred percent clear on all the information," Patty continued.

"But give us an hour and we could have you all the details," Babette offered as a consolation.

"Thanks ladies," I said as I turned and stormed back into Luke's diner. He wasn't in view so I just walked right behind the counter and into the kitchen. "Luke!" I yelled to get his attention. He was helping Caesar make some cold sandwiches.

"What are you doing back here?"

"Oh no, no, no. See I should be asking you the questions." I argued as he escorted me out of the kitchen.

"You are starting to sound like your mother."

"Like it's a bad thing." I pulled my arm from his grasp and turned to face him directly and braced myself to continue this most unusual but necessary scenario.

"It's currently being debated." He responded with his usual sarcastic monotone as he placed a stack of freshly cooked blueberry pancakes in front of me for my convenient disposal. Too bad that I was so not in the mood for a classic stack of blueberry pancakes carefully accented by whip cream and an assortment of blueberries and raspberries, two of the five fruits I consume sporadically.

"Why didn't you tell me about Jess?"

He turned and looked at me as if I were Oedipus and just solved the riddle of the Sphynix. Okay so not the most original analogy I've ever come up with but I'm completely burnt out. "How'd you find out?" I wanted to burst out into a fit of laughter. He had to be joking – please tell me he's joking.

"Come on Luke. This is Stars Hollow."

"Babette?"

"And Miss Patty. I'm also pretty sure Kirk might have said something too but I'm can't be one hundred percent positive," I replied with a severely sarcastic tone laced heavily with anger and frustration.

"Your pancakes are getting cold."

"Why didn't you just tell me Luke?"

"We – I thought that…"

"Wait who's we?"

"You know who we is Rory."

"One of you should have just told me about it."

"Well we – I thought that if you ran into Jess on your own maybe you two could just talk or I don't know. I mean there was always the chance that he would leave before you got here but he didn't and…"

"Wait Jess is here? As in here right now? As in in the diner here?"

Now he just looked like he'd been hit with a shovel. The look of perplexity on his face was just completely overwhelming. "Wait, I thought you said…"

"Babette and Patti mentioned that Jess maybe moving back to Stars Hollow never during the entire exchange of words did they mention Jess being here right exactly now."

"Rory."

"No. Jess is here and you neglected to tell me. After everything we've been thru Luke especially after the verbal barter this morning and you just decided not to tell me. How am I ever supposed to trust you with anything like that again? I thought we were friends. I thought I could count on you especially for something like this. I guess I was wrong." Okay so maybe the last few lines were unnecessary and honestly I do feel really terrible that those sentences actually came out of my mouth with the hostility they had especially directed towards Luke.

"Rory."

"No, it's okay. I get it now. You couldn't even give me the benefit of the doubt and tell me that Jess was even here. No instead you keep it from me in order to what? Protect Jess?"

"I was trying to protect both of you. After everything that has happened, it was better for me – and your mother – not to interfere."

"I don't know what your definition of 'interfere' is but not disclosing information – that's interfering." I stressed the last phrase. "It's not like I didn't tell you this morning how I felt about Jess and still you keep me in the dark. Locked in the back of the closet like a red-headed step child minus the red hair and the closet."

"Now you're being ridiculous Rory." He retorted as I placed my elbows firmly onto the counter and intertwined my hands. "You can accuse me of withholding information but you know that I'm not the guy to interfere in anyone else's business."

"Just please tell me why you kept this from me?" I pleaded as I rested my head into my hands. I'm going to stay like this until I get an answer that satisfies me – that's the least I deserve at this point.

"Because…"

"He didn't think I'd be here when you got back."

This was a joke right? Please just tell me I imagine that entire line and please tell me that it came from Luke.

Not with my luck.

Immediately my focus was redirected towards the curtain at the sound of his voice. I could feel my eyes widen as my brain began processing his image. The blackness of his leather jacket, the way his white tee shirt hugged his torso, his scruffy hair, his hands tucked into the front pockets of his jeans, his lips…

I could feel my body start to tremble from a serious of electrifying tremors that overwhelmed my very essence. My breathing – almost nonexistent at this point – was extremely restricted. My heart was racing faster than ever before. Put it this way, if my heart could grow legs and be in the Olympics – it would take home the gold.

I feel like I'm glued to the stool and I can't move any part of my body.

I just saw him last night but it was like I hadn't seen him in years. My reaction right exactly now would be expected if I saw him like five from now. Not at this moment – this very moment.

