Rory and Jess meet post Yale. They haven't seen each other since Jess left town after Say Goodnight, Gracie. Rory is working for a small paper in New York living a single flat. Jess is working at a coffee bar in Manhattan and living with his girlfriend in Brooklyn.
Rory sat at a desk in her living space hovering over her laptop computer. Her fingers were poised to type but no words came. She couldn't concentrate on the task at hand, a problem she rarely ever had. She found her thoughts kept drifting to her meeting of two days ago with Jess. She snapped herself out of her reverie and tried to force her mind to run along the lines of the story she was writing. "Discipline" she told herself. She had only written 300 words of the 1800 required of her. She considered calling her mom so she might vent but decided against it. Laurelai would be less than enthusiastic to hear that Jess was in her daughter's life again, however small a role he played. She would be even more disapproving to know that he was distracting Rory from her work. She looked out her window. It was dark except for the street lamps that illuminated the roads. There was a constant flow of people coming and going. With her window open Rory could hear all of the city sounds. Sometimes distinct laughter would rise above the melange of noise and float into her apartment. Rory stood up and decided to make herself a coffee to clear her head before she got down to business. She had to finish her article, the deadline was the next day at four pm. She had a big job ahead of her with 1500 words to go and editing that always took longer than the actual composition.
Rory's flat consisted of three rooms. Her living room and kitchen were in one open room. On the left wall were two doors leading to her bedroom and a bathroom. Her desk was positioned against the far right wall beside her bookshelf. She walked to her kitchen at the back of the main room and put a fresh filter in her coffee maker disposing of the used one. She reached into her cupboard and produced a dangerously light bag of Columbian coffee. Turning it upside down over the filter only a few sprinkles of coffee fell out. Not enough for even one cup. She opened her fridge and chose a pitcher of juice instead. She thought about running out to pick up a bag of coffee or even just a hot cup for the evening. Better to do without she concluded.
Rory returned to her work. She started a new paragraph and typed a few sentences. Oh how she wanted a coffee. Her thoughts began with American Landscapes and veered away to her confrontation with Jess at the exhibit. What was he doing there anyways? Appreciating the art at that very museum on that very day? It was so coincidental. Or was there the possibility that it hadn't been a coincidence? She tried to think of any clues that might have lead him to find her there. "This is ridiculous." She said aloud to herself.
She left her computer again and grabbed her jacket from the hook beside the door. Putting a hand in her pocket she closed it around a few bills and her keys. She left her apartment and chose to take the stairs, which she raced down and out into the street. She told herself she was going to get that coffee she was in dire need of. When she passed by the Starbucks she usually stopped at and continued walking her heart started racing. She had no idea what she would say when she saw him. She reached the little cafe and took a deep breath before venturing inside.
Rory saw Jess right away and started walking towards him. Standing behind the counter he was talking to a co-worker. He saw Rory enter and smiled smugly.
"Wild, meeting you here." said Jess with a gloating air.
"Oh you work here. Oh right. I forgot." Rory said trying to sound genuinely surprised. She was a terrible actor.
"Yeah. Four years now. I thought maybe you were here to wash the dishes, to come clean."
"Cute." Rory said taking a seat on a stool. "But I'm here for coffee."
"Whatever you say" said Jess, still smirking as he reached for a mug and placed it in front of her.
Jess's co-worker, a nice looking blond boy, eyed Rory up. He looked from Rory to Jess trying to figure out the joke they seemed to share. "Are you going to introduce me to your friend?" he asked.
Jess filled Rory's mug with coffee. "Mark, Rory, Rory, Mark."
Mark smiled and nodded, "Hey Rory."
Rory smiled back at him, "A pleasure."
"Rory writes for the Village Voice." Jess said.
Mark's hand flew to his forehead, "Rory? Rory Gilmore? I knew I'd heard your name before. It's not a common name, really. So you're the Rory Gilmore," Jess rolled his eyes, Mark laughed and continued, "You're a great journalist. You've written some really thoughtful pieces."
Rory flushed. "You've heard of me? Well, I'm honored. I'm just glad somebody's reading." She laughed humbly.
"Modest too I see! I'm star-dazed-" Mark started teasingly.
Jess interrupted. "What're you working on this week?
Rory turned to Jess, glad he had stopped Mark from doting on her, "American Landscapes, the special exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum. I'm kind of at a stale-mate actually. That brought me here for some fuel."
Jess raised the pot of coffee and glanced at Rory, "Fuel for your fire." he said before topping up her cup. Her eyes met his.
"When is the deadline?" Mark asked.
She turned back to Mark and furrowed her brow, "Tomorrow actually."
"What a pickle." said Jess with a hint of sarcasm.
Mark looked at Jess then back to Rory, "No kidding, you seem pretty relaxed. Just how stuck are you?"
Rory thought of the entire article waiting to be written on her laptop at home. "Stuck."
A couple entered the shop and proceeded to sit down. "I'll get that." Mark volunteered.
When Mark was out of hearing range Rory reproached Jess, "What are you so smug about?"
Jess raised his eyebrows, amused, "You forgot I work here?"
"Do we have any quiche left?" Before Rory had a chance to answer Mark called out to Jess from the table where he was taking the order.
Jess glanced at an empty plate, "No quiche." He looked back at Rory, "Tough deadline huh. Brainstorm?"
"Well you saw it, what were your thoughts?" She asked.
"I wasn't really concentrating on the art."
Mark returned and started pouring coffee.
"Mark have you seen the American Landscapes exhibit at the art museum in Brooklyn?" Rory inquired.
"No I haven't," he said apologetically, "It's too bad your deadline is tomorrow because I'd be happy to go take a look with you."
"Well, thanks."
Mark returned with coffees to the couple he was serving.
"I guess I'm on my own for this one. I really should get to it. Thanks for the coffee." She pulled the money out of her pocket and offered it to Jess. He pushed her hand away.
"I'll put it on your tab."
"I get a tab? You don't even know where I live."
"You know where I'll be."
Rory turned and made for the exit, waving at Mark before she left.
When Mark returned to the counter he grinned at Jess, "Get me a date buddy."
At home Rory got right to work. She had no trouble putting her ideas down this time. The coffee had helped.
