Disclaimer: I don't own the Hangover or any of its characters.

*dot*

It didn't seem to matter but next time, she would just purse her boo boo lip and stare at her older brother until he caved in. At least that was the plan, assumed Jess, her blue eyes simply watching Doug closely. She had pestered him to watch the latest Disney movie; yesterday was running around at the park while he chased her. Spending time with Doug was her favorite thing to do in the world, but most importantly, as any little sister could attest was that he was also funny, honest, and truly caring beyond his years. It seemed a forever idea to imagine what direction her life would take when she looked out in bewilderment at everyone around her. The petite girl of light brown hair with sparkling blue eyes, they as big and round as the moon, found herself standing beside her seventeen year older brother as he marked off the incoming campers for summer camp.

Wearing a frown, with crossed arms, she mimicked Doug, being only five after all. Taking notice of a tall boy with sandy blond hair and equally blue eyes, he was another senior camp counselor with Doug, and as Jess looked up to him, she felt a small bit happy in meeting him. The tall boy didn't really acknowledge her at first because he was busy instructing everyone around, but Jess found herself sneaking around to find him. After the second day, Doug came to find her as he supervised a group of older kids doing a swim in the lake.

"What are you doing?" he teasingly asked. Shaking her head, Jess blushed bright red, but pointed at the sandy blonde-haired boy.

"Him?" confirmed Doug. "That's Phil. He's my friend."

Too surprised to learn his name, Jess nodded and took Doug's hands to get to the main cabin for her own activities. But he never saw as Jess looked over her shoulders several times for one last glance. The next night, as everyone ate dinner, she was seated alone at her table, waiting for Doug to get in. Unknowingly, Doug had taken a group with the camp Leaders for an overnight stay leaving Phil in charge of her. Thinking rather glum of the situation, she barely took notice that he had taken a seat beside her.

"Jess right?" he asked opening his milk carton and hooking his aviator glasses back over his front button. "Doug told me all about you." He smiled the last part as they chatted the night away; Jess mostly talking as Phil listened.

Taking his hand after dinner to return to the cabins for bed, Jess simply followed the tall boy around when not with Doug. It was rather amusing to most of the adults, who fawned over him. It was something that Jess noticed about him. His handsomeness was something she enjoyed about him too which many older women commented on. For the longest time, Doug and Phil spent a lot of time together as they learned they attended school together. It was something that their mother frowned about all the time but was never around to really enforce.

One day, no one had come to get her from preschool. It turned out that Doug had gotten caught with something at school and their mother was out with a friend, thinking the other had gotten her. Phil showed up to pick her up that afternoon, with a bag of cookies and a Capri Sun. He had to call Doug for permission but she was allowed to leave with Philly, as she called him fondly.

"Come on!" he urged her as they arrived at his house. His parents were kind enough to feed her dinner, but her shy nature prevented her from eating too much. Phil busied with entertaining the young girl, before she tuckered herself out as he worked on his homework.

It remained that way through most of the school year since Doug and Phil were seniors in high school. On September 7, Phil's eighteen birthday, he and Doug went out with other friends of theirs for a guy's night. He was surprised when getting Doug that Jess handed him a drawing of the three of them at summer camp. He spent a lot of time volunteering at the school that Jess went to before he had stopped to study for his university entrance exams. It also meant that he couldn't spend as much time with either of them, something that was harder for Jess than Doug. During Christmas that year, he invited them to his house where he gifted each with tickets to front row seats to the New Year's show in downtown LA. Because of this, Jess stood up, wrapping her arms around his neck, and surprised everyone with showering him in quick kisses as a thank you. Though everyone proclaimed how cute she was, none thought that she had meant any words of love. She was only four years old but the memory soon began to fade as Phil's future became clearer. He told her he wanted to become a teacher but wasn't sure the age yet. He also said jokingly, he liked to boss people around, which he could do as a teacher.

Quite often, Jess took to the habit of pulling at his darkening hair, neatly pushed back most days out of habit. As they would sit patiently watching Doug playing some sport, he would often remind her to stop. During her fifth birthday, she had a pretty rough day at preschool, and he was able to cheer her up with a cupcake from her favorite bakery. She could easily recall the moment that Phil finished high school and screamed in glee as she and Doug clapped. The following week, she again screamed happily, this time though practically standing on Phil's thighs, pointing at Doug.

"Philly! Look he's done too!" she exclaimed enthusiastically pulling on the eighteen-year-old's arm.

