He rejected Jake English.

He, Dirk Strider, had rejected Jake English.

Wow.

And he felt good. Happy, even. But a little lonely. What was missing? Oh yeah! Roxy! He should tell her what happened!

Wait, why did he want to? Ah well, it didn't matter, did it? He pulled up pesterchum, taken aback at a message from Jane. It was almost midnight, what was the responsible girl doing up?

GG: Dirk Strider!

TT: Jane Crocker?

GG: Did you have Jake message me?!

Geez, he was fast. They were gonna be cute together, he could see it now.

TT: You know he only came to me because somebody freaked out and said they were platonic, right?

TT: He doesn't like me like that.

GG: So all those lovely things he's saying?

TT: One hundred percent English.

GG: Oh my goodness I think I might faint!

GG: I wish Roxy was online!

Wait. What? Roxy was always online this time of night, and had been for two months straight.

TT: Why isn't she?

TT: And why are you, by the way?

GG: Um...

GG: She may have given me a martini. I was sad, and she went to make herself one too because

GG: Um. And it kept me up to watch my John Wayne movies.

GG: So, yes. That happened.

TT: You were sad about Jake, you went to her house, you guys drank together?

TT: Didn't see that coming. I didn't think she drank a lot anymore.

GG: That's because you disapprove!

GG: Oops.

TT: What? She's cutting back on drinking because of me?

GG: Well...she was...

TT: What do you mean?

GG: She was drinking really heavily when I left. She had almost reached The Point, but I...don't really blame her.

GG: She was talking to Auto-Responder.

GG: Gosh, I don't know how she stands that thing!

TT: The Point? Why don't you blame her?

GG: The night she started drinking a lot...she was very angry. But also the saddest ever! She was scary and bitter and different, and when she drinks a lot she's like that again. It's like she gets so drunk that she's not drunk anymore, but extremely...odd.

GG: She doesn't like it.

'I'm like a different Roxy!'

TT: So you told Jake you didn't like him. But isn't everything good now?

GG: It absolutely is! But I don't thin she's gotten my messages. She's not answering her phone and I can't drive to see her. My dad's got the car.

TT: You still haven't said why she suddenly got so sad.

GG: Well, I...She wouldn't...You were going to...Um.

TT: She likes you, you fucking dumbass!

GG: AR!

TT: Dude, what are you talking about?

TT: And why the intervention?

TT: She is head over goddamned heels in love with you and you can't see it. You came to her about Jake when your heart was fucking broken! Jane told her what happened with Jake, and WHO is he going to go for after Jane?

TT: Hint: It's you!

GG: So...she got sad. Really sad. I didn't think she would get like that.

TT: Hell, I didn't know she loved you that much. But she does. When I talked to her last, she was majorly plastered, because she wanted to forget she loved you.

TT: You know what she said? 'It's not helping'. You are the one fucking person who she can't drink away.

TT: And you don't even know you love her.

GG: Really AR, that's a bit harsh.

TT: No it's not.

GG: Yes it is.

TT: No it's not.

GG: Yes, it is!

GG: Dirk, please don't feel really bad. I know Roxy and I care about her more than anything else in the world. When the car comes back, I'll pick her up. She'll be okay. I'll explain that she doesn't have to worry about you not...

GG: Oh, but...I guess you know how she feels now. She's not going to like that. AR, why did you tell? She'll never talk to him again if he knows!

TT: Jane, he's gone.

GG: What? Dirk?

GG: Dirk!

TT: Godspeed, dumbass.

I didn't know. The cars turned into blurs as he sped by them, barely staying in the speed limit. I couldn't have possibly realized. A passenger flipped him off and a biker yelled 'fuck you', but he kept going. You've been alone all this time Roxy, and I didn't know. You don't talk about yourself because you think no one loves you. But...that's changed. You didn't realize, and I sure as hell didn't. In just two months...How many songs did it take? How many grins at pink cupcakes? How long did time pass before I realized I love you? I was too busy admiring your strength and bravery to remember how I admired your lips when you kissed me. Only twice. I want to change that so bad, you have no idea. Dirk banged the wheel, staring at the dashboard clock. Am I too late? Have you eaten anything but your words? Are you already to your bitter breaking point? Have I lost you forever?

