A/N: Thanks for the reviews!
Disclaimer: Don't own…
On with the story…
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Chapter 10: Where It's Too Much
"I would now like to introduce our valedictorian, Jess Mariano," the Stars Hollow High principal spoke through the microphone.
Luke, Lorelai, Rory, Lane, Paris, Tristan, Sookie, Jackson, Richard, and Emily cheered loudly as Nancy and Davey looked at them with their tiny eyebrows furrowed wondering what they were doing.
Jess chuckled at his family and spoke into the microphone, "Thank you Principal Mertin. Faculty members, students, friends, and family," he started professionally, "you have no idea how long I've awaited this day," the crowd erupted in laughter as Jess continued, "Unlike my girlfriend, I get good grades and do generally well in school without actually studying hard or liking it for that matter," the crowd chuckled, "Ever since pre-k, yes before grade school even, I have been pushed by a young woman by the name of Rory Gilmore to do well in school. She is the sole reason, with partial pressure from my uncle, that I ever studied or did my homework. She's impacted my life more than anyone."
"By now I'm sure most of you are a little lost, well, my life has been a crazy. I grew up with my uncle because my parents didn't want me. Period. My best friends since pre-k are Rory Gilmore, my current girlfriend, and Lane Kim. Paris Gellar is my best friend and has been since we were eleven and Tristan Dugrey is my cousin that moved in with Luke and me about a year ago. Lorelai Gilmore is my uncle's wife and my girlfriend's mother. Confusing right? Okay, let's get to why these people mean a lot to me."
"Besides those people, I'm pretty much a loner and I read all of the time. I could probably read circles around most of the teachers in this school," the crowd laughed, "but when I'm not reading, those people are my life. First, I would like to thank my uncle, Luke Danes, for taking me in and raising me the best he could. Next, Rory Gilmore and Lorelai Gilmore-Danes. While these women are the craziest I've ever meant, they are also the most important women in my life. Lorelai has never given me any idea that I wasn't wanted or welcomed in her or Rory's life and has always cared for me as her own. Rory and I couldn't have asked for a better set of guardians than Lorelai and Luke. Rory is my best friend and the love of my life. We were best friends for years on end until we realized what we felt for each other. She's my world and I honestly don't know what I would do without her by my side. Lane Kim has been my best friend since pre-k and I take pride in the fact that I am the only boy that Mama Kim let her hang out with," Mrs. Kim nodded approvingly at him with a smile on her face and a tear in her eye, "We have and always will be there for each other no matter what. Paris Gellar is…crazy, to put it simply. She knows what I'm thinking before I tell her and she knows all there is to know about me. Paris, Rory and I know each other better than we know ourselves and it scares me to think about what my life would be without them. Tristan Dugrey is pretty much a jerk, that is until he was Gilmorized. He moved to Stars Hollow and the Gilmore girls worked their magic on him. He's my family, and you're always there for family."
"Lastly, let's take a moment to thank Stars Hollow High for doing its best in preparing us for the outside world. The world where no one is going to give you what you want on a silver platter, where everything is hard and nothing comes close to easy. And in knowing that, they still gave us hope that we could do anything as long as we did our best. Thanks SHH, we'll never forget you," Jess finished and walked off the stage.
Everyone on the front lawn of Stars Hollow High stood and cheered at his speech. Lorelai, Rory, Paris, and Lane were in tears at his words.
Around thirty minutes later the principal reached the k's, "Lane Kim," rang out through the speakers.
A few minutes later, "Jesse Anthony Mariano."
His crowd erupted in whistles and cheers as he walked across the stage, moved his tassel, and walked off.
After the rest of the names were called they threw their hats up and ran off to their family and friends. Of course, Jess found Rory before anyone else. She ran to him and kissed him full on the lips with more passion than they had ever shared. She tangled her hands in his hair as he pulled her as close to him as physically possible by the small of her back. There was a cough behind them and they pulled apart to see the rest of their family and friends watching with amused smirks on their faces.
"Oh they have so had sex," Lorelai muttered to Luke who, in turn, turned 13 different shades of red and growled at Lorelai.
Rory blushed also and Jess just laughed and plastered a smirk to his face.
"Thirteen different shades of red!" Lorelai exclaimed.
"Lorelai, really," Emily muttered to her.
"Oh mom," Lorelai said daintily, "I was just trying to lighten the mood."
Richard cleared his throat and stepped forward. He gathered the five teenagers in front of him and pulled five envelopes out of his breast pocket.
"I would have given them to you yesterday, but I wanted to give them to you all at once after you graduated," Richard stated with a warm smile, "Here you go," he said as he handed each of them an envelope.
The five of them looked at each other confusedly and tore them open to find checks. Checks that were for 10,000 dollars each. Lane and Rory gasped, Jess became speechless and blinked trying to read the numbers right and Paris and Tristan smiled.