Both had looked so grown up in their black gowns, but it meant that they were leaving for university soon. Phil having chosen to take a gap year entered the workforce to help pay for his post-secondary schooling. In the years that followed, as they left to begin their futures, Jess was alone with only her mother and no way to communicate with either. Phil had stayed in California to attend the University of Southern California, earning a degree in Secondary Education, finally picking older kids than little kids, but Doug had been accepted to New York University. It was the Information Technology degree that interested him but his roommate at NYU, was a nervous peer from Georgia named Stuart Price. What excited her about Stu was he wanted to be a dentist and often commented on hers making her work extra hard to have good teeth. When her baby teeth began falling out, it was only Stu who could console her, saying that it was part of growing up.

"You'll have strong adult teeth because you took such great care with your baby ones!"

This cheered her up as she smiled thinking of his kindness. Hanging up the phone, she looked over at her sleeping mother on the sofa and tried to remember how to make eggs. It was a frequent thing now, but she wasn't prepared to endure all she would in the following months. Everything changed when her mother died, which Jess blamed herself for. Maybe if she had been a better daughter, or maybe just a bit more understanding of her mother, but maybe…. These filled her mind as she bounced from Los Angeles to Seattle, where she lived with her uncle until August of 2001.

After enduring the attacks in New York in late 2001, Doug and Stu moved back to California with Jess who was ten. In the four years since she saw Phil, the boy had become quite the man. His hair had completely darkened over to a rich brown, often pushed back, but his blue eyes remained to watch her closely. Jess couldn't pull on him now because that would probably embarrass him, and he was married of two years. In the fall of 2002, she entered middle school, and the change was different to the elementaries she attended before. It was strange being surrounding by so many people. Often people would ask where she lived before and when she replied in New York, they always assumed the worse. For Jess, it meant entering her pre-teen years with an awakening glow up that many didn't expect of the young girl. She wasn't over endowed, but she was growing up. No longer did she style her hair in pigtails but now it cascaded down in balayage waves to nearly her shoulder blades, the dark golden-brown shining in the sun. It felt like forever since she first laid eyes on Phil, but now as a senior, she felt herself blushing at the thought of having spent so much of her life with him. Doug was always her number one but recently, it felt like Phil and Stu were taking a special place along side of him.

None of them wanted to admit, but their little Jess was becoming a woman.

*dot*

Her eyes scanned the room looking for her friend trying to remember if she had everything for the long drive to Vegas that afternoon. Doug had dropped her and Phil off early to get some things for the wedding, but it was this Friday, and Carol had promised to meet up to talk about her failed prom queen campaign and if it had any impact for her nomination to a sorority for fall at UCLA. Sometimes, her friend was focused on things different, but Jess was determined to just be done with school all together. It was hard enough to know that one special person was in the building all day, but today they arrived together, something she never got to do.

That special person was Phil and this morning, she took extra care to wear her favorite perfume to impress him, which never failed. They had spent many minutes in his classroom near the supply closet in close quarters, in a heated conversation, the outside door locked securely and window shades down to darken the room. It was definitely worth the emotions they felt but it made Jess late to her first class as she hid in the bathroom, trying to cover her neck in makeup. Grinning she thought back to her first days at the school. In her freshman year, Doug enrolled her at Rochester Senior High School, where Phil taught English Literature and Composition. He had been there for four years now and was now Head of the English Department Head, something that he greatly enjoyed. Phil had taught at three school together after finishing his teacher degree, making this his eighth year teaching. He had earned the position and when he was given it over the last summer, it surprised him greatly.

Often, they found themselves working on projects together or simply spending many lunches in his classroom. This closeness, no one suspected anything because they kept their true intentions firmly a secret. Phil, as would others, mentioned many times that Jess held herself to a higher standard. Sometimes he mentioned how pretty she was becoming, and the rumors he heard from the males in class. Many girls were envious of the relationship with Phil, but it was refuted by staff because of personal history between both. It also helped that each day after lunch, she was a teacher assistant for him, and entered grades into the computer for him as a daily task. Sometimes, she went scrolled through the internet and browsed shopping sites. Once she teased about buying a pair of new shoes, which turned out to become a birthday present just last month. Phil was dedicated to his job, but his eyes always lingered on her whenever she was there too.

This morning after waiting for Carol for over twenty minutes and the bell rang above their heads loudly, signaling the ten-minute warning. Jess pushed the light jacket into her locker before grabbing the calculus book for first period. Quickly gathering her hair into a loose bun at the base of her neck, she eyed a man down the corridor, his tall stance looming over many students.

