"You're late."

"I know, but---"

"You do know you've been late...let me see...six hundred and eight times out of the last six hundred and eight times I've seen you?"

"I know, but---"

"You just said that."

"You're not even gonna let me explain?"

"I wasn't planning on it, no."

"Billy, come on."

"Don't 'Billy' me, Elijah. I am only getting older. Next time you're late, I'll be dead."

"Don't say that."

"It's true, though. I'm already five hundred and six."

"You look really young for your age. What's your secret?"

"Don't be cheeky."

"I'm sorry. You know I wouldn't be late if I didn't have a good explanation."

"I know that, but I've heard all your explanations. I'm just getting tired, you know?"

"Yeah. I know."

"So, maybe we shouldn't meet in secret anymore."

"Are you saying you want to stop seeing me?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying."

"Billy, be rational for a second---"

"I'm always rational. I'm tired of being rational. I'm going to put a stop to this now, because I'm tired. I try harder than you to do this, obviously. So it won't matter if we stop, will it."

"You're not even asking how I feel about it."

"I know I'm not."

"Don't you even care?"

"I do, but there's only so long that a person can sit in a hotel room. This time it's two hours. The time before it was four. I need to find someone who I can meet in public. Maybe someone who doesn't keep me waiting."

"I�m sorry. I don�t mean to be late, I just get busy, and---"

"It�s okay. I�m not mad."

"No, I can tell. You�re reserved. Like you�ve been planning to do this for awhile."

"I have been."

"So, why didn�t you tell me last time?"

"Because last time I just wanted to be with you."

"Well, why not now, then?"

"It�s different now."

"What changed?"

"Everything changed."

"I�m sorry, Billy. I really am. About everything. About asking to keep this a secret. About having us meet in this seedy motel that no one knows about. About being an ass, and not telling you everything that�s been going on. I�m sorry for being late, and keeping you waiting for hours on end. I�m sorry."

"I know."

"You don�t hate me."

"I could never hate you, Lij."

"Well, why can�t we make this work, then? Why can�t we keep trying?"

"We just can�t this time. I just can�t."

"But I love you."

"I know."

-----

This story was written for a challenge over at firstlines1000 on LiveJournal, and it specifically requested there be ONLY dialogue. So that is why there�s only dialogue, in case anyone was wondering.