Outer Masks: Chapter 11: Party Weekend

A Week Later

Rory sighed as she stepped out of her car, looking at her best friend as he stood in his front yard, smiling when he saw her.

“Max, what the fuck?” Rory said, looking away from the man and to the large crate of fireworks next to him. “How did you even get this much?”

“I know a guy.” Max shrugged, smiling mischievously at her.

“You were on clear when you told me about getting them, but what do you plan on doing with a thousand pounds of fireworks? Is this even legal?”

“Create the biggest explosion I can, duh.” Max said looking at Rory like she was stupid.

“You are definitely going to end up on the FBI’s most wanted list for domestic terrorism.”

Max rolled his eyes, “Would it kill you to have a little trust in me?”

“Yes.” Rory said without hesitation.

“Bitch.”

“Anyway, what are you going to do with all of this?”

“Okay, picture this; going to Long Island and finding an abandoned beach house and seeing if we can blow it up with fireworks.”

Rory dropped her head, “I.... I have no words.”

“Because it such a great idea.” Max grinned.

Rory walked past Max and into his house, “Yeah no. Also, I am not having any part of this, when you get arrested and the cops bring you in question, do not mention my name at all.”

“Oh, c’mon we have to. Do you know how long it's been since you were in one of my videos?” Max whined as he followed Rory.

“A few months ago, when you almost got me killed racing through the streets in shopping carts.”

“Okay yes, but we haven’t been hanging out at all this week because you’re too busy with work and Joe.”

Rory frowned as she sat on the couch, “Joe needed me with the whole ‘Beck not saying I love you back thing.’ They’re only just now starting to work things out and even then, its awkward as hell.”

“Seriously? That's still going on?” Max asked, his nose scrunching up slightly. “I mean, did she even say it back?”

“No.” Rory said, fighting the urge to cringe.

Rory was not there for the conversation Joe and Beck had with each other, but she knew when she saw Joe the next day that it did not go as he hoped that it would. Beck had apologized for running away and for avoiding him for so long but said that she was not at a place where she could tell him that she loved him.

Joe had said he forgave Beck and was fine with waiting until she was ready, but Rory could tell that he was lying. Rory knew it was only a matter of time before the feelings Joe was trying to bury would explode.

And only time would tell if Joe and Beck's relationship could survive that. Rory hoped it did as this was the happiest that she had seen her brother in a long time.

“Whatever, all I do care about is if this will make things awkward for the party.”

Rory frowned, “What party?”

Max grinned, “I told you; I want to find a beach house to blow up with the fireworks I got. But I want this explosion to mean something, so I want to throw a weekend long party at my family beach house.”

“And you're not going to blow it up right? Because I don't think your dad will let you live much longer if you do.”

Max rolled his eyes, “I’m not, I know my dad loves that house more than me. I found and bought a run-down beach house nearby.”

“Of course you did.” Rory muttered.

“So, we're going back to the Hamptons! And I have already sent out the invites.”

“I’m not going.” Rory immediately said.

I am not getting drunk with this idiot again. Rory thought, fighting the urge to jump out of a building as she remembered how drunk she had gotten at the club and what she did afterwards.

Max looked at his best friend from the corner of his eye, his voice taking on a faux innocent inflection. “Okay, I won't force you to come. I mean, I get not wanting to spend time with a bunch of drunk people you don't know or like. Or having to give up two whole days on beach, with me, Beck, Joe, Annika, Lynn, and Peach.”

Rory clenched her jaw, “Max-"

“I mean who wouldn’t want to see everyone in their bathing suits, running across the sand, jumping in the water, sun tanning.” Max continued, having to push down the smirk that wanted to appear on his face.

Rory did not know what she hated more, Max's clear attempt to get her to go, or the fact that it was working?

“But, if you really don’t want to go, then I can just tell everyone that you won't be coming.”

Rory growled, “When is this fucking party?”

“Wow, Roro, what made you change your mind?”

