Ah yes, another AU (but touches on a lot of the same storyline of the show) in the works. Here's some important details you need to know before proceeding:
* Rory and Lorelai took on Europe but instead of Rory writing down the date to Yale incorrectly, they had time (and money) left and decided to take a trip to California.
* Rory and Dean still broke up.
* Jess and Luke knew each other in recent years but the former never actually came to Stars Hollow, thus the friendship and romance between he and Rory never happened seeing as they've obviously never met.
* Jess learns that his estranged father is in California. Confused, angry and freshly 18 years old, he decides to take the trip there where he'll get a lot more than he bargained for.
I'm still working on Stuck with Me, this is just another story idea that popped into my head the other day... Not sure where this will go but I wanted to give it a try.
Title: La Vie en Rose
Rating: T(situations, language)
Summary: Having the time of her life before becoming Yale bound, Rory and Lorelai head to California as the final stop of their summer-long vacation. Little does she know, this trip will be more memorable and important then the Eiffel Tower, The Roman Coliseum, the Tower Bridge and all of Europe.
Drifting through life angry and alone, Jess Mariano leaves New York in search of answers and to meet his deadbeat father. In the unlikeliest of all places, he may have found the most important piece to his life.
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." - Lao Tzu
"Off à la Californie, babe!" That was the last thing Rory had heard her mother squeal before falling into a comfortable slumber on board of whatever flight they were being transported on. The pair had spent the last two months traveling Europe; every major city, every important landmark, every crevice the countries had to offer. . . Neither woman wanted to miss a single thing. Even Lorelai, who's dream was to find Antonio Banderas hiding in some cute little cafe, or at least a suitable look-a-like would have sufficed, and despite coming out empty-handed, she would not have traded a single moment spent with her daughter while traveling that summer. So many memories had been made, moments and thoughts each one would remember for years to come.
California was actually a sudden spur-of-the-moment decision. There was a little money left from their adventure and neither one had the opportunity of seeing the Golden State before. Both girls ultimately decided it couldn't hurt to soak up the sun on the lavish beaches the west coast had to offer and hey, who wouldn't love stopping by at an LA Whole Foods and seeing a celebrity. Lorelai recalled reading about tons of celebs shopping there from a late issue of People Magazine. "What, they can't find other stores in that state?" Lorelai mused aloud. "It's got just about everything!"
"Everything but us," Rory pipped in, giggling.
It was then settled. California was going to get Gilmore-d! The only downside they put into thought was the near fourteen hours they'd be stuck on the plane there.
*-La Vie en Rose-*
'One week spent in this damn happy-land,' Jess thought bitterly. He wasn't happy in New York and California wasn't seemingly any better. But maybe that had to do with the fact things with his father were still awkward and every little thing he knew about the elder Mariano seemed to creep him out more. It truly scared him how eerily similar he and Jimmy Mariano were; similar taste in music, literature, hell, they even began reciting a line from Goodfellas together during an insane and abrupt movie night his live-in girlfriend had set up. Yup, all down to a T.
Jess wasn't used to the sandy beaches and the happy-go-lucky faces. And the sun, this fucking hot, bright sun! He enjoyed being able to walk around Manhattan without breaking a sweat in his leather jacket and though he refused to take it off on most outdoor occasions, he'd be lying if he said he didn't often times get light-headed. It was his shelter for so long, why part with it now? Jess knew he couldn't really complain, deep down. He needed to get the hell out of New York, find some answers, get a new bit of scenery and most importantly, he thought with a scoff, he needed to get the hell away from his mother. Liz loved him, he knew that. But she sure didn't show it the way most mothers would show their young affection and warmth. What mother has to constantly call up their older brother to give her money or help replace stolen items from her loser boyfriends? What kind of mother gets married less than six months into a relationship time and time again? 'As if the first two times wasn't enough for her to learn from,' he added bitterly.
Jess knew that staying in New York wouldn't bring him much of anything. Having failed high school and stuck working two jobs to help pay for rent and his own savings, seeing yet another man do as he pleased in the apartment Jess and Liz lived in and doing the same old juvenile bullshit with his buddies every weekend and free night, he knew straight then that he needed a new routine. Maybe finding some answers as to who he is from the man that came before him would help. Or maybe it'd just send Jess into a bigger whirlwind of confusion - either way, curiosity got the best of him and he couldn't leave it alone.
It didn't take him long to get enough money for a bus ticket and travel to Venice Beach. It certainly didn't take him long to find where Jimmy and his girlfriend, Sasha, had lived. With a simple duffel bag containing more books than clothing, he wandered around Venice Beach his first day there taking in the sights; mostly scavenging for hideouts in the form of bookstores he found suitable in case meeting his father turned into some huge mess.
Aside from the awkwardness and uncertainty, and the hint of anger on Jess's side, they were getting along quite... Well, they were getting along and Jess would just leave it at that. Jimmy let Jess earn a couple extra bucks by working shifts at his hot dog stand, Dante's Inferno. It was nothing special and it was certainly not business chain-worthy revenue they saw, but it was work and Jess wasn't going to pass along the chance of increasing his savings.
"Excuse me," a blonde with two children called out. Jess cringed at her high-pitched tone, snapping out of his thoughts. "Could we get three hot dogs with the works." It wasn't even a question. A statement. It's a hot dog stand, why ask when you know the Inferno has it. Lets forget all about common courtesy or plain old respect.
"Yeah, coming right up," he mumbled and turned to work on her order.
"Oh, and two sodas, diet, and a glass of water with a slice of lemon would be fan-tastic!" Blonde woman stood on her heel examining her fingers and popping her gum.
'Dear God,' Jess thought. 'I might actually throw an opened lemon at her eye!' He was baffled as to what hot dog stand in the world would sell classy, crystal clear glasses of water with lemon slices. He was relieved to have learned that not everybody in Venice Beach was as stuck up and pretentious as this particular customer was.
*-La Vie en Rose-*
After carrying their luggage to their Cecil Hotel suite in downtown LA, Rory and Lorelai decided to take a bus up the coast of the beach and venture out into the cities. The Hollywood Walk of Fame, beach-set amusement parks, quaint diners; the works! Rory actually feared they'd never want to leave at first.
"The sky's the limit, honey," Lorelai cooed. "Santa Barbara, Anaheim, Pasadena, hell, we can even go to San Francisco!" Rory laughed at her mother's excited outbursts. "Come on, you know, get the full Full House effect!"
"Whatever you want, mom." Rory smiled brightly at her mother. She just wanted to keep seeing Lorelai so happy. It, in turn, made her feel wonderful.
"How about we just enjoy the beaches for today? Get a little local sight-seeing done and then we can move around the area?" Lorelai examined a complementary map the hotel provided them. "How does Venice Beach sound?" Lorelai paused, seemingly in deep thought. "Hmm, I wonder if it is anything like Italy?"
"I have no idea. Though I doubt it is, Venice sounds like a plan!" Rory beamed. "I'll get the sun screen and our glasses; you find your bathing suit in one of your cases and we'll rent an umbrella on the boardwalk."
"Sweet, sweet child," Lorelai's eyes shone her happiness, despite her mock-serious tone. "Whatever would I do without your brilliant brain?"
Rory shrugged. "Probably be huddled in a corner of a padded room in a pretty uncomfortable jacket, rocking back and forth talking to yourself about the time you spent living vicariously through a squirrel."
"Funny child," Lorelai mock glared. Grabbing the map to shove in her purse, "Shall we?"
Accepting her mother's hand and grabbing their room key, "We shall."
*-La Vie en Rose-*
That's all for now. Just going to go with the flow.