A Book, a Boy, and a Kiss

by marianna

Lorelai leaves Rory alone in Star’s Hollow. Will sparks fly with Jess?

1. A Book, a Boy, and a Kiss

"A book, a boy, and a kiss" Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, or the book mentioned in the following story. I wish I owned Milo and Jared, but alas that's just a pipe dream. Act 1. Scene 1. Star's Hollow Connecticut. The Gilmore household. Lorelai and Rory Gilmore are sprawled on their couch, engrossed with the scrambled picture on their television screen. Lorelai sits up and leans in close to the screen. She shoves Rory's shoulder. Lorelai: Look! look! I think I see an arm! Rory shakes her head at her mother. R: Mom, it's not an ultrasound it's a- there is a knock on the back door. Enter Luke Danes holding a box of groceries. Lorelai: Look! Look it's Luke! Hi Luke (she waves her arm frantically)! Rory (shakes her head): You get exited over everything don't you? Luke: Where do you want these? Lorelai and Rory go back to watching the tv. Luke: Where do you-good God Lorelai what are you letting her watch? I know you have unconventional parenting methods but- Lorelai and Rory (in unison): It's the first half of the Chinese Ping-Pong tournament finals. Rory (tucking a piece of hair behind her ear): We don't get the channel, but we really- Loralei: Wanted to watch. Luke sets the groceries on the stairs and shakes his head. He exits. Lorelai and Rory (in unison): Bye Luke! Fade into opening montage. Act 1. Scene 2. Star's Hollow Center. Lorelai and Rory are walking to Luke's. Rory (holding her head in her hands): Why oh why did I let you talk me into watching part two instead of reading my Trollope? Lorelai (loops her arm with Rory's): Because you love me. Rory: But you do realize that I have to read those pages don't you? Lorelai (pouts): Can't you do that on the bus tomorrow morning? Rory shakes her head. R: Mom I have to read 138 pages! Lorelai: So... you read fast? Rory: I can't do that. Lorelai (snaps fingers): I got it! You can read the pages when we get back tonight and the rest on the bus tomorrow! Rory: I can't come with you today. Lorelai: B-but but you have to! Rory(hold up a book with her hand): I'm only at Madame Melmotte's ball. Lorelai (sighs): And let me guess, there's no where else you'd rather be? Rory: No, I would rather be going with you and Sookie, but I'm only at Madame Melmotte's and I really should be with Sir Felix in his mother's house. Lorelai: Which means...? Rory: Which means that I'm only page 39 and I should at least be on page 93. Lorelai frowns. L: Can't I write you a note or something? Rory: No. I have a test on the chapters tomorrow. And even if you could I wouldn't let you. Lorelai (shakes her head): You're too good. I can't believe you're my daughter. (beat) You do realize that this is the first look a like wax festival you've ever missed right? Rory nods. Lorelai looks down at Rory's watch. L: Damn. I don't even have time for a quick coffee. I've gotta get to the Inn and pick up Sookie. Rory taps her foot impatiently. Lorelai: So I take it you don't wanna walk me to the Inn. Rory shakes her head, walks into Luke's and sits at the table by the window. Lorelai knocks on the window. Rory tries unsuccessfully to ignore her and walks back outside. Rory: Yeah mom? Lorelai (waves her arm frantically): Bye Rory!!! Rory laughs. Rory: Bye mom. she walks back into Luke's as Lorelai walks away. Act 1. Scene 3. The Independence Inn. Enter Lorelai. L: So we ready to go? Sookie: Where's Rory? Lorelai: She's reading a book. Sookie: Ok, that answers the what is Rory doing question. Where are Rory and her book? Lorelai: At Luke's. Sookie: Well, why isn't she here with her book? I made mini chicken crusts! And homemade honey cakes! And chilled strawberry tea! Why isn't she here? Lorelai: Well, she's at this ball, and she should really be at some guys house-it's all a very confusing mix by a Trollope. Sookie: Oh. Because that makes all he sense in the world. Lorelai: She reading for school. Sookie: Can't she do that on the way? Or when we get back? Or on the bus tomorrow? Lorelai (shrugs): She says that she's only on page 39 and she should at least be on page 93. But I don't believe her. I think she didn't want to come because last time, she thought the fax figure of Judy Collins was real and she started talking to it and- Sookie: Did you offer to write her a note? Lorelai nods. L: She wouldn't take it. Said she had a test on the chapters tomorrow. Sookie grimaces, and looks down at her watch. Sookie: Damn. Oh well, let's go then. We don't want to have deal with traffic along with no Rory. Lorelai nods and they exit. Act 1. Scene 4. Luke's Diner. Later on that morning. Rory is at the table she was at before. She's sipping on coffee while reading her book. Enter Jess. He sits in the seat opposite Rory. Jess: Why are you here? Rory holds up her book. Jess: Where's bag boy? Rory shrugs, continues to read. Jess (raising an eyebrow): Trouble in paradise? Rory frowns. R: No, I just don't know where he is. Is that a crime? She scowls at him and goes back to her book. Jess smirks. J: What'cha reading? Rory holds up her book. Jess: Hmm. Have you