Phil stood there, sucking on a lollipop, a smirk on his face. His charcoal gray vest covered a dark blue plaid tie and baby blue collared shirt, which were tucked into tan slacks with the black belt fastened to his hips. This uniform mirrors many of the males of the school, while the girls uniform has matching collared shirts and tie with a tartan blue checkered skirt covering black stockings and finished with polished shoes. Phil was pulling on his tie to loosen it after staring her down, clearly he was still thinking of the thirty minutes prior.

Finally entering class, Jess began with ease to complete the assignments at hand and tried to ignore the growing concern of Carol's absence. During Phil's class, though she really spent it working on her own final for once, she stole glances aimed his back as the sophomore girls fawned over him and the boys on her. One boy walked up to her to explain the meaning of literacy narrative. Explaining it to him, several other student took notice and turned their attention to her rather than Phil. As quick discussion, Phil explained to his class how when Jess was little she had to experience him and her brother leaving for college which saddened her greatly. He further went on to say how as a young child, it was not understood why someone so close to you would leave because that part of the her life was simply about being a kid and enjoying childhood.

"Did you miss Mr. Wenneck, when he left?" one girl in the back asked. It seemed to be the question everyone wanted to ask.

"Well," started Jess, rubbing her hands together near her midsection, eyeing Phil who was grinning softly. "I suppose as a child, I missed him. But I miss him even now because Mr. Wenneck is a friend of mine. When we have friendships with others, we understand them and when they aren't there — when they are missed, it means they mean something more."

Finally the bell rang signaling the end of the class, and she let out her held breath as each person said goodbye. Gathering her own books, she heard Phil call name and turned to smiled at him.

"You miss me?" he teased gently lightly pushing her arm as they reached the door. Holding it open he whispered 'see you later' before closing it again. Finally, by near end of the day, she managed to catch up with Carol, learning she had a doctor's appointment.

"And you couldn't tell me before I waited all breakfast for your ungrateful ass!" she teased tossing her books in the locker while her friend went on about the appointment and their original conversation earlier from the week before.

"Yes, well, my mother thought I had a yeast infection, but it was just a reaction to the shorts I've been wearing. I'm allergic to the material apparently."

"Your parents are die-hard on you getting that scholarship—" stated Jess, closing the locker's door, and reaching for her bag again. "Did you hear anything about the volleyball ones?"

"No I didn't, but my parents are dying to get my acceptance letters. I don't even know if I wanna play at UCLA. I was scouted last fall but I did get a track scholarship, but it was to a different school."

Shrugging her shoulders, they chatted aimlessly about the coming weekend for Jess and how spending it in Vegas would be. Carol was, by all accounts, the smartest girl in the school, but she often hid the truth because she used others to accomplish her ends. That's how she convinced four different boys she was dating them each, but somehow Jess could only laugh at it all. Her friend had long honey blond hair, deep emerald, green eyes, lined with mascara and eye liner.

"— and besides you get Mr. Wenneck to yourself in Vegas—" mumbled Carol pushing through students trying to find an open door leading to the outside.

"Care! Are you kidding me? I'm not going on vacation with Phil," she firmly said feeling a little offended.

"You just did for spring break," she said matter of fact. "And by God our teacher is fine! He is just so dreamy! I don't know how you can't see it…."

Laughing Jess pushed the loose hair from her face before answering.

"We were with friends and family! He is my brother's best friend. I've known him—"

"— since you were a little girl! A little girl with the bestest man on the planet to mind fuck in class!"

"CAROL!"

They laughed hard holding onto their side, tear slowly streaming out of their eyes. Carol reached for her arm to steady herself, allowing the humor to fade as they wiped the tears.

"So, what do you think will happen in Vegas? You know what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas…."

"I'll be stuck in the hotel all evening trying to enjoy myself after dinner with the guys! Which means I will follow the rules to a T. It's just one night anyway. They'll be out on the town after dinner."

"Loser!" smirked Carol beginning to walk again. "WHAT! You are letting him party without you! You can NOT just sit back and watch our most favorite, and sexiest teacher of all time, drink his way in Sin City!?"

Immediately, her eyes rolled at the statement.

"Mr. Wenneck is our teacher and my brother's best friend," repeated Jess readjusting her bag that fell off her shoulder. "Carol… it's not that way. I don't want to be alone this weekend at the house. Avery keeps asking me out and I have lots of homework to do."

"Well maybe you gave Avery a chance…" snapped off the blonde without a moment's pause.

