A/N: I sadly have to change that one of my favorite town meetings happened because Luke is still out of town. That means Emily does not come during the wake.
The wake was not going as planned. So far, all people have assumed the open door to mean was a party. At one point, she even had to usher these guys with a keg out. Now, as the partygoers finally stopped believing it was an excuse to drink, it calmed down.
Students came in to respect Asher and some even talked to Paris about him. Rory sank down on an empty seat and smiled softly at Marty as he found his way to her and sat down, too.
"Long day?" He asked.
Rory nodded her head. "I feel so tired."
"I've heard that comes with losing someone," he told her.
"I'm not sure it's that," she made a face. "I mean, I'm sad about Professor Fleming but there's more to it."
Marty leaned closer. "Like what?"
"There's been so many changes to my life lately," she sighed. "I'm not really sure what's next."
"What kind of changes?" He asked.
Rory inhaled and exhaled. "Just...stuff."
"Right," he nodded.
"There was this guy," she murmured and closed her eyes then shook her head as she reopened them. "You probably don't want to hear about my love life."
"You wouldn't believe the interest I have in the subject," he joked for her.
Rory smiled then sighed. "I just wish relationships were easier. Not even just relationships, you know? Just feelings."
"I know that feeling," he said. "Rory?"
"Hmm?" She murmured, now watching Paris talk to their old suite mate, Tana.
"This guy -" he started. "Is he your boyfriend?"
She shook her head slowly. "No. He, uh, he never really was to begin with."
"Oh," he said.
Rory looked over at Paris now. Paris, who was once scared of most risks took the biggest risk of all. She fell in love with someone unexpected and didn't care how people saw it. She wished she was like that.
Then she got an idea. It was probably a terrible idea and she knew she would gonna regret it later. But she had to do it. "Marty?"
"Yeah?"
"I have to go,"
"What? Where?"
"It doesn't matter," she shook her head. Of course it mattered, to her it did but she didn't want to get into details. "I just have somewhere I have to go."
"Oh...okay," he was obviously confused.
She smiled at him, a sincere smile. "Thanks, Marty."
"For what?" He asked.
Rory shrugged. "Just for listening. Tell Paris I'll be back, okay?"
He barely got his agreement out before Rory was out of her seat and out the door. She grabbed her coat as fast as she could and her keys and was gone. She headed straight to the campus lot and found her car easily.
Rory took a deep breath once she was in the car. She counted to ten slowly and turned the key in the ignition. The car started and she backed up out of her spot and was in drive.
She had no plan at all for what was going to happen. She wasn't even sure what she would even say when she got there. All Rory knew was that she needed to do this. There was a risk she needed to take and if she didn't take it, she'd regret it. Almost as much as she's gonna regret this once it was over.
...
"What'd Johnson say about me today?" Jess asked into his phone.
He was up in the diner apartment again and talking to Caleb. Todd was apparently out and Jess' boss had been asking about him. It seemed he was not too happy with his absence.
"Just that if you don't get back here by tomorrow, he'll fire you," Caleb replied.
"Shit," Jess groaned. "I need that job."
"So get back here and save your ass," he said.
"I can't," he replied. "I'm supposed to be in charge here. I can't just leave."
"You left here," he pointed out.
"There was a family thing," he justified.
"I don't think I've ever heard you use a 'a family thing' as an excuse before," Caleb held in a laugh.
"That's because my family never asked much of me before," he retorted.
"Maybe you just get back," he said in a nicer tone.
Jess rubbed his eyes. "I can't. Look, can you hold him off? Three more days. It's all I need."
"I already asked for more days," Caleb answered. "He's not happy."
He sighed. "Is there anything I can do?"
"He just says be here tomorrow or you're fired," he told him.
Another sigh. "Luke - he's done a lot for me. I can't not do this for him."
"Then I guess your decision is made," he said.
"I guess so," he agreed. "I'm just not sure where to go from there."
Caleb had an idea for him. "What about getting a job there? I'm sure your uncle would let you."
