Title: Hidden Truths Discovered: Chapter 10
Author: Delilah (keeks82@aol.com)
Rating: PG
Pairing: R/J L/L
Summary: Picks up where "I Can't Get Started" left off. Rory must deal with the situation she created by kissing Jess.
Author's note: Well, this is it folks, the last chapter. Thank you to all of you who have read and reviewed my story, I hope you've enjoyed it!
Rory walked slowly around the town, enjoying the night air. She had just come from Lane's but had been forced to leave by Mrs. Kim on account of it being past nine. Lorelai was at Sookie's and Rory didn't feel like staying home alone so she had gone for a walk. She had been out for about twenty minutes when she found herself walking out onto the bridge that crossed the lake. Without thinking she sat down in almost the same spot she had been when she and Jess had come here on their picnic. Looking out over the water, she sat enjoying the cool breeze when she noticed someone had walked up beside her. Somewhat startled, Rory quickly stood up to see Jess standing there. Once again, despite all her efforts to disregard her feelings for him, the simple act of just being in his presence stirred her. Frustrated with herself for what she was experiencing, Rory tried in vain to ignore her emotions.
Regaining her composure Rory said, "Hey, I didn't see you there."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to sneak up on you or anything," Jess answered.
"No, no it's fine," said Rory.
"I, uh, haven't seen you since you got back," Jess replied. "How was your trip?"
"Um, it was good. A little on the boring side but it was good."
They stood quietly for a moment. Then Jess held up the same black bag he had brought home the night before.
"Here, this is yours," he said pulling out the contents of the bag so she could see it. As he pulled out what was in it, she couldn't believe what she saw.
"The Go-Go's?" Rory said astonished. "How. . ."
Pleased with how happy she was, Jess smiled and explained, "While you were gone I heard from Lane that you forgot it on the bus. I made a couple of calls and tracked it down."
Jess finished his story quickly, not relating the fact that he had made ten calls, checked out five record stores trying to find another copy of that album signed by Belinda which didn't work out, and then yesterday he took a bus to Boston after he had gotten a call from the bus line saying that Boston was where Rory's bus had gone after she got off that night and that someone had brought the album to the lost and found. Lucky that it hadn't been stolen, Jess made the trip to Boston the day before and finally had found what he had been looking for. He did have the thought going through his head that technically he was doing all this for Lorelai in a way (which seemed a little weird to him) since that was who Rory was giving it to but he knew that it would mean a lot to Rory also so that was why he had done it.
Rory shook her head in disbelief. "I can't believe you found it! I can't believe you did this." Rory looked at the album and was touched by what Jess had done for her.
Jess handed the album to her and as Rory reached for it their hands brushed briefly. They both froze for a moment then Jess started backing away.
"Anyway, there you go," replied Jess motioning to the album which Rory now held in her hand. "I'd better get going." And he started to walk off slowly. He hadn't seen her in over a month and a half and he had enjoyed every second of this brief exchange but he was still aware that she had made it clear that things were not going to be moving to anything past friendship. And although he had convinced himself that he was fine with that for now, he still found it hard to be around her without feeling the disappointment.
Rory had not moved since they had touched for she was still trying to comprehend all she was feeling. At the moment she felt his skin brush her own something happened and everything suddenly became perfectly clear to her and she was completely overwhelmed by it all. In that instant she had come to know the truth. And that distinct and unchangeable truth was that she had totally and completely fallen for Jess. She had known it ever since they had kissed but refused to yield to those feelings, refused to listen to what her heart was telling her - but she was listening now.
She had been telling herself she loved Dean and that she shouldn't feel the way she does about Jess and out of obligation to Dean she ignored her feelings. But in this moment she came to realize also that she should not stay with Dean just out of obligation. Her thoughts turned to him. She still cared about Dean and always would. And knowing that this would hurt Dean also hurt her but she knew that she needed to be honest with herself and honest with him. In this instant, only one thing mattered to her and that was being with Jess.
Rory looked to see Jess walking away. Setting the album down and without really thinking about what she was going to do when she got to him, Rory ran down the bridge after Jess.
"Jess, wait!" she called as she came closer.
Jess stopped upon hearing her voice and turned around to face her. He looked at her face and thought that she had never looked more beautiful. The moonlight reflecting off the water of the lake that surrounded them caressed her smooth skin and her cheeks were touched with a hint of red. Her startling blue eyes were glistening with emotion as she looked at him with a hopeful, yet uncertain look written across her features. Surprised by her, Jess watched Rory, a little confused.
She stood still for a moment, then spoke tentatively, "Jess, I - I need to tell you something." Her voice shook slightly, then as she looked over his face she found herself gaining courage and she continued. The thought had occurred to her that he possibly wasn't interested in her that way and Rory didn't know if any of what she said would make a difference in changing what she set in motion when she had told him to forget what she had done at the wedding but she knew one thing - she had to try.