Jess narrowed her eyes into slits and let out a small groan. "Avery is the ultimate tool…."

"Avery knows how to use his hands," smirked Carol turning away toward an open door leading to the grounds. "And his tongue too!"

"CAROL!" she shouted realizing what all Carol meant by the last statement. The other girl just smiled and shrugged her shoulders in defeat but knowing full well what weight her words carried.

"Well how do you think I got him to do my paper…."

"You whore," Jess smirked and pulled her sunglasses down to her eyes. The long drive to Las Vegas that afternoon was sure to be lengthy one. "Like why would I ever want his anything near me…. I already have to forget mine and Phil's relationship is awkward."

After several passing minutes with silent determination in both girls, and passing a short boy with brown mossy hair, they stood in front of a light blue-gray Mercedes-Benz. Carol let out a low whisper and admired the car with passion running her fingers along the frame.

"Sweet car," she called to Doug who sat in the driver seat. "You get to ride in this?" Before answering, Jess nodded and threw her book bag into the trunk.

"I got to go Carol. See you Monday!"

The girls shared a close hug and Carol skipped away toward her parent's truck. Jumping into the backseat, Jess ran her finger across the leather of the seat. Damn, she thought, then readjusted her hair into a tight messy bun for the long drive.

"Alan, this is my sister Jessica. Jess this is Alan, Tracy's brother," said Doug pointing to the scruffy bearded man in the passenger front seat. The man had a frown on his face of extreme discomfort.

"Did you have to park so close?" he asked, his eyes low without making eye contact with anything or anyone.

"Yeah, what's wrong?" asked Doug keeping a look out for Phil who should be appearing any minute. Jess leaned toward the two to hear the reason why but all Alan could muster was a short statement.

"I shouldn't be here," he stated without more to explain why.

"Unless you have something horrid against your record, it's fine," commented Jess placing her feet on the seat before Phil took up the whole seat.

"I'm not suppose to be within two hundred feet of a school," he said matter of fact.

"Great! You brought someone like him with us knowing I was coming!"

"Or a Chuck-e-Cheese," Alan added a moment later. Rolling her eyes, Jess looked up in time to see and hear Phil step up to the Mercedes. The man let out a whistle and ran his hand down the well-made frame of the car.

"Shit! Nice car," he said and then quickly stepping on the leather to seat himself.

"Watch the leather!" warned Doug, but Phil cut him off by throwing his arms back behind his head nearly hitting Jess in the face.

"Shut up and drive before another one of these nerds asks me another question!" Phil's smile widened and he rubbed her cheek for good measure. "You aren't one of them!"

"I'm glad," she said quietly, looking into his eyes, seeing the desperation to leave too. Phil, stopping a moment to readjust himself in the seat and patting his leg in teasing way toward Jess, eyed the bearded man before him.

"Who's this?" asked Phil, pointing at Alan as Doug pulled out into the street.

*dot*

The short time it took to reach Stu's house was rather uneventful as Jess leaned into Phil's shoulder trying to keep the sun out of her eyes. He rested his arm under her head as they talked about the coming finals.

"You said we could evaluate the characters or the plot and their impact on their environment?"

"Yah, that's what I'm looking for with the final exam, but we aren't really judging on the content but the ability for you compose a well written argument in defense of the character," explained Phil shifting in the seat. "You are supposed to turn that in two weeks. Are you done already?"

Shaking her head, Jess sighed. "No, just wanted to clarify the objective before I start working on the final version. I plan on working on it this weekend after dinner."

"You know I'll pass you," he smirked patting her hair. "Even if you bombed the exam, you would pass with high marks."

"Yes. I know. But I want that high mark to be earned!"

Doug stopped the car in front of a quaint, white house with small bushes in front of bay windows. Getting up to retrieve their friend, Jess stepped over the frame as Phil held her hand. Thanking him quietly, she skipped up the path and readied to knock on the door as she heard Phil's booming voice carry across the lawn.

"Paging Doctor Faggot!"

Swirling in place she screamed at Phil to shut up, as the man laughed. Turning back, she rapped her knuckles on the door, sending eye daggers back to him until the door swung open revealing two people having a heated, but quiet conversation. The woman, who Jess knew as Melissa, was tugging her hair behind an ear and pushing her black glasses back against the bridge of her nose repeatedly. The nervous man standing on front of her was Stu, who kept looking down.

