Chapter 4 - Hows it going Ace?
Well, here I am with the next update. It finally brings in two key characters that I know you've all been wondering about. Hopefully my explanation for one of the reasons is good enough, I decided to have them separated before I figured out the why...
Hope you all like, I'm in the middle of writing the next chapter now, so enjoy!
Disclaimer: Well, I'm pretty sure that a TV network owns Gilmore Girls. The story/idea is all mine.
Poll: I'm thinking of doing an alternate ending sort of thing. So please vote on the poll on my profile page for if you want Literati or Rogan/Sophie?
Rory shifted in her seat. It felt like it had been hours since she'd arrived at the small bar; glancing at her watch, she knew it had been 25 minutes since Lisa was supposed to arrive. She looked at her empty glass. The table set out for two reminded her of all the times she'd waited for Jess and he'd never turned up. At least he was there when she reached breaking point.
The restaurant was a nice one. Lisa had invited her out for dinner and drinks; Rory had only agreed because Jess was in Stars Hollow for the night to see over his new shop, she'd thought Lisa would help make it a fun night. Glancing back down at her watch she decided to call her reclusive friend.
"Rory" The scrambled voice was filled with static. "Rory, Sorry I'm running late."
"I noticed" was Rory's dry reply.
"I'm really sorry, I'll be there in another half-hour. Trudies just been sick." Lisa frantically continued, as the sound of a squalling baby could be heard in the background. "Darren didn't know what to do."
"Ok" Rory sighed. She'd wait for her friend, it sounded like she needed the break just as much as Rory. "I'll go get another drink while I wait."
Rory turned her gaze towards the waiters. All of the ones she could see were busy, and they all managed to ignore her waves for attention. With a glance at the empty table she moved to the bar.
"A gin and tonic please" She requested of the bartender. She sat on the stool as she waited for her drink to be made.
"Do you believe in fate?" A voice asked from behind.
"I'm sorry?" Rory asked, turning to face the strange man who was speaking to her.
"Because it's fate that I've met you." As he finished the sentence, Rory locked into his gaze. With shock she registered his blonde hair, tanned skin; his aura of a spoilt rich boy.
"No..." Rory breathed out the one syllable word.
"I'm Logan. What's your name sweetheart?" He was staring into her eyes.
"I know." Rory couldn't resist staring confusedly. It was the man that she'd met in her dreams. The man she'd fought about with Jess.
"Your name's 'I know'?" Confusion clouded his stormy grey eyes.
With shock Rory covered her confusion. "I mean, My names Rory." She grasped her new glass in tight hands as it was placed in front of her, downing it in one gulp.
"So Rory," He was speaking to her, eyeing up her frame. He found her blue eyes strangely appealing. "What do you do?"
"I write." She replied. She eyed her once again empty glass. "I write for the New York Gazette. It's only small, we don't get much publicity." Rory looked up, all she could see was Logan staring at her, as though there was something on her face. "What?" She inquired, brushing at her lip.
"I think I own that one." He smiled, his smile just crooked enough to be quirky and irresistible.
"You?" Rory was shocked. "But the Huntzbergers own us." As she finished speaking she realised what she'd said. "You're Mitchums son!" Awe filled her voice.
"Sadly you picked me out." As he spoke he turned his attention from the beautiful brunette to his drink. "I tried to get out of his shadow at Yale. Never really worked. I'll always be Daddys little boy. At least to the world." He swilled his drink around in the smudged glass. "Always..." he muttered.
As Rory reached out a hand to comfort him, she heard a familiar voice.
"Rory!" Lisa called. "Rory is that you?" Lisa rested a hand upon her shoulder. "Sorry I'm so late. Like I said Trudie was really sick. Darren still doesn't know the difference between a nappy and a wash cloth." Lisa turned her attention from Rory to Logan. "Hey, I'm Lisa." She introduced herself, hand outstretched.
"And I'm going." Was Logans only reply. "See you later Ace." As the words left his lips he grabbed his jacket and left the bar. Making his way to a table where a blonde woman was sitting. As he sat he gave her a peck on the cheek.