"Thank you Richard," Paris said sincerely and gave him a hug.
"Yes, thank you Mr. Gilmore," Tristan extended his hand to Richard and Richard shook it.
"It was my pleasure."
"Grandpa…," Rory breathed.
"Richard…this is, just too much," Jess insisted with a shake of his head.
"Yeah, Mr. Gilmore, this isn't necessary," Lane agreed.
"Oh, it most certainly is," Richard insisted with a chuckle, "You have accomplished a great thing, you very much deserve every penny of that check," he said with seriousness.
"Thank you," the three chorused.
"You're welcome."
Rory hugged her grandfather and both Jess and Lane shook his hand and then he and Emily left.
"Well, he must really like you," Lorelai stated as she looked over Rory and Jess' shoulders at their checks and Nancy gargled with a small smile.
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Diner
Jess walked into his and Tristan's room to change and found a letter addressed to him sitting on his bed. He picked it up and looked at the return address, but there was none.
Downstairs, Rory, Paris, and Tristan were also receiving letters.
Jess/Rory/Paris/Tristan POV
What's this?
Nobody's POV
They each opened the letters that had been given to them, Jess from his bed, and Rory, Paris, and Tristan from Lorelai. They read them silently to themselves.
Dear Jess,
Dear Rory,
Dear Paris,
Dear Tristan,
Jess read on.
Dear Jess,
I know that you probably don't want to be reading this right now, but your father and I have decided that we have to explain ourselves. When we found out that I was pregnant, we completely freaked out. We tried to hide it, but there was no chance in doing that seeing as I blew up like a balloon. We just want to tell you that we're sorry and we hope you have the wonderful life that you truly deserve. We don't regret giving you to Luke, I'm sure we raised you better than we ever could have.
Sincerely, Liz and Jimmy
A tear drop made its way onto the paper and Jess quickly wiped his eye and started to change.
Dear Rory,
I'm in my room right now with my best friends Dana and Julia. Dana also has a kid and so does Julia, but Julia is also two years older than us. So anyway, I'm going to give this letter to you when you graduate high school and only then. If you graduate high school, it will be more than I ever did. I love you so much kid. You're a mere year old at the moment and we're leaving this god forsaken house soon. I can't let you grow up in this prissy world, no offense to Juls though, she's keeping Tristan here.
Rory gasped as she read that part.
What a weird name. I mean, Tristan? Come on. No offense to Julia, she's always been a little odd. Her boyfriend, Tristan's father, yeah, his name is Ted. TED! HA! By the time you read this you'll probably be calling them Aunt Julie and Uncle Ted. Anyway, let's move on to Dana. Ahhh, Dana McManus. We've been best friends since we were in diapers. She named her baby girl Paris. You will most definitely be calling her Aunt Dana. So, Dana is marrying Paris' dad and Julia is marrying Ted, but I will not be marrying your father, Christopher. Christopher Hayden. I'm not sure if I'll ever have the courage to tell you through voice, so there is his name, Christopher Hayden. I'm so sorry sweetie, but I don't love him, not the way I know I'm supposed to. Not in that deep satisfying lifelong type of love. I wish with everything I have that it was, but it just isn't.
Rory was crying slightly now. She continued reading until the last line.
…I know you'll be better than I could ever be.
I Love You Sweets, Lorelai Victoria Gilmore
Rory ran up and hugged her mother fiercely. They cried silently together and no words were uttered during the exchange. None were needed.
Dear Paris,
Hey! I'm in my friend Lorelai's room right now and we're writing letters to our children. Wait, can't forget Julia! Ah yes, Julia, Julia, Julia. Julia is two years older than Lorelai and I, but she has also given birth recently to a little boy that she named Tristan.
Paris smirked.
Tristan. Wow, what was she thinking when she came up with that? And her soon-to-be husband? Yeah, his name is Ted. TED! Ha…Anyway, we are all sitting here writing letters to our one-year-old kids. If you're reading this that means that you have graduated college…scratch that, high school. We made a pact that we would give these to our kids only if they graduated. Congratulations baby girl. I'm going to marry your dad. I don't think I love him, but it's the right thing to do. You need a dad. Lorelai, being the stubborn thing she is (you'll be calling her Aunt Lorelai) is leaving this place to raise her little girl, Lorelai, Rory for short. She felt very feministic when naming her…
Paris chuckled good-naturedly and wiped her eyes of the few tears appearing. She read the last line.
…You're going to be so much better than me.
All My Love, Dana Lucille McManus
Paris went to the closest chair and sat down numbly. She put her head in her hands and cried silently. She decided she would call her mother tomorrow.