On several occasions, Melissa had made comments about Jess that significantly bothered Stu including many where she detailed adult activities to the teenager who wasn't as impressed by the advice as one would think. However, she did remember to use the advice, or at least try to understand them through others without being a whore. It was difficult to reason why Stu was with this bitch, but Jess mostly dropped it. Once, Jess remembered, she had to sit through an entire dinner with Melissa as she berated Stu and his size all in a matter of five minutes when he excused himself to the bathroom.

"Hi Jess," said Melissa curtly folding her arms. "Are you going too?"

"I told you she was," interrupted Stu with a sigh. Something in his eyes begged her to leave with them, but in the pause, he paused to turn.

"I asked her!" she snapped. Jess looked at Stu for support before clearing her voice and nodding.

"Yeah. I want to spend time with my brother. It's going to be great in Ve—"

"—In Napa!" stated Stu suddenly. "They have many different, non-alcoholic wines, that she can sample or take lots of photography…." Jess looked at Stu oddly as he gripped her arm and lead her out forcibility.

"Have fun," they heard as they descended the path toward the car. Stu was muttering in her ear to not talk until they reached Phil who was standing against the frame, his arms folded, and a playful, yet mischievous smirk on his face.

"You're welcome, now get in pussy," Phil waved Jess into the middle while Stu took the remaining seat behind the driver. The whole time, Melissa stood at the door, a frown well plastered across her face as they left.

*dot*

An hour into the drive, Doug pulled off the highway to a gas station to refuel and allow everyone to stretch or get snacks. Jess felt someone shaking her shoulder, realizing it was Phil because she had taken to holding him hostage against the seat. Feeling a kiss on her head, she stretched against him feeling his torso out and letting her hand fall into his lap, though appearing to do so accidently.

"Jess," he muttered quietly before standing up, pulling her along with him. "Not here!"

Taking his hand, she stepped out fully and asked for the key to open the trunk. Gathering her converse shoes and socks from the bag, she rolled each stocking down her legs before throwing them into the spare bag Doug had for her. Turning, Phil had already gone inside, leaving her with Alan.

"I got this. Go get some food," he offered beginning to pump gas and pointing at the entrance of the convenience store.

"Thanks," she smiled before rushing in. Pausing to use the toilet, she washed her hands quickly before pulling her hair down and finger brushing it out. She noticed the long waves fell just above her shoulder blades but appeared fuller as it sat in a messy bun on top her head. Her subtle makeup hid small marks of love on her neck, which she prayed Doug didn't noticed. They were from somewhere that morning, before school had started and she was thankful she packed the makeup to cover. The person in question noticed around lunch time and smiled knowing it made her blush, weak in the knees.

Finishing up, she exited untucking her shirt and straightening her skirt out. Opening the top two buttons, she grabbed a water bottle and a few candy bars noticing the guys at the counter already. Doug was motioning for her to join them as she sat down the items.

"He's actually kinda funny," said Phil, munching on an already opened bag of chips. Jess saw his longing gaze the hidden smirk behind his hand.

"Yeah. He means well," commented Doug setting his items down with everyone else's and letting the cashier begin ringing them up. The lady's eyes dance between group, before settling on Phil's obnoxious behavior. As the group talked, it dawned on her they were referring to Alan, who was still outside shooing people away from the Mercedes.

"Is he all there? Like mentally?" asked Phil quietly taking a step back as someone tried to pass their group to exit.

"Yeah. I think so. He's just an odd guy. He's kinda weird," Doug answered with a sigh.

"Like should we be worried?" asked Phil grabbing another bag of chips to ring up. The lady's eyebrow arched up as she scanned it too.

"No. But Tracy did mention we shouldn't let him gamble or drink too much," warned Doug.

"Jesus! He's like a gremlin. Comes with instructions and shit! You didn't, did you?"

Shaking her head, Jess smiled as she watched their small group exchange gossip, while trying to pull Phil away a moment. But the man was too interested in Stu's words, as he too sat down a water bottle.

"All good with Melissa?" asked Phil quietly, as Jess and Doug watched Stu relax.

"Oh yeah. Told her we were two hours outside wine country, and she bought it!" exclaimed Stu happily.

"Don't you think it's strange that you've been a relationship for three years and you still have to lie that you're going to Vegas," Phil said leaning on the counter reaching for Jess, who gladly took his fist punch. Their finger lingered a moment before dropping to their sides. "With a teenager at that?" he added pointing at Jess and avoiding Doug's glares or comments of her.

"Yes I do, but it's not worth the fight," admitted Stu with a shrug.

