CHAPTER 4 - A RECKONING - PT1

A/N - TRIGGER WARNING THIS CHAPTER - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DEPICTED

But first, Finn….

It was so great catching up with Puck today and having someone to talk about all this with - well, other than Kurt. Kurt's too excitable sometimes, and maybe too close to the situation, but he's good for feeling out the Rachel side of things - those two really are alike. Blaine's a good guy and I know he'd listen, but he and I have a bit of a competitive relationship going back to Glee club, and he doesn't know my history with Rachel the same way Kurt & Puck do.

I'm counting on her to remember our history - the good parts at least - and hopefully she'll try to let me back in a little. I know I don't deserve it yet, but I can't make any progress with her if she doesn't meet me at least part way. Although, she really seemed happy to meet me ALL the way the other night…

GOD it felt so good to have her in my arms again… in my bed. I knew I missed her, I just didn't know how much my heart could explode without actually killing me. And she remembered everything about us too, responded exactly the same to my touch, gave me all the same cues, led me where she wanted me to go - and I'd follow blindly through FIRE every time. It's almost like we were never apart. Just the FEELING of her falling apart under my touch, knowing I still have that affect on her… If I could somehow bottle that feeling, and 'plug in' to like, the Matrix or something, I think that's where I'd stay until I died. Watching her beautiful body move under mine, feeling all of her wrapped around all of me and coming undone… Ok I need to stop thinking about that NOW because I already need to do laundry and I think this is my last clean pair of boxers. Still, it's amazing to me despite all this time apart, this aspect of us is unchanged. Our love making was never the problem though. I think the reason we're so great in that respect is that we both loved each other SO deeply.. So maybe if the sex is unchanged after all this time, maybe Kurt's right? Maybe she's not done loving me yet?

Either way.. I still know it was a mistake and I DO feel guilty - as good as it felt, there's still a price to pay.

For one thing, she's not really my Rach anymore. She's in a relationship with another dude, no matter what a royal DIRTBAG he might be, she's still made a commitment to him. And I know her, or at least I know how she USED to be about her integrity. The kissing Puck thing aside, she's always done her best to be honest and faithful and maintain her self respect. She's probably going completely mental over this thing with me right now, just the cheating thing alone has to be making her spin out. In the past she'd have turned to Kurt to talk it out, but now..? Seems to me like she's doing what a lot of people do in toxic relationships - she's isolating herself. Saves the embarrassment of answering questions and such. I know none of the Glee girls have been in touch with her because from what Kurt said only he & Blaine are even willing to attend this fiasco of a wedding - if that even happens (and it won't, if I get this right). So I don't know if she has anyone to talk to, or if she'd even want to talk to anyone about any of this stuff. It might mean getting too close to the core problem - the soon-to-be-dead-guy she's shacking up with. The one who didn't earn her, doesn't deserve her, has NO respect for her, and also clearly has NO CLUE what it takes to make her happy. Why the hell is she even with this douche? And the fact that he's hurting her.. Well. Let's see how he handles ME if it happens again and I'm around to find out. I won't need a wingman either, but he might.

But maybe the bigger price to pay is my own. I just want MORE of her now. Once isn't enough. It was me being selfish again, just like before. Dammit I gotta stop doing that when it comes to her. I try so hard to put her and her needs first and it blows up in my face every single time. She always thought I was being chivalrous but after all this time to look back, I think I was being territorial and selfish. I think I'm always gonna be selfish about her. If I could just take her to a private island where it's just me and her forever, I'd die a happy man. But then the world would miss out on her light that SHOULD be shared, and she'd miss out on her opportunity to let it shine. That is, if I can restart the pilot light that I apparently blew out.

She might still be working in theater right now, but after this length of time I thought she'd already be on Broadway. And she really SHOULD have been by now, which tells me she's been holding back. Or lost her passion. She's not giving this everything she's got like she planned to do, like I've SEEN her do before. She was supposed to be focusing on her dreams without me… but I think I already figured out, she WAS focusing on her dreams, just not the Broadway one. Maybe if I explain that to her, that I get it now, would that be a step in the right direction? Would it repair anything between us? Or will she just hate me more for being too stupid to figure it out AFTER I crushed her like a bug. Again.

How did I ever let this happen to her? Maybe I earned her once, maybe even could earn her again.. But in the end do I deserve her? I guess I'm gonna have to let HER decide this time. Maybe if I had from the start we wouldn't be here in this mess right now.

