Rory got out of the car and kissed Logan goodnight. She knew he was upset with her. Who wasn't? She waved as he drove away and remembered the dinner they had just eaten. Everything was going fine until Logan brought up her mother. The one thing she hated to hear about even more than going back to Yale was her mother. She walked up to her door and searched for the keys. She dropped the keys and dropped to her knees. Tears weld up in her eyes as she thought about dinner more and more, opening the wound and spreading salt around.
"I love this place." She coed.
"I remember. Isn't this the place that reminded you of your mom?" he smiled as he spoke.
"Yeah." She said as she felt awkward, "It reminds me of her favorite type of movie. You know the old black and white movies where everyone is singing and dancing. Everyone gets what he or she wanted in the end. Usually a love story."
Logan smiled as he sloshed his wine around.
"What are you thinking about?" she curiously asked.
"Ace, why don't you give your mother a call? It has been what, almost 7 months now. The holidays are right around the corner. You know, you want to see her on Thanksgiving." He nervously played with a ring on his finger.
"Logan, no. Okay. No. I don't want to talk about mom." She gulped down the remaining sip of wine.
"I just see you struggling. I don't like it. You have started drinking, a little more than you use to. You never read. I know you think about school. I know you do. That is the reason you help Paris study for tests or help me write a paper for Lit. You love learning kid. You know it. I know it. I wish you would just suck it up and go back. What are you proving?" the last bit just flew out of his mouth with out thought and as he watched her face he wished it would comeback to him.
"Kid? Suck it up? I don't want to walk around aimless Logan. Not at Yale. Everyone else is majoring in something they love. I am not good at what I love." She picked at the food on her plate and sighed.
"Geez. My dad is such a jerk. He was trying to light a fire under you Rory. Trying to make you more egger. I told you I didn't like you taking the job at the paper. You have changed, and it is all my fault Rory. Everyone thinks it." He asked the waiter for the ticket and went on, "Rory look at everything. It is falling apart. You don't like living at your grandparents. You don't like not having a paper due or a final exam to study for. I know you. You're lost with out school and your mom."
"Do you think it is all your fault? I am 21 remember? I choose my own life now. This isn't anything you would understand. You have never been in my shoes. Lets just go." She got up and grabbed her purse waiting for him to follow.
"Rory, if you don't want to go back to school fine, I guess you have made your point." He walked over to her as they exited the lobby putting his hand on her cheek. "Call your mom for me, please?"
The valet pulled the car around and she brushed his hand away and leaped in. She wasn't going to cry. Not in front of him. Not because of this. She missed her mother more than anyone could understand, but she also knew it was to late. It was too deep. The wound went far to deep. There was silence on the way to the Gilmore house. The only sound was the radio and Logan's gentle humming. She leaned her head on the window and sighed. As they drove up he kissed her goodbye.
She got up from the ground and wiped the tears away. Walking into the pool house she pulled out her phone. It was 8 o'clock at night. She stared at the phone and quickly dialed a number. She almost hung up until she heard a voice answer.
"Luke's" the male voice said.
Dead air was all he heard.
"Luke's Diner. Hello? Geez. I don't have all day for this. Talk or I am hanging up."
She froze as she realized whom the voice was coming from. "J-j-jjess?" she fumbled to say.
"Who is this?" he said not recognizing the quiet voice.
"R-rr-Rory." She said taking a seat on her bed.
"Rory? Are you okay? You sound shook up?" he asked not realizing he was the reason.
"No, I was expecting Luke, maybe Ceaser, At least Lane. Not you." She sighed.
"Sorry to disappoint. I'll go get Luke." He said dropping the phone.
"No!" she yelled hoping he would hear and pick back up.
Luke was in the back cooking. Jess walked to the back and shoved his hands in his pocket staring at Luke. He was stunned at the emotions that her voice dug up.
"Luke, Rory is on the phone."
"Rory Gilmore?" Luke said as he dropped his spatula.
"No Rory Dunbar your good ol' friend." He glared.
"I'm coming smarty pants. Everyone is a comedian." He said as he rushed to the phone.
It had been months since Lorelai or him had heard from her. As he walked to the phone he could only hope she wanted to plan Thanksgiving. He was tired of the girls and their silly pride games. He just wanted to see them as mother and daughter once again. He picked up the phone and heard a dial tone. He turned back around and glared at Jess.
"What did I do?" Jess asked as he wiped down the counter.
"You answered the phone."
"Next time I will just let it ring. Maybe get a customer to answer. Will that work? I didn't even say anything to her just answered the phone." He said leaning against the counter
"No actually you asked if she was okay. You said. Quote: 'Rory are you okay? You sound shook up?' end quote." Kirk blurted out.
Jess made a mocking face and replied, "Well yeah, and that. But nothing rude or anything."
Luke was pacing behind the counter, "She sounded shook up?"
"Well, yeah. I don't know it could have been the fact that I answered."
"That is true. It could have been." Luke raked his hand along his chin and made a thinking face, "Yeah that was most likely it."
"Can you close up alone tonight?" Jess asked his uncle.
"Sure. Get out of here." He said patting Jess on the back.
Jess grabbed his book and his jacket and headed out the door. He had been in Stars Hollow about 2 weeks. He had lost his job in New York and needed a break. He had money coming in from random reviews he would do for a magazine or a newspaper. Music reviews were easy and took no time at all for him. So with what little cash he had he headed to Stars Hollow to visit his uncle and his mother. Luke said it would be ok for him to stay in the apartment above the diner, while he was in town. He worked at the diner to make some cash. It seemed since Thanksgiving was nearing he would stay there until after the holidays, or at least Thanksgiving. He jumped in to his car and threw his book in the passenger seat.
"What am I doing?" he whispered to himself as he thought of Rory's panicked voice.