I should have just stayed behind that curtain and let her leave – angry at Luke for neglecting to tell her I was even in Stars Hallow – but the poor guy has put up enough today to last him a year.

Safe.

I was safe – hidden in the shadows – away from the light – away from her radiating light – I was safe. My heart wouldn't have the chance to be shattered into a million more pieces – but from what I over heard of the exchange, which was almost everything after 'your pancakes are getting cold', that wasn't the case.

To say she was surprised to see me would be an understatement. She was – is – what's the word I'm looking for bemused? Taken back? Scandalized? She was scandalized.

I couldn't blame her – me being here is definitely not what she expected – but its not like… it wasn't like…. oh just forget it. I'm too fucking tired to think of anymore cliché movie references. I could use a shot of vodka right about now or a hole in my head – either one at this point.

"I – I – I can't believe you're here," Rory finally managed to spit out after spending a few moments stammering over her words. She tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear and bit the bottom of her lip as she stared at Jess.

"I was on my way out now," Jess admitted. He was uncomfortable. He shifted his weight back and forth between his feet as he kept his hands tucked in the front pockets of his jeans. His focus shifted between Rory and the floor.

"Now?" He nodded to affirm the answer she already knew. "But you just got here – I just got here – we could…"

"Let's just leave things the way they were Ror."

"Will you at least stay for five minutes and talk to me?"

"I think I've heard all I needed to hear from you."

"Jess, just listen to her – it's the least you could do for the girl before you take off again," Luke insisted as he tried desperately to keep his role as peacekeeper. As much as Luke was emotionally unavailable for certain things, he genuinely wanted things to work out between Rory and Jess.

"Fine," he agreed hesitantly as he walked towards the door to the diner and swung it open. "Ready?" Rory nodded her head and slid off her stool. She picked a lone blueberry off her stack of pancakes, smiled at Luke, and exited the diner as Jess followed close behind.

They walked side by side in a deafening silence until the reached the front of Stars Hallow High School and they stopped simultaneously – each letting out a long drawn out sigh. They just stood and stared at the façade – waiting and hoping the other would have the courage to speak first.

"It's ironic isn't it?" Jess began after a few moments and Rory just turned to him. "Standing here at the place where I first started to fuck up my life." He took his finger and scratched a spot just above his right ear. "Funny how I get to end things – the right way – at the very same place."

"Things didn't have to end the way they did – I think you know that now."

"Doesn't change things though," he said as he scrapped his sneaker across the broken pieces of tar, "you're still ivy league and all I have is a piece of paper that isn't even close to equivalent to that fancy Chilton diploma of yours."

"You got your GED?"

"Yeah," he deadpanned. "Turns out you can't really do much with out one of those."

"You did good."

"I did it for you." She turned to him as a look of confusion flooded her face. "To prove to you that I could be the guy you thought I was."

"You never had to prove anything to me. You are who you are. The rebel. The bad boy who loves books. The guy who paid ninety bucks to have a lousy picnic lunch with me while I was still with my current boyfriend."

"Holding a grudge?"

"More like holding onto those memories," she paused for a moment as she contemplated whether or not to say what she wanted to next, "…and not wanting to let go."

"We can't get that back Ror – we're on completely different paths."

"That's not what you were saying to me last night – in fact I think you said something about knowing we were meant to be when you first met me two years ago."

"Oh that."

"Yeah that – did you mean it Jess or we're you just trying to get me to leave with you?" He didn't answer. Instead, he shuffled his boot against the broken tar. "I'll take that as a yes you did mean it."

"I didn't..."

"I felt it too." He took his focus off the ground and looked straight into her eyes. He knew deep down that she felt it – that she knew it too. But hearing her actually say those words – it threw him. The high he was feeling at that very moment – better than any illegal narcotic could ever give him. He was sure of it. "It took me longer to realize and longer to accept but I knew it. I always knew it."

"Rory don't do this – not now." As high as he felt on the inside, he knew that this could never work the way he wanted it to. Rory had Yale and her ivy league dreams – he loved her dreams and her determination to reach them – but all he had was a life that could offer her no guarantees except him.

"Last night you asked me to come live with you in New York – I can't live with you in New York and from the information I've acquired you no longer live in New York – so that proposal pretty much nonexistent right now."

"Good point."

"I thought so." She replied with a smile. He smiled back. "You also said that you wanted to be with me – I was wondering…."

"Yes."

"Good because I…"

"Rory, last night changed things between us. You refusing to come with me forced me to put a lot of things into perspective."

"I don't think you're getting this."