Dear Tristan,
I am sitting in Lorelai Gilmore's house with our other best friend, Dana McManus. Both have also had children so we made a pact. We decided to write these letters and give them to you guys only if you graduated high school. So, if you're reading this, congratulations and I am so proud of you. So, Lorelai and Dana are two years younger than me and you will most likely be calling them Aunt Lorelai and Aunt Dana. I am going to marry your father and bring you up in society as will Dana, but of course, Lorelai, the rebel, will be leaving with her daughter Rory soon. She claims she can't raise her here. She's right. Lorelai isn't a society girl and that's half the reason she's my best friend. She doesn't give a shit about what anyone thinks of her or what she does as long as she's happy. I admire her. Even though she makes fun of you and your father's names constantly, but so does dearest Dana. I love you; I want you to know that before I become a society bitch. I truly do love you.
After laughing slightly, he decorated his thin lips with a small smile and let tears well in his eyes at his mother's affection. He read the last line.
…You'll make more of yourself than I ever could.
My Everlasting Love, Julia Hannah Danes
He sat down next to Paris and wrapped an arm around his crying girlfriend. He let a few silent tears run down his cheeks before quickly wiping them away.
Jess came down the stairs, "What's with getting letters and envelopes today?" he asked and everyone turned to look at him, "What?"
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One Week Later…
Crap Shack
"Okay, everyone have their letters?" Rory said with a bright smile.
"Yup," Tristan replied.
"Jess?" Rory said as he stared off into the distance with a dazed look.
"Huh?" he came back to them.
"Do you have your letters?"
"Oh, yeah," he smirked and pulled out 6 big envelopes. Three of which were open and that he discreetly put down behind him.
"Okay, let's start opening," Paris said and reached for one of her envelopes as did everyone else.
"Harvard," Rory breathed.
"Princeton," Tristan smirked.
"Yale," Paris beamed.
"Northeastern University," Jess smiled knowingly.
They all took a deep breath and moved on to their next letters.
"Berkeley," Jess chuckled.
"Harvard," Paris squealed.
"Yale," Tristan said.
"Columbia," Rory stated.
This routine went on until it went like this.
Rory was accepted to: Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Princeton, Vassar, and Brown.
Tristan was accepted to: Princeton, Yale, Brown, Harvard, and Columbia.
Paris was accepted to: Yale, Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, Vassar, and Brown.
And finally, Jess was accepted to: Northeastern, Berkeley, and Capital Community.
Jess also had three large letters still waiting to be revealed.
"Okay, so, what now?" Tristan asked after they were done.
"Now, I show the rest of my letters," Jess stated.
"What?" All three of the other teens turned to look at him in surprise.
Diner
"Coffee Luke," Lorelai said as she entered the diner with baby Nancy on her hip.
"No," Luke said in response.
"Lu-uke!" Lorelai whined.
"No."
"Are you asking to sleep on the couch? I haven't had coffee in over eight months now give me some damn coffee."
Luke sighed exasperatedly, "Fine."
"I love you," Lorelai smiled and took a huge gulp of the fresh coffee Luke placed in front of her. Nancy gargled, "Nancy loves you, too," Lorelai told him.
"She's not so bad herself," Luke smiled at his little girl and went back to work.
"You're just so darn cute," Lorelai whispered to her and kissed her forehead.
Crap Shack
"What other letters?" Rory asked incredulously and crawled to him to look over his shoulder in curiosity.
"The ones I didn't tell anybody about because I wanted to make sure I got in first," Jess explained.
"Where?" Paris asked.
"Why did we not know about this?" Tristan crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes at Jess.
They were all sitting on the floor of Rory and Paris' living room with the TV on in the background, but on mute. There was an empty pizza box and sodas scattered around and all teens were dressed rather comfortably.
"I wanted to make sure I got in before I got you guys excited," Jess answered.
"Where?" Paris asked again impatiently.
"Harvard, Yale, and Columbia," Jess finally told them and handed Rory the letters so that she could inspect them.
"Oh my God," she breathed. She threw the letters to Paris and Tristan then jumped onto Jess which resulted in them both falling back, Rory straddling his hips as she crashed her lips upon his.
"Wow," Tristan whispered.
"I knew he could do it," Paris smiled triumphantly and pulled Tristan up to leave. After dropping the letters carefully on the coffee table, she and Tristan left to give Rory and Jess time alone.
Rory detached her lips from his and moved down to his neck. He tried to flip them but she refused muttering something about this 'being about him', his 'reward'. He just smirked and allowed her to continue her assault. Two hours later they were tangled in Rory's sheets, both with sweaty skin pressed tightly together and sleeping peacefully.
Everything was right.
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A/N: I am sorry for the late update. There is no excuse, but if want a few, I'm sick and shit and school has been crazy preparing for multiple unit tests and HSA's (If you're form Maryland, you know what that is). By the way, I looked up all of the colleges Jess got into before he showed the good ones. Press the pretty little button!