"I know I told you that what I did at Sookie's wedding was a mistake and that it meant nothing but. . .I lied."
Upon hearing those words, Jess' heartbeat quickened and he looked at her intently. "What are you saying?" he asked, careful not to let his voice betray his feelings.
"What I'm saying is that I've been an idiot. What I'm saying is that I've been trying to convince myself that things were better off the way they are. What I'm trying to say is. . .is. . ." Rory's voice trailed off when she realized she wasn't making much sense and that she couldn't think of a way to express what she felt. Silence fell between them for a moment. Rory then looked into Jess' dark eyes and instantly she knew what to do.
Rory stepped toward Jess slowly, never taking her eyes off his. Jess watched as Rory's gaze shifted from his eyes, to his mouth and then back up to his eyes again. She stood there with a tentative yet hopeful look, almost pleading for his consent. Having waited for this moment for so long Jess found it hard to believe it was real. He stepped to Rory, leaning into her. The gap was then completely closed as they then moved in and kissed.
All else flew out of Rory's mind as she put forth every effort into expressing in this kiss what she couldn't tell Jess through words. Jess moved his hand up to her face and touched her skin softly before running his hand through her hair. His other hand was at her back, holding her against him. It was all Rory could do to keep from completely melting under his touch and she gripped his strong arm, desperately trying to keep her balance.
Both slowly pulled away and stood staring at one another, the silence heavy with emotion. Finally, Rory once again regained her ability to think clearly and spoke, her voice slightly above a whisper. "That was what I was trying to say," she said, her eyes serious.
Jess looked at her, still a little in awe of what had just happened. "Huh. Good to know," he replied, his familiar smirk forming on his lips. She eyed him upon hearing his tone of voice and looked at him to find his eyes full of teasing and reverence at the same time.
"Maybe we could go over it again, if you didn't get it the first time," Rory suggested smiling sweetly, stepping close to him once more.
"You'll get no argument from me," Jess replied as his mouth descended on hers.
Rory quickly thought of all that would have to be dealt with now that she had finally faced the truth and listened to her feelings. She thought of what she would tell her mother. She thought of Dean. It wasn't going to be easy. But the incredible feeling of this kiss and the feeling of being in Jess' arms swept over her telling her it would all be worth it.
Author: Delilah (keeks82@aol.com)
Rating: PG
Pairing: R/J L/L
Summary: Picks up where "I Can't Get Started" left off. Rory must deal with the situation she created by kissing Jess.
Author's note: Well, this is it folks, the last chapter. Thank you to all of you who have read and reviewed my story, I hope you've enjoyed it!
Rory walked slowly around the town, enjoying the night air. She had just come from Lane's but had been forced to leave by Mrs. Kim on account of it being past nine. Lorelai was at Sookie's and Rory didn't feel like staying home alone so she had gone for a walk. She had been out for about twenty minutes when she found herself walking out onto the bridge that crossed the lake. Without thinking she sat down in almost the same spot she had been when she and Jess had come here on their picnic. Looking out over the water, she sat enjoying the cool breeze when she noticed someone had walked up beside her. Somewhat startled, Rory quickly stood up to see Jess standing there. Once again, despite all her efforts to disregard her feelings for him, the simple act of just being in his presence stirred her. Frustrated with herself for what she was experiencing, Rory tried in vain to ignore her emotions.
Regaining her composure Rory said, "Hey, I didn't see you there."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to sneak up on you or anything," Jess answered.
"No, no it's fine," said Rory.
"I, uh, haven't seen you since you got back," Jess replied. "How was your trip?"
"Um, it was good. A little on the boring side but it was good."
They stood quietly for a moment. Then Jess held up the same black bag he had brought home the night before.
"Here, this is yours," he said pulling out the contents of the bag so she could see it. As he pulled out what was in it, she couldn't believe what she saw.
"The Go-Go's?" Rory said astonished. "How. . ."
Pleased with how happy she was, Jess smiled and explained, "While you were gone I heard from Lane that you forgot it on the bus. I made a couple of calls and tracked it down."
Jess finished his story quickly, not relating the fact that he had made ten calls, checked out five record stores trying to find another copy of that album signed by Belinda which didn't work out, and then yesterday he took a bus to Boston after he had gotten a call from the bus line saying that Boston was where Rory's bus had gone after she got off that night and that someone had brought the album to the lost and found. Lucky that it hadn't been stolen, Jess made the trip to Boston the day before and finally had found what he had been looking for. He did have the thought going through his head that technically he was doing all this for Lorelai in a way (which seemed a little weird to him) since that was who Rory was giving it to but he knew that it would mean a lot to Rory also so that was why he had done it.
