Outer Masks: Chapter 10: Fever Pitch

Sorry about posting a pervious chapter for those who saw it, I did not notice until it was pointed out to me😳

“So, wait what happened with Annika?” Rory asked, looking up from her computer, staring at her best friend who was lying face down on her office couch. 

Reluctantly, Max lifted his head and pouted, “Annika ended things between us! She thinks I've gotten too clingy and that I’m blurring the lines. Can you believe that?” 

Yes, I can. Rory thought, thinking about how close Max and Annika had become since they began their friends with benefits situation. 

“I'm sorry, Max, I know you really liked her.” 

“Huh? What do you mean? I'm great! I'm glad she ended things, the whole thing was getting too stifling, now Max Rockefeller is back in action. Bitches beware, cause I'm back!” Max cheered, pumping his fists as he jumped to his feet. 

“If you say so.” Rory said, turning her attention back to the screen in front of her. 

Trying to argue with Max when he became as boisterous and cocky as he was in this moment was a pointless and tasking endeavor. Even if she did, Rory knew that Max's innate stubbornness would keep him from trying to talk about how he was feeling towards Annika. 

Max walked across the room, sitting on the edge of Rory's desk. “Which is why you are coming out with me tonight so you can be by wing woman.” 

“Max, it’s Tuesday.” 

“And who says you can't get laid on a weekday?” Max asked jokingly. 

Rory rolled her eyes again, “I have work tomorrow, I’m not getting drunk with you tonight.” 

“You don't have to drink, just help me get some.” 

“If I say yes, will you leave?” 

Max grinned and jumped to his feet, “Make sure you wear something nice, Roro!” 

With that, Max finally left the room, practically feeling Rory roll her eyes again as he closed the door behind him and walked down the hall. 

When he reached the elevator and the doors opened, Max smiled when he saw who was standing inside, “Amber, Walter!” 

Amber smiled, hugging him when she stepped out of the elevator, “Max, it’s been so long, sweetheart. How have you’ve been?” 

“I’ve been great. And you’re looking amazing, I can’t believe I’ve deprived myself of such a fascinating woman these past few months.” 

Amber laughed, playfully nudging Max’s shoulder with her hand, “Oh, Max, you’re so charming.” 

Walter rolled his eyes at the display, annoyed by the younger man’s usual buttering up of his wife, agitated by how easily Amber bought into Max’s posturing. 

Max then turned to Amber’s husband, “It’s good to see you too, Walty.” 

“It’s Walter, Maxwell; do not refer to me as Walty .” Walter corrected, “And why are you here? I thought I made it clear to Rory that you were not allowed in the office.” 

“Walter, leave Max be.” Amber turned and looked at him pointedly. 

Walter glared at Max as he spoke, “This boy is constantly destroying things and distracting my employees every time he shows up here. And now he’s clearly trying to do the same now that Rory is finally working here.” 

“I’m sure that he is doing nothing of the sort. Isn't that right, Max?” Amber said, looking back at Max. 

“Of course.” Max said with a grin, “And just to let you know, I was on my way out, Rory made it clear she was too busy for me right now.” 

Walter continued to glare at Max, still annoyed by his presence. 

Max grinned, “But I’m happy to know that you've been thinking about me so often.” 

And with that Max walked past the married couple, entering the elevator, and winking at the pair before the doors closed. 

“That boy is so irritating.” Walter growled. 

Amber rolled her eyes, “He would not be so irritating if you didn’t allow Max to get under your skin. You know he strives on getting reactions out of people. You'd figure you would have gotten used to it after so long.” 

He knew his wife was right, but he could not help it; he wished Rory had chosen a different person as her best friend. 

Walter was grateful for Max being there for his daughter, for standing up for her when no one else did, especially after that incident that happened when the pair were still in high school. 

But that did not change how despite Max's background, he did not fit into the mold of the type of person he would want Rory to interact with. 

~X~

It was after one in the morning, but Peach Salinger was still awake. 

The young woman had decided to more into Candace Stone; after going over the details of the report her family’s private investigator had given her. 

The report stated that Candace’s twin brother, Jimmy, admitted by Candace into a mental health facility, accused Joe of having something to do with his sister’s disappearance. Jimmy had a breakdown when he was told Candace was a missing person, screaming, yelling, throwing things against walls, and cursing Joe's name. 

The fact that Jimmy died only six months, the cause of death being listed as suicide, only fueled Peach’s belief that Joe had something to do with the Stone twins more than just being Candace’s ex-boyfriend. 

