Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Sorry it took me so long to get this up, I was planning to do it on Saturday but I was pretty busy.
Thank you all so much for the reviews on the end of my last story, I'm so glad you guys liked and I really appreciate it!
Well, here's chapter one. I hope you guys enjoy it and please review, I really would appreciate it!
:)
A boy, no older than seven, sat hiding in a small closet. His head rested on his knees, his arms wrapped around himself. He was shaking uncontrollably, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. He was scared, so scared. Ron was angry with him again, he accidently knocked a new bottle of whiskey off the counter, it smashing to bits, the liquid splattering all over the tiled kitchen floor. He hadn't meant to do it, it was an accident. He knew Liz and Ron would find out, he tried cleaning up the glass but he ended up cutting his hands.
Ron was screaming his name now, objects outside his hiding spot being thrown and kicked across the apartment. He jumped when what he assumed was a chair banged against the closet door, startling him. He let out a yelp and held himself closer. He heard the sickening laugh of his mother's boyfriend, the man footsteps getting closer and closer. Jess shut his eyes tight and held onto his body. The door slammed opened and he felt a hand grab his shirt, pulling him out with force, the boy falling to the ground.
Jess turned around and looked up at the man with wide, fearful eyes. Ron wore a sickening grin, his arms crossed across his chest.
"Why'd you hide?" he asked, taking a few steps closer to the boy, Jess quickly scooting back. Ron let out a laugh. "Aw, is Jessie scared?" he mocked, taking another step closer to the kid's small form.
"I-I-It was an accident," he pleaded with the man, his voice hoarse and stuttered. He backed a few steps away, his back hitting the wall.
"Do you have any clue how much that stuff costs?" he growled at the boy.
"I'm sorry," Jess apologized, pushing himself closer to the wall. Ron smirked and unbuckled his belt and pulled it out fast, whipping the air behind him.
"Not as sorry as you're going to be," he lifted the whip up, Jess' eyes wide and scared.
"No!" Jess yelped, sitting up quickly. He looked around the dark room, taking in his surroundings. He was in Luke's apartment, the man sleeping in his bed a few feet away from the boy. Ron wasn't there, nor were any of the other ex-boyfriends of his mother's.
He let out a shaky sigh and ran a hand through his wet hair. He was covered in sweat, his body shaking. He pulled off the many blankets covering his body and stood up. His body still shook madly, the sense of fear just not seeming to disappear. He quietly walked over to the couch and grabbed his coat. He checked the left pocket and pulled out his fairly new pack of cigarettes. He knew he should be hiding them better, Luke deciding to forbid Jess' habit for chain smoking. The man wasn't the most attentive, he barely had time to realize his blatant love for the infamous Lorelai Gilmore, let alone notice a pack of cigarettes sticking out of the boy's coat pocket. He stuffed the pack back in his pocket and put his coat on. God, was he in need of his unhealthy habit right about now!
He quietly tip toed over to the apartment door, twisting the knob slowly and pulling the door open. His uncle's unannounced snore startled the boy, causing him to jump. He turned his head to look at the man, he sprawled across his twin mattress. The man snored once more and adjusted himself into a comfortable position. Hopefully Lorelai didn't know about his consistent snoring, it'd drive any sane woman away. Then again, that Gilmore wasn't exactly sane.
Jess made his way down the stairs and into the diner, fingering his lighter in his pocket. The dream was still wandering his mind, his body still shaking, a bit lighter. Why was he having these nightmares again? He hadn't had a nightmare since he was fourteen, the year he had started listening to music to drown them out. He was still listening to music, louder music every night since he had begun having the nightmares again seven days ago. Why wasn't it working anymore?
Jess unlocked the diner door and walked outside, the cold November air hitting his sweaty body with full force, it almost cooling him off somewhat. He sat down on the curb, pulled out a cigarette, and placed it between his lips. He pulled out his lighter and lit the end of the stick, taking in a long breath. He released the smoke with a sigh, his body slowly stopping its shaking. He took puff after puff until he felt calm again, until he felt more like himself. He wasn't that scared little kid anymore, he wasn't little scared Jessie anymore, he was Jess Mariano, sixteen, going on seventeen, the tough boy who let nothing break him.
He flicked the ash off the end of his cigarette. He was happy that Luke hadn't heard him scream, he didn't want Luke to see him like that, the scared, weak kid. That wasn't him anymore, he wasn't weak.
"Jess?"
Jess jumped back, quickly turning his head to see his uncle standing behind him, the man in his pajamas, his green coat buttoned up tight.
"You alright?" Luke asked, walking over to his nephew and taking a seat next to him. His hands were stuffed in his coat to keep them warm, the man shivering for a brief moment.
"Yeah," Jess nodded, taking a drag, "You just startled me. Did I wake you up?"
"No," he told the boy as he grabbed the remains of Jess' cigarette out of his hand and threw it to the ground. He stomped out the cigarette, much to Jess' displeasure. "Didn't we already have the smoking discussion? Do I need to get the pictures of black lungs out again?"
"Yes, I was feeling nostalgic, they were just that lovely," Jess stated, smirking at the man.
"Hand over the pack, Jess," Luke ordered, taking his right hand out of his pocket, holding it out to the boy. Jess just stared at it, reluctant to give away his only means of sanity. Without those cigarettes he'd go crazy, the town would make sure of that.
"Jess..." Luke warned.
"Fine," Jess grunted, letting out a sigh. He took the pack of cigarettes out of his pocket and handed it over to his uncle.
Luke smiled, knowing he had won the battle.
"You want to tell me why you're out here in the freezing cold at three in the morning?" Luke asked his nephew, the boy rolling his eyes. His uncle seemed to be in the talking mood tonight, something Jess was definitely not up for.
"I needed some fresh air, thought it'd do me some good," Jess stated, eyeing the pack of cigarettes in Luke's hand. God, he needed another stick, he was even contemplating snatching the damn pack from Luke's hands and running down the street with them. He needed a smoke, the dream still lingering in the back of his mind.
"At three in the morning?" Luke asked suspiciously. He snorted, "Jess, you expect me to believe that you woke up at three in the morning and just decided that you needed to get some fresh air and smoke a cigarette?"
"Yeah," he replied, stuffing his hands in his pockets, "Because that's the reason I'm out here."
"Jess, tell me the real reason you're out here," he demanded. His nephew had been acting pretty odd the past few days, the boy was definitely not his usual self at moments, his mind always caught up in something else. He wondered if it was about Rory, he didn't know what else it could possibly be about.
"Oh, you caught me, Luke," he teased as he stood up, deciding it was best to leave then with a witty remark, before the real interrogation could begin, "I was plotting my plan to destroy all the porcelain unicorn shops in town."
"Jess," the man let out a sigh and rolled his eyes. He stood up and watched the boy make his way towards the diner door.
"Better go and warn Taylor," he continued as he opened the door, "Before I get out the gasoline and matches."
Luke rolled his eyes yet again and followed his nephew into the diner. He decided to drop the subject for now, too tired to get into an argument with the kid over his sarcastic claims. He knew he would find out about whatever was bothering the boy, Jess would tell him eventually, he always did.
Alright, well there you have it; Chapter One.
I really hope you guys liked it and I'll try and update as soon as possible.
Please review!! :)