“Go fuck yourself.”

Max threw his head back and laughed, “It, it starts Saturday morning.”

“Fine, I’ll go, but I’m not having anything to do with the fireworks. I’m not going to jail because you want to act like an idiot.”

“I’m not expecting you to anymore, as I know you'll be too busy drooling over Peach in her bikini to help me.” Max grinned.

Rory groaned as she relaxed on the couch, her face burning as she heard Max laughing at her.

Whatever, this embarrassment will be worth it. Rory thought as her mind did drift to the image of a scantily clad Peach Salinger.

~X~

Three Days Later

“This place is awesome.” Lynn said as she stepped out of the car, looking at the Rockefeller beach house with an appraising eye.

The building was the biggest one that they had seen on their drive over, looking more like a modern mega mansion than an average beach house. The property also spanned most of the area, as there were no other homes within walking distance.

“It's not bad, but I’ve seen and own better.” Peach stated as she looked away from the house with a bored expression, glancing at her driver who was removing their bags from the trunk.

The party was in full swing as they arrived, the area full of people in bathing suits, drinking, dancing, and swimming.

Beck looked at her boyfriend, “Are you sure you’re okay with all of this? I know parties aren't your thing, especially not ones of this scale.”

Joe smiled, “I’m fine, Beck, I want to be here.”

I mean, what’s wrong with spending two days with a bunch of drunk sweaty people that like Maxwell Rockefeller? Who wouldn't want to watch Max use his boundless wealth and privilege to do whatever the hell he wants with no consequence? Who wouldn’t want to have to deal with your demon of a best friend staring at you in your swimsuit? Joe thought sarcastically.

“Hey guys, you made it.” The group turned and saw Rory coming from inside the beach house and walking towards them.

Rory was wearing a black bikini top and board shorts, and Peach could not stop her eyes from trailing the expanse of Rory’s body as she took her in, enjoying the sight of Rory’s athletic and glistening form.

Wow, why do I keep forgetting that Rory has abs? Peach thought, making sure her face did not reveal her desires.

“Damn girl, why am I just now finding out you have muscles?” Annika asked in jest.

Rory chuckled in response, scratching the back of her neck as she glanced at the ground. “Wasn’t aware that was something I needed to tell.”

Lynn lifted her hand and poked Rory’s stomach, causing Rory to jump at the unexpected touch, her face burning as she covered her stomach with her arms. “What was that for?”

Lynn shrugged as she smiled at Rory, “Just wanted to see that they were real. You should be proud, you look good.”

Rory’s eyes widened as she looked away from the shorter woman, turning to the others. Annika was snickering, Beck had rolled her eyes as a small smile appeared on her face, Joe looked sick at the idea of people finding his sister attractive, and Peach was glaring at the back of Lynn’s head.

“Uh... thanks?”

“Are you going to show to our rooms or not, Hayden?” Peach asked, barely hiding her jealousy.

Rory smiled at Peach’s annoyance, “What have I told you about patience, Peaches?”

Peach crossed her arms, "Patience? I have plenty, I’m just saving mine for conversations that actually matter.” 

Instead of taking offense, Rory only chuckled before waving over some attendants that Max had hired for the weekend and asking them to carry the group’s luggage.

As she led the group into the beach house, it became clear that the building was bigger on the inside than it was on the outside. The space between the floor and the ceiling was about sixty feet, and even with the well over a hundred people partying inside, the home had yet to reach full capacity.

“Max knows all these people?” Joe asked, briefly scowling at a drunk man who bumped into him as they walked by.

“I doubt it.” Rory shouted over the noise, “But Max never cares who comes to his parties as long as they don’t kill the vibe.”

“How nice.” Joe said as Beck elbowed him, hearing the sarcasm in his voice.

After a few minutes, they reached the third floor of the house, an area that was less chaotic than the main floor, as most of the partiers were simply milling around, talking with each other, and nursing their drinks.

