Better in cones
Chapter Ten
The room was unbearably hot in the summer heat, despite having her window pushed fully open Rory was still boiling. She was laying on top of her covers on her bed, reading a book and waiting for the clock to tick over to two in the afternoon, which was when Jess was coming over to watch a movie. It was a week since they'd spoken on the bridge and they were back to normal, being friends and hanging out. He of course only came near the house when Lorelai wouldn't be around, but they still managed to see each other everyday. Rory was restless for him to arrive, a state she found herself in far to often now. But he'd had to work that morning and besides it gave her the chance to catch up on some reading and do more of her summer homework. At exactly two there was a knock on the door, Rory smiled springing off the bed and pulling the door open.
'Have you seen His Girl Friday?' Jess asked holding up a movie as his way of a greeting.
'Uh hello, a Cary Grant movie about reporters. Of course I've seen it, do you not know me at all?' Rory said mock offended as she led him into the lounge and put the movie in. She already set out the mountains of junk food on the coffee table, and Jess had bought food and coffee from Luke's for a late lunch.
'You remind me of Hildy.' Jess said about half way through the movie. She looked over at him sideways with a small smile playing on her lips.
'How?' She asked.
'independent reporter, I bet you'll be just like her when your working as a reporter. Nothing could tear you away from your work because you're dedicated and you love it, and even though you may think at some point that something else is worth giving it all up for, you'll realise that being a journalist is more important than anything.' Jess smirked 'Well so long as you have a Walter Burns to remind you of it.'
'Hm but where would I find a Walter?' Rory asked thinking deeply before smiling over at Jess. 'Do you promise to keep me on track, if I ever let something set me back or distract me from becoming a journalist you have to by any means necessary get me to realise I'm being stupid.' Rory smiled at her friend, crossing her legs under her.
'I promise.' He said looking over at her, hoping that it wouldn't be long until he could call her his girlfriend, until then though he was happy with hanging out with her.
'Hang on, what about my mum. She's more important than my career, and Lane.' Rory said after another ten minute silence.
'Sure and you'd do anything for them, but they'd never stop you becoming a journalist.' Jess shrugged off her objection and handed her a pack of red vines.
'I like that you think I'm like Hildy.' Rory smiled leaning back against the couch back.
'Huh.' He smirked over at her. They both went back to watching the movie in silence, glancing at each other every now and then. Making their way through the mountain of food, leaving crumbs, packets and empty bowls dotted over the table, sofa and floor. Jess had made more coffee, and grabbed sodas so that added to the mess. After the movie had finished they pushed open all the windows and put on some fans because it was so hot, Rory picked a cd full of sixties music to play which was annoying Jess slightly but he liked seeing how she smiled and danced along to the songs, then they both sat on the couch reading, Rory's feet and calves resting on Jess' lap, he back leaning against the arm rest. Soda in one hand and a book in the other, the music blasting out. This was how Lorelai found them when she got in after work. They didn't notice her come in, so she had the chance to observe them, she had to admit that they looked happy together, she knew about their arrangement to stay friends for a while, but looking at them she wasn't sure how long that would work. Lorelai finally decided to make her presence known.
'Boy you guys sure made a mess.' Lorelai smiled. Rory looked up at her mum and smiled. 'Almost as good as me and Rory on movie nights.'
'Well I've been trained by the best, and Jess is catching up.' Rory smiled, casting a quick glance at Jess who didn't look so relaxed now Lorelai was here.
'I should probably go.' Jess said dropping a hand onto Rory's legs and gently moving them so he could stand up. Lorelai took a deep breath, she'd promised to make an effort with Jess.
'Don't run out on my account.' Lorelai said brightly. 'Why don't you stay for dinner, I thought we'd order Chinese, the pork section, while watching either Casablanca or Greece.'
'Yeah stay for dinner.' Rory said excitedly, throwing her mum a quick thank you look. Jess hesitated for a minute, thinking about how important Lorelai was to Rory, and his promise a while back when he'd cleaned their rain gutters to try and get along with her.
'How can I say no to Casablanca or Greece.' Jess joked, sitting back down next to Jess.
'Great, I'll order the food.' Lorelai said going into the kitchen to get the phone and the menu.
'Look at you saying more than two words to my mum.' Rory smiled putting her book back on the coffee table, resting it on top of a empty bowl, that had contained jelly beans.
'Don't expect me to be close with her, but I can at least try and be civil.' Jess said going back to his book, but glancing up at her and catching her smile. He smiled softly and let his hand rest on her legs again.