Peach eventually stared looking through the woman's social media, obviously Candace’s social media accounts were useless as none had been updated since before, she had gone missing. 

And as Peach started to look through the accounts of Candace’s friends, her phone started to ring. When she looked down at her phone, she was Rory’ name on the screen, causing Peach to smile as she picked up her pone and answered. 

“Hi, Peaches!” Rory exclaimed through the other line. 

“Hello, Roro, where are you?” Peach asked hearing music blasting through the phone. 

“In a club, I… I forgot the name, but Max and I came. Wait where did he go? But I missed you, so I called, come meet me here!” Rory said, speaking faster and louder. 

Peach laughed, “Why did you and Max decided to go to a club on a Tuesday night?” 

“Max said-he said he wants to hook up with someone, I’m his wi-his wingwoman!” 

I am not surprised. Peach thought, “Are you drunk, darling?” 

Peach could see the pout that Rory was no doubt giving her in her head, “No! I-I'm just a little tipsy. I’m not drunk, Peaches!” 

“How are you going to be able to function when you go to work in a couple hours?” 

“I’ll be able to fu-function cause I’m not drunk!” Rory argued. 

“Where is Max?” Peach questioned, remembering that Rory said aloud that she did not know where he went. 

“There was this woman, and then he… she and Max stated kissing and touching each other, and the woman pulled Max away.” 

Peach sat up, “And when did this happen?” 

Rory did not speak; the only sound was the club's music. After a few seconds Peach rolled her eyes, “With words, Rory, I can’t see you shrug through the phone.” 

“I don't know. But it was a while ago.” Rory said, quieter than before. 

“And I am guessing that Max drove you guys to the club?” 

“…Yes.” 

Peach stood up from her bed, “Just stay there, I’m coming to get you.” 

“Great! I can buy you a drink and we can dance!” Rory exclaimed cheerfully. 

“Sure, Rory.” Peach said absent mindedly, keeping the call going as she texted her driver and made her way downstairs. 

To her surprise, when Peach looked at Rory' location, it was not that far from her townhouse. So, it did not take long before Peach was pushing her way through the crowded club, searching for Rory. 

Frustration was mounting as Peach was bumped into and shoved by drunken and obnoxious partiers, having to keep herself from lunging at each one. 

After what felt like a lifetime, Peach was able to get through the large pit of people, reaching the bar and seeing Rory sitting all the way at the end, happily sipping a cocktail. 

Rory smiled brightly when she saw Peach walking towards her. “Peaches!” 

“Finally.” Peach said to herself, stopping next to Rory. “Come on, Rory, I’m taking you home.” 

Rory giggled, leaning closer to the other woman, “But you just got here! We have to share a drink!” 

Peach gently grabbed Rory by the arm, pulling Rory to her feet. “We can share a drink at my place.” 

“Okay!” Rory said, happily letting Peach lead her out of the building and into the car parked in front of the club. 

~X~

Rory groaned when the light coming from a nearby window hit her directly in the face. As she rolled onto her other side to block the light, a terrible throbbing pain ripped its way throughout her head, her mouth was dry, as if she had not drunk any water in days, and she was queasy. 

“What the fuck?” Rory whined, squeezing her eyes tighter, trying to will herself to fall back asleep. 

Reluctantly, Rory opened her eyes and realized that she was in a bedroom she did not recognize. 

The walls were a dark blue, the floor was Chesapeake, and the bed was not only large, an Alberta King, but had some of the softest sheets Rory had ever felt. 

The room itself had a full set of furniture, all modern and in the latest style. A cold feeling washed over her as she quickly sat up. This proved to be a bad idea as her head spun and her stomach protested almost violently, and it took her a few moments to relax, waiting for her symptoms to lessen. 

“What the hell did I do last night?” Rory asked, not remembering most of the previous night. 

Rory felt somewhat better when she saw that her jeans and t-shirt were still on her body, and when she looked to the side, she was the black bomber jacket she had been wearing was thrown over a nearby chair. 

Slowly, Rory stood up, grabbing her jacket, and slowly opening the door, wanting to leave this place as quickly as possible. 

She found her phone charging on one of the two nightstands on either side of the bed. When she unplugged her phone, Rory saw that it was seven thirty-five in the morning. 

Once she left the bedroom she was in and walked down the hall, she started to recognize the building she was currently inside of. 

I'm in Peach’s townhouse. What, how did- Fuck! I called Peach last night! What did I tell her?! FUCK! Rory thought shamefully. 

