Rules of Summer

Rory sat double-parked on Main Street, watching for any police cars in the rearview mirror as she spoke on her cell. “I want a seat on the first one out,” she said. “Whatever is the next jitney. From East Hampton to midtown Manhattan.”

“All-righty,” came the breezy, corporate-trained female voice on the other end. “Okay, there’s a jitney leaving from East Hampton in fifteen minutes, at six thirty, with one seat left. Shall I book it?”

Rory took a deep breath. She could just park the Prius in the parking lot and send a text to Fee to pick up the car later. “Yes, please.”

“One-way?”

“Yes.”

Rory drummed her fingers on the steering wheel as the clerk put her on hold. She was doing the right thing. After she drove around the back roads of East Hampton for an hour, her gut had finally beaten her heart into submission. The creepiness of Mrs. Rule’s voice still clung to her like a bad cologne. They don’t want you here anymore, she thought. Connor will understand. He’ll come see you. But you have to leave. Now.

“Okay,” said the jitney clerk as she clicked back on the line. “You’re all set. The stop is across from the Palm restaurant on Main Street.”

“I know, I’m looking right at it,” Rory said.

“Be there in the next ten minutes to be sure you get on board,” the clerk said.

“Great. Thank you.” Rory clicked off, relieved. Now for the hard part. She had to write Connor a text. Isabel clearly didn’t care if she stayed or went. But Connor would be upset. She had no idea what to say. She began to type:

Hey, can’t get you on cell. Your mom has asked me to leave.

I think it’s best that I go ASAP. Call me when you get back.

She deliberated over the next line.

I love you.

Yes, she would say it first. Even Isabel had broken that particular rule, and she’d survived it. Rory had meant to tell her how proud she was of her for that, and for the way she’d risked being open with Mike from the start, but it was too late. She should have told her about Connor. Her hesitation to tell her was exactly the reason why she should have. They weren’t ever going to be friends, especially now. It was amazing how accurate first impressions remained, even after you got to know someone.

She hit send on the text and then dropped her phone in her bag and turned off the ringer. Otherwise she’d be subconsciously waiting for a call that wouldn’t come for hours anyway. Then she backed the Prius up into the public parking lot. She got out and left the keys behind the back wheel. It was East Hampton, she thought. Nobody was going to steal a Prius.

A crowd had already started to form in front of the green curb that was the East Hampton jitney stop, and attractive people loitered attractively with their designer duffel bags, their cell phones pressed to their ears. She thought of the people she’d seen streaming off the train the first day. It would be good to get home, she realized. There she wouldn’t have to worry about what kind of sandals she had on or how she wore her hair. She could finally be herself.

She was about to dig around in her bag for her book when she saw a black Porsche convertible glide down the street. It was going east, but as soon as it passed Rory, it stopped, veered into an illegal U-turn, and careened to a stop in front of the crowd. Isabel pulled off her aviators and waved at her from behind the wheel. “Hey! Where the hell are you going?”

The jitney-goers looked at Rory with annoyed curiosity.

Rory walked over to the car and crouched down to see Isabel behind the wheel, grinning madly.

“What are you doing?” Rory asked.

“I passed the test,” Isabel said. “I got my license. What are you doing?”

“I’m leaving,” she said. “Your mom asked me to.”

“Get in the car,” Isabel said abruptly. “She changed her mind.”

“What do you mean?”

“She doesn’t want you to go,” Isabel said. “I just spoke to her. Get your ass in the car.”

“I just bought a fifty-dollar ticket home,” Rory said.

“So I’ll reimburse you,” Isabel said. “Get in the goddamn car!”

Not sure what else to do, Rory opened the car door and got inside.

Isabel pulled back into traffic. “You can’t leave my brother like this,” she said. “It’ll kill him. And then he’ll kill me.”

“So now you care about what happens with me and your brother?” Rory asked. “And slow down.”

“I’m sorry I acted like such a bitch to you,” Isabel said. “I think I was just jumping to the worst conclusions. That you were using me to get to Connor.”

“You know that’s ridiculous,” Rory said. “Right? Totally ridiculous.”

“Well, then, why didn’t you tell me about him?” Isabel asked.

“Because I wasn’t sure you’d think I’d be good enough for him.”

Isabel pulled over to the side of the road, in front of the cemetery. “Hey, listen to me,” Isabel said, taking Rory’s hand. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened in my dumb brother’s life. I’m sorry if I didn’t make you feel that way.”

“It’s okay,” Rory said.

“No, I’m serious. And you’re the best thing that’s happened to me. The best friend I’ve ever had. And you deserved more from me than the cold shoulder all this time.”

Rory smiled.

“I’m sorry, Ror.” Isabel leaned over and hugged her.

Rory felt Isabel squeeze her ribs. “That’s okay.”

“So are we friends again?” Isabel’s eyes were bright and happy, but slightly moist from tears.

“Sure,” Rory said.

“Good.” Isabel pulled back onto the road. “Oh, and one more thing. Mr. Knox is my real dad.”

“Are you kidding?” Rory asked.

“He told me today. He’s the one who took me to my test. It explains a lot. But I can’t tell anyone. My mom made me promise not to say anything.”

“Jesus,” Rory said. “Are you okay?”

“I think I will be,” Isabel said. “One day. It’s probably going to take me the next year to even process it all. But at least I understand so many things now. So many more things make sense.” She turned onto Lily Pond Lane and sped down the center of the empty street. “Damn, this car feels good to drive,” she said.

“Just don’t get us killed, okay?” Rory asked, as kindly as she could.