“Alright.” Rory said as she reached the door of the first room, “You guys will be in these four rooms, Max said that the keys to the doors are on the dressers so you can lock them when you're not inside.”

“Uh, Rory, there’s five of us.” Beck said awkwardly, trying to look at no one else but Rory as she felt everyone’s eyes on her.

“Oh, I just thought with you and Joe dating that you guys would be sharing.”

You... you don’t want to share a room with me, Beck? But I thought things were getting better, this is not better! Joe thought, maintaining a blank stare as to not reveal his anxiety.

Rory began to stammer, tripping over her words as she realized the uncomfortable situation she had just created. “But I- I can-can get Max to find another available room. Or you can share with someone else, we can figure-”

“No! It's fine, Joe and I can share. I was... I was just pointing, pointing it out, that there’s five of us...” Beck trailed off, feeling wholly embarrassed.

While everyone was left feeling uncomfortable by it all, Peach bit her lower lip to keep from smiling at the scene. To her, it was endlessly amusing to see Beck and Joe's relationship hitting the rocks.

A part of her hoped that this would be enough to end their relationship, but Peach knew that Joe was not going to let Beck go that easily.

Rory allowed the group to enter their rooms, walking back to the living room as she gave them time to settle in and change.

~X~

Max smiled as he walked thought the beach house, happily buzzed as he continued to drink.

“Roro!” Max exclaimed when he finally saw his best friend, “Where the fuck have you been?”

“I took the girls and Joe to their rooms.” Rory answered.

Max's smile grew, “I bet you did.”

Rory did not bother to understand what Max was hinting at, knowing that it would only lead to more teasing at her expense.

“Max, I see you’re having fun.” The two turned around and saw it was Annika who had spoken.

 Lynn was behind Annika, looking at her friend and Max with interest, the same as Rory.

“Of course I am, babe.” Max said, his smile becoming sharper and his grip on his beer can becoming tighter. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

Annika sighed, “I was only pointing out that you were enjoying yourself.”

“I'd be a pretty bad host if I wasn't enjoying my own party. Got to lead by example, you know.”

Why does she have to look so good today? Max thought bitterly, looking at the form fitting red, drawstring monokini that Annika was wearing.

Don't look at me like that. Annika thought, seeing the way Max's eyes fell on her body.

Annika knew that ending her physical relationship with Max would make things awkward, but she had hoped that some time apart would lessen it. But it was becoming clear that such a thing may not be possible for them.

Rory shared a look with Lynn, the two women silently communicating that they found being around Annika and Max as awkward as being around Beck and Joe.

Before anything else could be said by Annika and Max, the rest of their friend group arrived.

Rory’s attention was now entirely on Peach, unable to keep her eyes off the other woman.

Peach was wearing a two-piece red and black high waist halter bikini. The colors worked well with Peach's warm skin tone, and the material wrapped around her body like a second skin.

Rory was aware of Peach's attractiveness, but at this moment it truly hit her how unbelievably gorgeous Peach was. From her long, shapely legs, her toned and flat stomach, to her slim waist, and the way she wore her hair up, with two strands falling and framing her cheekbones and jawline.

I’m a fucking creep. Rory thought, blushing as she looked away and stared pointedly at the ground.

She was unaware that Peach had noticed her staring and had smirked, inwardly preening.

Max smirked when he saw Joe, “Got something to hide, Goldberg?”

Max was pointing out the dark blue T-shirt Joe was wearing over his dark blue swim trunks, hinting at Joe not being as physically fit as everyone else.

“I’m sure your librarian body looks great.” Max added.

Joe glared at Max, “Well, I can't help not being able to spend all my time in the gym chugging down energy drinks and supplements. I have a real job after all.”

Max’s smile faltered for a moment, dipping down before bouncing back, sharper than before. “A real job huh? I must be so hard organizing books and putting them on shelves, I mean, I can understand how hard it must be to compete with Google and audiobooks.”