Rory shook her head in disbelief. "I can't believe you found it! I can't believe you did this." Rory looked at the album and was touched by what Jess had done for her.
Jess handed the album to her and as Rory reached for it their hands brushed briefly. They both froze for a moment then Jess started backing away.
"Anyway, there you go," replied Jess motioning to the album which Rory now held in her hand. "I'd better get going." And he started to walk off slowly. He hadn't seen her in over a month and a half and he had enjoyed every second of this brief exchange but he was still aware that she had made it clear that things were not going to be moving to anything past friendship. And although he had convinced himself that he was fine with that for now, he still found it hard to be around her without feeling the disappointment.
Rory had not moved since they had touched for she was still trying to comprehend all she was feeling. At the moment she felt his skin brush her own something happened and everything suddenly became perfectly clear to her and she was completely overwhelmed by it all. In that instant she had come to know the truth. And that distinct and unchangeable truth was that she had totally and completely fallen for Jess. She had known it ever since they had kissed but refused to yield to those feelings, refused to listen to what her heart was telling her - but she was listening now.
She had been telling herself she loved Dean and that she shouldn't feel the way she does about Jess and out of obligation to Dean she ignored her feelings. But in this moment she came to realize also that she should not stay with Dean just out of obligation. Her thoughts turned to him. She still cared about Dean and always would. And knowing that this would hurt Dean also hurt her but she knew that she needed to be honest with herself and honest with him. In this instant, only one thing mattered to her and that was being with Jess.
Rory looked to see Jess walking away. Setting the album down and without really thinking about what she was going to do when she got to him, Rory ran down the bridge after Jess.
"Jess, wait!" she called as she came closer.
Jess stopped upon hearing her voice and turned around to face her. He looked at her face and thought that she had never looked more beautiful. The moonlight reflecting off the water of the lake that surrounded them caressed her smooth skin and her cheeks were touched with a hint of red. Her startling blue eyes were glistening with emotion as she looked at him with a hopeful, yet uncertain look written across her features. Surprised by her, Jess watched Rory, a little confused.
She stood still for a moment, then spoke tentatively, "Jess, I - I need to tell you something." Her voice shook slightly, then as she looked over his face she found herself gaining courage and she continued. The thought had occurred to her that he possibly wasn't interested in her that way and Rory didn't know if any of what she said would make a difference in changing what she set in motion when she had told him to forget what she had done at the wedding but she knew one thing - she had to try.
"I know I told you that what I did at Sookie's wedding was a mistake and that it meant nothing but. . .I lied."
Upon hearing those words, Jess' heartbeat quickened and he looked at her intently. "What are you saying?" he asked, careful not to let his voice betray his feelings.
"What I'm saying is that I've been an idiot. What I'm saying is that I've been trying to convince myself that things were better off the way they are. What I'm trying to say is. . .is. . ." Rory's voice trailed off when she realized she wasn't making much sense and that she couldn't think of a way to express what she felt. Silence fell between them for a moment. Rory then looked into Jess' dark eyes and instantly she knew what to do.
Rory stepped toward Jess slowly, never taking her eyes off his. Jess watched as Rory's gaze shifted from his eyes, to his mouth and then back up to his eyes again. She stood there with a tentative yet hopeful look, almost pleading for his consent. Having waited for this moment for so long Jess found it hard to believe it was real. He stepped to Rory, leaning into her. The gap was then completely closed as they then moved in and kissed.
All else flew out of Rory's mind as she put forth every effort into expressing in this kiss what she couldn't tell Jess through words. Jess moved his hand up to her face and touched her skin softly before running his hand through her hair. His other hand was at her back, holding her against him. It was all Rory could do to keep from completely melting under his touch and she gripped his strong arm, desperately trying to keep her balance.
Both slowly pulled away and stood staring at one another, the silence heavy with emotion. Finally, Rory once again regained her ability to think clearly and spoke, her voice slightly above a whisper. "That was what I was trying to say," she said, her eyes serious.
Jess looked at her, still a little in awe of what had just happened. "Huh. Good to know," he replied, his familiar smirk forming on his lips. She eyed him upon hearing his tone of voice and looked at him to find his eyes full of teasing and reverence at the same time.
"Maybe we could go over it again, if you didn't get it the first time," Rory suggested smiling sweetly, stepping close to him once more.
"You'll get no argument from me," Jess replied as his mouth descended on hers.
Rory quickly thought of all that would have to be dealt with now that she had finally faced the truth and listened to her feelings. She thought of what she would tell her mother. She thought of Dean. It wasn't going to be easy. But the incredible feeling of this kiss and the feeling of being in Jess' arms swept over her telling her it would all be worth it.