Teaching You Tonight
"Hey," I say to Rory as I run up to catch her.
"Hey," Rory says as she turns around and kisses me.
"So, how was school?" I ask her.
"Good," Rory replies as she laces her fingers with mine and we walk off towards the diner. "You?"
"Alright," I reply.
"You're still going aren't you Jess?" Rory asks me.
"Sure," I reply. "Hey, whilst we're on the subject of school," I say.
"Yeah," Rory replies.
"Luke's going to ask you to tutor me," I say really fast.
"Really, why?" Rory asks me.
"Mainly because of the work I missed whilst I was recuperating," I reply.
"I see," Rory says slightly disappointed.
"So when Luke asks you, you have to say yes," I plead.
"Why?" Rory asks curiously.
"Because he said if you say no he is going to stick me with the next smartest person in Stars Hollow," I explain.
"And who's that?" Rory asks me.
"Well, in Luke's opinion the apple doesn't fall far from the tree," I reply.
"You're kidding," Rory says. "My mother."
"Yes, Lorelai," I say.
"You guys talking about me again," Lorelai says as she catches up with us. "I've told you before Rory if you want to score with a guy, don't bring up your mother. Because naturally when they see me, they will leave you and we will run off to Vegas together."
"You would run off with Jess?" Rory questions her mother.
"Sure," Lorelai replies. "I can sell him off to a prostitution ring for some gambling money."
"Maybe we should notify the authorities about Lorelai, she seems a little unstable," I say quietly to Rory.
"Believe me I've tried," Rory says. "But, they wouldn't take her. Something about an endangerment to others."
"Stop talking about me," Lorelai says like a five year old. "I'm going to tell Luke about this," Lorelai says as she runs off and into the diner.
"See, you can't let Lorelai tutor me," I plead. "I might accidentally stab her with my pencil and you don't want to go live with Christopher, do you?"
"No," Rory says quickly. "I'll tutor you."
We walk into the diner. Where Lorelai is pretending to cry.
"They did this to me," Lorelai says accusingly as she points at us.
Luke looked angry, like push me in a lake angry.
"Why is Lorelai upset?" Luke asks us.
"What?" I say confused and Lorelai bursts out laughing.
"You should have seen your face, Jess," Lorelai says in between laughs and Rory joins in too. Luke just looks confused, he has no idea what's going on.
Rory and Lorelai are in the diner having dinner.
"You guys done yet?" I ask Rory and Lorelai as I make my way over to their table.
"No, not yet," Lorelai says and I sit down at their table. "So Jess, I hear you begged Rory not to let me tutor you."
"Yeah," I say nervously.
"It's okay," Lorelai reassures me. "I wouldn't want me as a tutor either."
"Okay," I say slightly confused.
"It works out well anyway because Luke is taking me on our first official date," Lorelai says excitedly.
"Really," Rory says.
"Where's he taking you?" I ask Lorelai.
"I don't know, it's a surprise," Lorelai says.
"Well, maybe Rory should stay here tonight. You know just in case the date goes well," I say to Lorelai and smirk.
"Jess," Rory says. "Way to ruin a moment."
"Hang on," Lorelai says. "Jess might be on to something."
"What!" Rory exclaims.
"Be a good girl Rory and listen to your mother," I say.
"Lorelai, you ready?" Luke asks.
"Wow, you look good," Lorelai stammers when she takes in Luke's appearance. Luke has lost his hat and is wearing a white dress shirt with a navy tie, black jacket with black dress pants.
"So do you," Luke says as Lorelai stands up in a black dress that hugs her body perfectly.
"Thank you," Lorelai replies.
"Jess, be good," Luke warns.
"Yes Uncle Luke," I reply sarcastically as he heads to the door, whilst Lorelai hangs back.
"Stay in the diner," Lorelai says. "And only come home once Luke gets back, alright."
"We'll be fine," Rory says as she pushes her mother out the door.
"Have a good time," I say as they leave.
I turn and face Rory. "So, what now?" I ask Rory flirtatiously.
"Now, we study," Rory says as she sits back down.
"Come on Rory," I say. "Luke and Lorelai are far away the least we can do is make the most of it."
"Well, if you be a good boy and study, I might be open to some suggestions," Rory says.
"Okay," I say as I clear off the table and get my school books.
"Ready?" Rory asks as I sit down.
"Sure," I say as I open up my book.
"What's first?" Rory asks.
"The Marshall Plan," I reply.
"So, what do you know?" Rory asks me.