"Maybe," Jess replied. "I don't really wanna stay here, you know? If I get a job here, it's official but it's also a pain in the ass to try to get one in New York."
"So..." He drew out the word. "What are you going to do?"
"I don't know," he shook his head. "I don't know. I guess I gotta think pretty quickly huh?"
"Look, if you don't come..." Caleb began. "I'd understand. I know how your mom is and I know how much your uncle helped out. If you choose him, it'd make sense."
"Thanks," he said sincerely and they talked for a few more seconds before eventually hanging up.
Almost as soon as he hit end, the phone rang. At first, Jess thought Caleb was calling back so he didn't even look at the phone before he answered.
"I'm gonna figure it out, you didn't have to call right back," he said.
"Jess?"
"Shane," he said. "Sorry. I thought you were Caleb. I was just talking to him."
"Oh," she said. "What are you trying to figure out?"
"Ive been informed that unless I'm back in New York by tomorrow, I lose my job," he told her.
"So what are you trying to figure out?" She asked.
"What I'm gonna do," Jess almost sighed again.
"Isn't it obvious?" Shane asked. "You're coming back, right?"
"Eventually," he replied.
"Eventually?" She wondered. "Jess. You're just gonna let them fire you?"
"My uncle needs help," he said. "Someone has to be here while he's gone."
"That job is temporary," she said.
"And I hoped the messenger job was, too," he said. "It's not like I planned on being that forever."
"Then what are you gonna do after your uncle comes back?" She said and he imagined her crossing her arms if she was in front of him and not through a phone.
"I don't know," Jess shrugged. "That's what I have to figure out."
Shane sighed. "You can't be serious."
"Look, I appreciate the concern but it's my decision," he told her. He was getting real tired of being told to screw Luke over.
"I know it is," she said. "I just think you should consider coming back."
"Believe me, I am," he admitted and spoke in a calmer tone. "I'm just trying to figure it out, okay?"
"Okay," she said. "Okay."
"Look, I have to go," he said. "There's still customers downstairs and I have some thinking to do."
"Right," she agreed, sounding sad. "Go. Um, we'll talk some other time."
"I'll call you," he said and hung up as she got her goodbye out.
Jess sighed and left his phone on what was considered his side of the apartment. He wasn't going to touch that thing for the rest of the night or so he planned.
He headed downstairs and saw the diner was almost packed. It was still pretty early so he decided to push his dilemma aside and get right to work.
...
Jess heaved a heavy sigh as he closed up the diner for the night. The crowd finally slowed down and after dealing with Kirk and his quirks, with the aid of Lorelai surprisingly enough, he was able to cope.
By now, he had sent Cesar home and was the only one in the diner. It felt nice, quiet. It was almost solitude if his thoughts weren't so overcrowded.
He began to lock up everything he could and cleaned the counters. Jess shut every light in the place and just as he headed to the last light, there was a knock. He sighed, thinking to himself how this person must be stupid. There was a damn closed sign right on the door!
Jess turned around, ready to rip this person a new one. That is, until he saw who it was.
Rory stood at the door, fist ready to knock again. She dropped her hand down when she saw that Jess had seen her. He walked faster than normal to the door and unlocked it.
"Isn't this the day of surprises?" He said to her as he opened the door.
"Can I come in?" She asked, looking very nervous.
"Yeah, sure," Jess moved aside so she could enter then shut the door behind her. "What are you doing here?"
"Paris' boyfriend died," she blurted out.
"Okay," he nodded once, confused. "Tell her I'm sorry?"
Rory shook her head. "Her boyfriend died, Jess. He was old and he was my professor but she loved him. And now he died and she's stuck wondering all these what if's and what could have been's."
"That's understandable," he agreed. He was still confused out of his mind what this had to do with him though.
"I don't want that happen to me," she explained.
"So don't let it," he said.
"I'm not," she swallowed, more nervous. She wouldn't meet his eyes but then she took a deep breath and stared right at him, blue meeting brown. "Jess, I love you."