Rory went downstairs towards the kitchen, hearing people talking. Peach was sitting at the kitchen island, using her phone as her personal chef made breakfast. 

When Peach looked up from her phone, hearing someone walking towards her, she smiled when she saw who it was. “Good morning, you had quite the night, Roro. 

Rory groaned as she made her way to Peach's side, sitting down next to her. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have called you and made you pick me up.” 

“It was no problem, what do you remember of last night?” Peach asked, pushing a bottle of Advil towards her. 

Rory eagerly took the bottle, opening it as fast as she could and popping two pills into her mouth. She looked at Peach wearily, “Oh no, what did I do?” 

Peach chuckled, “Did you know you’re a very happy and cuddly drunk?” 

Rory froze, “What?” 

Peach’s smile become flirtatious, leaning her head closer to Rory, “You refused to let go of me when I picked you up from the club and when I brought you home you wouldn’t let me put you in the guest room.” 

“Peach,” Rory said, staring at the woman with growing embarrassment and horror. “Please tell me the room, the bed I woke up wasn't yours and that we didn’t share it.” 

“We did.” Peach said honestly before pulling a fake and exaggerated pout on her lips. “Why does this bother you? We shared a bed before; did you hate it then too?” 

“What? No, I lov- I mean, that was different! We, we both fell asleep while talking, this was me being a wasted idiot and latching onto you, it's pathetic!” Rory exclaimed, rushing to explain herself. 

Peach heard what Rory had stopped herself from saying, desiring nothing more than to call Rory out on it as she too loved sleeping in the same bed. 

Rory held her tightly, refusing to let her go, keeping Peach impossibly close to her warm and firm body. And Peach hated having to pull herself out of Rory’s arms that morning and get ready for the day. 

“It wasn’t pathetic; it was cute.” Peach said, grinning when Rory groaned and hit her forehead against the counter in response. 

“I hate you so much.” Rory muttered. 

Peach shook her head, “Did you hear from Max?” 

Rory snorted, “That if he's even awake, wherever he is. I texted him, but I probably won't hear from him for another six, seven hours at least.” 

Rory's eyes widened when the chef put down a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and fried bread in front of her. 

She smiled at Peach teasingly, “You must really love me if had all these foods bought and made for me for my hangover.” 

Rory had gone through Peach’s fridge before, making fun of the woman for having nothing but fruits, vegetables, water, and wine inside of it, calling her a health nut and a food snob. Peach in response, told Rory that she had the pallet of a child, and that all the over processed and fried food she always ate would one day kill her. 

Rory quickly began eating, almost choking on her food from laughing when she saw Peach roll her eyes. 

“Don’t get too used to this, I only had this made because I knew how hungover you would be.” Peach said. 

Rory smirked, “We’ll see.” 

Peach raised an eyebrow, smirking at playfully, “So, you’re planning on getting drunk again and trying to cuddle me to death in your sleep.” 

Rory again almost choked on her food, only this time it was not from laughing but from surprise and embarrassment. “No-not cool.” 

Peach laughed, unaware of how Rory was now staring at her, awestruck by how even more beautiful Peach was when she was laughing. 

Despite her embarrassment, Rory was more than happy to make a fool of herself if it meant seeing more of a carefree and delighted Peach Salinger. 

~X~

A Few Hours Later  

“You look like shit.” Walter told his daughter once the board meeting, they had attended was finished and they were the only ones left in the board room. 

“I feel like shit.” Rory admitted, not seeing the point in trying to deny anything. “You’re not going to tell me how disappointed you are in me for clubbing on a work night and coming in hungover?” 

Walter chuckled, “God no, I’d be quiet the hypocrite if I did that. I remember being your age once, I there were plenty of days where I came to the office feeling like my head was going to explode and my breath smelling like a burning trash can.” 

“And grandpa didn’t do or anything to you about that?” Rory asked, knowing the kind of man Walter Hayden II was. 

Her father scoffed, “Of course not. If he saw that I was even the tiniest bit inebriated, he would refuse to let me sit down, made me work standing up and would tell everyone to yell as loud as they could if they needed to speak to me. Your grandfather was a sadist, so you should be thankful I didn’t take after him.” 

Rory laughed, “Thank so much, dad for not being a hardass.” 

Walter smiled, “You’re welcome.” 

As she was about to respond, Rory felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and when she pulled it out, she smiled when she saw who had texted her. 

At first, Walter assumed that the person his daughter was texting was Max, but he had never seen Rory smile so brightly when she was communicating with Max. 

