Rory finds Chase in the showers, still wearing his swim briefs as he stands under a pounding spray so hot, steam fogs the air around him. The sound of rushing water is deafening. For a long moment Rory lingers in the open doorway that leads into the shower room. He watches Chase’s back, motionless, head down as if beaten. He waits, hoping Chase will sense him somehow and turn around, or cut off the shower and turn, and then Rory can say something inane like, “Hey man, you all right?”
It’s obvious the answer to that is no, he isn’t, but maybe he’ll shrug and wipe his nose and say, “Yeah, sure. Right as rain.” And Rory can head back to the pool, duty done.
Only Chase doesn’t turn around, doesn’t see him, doesn’t acknowledge his presence in any way, and eventually Rory takes a few steps int