I just know I NEVER again want to see her behaving the way she was when she first saw me the other night… Fuck how I hated having to pin her down like that. It seemed immoral, unnatural. But nothing was natural for her to lash out like that, no matter how bad we ever fought in the past.. I really didn't think she had that side to her. Or COULD have that side to her. Assaulting Kurt? But I guess, add broken hearts and dreams to despair and mix it with a LOSER abuser boyfriend and THIS is the result.

Hopefully dinner tonight will go well. I'm dying to see her again, I can't lie, but I need to tell her these things I've figured out, about myself, and about us - if she's willing to hear it. I hope she is.

. . . . . gleegleeglee * * * * *

Rachel's morning after…

Finally plopping down in the seat of the subway car, Rachel has time to think on the way to the theater. She is completely stressed out. She's running late for her afternoon play rehearsals - not that it matters because she's pretty sure she can't remember a goddamn line from it right now. She already missed morning yoga.

And now she's a lying cheater.

If she had a best friend or boyfriend or ANY friend to talk to, maybe she wouldn't feel the way she does; she could at least vent, and maybe get some advice in return. But how would that possibly work now? Considering her best friend set her up with her EX boyfriend - who was also her other EX best friend, and she can't speak to her current boyfriend because the stress is over cheating on HIM with her EX!

Oooh Rachel you've made quite the fucking mess of your own life now, haven't you? No, wait a minute.. FINN HUDSON has made quite the mess of MY life! WHY did he have to come back now? I was perfectly fine until… until… {{SIGH}} until he stuck me on that goddamn train. Shit. Nothing has been the same without him. But he didn't want me. He didn't even love me enough to stay in my life, not even as a friend, right? What gives him the right to decide he can just come and go like I have NO feelings? Revolving door of Rachel, step right on through!

Feelings… those were some kind of feelings last night. I don't know why I did that. Why does he still know my body so well? How could he remember all the right things to do, the right ways to touch me… no, no, no. HE LEFT ME. He abandoned me the exact same way my mother did! At least I never knew Shelby growing up and didn't know what I was actually missing, which was probably easier than what HE did. To just disappear… no contact for six years... We were supposed to be married! Is that the kind of husband he would have become? Hot & cold? So now am I supposed to just, what, forgive and forget because he's back and says 'I'm sorry'? Well he damn well SHOULD be sorry.. But I don't know if sorry is enough this time.

But I missed him so much. And he did apologize, over and over. He sounded sincere. And he cried. Finn almost never cries but when he does it's usually over me. I missed him… I miss him still. But I just don't think I TRUST HIM. How can I? He treats my heart like a doormat. And anyway, I have Brody. I'm marrying Brody. Brody loves me, worships me, makes me feel like… like. Not the way Finn did. Does? SHIT!

I'm supposed to be marrying Brody, yet I can't even imagine having kids with him in the future, not the way things are now… maybe never. But Finn, he would be a wonderful father, I'm certain of it. I get mad at Finn for doing HORRIBLE things to me, toying with my emotions time and again, leaving me over and over.. Yet the idea of Finn and I having anywhere NEAR the kinds of fights I have with Brody are just unthinkable. And Finn would NEVER throw anything at me in anger, or push me, or raise his hand to me - he'd sooner cut it off... Like he cut me off, and out of his life? Damn you Finn! Damn you for ever walking away.. AND for coming back... This shouldn't be happening!

Why can't I just get over him already? High school was forever ago, we were stupid kids with a stupid idea about a connection and… And yeah. He's still tied to my heart. Whatever is left of my heart, anyway. I know it's still his, and why shouldn't it be when he's still got all the other pieces? I wonder if he feels that way about me? That connection we can't seem to break… I've tried so hard to get over this, but Brody will never be Finn. I think he knows it too. Maybe that's why we argue so much? I keep expecting Brody to be something - someone - he can never be. And now the thing I've always wanted the most, the PERSON, MY person is back. And I'm still so mad, so hurt by him.. I can fight this all I want, but I don't think I have the strength. Not while he's within my reach. Maybe that's the entire point… I should just stay away from Finn Hudson. Like he stayed away from me. I should…

:: BUZZ BUZZ ::

New text message from… oh OF COURSE it is!

