NOBODY SAID

CHAPTER TEN

          Jess cleared his throat and politely nodded at each person as they filed out of the ballroom.  He was relieved that the strenuous ordeal was almost over and done with, but happy as well, since it was what Sasha wanted.  Holding her hand in his, he gently squeezed it for assurance.  Sasha squeezed back and began to massage his palm with her thumb.

          It was going to be over soon.

          His eyes scanned the giant room and suddenly, he cursed himself as his focus fell upon Rory Gilmore.  She had been staring at him far longer than he, he realized when Rory faintly smiled and blushed.  He gave her a slight nod from his side of the room, and she smiled softly in hers.  He noticed her eyebrows furrow for a moment, but then Rory realized that he was still looking at her.  And her face softened.

          Jess sighed.  This wasn't going to be easy.

          Sasha mistook the sigh as something else and tilted her head up to place a soft kiss on his neck.  "Hang in there."

          He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her tighter.  He needed her so much right now.

          "You guys are just adorable.  I could eat you both."

          They both jumped at the sound of Lorelai's voice.  Jess looked at her almost bulging stomach with a raised eyebrow.  "I don't doubt that."

          Lorelai merely rolled her eyes and waved Jess off.  "I'll see you later, you jerk."

          He smirked, "I love you, too, Auntie."

          "Shut up," she said in mock cynicism.

          They didn't seem to notice Sasha's incredulous expression.

          Luke followed close behind and he cleared his throat, "Ah, thanks, Jess.  Great food.  Tell that Malaysian ex-convict of yours that he's got five stars out of me."

          Sasha chuckled, "We can introduce you, if you want."

          "Hah, no thanks.  I still a little iffy about his past references."

          "Thanks for coming, Luke," Jess said.

          "No problem.  See you at the wedding.  I'll get you guys a toaster."  Luke's mouth turned up as he added, "You guys don't have swans in your wedding, do you?"

          Sasha gave him a puzzled look, "Uh, no, sadly, but if you really want—"

          "No!"  Jess interrupted quickly, "No swans."

          Luke laughed gruffly and clapped Jess on the shoulder, "Goodnight."

          "I hate you, Luke."

          "Jess, don't be so mean to your uncle!  He's family!"  Sasha said in a surprised tone.  Obviously, she wasn't familiar with the men's form of affectionate banter.

          "Don't worry, Sasha, that's Danes-Mariano code for 'I love you yet am too macho to admit it.'"  Rory suddenly interjected from behind Luke.

          "Rory."  Jess said, a bit taken aback at the open friendliness which she regarded his fiancé.

          "Congratulations to you both, you guys.  I'll see you in two months."

          "You aren't staying here, Miss Gilmore?"

          "It's Rory, and no, sadly.  I have to get back to work, or I'd be toastier than… erm… toast."

          Jess held back a chortle at Rory's colourful imagery with his fist.  He tried to pass it off as a cough, but judging from Rory's glare, he was unsuccessful at the attempt.

          "See you, Rory."

          "'Bye, Jess."

          She smiled warmly at him, and shook his hand.  For etiquette's sake, of course.  Jess's eyes were filled with unspoken gratitude as he looked at her.  Rory, unable to take the intensity of his gaze, looked away and grabbed Sasha's hand instead.  "Thank you, Sasha."

          The girl smiled widely at Rory and clasped both of her hands.  This made Rory a bit uncomfortable and she slipped her fingers off Sasha's friendly hold.  "I'll see you at the wedding, Rory."

          "I'll be there.  Expect a big gift.  The size of a fridge.  It's not going to be exactly a fridge, but about that size.  That is, if I can afford it."

          "Rory…" Jess said warningly as she was on the edge of the rambling slope.

          "Oh, ha-ha, thanks for stopping me, Jess.  I'll see you guys."

          "Goodbye!"

***

          When Rory got back to her apartment, she was so emotionally drained that she collapsed onto her bed without even taking her shoes off.  She lay on the soft mattress, belly down, and screamed into the covers.

          She needed Jess so much right now.

***

          The next few weeks at work passed by quickly without any hitch.  Rory was glad of the routine because it gave her less time to think about a certain dark haired boy, now a dark haired man.

          "Miss Gilmore, I'm going out for lunch," Rory's assistant said as she popped in the office without so much as a greeting.  Rory looked up from her work and nodded wordlessly.

          A few minutes later, her stomach seemed to say the same thing.  She bit her lip as her stomach moaned like a bagpipe in a Scottish Festival.  Grabbing her coat, she stepped out of the office and walked towards a café not so far away.

          She took a seat and ordered and appetizer, two main courses and a cheesecake.  The waiter nervously spoke, "Uh, miss, would you like me to serve it to you now, or would you like to wait for the rest of your party?"

          Hmm.  She did seem to order a bit much…

          Her stomach grumbled again, making the waiter raise an eyebrow.  "I'd like the food served now, please," Rory said shamefully.

          "Of course."

          "I can't do this anymore.  I'm getting married in a week."

          Rory's head shot up at the sound of the familiar voice.  It was just a few tables away.  Was that…?

          "Sasha, please, I can't live without you."

          Rolling her eyes at the cheesy comment, Rory grabbed a breadstick and gnawed on it.

          Hang on and back it up a minute.  Did that man just say "Sasha"?  Than man who was not Jess?

          "No.  I told you, I can't do this.  He loves me, I know it."

          "No, he doesn't!"

          Sasha's wavering voice wafted through the tables and into Rory's ear, "How do you know that?"

          Rory heard a fist pound on the table, "Because I do."

          "Your food, ma'am," the server said cordially.  However, Rory's attentions were not at the food.  Her eyes widened at the sudden realization that Sasha was having an affair.  With a man who's seen a few too many romance movies and novels.  She tried to let out a gasp, but instead inhaled the breadstick, which became stuck in her throat.

          Trying not to cause a scene, Rory ran into the washrooms where the server followed her, "Ma'am, don't move, I can do the Heimlich Maneuver!  Let me help you!"

          Inside the washroom hall, the server put his arms around her and tried to get the breadstick dislodged in her throat.

          Rory bent over and hacked it all out once the damned thing was out of her system.  Literally.

          "Are you okay, Miss?"

          She nodded and tried to smile at the waiter.  The man nodded and left her alone.  Rory stepped into the women's room and leaned on the sink.

          "What am I going to do now?"