"I got it Rory – we can't be together – you don't want to be with me."

"That's not…" She tried to refute as tears began to build up in the corner of her eyes.

"The truth is I'm not sure I want to be with you anymore."

"So that's it?" She argued as the tears began to cascade down her cheeks. "You don't even want to know what I have to say to you or what I'm feeling or how about the fact that I drove all the way to New York last night to see you or that I changed my mind but I guess you don't have the time to listen to anything I have to say."

"You came to New York last night?" He responded trying to act shocked.

"Yeah." She replied in an angry huff as she crossed her arms across her chest.

"Why?"

"Don't act too surprised – you know I'd do anything for you," she argued as she wiped her tear stained cheeks. "Besides Luke told you."

"He may have mentioned your name in association with the idea of traveling to New York but it was a slip of the tongue. He tried to cover – didn't work well – and you know me with my suspicions."

"All to well."

"Mean."

"You had it coming."

"Touché."

"Bet your ass touché."

Jess did a double take. He no longer recognized Rory. "Wait a second here." Yes. She was always sarcastic and was right on with the right clichés at just the right time but never that bold when it came to him. "Who are you? What have you done with Rory Gilmore?"

"Still same old me with a new outlook on life plus bonus kick ass new wardrobe complete with accessories and the attitude to match."

"I'm feeling the Sarah Michelle vibe. You'll hear no complaints on this end but when did you become such a punk?"

"I learn from the best."

"Agreed."

They both laughed for a moment before stopping – exchanging glances – wondering if it was okay – appropriate – for them to be laughing – together – like this. An awkward overdrawn silence settled over them as they stood there. Neither knowing how to resuscitate the conversation.

Rory knew that there were so many things that she wanted to discuss – so many things she wanted to say. She wanted to tell him everything about the night before from the moment he left her dorm to this very moment. Then she began to rationalize and fear set in. The fear she thought she conquered had once again settled into her soul preventing her from saying everything she really wanted to say.

After a few deep breaths, she regained the nerve to at least start to explain herself. "I wanted to tell you I changed my mind. By the time I got there, it was too late."

"The thing about being too late is there is no such thing. Especially when you get the opportunity to say all the things you've been meaning to say."

"Romantic and poetic? How did I manage to miss that?"

"Won't be repeated."

"Not expecting it to be. Though it would be…"

"Okay maybe once in a while." He smirked.

They just stood there – together – and exchange the warmest smiles and the most fulfilling laughter but the tension was still there. If you minus the scene from last night and the 'drive-by-I-love-you' as Babette so eloquently described it, things between Rory and Jess were exactly the same.

Although, their conversations used to be carried by a heavy debate about books or watching "Almost Famous" for the third night in a row or whether to order Chinese or Indian take out. It was amazing that even under these type of circumstances they were able to go back to a place – to that place – where above all else they were friends… where they were equals.

There was an empty bench next to the cluster of trees to the left of the building. Jess started in that direction and Rory hesitantly followed his lead, not sure of exactly what was going to happen next. They each adjusted themselves so they were sitting comfortably; well as comfortable as humanly possible considering they were sitting on a concrete block.

Jess sat rubbing his hands together between his knees with his feet planted firmly against the tar. Rory sat next to him with one leg crossed under her and allowed the other to sway freely. Everything around them became so still they could hear the faint breeze around them.

"We had some really good times," Jess recalled as he broke the silence.

"The best."

"Do you remember the Distiller's concert we went to?"

"Vividly," she breathed out heavily, "I mostly remember the whole not hearing right for the next three days and the angry message I left on your answering machine before hand, which I told you to delete."

"Yeah something like that."

"You listened?"

"Couldn't help it."

"I'm sorry about that. Were you mad? If I were you I'd be mad and you'd have every right to be mad?"

"Don't you ever apologize for that night." He looked straight into her eyes, the way he always did when he had something important to tell her. "You made me realize that what I already knew… you deserved – deserve – so much more and much better than I could ever give you. I was an asshole. That message was a long time coming."

"You really were," she agreed and to which he responded with a disappointed look in his eyes, "sometimes anyway." She smiled and he flashed back his devilish smirk. "We went through a rough patch."

"We could have saved time jumping off a bridge. Much quicker."

"Pavement or water?"

"Pavement. Swan dive."

"Could work unless there are high winds in which case your body could be carried and wrenched then you could just break a few bones – then the whole much quicker thing – not so much."

"Noted."

