Freedom?
Jess followed the warden to his office. He wondered what he had done wrong. He wondered if he was getting transferred to another center… or worse, being sent back home. He sat down in the chair and the warden took his place behind the big wooden desk.
"Jess," The warden said picking up a heavy folder which Jess assumed was his. "You've been here for over six months, is that correct?"
"Yes sir," Jess responded shifting in his seat nervously.
"Do you know why you were sent here Jess?" The warden asked him.
"Because I stole a car and I crashed it," Jess responded glaring at the warden.
"No, I meant why you were sent all the way down from New York to this center," The warden explained.
"I don't know sir," Jess said dropping his head embarrassed by his outburst.
"You defended yourself in court," The warden told him. "You were appointed a lawyer by the state, but you were too stubborn to accept any help… everyone was talking about your case Jess, apparently you nearly got yourself off… you would be a great lawyer Jess. Anyway, the judge was an old friend of mine and he called me up, told me about you and asked me if I would take you on… it was that or jail."
"Well thank you sir," Jess replied sarcastically.
"I thought I had made a mistake," The warden continued. "You were making no progress… six months Jess, no one is in here that long. Why didn't you try to get better or at least put on an act?"
"Because I have no reason to," Jess retorted. "I don't want to stay here, but this is the best place for me now… if you're going to kick me out then just do it already would you."
"I'm not kicking you out Jess," The warden told him.
"Then what the hell is all this?" Jess asked him angrily. "I do not need to be counseled."
"I brought you in here to thank you once again for protecting Rory Gilmore," The warden explained. "Her Grandmother Emily called me up the other day and threatened me that if anything happened to Rory then I'd lose my job… she sounded so convincing. So if anything had happened to Rory… well let's just be thankful that it didn't. You have to protect her Jess, look out for her, make sure that nothing bad happens to her."
"Why?" Jess scoffed.
"You're on your way to recovery," The warden told Jess. "What you did today, protecting Rory, was a big step in your rehabilitation. I've seen your interaction with Miss Gilmore since she's been here you've opened up so much and are even letting others in, its progress Jess and it's what we like to see. We can't keep you here forever Jess, as much as you don't want to leave you're going to have to one day… what I'm saying is if you keep this up… keep protecting Rory, then we could probably let you go in a couple of weeks."
"Can I go back yet?" Jess asked standing up.
"Jess," The warden said regretful that Jess hadn't taken up his offer to protect Rory.
"I can't protect Rory from here," Jess said softly. "And if you don't let me go back then Miss Gilmore will be left to defend herself."
"Well come on then," The warden said happily as he walked Jess out of his office and back towards the rec room. "You really should consider a career as a lawyer Jess."
"Don't push your luck," Jess hissed at him. "You'll get rid of me soon enough and you won't ever have to think of me again."
"Well here you go," The warden said stopping at the door. "Send young Tex to my office in a few minutes okay, give him this pass to give to the guards."
"Okay," Jess replied as he took the slip of paper and made his way back into the rec room.
Jess stopped just inside the door and immediately looked for Rory. He was glad that he didn't have to leave her behind… but he knew that he would have to one day, they would never fit into each other's worlds, but at least he had her for now. He spotted Rory, her back was to him, she was sitting with Tex and Robert. Jess immediately got angry, what was Robert doing at their table. Then he was suddenly concerned when Tex put his arm around Rory… was she crying. Tex glanced up nervously, like he was unsure what to do, he spotted Jess and immediately alerted Rory. She turned her head around and her eyes found mine, she had been crying.
Rory was sitting down with Robert and Tex, Jess had been gone for a while now. She didn't know exactly how long, but she was sure that it felt way longer for her. The emotions built up, from bringing up her past to the sudden strange feelings she had for Jess. She tried to keep it in, but she couldn't, she had spent too many years concealing her emotion in front of Emily that it was now flowing freely out. Tex tried to comfort her, but she knew that she needed Jess, only he could make the tears stop, but for all she knew he was on his way back to New York. But then she met his eyes, his chocolaty brown eyes that reminded her so much of coffee, the eyes that she never thought she would see again.