How is she texting? Walter thought, squinting as he looked at the glass window behind Rory, trying to see what was on her phone screen. 

“Are you okay, dad?” Rory asked, looking up and seeing her father squinting at her. 

Walter sat back in his chair, clearing his throat as he tried to push past the embarrassment, he felt at getting caught and for trying to spy in the first place. “I’m fine. So, who is texting you?” 

Rory’s gaze fell back “Oh, it was just Peach. She was just telling me something that our friend Annika was telling her.” 

“Peach Salinger?” Walter asked, surprise bleeding into his voice. 

Rory looked at her father, raising an eyebrow. “Yeah, we're friends. Remember?” 

“How could I forget.” Walter said, still looking at Rory strangely as he returned her attention to her phone. 

He was aware of the two women’s friendship but the last time he had seen his daughter and Peach together, Rory did not look nearly as excited to talk to her as she did now. 

To him, Rory looked like how many people said he looked whenever he was talking to or about Amber. 

Does Rory…? Is Peach even gay? I know that Barry has had certain opinions on homosexuals, so who knows? Walter thought, continuing to watch his daughter. 

Well, at least Amber doesn't have to worry any more about Rory dying alone and not giving her any grandbabies.  

Rory had never shown much interest to her parents about dating, settling down, or having children. And it was to the point that Amber had started to lose hope, ignoring her husband telling her that Rory was still young. 

Although, I’m not sure I should tell Amber about any of this. Walter knew how extreme his wife could become in a situation like this, letting her excitement get the better of her. 

~X~

Beck laid her head on Annika’s coffee table, staring despondent at the adjacent wall. 

The four women were having a girl's night, coming at Annika’s behest when she told them that things had gotten weird between her and Max. 

She claimed that Max had started treating her more like a girlfriend than a friend who he was regularly having sex with. 

Which immediately gave Annika the ick, leading to her ending their dalliance. 

And for Beck, it was easier to focus on her friend’s problems than her own. 

Although this was proving to be hard as she watched her phone begin to ring again, the screen flashing with her boyfriend’s name and picture. 

“Oh my God, Beck, can you please answer your boy toy already so he can stop calling?” Peach groaned, pausing her attempt to paint Lynn’s nails. 

Beck lifted her head and grimaced as she looked down at her phone. “I can't.” 

“And why not?” 

“Because then I'll have to talk to him.” 

“That’s usually what you do when you answer the phone.” Annika drawled, causing Lynn to snort. 

Beck weakly glared at her friends, relief filling her as her phone screen went black. 

Lynn looked at Beck and then her phone, “Okay, what’s going on with you and Joe?” 

Beck sighed, leaning the back of her head on the couch. “This morning, when I was going to class, Joe told me… that he loved me.” 

There was a brief silence in Annika’s living room before Lynn spoke, and “And you told him you loved him. Right?” 

Beck said nothing, closing her eyes as she felt the weight of the other three women's eyes on her. 

“Beck, what did you say?” Annika asked. 

Beck sighed, “I said thanks and then I left.” 

“Your boyfriend told you he loves you and your response to that was to thank him?” Annika asked incredulously. 

Beck sat up turning her body to face the others, “I know, I know. It's just-I wasn’t prepared for that.” 

“So, you just said, ‘thanks’ and the ran?” Lynn asked, “No wonder Joe's been calling you since we got here; he must be freaking out.” 

“I know, okay?” Beck said tiredly, before her gaze fell on Peach. “Aren't you going to say anything?” 

“Say what?” Peach asked defensively. 

“To tell me how happy you are about all of this.” Beck said, frowning, “You’ve never liked Joe, so you must be ecstatic to know that I’ve probably screwed up our relationship.” 

Peach clenched her hands, offended both by Beck’s low opinion of her, and the fact that she was right; she was happy that this could lead to Beck and Joe breaking up. But of course, after everything that has happened, Peach cannot say this to Beck, “I do think you can do better than Joseph, but I’m not going to celebrate your possible breakup. Especially with how much you care about him, I don’t want you to be upset.” 

Beck blinked, not expecting that from Peach, wondering if Peach really was trying to change. “Oh. I- thanks, Peach.” 

Peach rolled her eyes, “Don’t go treating me like Joseph now; just a thanks for pouring my heart to you? I’m hurt.” 

Beck blushed when Annika and Lynn laughed, “Fuck off, P.” 

Peach huffed, “So, what are you going to do? You can’t avoid him forever, unless...” 

“I don’t want to break up with Joe.” Beck said strongly, “I just- I never been in this kind of situation before.” 

