You, Me and the City.
Chapter one.
'Hi...' Rory said standing behind the bench nervously. She was playing with the hem of her Chilton blouse. Jess turned around. He didn't even look shocked to see her. Just smiled and placed his book in his pocket. She looked nervous he noted. Didn't she know how glad he was to see her? His eyes drifted to her cast.
'Hey...' He smiled getting up from the bench. 'You hungry?'
Rory nodded. 'Starved.'
'I know a place.' He said leading the way. She fell into step alongside him and they instantly relaxed into a conversation about books.
'I don't know what it is about Oliver Twist. Ever since I was like 6 years old it's been my favourite book.' Rory said as they reached a hot dog stand.
'This is our lunch place?' Rory asked looking at it. A hint of a smile on her face.
'Yeah, it may not look like much but I eat here everyday. Best hot dogs in New York. I swear.' Jess replied.
'It's perfect.' Rory said trying to act cool. They ordered 2 with everything on it.
'So? Verdict?' Jess asked as the crossed the street.
'It's amazing. I have never had a hot dog this good before.' Rory said taking her first bite.
'Good. OK so how much time have you got?' Jess asked looking at her sideways.
'I have a bit. What did you have in mind?' Rory smiled.
'There's this record store. Then there's my favourite place in New York. I'd like to show you.' Jess said going down to the subway.
'What are you doing? I thought we were going to walk.' Rory looked nervous. Jess couldn't help but smile. She looked pretty when she was nervous.
'It's too far.' Jess said watching her carefully.
'Do they allow hot dogs on the subway?' Rory asked holding up her hot dog.
'You are so an out of towner.' Jess smirked. Rory pretended not to hear him and made her way down the steps.
'I love it in New York.' Rory sighed leaning against one of the rails on the subway. There were no seats but Rory didn't care. It was an experience she wouldn't have changed for the world. She clung to the bar with one hand and ate with the other.
'I'm glad.' Jess said looking down at the floor.
'Jess?' Rory questioned. Her tone suddenly serious. 'Why did you leave?'
'I hurt you Rory. The whole town were one step away from chasing me out of town with pitchforks.' Jess said shrugging his shoulders. 'I figured I'd save them the bother.'
'Oh.' Rory said finishing off her hot dog.
'So....My turn for a question.' Jess said looking at her.
'Seems only fair.' Rory agreed.
'Why'd you come here? I mean you skipped school and everything. That's so not you.' Jess said meeting her big blue eyes.
'Because,' She began holding his gaze. 'You didn't say goodbye.'
'Oh.' Jess replied. They stood in silence until they reached there stop and walked the short distance to the record store.
'Oh my goodness, this place is amazing. Thank you so much for bringing me here.' Rory said looking through the records. Stopping when she reached a signed copy of the Go-Go's.
'Must have that one.' Jess smirked as she squealed in excitement. Holding up the record for him to see.
'No. For my mum. This was her favourite group when she was my age. It would make th eprefect graduation present.' Rory smiled.
'Well go get it.' Jess said. She smiled up at him.
'Thank you so much for bringing me here.' Rory said walking off to pay for it. He watched her go with a smile on his face. He liked seeing Rory smile.
'Right so are you ready to see where I'm taking you next?' Jess asked steering her back onto the subway. His hands on her shoulders. Her pulse quickened as she let him lead her down the steps.
'I can't wait.' She smiled at him over her shoulder. A little while later they were back on the streets.
'Here we are.' Jess said lifting his hands from her eyes. He'd been blindfolding since they got off the subway.
'The Strand!' Rory's excitement was visible. She flung herself into Jess' arms. Hugging him tightly. He responded by putting his arms around her waist. 'I've always wanted to come here. Thank you so much.' She still wasn't letting go of him.
'So...are we going to stand here all day or do you want to look around?' Jess asked. He'd be happy either way he thought to himself.
'Let's look around.' Rory said letting go of him. Suddenly feeling shy. This soon vanished as they wandered round a huge amount of books. Talking and joking in a relaxed way.
'So we should head to the bus station if you're going to be back in time for the graduation.' Jess said reluctantly after a few hours of walking round the strand with Rory.
'I guess....I do love this place though.' Rory sighed letting him guide her towards the bus station. They stopped outside and express bus and Rory shivered.
'Cold?' He asked her.
'Hmm no...Yes.' Rory admitted. Jess pulled off his hoodie and put it around her shoulders. Then helped her load her bags of books onto the bus.
'Will you say hi to Luke for me?' Jess asked looking slightly uncomfortable.
'I will I promise.' Rory smiled at him. She felt sad as she knew her bus would be leaving any minute. She climbed on slowly and took a seat by the window. Pushing it open so she could still speak to Jess.
'I'm glad you came.' Jess said truthfully. 'Maybe you can come visit again sometime.'
'I'd like that.' Rory smiled at him. He smiled back and her heart flipped over in her chest. She got up from her seat and off the bus. Going to Jess' side.
'I don't want to go.' She said hugging him tightly. He was shocked by this but hugged her back.
'We'll see each other again.' He said comforting her. Though inside he was feeling the same as her.
