Better in cones
Chapter Eleven
It was another hot day and Lane, Rory and Jess were laying out on the ground of the park in Hartford, listening to the music and soaking up the sunshine. Rory's head was rested on Jess' chest as he lay back reading a book, Lane was propped up against a tree and talking to Rory, who was pleased at how well they were all getting along today, Jess and Lane had found a common interest in music and they'd both made an effort to get along, and even when Jess got out his book to read, he was still joining in with the conversation, but allowed the girls to have a bit of time together.
'You know this is actually fun, and since it was a Mrs Kim approved outing I have to admit I had my doubts. But it's actually great.' Lane said looking over to the band that were set up in front of them quite a way off, as the three of them had chosen to sit further back from the rest of the crowd. Picking out a tree they could lay under. Rory smiled back at her friend.
'Musics great, Ice cream is great, the company is great and the weather is great.' Rory said happily feeling Jess chuckle slightly.
'Aren't we loving the word great.' Jess teased. 'Here was me thinking you had a wider vocabulary.'
'So says the boy who the first time I met you I got the word huh and nothing else.' Lane shot back good naturedly.
'The verbal thing comes and goes.' Jess replied going back to his book. Rory smiled and rolled her eyes at Lane.
'So I've noticed. Rory shall we go get some more ice cream? Mama doesn't let me have it in the house.' Lane said getting to her feet. Rory nodded and stood up linking arms with her friend to head to the small café in the park.
'Do you want anything Jess?' Rory asked him, he glanced up at her from his book and couldn't help but smile a little as she looked back at him, so beautiful in her white summer dress, and the sun shining down on her.
'Just a coke.' Jess replied turning his attention back to his book. The two girls walked off together barefoot on the soft grass.
'You two are sweet together.' Lane said smiling happily at Rory. In truth she hadn't liked Jess when she first got to know him, but he was starting to grow on her a little, and the fact that Rory liked him so much had to stand for something in Lane's opinion, and she had to admit that Rory and Jess did look happy together, it seemed so natural seeing Rory lying in the sunshine with her head rested on his chest and smiling constantly. However Lane had known Rory a long time and noticed as her smile faltered a little at her words.
'Together? We aren't together yet Lane, me and Jess are just friends for the moment.' Rory replied as they reached the café and waited for their drinks and ice creams. Lane studied her friends face carefully. Both of them wanted to be together, that much was evident but for some reason Rory was holding back. The whole town had seen them together over the past week, always in each others company, and Lane knew that she spoke to him constantly on the phone. Most of the town were wondering when they were going to get together, despite it being so soon after the break-up with Dean. They were practically dating already but Rory refused to let herself date Jess yet, she kept saying she needed time, that she didn't want the town to think she was jumping from one relationship to another. But Lane didn't buy it.
'What's holding you back from starting a relationship with Jess? You two seem perfect together and it's clear it's what you both want, and don't just say it's because of everyone's reactions again because I don't believe you.' Lane said after they'd gotten their order and were heading back to Jess.
'It's nothing, I just...' Rory struggled to find the right words to explain it. 'I don't know what will happen, we're so good right now as we are and I don't want to lose our friendship by making it something more too soon. Once feelings get in he way then everything gets complicated, and I guess I'm a little scared, Jess is so unlike Dean. I don't want to start dating him and...' Rory trailed off pausing in their walk so they didn't come within earshot of Jess.
'And find he's not as good as you thought, that he isn't good enough or that he isn't right for you?' Lane asked.
'No! I know that Jess is perfect for me and I'm certain I won't change my mind on that, I'm scared that we'll start dating and he'll realise that I'm not good enough for him, or that I'm not what he wants. I just need a little time to make myself believe that it's going to be ok.' Rory said looking over to where Jess was still laying back reading.
'Anyone who thinks you're not good enough will have me and your mum to answer to, besides Jess really likes you. It's obvious he wants to be with you or else he wouldn't of agreed to wait. I think you'll find your freaking out for nothing, but I get it if you need time, just don't take too much because as much as I hate to say it, Jess doesn't deserve you stringing him along.' Lane said taking a sip of her lemonade.
'I know, and I will be fine soon, I just don't want to rush anything and spoil it. I don't want to go into the relationship with doubts and fears about the outcome. He's just so important to me that I don't want to lose him.' Rory replied.
'And you can't lose something you never had, it's good logic.' Lane agreed before they both went back over to Jess, Rory handing him the drink. He thanked her and propped himself up against the tree, sitting next to Rory, as Lane sat cross legged in front of the pair of them.
'You took your time.' Jess said dropping his book to one side and opening his drink.
'Girl talk.' They both replied together. Smiling at each other.
*
'Good day?' Lorelai asked as Rory got home that evening. She followed her mothers voice to the kitchen and sat down at the table where Lorelai and Sookie were looking at Sookie's wedding photo's.