Jess almost stumbled back. He wasn't sure how to respond or what to do. They told each other the feelings were strong, insinuated love even, but never actually used to L word. And now, as he heard it, he discovered just how much she felt.
"You don't have to say it back or anything," she said to his silence. "But I was sitting there and I was watching Paris and I knew that I had to tell you. No matter what is or isn't going on with us, I had to tell you."
"I love you," she repeated. "I'm in love with you. I don't know exactly when it happened. Maybe it wasn't one moment, maybe it was built from all our conversations. Maybe it's because that first night, you made me feel so special and like we know each other forever. But here it is. I love you."
"Wow," he said.
"I'm sorry to just spring it on you," she said. "I just knew that I couldn't let time pass and I know you're with shane and I respect that. I do. But I also needed you to know."
Jess was still silent. He sat down on one of the stools and just collected his thoughts. Rory was here. Not only was Rory here, she loves him. Actually said the words. He was in a state of shock.
"Say something, please," she pleaded.
"I feel like I'm dreaming," he stated.
Rory frowned slightly. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
"I'm not sure yet," he said. "Just give me a minute."
"Okay," she waited and sat down, too. She sat at a table and watched him. When his silence got too long after about ten seconds, she played with her sleeves and held them over her fists. She looked anywhere but at him.
"I...I don't know what to say," he answered honestly.
"Tell me what you're thinking because I'm dying here," she let out an uncomfortable laugh.
"I'm not really sure what I'm thinking," he blew out a breath. "I've thought about hearing that before. That you love me. Just didn't expect it to happen like this."
"How did you expect it to happen then?" She whispered. Rory wasn't even sure if he heard her.
"We would be in New York," Jess answered. "I'd take you to all of my favorite places like Washington Square Park or The Strand. And somewhere in the middle of the tour, I would say it first and I'd say exactly what you said - that you don't have to say it back."
"But I would say it back," she smiled softly, tears shining in her eyes.
"You would say it back," he agreed with a small smile of his own.
"Would you?" She asked quietly.
"Yeah," he said as quiet as she did. "I would."
"Oh," Rory whispered still. She had a question she wanted to ask but at the same time, she didn't want to. But she had to know. "Shane?"
"No," he shook his head.
"Oh," she repeated and wiped at her eyes.
Jess watched her carefully. He didn't like to see her cry and especially not right now. Not while she came all the way from Yale after her friend's boyfriend died to tell him she loves him.
"It's not like that," he breathed out. "Me and her."
"Then what's it like?" She found herself asking.
"I'm not even sure anymore," he answered. "We're...kind of fighting."
"Oh," she said. "Sorry."
Jess shook his head. "You don't have to say that."
"I know," Rory said. "I want you to be happy, Jess."
He's silent, the temptation to say what he wants to say hangs on his tongue. I can't be happy, not without you. He may have confessed he'd say those three words back but he wasn't sure if he should take it further.
He watched Rory again, still hating that shine in her eyes from the tears. It wasn't exactly crying, it was a lone, single tear that had fallen in her own confession. She wiped at her eyes again under his gaze. She shifted uncomfortably.
"Rory..." He said and inched to stand up.
"You don't have to say anything," she told him. "I just needed you to know. In case."
"In case what?" He asked and this time he did get up.
"In case I never got the chance," she finished.
Jess kneeled in front of her, at her seat at one of the tables. "Did something happen?"
"No," she said. "I told you. Paris' boyfriend died."
"The professor, right," he said. "The old one."
"Right," she agreed as she remembered the speech she told Paris in the hospital months before. "And age, it doesn't matter. We could live eighty more years or we could die tomorrow."
He felt the corners of his mouth flinch. He wanted to smirk at her. "That's true."
"And just in case we don't have eighty more years, I needed you to know," she said.
Jess wanted to touch her. He reached out and out his hand on hers. Rory stared at his hand on hers and threaded their fingers together. He looked at her, really looked at her and remembered Florida.