He raced out of his car and darted to the door, unlocked of course. The house was absolutely spotless, but even colder than before. The gray blanket he'd tucked her in with was crumpled, with a slash or two in it. Glass? A broken wine glass confirmed his suspicions. Where was she?

"Roxy?" He whispered, afraid of disturbing the still air. He ventured into another room, and a small pale lump was on the rough couch. Roxy, all curled up, asleep. Streaks of dried tears were on her ghostly cheeks and several empty bottle laid around her. It was the one room that wasn't clean. A black cat he'd never seen before twined around his ankles, mewling, before hopping on the couch next to Roxy.

This warm feeling in my chest...the fluttering in my stomach...Is this love? I've never felt this with Jake or anyone. He ran his fingers through his hair as the kitten started. Is this the 'true love' bullshit everyone longs for?

He brushed her now soft hair away from her left cheek and his fingertips lingered. She was so soft and fragile. How had he not noticed before?

"Roxy," he murmured. Her eyes flickered open, full of pain and warmth for only a second. Then they faded.

"Why are you here?" She said coldly, "Come to share the good news? The DirkJake ship has sailed? Good for you, I'll send cupcakes to the weeeddiiiiing." She rolled over, leaving Dirk stunned. This was the Other Roxy. The hurt one. Well, it made sense. A person could only be everyone else's rock for only so long.

She sat up, holding absolutely still. The only emotion she showed was her flickering eyes, hurt, angry, anguish, fury, nothing. Could he still love her when she wasn't happy?

Yes. He thought, and the sudden answer surprised him.

"Roxy, you didn't get Jane's messages," he said softly, "Jake came to me, but I set him straight. He confessed to Jane. I didn't want him like that, not in that way. Or...not anymore."

"Good. That means Jane doesn't have to feel this." She eyed him and scooted to the other side of the couch, petting the kitten.

"Roxy, I realized I don't love him."

Nothing.

"I was wrong this whole time about him. I'll always love him, but as a friend."

She was still silent.

"I love someone else. I have this whole time, but I never realized."

"What, did you memorize the script of Love Actually in your spare time?" She snapped, but her lip was quivering.

He took off his shades, throwing caution to the wind when she gazed into his electric orange eyes. He didn't need Bro's rules right now.

"Roxy, I love you."

It was like a door was wrenched open in her heart. Too much! Too much hate, too much hurt, too much love. "You're lying," she protested weakly, as he sat on the couch. She scooted farther away, as far as possible.

"I wouldn't lie to you Roxy. Never. I love you."

No. No, you don't mean it. No one does. "No you don't."

"You love Jake! You're going to go right back to secretly pining for him when he's with Jane and I'm gonna cry because I'm alone."

"Roxy, I turned Jake down. I was thinking of you the whole time. You are the voice in my head, being crazy and fun, helping me out.

And you're my calm and reason, she thought longingly. "N-no. You don't need me. No one does. Well, maybe Jane does. But you don't."

"Kiss me Roxy."

Those eyes...is he serious? "What?!"

He shifted toward her, kneeling on the couch. "Kiss me Roxy. I love you."

Oh my god. Is this happening?! Wait, would he make this up? Ahhh, he's getting closer! She snagged a pillow in front of her chest, trying to pause him so she could make sense of the situation. Her bitterness was fading away fast. "What are you-!? Don't...! You don't love me!" Why am I stammering?! I feel like I'm on fire, but I haven't drunk anything since last night! What time is it anyway? What am I thinking, that doesn't matter!

Dirk gently caught her flailing wrists. "Shhh, it's okay. Calm down Roxy."

"B-but! You don't love me! How can I be calm when you don't love me?!

He stared her in the eyes, and she was captivated. "I do love you Roxy, and I'll prove it by kissing you." He said, and there was no way she could argue.

Their lips touched for the third time, and Roxy felt herself relaxing, leaning into his warm embrace. He loves me? For real?

"I love you too," she murmured into his chest, and they held each other until the sun rose high.

Tah-dah, an end. A really shitty end, but an end. Woo-hoo.

Please review and let me know what you think, and also maybe suggest ships you'd like me to do/continue next?