“Stop it. Both of you.” Rory stepped in, “Can we just have one day where the two of you don’t fight like children?”

Joe and Max relented but continued to glare at each other, much to Rory’s growing annoyance.

“Hey, babe. How about we go get some drinks?” Beck asked, nodding her head in the direction of the bar to put as much distance between her boyfriend and Max as possible.

Joe allowed Beck to pull him away from the group, forcing himself to look away from Max’s face, feeling nothing but irritation as he and Beck walked away.

“Well, now that whole show is over with, I’m going to work on my tan.” Peach declared.

“You’re already tan though.” Rory said aloud, smiling playfully.

Peach gave Rory an unimpressed look at her joke before lifting her bag and shoving it into Rory’s hands before strutting away.

“I am her pack mule again?” Rory asked herself, knowing that Peach was expecting her to follow.

“Again?” Max asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

Rory ignored him, walking past him and not once looking back as she followed Peach. She sighed as she could practically hear Max laughing at her despite the loud music in the house making that impossible.

Rory kept following Peach until Peach found a lounge chair nearby and sat down on it.

Rory walked up to Peach, putting the other woman's bag down next to her. “You know, you can't keep making me carry your stuff, right?”

“But you clearly like doing so. Why should I deprive you of that when you keep doing it?” Peach asked, smirking at Rory.

Rory rolled her eyes, “Piss off.”

Peach reached into her purse and pulled out a bottle of tanning oil. “Help me out?”

Rory stared at Peach, feeling her hands beginning to sweat. “What?”

Peach rolled on to her stomach, still holding the tanning oil out to Rory. “There are parts of my back I can’t reach. So will you help me rub it in?”

Rory could not refuse, as Peach put the bottle in her hands. Rory’s jaw dropped when Peach untied the back of her top, and her jaw slammed shut with the sultry way Peach was now staring at her.

Rory gulped, her hands shaking as she kneeled on the lounge chair, hovering over Peach as she opened the bottle.

“Something wrong?” Peach asked when she watched Rory hesitate, her smirk widening.

She looks like a scared puppy. Peach thought, “Should I ask someone else?”

“No!” Rory exclaimed, her face burning, “I mean, I… I can do it.”

Peach rested her head on her arms as Rory slowly poured tanning oil on her hands, rubbing them together before placing them on Peach's back.

Peach mewled as she felt Rory’s fingers dig into her back, stretching out like a cat. “That's good.”

Rory gulped as she continued to massage the other woman’s skin, her shorts feeling tighter both at the feeling of Peach’s body and the sounds Peach was making.

Fucking hell. Shit, why is this happening? I feel like I’m going to die. Rory thought.

Peach groaned, “Harder, Rory.”

Rory bit her lip to keep herself from moaning, Peach's words repeating themselves in her mind. She was so affected that Rory had to force herself to think of the most disgusting and vile things possible to not get an erection. After about a minute, Rory sighed in relief when Peach’s back was completely covered.

“Can you do my legs too?” Peach asked before Rory could move away from her.

Rory’s hopeful expression fell as she moved down the lounge chair. “Sure.”

Rory blushed as she lifted one of Peach's legs and placed it on top of one her tights and poured more oil onto her hands.

She tried to finish as quickly as she could, not wanting to embarrass herself by revealing how much this was affecting her.

“Is that all?” Rory asked when she finished applying the oil to Peach's legs.

Peach pretended to think about it, “No, I think that’s it.”

She wanted to ask if Rory would do her front too, but Peach knew the other woman well enough that Rory would have either died from shock or ran away if she did.

Thank God. “Are you really just going to sit here and tan?” Rory asked as she stood up.

“What else would I do?” Peach asked as she tied her bikini top back up and turned around.

“Max and I were going to play volleyball with a few other people. You could join us, and you know, do something fun?”

“I don't do sports or unnecessary sweating, Hayden.”

