I didn't think I would. Dean showed up a few days before my big interview to see if I could get a full ride through law school. I wasn't going to go with him, but he said Dad was on a hunt and hadn't checked in for a few days. He was worried and...
And it was family. [He looks into her eyes, knowing she would get that without even knowing every detail of why she would. It's just something he can feel about her.] So, I went and we even made it back in time for the interview.
[And this is where he stalls, because even years later while he's moved on, he's never completely let this go. He's never completely forgiven himself for what happened next. She died because of him.]
We...didn't make it back in time for Jess. My girlfriend. [The girl who would have been his fiance once he worked up the nerve to ask assuming she'd have said yes.] When I walked in she was [it feels like his mouth and throat are running completely out of moisture, making the words rougher.] pinned to the ceiling, bleeding. And then everything was on fire. [He can't look at Elena—not directly.] It was just like what happened to mom.
[But this still doesn't answer the question. Not directly. So he draws the final line.] The interview wasn't important after that. [School wasn't important. Finding her killer was important.]