AN: This story will follow Fall, but might deviate in some areas.
…...
"First...first love?" Rory asked as she slipped on the wet stones outside the house.
Jess tried to catch her, but his inebriated reflexes weren't fast enough and she fell on her bottom.
"Very graceful," he smirked, extending his hand.
She reached up, taking his hand and tried to get up. After a few moments of shared clumsiness, she regained her footing and they began their walk outside.
"Petrichor," he sighed, breathing in deep.
"You didn't answer."
"I know," he replied with a smile and stuffed his hands into his pockets, walking ahead.
She felt an odd lurch in her stomach and followed behind him. "I think it was Dean for me."
"Do his lips taste like coffee or something?"
"It was the first time I allowed myself to even really pay attention to a male that wasn't a tragic Russian novel character or in Regency garb."
Jess made a grunt of acknowledgment.
Rory continued, "You were the first...more emotional type of love. Think all day about, act like a moron type of love."
"So lustful?" he jeered.
"Passionate."
He shrugged. "I do have nice hair."
A small chuckle escaped her lips and they continued down the wet and cold road through the rich but enchanting neighborhood. They paused at the top of a hill looking down at the blinking lights. Rory hummed and began to sway spastically to the music in her head.
"You okay there, Left Shark?"
"I'm not drunk."
"Right," he mused.
"I'll have you know, sir, that I can hold my liquor."
"Oh, I can see that."
"You're mocking me."
"Yes I am."
She pouted, turning to face him. "I am worldly. I have done...things. I jumped off a scaffolding!"
"In a harness."
"I've traveled Europe."
"In Four Star hotels," he pointed out, facing her, rocking on his heels.
"I saw the running of the bulls!" she exclaimed.
"You ran?"
"I watched... very energetically."
He laughed and kept walking, heading down the hill.
"Hey," she huffed, jogging behind him. "I am writing a book!"
He didn't respond, glancing back at her with a smirk.
"You told me to do it!" she snapped.
"I suggested," he corrected her. "You didn't have to do it. I'm not Shia LaBeouf. You don't have to do anything you don't want. Who are you trying to impress?"
The words locked her in place. "No one."
He sighed and walked back towards her, leaning close. "What do you want to do?"
"W-what?"
"Tell me," he said with a soft smile. "You have just been spouting off the things you've done and you don't seem...happy. So, what will make you happy? Like how you used to spazz out over a new book and smell it."
"I didn't smell it."
"Yes you did! So...tell me. Right now. Tonight at," he looked at his phone. "At 12:13 am. In the middle of Hartford. Just us. Tell me, what you would want to do to make you happy."
"I…" Her eyes stung. "I don't know."
"Yes you do. If you don't...who does?"
…..
The television flickered in front of them. They had turned the television to be directly in front of the ornate sofa in the sitting room. The classic Georgian coffee table was holding up their feets as they leaned against each other, remote in Rory's hand.
"What are we watching?" he scoffed, barely able to keep his eyes open, as he pulled close the duvet cover they were sharing.
"Grease 2," she announced proudly. "A classic. Teaches us about the trials of high school, with songs about reproduction, cool riders, and bowling."
"Well...now I'm hooked."
"And….play," she commanded and pressed the button.
The title screen appeared as they began to watch the movie. After a few minutes, her eyes heavy, Rory whispered. "Who was your first love?"
"Christina Aguilera."
"Come on."
"Especially, in the Dirty video."
"You're not going to answer?" she whined facing him.
"Nope."
"Hate you."
"No you don't." he said with a nudge. "Now, watch the movie. They are going back, back, back to school again."
…..
The sunlight began to creep through the large glass doors that lead to the back yard. Jess blinked his eyes open and instantly felt the stiffness of his body from the awkward position he had fallen asleep in. He also realized he was alone and groggily reached for his phone. It was 10 am.
"Rory?" he called, sitting up.
He didn't hear anything and began to walk around. He called a few more times and finally heard a response from upstairs and found her in a bathroom, doing her hair.
"Morning sunshine," she smirked. "You snore by the way."
"You drool."
He observed the bathroom and the plethora of beauty supplies laid out. They were organized even though there was an insane amount by his terms. All he ever traveled with was toothpaste, deodorant and hair gel.
His eyes settled on a large purple hexagon box and picked it up."Pokedex?"
"Birth Control pills."
"I thought you broke up with Paul."
Rory's eyes grew wide and she smacked her forehead.
"Rory!"
"I keep forgetting."
"Poor Paul," he chortled, putting the purple box down.
"I know," she groaned, then met him with an annoyed look. "You know, you don't need to have a boyfriend to be on 'baby begone pills'."
"True," he replied with a shrug, sitting onto the lip of the bathtub. "Too bad mom was always stoned during health class and never learned that."
Rory gawked at him with a gasp. "Is she pregnant?"
He nodded, his jaw tensing.
Rory cheered while rubbing hair serum between her palms. "Another Doula."
He glared up at her, his hands gripping the tub's side.
"Come on Doula's adorable, with the blonde uncombed hair and intense yarn doll obsession."
"Lalaloopsy." he said with a smirk. "It's not the baby I'm concerned about. I love my sister. I just wouldn't wish my mother on anyone."
"She's not that bad," Rory scoffed, looking back in the mirror, stroking down fly aways.
"Whatever," Jess replied, looking away. "Anyway...I'm starved."
He got to his feet and headed to the hallway.
"You..okay?" she asked cautiously.
"Yeah," he said strained and walk out.
Setting down her brush, she followed. "Jess?"
"Want breakfast?" He asked hurrying back down to the main floor.
"You sure you're okay?"
"Yes," he snapped, catching her off guard, then sighed. "Sorry, just hangry."
She nodded slowly and let him go as he headed into the kitchen.