Jess started to make his way over to Rory, but she ran up to meet him and pulled him into a bone crunching hug. Jess tried to pull out of the hug, it's not that he didn't enjoy Rory's warm, comforting embrace, it was more to do with Jess wanting to keep up his reputation. You had to hold fear over people so that they would stay away from you. Jess didn't want any more unwelcome attention. He managed to pull out of the hug and he held Rory by the shoulders at arm's length.
"Jess," Rory stuttered. "I'm… I'm sorry that was inappropriate, I shouldn't have attacked you like that."
"Yeah, sure," Jess agreed looking past Rory and noticing Robert. "What's he doing at our table?" Rory's heart sped up a little from Jess mention of 'our table'. "Rory, I don't like that guy, you don't like that guy."
"I know," Rory replied dropping her head. "But we used to be friends… and he's leaving today."
"Look Rory," Jess said sternly. "I don't know what he did to you and I don't want to know, but I saw you when he came here, I saw the fear in your eyes… you need to stay away from him."
"Jess," Rory pleaded.
"No, Rory," Jess told her. "I can see how you are, you like to please everyone, well you can't please everyone it's statistically impossible, so please yourself… no one else matters. Now I'm going over to the bookshelves, and I'm not going to lie I would like you to come with me, but that's your decision." Jess finished as he made his way across to the other side of the room and sat down on the floor in front of the bookshelves.
Rory stared after Jess confused. That was the most words he had ever spoken to her… hell it was probably the most words he had spoken his entire life. Never had anyone taken everything into account, never had anyone done what was best for her, but Jess had… why? She looked at him across the room, she half expected him to be looking at her, but he seemed to be already immersed in a book. She reluctantly headed over to Robert.
"Rory," Robert said happily.
"Umm," Rory said nervously. "Rob… I umm… goodbye," Rory finished sadly.
"Goodbye," Robert replied matching Rory's sad tone, realizing that this was her way of saying her final goodbye.
"Are you going to join Jess and I?" Rory asked Tex hopefully.
"Sure," Tex answered standing up. "I'll see ya, Robert," Tex said before following Rory over to Jess.
Jess felt a sharp pain in his chest when he saw Rory walk back over to Robert, his world crashed down around him without him even realizing it. He tried to focus on his book, he had found a better life in literature before and he assured himself that now would be no different. Though this time he had experienced how good it could be that he doubted even Oliver Twist would allow him to escape now.
"Why do you look like someone stole your puppy?" Tex asked Jess amused as he sat down across from him. Rory let out a laugh and Jess immediately looked up at her.
"What?" Rory asked Jess confused as she sat down next to him.
"Nothing," Jess replied still holding the slip of paper. "Tex the warden wants to see you, here," Jess told him handing over the piece of paper.
"Me?" Tex question confused. "Why… why does he want to see me?"
"Why did he want to see you?" Rory asked Jess curiously.
"No reason," Jess answered. "And I don't know why he wants to see you, but I'd go soon he's in a good mood."
"Okay," Tex said nervously, standing up. "Wish me luck darlin' I think I'm going to need it."
"Good luck Tex," Rory told him sincerely. "You'll be fine."
"I'll see you soon… hopefully," Tex said nervously and then headed for the door.
"Do you really think that he'll be alright?" Rory asked Jess concerned.
"Sure," Jess responded putting the book he was reading back onto the shelf. "Like you said he'll be fine."
"But do you really think that?" Rory asked Jess unconvinced.
"I do," Jess told her honestly. "They're probably letting him go."
"Letting him go?" Rory questioned. "This soon? But he has nowhere to go… I haven't set anything up, he can't live on the streets."
"Calm down," Jess told her grabbing her hand in his. "Everything will be fine. Tex is not your responsibility."
"But-" Rory tried to protest, but Jess cut her off.
