Title
Chapter Three
Author's Note: This song actually played in the show for Jess and Rory. At the gas station, I believe.
Disclaimer: The author of this story (me) does not own the respective characters. She intends no copyright infringement.
Then she appeared, apple Venus on a half open shell
Then she appeared, the first photograph on Fox Talbot's gel
I was a little frightened
Flying with my senses heightened
Cherubim cheered
When she appeared
-XTC "Then She Appeared"
Jess sits, feet dangling off the side and nearly in the water. She had appeared half an hour ago, but he did not expect she would get away from her admiring friends and family any time soon. After Lorelai left the diner this morning, Luke approached him. He thinks Jess is dating some crazy woman. Though he used to lie to Luke all the time, Jess now finds he hates not telling Luke. But, she may not want anyone to know. After all, this entire town still hates him ferociously.
He hears the clack of heels on the wood-so much sooner than he thought he would-and turns. There she is. His Rory. "Hey," he greets and suddenly, he can remember with perfect clarity every second he has spent in her presence. From the disastrous welcome to town dinner party to the last time he saw her in Philly. The times the guys don't exactly know about.
"Hey, Jess," gracefully, so very gracefully, she sinks to a seated position beside him; her feet also dangle off the side of the bridge. She faces him, and he really has no choice but to lean forward, brush an errant strand of hair off her smooth face, and kiss her. "Mmm," she purrs, "much better."
He laughs. He only ever laughs like this with her. "How was your flight, Rory?"
"It was okay. Short, which is always nice," she pauses to sip from a coffee cup. "Was your drive okay?"
"Fine. No problems. What book did you read?" These questions are always safe for both of them. Jess thinks they could sit and discuss books nonstop for months and never grow board.
"I reread Emma."
When she does not bother to elaborate, Jess knows something is wrong. He faces her; her head is bowed, she won't meet his gaze. Frowning now, the young man questions, "What is it? Rory, are you okay?"
She half-heartedly shrugs. "I don't have a job, Jess," she explains.
"I know, but you'll find one, Rory. You told me that yourself when you found this out. Weeks ago," his eyes narrow in understanding. "You haven't told your mom or grandparents yet, have you?"
She shrugs again and Jess has to wonder if he might be rubbing off on her. She lets her head drop to rest on his shoulder. "How do I tell her they don't want me to keep doing this? She thinks I at least have until the inauguration. In reality, I'm glad they let me finish the election. Why did that idiot let his marriage fall apart?"
Rory has told Jess the previous man on the election trail followed his wife to her new job. Then, their marriage fell apart. Because he has more experience, the editor and owner are hiring him back and letting Rory go. It sucks and is really not fair, but Rory only had a guaranteed position until the Convention. "You will find something, Rory. I'm going to be your cheerleader now, okay? Repeat after me: 'I will find another job. A better job.'"
"Jess," she lets out a strangled laugh.
"Rory," he makes his voice stern and she does concede, together they repeat: "I will find another job. A better job."
"Thank you, Jess. So," he can see it coming and internally cringes, "when do I get to read this next book? Where are you hiding it? You know this will make me happy."
"Geez, I have it. You can read it only after you…" he stops and straightens as he spies someone coming over the hill. Rory pulls away and scoots to the opposite side of the post. It's Lorelai and Luke.
"Oh, Fruit of my Loin! There you are," she drags Rory into a standing position. "Why did you run away from your own party? Do you really hate the town so much that you could not celebrate with us? Taylor wants to give another speech! …Jess?" she finally spots him, "What are you doing here?"
"Can't a guy sit on a bridge and not be bothered," he's standing now, ready to flee.
Rory obviously notices this and to take the pressure off of him she blurts out, "I don't have a job!"
"What!" Lorelai spins toward her daughter, wrapping her in a warm embrace. "It will be okay, Ror. I'll help you find something. I will lick as many envelopes as you need. Tell mommy what you need, sweetheart."
"Don't tell Grandma and Grandpa, please," Rory begs.
Luke is standing to the side, obviously with no idea what to do. Jess moves closer to him and nudges him toward Rory. Finally taking the giant HINT; he moves to Rory. Luke gives her the hug Jess cannot while her family surrounds her. "I'm sorry, Rory."
"Thanks, Luke," sincerity rings in her voice and she meets Jess's gaze over Luke's shoulder. She is really thanking him. "I guess we should go listen to Taylor's disturbing speech, huh?"
Lorelai moves her arm to Rory's waist and leads her away with Luke shadowing closely behind. Jess follows more slowly.
Rory told him about Taylor's first speech that first time she contacted him; the first time she came to Philadelphia after the open house. Jess still does not know why she bothered to contact him that time. He was very prepared to forget her. He was avoiding Andrew's calls, only talking to him every few days and always avoiding the answer to the questions "When will you take over the bookstore?" or "When are you coming back to the Hollow?"
That night, he and Rory went for drinks. He told her too many things and she told him too many things. She then attempted to convince him-in the oldest manner possible-to return to Stars Hollow and to take over the bookstore. Jess finds he cannot regret that night, though he did not take her advice at that time. It took much more convincing. And now he's grinning like an idiot; he can feel it spreading across his face.
"Someone got lucky, sugar," Patti smirks as he finally approaches the town square. Taylor is already pretty far into his speech if the disturbed looks are anything to go on.
He tunes Taylor out only focusing on the stage when an older man he does not remember ascends the stage. "Rory is this entire town's daughter. We are very pleased to have her back with us. Rory, I am one of the Town Elders…" Jess has come behind Rory by this point. At his scoff, she turns to glare at him. "…Rory, I would like to offer you the Stars Hollow Gazette. As you know, Andrew managed the paper; the new bookstore owner is not qualified to take over the paper. With Andrew gone, I would like to hand that to you, Rory."