FH :: Hey you, it's me.. Will you call me please? Can we talk? ::

OK Berry. What's your next move? He's not gonna stop. Why the hell did I let him have my number? Oh yeah, so I could get HIS number. UUUGGHH! I'm so hopeless.

RB :: Hey. It's me. Friday 7pm, meet me at 'Vegan on The Fly' ::

FH :: Sounds great. See you then. ::

When will I ever learn?

. . . . . gleegleeglee * * * * *

[TRIGGER WARNING NEXT 2 PARAGRAPHS]

Once at the theater, the director literally had a meltdown on her for being late. She apologized, explained she had a family emergency with her dads and promised it won't happen again. It's the second time in two months she'd used this excuse.

The last time she used it was after the night Brody came home at 4am, liquored up and full of drugs. He'd try to wake her for sex that she didn't want because of the state he was in. The verbal dispute quickly turned to a shouting match and then a literal cat and mouse chase in the apartment as objects were thrown at each other. He'd landed a heavy brass candlestick to her shoulder blade. She'd lobbed a 5 pound glass paperweight to the side of his head, then a kick to his groin when he fell, and finally she spat in his face for good measure. After a few minutes when he'd recovered, he'd grabbed her by the hair and produced a bloody nose by swinging her face first into the wall, and punched her in the ribs while she was still stuck to it. Once she'd fallen to the ground he'd kicked her in the back for good measure and told her HE deserved better, and that he'd get a better piece of ass in any nightclub in the city. She'd had trouble breathing from the pain and thought maybe she had a cracked rib; of course, she couldn't go to the hospital, it would look too suspicious. So she locked herself away for three days to recover, until she could manage to take a deep enough breath to sing with.

The day after that episode she'd considered leaving him, breaking the engagement and moving in with Kurt. She knew Kurt would take her in.. except, with Kurt comes another set of concerns - namely, Finn. She always worried she'd impede his relationship with his brother if she were living there. And what if Finn wanted to visit? She'd have to stay in a hotel or something. It was added stress for her to think about and honestly, a weak excuse for staying.

Truth was she was afraid to be alone. Being alone meant time to think. Time for the heart to open itself to the hurt of the memories that she tried so hard to think away and drink away. Time for her mind to spin on a loop replaying every moment from sophomore year to the train station night after night, as she fell asleep to the good memories and awoke screaming to the bad ones that haunted her dreams.

At least Brody served one purpose well: a distraction. Dealing with the violence in their relationship was the best distraction of all. She didn't feel anymore pain over the loss of Finn after a few months of living in this new world of hers with Brody. She was no longer consumed in thought all day, never found herself daydreaming about him, or crying about him, and after a while she stopped seeing him and reminders of him everywhere she went. At least, not all the time. Brody was good for her, she told herself. Brody was at least HERE. And wanted to be here, and wanted to be with her. And the night terrors stopped.

Now she's sitting alone on the empty stage during a 20 minute break wondering, what does it mean now that Finn is also here? Are the nightmares going to return? Can Brody still serve his purpose and be the distraction she needs? Is Finn going to accept that this is the life she chose after he left her behind? What will happen to her when Finn leaves again? She's especially worried about that now that she'd screwed up and slept with him again. Seriously? After six years of neglect, and within just 40 minutes they're right back at it? She sorta felt that inevitability the moment their eyes locked when he first appeared in that hallway. That connection, that stupid tether or whatever it was… just like a monster truck pull, that chain yanked her heart up against her chest wall and right toward him. Why the hell does he still have this affect on her after all this time?

The memories of the night before are causing her temperature to rise and a blush across her cheeks. Her body still feels the tingles of the places where his fingers - and his tongue - danced, especially the most intimate ones; the places Brody still can't figure out after all this time. It could never be with Brody the way it is with Finn. She and Finn learned together, they had complete mutual trust and taught each other, they drew their map together. That's why he still has this affect on her. And she knows it.

And because she still loves him. That much has never changed.

"Hey love, whatcha doin' sitting out here all alone? No snacks today?" The kindly sweet redhead knelt down and flopped on the floor next to Rachel.

"Hey Mags.. n-no, I'm just a little.. Tired I think. I didn't sleep well," she replies with what is really a half truth - she actually slept better than she'd had in ages - once she finally fell asleep that is. It's just the very late hour when that sleeping started which was the problem. And the frenzied awakening that followed… and the panties in her purse.

