Wait a minute. Did Rob never want to be casual? 

Jane’s mind started racing as she did her best to focus on the words he was saying and keeping her demeanor cool. But, [i]really[/i]? After all that emotional turmoil, he now wanted to recant the desires he verbalized? 

She scratched her head as she listened and nodded as a sign of her understanding. Well, her sort-of understanding. 

“Look Rob,” she began, clearing her throat before continuing, “I, uh, was really mad when you first brought it up. It felt like rejection. Rejection after I had been trying so god damn hard to make things work. But that’s the problem, trying that hard isn’t being myself. We both got into this weird that I think made us lose the way things are. Not you asking to be casual.”

Her eyes had been darting around the room the entire time she had spoken, but she forced herself to look at him.

“And, I mean, if we aren’t ourselves when we’re in an exclusive relationship together, then how is that gonna work? Maybe… “ she trailed off a bit. Admitting that she was wrong in a situation never came easy. “Maybe we should try it. You know, being casual.”

It was strange coming out of her mouth, when not long ago the same words had cut her so deeply. 

“But, like. Not like the past few days. But in a good place with each other. My biggest fear was losing my best friend, and I felt like I was starting to, you know?” 

She removed her hands from under her and placed one on on his leg. “I know I’m a perv and have the libido of a sixteen year old boy,” she scoffed, “but I miss all the other things, too. Like writing music together, watching movies, telling each other everything, the stupid jokes and shit.” 

Her hand lifted off his leg and sat in her lap. “We’re so young, Rob. Yet we spent almost a whole tour around the country worrying about the other’s feelings, and it fucked everything up. So I, uh, I think we shouldn’t get involved like that again. At least, not for now. Who [i]knows[/i] what the future holds?” 

She sighed and met his eyes, chuckling. “Sorry for the fucking monologue. I’ve been thinking a lot. And you’ve made me better at letting shit like this out.”