"Stop worrying," Jess told her. "I'm sure you live in some big mansion, just put Tex in one of the rooms, no one's going to know."
"Actually that might work," Rory said excitedly. "Thanks."
"Sure," Jess replied distracted, staring at their joint hands.
"Jess?" Rory asked nervously.
"What?" Jess replied his eyes never leaving their joint hands.
"When you… when they release you… do you… would you stay at my house as well?" Rory said the last part in a rush.
"No," Jess said letting out a sigh, still staring at their joint hands. He liked holding Rory's hand, he felt safe… he felt loved.
"Why?" Rory asked him confused. "Don't you like me?"
"No, it's nothing like that," Jess told her as he let out another sigh. "We're different Rory… it's just… when I get let out I will be heading back to New York."
"To re-offend?" Rory questioned him.
"Maybe," Jess replied finally meeting her eyes.
"You're wrong Jess," Rory told him holding his gaze. "We're not different."
Jess was shocked by the sincerity in Rory's eyes, she actually believed it… that they were equals. But he was shocked even more when she leant forward… closer to him, Jess knew what that meant, she was about to kiss him. Jess immediately tensed up a million questions racing through his mind. Did he want this? What doors would this open up? Was it wrong to entertain his own feelings knowing that once they left the center they would never see each other again? Luckily for Jess he didn't have to decide.
"They're letting me out," Tex announced excitedly as he stood next to Rory and Jess. Rory immediately pulled back and focused her attention onto Tex.
"That's good news Tex," Rory agreed happily, a smile gracing her face. "When are you leaving?"
"Whenever I want," Tex said excitedly. "But I told him that I was going to wait for you, that you were going to show me around… you still are aren't you?" Tex asked nervously hoping that Rory hadn't changed her mind.
"Of course," Rory told him happily. "We can leave now if you want… it's been a big day."
"Okay," Tex replied. "I'll just grab my stuff whilst you say goodbye to Jess, okay?"
"Sure," Rory said and then watched Tex leave the room. "Jess I'll… I'm…"
"I know," Jess replied seeming to read her mind. "But I'll see you tomorrow right?"
"Of course," Rory told him excitedly. "But I will… miss you."
"Sure," Jess said brushing her off, trying in vain not to get more attached then he already was, but it was more or less too late for that. "Go show Tex your castle."
"My castle?" Rory questioned Jess.
"Well you are a princess aren't you?" Jess asked and Rory immediately blushed. "See, and every princess needs a castle."
"No," Rory countered. "Every princess needs a prince."
"I can't be your prince," Jess told Rory sternly. "Please understand that."
"But why Jess?" Rory asked him in vain. "You think that we're different, but we're not… we're both in this rehabilitation center, granted I can leave when I wish, but we both got sent here for doing illegal things."
"You deserve better," Jess told her. "I… I can be your friend, trust me it will be better that way, you'll be out of here in a couple of weeks and we'll never see each other again."
"I guess," Rory sighed. "I guess you're right."
"I'm always right," Jess told her smugly. "Now go find Tex, I've got to instill some fear back into the inmates, I think they think that I'm going soft."
"Yeah that's you Jess, a big old softie," Rory told him amused. "But seriously you're just misunderstood."
"Please leave before I decide to get kicked out of this center," Jess said somewhat harshly. "And if I get kicked out then you will never see me again."
"Fine," Rory huffed getting up off the floor. "I'll see you tomorrow Jess?" Rory said but it came out more as a question.
"Of course," Jess replied. "I'm the one locked up… I doubt I'll be going anywhere."
"Of course," Rory said embarrassed as she blushed. "I'll see you tomorrow then."
Jess watched her leave. As soon as she went through the door he already missed her. He wondered how long it was going to be before she came back. He wondered if she missed him as much as he missed her. He knew that he was in too deep now, but he didn't care. If he could spend a couple of great weeks with Rory then he wouldn't trade it for the world. It would give him something good to reflect back on when he went back to his 'normal' life.