"Well ya looked pretty deep in thought there, doll. I was a little nervous to botha ya. Everything okay? It's not like you to turn up so late and be this… "

"Distracted?" Rachel finished her statement with a weary smile.

"Yeah. You seem a little sad too hun. Wanna tell Mags about it? Y'know I gots a great ear for this kinda thing! And my mouth is like a lock box! A bank vault even, you can make a deposit and it'll never come out again!"

Rachel giggled at her… friend? Yeah, she thinks Maggie Brennan qualifies as a friend. Certainly she's more than an acquaintance, but it's not like they dive deep into exchanging personal issues - at least Rachel doesn't usually disclose much to her. She's worked with Maggie before on other plays, and considers her the very best in the business at handling her hair and makeup. And being 25 years older than Rachel, Maggie should certainly have some perspective and life experience to draw from.

So if Maggie trusts her enough to share her personal business with Rachel, maybe Rachel can confide this one little thing in Maggie. She could certainly use the opinion of someone OUTSIDE her own head, and any advice right now would be welcome, even if Rachel has to weather her thick Brooklyn accent to hear it.

"Well, can I tell you something and you promise not to speak of it to anyone, ever?"

"OOO, sounds juicy! You betcha kiddo, my lips are sealed! Now spill the T!"

"Ok. Before I came to New York, I had a very serious long time boyfriend. We were engaged by high school graduation, actually."

"Oh my gawd hun! So young, but soo romantic! Oh, I'm sorry sweetie, keep goin'!"

"Yes, well.. Things got complicated, and well. Obviously it ended. Pretty - no, REALLY - badly. And then of course I met Brody, and of course we're now engaged…"

"Well hun that's so sad, what coulda possibly made any fella walk away from you? I mean I dunno why yous split up, but.."

"Well yes that's just it. He.. it's complicated like I said. The point to this is, I haven't heard a WORD from him in six years. That is, until–"

Maggie gasps "Until yesterday? OH MY GOODNESS cookie! The true love from high school has returned? Is he tryna sweep you off ya feet?"

Rachel nods hesitantly. "Ahh.. well I'm really not sure what he's trying to do, but I think, the way things usually end up between us, it might swing in that direction. There's a definite possibility anyway. Maybe even a high probability."

"Ok, so whatsa matta, you don't love him anymore? You love Brody more than the otha guy?"

"No. No I definitely.." she blows out an exasperated breath "LOVE isn't the issue in this situation Mags. TRUST is. So I guess, what would you do? If you loved someone, I mean, seriously epically loved someone who you couldn't trust or feel like you could depend on, would you be willing to give them another try?"

"Oh dolly. That's a tough one, and I don't think ya gave me enough to go on.. See, I think it mattas WHY the trust was broken, and if that reason is fixable or, if yous are willin' to go on faith. Y'know, take a chance. You say it's years since yous seen each otha? Then who knows, maybe things are betta now? Maybe he's grown up and is more ready to commit and settle down. Like I said, ya didn't give me all the T on this, so there's only so much I can say.. But what about Brody, ya love him right.. Do ya trust him?"

"I'm engaged to Brody. Of course I love him," just not the way I should if I really intend to marry him.. And not the way I love Finn.

"But do ya TRUST him more than the otha fella?" Shit.

She really didn't think she trusted him at all. At least not to actually take care of her in any capacity other than sex. And she can get sex from… "Thanks Mags. I see the director coming, I think breaks over…"

"Oh sure doll, listen you call me anytime I'm happy to listen! You gots my numba too, so USE IT kiddo, and I mean it, don't be a stranger! By the way.. Can I aks-ya, what's your otha fella's name?"

"Finn… why?"

"Oh no reason pumpkin. I just think it's nice to have a name fur'im instead'a callin' him 'the otha fella'.. for when we talk again." She smiles and winks then pops up and off into the wings of the stage.

Well that was certainly enlightening.

. . . . . gleegleeglee * * * * *

2 days later at Vegan on The Fly…

Finn got to the restaurant last and found Rachel sitting on a bench outside waiting and looking through her cell phone. It felt very awkward initially; how do you greet someone under these particular circumstances? Your ex-fiancée, whom you've just slept with has cheated on her current fiancé with you, but you haven't had any contact with her in 6 years, except the cheating hate sex. And one text message. Does Martha Stewart or Ree Drummond have anything on the proper etiquette for a greeting in this situation?

