"But,why?" she asks again.
I want to say I don'tknow.But I can't lie to her.I step closer to her, brushing myknuckles along her soft jaw.She's so incredibly beautiful, even indistress."Because she's a crazy, manipulative bitch."I sigh."Look, she must have been planning this for a while.Maybe eversince your fight.Her apology was bullshit."
I watch Rory take it allin, probably processing every false word, every fake smile Chelseathrew her way these past weeks.I watch her brows pinch together asshe silently figures out how Chelsea must have sought Lacey out onFacebook, how the two of them must have plotted this confrontation.How they must have planned for a much more dramatic confrontation,one in which I believed Lacey's story, and in which they accusedRory of the same old bullshit.I can't imagine what Chelsea mustthink of me to believe that I would have listened to a word of it.If I wasn't so outraged for Rory, I would be insulted.
"She… she's going toFIT?"
My fingers find their waythrough her loose hair, stroking it gently in an attempt atcomfort."I guess," I murmur.I doubt my threat about herreputation will be enough to get her to change her college plans.She doesn't come across as very intelligent, but she must know thatNew York is a big enough town that my word won't go as far as herfamily's did down in her small town.
"Look, Ror, this isn'tLinton, okay?"I remind her.She looks up at me, still looking solost, so helpless, but there isn't a single tear in her eyes.She'stoo strong for that."She won't bother you again.And if she does?You're the one with friends who have your back here.Not her.Shehas no one but Chelsea, and Chelsea just lost most of her ownfriends, I promise you that."
Rory stares up at me,chewing the inside of her cheek, but she says nothing.
"I'm sorry I asked you toforgive her.God,and I'm sorry I just ranted your private business out in the middleof the street—"
She starts shaking herhead fervently and it cuts me off."No, Sam.Just no."
I blink at her, my browfurrowed in confusion.
"You don't get toapologize for defending me.Again.For anything.Just…no."
I sigh, my arms wrappingaround her of their own accord and pulling her tightly to my chest.She doesn't hesitate; she slides her arms around my waist and gripsme just as tightly.She doesn't cry, she just lets me hold her,clinging to me as if I'm some kind of rock for her, and it's allI've ever wanted to be.
Minutes pass like that andneither of us says a word until she pulls away.
"Do you want to go backinside?You were having such a good time…" I ask her.
She shrugs."I was," sheadmits."But I just… Honestly, Sam?I just want to go home.It'salready late and I… I don't want to put on a mask and force smiles.I'm okay, really.I just… she just jarred me, you know?"
I nod."I know.She jarredme too, Ror.I recognized her the second I saw her, even though I'dnever seen her before.She looks just like him."
I realize my mistake asRory's gaze flees from mine the moment I bring upthatmotherfuckingbastard.I'm so goddamn stupidsometimes.
"Let me take you home," Iplead.
"You should stay," shewhispers.
It's like Miami all overagain.It's like every time she's upset and won't accept my helpall over again."I don't want to stay, Ror."I tell her the truth."I just want to fucking take you home.Will you let me do that?Please.You make me feel so helpless."
Her eyes go wide."I makeyou feel helpless?"
I nod."I'm not asking foryou.I'm asking for me.Let me take you home."No more bullshit, nomore holding back.Whatever she decides on Monday, I'm not playingany more games.
I realize of course thatseeing Lacey probably didn't help my chances.If she ended it inMiami because she couldn't handle everything, then even if shemight have been coming around, this incident may have set her rightback to that place where she realizes she has enough on her platewithout a boyfriend with issues of his own.But I try not to thinkabout it for now.
"Okay," she says, and Iexhale the breath I hadn't even realized I'd beenholding.
"I'll text Tuck, make upan excuse."I take her hand and start leading her to the corner tocatch a cab.
Her footsteps falter."They'll think… they're all gonna think we left to go… you know,hook up," she murmurs, blushing softly.It's beautiful.Everythingabout her is beautiful.
I want to set her at ease,but she's right of course."They probably are," I admit.The truthis I don't mind letting them think that.Reminding them that evenif we're not together, Rory's still taken."I could say you're sickor something.But people will think what they think.I—" I push myhand through my hair again.I hate the thought of making heruncomfortable.
Her fingers clasp aroundmy bicep."It's okay," she says."I guess it doesn't really matterwhat anyone thinks.Anyway, they could say worse things about methan that I'm hookin' up withtheCap," she teases.
God, this girl is amazing.She's fucking teasing me right now.I think maybe the Forbes girlpissed me off more than she did her.I didn't think a smile wouldmark my lips right now for anything, but here it is, and I let itlift my spirits as I take her hand and lead her into acab.
She lets me comfort her,and even though I know we're just friends, with my arm around herand her head resting on my shoulder, I let myself pretend she'smine again.It's a beautiful kind of torture.