He had heard all about Rory Gilmore and her new path in life. He didn't agree with it, but he understood her need to branch away from her sheltered life in Stars Hollow. Everything in Stars Hollow was like a fairytale compared to the real world. She had to learn where she belonged on her own. He understood. He thought it was silly of her and her mother not to speak. They were joined at the hip when he lived in the small town. College must have put a strain on that. He thought about everything Luke had told him about the yacht, Logan, Yale, and her mother. None of it sounded like a happy Rory. He thought of how lost she must feel in that rich world her grandparents live in, although he could understand her taking it all in. He laughed as he remembered the picture of her in her grandfather's den. He opened the book beside him and pulled out a piece of paper. It had directions scribbled down on it. He used it as a bookmark since he found it in the book. He stared at the directions remembering the day he showed up with a black eye at the Gilmore house. As he thought more and more about her scared and panicked voice he started his car and headed that way.
Rory was laying on her bed feeling like a fool for calling Luke. What was she going to say to him? Sometimes she wished that none of this had ever happened. She wanted to be in the gazebo in her hometown reading "Oliver Twist" She then sighed as she remembered the voice on the phone. Jess. He was back in Stars Hollow. She hadn't seen him since his plea for her to run away with him. She often wondered whom she would have become if she would have ran away, if she had grabbed his hand, and ran. She wondered what he was up to, if he had ever gotten his GED. She wondered if he had a girlfriend or maybe even a wife. She laughed at her last thought. Jess wouldn't get married so young. He was most likely living the same life as before, jobless and aimless. She entered the living room and turned on the TV. She flipped through the channels as thoughts of Jess drifted away.
Jess remembered that Luke said she was living in the pool house. He parked his car and walked behind the house. Hoping they didn't have guard dogs guarding their precious Rory. He saw the light from the TV on in the pool house and took a deep breath walking up to the door. He knocked and ran his fingers through his hair. Rory came to the door and looked at him puzzled. She looked around and signaled for him to come in. Crossing her arms across her chest she looked him up.
"What are you doing here?" she whispered.
"You sounded upset, I heard you lived here and I had the directions from a long time ago." He looked down at the ground and sighed, "Sorry I will just leave you look fine."
He grabbed the door knob and she grabbed his shoulder, "No, stay."
He followed her over to the couch and they sat in silence. The light from the muted TV was all that lit the room. Jess took off his jacket, as Rory grabbed it and hunging it on a hook by the door. She sat back down and looked over at him. She had forgotten how beautiful his eyes were or how lovely his smirk was, until he looked up.
"I guess we should talk, the silent thing is creeping me out." Jess said smirking
"Sorry I freaked out on the phone." She said sighing.
"No problem, I have that effect on people. Luke was upset that you hung up, he seemed excited to hear from you." Jess said looking around the room. "So you live here?"
"Yeah." She said as Jess stood up and looked at paintings on the wall.
Jess circled around the room then sat back down closer to her, "Rory are you okay?"
She nodded her head yes. Her mind was screaming no.
"Are you sure? I mean I know seeing me can send you for a loop, but your eyes are tear stained and this place is dark and creepy. I don't think I did all of that," he said hoping she would answer.
"I am on a little bit of a emotional roller coaster. That is all." She said jumping up, "Do you want something to drink?"
"No, I should just go. I came to make sure you were okay. You're breathing, I can leave." He said standing up.
He walked to the door and Rory followed. He leaned over to kiss her forehead as he left. He handed her a piece of paper and smiled. She took the paper and held it tightly in her hand.
"Your jacket," she said handing it to him. "Be careful."
"You be careful too." He said. "And Rory, if you need anything you call the number on that paper. I am always here for you. Don't do this all alone. Don't runaway from everyone that loves you. Trust me, you will regret It." He once again kissed her forehead and walked away.
She watched as he walked away and then shut the door. Tears flooded out as she realized what he meant by his last words. Running away was what he did, and he regrets it. She forgot how much she loved his presence. The way her body just relaxed when he touched it. His lips on her forehead made her melt. Why was he being so nice? Why did she want to need him again? She opened the paper and read it.
Rory,
I know you're scared. I know you think it is to late to turn around. It is never to late. If I hadn't turned around I would have just kept running. Running isn't fun. It is lonely. People love you and miss you. I have seen it. Please be safe. Call if you ever need me. Does that painting still hang in the den? That is so creepy.
Jess. (798) 555-5555
She stumbled back to her room and climbed in to bed. She looked at the number and grabbed her phone. She dialed it and smiled.
"Hello?" he said answering.
"Thanks." She coed.
"Your welcome." He smiled as he drove back to Stars Hollow.
Silence fell upon them.
"Yes it is still in the den." She giggled.
"That is crazy. Did you pose for that thing?"
"God, yes. I hated it." She paused and eagerly said, "Jess can you come back? Tonight?"
Jess sighed, "No Rory. Not tonight."
"I just don't want to sleep alone. I have nightmares about my mom." She whispered.
Jess took a deep breath and repeated, "Not tonight."
"I don't blame you. Thank you though. Good night."
"Rory, damn it. Saying no is the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Not tonight. Okay." He said raising his voice.
She smiled. "Not tonight."
"Goodnight Gilmore."
"Your staying at Luke's right?" she asked.
"How did you guess?" he smirked.
"Good night Mariano."
He hung up the phone and drove faster down the road. The hardest thing was saying no to a request for him to stay the night, from Miss Rory Gilmore. He wanted to turn the car around and drive back. Grab her and kiss her and tell her he was going to take it all away. Hold her through the night and tell her things he had never had a chance to. Things he dreamt. He was trembling just thinking of her. 'Damn that Gilmore' he thought to himself. 'She will be the death of me.'