Things could be different.
Disclaimer: Don't own
Background: This is set just as Rory is about to have her first summer break from Yale. Her mum and Luke are engaged, and Jess is back in the picture.
Chapter One: Just consider it
Rory was pleased to be back in Stars Hollow, the stress of studying for her finals before summer break was bearable, dealing with Paris' stress was not. So she'd decided to get into her car and drive to the one place she knew she could get some peace. Only when she'd arrived at her house, she'd found her best friend rehearsing with her band, and although Rory loved their music, and liked catching up with Lane, she had some serious studying that needed doing, and she needed quiet. So thinking quickly she decided to go to Luke's. Not a quiet place but now that her mother was engaged to Luke she could possibly secure the use of the apartment. So parking across the street, she pulled her bag of books out of the car and walked over, finding Luke at the counter, she smiled in greeting to some familiar towns people as they noticed her. Luke looked up and smiled.
'Hey, I didn't know you were back yet, schools doesn't break up for another week right?' Luke asked, filling up a cup of coffee for her on reflex, she sipped it thankfully before answering him.
'I have the day off for study for my finals. My first one is tomorrow and Paris was driving me crazy, so I was hoping I could use the apartment, it's just Lane is practicing over at the house, so it's not really quiet enough.' Rory explained.
'Sure, want any food?' Luke asked.
'Burger and fries would be good, and some more coffee to take up with me.' Rory replied.
'Coming right up.' Luke walked off again. Rory sipped at her coffee, letting the atmosphere of the town sink in, it was a warm sunny day outside, and usually she would got to the bridge to study on a day like this, but she couldn't bring herself to, the last time she'd been there had been with Jess. Since he'd left without a word of goodbye she'd tried hard to forget him, but it had proved harder than she'd thought it would.
'Hey sugar! How are you? I thought you weren't back until your mum's engagement party next week.' Babette broke into her thoughts, she looked at her neighbour with a smile, and explained again why she was here. Then they started chatting about the engagement party which had been scheduled for the first week of summer so Rory could attend. Despite the fact that her mum and Luke had been engaged for three weeks now, after they started dating a few days after Rory left for college. As her food arrived she said her goodbyes to Babette and walked up to the apartment, spreading her books and food out on the table. She hadn't been up here since Jess left, and was shocked that some of his things still remained, a small collection of books were on the bookcase, and a black zip up hooded top was left across his bed. Luke clearly hadn't bothered to move it, trying to block out thoughts of her ex-boyfriend she got on with her studying, loosing herself to the work that had to be done. Three hours later she got up to switch on a light, not having realised until now that it had gotten dark, and she'd been squinting at the work. Luke had popped up a while ago to let her know that he was going out with Lorelai tonight and he'd be back late so she was welcome to continue studying. She'd thanked him and gone back to work. But now she shivered from the slight draft in the apartment, and wished she'd brought a jumper with her, without thinking she went over to Jess' bed, picked up the black top and slipped it on over her pale green top, and zipped it up. It hung loosely round her slim waist, and was just slightly too long in the sleeves, but she felt comfortable and warm in it, it still held his scent. Cigarettes, coffee and the smell of old books al mingled together in a musky smell. Sighing heavily she decided to get a drink before returning to her revision, she walked to the fridge and stopped dead as she saw a sticky note on the fridge door. It simply read Jess' Cell then his number. Rory felt numb, she hadn't realised that Luke had that number, though she guessed it made sense that he would have it. She ran her fingers over the ink and felt her heart skip, her head felt dizzy and she had to sit, but she took the note with her, pulling out her own phone she typed in the numbers. Battling with herself. 'Why are you doing this?' Then changing her mind. 'Why shouldn't you call him, you could invite him to the engagement party, he has a right to be there. His uncle is getting married.' She argued with herself, eventually pressing the call button, her heart beating fast against her ribcage as she listened to the ringing. Then she heard it.
'Hello?' Jess' voice sounded tired and slightly irritated, but it was him and her heart flipped in her chest.
'Hey…it's Rory.' She said quietly, although she hadn't needed to clarify who it was, he knew the voice the minute she said hey. It had stopped him in his tracks as he'd been walking towards a bus station somewhere in Kansas. He stayed silent for a minute making Rory doubt if he was still there.
'Jess?' She asked, her voice was shaking with nerves but she had to speak to him, she couldn't back out now.
'Sorry, I'm just surprised to hear from you.' He said breaking himself out of the shock he'd gone into. He sank down so he was sat on the curb, and she sat down on his bed.
'Yeah, I was studying in Luke's apartment and I found your number. So I thought I'd call…My mum and Luke are engaged, I don't know if you knew.' Rory said in a rambling way, trying to get over the awkwardness but she couldn't, neither of them could get past the fact that he'd left without telling her.
'Yeah Luke mentioned it.' Jess said pushing his hand through his hair.
'Of course. So um…Where are you?' She felt the tension build as they moved towards the subject of him leaving, but she desperately needed to know where he was, and that he was ok.
'I'm in Kansas. I was about to get a bus to Colorado. I've been travelling a bit.' Jess answered.