He goes with "Hey."

She looks up, having started to smile brightly, but quickly tempered it. He's pretty sure she's trying NOT to look happy to see him, but she actually IS…?

"Hey. Any trouble finding the place? I'm sure you're not very familiar with this side of town."

He rubs his hand across the back of his neck. "No trouble at all. Hope I didn't keep you waiting long."

She's just finished flipping through her phone and replies without looking up. "Not at all. Maybe 5 minutes. You're fine."

He clears his throat nervously, "Um, are we ready to go in? You hungry?"

"Sure. You look nice by the way.. Kurt?" she nods toward his clothes and stretches a broad grin that doesn't quite reach her eyes.

He begins to feel the warm blush rising up from his neck, one, because she complimented him, and two, because it took Kurt's help to earn it. "Of course. Who else?" They share an awkward laugh.

"You look great too, by the way. But then, you always do."

She smiles at his compliment but he hopes he's not overstepping.

. . . . .

The meal progresses with relative civility. Finn decides maybe the best way to get back in her good graces - or any grace - is to break bread. He certainly doesn't want to introduce any controversial conversation in this public place, especially because the food here is great and he may want to be allowed to come back sometime.

"How's your broccoli tofu thing, there?" he asks to make conversation.

"Really good. And yes, it came with water chestnuts, I saw you looking - go ahead, take them." She giggles. "But I want your–"

"–bean sprouts in trade. Yeah, don't worry Rach they're all yours. Please, get rid of them."

Old habits… like riding a bike. This is good, he thinks. "So how was rehearsal today?"

"Better than the other day… good though. How was your day? Are you.. Are you making this a more permanent visit, or…"

"I was checking around for a job. Think I'm gonna take the bartending gig I was offered for right now, since yeah, I will be staying, indefinitely maybe. And absolutely NO WAY is Kurt giving me an allowance."

She giggles loudly "I can't blame you there."

"It's so good to hear you laugh. Gotta admit, I was a little worried I might not see that smile again."

"I still smile. And laugh. When there's a reason."

He nods in understanding and decides to tread lightly. Navigate the landmines. He smiles warmly at her.

She can't help looking into his beautiful amber eyes and feeling the resurgence of old feelings. Something inside her knows this is still Finn - her Finn. The boy she fell in love with all those years ago when they were still just kids - those are HIS eyes smiling at her. After so many hard fought emotional battles, and so many years spent learning from and leaning on each other, he was the true keeper of her heart, in all it's shattered glory. She'd survived so many pitfalls to win the prize - 'Babygate', Santana, his own indecisiveness, her own foolish impulsiveness. No Cheerio would win his heart; that prize was hers to claim. And she had it once. He'd given it to her as willingly as she'd given hers to him - it just took him a little longer to catch up to her. She tries hard to resist prolonged eye contact.

They enjoy the rest of their meal with banal topics and light casual small talk. Finn snatches the bill away from her and pays. As they walk outside together she invites him to go for a walk through the park.

. . . . .

"I'm so glad you agreed to talk to me, Rach… Oh I'm sorry, can I call you that or is it still off limits?"

She half laughs at him and lightly punches his arm. "You know, you are still the only person to ever call me that. I guess that's why I didn't want to hear it.. It hurt too much. It's always felt like your term of endearment for me. I didn't want that memory tainted."

"And now..?"

"Now... I know I'll always be your Rach, and you'll always be my Finny. And those are our memories, and our memories are forever."

Finn's got to try to pry open this can of worms somehow. "So I have to ask, how bad was it when you got home the other day?"

"I handled it." she says without emotion.

He blinks and looks straight ahead. "You lied. So first I made you cheat, and then lie. Ok just keeping a tally here…"

"Wait what? YOU didn't make me do anything. What are you talking about?"

He uses a mocking tone and says "Seriously? I came back. I let Kurt setup that damned dinner party fiasco - and - SHIT, I just realized neither of us ate anything. Well, not any food anyway…"

She gasps and slaps his arm "FINN. You're NOT funny!"

"I'm sorry." He flashes her favorite lopsided grin that she hasn't seen in years, "But I do truly feel 'deplorable and contemptible' about us cheating that night." He says it in such a deadpan way, he's wondering if she'll pick it up.

She does… score!