'It's not good enough.' Rory pulled away from his arms and kissed him. At first he was shocked but quickly regained his senses. Kissing her back. As they pulled away from each other they just stood there looking into each others eyes. A tear ran down Rory's face.
'Don't cry.' Jess said wiping it away. Holding her close.
'Come back with me.' Rory begged him.
'I can't. My mum's expecting me at the apartment and my things. I can't just leave.' Jess said though he desperately wanted to agree. If he was going to be worthy of Rory he needed to be responsible and that meant not skipping town.
'But I don't want to leave you.' Rory cried into his shoulder.
'Tell you what.' Jess took a breath, unable to resist Rory's sad smile. 'I'll sort things out with my mum. I'll come back in a couple of days. Don't tell Luke though. I want to be the one to tell him.'
'Really?' Rory smiled at him brightly. 'You'll really come back for me?'
'Of course I will.' He said kissing her sweetly. 'Rory?' Suddenly he remembered something.
'Yeah.' She sighed happily as she hugged him.
'What about Dean?' Jess asked.
'I'll end it with Dean before you arrive.' Rory promised him.
'You're sure you want this?' Jess asked. She nodded and kissed his cheek.
'I'm sure.' She whispered hugging him then going back to her seat on the bus.
'Call me when you get home OK.' Jess said.
'I will. Let me know when you're coming. I want to meet you at the bus stop.' Rory smiled. Hardly believing that she. Rory Gilmore. Had skipped school, Gone to New York to see Jess and then asked Jess to come back to be with her. She smiled at him, unable to contain her excitement.
'I'll let you know I promise.' Jess smiled as her bus pulled away.
***
'Where have you been? I was getting worried you wouldn't be here on time.' Lorelai said hugging her daughter. Rory looked around the room at the other graduates and their families. She spotted Sookie and Jackson and Luke.
'What's Luke doing here?' Rory asked as the three walked over.
'I invited him. I wanted more guests.' Lorelai smiled as the three of them arrived in their group. 'So back to questions unanswered. Where were you?'
'Uh school..' Rory said fiddling with Lorelai's present.
'Uh-huh. Try again.' Lorelai said hands on her hips.
'What?' Rory was getting nervous.
'The school called. Said you never showed.' Lorelai said not really angry. Just questioning.
'Oh. Well I did go. I just left fairly quickly. Um sort of before first lesson.' Rory said guiltily.
'Right.' Lorelai said processing this. 'So where were you?'
'Um...' Rory stood there nervously.
'We can go if you want some privacy.' Luke offered.
'No it's OK.' Rory said knowing they'd all find out anyway. She took a deep breath.
'I got on a bus and went to New York.' Rory replied. All four faces staring at her were in shock.
'New York?' Lorelai questioned.
'Yeah.' Rory said looking down. Dreading further questions. Knowing her mother better than to think she'd drop it.
'Why? Rory why would you skip school to go to New York?' Lorelai asked. Rory thought about lying but couldn't bring herself to lie to her best friend.
'To see Jess.' Rory watched her mother carefully as she took this in.
'Jess?' Was all Lorelai could say.
'Yes.' Rory said sighing deeply. She looked over to Luke. 'He says hi by the way.'
'Right, well thanks for the message.' Luke said. Unsure what else he could say. He too was shocked at Rory's announcement.
'Why Rory? What possible reason could you have to go and see Jess?' Lorelai wanted to know.
'I just...and he's...well...and then I...' Rory couldn't explain without letting slip that he was coming back. In front of Luke. Which Jess had asked her not to do.
'Rory!' Lorelai was getting angry. 'Use full sentences. Ones that make sense.'
'I went because I couldn't stop thinking about him. Ever since he left I haven't been able to. Longer actually. Even when he was here but I dealt with it then because I saw him everyday. Then he called last night and I don't know I flipped out. I had to see him. So I just got on a bus and he took me for lunch. Then we went to a record store. I got you this.' Rory said quickly. She handed over the present then continued. 'Then he took me to the strand. It was the most amazing thing ever and then he took me to the bus station so that I wouldn't be late for your graduation, and I...well I got on the bus. Then I got off again and I told him I didn't want to go. Then I kissed him and he kissed me and I begged him to come with me. Then he said he couldn't just leave. I didn't want to leave him. He wiped my tears and said he'd sort things out in New York with his mum and he'd be back in a couple of days. Which I wasn't supposed to tell Luke.' Rory said almost crying at this point. Although part of her was still jumping for joy. 'Then I kissed him again and told him I was going to break up with Dean. Then I got back on the bus and here we are. Please don't be mad because I'm so sorry. Not for going to see Jess exactly because I loved every second of it but for not telling you and for skipping school.' Rory stopped for breath. Lorelai stood saying nothing. 'Please say something.' Rory begged.
'Well you just gave me an heart attack. Too much information. Can't process it.' Lorelai shook her head. 'You really want to be with Jess?'
'Yeah I do and I know I've been horrible to Dean and it shouldn't have happened this way.' She paused for breath. 'But I really want to be with Jess.'
'Right. Well then I'm not mad. Just let me know next time you run off like that.' Lorelai smiled.
A/N- So I started a new story. I now have 2 Gilmore girls, Rory/Jess fics on the go and will be starting a 3rd sometime soon. Please read and review. Review if you like this and want to see more.