Chapter Nine : I Busted You Good, Lorelai Gilmore
"Good morning, Luke. Don't you look handsome?" Miss Patty said with a smile, leaning over the counter and brushing off the front of Luke's flannel shirt. "Would you be a dear and get me a cup of coffee? I have a yoga class in fifteen minutes and my eyes simply will not stay open."
Luke grabbed a take-out cup and filled it with hot java from the pot, hiding a smile. "Late night, Patty?"
She chuckled. "Now, Luke. I don't believe that is any of your business." Miss Patty smiled at Jess as he appeared in the kitchen doorway. "Good morning, darling."
Jess nodded. "Hi."
Miss Patty lowered her voice, looking around Mission-Impossible- style. "Did you two hear about Rory?"
Luke and Jess both leaned over the counter to hear her better. Luke spoke first. "Hear what about Rory? Did something happen?"
Miss Patty wiggled her eyebrows, taking the coffee from Luke's hand. "She broke up with that boy last night. The tall one, floppy hair. Cute."
Luke looked surprised. "Rory broke up with Dean? Are you sure? They seemed fine last week when they came in for dinner."
Miss Patty straightened her scarf. "My sources are always right. Believe what you want."
Jess shook his head. "Do you know why they broke up?"
"I'm sure if you ask her, she'll tell you why," Miss Patty said casually. She sipped her coffee. "I have to get over to the studio. I'll see you boys later." She waved and swept out of the diner.
Luke clenched his fists. "I never liked that kid."
Jess stared at his uncle. "What?"
Luke sucked in a breath. "Forget it. You have to go to school. Get out of here."
Jess slung his messenger bag over his shoulder, sliding a copy of J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye in the front pocket. He left the diner, mulling over what Patty had said. It was probably true. For a moment, he wondered if Dean had been the one to break up with Rory.
"I'll kick his ass," Jess said, biting his tongue when he realized he had said it aloud.
He walked over to Stars Hollow High, checking his watch. The first bell wouldn't ring for ten minutes. Jess glanced around, catching sight of Lane. Rory's best friend was sitting on a bench, flipping frantically through what appeared to be a Literature book. He approached the bench, sitting beside her.
Lane smiled when she saw him. "Hi, Jess. Do you know what page that homework was on last night? I totally forgot to do it."
"153, I think." He hadn't done the homework, but he had a good memory. After a moment, he cleared his throat. "Can I ask you a question?"
She nodded, finding the page and scanning it. "Sure, go ahead."
"Did Rory and Dean break up last night?"
Lane looked over at him. "Who did you hear that from?"
He smiled slightly. "Miss Patty."
Lane smiled, too. "Why did I even ask? She always knows what's going on before it happens."
"So, are you under the best-friend-code-of-silence? Not allowed to tell me?"
"No. It'll be all over Stars Hollow by this afternoon, if Miss Patty knows." Lane nudged him.
"Yes, Rory and Dean broke up. She called me last night."
"Is she okay?" Jess asked.
Lane nodded. "Rory's upset, but she'll deal. She has her mom, and she has me. And you."
"Do you think she'll come to me about it?" Jess asked quietly.
"Yeah, probably." The bell rang, interrupting her. "I have to get to first period. I'll see you later, Jess." Lane gathered her things and ran inside.
"Yeah, later." Jess replied faintly, lost in thought.
Rory clutched her Lit books to her chest as she headed for Max's classroom. It was mid-morning and she couldn't wait for the day to be over. Paris had noticed once again that she looked exhausted, and not surprisingly, called her on it. Rory had ignored her. In fact, she hadn't really talked at all that day, not even the headmaster when he greeted her in the hallway.
She turned the corner and ran smack into Tristan, dropping her books and spilling the contents of her pencil case. Rory closed her eyes. She was going to be late. Could the day get any worse?
"Woah, Rory. What's going on? You okay?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.