“Don’t you run every day?”

“I ran to stay in shape and to look hot, not because I’m passionate about it or whatever. If you want to run around with Max, you are more than welcome to do so, without me.”

Rory pursed her lips but acquiesced when she saw Max reading to the makeshift volleyball court a few yards away. “Alright, but don’t come crying to me when you get bored, and you see me having the time of my life.”

Rory turned and ran to where Max and a few others were, missing the eye roll that Peach had given her before she placed her sunglasses over said eyes.

And despite voicing her lack of interest, Peach turned her head to watch as Rory and Max played against two other people. The two best friends were good, far better than their opponents as they effortlessly scored point after point.

This did not surprise Peach who remembered Rory telling her about being a student athlete throughout middle school, high school, and college. And that even though Max never played on any teams, after years of friendship, so more than capable of keeping up with Rory.

Peach eventually found herself zoning out as she watched Rory and Max remain undefeated as more people would challenge them to a match. She only began to refocus when she realized that a small crowd had formed around the volleyball net.

Watching a group of random people play a sport can’t be that interesting. Peach thought, wondering why the crowd was so transfixed. But Peach was close enough to everything that she immediately received her answer; it was not the game that had gotten attention, but the people playing it.

And it was this that made her realize that most of the crowd was composed of women, most of whom were ogling Max, but a few were giving Rory the same treatment.

This caused a flood of jealousy to wash over Peach, her teeth grinding together as she watched Rory being fawned over by the women nearby.

The only things that kept Peach from jumping to her feet, marching over there, and telling those women to back off was the fact that Rory either was either oblivious to the attention she was getting or was just disinterested in all of it, and of how crazy she would look fighting over someone that she was only supposed to be friends with.

Peach found herself confused by her own lack of action. However, before if she were watching Beck in Rory’s position, she would have immediately moved end the interaction in its track, not caring about how she came across.

Maybe that was the problem? With Beck, it would be easy to do whatever I could to keep her single, and before, she would’ve never called me out on my behavior, at least not as strongly as she did in Greenwich. But with Rory, I have no idea how she would react, and that scares me. Peach thought.

But she also knew that going over there and causing a scene, could clue Rory into her true feelings, something that she had recently learned, almost everyone in their friend group was aware of to some extent besides the woman in question.

And what was she even supposed to do now? Completely move on from Guinevere Beck? To walk up to Rory and admit that she had feelings for her?

No, Peach could not do that, not after she worked so hard to hide that part of herself from the world. It was one thing to have her friends, and even Joe of all people, know and refuse to say anything aloud, but to declare her sexuality publicly? To have her parents, specifically her father know? She would never survive it.

Peach sat there for a few more moments, before growling under her breath and jumping to her feet, storming away from the scene.

I need a fucking drink.

~X~

Hours Later

Rory found herself extremely bored as she walked through the halls of the Rockefeller beach house, having nothing to do.

Is it just me or are parties not as fun when you’re not drunk or high? Rory thought as she stepped out of the way of a man vomiting onto the floor.

She had meant what she told Max; she was not going to drink for a good while after that night they went to the club. And even though she refused to admit it, the only reason she had even come to the beach house was because Peach would be here.

But now, Rory had no idea where of the woman who had spent so much time invading her thoughts even was, having not seen her since she had gone to play volleyball with Max.

She had no one to distract herself with as she either did not know or was barely acquainted with everyone in attendance. And with the few people she did know, she could either not find or doing their own thing, which she had no interest in.

She had seen Joe and Beck together in a dark corner of the living room over an hour ago, but she did not approach the couple because even from afar, she could see that the two were in the middle of an intense argument.

Rory loved Joe and liked Beck, but she had enough of the two’s relationship drama over the last few weeks to last a lifetime. So, she did what any smart person in her position would, she pretended not to see them and blended into the crowd as to not be seen by them.