reached- Rory: As boring as it is, don't ruin it for me. Because if you tell me, the remaining pages will become redundant and I won't be able to finish. Jess (strokes his chin): I was just going to ask if you'd reached the part where- Rory (voice threatening): If you keep on talking I'm gonna plug my ears. Jess smirks and opens his mouth. Rory scowls. R: Fine. You give me no choice. She places her hands Ror her ears. Jess opens his mouth again. Rory: I'm not listening. Jess: I was just going to ask if you'd reached the part where large green space aliens came down and snatched the bodies of the party goers from Madame Melmotte's ball. Rory looks up. R: Did I just hear you say large green space aliens, and body snatching in reference to 'The Way We Live Now'? Jess: I thought you weren't listening. Rory: I wasn't, but the words 'body snatching' and 'large green space aliens' pop out kind of loudly. Although I don't even think the aliens and the body snatching could make the book even remotely interesting. It took me the better part of an hour to read the first three pages of Madame Melmotte's. Jess: It took me a while to get through the ball too. Too many stuffy people y'know. Rory: I felt bad for poor Marie. Jess: Poor Marie? Poor Marie? The girl was piteous! Rory: How can you say that? It was Felix who was piteous. I suppose you were on his side. Jess: As a matter of fact- Rory: Men! You're all the same. That girl loved him. Heart and soul. It didn't matter to her that he was a bounder and a cad, because she loved him. And when you love someone you see past all their faults. You take them as they are. Breathing hard Rory stares at him. He stares back. He stands in a daze, grabs Rory's arm a drags her to her feet. Dean is walking by and sees this. He stops and stares. Jess drags Rory up the stairs. Dean begins to walk in but stops. He shakes his head and continues to walk. scene shifts to Luke and Jess' apartment. Jess pushes Rory into the apartment and closes the door. Rory (her hand over her heart): Jess what's going on? What's wrong with you? Jess is pacing, running his fingers through his hair and tugging on the ends. Jess (takes a haggard breath): Say it. Rory looks at him, confused. R: What? What Jess? Say what? Jess licks his lips and swallows. J (voice cracks): You-you said that when you you loved someone you looked past all their faults and...and took them as they were. Rory nods. R: And? Is that why you dragged me up here? She starts to walk past him but he grabs her arm. Jess: I-I- Luke pounds on the ceiling. L: JESS! Jess takes a step towards Rory. Luke: JESS! He begins to walk towards the door. Rory: Jess, what is it? She touches his arm. Jess breathes deeply, spins around and kisses her. Act 1. Scene 5. Afternoon. The Connecticut look alike wax Fair. Lorelai: Look! Oh my God it's Kevin Bacon from Footloose. Sookie laughs. They turn a corner and Sookie stops walking. S: Oh good Lord it's the King. She places her hand over her heart. Lorelai (grins): Don't let Jackson here you talking like that. (she looks around) Where is Jackson by the way. Sookie rolls her eyes. S: He's probably back trying to figure out how the air is lifting up Marilyn's dress from 'The 7 Year Itch'. Lorelai laughs. L: What do you think we should bring back Rory? It's gotta be great. Scene shifts to Rory and Jess kissing passionately. Jess fingers are tangled into Rory's hair. Lorelai (v/o): She probably hasn't moved from that table in Luke's all day. Scene shifts back to Lorelai and Sookie in he gift shop. Act 2. Scene 1. The Gilmore Household. Evening. Rory is pacing. Enter Lorelai from the front door. She is carrying 4 shopping bags. Lorelai: Hey babe! Rory lifts her hand limply. R (trying to smile): Hey mom. Did you have fun? Lorelai: Yeah, a blast. (she holds out the shopping bags) I bought you these. She dumps the bags on the floor. Rory (weakly): Thanks. Lorelai: Did you reach the guy's mother's house? Rory's head snaps up. R: What? Lorelai: Ror, anything goin' on? Rory: Huh? No nothing. I'm just tired. Lorelai: All that reading must've tired you out. Rory (distracted): Uh huh. Thanks for the stuff mom. I'm goin' to bed. Lorelai nods. L: Ok. See you in the morning babe. Rory nods. She walks into her room and closes the door. There is a tapping noise heard on her window. Rory opens the window and looks into Jess' eyes. R(softly): Hi. Jess: Hi. He leans forward and kisses her. They kiss for a moment until Rory pulls away. R: Jess I- Jess: Shhh. (places his finger to her lips) Let me just have this on perfect moment. Please. He kisses her again, then turns and begins to walk away from her window. Rory takes a few steps into the room and bursts into silent tears. Jess is suddenly back in the room and Rory is wrapped in his arms. Act 2. Scene 2. Lorelai and Rory's house. Early morning. Lorelai walks into the downstairs hallways and creeps to Rory's room. She silently opens Rory's door and pokes her head in. Her breath catches as she sees Rory and Jess entwined in each other's embrace on the bed (clothes on). She slips back out of the room and leans against the wall. She slides down the length of it. Lorelai: Oh my God. End of episode.