'Hey Sookie' Rory greeted before answering the question, Sookie smiled back and greeted her. Then Rory answered the question. 'Great day, it was so much fun. After the music stopped we went round a few shops and then got some dinner before heading home. How about you how was your day?' Rory asked.
'You know the usual, breakfast with my darling loin fruit at the diner, watched her depart with her best friend and her boyfriend in waiting.' Lorelai teased, Rory rolled her eyes but smiled. 'Work was fun, it was pretty quiet once all the guests went out to explore the local area and get some sunshine, so me and Sookie decided to tease Jackson and Michel all day, then I had dinner with Sookie at Al's because Luke's air conditioning broke and it was a sauna in their.'
'Sounds like a good day, but I hope the air conditioning is fixed soon because I don't think I'll survive long without Luke's food.' Rory said deeply concerned.
'Ah You really are my daughter.' Lorelai said proudly.
'Well I wouldn't count on it, I popped in there when I went to get the photo's to show you and he said that because it's broken and it's been so hot because of this heatwave we're having, that it fried a circuit or something, I forget what but he said the fridges aren't working. So he had to close up and that made him mad so he took it out by kicking something in his apartment and ended up bursting a water pipe, so they've got no running water.' Sookie said.
'Oh no! Luke's is falling apart.' Lorelai exclaimed loudly. 'Rory call Jess and find out what's going on.'
'Why don't you call Luke.' Rory asked.
'Duh, because he'll be annoyed and do you really think dealing with me is what he wants right now, besides you've been home and away from Jess for over fifteen minutes, that's about time to call don't you think.' Lorelai again teased her daughter, who blushed slightly but stood up to get the phone and dialled the diner's number. Jess picked up on the fifth ring after digging the phone out from under a pile of laundry.
'Hello.' He asked sounding slightly aggravated, Rory heard a loud banging in the background then Jess' voice turned away from the phone.
'What'd you do now? I told you let a professional look at it.' Jess yelled. Rory laughed slightly hearing Luke yell back that professionals would cost insane amounts of money because they liked to cheat people out of it.
'You doing ok over there? I just heard about the air-con and the water pipes.' Rory finally spoke, Jess smiled at the sound of her voice and slipped into the hall where it was a bit quieter.
'Hey. We're doing ok other than the fact that I'm melting.' Jess smirked.
'Come on it cannot be that bad.' Rory laughed.
'It wasn't, until Uncle Luke decided to try and fix the air-con himself, instead he ended up getting the heating stuck on full power.' Jess said raising his voice on the latter so Luke would here.
'Oh No! So you've got the heating stuck on full in a heatwave, no running water and the fridge in the diner stopped working.' Rory said recapping to make sure she hadn't missed anything and to pass the information onto Lorelai and Sookie who both stared at her wide eyed.
'Pretty much, and if he keeps going the way he is it'll get worse.' Jess sighed, as another loud crash sounded from inside the apartment followed by Luke shouting.
'Hang on a second.' Rory said covering the mouthpiece and turning to her mum. 'Mum they can't stay there overnight they'll be far too hot, can they come stay here until they can get a professional to fix the heat?' Rory asked.
'Sure hun, one can take the couch and one can have the pull out bed, we'll put it out in the lounge, you let Jess know and me and Sookie will set up.' Lorelai replied thinking of how Luke could probably use a break.
'Jess, how about you and Luke come stay here tonight? Mum and Sookie are setting up a bed and the sofa for you guys.' Rory offered.
'Sounds good, you sure it's ok though?' Jess asked, knowing Lorelai wasn't exactly his number one fan, even though they were making progress. Slow progress.
'It's ok, tell Luke and come by.' Rory smiled, they said their goodbyes and Rory headed into the lounge to help.
*
'Thanks for doing this Lorelai, it's just been a really bad day.' Luke said now in a much better mood, since he was in a cool house with running water. Lorelai smiled back over at him.
'It's nothing, what are friends for if not to put them up, and force them to hire a professional to fix their heating/plumbing problems.' Lorelai grinned getting ready to head upstairs to bed, Luke laughed softly and thanked her again. Lorelai went out into the kitchen where Rory and Jess had been sat talking for the past three hours since Jess and Luke had arrived.
'Hun it's getting late, I'm going to turn in and so is Luke so keep it down ok.' Lorelai said smiling over at her. Rory nodded.
'Night mum.' Rory said.
'Night Rory, night Jess.' Lorelai said going back through the lounge and saying goodnight to Luke before heading up to her room.
'You look different in your pyjama's' Jess smirked at her, talking in a quiet voice so as not to disturb Luke in the other room, Rory blushed and looked down at her blue strap top with a white sheep on it and the cropped leggings with several sheep on them and little Z's written in though bubbles.
'Different how?' She asked smiling slightly. He smirked back at her and stood up bending down to whisper in her ear.
'Goodnight Rory.' He whispered, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear and then walking into the lounge to go to sleep. Rory just stared after him before getting up herself and going into her room. Falling into a pleasant sleep, dreaming of Jess.
A/N- Hope you all like it. Review and let me know :)