Their verbal exchange came to a halt. Really where were they supposed to go with a conversation that consisted of such a somber tone. Though both had to agree, that a hypothetical swan dive could have saved them both a whole lot of heartache.

The silence was slowly eating away at both of them. However, neither knew how to restart the conversation. Fortunately, the incessant growling in Rory's stomach was the segue she had subconsciously begged for.

"Food."

"Excuse me?"

"I need food – the whole being up all night and not eating thing – so not me."

"I remember. I did serve you at Luke's every now and again." He chuckled.

"Right." Rory replied as she tucked her hair behind her ear.

"You want to get some lunch?"

"Luke's?"

"I was thinking somewhere outside of Stars Hallow."

"Really? Where? Do they serve coffee?" Rory asked in one breathe… too excited about going elsewhere for food with Jess. The norm for them consisted of ordering take-out or eating at Luke's – they never really went out to eat – and anywhere outside of Stars Hallow was never fathomed.

"Yes. Not telling. Most likely." He teased as he stood up from the concrete bench.

"Mean." She argued as she took his lead and did the same.

"Coming?" He motioned with his head.

"Dirty."

"Rory."

"I had to – you left it wide open," she defended. Jess shook his head and started to head away from the building. She hurried and when she was in front of him called out, "Already half way between here and there – wherever there is."

"The car might be a good place to start."

"Point taken."

"We really have to come up with some new lines."

"Agreed." She answered with a smile.

Why did you do this to yourself? Seriously Mariano, what the fuck where you thinking? You know she's just going to say how she wishes things could be different but her career takes precedent over you. Just a bunch of bullshit excuses because she is scared. But you already knew that you moron.

Why did you set yourself up for failure?

I know why I did. I always know why I do the things I do. There is only ever one reason – she's my weakness. She scares me more than I could ever imagine. Being without her scares me more than I ever thought possible.

Get that mushy love shit out of your head. This is not you Mariano. Never was. Never will be.

What ever happened to come, eat, and leave? Okay this will never be repeated out loud but even I know that deserves a classic 'dirty' tag. The relationship thing was never my forte but I never had to deal with being in – you know – that 'L' word before. So all of this is new for me.

I almost wish that I could take everything that just happened back. Then I wouldn't have to deal with the disappointment later. Disappointment was inevitable for one of us. It would probably be me. Good thing I've prepared myself for it. Who am I kidding? I'd be pissed as hell if she broke my heart for the second time in 24 hours. That's got to be some kind of record. Leave it to Rory to break it. She would always be a record breaker - no matter what she did.

Finally we reached my piece of shit I like to call a car. She just looked at it. What the hell was she doing? An inspection? "Are you going to at some point get in the car or are you just planning to stare at it?"

"That's a new dent," she said as she pointed to the front left fender.

"Freak." I mean it in the best way possible. I swear I do. Remembering what I looked like is one thing but remembering dents in my car is another. She's a freak but I love her.

"And proud of it." See she's not even trying to deny it. She takes the title with pride and grace. "I'm just saying the dent is new. Bigger than the other dents. What happened?"

"The car had it coming."

"Which car?"

"This car. It was just sitting in the parking garage with its two toned paint job and the rust - something had to be done to set it straight."

"You punished your car for being the way it was when you bought it?"

"Pretty much."

"Poor Roxi."

Who the? What the? "Roxi?"

"The car."

"You named my car?"

"Everyone names their car. Rusty would have been more appropriate but from my understanding cars are given a female name."

"You named my car?"

"Repetitious today aren't we?" She said as she opened that passenger side door and climbed in. I smiled and shook my head as I tried to find the keys in the pockets of my jacket. I opened the car door and climbed in. I watched as she pulled the seat belt over her shoulder and clipped it into place. "What?" she asked innocently.

I placed the key in the ignition and started the car. "I can't believe you named my car."

"Well believe it because your car needed a name. It needed to feel loved. Can you feel the..."

"Stop it."

"...love..."

"Stop."

"...tonight..."

"Just put on the radio."

"I don't wanna."

"Then put in a cd."

"Roxi can play cd's?"

"Yes." I saved up enough money to put a cd compatible stereo in the car. It bought it from that guy in the record store I took Rory to in New York for $75. "And I beg you stop with the Roxi."

"It's okay Roxi," she began as she patted the dashboard, "Jess just isn't used to your name yet. He'll come around. But don't..."

She kept talking but I wasn't listening to the words just the sound of her voice. It was nice to have her in the car again. It was nice that we were going out again. This is the way I should remember us. This is the way I want to remember us.