Her face scrunches up like she's trying to remember why that phrase sounds familiar when it hits her. "How do y– You remembered I said that.. from sophomore year, nearly a decade ago? While you were still hopped up on caffeine pills?"

"Mm-hmm. Just like I remember how sexy you looked in that little button down blue top you were wearing when you said those words that day." he winked at her.

Rachel's stunned. "How.."

"Rach, when will you ever understand that EVERY SINGLE THING about you is memorable to me? Y'know, I don't think you ever completely understood how much you mean to me. Or maybe you didn't believe it? Don't get me wrong – I know I gave you tons of fodder to feed your doubts… Like that 'finding my inner rockstar' spiel being one of the WORST. Or, hey I know, let me break up with you in the middle of the frigging hallway - and then do it AGAIN just for kicks in a Christmas tree lot right before the holidays! What a DICK move! Let's not forget the best one - the whole Santana of it all. Could I have been a bigger ass to you? The kissing booth, junior prom… Geez Rach, why did you ever want to be with me? I was SUCH a catch!" he says sarcastically. He's gotten good at self-deprecation; this is a speech he's actually run through in his head for years now.

He's watching closely to see her reaction and he's positive she's fighting a smirk.

"You weren't ALL bad you know…" she says quietly with a soft smile.

"Really? I dunno about that."

She rolls her eyes at him. "You wrote me a beautiful song, for starters. And last time we were here together in NYC you took me to an amazing dinner at Sardis." she swallowed hard and paused for a moment. Bittersweet memories of 'The Kiss that Missed' seemed to mark the beginning of the end of them.

"You took me to senior prom where we were crowned king & queen. You kissed me after only knowing me for a week, despite dating someone else, and told me how much you liked me."

He interrupts her, "Shit.. I was a cheater back then too! See what I mean?"

She giggles again and his heart flutters with joy. She continues, "You protected me from slushy facials, or cleaned me up if I got one anyway…" her voice drops to a near whisper "You were my only real friend when I didn't have any. You always supported me, even when I didn't believe in myself. You gave me a star necklace and told me I didn't need you or any guy to anchor me, because I was a real star who needed to shine, and even though you couldn't be with me you still believed in me."

"I still mean that," he interjects.

"I still have the necklace," she quickly answers.

She sniffs a laugh, "You also gave me a pig for Christmas once."

"Umm - an African Sow Pig," he corrects. She bursts out laughing through her tears and yells "Barbra!"

"You bought me a star and named after yourself, so I'd know you were always watching over me. I still look for it sometimes." Tears are streaming down her cheeks. "You told me I was beautiful and how much you loved me, all the time… everyday in fact. You were the only boy to do that… to this day."

He stops her to wipe her tears with his thumbs, "And you still are. And I still do."

She's beaming her teary smile at him and looks him in the eyes, "You bought me a ring on your first credit card and asked me to be your wife… Then you put me on a train and you sent me here, alone. Because you wanted to put MY Broadway dreams ahead of your happiness."

"For the record Rach, if I could take a Mulligan, y'know, get a do-over, I'd have gotten on that train with you."

He can't deny the knot in his throat. And his watery eyes can't contain the overflow either.

She stands on her tippy toes and grabs his shirt to pull him close and kisses him. Soft and sweet at first, but it slowly deepens, their tongues dancing and tasting and exploring old terrain. It feels too familiar.

He breaks the kiss and he rests his forehead against hers. "Rach. I'd love to stand here kissing you all night, or, forever actually. But it really isn't my place is it? You were pretty upset the last time I saw you. I seriously don't want to chance a repeat of that night… well, the first part of it anyway."

She sighs out a long ragged breath. She knows he's right, there's other things that need discussed.

"Are we just going to walk around the park all night talking? I think it's supposed to rain…" she says.

He gives pause to what she's saying. Does she want to go home, or…. "What do you suggest? I can buy an umbrella if you want," he grins at her.

"I was thinking maybe we should just go to a hotel, get a room for the night. So we can talk more. We DO need to talk more, don't you agree?"

"Yeah, yeah. Absolutely." Finn's not sure if this is the wise move but he has to ask. "Ahh. What about your guy though? Is he going to miss you if you stay out all night? I don't wanna cause you trouble."

"I don't really give a damn. He'll probably be out all night anyway."

. . . . . gleegleeglee * * * * *