"Well, the Marshall Plan was the main plan of the US for rebuilding and creating a stronger foundation for our allies," I say as if I am reciting it from a textbook.
"Good," Rory says. "And who was the initiative named after?"
"Secretary of State George Marshall," I reply.
"The effects," Rory says to me.
I sigh. "It ended in 1951, as originally planned. 1948 to 1952 saw the fastest period of growth in European history. Industrial production increased by 35%. Agricultural production substantially surpassed pre-war levels," I explain. "Do you want me to continue?" I ask Rory.
"No, I think you've got it," Rory says. "Let's move on. What's next?"
"I have to recite Shakespeare in front of the class," I answer.
"Okay, so what play are you going to recite from?" Rory asks me.
"No sooner met but they looked; No sooner looked but they loved; No sooner loved but they sighed; No sooner sighed but they asked one another the reason; No sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy; And in these degrees have they made a pair of stairs to marriage..." I recite.
"Jess," Rory says.
"What too soon?" I ask her, but she is speechless so I decide to recite another passage. "O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! Her beauty hangs upon the cheek of night Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear; Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows. The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand, And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night."
Rory doesn't say anything. "Come on Rory say something you're killing me here," I say to her.
"Give me my Romeo; and, when he shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine. That all the world will be in love with night
And pay no worship to the garish sun," Rory says.
"Come here," I say and she comes over and sits in my lap. I kiss Rory slow and lovingly. "You know, I'm the only one who has to recite Shakespeare," I say as I look up at her.
"I know," Rory replies as she kisses me back.
"Time for ice-cream?" I ask Rory hopefully.
"Sure, but do you have cones?" Rory asks me.
"Of course I have cones. Who do you think I am?" I ask her.
"A cone less man," Rory says sarcastically.
I get up from the table and walk into the kitchen. "Chocolate, Strawberry or Vanilla?" I ask Rory.
"Can I have all three?" Rory asks hopefully.
"Sure," I reply as I walk out of the kitchen and make her cone up. "Here," I say as I hand her the cone across the counter. I make mine, which is just strawberry and join Rory sitting at the counter.
"Serious question?" Rory asks me.
"Okay," I reply.
"You know you're smarter than most everybody at your school. It takes you like five minutes to finish a book. You read everything, you remember everything and you could ace those classes easily. Why don't you?" Rory asks me.
"No reason to," I reply.
"What do you mean?" Rory questions. "You can do anything you wanted, you can be anything you wanted."
"Rory, I'm not going to college, so why waste the time in high school?" I ask her.
"And why aren't you going to college?" Rory asks me.
"Ask my mother, she could give you a couple of reasons," I say.
"But, you have to go to college," Rory says.
"No, you have to go to college," I say.
"But don't you have any plans?" Rory asks me.
"Not really," I reply. "I'll live where I live, I'll work when I need money, and I'll see where I end up."
"You could do more," Rory says.
"Sure," I reply unconvincingly. "So, what are your big ambitions?" I ask Rory.
"Harvard," Rory replies.
"And after Harvard?" I ask.
"I'm going to be a journalist," Rory says proudly.
"Paula Zahn?" I question.
"Christiane Amapour," Rory says.
"You're gonna be an overseas correspondent?" I ask.
"Yes, I am," Rory replies.
"Jeez, where is Luke?" I say to Rory. "It's past 11."
"I don't know," Rory replies tiredly. "Maybe he's spending the night at my house."
"Wow, that's weird," I say.
"Yeah," Rory replies as she yawns. "So what do we do?"
"Well, Lorelai said to wait here until Luke got back, so I guess we wait," I say.
"I'm tired," Rory says drifting off to sleep.
I rush over and grab her before she can fall off the stool.
"Come on let's get you to bed," I say as I pick her up.
"Your bed," Rory asks hopefully.
"Yeah," I reply as I carry her up the stairs and she snuggles into me.
I walk into the apartment and I pull back the covers of my bed. I place Rory down carefully and I take off her shoes. I kiss her lightly on the lips and walk towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Rory asks me half asleep.
"I've got to lock up the diner," I explain to Rory. "I'll be right back."
I make my way quickly downstairs and lock the door. I place the chairs on top of the tables, but I decide to make Luke mop the floor tomorrow morning as punishment. I shut off the lights and make my way back upstairs.
"Hey," I say to Rory as I take off my shoes and get in bed next to her.
Rory turns over and places her head on my chest. She moves around to get comfortable.
"Luke's at my house," Rory mumbles.
"Ssshhh," I say as I run a hand through Rory's hair. "Go to sleep."