Lynn raised an eyebrow, “Didn’t you tell Benji that you loved him?” 

Beck blushed again before a scowl appeared on her face as she was reminded of her ex. She still has not seen or heard from Benji since he left the city, and she was happy about it as she knew how terrible he was. “I did, and he never said it back. None of my boyfriends have ever said it, until Joe.” 

Annika placed her hand on Beck’s shoulder, “Then, tell him that you're not ready. Joe’s a good guy, he’ll understand.” 

“Yeah.” Beck said softly, she tried to smile but everyone could see how strained and fake it was. 

Peach felt conflicted about all of this; she was happy to know that Joe and Beck might break up, but she was also surprised by how small her happiness was. 

Since she has known Beck, all her relationships have ended in spectacular fashion, leaving Beck a heartbroken mess for few weeks before she would bounce back. And while Peach knew that Beck would never return her feelings, she could not deny that whenever Beck would end one of her many relationships, it would inspire hope in her heart for the miniscule possibility that this may change. 

But unlike before, Peach was only pleased because Joe would no longer have a hold on her best friend, the chance of Beck loving her back, barely registered to her. 

And then thought of Rory Hayden pooped into Peach’s mind, answering her own question about the whole thing. 

Peach had been trying to act normally, but she knew that Beck, Annika, and Lynn could tell that she was being strange, but they all knew that Peach would rather get her teeth pulled than talk about her feelings.  

Although, this did not stop the occasional glances they would each send her way, she had been keeping Beck at a distance all night, not being as attentive to the other woman as she usually was. And it was both humiliating and eye opening to realize that her friends were aware to some extent of her feelings for Beck. 

She felt like screaming, like tearing her own skin from her body. It felt like three were talking about her behind her back, like they had this secret over her. 

If there was one thing Peach Salinger hated more than anything else, it was being pitied, and this was what this whole situation felt like. 

How was I so blind to all of this? Peach thought. I don't know what’s worse; Beck, Annika, and Lynn knowing, or all of them knowing but saying anything about it?  

And Peach squished down the tiny notion that crept up that if her friends knew about her feelings for Beck and were not bothered enough to say anything, then she could be more open with her sexuality. 

But she knew that was a pipe dream, something that she could never do without losing everything she had worked for and built for herself. 

~X~

“Hi.” Paco said shyly to the young woman in front of him. 

Francisco ‘Paco' Bisela, had always been nervous around new people, having been burned by those who acted kindly to him in the past. 

Which is why as he sat on the stairs of his apartment building, reading the latest book Joe had given and seeing this woman who he had never seen before walking up the stairs, stopping so that they were even height with each other, brought out those same feelings within him. 

Rory smiled, “You must be Paco; my brother has told me a lot about you.” 

“Your brother?” Paco asked. 

“Joe.” 

Paco's eyes widened, and Rory had to keep herself from laughing, “Joe is your brother? Really?” 

“Yes, really. Why does everyone say that?” 

Paco looked at Rory before turning his head, looking at Joe's front door and back again. And Rory could imagine that Paco was thinking of both her and Joe's physical appearances. 

Rory chuckled, “Yeah, I know.” 

Paco looked down, “Sorry.” 

“Don't worry about it, I get that a lot.” Rory waved off, “So, which book did Joey give you now?” 

Paco glanced at the book in his hands before answering, “Frankenstein.” 

Rory smirked, “And I guess he wants you to see who the monster truly is in the story?” 

Paco nodded, “He said it’s not as clear cut as it seems, that seeing the truth is the most important theme in the book.” 

Rory slowly walked up the remaining steps, sitting down next to Paco, “He’s not entirely wrong, but Mary Shelly was trying to convey more than just man’s in darkness. The characters she weaved and the world they inhabited like ambition, nature versus nurture, power and control, science and creation, gender, isolation, and companionship.” 

“Have you read Frankenstein before?” 

“It’s one of my favorite books. I remember reading my copy so much the pages creased.” Rory said before smiling playfully, “And Joe would have chained me to chair and forced me to read the book if he found out that I didn’t.” 

Paco giggled, “Joe does really love his books.” 

“He does, it’s a good thing he owns and works at a bookstore. It’s the only way he can satiate his addiction.” Rory agreed. 

Paco grinned and was going to tell a joke of his own, when the door to his apartment swung open and Ron walked into the hallway, looking at Paco and Rory suspiciously. 

“C’mon, Paco. Go inside.” Ron says sternly, still staring at Rory. 