Last, she had seen of Lynn, the smaller woman was engaged in a drinking contest with a group of people while a crowd cheered them on by the bar. Rory had watched for a few seconds before the sight of a man vomiting the beer he was trying to gulp down onto the woman sitting next him, covering the woman’s head and face completely before leaving in disgust.

She had only passed by Max and Annika a few minutes ago but knew that she wanted to be a part of their drama even less than she did Joe and Beck’s.

When she had seen them, Max had been getting remarkably close to a tall and curvy brunette who was hanging off his every word, giggling when he would lean closer. Annika who had been standing nearby, glared at the two and Rory watched as Annika looked around her before finding a handsome man who looked to be made of pure muscle and instantly latching onto him, not bothering to hide her flirtatious attitude.

Honestly, Rory questioned if she was somehow transported to a badly written teen drama show as she watched Max noticed Annika practically clinging to the man she was with over the brunette’s shoulder and gritting his teeth before grabbing the woman he was with by the waist and pulling her closer to them, their bodies then flushed together.

What happened next, Rory could only describe as Max and Annika competing a couple of feet away from each other, trying to make the other jealous while also trying to bed the person they were using to make the other jealous.

So just like with Joe and Beck, Rory walked away from Max and Annika without letting either of them become aware of her presence there, shaking her head as she thought that all four of them were idiots.

Okay, you know what, I’m just going to go to my room and watch tv or something. Rory thought, a flash of irritation sparking within her when someone crashed into her from behind, but walked away, ignoring Rory as she glared at the back of their head.

After a few minutes, Rory felt relief when she finally climbed up the frankly unnecessary flights of stairs and reached the floor that her room was on, relaxing further when she saw her bedroom doors.

“Rory!” At first said woman was annoyed when she heard her name being yelled over the loudness of the house, but that feeling left her she turned her head and saw who was standing a few feet away from her.

Rory blinked, “Peach?”

The shorter woman was leaning on the wall, using one hand holding her up while the other was holding a red solo cup, a huge grin spreading across her face as she looked at Rory.

Like Rory, Peach had long since changed out of her swimsuit, she was now wearing tight mini shorts, sandals, and a

“There you are!” Peach exclaimed as she pushed herself off the wall and staggered towards Rory, “I’ve been looking for you everywhere, you jerk! Why-why did you make it so hard to find you?”

Rory laughed as Peach pouted, “Wow, you are really fucking drunk, aren’t you? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this far gone.”

Peach stepped closer, only leaving a few inches of space between them. “I’m not drunk, just a little tipsy.”

“Of course, my mistake then.” Rory said, finding drunk Peach to be extremely cute.

“You should be sorry.” Peach said, “I missed you.”

Rory could feel her face beginning to heat up in response to Peach’s words. “Really?”

“Yeah! Now, make it up to me and let’s go to bed.”

Rory’s eyes widened, “I think I should take you to your room first, let you sleep this off.”

“No!” Peach claimed, clinging to Rory's arm, “I want to stay with you!”

“Peach-”

“Do you hate me, Rory?” Peach asked as tears began to form in the corners of her eyes.

Rory sighed as she pulled out her key and opened the door, allowing Peach inside.

Peach’s expression quickly changed, she stopped tearing up and smiled again, squeezing Rory’s arm before walking into the bedroom.

I’m fucked. Rory entered the room and closed the door behind her.

Peach finished the rest of her drink before throwing the cup onto the floor, pinning Rory with a suggestive look. “Hi.”

Rory sighed, “Hi, Peach.”

The other woman giggled as she closed the distance between them, reaching past Rory and turning the lock on the door.

Rory frowned, “Uh, what are you doing, Peaches?”

Peach bit her lower lip before speaking, “I don’t want us to be interrupted.”

“Interrupted? What-”

Peach cut Rory off by grabbing her hand and yanking her towards the bed.

“Peach! What are you-" Rory felt her breath leaving her when she was suddenly pushed onto the bed by Peach.