His concern made her even more annoyed. "No. I'm not okay. Dammit!"
They both knelt down, Rory gathering her books, Tristan putting everything back in her pencil case. Rory sighed, getting to her feet. A moment later, Tristan stood up.
"I don't believe I have ever heard you say a bad word," Tristan commented.
"Yeah, well, today sucks." Rory muttered. The bell rang, causing Rory to utter another curse.
"Medina isn't here. He called out sick this morning," Tristan informed her.
"Who's our sub?"
"Ms. Jamison." They smiled at each other.
Sue Jamison was the youngest teacher at Chilton. She was from New York, complete with Brooklyn accent and easy-going attitude. If she subbed your class, that gave you permission to do whatever you wanted, so she could listen to the radio and read trashy romance novels.
"I'm going out to courtyard to smoke. Want to come with me?" Tristan offered.
Rory nodded, and they walked outside together. They found a bench and sat down, Rory curling up her legs Indian-style, Tristan lighting up a cigarette.
"So, why are you having a bad day?" Tristan asked after a couple minutes of silence.
Rory sighed, wondering if she should tell him about Dean, or keep her mouth shut. Finally, she relented, "I broke up with my boyfriend last night."
Tristan looked at her, his mouth contorting in a strange smile, and then he laughed. Rory scowled at him.
"No, no. I'm not laughing at you. I just . . .I just thought that you and Bag Boy would end up married or something."
"Yeah, well, it's over. I'm sure you're all kinds of happy."
Tristan's face turned serious. "Actually, no. You're upset. That doesn't make me happy." He studied Rory, smirking. "Hey, Mary. Is there a reason you broke up with Dean?"
She stared at him. "Excuse me?"
"Is there . . .another boy?" Tristan asked slyly.
Rory paused, looking down at the ground. "None of your business, Tristan."
He clapped his hands, dropping his Marlboro Light on the ground. "I knew it. Little Mary is all grown up, dumping her boyfriend for another guy."
"Tristan, stop."
"I busted you good, Lorelai Gilmore. So, who is he? Does he go to Chilton?"
Rory shook her head. "No, he lives in Stars Hollow."
"What's his name?"
"Jess."
"Short for what? Jessica?"
Rory shoved him. "Shut up."
Tristan took a deep breath. "So, you really like him?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I do."
Tristan looked over his shoulder and then back at her, smiling. "I can give you some advice."
Rory grinned. "You? Giving me advice? Please."
"Look, I've had a million girlfriends. I think I'm qualified," Tristan protested.
Rory composed herself. "I'm waiting."
"You need to move on. If you really like this Jess guy, then go for it. My godmother used to always tell me to follow my heart." He shrugged. "I never really followed her advice, but you should."
"You should be a shrink, Tristan," Rory teased softly.
"Right. More like I need to go to one."
"So, you never follow your heart?"
Tristan shook his head, pulling another cigarette from his pocket and lighting it. "I did, once. Didn't work out."
Rory flushed and turned her head away from him.
"Relax, Mary. I'm changing the subject now."
"How's school?" Rory asked, looking back at him.
"Not too bad, actually. I promised my dad that I would get into an Ivy League school, so I'm kind of busting my own ass."
"Any love interests?"
"Nope. That was part of the bargain, too. No girls. They distract me, or something." He winked at her.
"Somehow, I don't find that hard to believe." Rory deadpanned.
The bell rang. Tristan stubbed out his cigarette and helped Rory up.
"Thanks for keeping me company, Mary."
Rory waved at him as she walked back into the school.
*A/N* Hope you guys enjoyed. Feedback, as always, is appreciated. Sorry to the Trories, the interaction between Rory and Tristan will be mostly friendship, with a little bit of flirtation thrown in, because he's so damn cute. More Jess/Rory in the next chapter, I promise. Once again, have a nice weekend. Wish me luck on my SATS. And go see Spider-Man, because I will and it looks kick-ass. LoL.