'Doing the Kerouac thing? Is that why you left? To travel?' Rory asked her tone a little sharper than she'd meant it to be, she heard his sharp intake of breath and regretted bringing it up. He took a minute before sighing and answering her.
'No. I went to California, my dad showed up in Stars Hollow, and so when he left I tracked him down and stayed with him for a bit. Then I started travelling when that fell apart…' There was something he wasn't saying, so Rory stayed silent, waiting. 'Rory I'm so sorry for how I left…I just…'
'It's ok you don't have to explain.' Rory was fighting back the tears, she didn't want to let him make her cry again. She was meant to be over him, and here she was sat on his bed, wearing his sweatshirt and calling him up at nine o'clock in the evening.
'No I owe you an explanation. I wasn't graduating Rory, I couldn't take you to prom and I felt like a failure, I'd let you down and I'd let Luke down. Then he kicked me out and I couldn't face telling you how much I'd messed up. You deserved better from me, I know that now, but at the time I just…I didn't know how to tell you. It was easier to bail.' Jess said true honesty in his voice. 'I never meant to hurt you.'
'I know…still it did hurt. You could have called.' Rory said. 'And I mean call and actually speak, not just stay quiet then hang up.'
'I didn't think you'd want to hear what I had to say.' Jess said uneasily.
'Anyway let's put that behind us, you've apologised and I forgive you, so…can we try and leave it all behind.' Rory said brushing away her tears.
'Yeah…If that's what you want.' Jess said not really know where this was headed. 'Rory?'
'I miss talking to you…I want to be friends, do you think we can handle that, friends I mean?' Rory asked. He never thought this would happen, he didn't think he'd ever get her forgiveness. And now here she was calling him up, them talking things through and getting back to a place where they could be friends.
'I think we can give it a shot.' Jess said. 'Maybe the distance will help us be friends.'
'Yeah…still what I was calling for is that my mum and Luke are having an engagement party next week, on Friday evening in the town square. I know Luke would love you to come.' Rory said. 'So…will you come?'
'Rory…I don't know if that's the best idea, people there don't exactly like me, I can't see anyone wanting me there.' Jess said thinking of a million reasons why he shouldn't go, and one rather big one why he should. He wanted to see her, although it would probably be hard, he knew that he wanted to see her more than anything else.
'Luke will want you there.' She paused and said a little quieter. 'I want you there…' Rory said.
'I just…'
'Just consider it.' Rory interrupted. He sighed, this girl would be the death of him.
'I'll think about it.' He agreed, getting onto his bus and taking a seat in the back.
'Good.' She said settling down, resting her head against the pillow, the phone pressed to her ear. 'So tell me about travelling.' She smiled, letting him tell her all about it, and in turn her telling him about Yale, the town and what she'd been up to. They talked for an hour before hanging up, with Jess promising to think about coming to the party, and the promise of an email with pictures when he managed to get to an internet café. She put the phone down on the table, put the phone number back on the fridge where it had been, after saving it to her phone, then fell asleep on Jess' bed, his copy of War and Peace by Tolstoy in her hands.
*
'Shh, she looks so peaceful.' Lorelai said after her and Luke had got back from their date. Lorelai had come upstairs after seeing Rory's car still parked outside, and had found her curled up on the bed. The sweatshirt still on her.
'You don't think she still likes Jess?' Luke wondered out loud, noticing it was Jess' sweatshirt and his book.
'No. She's over him and he's well out of the picture now, she's probably just tired from all the cramming. Still I'd better wake her.' Lorelai said going over and gently shaking her daughter awake. Rory's eyes fluttered open, and smiled as she thought of her conversation with Jess. Although she worried it had all been a dream and shot bolt upright, she was in Luke's apartment, and the phone was at her side. She relaxed a little, it hadn't been a dream. It was then that she noticed her mother standing next to the bed. She got up and straightened out her clothes.
'What time is it?' Rory asked, taking the coffee that Luke offered her.
'A little past midnight.' Lorelai replied. 'Are you ok hun?'
'Yeah.' Rory smiled. 'I'm good.' She added and she really meant it. Her and Jess had made a lot of progress tonight with that call, they were well on their way to being friends again. Even if that was all they'd ever be. She decided not to mention the call yet, just smiled and packed up her books.
'I should get back to Yale.' She said hugging her mum and thanking Luke for the use of the apartment.
'Tonight? Hun it's really late, can't you stay here tonight and head back tomorrow?' Lorelai questioned.
'I've got a really early final tomorrow, but I'll be ok. But Luke could I possibly get some coffee for the road?' She asked pulling out her travel mug from her bag.
'Yeah of course.' He headed downstairs to get the coffee, and was joined a few minutes later by the girls. They smiled at him and said goodnight, before leaving. Rory driving Lorelai back home, before going to Yale, promising she'd be back next week on Friday morning in time to help set up for the party. She drove back to Yale with a smile on her face at the thought of possibly seeing Jess in just over a week.
A/N- I already have a lot of Rory/Jess fics on the go which I should focus on, but then I had this idea and I couldn't resist writing it. Let me know what you think, I love to get reviews.