Luke's POV:
It's been about a week since Jason ran away to New York City without Jess. As much as I'm worried about Jason, I need to let him figure out what's best for him on his own. I can really see the effect of Jason not being by his side every second on Jess. He's much quieter.
"Hey, Jess", I greet him as he walks into the diner on his way back from school. He nods back at me, putting his backpack on the coat rack by the door. He walks up to the counter and puts on an apron.
"You hungry?", I ask, pouring coffee for Babette.
He shakes his head.
"You gotta get some meat on you, sugar, you're so thin", Babette comments. Jess just ignores her.
"Friday night, got any plans?", I ask, attempting to keep the conversation going.
He shakes his head again and I sigh.
"Why don't you go out and get some fresh air?", I suggest.
He just looks at me blankly.
"Really, Jess, I got it in here, go", I assure him.
"Thanks", he mumbles, taking one of his books out from under the counter which is where he now keeps most of his stuff.
I watch him leave, then I take another deep breath.
"Don't worry Luke, he's a teenager, he'll come around", Babette smiles.
"Let's hope so", I mutter.
Jason's POV:
They say New York City is the city of dreams, the city that never sleeps, and that if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. What they don't tell you is that it doesn't apply to everyone.
"Excuse me? Which way to Lexington between 39th and 40th streets?", a lady frantically asks me, reading off from printed directions. It was obvious she was a tourist.
"Down that way and take a right at the crosswalk", I reply.
"Thank you!", she exclaims gratefully, running off.
I continue to walk further and further downtown, shoving my way through the annoying tourists who either are stopped to get a picture of something or are trying to read off a map.
Finally, I'm back to what has been 'home' for the past week; a small apartment in Queens where the sound of police sirens and fights right outside the window keep me up all night.
I twist the doorknob, as expected, it's locked.
I bang on the door.
"It's me, Jason. Let me in, Ray!", I shout through the locked door.
No answer.
"Ray, come on, man, open the door!", I try.
I know he didn't go out because this morning when I left the apartment he had just gotten home from the previous night. Two of his buddies dropped him off outside the door with a note on him saying that he was knocked outcold in some drunken bar fight he had gotten into.
I continue to bang on the door till the door next to Ray's apartment swings open. Ray's next door neighbor, Dante, walks out scowling.
"What the hell you doing, white boy?", he yells.
"I'm trying to get into my buddy's apartment. Maybe you know where he is, do you know Ray?", I reply, trying to not sound as scared as I am.
A smirk comes to his face.
"I, damn well, do know where he's at", he says.
"Wanna tell me?", I say, starting to get annoyed.
"Try any prison in New York", he snickers.
"Are you kidding? Cause it's not funny, I really need to get in the apartment!"
"Nope, a squad car pulled up to the building, broke down his door and dragged his hungover ass away. Serves that asshole right, I paid him for five dabs and he was s'posed to get em to me by yesterday. He's a thief. Of course he gets busted before I get my pot", he complains.
"What am I supposed to do? I live here!"
"I wouldn't tell the police that, otherwise your sorry ass'll be dragged down to the station for questioning", he warns me.
"Dammit", I mutter, kicking the door out of anger.
Dante just laughs mockingly and walks back into his apartment.
I limp my way out of the apartment and start walking. I don't know where I'm going, I don't know where I'll be staying tonight, but the one good thing about New York City is that you don't have to know. You'll end up somewhere eventually. And if you don't find anywhere, keep walking; you got all night, the city never sleeps.
Luke's POV:
It's 9pm and I had just turned the 'open' sign to 'closed'. Jess wasn't home yet and usually I would be on his back about not texting me or keeping me updated, but I decided to let it go for once.
As I start to put the chairs on the tables, I hear a knock at the door. I turn around quickly, hoping to see Jess, but instead it's Lorelai. I open the door for her.
"Hey diner man", she greets.
"Hey", I respond unenthusiastically.
"What? No argument against 'diner man'?", she pouts.
"Sorry, my mind's been pretty busy lately"
"How busy?", she asks, taking a seat at the counter.
"Well, Jason's in NYC doing God knows what, sleeping God knows where, coming home probably never. Jess hasn't been home since this afternoon and hasn't called once. That busy"
"Aw, Luke, you need to stop worrying so much. Jason is more than okay on his own, he'll eventually figure out how good he had it here and he'll be back. Jess on the other hand is probably sitting on the bridge reading", she comforts.
"I'm not worried that they're not gonna be okay, I know the only people they depend on is each other. That's what scares me"
"Luke, I've never heard you talk like this", she says, taking my hand.
"I'm just worried that Jess is gonna run off looking for Jason and they'll both just end up staying in NYC and...", my voice drifts off.
"And what, Luke?", Lorelai asks softly.
"And nothing", I grumble.
"And you'll be alone?", she asks knowingly, getting up from her seat.
"You'll never be alone", she assures me, pulling me into a hug.
I'm taken aback by her hug at first but eventually hug her back.
When she pulls out of the hug we stare at each other. She smiles at me. I don't smile back.
I just lean in and kiss her cheek. She looks surprised at first but out of nowhere, she leans in and we make out.
I don't believe this is happening.
"Wow, it's about time", a voice says.
We both pull out of the kiss and turn around to see Jess.
"I'll be upstairs", he smirks.
I look over to Lorelai and we're both holding back our laughter.
"Ah jeez", I mutter, trying to sound annoyed. But really, I've never been happier.