TitleSecrets & Lies (Chapter 1Nightmares)
by KiNGz-Fan-16
Disclaimer: As much as I hate to admit it, I don't own Gilmore Girls, nor do I have the intention of. The show belongs to Amy Sherman-Palladino, although I have to say, Gilmore Girls is the best show!!!
Rating: PG…I think. Oy with the poodles already, I'm not good with ratings!
Summary: Rory was there on the night of Jess's death, but when she thinks back to that night, her mind is a blur. She then goes on a search to find the guy who killed Jess, but she discovers shocking news that leads her to rethink everything…
*~*
***
"Empty out the drawer! Now!"
Rory stood rooted to her spot in front of the counter as the masked robber pointed a gun straight at her. "But I don't—"
The robber cocked his gun. "I said NOW!"
Rory gulped and scrambled behind the counter, looking at the buttons frantically. "Damnit," she muttered.
Just then, Jess came downstairs to the diner. "OK Rory, Luke said you—"
"Jess, get down!" Rory yelled as she dropped to her hands and knees.
BANG!
Rory screamed, but luckily Jess wasn't hurt. He had managed to duck in time, plus the bullet had been a bit off because the robber had panicked at Jess's entrance, causing him to miss.
Rory ran over to Jess as Jess pushed her aside a little. "What the hell do you want?" he asked through gritted teeth.
"Just the money, Mariano," the stranger said knowingly. He stepped closer and closer to Jess and Rory.
Jess eyed the guy suspiciously. "Do I know you?"
The guy laughed. "You don't remember? Last year? In New York." Jess still remained puzzled. The guy shook his head. "Cheryl Martin?"
Jess's eyes widened in recognition. "Wait, you're…"
"Yep. You took my girl, Mariano," the stranger said as he eyed Rory. He held his gun up at Rory's forehead. "So now I'm gonna take yours."
"Jess…"Rory whispered scared.
"You stole my girlfriend," the guy said angrily. "And then you had the nerve to just leave New York."
"What the hell are you doing here?" Jess demanded.
"Well, it just so happens I got a tip from 'someone' that you moved to some crap town in Connecticut called 'Stars Hollow', and I knew that this was my chance for payback." He turned to Rory, still holding up the gun to her head. "And I know just how to." Jess tensed as the guy grinned and cocked the gun. "Any last words?" he whispered.
Suddenly, Jess lunged towards the guy, knocking over him and Rory.
The gun flew out of the stranger's hand and onto the floor by the door. Jess and the stranger were struggling against each other, yet all three were also trying to reach the gun first…
***
Rory's eyes immediately flew open and she sat up in a cold sweat. She quickly glanced her surroundings and was able make out the shapes of things around her because of the tiny sliver of moonlight peeking through her bedroom window.
A dream, Rory thought. It was all just a dream… Rory closed her eyes, but the loud noises from that night floated to the surface of her mind as they echoed mockingly…
***
BANG!
Jess collapsed on the ground in a pool of blood. Rory's eyes widened and she rushed over to him. She took one look at his pale face and dead eyes before she let out a shrill scream. Rory quickly turned around, expecting to look into the eyes of the murderer, but instead found herself staring at an open door…
***
It felt too real to be just a dream and Rory knew it. She switched on the light and the room illuminated itself. She slowly walked over to her desk, saw the newspaper clippings, and immediately knew that what happened wasn't just a dream.
Rory picked up one of the only photos she had of both of them together. Kirk had taken it when they weren't looking. It was of them sitting on the bridge after the basket auction.
She stared long and hard at the picture until she began to sob uncontrollably. She put the picture under her pillow and let the tears fall freely as she came to the realization that he was gone—
Jess Mariano had died saving her. Rory lay in her bed and cried herself to sleep with just one thought reeling in her mind: It was all my fault…