Paco’s expression falls as he hesitantly stands up, “It was nice meeting you, Rory.” 

Rory smiled, “It was nice meeting you too, Paco. Maybe next time you can tell me about your next read?” 

Paco tried to smile as he nodded his head before it fell and he reluctantly made his way to Ron, keeping his head down as he walked inside the apartment. 

Rory stood up and walked up the stairs only to see that Ron was still standing there, staring at her. Rory scrunched her nose in disgust when she noticed him blatantly checking her out. 

Gross. Rory thought, this was not her first time being started at by men in such a way, but it never stopped being uncomfortable and annoying. 

And Ron’s staring was not helped by the fact that she knew who he was, as he fit the description Joe gave of the man who beat him up. 

Having enough, Rory spoke to the man, “Did you need something?” 

Ron’s eyes finally returned to her face, “Did you?” 

With a roll of her eyes, Rory walked past Ron, seeing this as the end of the conversation as she walked up to Joe’s door and knocked on it. 

Rory heard a scoff from behind her, “So, you know him ?” 

Rory looked a Ron from the corner of her eye distastefully, “Don’t you have something better to do than staring at my ass, or are you going to keep standing there trying to look pretty?” 

Ron sneered, “Oh, yeah, you definitely know him.” 

The door thankfully opened, revealing her brother, Joe had a look of relief on his face when he saw Rory that soon died when he noticed Ron behind her. His expression darked, “Did he touch you?” 

Ron fully glared as his attention moved off Rory and onto Joe, “Who the fuck do you think-” 

As he was speaking, Rory pushed Joe inside his apartment and shut the door in Ron’s face, locking it for good measure. The siblings could hear Ron loudly curse from the other side which was followed by the slamming of a door. 

“You know he just going to be even more of an asshole the next time he sees me, right?” Joe asked, a small smile growing on his face, showing that he was not being serious. 

Rory walked past her brother and sat on his couch, “Well, since you refused to do the smart thing and file charges against that piece of shit, you’re kind of inviting his assholery.” 

Joe rolled his eyes as he sat down next to his sister, “Yeah, yeah.” 

Rory tuned her body to face Joe, resting one of her arms on the back of the couch and her head against her fist. “So, have you heard from Beck yet?” 

Joe sighed, “No, I’ve been calling and texting but she’s ignoring me.” 

And Joe knew that Beck was seeing them as he used the phone he took from her to see that she had been texting and calling Peach, Annika, and Lynn. 

Joe pulled his phone out of his pocket to once again see if Beck had finally gotten back to him, but Rory took his phone before he could it on and check. 

“Okay first off, don't keep texting and calling, it makes you look desperate.” Rory said, putting Joe's phone on the coffee table. 

“I am desperate.” 

“Yeah, but you didn’t do anything that warrants this much craziness. If you’re so worried you should just to Beck's place.” 

Joe shook his head, “I can't, Beck doesn’t, she doesn’t like it when I show up unannounced. So I doubt she would appreciate me showing up when she’s clearly avoiding me.” 

Plus I already went to Beck's and she never showed up. Did, did you know I would come to your door and so purposefully stayed away, Beck? Joe thought. 

“I doubt she will keep avoiding you for much longer, you’re fucking dating.” Rory sighed, “Will you be okay if Beck doesn’t tell you she loves you?” 

Would I be okay if you didn’t love me, Beck? Would our relationship be able to survive all of this? Would I truly be able to live knowing that I am not as important to you as you are to me, Beck?  

“I… I don't know.” Joe said truthfully, “What, what if she breaks up with me?” 

“Than she’s and idiot.” Rory said with out hesitation, “And I’ll be here for you as long as you need me to be.” 

Joe stated at his sister for a few moments, his expression becoming deathly still and serious. “You would be there for me? No matter what?” 

Rory raised an eyebrow, “Of course, dummy. Your my big brother, why wouldn’t I be?” 

Thoughts of Beck and Candace swirled through his mind, clashing together and causing a pit of dread to form in his stomach.  

The knowledge of Candace’s missing body sat in the back if his mind and since that day he lived in fear that he would soon be caught. 

And Joe was more worried about what Rory would think of him if this secret ever came to light. 

“I just… I just wanted to be sure.” Joe said lamely. 

Rory looked at him, “Wow. This whole Beck thing must really be fucking with you.” 

Joe laughed, trying to hide his nerves, “I guess so.” 

Rory patted her brother's knee, smiling at him sympathetically. 

Which resolved Joe to never let Rory figure out the truth about him.