[ Alan squints for a second as if he's seeing something elusive and strange when he looks at Jesse. He's not sure how to explain it, exactly, but he knows it relates to her friend. He doesn't understand where these ideas, these realizations, are coming from, but he doesn't think it's just the moonshine talking. He's not going loopy from the drinking. In a way, his mind feels clearer than it has in a long time. ]

Well, I'm not dismissing you or ignoring you. I wouldn't. [ He hopes that his tone sounds genuine, because he means what he says. ]

What do you get when you put two handfuls together in the same room? There's a joke in there somewhere, but I can't think of it right now.

[ Ordinarily, Alan would pause, and probably talk himself out of the words that are on the tip of his tongue, but the moonshine loosened him up and lessened his inhibitions, so he just lets the words go. ]

You have me too, you know. And your friend isn't going anywhere anytime soon. I don't know how I know, but I know she'll never leave you on your own for too long.

[ His brow furrows in something like confusion, because even though the words feel right, he doesn't know where they're coming from or why he feels so confident that what he's just said is fact. ]

I think- I think she's been reaching out and I haven't noticed until now. I... God, this is going to sound like such a dumbass thing to say, but it's like I'm seeing and hearing everything so much clearer now. Maybe it's the moonshine, or maybe it's something else, but I feel different.