"Good morning, Luke. Don't you look handsome?" Miss Patty said with a smile, leaning over the counter and brushing off the front of Luke's flannel shirt. "Would you be a dear and get me a cup of coffee? I have a yoga class in fifteen minutes and my eyes simply will not stay open."
Luke grabbed a take-out cup and filled it with hot java from the pot, hiding a smile. "Late night, Patty?"
She chuckled. "Now, Luke. I don't believe that is any of your business." Miss Patty smiled at Jess as he appeared in the kitchen doorway. "Good morning, darling."
Jess nodded. "Hi."
Miss Patty lowered her voice, looking around Mission-Impossible- style. "Did you two hear about Rory?"
Luke and Jess both leaned over the counter to hear her better. Luke spoke first. "Hear what about Rory? Did something happen?"
Miss Patty wiggled her eyebrows, taking the coffee from Luke's hand. "She broke up with that boy last night. The tall one, floppy hair. Cute."
Luke looked surprised. "Rory broke up with Dean? Are you sure? They seemed fine last week when they came in for dinner."
Miss Patty straightened her scarf. "My sources are always right. Believe what you want."
Jess shook his head. "Do you know why they broke up?"
"I'm sure if you ask her, she'll tell you why," Miss Patty said casually. She sipped her coffee. "I have to get over to the studio. I'll see you boys later." She waved and swept out of the diner.
Luke clenched his fists. "I never liked that kid."
Jess stared at his uncle. "What?"
Luke sucked in a breath. "Forget it. You have to go to school. Get out of here."
Jess slung his messenger bag over his shoulder, sliding a copy of J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye in the front pocket. He left the diner, mulling over what Patty had said. It was probably true. For a moment, he wondered if Dean had been the one to break up with Rory.
"I'll kick his ass," Jess said, biting his tongue when he realized he had said it aloud.
He walked over to Stars Hollow High, checking his watch. The first bell wouldn't ring for ten minutes. Jess glanced around, catching sight of Lane. Rory's best friend was sitting on a bench, flipping frantically through what appeared to be a Literature book. He approached the bench, sitting beside her.
Lane smiled when she saw him. "Hi, Jess. Do you know what page that homework was on last night? I totally forgot to do it."
"153, I think." He hadn't done the homework, but he had a good memory. After a moment, he cleared his throat. "Can I ask you a question?"
She nodded, finding the page and scanning it. "Sure, go ahead."
"Did Rory and Dean break up last night?"
Lane looked over at him. "Who did you hear that from?"
He smiled slightly. "Miss Patty."
Lane smiled, too. "Why did I even ask? She always knows what's going on before it happens."
"So, are you under the best-friend-code-of-silence? Not allowed to tell me?"
"No. It'll be all over Stars Hollow by this afternoon, if Miss Patty knows." Lane nudged him.
"Yes, Rory and Dean broke up. She called me last night."
"Is she okay?" Jess asked.
Lane nodded. "Rory's upset, but she'll deal. She has her mom, and she has me. And you."
"Do you think she'll come to me about it?" Jess asked quietly.
"Yeah, probably." The bell rang, interrupting her. "I have to get to first period. I'll see you later, Jess." Lane gathered her things and ran inside.
"Yeah, later." Jess replied faintly, lost in thought.
Rory clutched her Lit books to her chest as she headed for Max's classroom. It was mid-morning and she couldn't wait for the day to be over. Paris had noticed once again that she looked exhausted, and not surprisingly, called her on it. Rory had ignored her. In fact, she hadn't really talked at all that day, not even the headmaster when he greeted her in the hallway.
She turned the corner and ran smack into Tristan, dropping her books and spilling the contents of her pencil case. Rory closed her eyes. She was going to be late. Could the day get any worse?
"Woah, Rory. What's going on? You okay?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.
His concern made her even more annoyed. "No. I'm not okay. Dammit!"