Rory gaps at him for a few seconds, as do the people of Stars Hollow. Babette, from somewhere behind him, screeches, "Who's taking over the bookstore?" Rory is more diplomatic in her answer (of course, she knows who the new owner is), "Sir, I will need time to talk this offer over with my family."
"Of course," he replies, "you will have until after you finish your job with this online newspaper at the inauguration."
Taylor walks by grumbling about people stealing his thunder. Richard Gilmore is staring at him, not glancing at Rory. Emily Gilmore looks absolutely terrified at the prospect of Rory owning a small town paper that only publishes weekly. Rory is still battling shock and now so is Lorelai. "How can you consider allowing Rory to own this tiny newspaper? Really, Lorelai!" hisses Emily.
Lorelai snaps out of her daze at that. "Mother," she hisses right back, "Rory is an adult! She can do whatever she wants. She will need a job, anyway. Don't you think she should even consider this?"
Rory has come back to the world. She and her grandfather exchange a look, before Rory turns to him, "Jess, this is my grandfather Richard Gilmore. Grandpa, this is my friend and Luke's nephew, Jess Mariano."
"Jess," Richard offers his hand. Jess grips it in a shake. "I very much enjoyed your book. Rory tells me this was your first?" he questions.
"Yes. It was," he is shocked that this man would have read his book. He is rich; every year he gives Rory at least one priceless first edition.
"You write as though you have written all your life," compliments Mr. Gilmore. "I am very glad Rory recommended your book to me." I shoot the woman in question a glare and she just grins back. Mr. Gilmore is still talking, "My friends enjoyed it as well. Do you happen to have any copies I could purchase as gifts?"
"I'm sure I do." I don't mention that I only sold half of the published copies.
Emily and Lorelai seem to have finished their argument and Richard loops his wife's arm through his own. "It was nice to meet you, Jess," he remarks as he leads his seething wife away.
Jess can feel another fight brewing as he stares into Rory's innocent expression. She is not as innocent as she seems. She can see it coming as well for she defends herself, "Well, he liked it. If you didn't want people to read it you shouldn't have published it."
Not able to argue with that faultless logic, Jess lets out a burst of air. "Sometimes," he remarks, "you can be very annoying."
"My Rory is not annoying," Lorelai jumps to her only daughter's defense.
Jess simply shakes his head, not about to admit to the flirting Lorelai did not catch. There is no way to win this argument anyway. He shrugs his shoulders before turning back to the diner. Just to annoy Luke he admits, "I need to call my girlfriend."
He hears Lorelai demand to know why Rory did not tell her so she could rule over Patti and Babette. Letting the sounds of this crazy town disappear behind him, Jess marches up the stairs to Luke's former apartment. The bell above the door announces Luke's attempt at espionage. Jess readies himself for a second confrontation. "Luke," he starts, "she is not a crazy serial killer."
"Well, thanks for that," the voice is feminine, and defiantly not Luke.
Jess groans, "I guess I should rephrase. She's crazy, not a serial killer. Hey, Rory, isn't your mom wondering where you went?"
"She asked me to disappear for a few hours so she and Luke could have 'alone time.'"
"Oh, poor homeless, Rory," Jess lets his voice deepen with the desire he has hidden all day. "Whatever shall you do?"
"Mmm," Rory slides her arms around his waist and they pull each other closer. "I bet you have some ideas."
Jess growls, "You'd win that bet," as he nips his way along her clavicle. Rory sighs and lets her head drop, but Jess can tell she has other things on her mind than his seduction. He lifts his head, only willing to continue when he has her full attention, "What is it?"
"Do you think I should take the job?" she whispers.
Jess shakes his head, frowning. "Rory," he tells her gently, "it's your future. What other job offers have you had? Do you have enough money to make it to January or can you keep looking and see if you can't find something before the deadline? You know I can't make this decision for you."
"I do know," she admits. Jess leads her to the bed and lies with her curled against him. It is quiet as Rory thinks. Jess can see the wheels turn in her head; as much as he wants her to stay with him, he won't say anything. He will let her make this important choice. After what feels like forever to Jess she lifts her head and meets his gaze, "The Los Angeles Times offered me a place writing reviews. A weekly column."
"Oh." He is disappointed. Los Angeles is clear across the country and he cannot leave this life here. He tries not to let his emotional reaction to this news show. This is a much better opportunity than owning a small town paper. With a job like this she could easily make her way to foreign correspondent.
She speaks again, "They are letting me have until after Christmas. That's when the currant reviewer retires. Jess?" The question is pleading, but Jess knows he can't make this choice for her. He keeps reminding himself of that.
"Rory," he moves away from her, sits up and faces her. She is so beautiful in the half-light from the moon and streetlights outside. She sits as well, meeting his gaze.
She knows before he says anything and the revelation seems to startle her, "You don't want me to go."
"No, I don't," because she already knows, he allows himself that admission. "But if you feel like that's what you need to do, you really should…go." He praises himself for keeping his voice from breaking and cracking like a teenager's.
"You don't want me to factor you in?" Jess is startled by how calm her voice sounds. He watches her move away from the bed toward the door. She is just inches from leaving and Jess wants her to go.
"You need to make this decision for you, Rory." He doesn't add that he will always be here, waiting for her. It sounds too corny for him and for her too. Rory backs out the door.
He doesn't follow.
A/N: Congratulations to lillitgirlx2 and Curley-Q for guessing Jess and Rory. Anyone think they know any other secrets?
ladybug1115