And the breath was knocked out of her again when Peach straddled her hips, leaning down and pressing their bodies against each other.

Peach moved her head to the side of Rory’s, brushing her lips against Rory’s ear. “I know that you want me, Rory. Let me show you how much I want you too.”

What the hell?! Rory felt like her brain had completely shut down, incapable of complex thoughts.

Peach then began to kiss the side of Rory’s face, making a path downwards until she reached Rory’s neck, and gently biting and sucking on the skin.

Rory moaned, her fingers twisting into the sheets, gripping them tightly as her hips bucked upwards.

Peach chuckled when Rory did this, a raspy and faint sound that sent even more warmth between Rory’s legs.

Peach’s eyes widened when Rory’s grabbed her hands and flipped them, now lying on her back as she looked up at the taller woman.

Rory immediately released Peach’s hands and jumped back, moving off the bed and giving herself and Peach a wide degree of space.

Rory rubbed the side of her neck, knowing that marks would soon appear due to Peach's ministrations. “Okay, we are not doing that. I really should have taken you to your room.”

“Why did you stop?” Peach asked, frowning as she sat up.

“Peach, you’re drunk, I’m not going to take advantage of you when you're like this. You don't know what you’re doing.”

“I know what I’m doing; I want to fuck you!”

“And you only want to do that because you’re drunk and horny. You’d probably be trying to sleep with anyone like this, I just happened to be the closest person around.”

Peach began to tear up, glaring at Rory as her voice started to crack. “How could you say that?!”

Rory sighed as she watched Peach bury her face into one of the pillows, crying into it.

Note to self; a drunk Peach Salinger is a very emotional Peach Salinger.

“Look Peach, I wasn’t trying to insult you or anything like that. But you’re not in the right mindset; you’re drunk, and a drunk person can't consent to anything. I don’t want you to wake up and realize that you did something you regret or that you couldn’t trust me anymore.”

Peach’s sobs had lessened but she still refused to lift her face from the pillow nor look in Rory’s direction. “You hate me.”

“I don't hate you.” Rory said softly, “I like you… a lot, actually.”

“You do?” Peach lifted her head enough to look at Rory with one eye.

“I do, sometimes it scares me how much I like you.”

“I like you too. So why aren’t we fucking?”

Rory could not stop the laughter that escaped her, ignoring the pout Peach had given her as she sat at the edge of the bed. “Like I said, you’re drunk. And even then, you don’t like me the way I like you.”

Usually, Rory would not have had the courage to speak so honestly, but she felt confident that Peach would not remember most of not all of their interaction tonight.

“But I do.” Peach exclaimed, sitting up and holding the pillow to her chest. “I think I love you, Rory.”

Rory’s eyes grew wide before she remembered what she knew and scoffed, both at herself for the tiny sliver of hope that emerged within her and for Peach claiming to love her. “You love Beck, Peaches.”

“What?” Peach asked slowly.

“You love Beck. I’m not blind, Peach, and I’m fairly sure everyone else knows too. Which is why I know that you don't really want to sleep with me.”

“I don't… I don’t love Beck. I thought I did but now…”

“But now, what?”

Peach moved closer to Rory, unaware of how Rory flinched when she did this and rested her head on Rory’s shoulder. “I… I like you now.”

Rory sighed, “Peach, you can’t just say that to me. I might start to believe that I have a chance.”

When Peach did not respond, Rory looked down and saw that Peach had fallen asleep on her shoulder.

Rory smiled softly, gently pulling the pillow from Peach’s arms, putting it back down on the bed, and gently moving Peach so that she was now lying down.

Rory then stood up and removed Peach’s sandals from her feet and pulling the blanket over Peach's body.

“That was… unexpected.” Rory said aloud, not knowing how to feel about what just happened.

Rory then grabbed a pillow off the bed and walked over to the couch, designing herself to sleep there, not trusting that Peach would not try something if she tried to sleep in the bed with her.