They both knelt down, Rory gathering her books, Tristan putting everything back in her pencil case. Rory sighed, getting to her feet. A moment later, Tristan stood up.
"I don't believe I have ever heard you say a bad word," Tristan commented.
"Yeah, well, today sucks." Rory muttered. The bell rang, causing Rory to utter another curse.
"Medina isn't here. He called out sick this morning," Tristan informed her.
"Who's our sub?"
"Ms. Jamison." They smiled at each other.
Sue Jamison was the youngest teacher at Chilton. She was from New York, complete with Brooklyn accent and easy-going attitude. If she subbed your class, that gave you permission to do whatever you wanted, so she could listen to the radio and read trashy romance novels.
"I'm going out to courtyard to smoke. Want to come with me?" Tristan offered.
Rory nodded, and they walked outside together. They found a bench and sat down, Rory curling up her legs Indian-style, Tristan lighting up a cigarette.
"So, why are you having a bad day?" Tristan asked after a couple minutes of silence.
Rory sighed, wondering if she should tell him about Dean, or keep her mouth shut. Finally, she relented, "I broke up with my boyfriend last night."
Tristan looked at her, his mouth contorting in a strange smile, and then he laughed. Rory scowled at him.
"No, no. I'm not laughing at you. I just . . .I just thought that you and Bag Boy would end up married or something."
"Yeah, well, it's over. I'm sure you're all kinds of happy."
Tristan's face turned serious. "Actually, no. You're upset. That doesn't make me happy." He studied Rory, smirking. "Hey, Mary. Is there a reason you broke up with Dean?"
She stared at him. "Excuse me?"
"Is there . . .another boy?" Tristan asked slyly.
Rory paused, looking down at the ground. "None of your business, Tristan."
He clapped his hands, dropping his Marlboro Light on the ground. "I knew it. Little Mary is all grown up, dumping her boyfriend for another guy."
"Tristan, stop."
"I busted you good, Lorelai Gilmore. So, who is he? Does he go to Chilton?"
Rory shook her head. "No, he lives in Stars Hollow."
"What's his name?"
"Jess."
"Short for what? Jessica?"
Rory shoved him. "Shut up."
Tristan took a deep breath. "So, you really like him?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I do."
Tristan looked over his shoulder and then back at her, smiling. "I can give you some advice."
Rory grinned. "You? Giving me advice? Please."
"Look, I've had a million girlfriends. I think I'm qualified," Tristan protested.
Rory composed herself. "I'm waiting."
"You need to move on. If you really like this Jess guy, then go for it. My godmother used to always tell me to follow my heart." He shrugged. "I never really followed her advice, but you should."
"You should be a shrink, Tristan," Rory teased softly.
"Right. More like I need to go to one."
"So, you never follow your heart?"
Tristan shook his head, pulling another cigarette from his pocket and lighting it. "I did, once. Didn't work out."
Rory flushed and turned her head away from him.
"Relax, Mary. I'm changing the subject now."
"How's school?" Rory asked, looking back at him.
"Not too bad, actually. I promised my dad that I would get into an Ivy League school, so I'm kind of busting my own ass."
"Any love interests?"
"Nope. That was part of the bargain, too. No girls. They distract me, or something." He winked at her.
"Somehow, I don't find that hard to believe." Rory deadpanned.
The bell rang. Tristan stubbed out his cigarette and helped Rory up.
"Thanks for keeping me company, Mary."
Rory waved at him as she walked back into the school.
*A/N* Hope you guys enjoyed. Feedback, as always, is appreciated. Sorry to the Trories, the interaction between Rory and Tristan will be mostly friendship, with a little bit of flirtation thrown in, because he's so damn cute. More Jess/Rory in the next chapter, I promise. Once again, have a nice weekend. Wish me luck on my SATS. And go see Spider-Man, because I will and it looks kick-ass. LoL.