"What was that all about?" Asked Lisa.
"I have no... idea." Rory was dazed. That man was Mitchum Huntzbergers only son, he was also beautiful and more importantly; the man from her dreams. He had spoken about fate. Was it fate that they'd met? What did this have to do with her dreams; with her calling out his name?
"Let's just go get something to eat. I'm starving" Rory muttered as the two women made their way to their still empty table.
Jess grimaced as he looked at the time. This new book store of his was going to take a lot of hard work and effort to get to his standard. The building itself was fairly old. Once having been a store devoted to unicorns, it was now filled from floor to ceiling with bookshelves. The bookshelves were still empty of books; however they were filled with empty paint cans. The shop was still a mixture of colours; bright pink covered with the new browns, blues and his main colour; a light beige.
As he left through the front door, locking up. He looked at the space above the door where soon his shops name would be; 'Truncheon'. He was proud of what had once been a small shop had achieved. Soon he knew he'd be even more famous, his publisher was in talks with Oprah for her next months book club. Jess knew it would never work or come about, but it didn't hurt to dream. He could just imagine all of America engrossed in a book called 'Tide turned son'. The story of his time in California with Jimmy; of his decision to return to Rory.
He locked the door, turning to walk up the path through town. He paused for a moment in front of Dooses Market. It was now run by Kirk, but Jess figured Kirk didn't understand that the name should have changed as did the owner. He glanced across at the town Gazebo. It was where he'd wanted to propose to Rory. However she'd been too busy, and he'd gotten so frustrated that he'd just thrown the box at her one day during one of their arguments. She'd said yes. Obviously.
Jess smirked as he looked across at the diner. Lukes Diner. Uncle Luke; Jess never understood what had happened there. When Jess had left town, the diner owner and the girls mother had been friends. When Jess had returned 3 years later, arm in arm with Rory, the older pair had been an item. Within months of them returning from the Harvard area, the diner owner had moved back into his own flat and the Single mother had moved towns. But she hadn't moved alone.
He pushed the door open, heard the familiar tinkle of the bell; and the even more familiar bark.
"We're Closed! Can't you read the sign." The man behind the bar was busy going over receipts, his head down. "Didn't you hear me?" He looked up. Their eyes locked. "Jess" He exclaimed.
"Hey Uncle Luke. I was in town..." Jess looked around the room; it was still the same.
"Do y' need a place to stay?" Luke looked closer at Jess, "Hang on, The town crazies were going on about how you own that new book store. I told them they were mad. It isn't true, is it?"
Jess tried to school his feelings. He'd felt bad for not visiting his uncle more often, however once Luke had split from Lorelai, Lorelai had stopped even mentioning her previous flame; Rory had been much the same. Jess hadn't wanted to upset his girlfriend so he'd refrained from visiting his uncle.
"Actually Luke. It is." Luke stared at him wide eyed. Losing his balance, Luke shifted forward till he was leaning on the bench.
"Well I'll be.." Luke muttered. He glanced down at his clasped hands. "Jess... Are you still seeing... Do you keep in contact with..." Luke couldn't finish the sentence.
"We're engaged." Jess moved behind the bench to stand beside his uncle. "Going on 4 months."
Luke couldn't help the smile spreading over his face. "Congratulations Jess! That's fantastic!" Luke reached behind his nephew, bringing him in for a hug. "Come on, Let's get you a beer." The two men made their way to the small upstairs apartment.
Jess settled into the old couch, he still remembered it from his time living in the small flat, "So Luke, You never did tell me why you and Lorelai split up. I mean seriously, she moved to another town because of it."
Luke growled in response, "No, she moved because of that dickhead husband of hers."
"But Luke," Jess exclaimed, "What actually happened?"
"As you know, while you were away, Lorelai and I got very close. I'd moved in, we were happy- or at least I thought we were. One day April rocked up." Luke paused to take a long sip from his beer. "The thought of me having a child shocked Lorelai. For some reason she decided it was the perfect time to propose. I on the other hand, didn't." Luke took a shuddering breath. "I said No." Luke went to finish his brown bottle, but instead found it dry. Tears began to well in his eyes. "I said no, Jess." Luke stared at the empty bottle, repeating his sad words.
