[SPRING] Chapter 13: Mastermind

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Luke turned the key in the ignition, shutting off his truck after parking it in front of the nearby police department. He turned to face Rory in the passenger's seat. She was staring absentmindedly out of the front window, still wearing her blue evening gown from the party. It had begun to rain and fat droplets streaked down the glass.

He opened his mouth but no words came out. Finally, Rory turned to him.

"Are you sure you don't want to come in?" she asked quietly. 

Luke shook his head. "No. I... don't want to see him like this. Brings back some bad memories. I'll be here when you're done."

Rory nodded. Wordlessly, she opened the door and walked the short distance to the police station's front doors.

After speaking with the officer on duty at the front desk, she was lead to a small jail cell in the back with just one occupant: Jess Mariano. It was just a small county holding cell, and the other two cells in the hall were empty.

He had heard someone coming and was standing at the front of his cell with crossed arms. He had a bruised cheekbone and a cut on his temple and lip, and he had taken off his blazer so that he was now in a partially unbuttoned collared shirt and slacks. 

The officer left to stand at the end of the hallway, giving them some space to talk. Rory just looked down at the floor, unsure of what to say. A minute passed in an uncomfortable silence.

"Rory, I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am," Jess said, putting his hands on the bars in an effort to get closer. 

Rory stared at him angrily and didn't say anything. He continued. 

"This wasn't how this night was supposed to go," he continued. "I go and introduce you to all my friends, and then I embarrassed you in front of them." He ran a hand through his hair. "It's not an excuse, but when Logan showed up... I couldn't believe the things he was saying to you. The guy is so entitled and delusional..." he trailed off, shaking his head in disbelief. "He shows up out of the blue, drunk, thinking he could just take you back? When I was standing right there? He was obviously baiting me."

"No, Jess," Rory said with conviction, raising her voice. "I mean, yes, Logan is toxic. I know that. But he's not the one in jail right now. You are. And he wasn't baiting you. He was upset and just blowing off steam. I would have told him to go away and we wouldn't have had to deal with him after that. And you wouldn't be here right now, in jail, if you had just let me handle it." 

Jess stared at her and bit his lip, refusing to look away. After a moment spent considering her words, he said, "You're right. I shouldn't have punched him."

Rory met his gaze with furrowed brows. "I know I'm right."

Jess looked away sadly. "What the hell am I doing in here, Rory? I'm not this guy anymore. The guy who ends up in jail after getting into a fight. I haven't had the urge to do anything like this in years. Not since I was a kid." He met her gaze and said, matter-of-factly, "This isn't who I am anymore. I swear."

Rory changed the subject. "At least Logan sobered up after the fight and decided not to press charges. So you should be out by tomorrow, right?"

Jess continued to stare at her with his sad brown eyes. "I have priors. I'll be out tomorrow but I have to appear in court next month and I might..." he sighed, "Frankly, I don't know what will happen. Could be a fine, could be jail time for assault. I'm not sure."

Rory looked at the floor again. "I see."

"Come on, Rory," Jess said, pain in his voice. She looked up and saw that tears were welling up in his eyes. "I'm telling you, this isn't me. What's going on in that head of yours?"

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⏰ Last updated: Jan 09, 2023 ⏰

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