Chapter 1: The First Three Chapters
Jess Mariano shrugged on his leather jacket as he said goodbye to his Uncle Luke. "Be back at 10?" he checked to confirm. Just then, the door opened.
"Jess!" a sweet voice called, and Rory Gilmore emerged from the front door of 37 Maple, a red sweater clinging loosely to her thin frame, and a manuscript clutched in her hands. "Jess, look: the first three chapters!" Rory let out an excited squeal as she jumped up and down, playing with the edges of Jess's jacket, before slipping past her almost-stepfather and back into the house. Luke watched her go with an amused smile. "What was that all about?"
"Oh, just a thing between us," Jess shrugged as he prepared to shoulder his duffel.
"Between you?" Luke picked up on immediately.
"A work thing between us," Jess quickly amended. He meant, of course, the idea that he had given Rory to write a book about her and her mom, which she had now taken up.
"Work thing, huh? So, then... you're over that, right?" Luke prodded, both cautious and yet prepared to take bold measures should the wrong answer be given.
"Yup. Long over." Jess assured him.
"OK. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Can't wait to see if you're gonna wear that pocket square or not," Jess jokingly jabbed as his uncle left the porch. Luke's wedding to Lorelai Gilmore would be the next day.
Shouldering his bag, Jess walked around the porch and peered through the window to the living room. Inside, Rory was placing what looked like a pink cloth on Luke's forehead, to calm him ahead of the big day. Jess's gaze turned sad, wistful. Even in baggy clothing like that sweater, Rory still looked as beautiful as he remembered. He had to convince himself that what he had told his uncle was still somewhat of a lie - he still did love Rory. He recalled their conversation from the previous night, talking into the wee hours of the morning about her book (When Rory had decided to take the plunge, Jess had immediately volunteered to write the novel's Foreword), and just reminiscing. If only he had stared here, in Stars Hollow, and not embarked on a career as an author himself. If only she had not gone back to Yale, and then traipsed off to London and New Hampshire and God knows where else. Would things have been different between them? Jess had regrets, plenty of them - but he could never say he regretted the chance to be with Rory last night. Sighing, he turned away.