Blaming himself for a lapse in judgement. "I don't know how it happened, but I went back to Lorelai, begging for her to forgive me, to take me back. She conceded said that she loved me; said that if I loved her I'd accept that, she also said that while we'd been apart she'd slept with somebody. I naturally assumed Chris. I said I'd forgive her that, said that Chris was the father of her daughter, Chris was an old story. She said-" The threatening tears finally broke. "She said it wasn't Chris, but Max. Jess, you don't understand, I couldn't handle it. I got drunk. I was outside in the town square, strolling around, rambling our story, and I must've run into some 'kind strangers'." He paused to take in a shuddering breath. "The next day Babbette and Morey blocked Lorelais path, telling her to leave town. Mrs Paddy came into the cafe, told me it would be fine. Said that Lorelai would be gone soon. That was the last time I saw her. 5 years ago. She left because of me" Luke let out a final, heaving breath as Jess passed him another beer.
"It's alright Uncle Luke." Jess murmured, patting his uncle on the shoulder. "It's ok. It was a long time ago" Jess continued to console his uncle, he now knew why his uncle and Lorelai had parted, and in what terms. Lorelai blamed Luke for her banishment. Luke blamed himself too. Jess prepared to spend the night with his uncle. He knew that this business was old, but Jess wasn't sure if Luke had ever told anybody else. In that way the wound was raw.
Rory hurried out of the large bookshop. She'd been looking into the books that she'd never want to be seen with; dream dictionaries, fact files on fate. She'd found mostly nothing of note. However the one book in the small bag was entitled 'Dreams for the fate impaired'. It seemed to be right up her ally. Deftly she started to place the small shop bag into her larger handbag. It was at this moment that she heard a shout.
"Ace!" Looking up, Rory saw the man from the night before; She saw Logan. "How's it going Ace?" Logan was questioning her as he made his way to her.
"Fine" She murmured, hurriedly pushing the incriminating book bag into her bag. "I'm fine" She continued once all signs of the bag were hidden. Looking up she met his eyes. "Logan." she barely breathed the word.
"So, did you have a nice dinner?" He enquired, handing her a Styrofoam cup of boiling coffee.
"Dinner was... nice" Rory was staring confusedly at the cup in her hand, and the matching one in his. "Um... Am I just holding this for you?" Confusion clear in her voice.
"Nah, I saw you when I was at the coffee cart. You seem like a coffee person." He gave her his lopsided smirk, "If you don't want it, I'm sure I could find another gorgeous brunette to drink it."
"Oh that's fine." Rory responded, "I'll drink it just fine."
Logan looked down at his watch. "Well I'm running late for work. Shall we walk?" He gestured to the busy New York Street which they were standing in front of.
"Just for a bit, I'm on my way to the subway."
Slowly the pair began to make their way down the street, chatting amicably.
As they reached the subs entrance, Logan turned to stand directly in front of Rory.
"So Ace, once you've finished 'Under the Dome', then you can let me know what you think of Stephen King and his sociological views." As he finished speaking, he took a step closer to the quivering Rory.
"How will I do that?" Rory was staring into Logans eyes as he carefully rested his own hands on top of hers; both covering and completing her.
"You'll find a way" Slowly gazing into her eyes, he lowered his face until it was equal to Rorys' own. Smoothly he leant down till his lips were barely touching hers. Quickly, he kissed Rory with a passion she hadn't felt from Jess in years. Within moments, before Rory could fully register what was happening, he had turned and hailed the first Cab he had seen. As he opened the door and entered the car, he turned to the stunned Rory. "Catchya Later Ace" He called.
Rory just stood in shock. Slowly she looked at the cup in her hand, scrawled on the side was a 9 digit mobile number. Stifling an uncontrolled laugh, Rory turned to head for the subway and her waiting train.
Please Review, Like I said, it'll encourage me to finish the next chapter... [severe writers block... any ideas would be welcomed]