He thought through every memory, every conversation, every moment. He smiled at her, a real genuine smile.
Rory smiled back but it quickly faded. She moved her hand from his and stood up, Jess still knelt on the floor. She moved to the counter and out her hand on top of it, palm flat down.
"I don't really know what I expected to happen," she sighed.
Jess stood up and walked by her. "What did you expect then?"
She shrugged one shoulder up and shook her head once. "Nothing, really. I mean, you're still with Shane. Even if it's not that serious, you're still with her."
"I'm not so sure I will be much longer," he confessed.
Rory stared at him blankly, her eyes shined again. "No."
"What?" He said.
"You're not breaking up with her for me," she told him. "I'm not going to be the reason that happens."
"We're not even technically in a relationship," he explained.
"You'll be doing it because of me!" She yelled, surprising herself.
Jess stepped back but stayed still. "It wouldn't be because of you."
"Jess, if I was her, I'd be crushed," she said. "If this guy I was seeing, was sleeping with, suddenly decided one day he was over it - oh my god."
"What?" He was genuinely confused now due to the fact that she was upset and then her expression changed - she laughed.
"That is me!" She laughed again. "It's similar to us, isn't it?"
"No," he disagreed.
She stopped her laughter. "Jess, I didn't come here to expect anything, okay? I didn't come for you to tell me you love me or that you're breaking it off with your whatever she is. I came because I needed you to know. And now you know."
She turned to walk out the door but Jess caught her hand. "Rory, wait."
"What?" She questioned.
"Stay," he said.
"Why?"
"Because."
"I have to go back to school," she told him. "And whether or not it's working with her, I don't think you're a cheater. I hope you're not a cheater."
"Nothing has to happen," he said. "You can visit your mom."
"My mom is probably at home, on the phone with your uncle," she smiled softly.
Rory walked to the door. When her hand covered the doorknob, he called her. "Can I ask one more thing?"
"Yeah," she nodded.
"My boss wants me back by tomorrow," he said. "Threatened to fire me if I wasn't back. But I have to stay for Luke. What do you think I should do?"
"Stay," she repeated his word. "It sucks that you'd be fired but it's a good thing you're doing here, looking out for Luke. It shows I'm right about you."
"Right about what about me?" He asked.
She smiled. "All of it."
There was seconds of silence as they stared at each other. He didn't want her to leave, despite that he technically was seeing someone. He just didn't want to see her walk out that door.
"What now?" He asked.
Rory sighed. "Now I go back to Yale. You go back to taking care of the diner then you go back to New York."
"That easy?" He asked.
"No," she said. "Not easy."
"Why don't you at least stay in town?" He asked. "You don't want to drive back at this time."
"It's okay," she said. "The drive back will give me perspective. I did what I came for and now I have to go back."
"Rory -"
"Bye, Jess."
She opened the door and walked out before he had the chance to reply. Jess sank into a seat and watched as she walked to her car and got in. She didn't look back and she drove off in a matter of minutes.
Slowly, Jess stood again and went to lock the door. He shut the lights and then headed upstairs.
A/N: This wasn't what I had planned. And I know I'm gonna get some people mad, I'm sorry. I have a scene in my head, a scene you will really like, trust me, but it's not time for it yet. I messed up on some plans, not the way you'd think but I did some stuff earlier than originally planned and I want the timeline to fit a certain way.
So this scene, the confession, it seems like the perfect way to put them together. I was thinking about doing it anyway and screw the plans I want to keep still. But I wanted to keep something and I thought it was a beautiful scene despite it not being planned at all. It just took me there. I don't want to disappoint anyone and I know some will be but as always, remember the things I do in my fics are for a reason and it will be worth it.
I just hope you don't see this scene, think it's way out there or get too mad at me for wasting this opportunity to put them together. They will be together, it's a literati fic after all. But I know exactly when I want that happen and again, I say, it will be worth it. I just hope you stick with me.