With the way Dorian acted around her now, it seemed almost impossible to imagine that they used to be best friends. That once upon a time, Dorian and Jessica were inseparable even on the stupidest things. The times when she used to go to him at 2 AM, throwing rocks at his window because she wanted to go eat at the 24-hour diner. And he’d go – despite anything he had to do the next day. That type of friendship that anyone would have told her would have likely lasted a lifetime. Long story short, it didn’t. Though could she really blame him? Four years was a long time for any sane person to go away. Now four years without any way of contact and any explanation – well, that was a different beast in itself. But Jessica had her reasons… not that anyone would ever learn of those reasons. Hell, even Daniel Parker didn’t know why she left, and she wanted to keep it that way. Some things were just better… kept to one’s self. After all, the best secrets were the ones no one knew – something she learned well by having Danny as family.
But no one could say Jessica didn’t try… if you could call her endless talking trying. Maybe it was more of a diffusion of the awkward situation in hopes of survival. Surviving until he dropped her off and then the two of them would go back to never talking again – which is how it seemed Dorian wanted it and Jessica would oblige… even if it wasn’t necessarily what she hoped. Somethings, after all, were just better left unsaid – an ironic statement by the girl who couldn’t stop talking.
She was slightly happy that he finally responded – asking “Four girls or times?” though it caused her to raise an eyebrow with a slight chuckle. She had been originally joking but by the seriousness in his voice, she wasn’t sure anymore. There was a time she’d counter back – call him out on possibly joking. But that wasn’t today. She didn’t know Dorian anymore and his words could very well be true. “Surprise me,” Jess stated in response, watching to see if he would give more clarity about the situation – even if she didn’t really want to know about his adventurous sex life – though she couldn’t necessarily say she hadn’t had sex in the back of a car. It was leeway into him talking to her, so that was something.
Though – shockingly – Dorian had given her more than a four-word answer when the topic moved to Emily. Emily Dalton truly was an adorable girl with a massive crush. Jess only smiled at the memory of the talk Emily had with her, pulling her aside when the Jessica was walking around with the hall pass avoiding teachers as she had no reason to be out with a hall pass. The exact words, if Jessica could remember, had been “You need to leave Dorian alone. He’s my future husband not yours. I love him more than you love him so leave.” Jessica’s response, had been, “Of course future Mrs. DeLoughrey,” Before she saluted the girl and continued walking down the hall – being further pestered as the girl followed her explaining how she was serious. It seemed like such a long time ago now.
Though she was brought out of her memory when she heard Dorian’s ‘more than four-word answer’ being about how Emily had made her leave for years. Sure, Jessica had joked about it in connection to her disappearance… perhaps it was a wrong chose to do so at this time. Ironically Emily wasn’t wrong… but that was a topic for another time – not something to bring up in a confined space with Dorian DeLoughrey. She was about to speak – not on the topic of her disappearance… she couldn’t. She couldn’t lie to him, and she couldn’t tell him the truth so the words that would have left her mouth would have just been avoiding that statement and moving on back to Emily. But he didn’t even give her a chance… which she almost appreciated? Her mind drifted back to the night she left momentarily before disappearing almost as quickly as she remembered sitting in the helicopter, checking her watch for the 15th time before stating “it’s time, go” to the pilot.
She rolled her eyes when Dorian told her she wasn’t walking. “You don’t even have to stop driving, just slow down and I’ll tuck and roll,” Jess joked, nudging him slightly – which was the first time she physically touched him since she… well accidentally touched everything a few hours earlier. “Honestly I’m not kidding though. It’s not a bad walk and it’s not like the first time I’ve done it. Plus, your parents made you do this. You had someplace to be anyways,” Jess added, smiling as “I saw mommy kissing Santa clause” started playing on the radio. “Okay – thoughts. Is the dad Santa or was the mom having an affair?”
Though, a look of surprise met her features as Dorian stopped ignoring everything she had said earlier – answering all her questions. Honestly, she wasn’t even sure he was listening so despite the abrasiveness in his response, she did find it interesting he wasn’t just ignoring her. Though it was his words of ”I just don’t get you,” that brought a frown to her lips. “Join the club,” she mumbled under her breath, probably lower than he could hear, thinking about the dozens of other people who hated her guts. Hell, sometimes she hated herself too. “I get it, Dorian, you don’t want to hear about me or my life but if you haven’t noticed we’re stuck in this car for the next 15 minutes and we both know that shutting up isn’t in my vocabulary. It wasn’t when we were friends, and it isn’t now. So, hit me with another topic I am allowed to talk about since Andy, tattoos, your brother, guys I’ve dated, girls you’ve dated aren’t allowed. Soccer? Or am I banned from hearing anything about your life? How about the weather? That seems like a neutral topic. Thoughts? I think it’s been pretty cold for a March.” Almost exasperated, the words left her mouth before she finally stopped herself at the end – realizing her frustration was showing. “Never mind, just… god, just drop me off on the side or something. It’s not like you care anyways.”