"Oh, so you can't go to Vegas, but she can fuck a bellhop on a Carnival cruise line?" Phil inquired like he always did when Stu went behind Melissa's back on anything.

"Hey guys," Doug asked, his eyes pointing at Jess, who only laughed at Phil's question.

"Did she get seasick?" she asked quietly.

"Jessica!"

"What Doug?!"

"Okay first of all," Stu began, "He was a bartender, and she was wasted. And if you must know, he didn't even cum inside her."

The group quieted up, all staring at Stu, gob smacked at what to do, or even say. Jess held her hands up to her face praying Phil didn't say something. However, a second passed, and he stood up pointing a finger into Stu's chest.

"And you believe that?" he dared.

"Ah, yeah I do believe that because she is grossed out by semen."

Stu puffed out his chest as he responded, as Jess simply turned, holding in her mouth to not cry-laugh at the whole conversation. Exclaiming loudly, she exited with a flip of her hair, saying she would be at car. Phil and Doug stared at Stu's declaration and the cashier spoke up loudly asking for thirty-two fifty. Paying and gathering their items, they followed to find Alan shooing off a pair of boys who were trying to talk to Jess. In protest, she was trying to stop him from making a scene.

"Alan please stop! It's fine!" she said pulling him back, her small frame not doing much of anything of Alan's larger mass.

"Back off! You disgust little boy!" yelled Alan at the pair, taking a heroic stance in front of Jess.

"Alan! I'm not a child! Get back in the car!"

"A fine ass woman like that don't deserve a fat fuck like you," called out the taller of the two. He was walking backwards and turned into Phil, who pushed him to the ground. In shock the boys glanced between the three men and Alan, before scurrying away after passing glances between Phil and Jess several times. It must have been the firm stare he gave but they left without any more grief.

"You didn't need to do that Alan. They were harmless," urged Jess taking Phil's hands to get into the car again. Stepping into it himself, Phil shifted a bit before tugging on the tartan skirt motioning for her to sit on his lap, something that no one else saw.

"Jess is capable of punching someone if needed. Aren't you?" he asked suggestively. Slapping his arm, Jess smiled before sitting down. The others chatted a bit before silence fell over them as they continued the drive toward Vegas. Stu glanced over seeing that Jess was napping, her blouse blowing about in the wind. Her legs were crossed at the knees with most of her upper body against Phil's chest. One hand was dangerously sitting in his lap, and he was caressing it softly.

"What?" asked Phil taking notice that Stu was watching him. He held his hand still as the other clenched against the car's trunk. "She's tired. Exams are near."

"Yes, I know. She's normally not so tired," commented Stu hinting at the girl between them.

"She gets sleepy on car drives Stu. She's normally out quick," said Doug from the front seat. "If it's something over an hour, she's out."

Stu shrugged before Jess pulled her leg up to turn into Phil move, her knees turned into her chest. She wrapped her arm around his torso causing Phil to shift more. His hand caught her shoulder and adjusted her back. Asking for Stu's small bag, he sat it on his lap and the girl promptly slide onto it, essentially laying on his lap. Patting her back, everyone turned their attention to Alan, who was quietly in the front seat reading a book.

"What you got there Alan?" asked Phil.

"It says here, we should work in teams," he said showing the book he had been reading. "Who wants to be my spotter?"

Part of the conversation was heard by Jess, who after shifting after being awoken by their voices of concern. She had brought her knees to get back to sleep but unfortunately Phil had asked for the bag from Stu. Her arm was pinned under her body and was getting uncomfortable as the minutes passed. Sitting up, Alan was explaining something from the book as she stretched again.

"It's also illegal," commented Stu to something Alan said a moment ago. Jess rubbed her eyes, looking at the others for clues as to what the conversation was about.

"It's not illegal. It's frowned upon. Like masturbating on airplane," said Alan. Jess let out a low whispered what before seeing Phil shaking his head in disbelief.

"I'm pretty sure that's illegal too," she added in swiftly.

"Yeah maybe after 9-11 where everyone got so sensitive. Thanks a lot bin Laden."

Surprised by her voice, Doug turned a moment toward Alan after a long sigh.

"Either way you have to be super smart to count cards buddy. It's not easy."

"How about we tell that to Rain Man because he practically bankrupted a casino and he was a re-tard!"

"What?" asked Stu.

"He was a re-tard," Alan spoke again.

"He's a re-tard," mumbled Jess into Phil's ear. Phil smirked and placed his finger over his lips.

"Retard," Doug said to correct Alan.