*
'This movie is so sexist.' Lorelai shook her head at the screen as the ending credits of Greece rolled on. 'Sandy has to change her entire look and attitude just to get a guy, way to make woman feel bad about image.' She added.
'But it was her choice to make those changes, he didn't ask her too.' Jess debated back. The three of them had been discussing and debating through the whole movie. Lorelai was actually starting to enjoy his intelligent input into the debates. He wasn't instantly siding with Rory or her like Dean used to, and he understood a lot more of her obscure references.
'No he didn't but for her too change so drastically he must of made her feel like she had to change.' Lorelai replied.
'Maybe some people are worth changing for.' Jess replied his eyes drifting to Rory. Going unnoticed by Rory, but Lorelai saw it and smiled.
'I'll give you that one, some people are worth changing for.' Lorelai said, Jess picking up on the double meaning, that Rory was worth it.
'So debate over.' Rory said turning the television off and glancing outside at the now darkening sky. It was late, almost ten in the evening. The sun was staying up longer, and so to Rory it felt early and it was still hot and muggy. She glanced at Jess who was looking over at her.
'I know you really do have to go now.' Rory said reading his expression.
'Well I have to help Luke open the diner tomorrow, early start and he's got a delivery so that's....' Jess began. Rory finished his sentence.
'Even earlier. I know, so I'll...' Rory started.
'See you tomorrow.' Jess replied. Lorelai shook her head with a smile.
'God look at you two, finishing each others sentences.' Lorelai rolled her eyes good naturedly, getting up and going into the kitchen, to let them say goodbye in private.
'What shall we do tomorrow?' Rory asked as they stepped onto the porch outside.
'Well I finish work at ten because I start early and there's this big band playing in a park in Hartford, I though we could maybe go.' Jess asked her.
'Sounds good.' Rory smiled. 'Sounds like a date.' She added nervously. 'I'm not...'
'Ready, I know you're not. This isn't a date just two friends hanging out and you like old music. To prove it though you can invite Lane if you want.' Jess reassured her.
'You're great you know that? Ok it's not a date, and I'll see if Lane wants to come, not because I don't trust you about it not being a date, but I've sort of been neglecting her this week.' Rory said smiling at him.
'Well then invite her.' Jess said 'I guess I'll have to get to know your friends if we date.'
'When.' She replied, Jess looked at her confused so she explained. 'You said if we date, it's not if, it's when.'
'I'm going to hold you to that.' Jess smirked.
'I hope you do.' Rory said feeling butterflies in her stomach and her pulse flutter as his hand brushed against her arm.
'I'll see you tomorrow then, call me about Lane. We'll take my car.' Jess said watching for her reaction, she looking up at him with wide eyes.
'You got a car? Jess that's great.' Rory said, then worried slightly. 'How did you afford it?'
'I've been saving up from what I ear at Luke's and I've been working a second job...' He hesitated 'At WalMart.' He looked down at the floor.
'Busy boy, remember to study ok.' She said lightly, but hoping he'd pick up on her concern for his school work.
'I will, but I do have the whole summer to do the homework, not everyone gets it done in the first week.' He teased her playfully, she blushed and looked back at him
'I haven't finished all of it.' She defended. 'Right you should go, so me and Lane will meet you at the diner at around ten thirty.'
'Sure.' He smiled at her. 'Goodnight Rory.'
'Goodnight Jess.' Rory smiled going back into her house and leaning against the door with a smile, closing her eyes and breathing in deeply.
'For someone who's not your boyfriend he sure does know how to make you smile that mushy smile.' Lorelai teased, Rory's eyes snapped open and she blushed. 'Jess is so dreamy.' Lorelai mimicked Rory in a high pitched girly voice.
'I do not sound like that.' Rory defended but couldn't help laughing at her mum. Lorelai looked at her with amusement.
'But you don't deny you think he's dreamy.' Lorelai said and watched as Rory blushed again. 'Ha! Victory is mine.'
'Mum, stop it.' Rory said embarrassed. She went back to the lounge and started cleaning up the mess they'd now doubled with take-out containers and more candy. She carried the leftovers to the kitchen and put them in the fridge.
'You really like him huh?' Lorelai said sitting at the kitchen table. Rory turned round and nodded.
'So why is it you guys aren't dating yet?' Lorelai asked, Rory sighed and turned back to the fridge.
'Ok, Ok, I'll back off. I'm heading up to bed, night sweets.' Lorelai relented. Rory looked round again.
'Goodnight mum.' Rory smiled hugging her mum.
A/N- Review :) It makes me smile. Hope you liked it. I added a few references to His Girl Friday, and great movie. And then I've been listening to sixties music while listening to this and some of that may have leaked in :)