Disclaimer: I own a couple of minor characters you'll see, but that's it. Jess, Rory, and the rest of the regulars are definitely not mine.
A/N: BLAME ADELE. This new story is completely because her new album is incredible and inspired a short story from me. The timeline will go from 2008-Present. Just hang with me ;) And GOOD NEWS. I am out for an entire month with nothing to do. Writing will be happening. If Adele just keeps crooning in my ear.
Chapter Rating: PG
I'm giving you up
I've forgiven it all
You set me free
Send my love to your new lover
Treat her better
We gotta let go of all of our ghosts
We both know we ain't kids no more
December 2, 2009 at 1:04 p.m.
I'm currently reading the summary of Magnet in Gideon's Books on 5th Avenue in San Francisco. You're officially famous.
He heard his phone come to life from across the room, but he was so wrapped up in the manuscript he was reading that he found it hard to pull away from it. However, since when did he get random text messages during the day?
Jess swiftly made it to the counter where his phone had been charging and immediately smiled when he read Rory's name on the bright screen. He opened the text and grinned even more, feeling bashful for no known reason. Without much thought put into it, he keyed in a response: That's all it took, huh? What do you think of it?
When Rory's phone vibrated in her hand, she glanced down to read his response before trying to type out a reply as she juggled three books in her arms—his included. After the unsuccessful attempt that ended in her books and phone scattered across the floor in the checkout line, she decided to call him instead.
"You had to call me to tell me? It must really suck," he answered with a laugh, always insecure about his work no matter how much people talked it up.
Her laugh always made his mood a little lighter, and today was no exception. When her voice filled his ear, he felt his stomach twist up into a knot. This was something his mother would have called butterflies, but that he just called nerves.
"Well, I don't know if I'm as enthused as Piper from The Washington Post who called it 'Exhilarating, sexy, and honest' as well as adding that she would like 'a tall glass of Jess Mariano.' Nice blurbs, by the way."
"I had to pick the most flattering ones, of course."
"Of course," Rory bantered, matter-of-factly.
"So…" Jess lead on, leaning back against his desk as he waited for her critique on his newest novel.
"I haven't even read it yet!" Rory responded with a laugh as she placed the three books and a bookmark on the counter for the clerk to ring up. "But, the summary was very exhilarating, sexy, and honest."
He grinned at her word choice and shook his head some, looking down at the stack of manuscripts on his desk. "Promise you'll text me when you finish it?"
"I'll give you my honest opinion," she replied, smiling into his ear. "See you later."
December 3, 2009 at 2:32 a.m.
Wow. That was incredible. Don't ever stop writing, Jess. This was what you were made to do.
December 3, 2009 at 6:23 a.m.
Thank you, Rory. Can I use that as a blurb? (:
November 19, 2010
"This is the last time I'm going to be okay with you missing Christmas," Lorelai whined to her daughter as she pulled a box of pop-tarts from the freezer. Something she was craving in her sixth month of pregnancy—frozen pop-tarts. "Ever since you've had this new boyfriend, I've seen you less and less."
"This has nothing to do with Peter, mom," Rory defended from their kitchen table that Lorelai refused to get rid of once she and Luke were married and he was moved in. "This has everything to do with my job. It's taking me everywhere!"
The pregnant brunette turned back to Rory with a small smile as she sat down across from her. "I guess I am kind of proud. My traveling journalist, diving into the deep dark mysteries of the world with nothing but a notepad."
"You should write my resume," Rory quipped with a grin as she drank her coffee, earning a glare from her mother. "What?"
"Luke won't let me have caffeine," she replied with a sigh as she bit into her frozen treat and watched, longingly, as her oldest child took a long sip from her mug. "I tried to tell him that I had caffeine with you and you turned out fantastic. But, you know Luke."
Rory pouted, but that didn't stop her from taking a long swig of her coffee. "Anyway," she said after she took a gulp. "Don't you have big plans for Christmas?"
"Sure. I mean, Liz and TJ are coming over, Luke is going to cook, Jess is bringing his new girlfriend, Jennifer," Lorelai said with a small smile. "It should be a nice big family Christmas… without my offspring," she finished with a scowl.
Rory's ears perked up at mention of Jess' new girlfriend. She hadn't really kept up with him in her new travels, but had definitely heard about her through her mother and Luke. She was honestly surprised he had stayed with her this long. "So she's coming for Christmas? Wow. Very serious."
"I think she forced his hand in inviting her. You know how he is," Lorelai said with a roll of her eyes as she took another bite of her treat.
"I thought you had warmed up to him, mom," Rory said with a sigh as she pushed her hair behind her ears. "I told you he grew up. He changed."
"I know, I know," Lorelai said as she put up her hands in surrender. "And I really do like Jess, it's just a reflex emotion when we talk about him."
"Well, you have to get over that.
"Fine, jeez. You're extremely touchy when it comes to this Jess thing."
"I just know he's a good guy, mom," the younger brunette replied as she got up to put her mug in the kitchen sink. "And Luke loves him. So you have to, too."
"I do," Lorelai replied with a laugh. "Kind of."
January 3, 2011
"What was she like?" Rory asked as she pulled her jeans on over her slim thighs. She held her phone between her ear and her shoulder as she sat at the end of her king sized bed. "Pretty? Smart?"
"She was funny, very beautiful, and very different than what I pictured with Jess," her mother replied, buttoning up her blouse in front of the tall mirror on her closet door. "She's a marketing agent for some fancy company in Philly."
"Well, good. I guess." The twinge of jealousy Rory felt as her mother spoke was normal, or maybe she just told herself it was. She watched as Peter brushed his teeth in the bathroom ahead of her and smiled some, before trying to change the subject. "Anyway, I should be coming into Stars Hollow around six tomorrow. Is that good?"
"It's perfect!" Lorelai squealed, holding her stomach as she walked down the stairs where Luke was waiting for her. "Listen, hon, I need to go. Luke and I are going to pick out a crib. I'll see you soon."
"See you soon," she said before hanging up. Her mind drifted to Jess and his new girlfriend, that he was obviously serious about. Peter's voice snapped her back to reality and she grinned and pushed herself from the bed to join him.
