Oh my God, it's been so long. I have made scenarios for this chapter every night for the past month and I finally got it down. I'm so sorry for the long wait. I'm going to try to update at least once every two days until I finish this story. Leave me a review, I'd really appreciate it!
Jason's POV:
"You two better not give me any trouble today! Luke is coming to visit and the last thing I need is for him to be on my case. You two better behave and look happy or Michael will deal with you again", my mother yells at an eight year old me and five year old Jess.
The large man who was struggling to put his belt back on after having to teach Jess a lesson for spilling water all over the table looks up at my brother and I and smirks. The man, Michael, was on the younger side and looked like someone who would be selling baseball game tickets the night of the game for triple the price.
My trembling brother looked up at me for comfort and I put on a brave face for him and glared at my mother and her boyfriend.
I hate Uncle Luke, he comes to visit once every two years and mom is always meaner when he comes.
~END OF FLASHBACK~
I wake up on a park bench and hold up my hand to check the time from my wrist watch to discover that someone stole my watch.
"Just freaking perfect", I mutter to myself, struggling to pull myself up.
Another day in the living hell that is New York City.
Luke's POV:
"Good morning", I say obnoxiously loud to wake Jess up. He groans in return, shifting his position on his bed.
I walk over to the window and open the blinds, letting the sun come in, resulting in him muttering under his breath at first, then cursing louder and louder.
He finally sits up and looks at me.
"What?", he asks tiredly.
"You and I are going shopping", I tell him.
"For what?"
"Clothes for you"
"I don't need any more clothes", he grumbles.
"Yes you do, you've been wearing the same tshirt for the past three days and it's starting to smell"
"What are you, the laundry police?", he mumbles, heading for the fridge.
"I'm your guardian and I don't want a smelly kid", I joke.
He glares at me then chugs the milk from the carton ,and puts it back into the fridge.
"We have cups for a reason, smart ass", I call after him as he walks into the bathroom.
As awkward as it is taking Jess shopping, I'm gonna take this as an opportunity to talk to him.
Someone knocks on the door and I go over and open it. Lorelai comes into the apartment.
"I haven't even opened the diner yet, how did you get up here?"
"I used the spare key you gave me", she replies.
"The key I gave you for emergencies?", I ask knowingly, rolling my eyes.
"That's the one", she smiles.
"What is so important that you couldn't wait to tell me?"
"I need to talk to you about last night"
"Yeah, about that...", I start uncomfortably, dreading what's about to come.
"It was great", she says suddenly.
"It was?", I ask, completely caught off guard.
"Luke, I felt something. Something I've never felt before when I kissed someone"
I blush, a smile coming to my lips.
"Tell me you felt the same way", she says.
I pause for a moment and take her hand.
"Lorelai, I felt the same way"
"So, is this official?", she asks.
"What?"
"Us"
"What about us?"
"Are we a thing?"
"A thing?"
"You know, are we dating?"
"Do you wanna date?"
"I mean, I do, if you do"
"It's a yes or no question"
"Exactly, a yes or no question which I asked you first", she argues.
"Fine", I answer.
"Ok", she replies.
"Ok", I say.
"Fine. I guess we are"
"Looks like it", I say.
She giggles as I pull her into a kiss.
"Get a room", Jess mutters, coming out of the bathroom.
We pull away from each other quickly and I try to make myself look busy.
"So, Jess, are you excited?", Lorelai asks Jess, who was in the process of taking off his shirt.
"About what?", he replies.
"Shopping! You, my friend, are in the presence of a pro"
"I assume you're not referring to Luke"
"Of course not, I'm talking about me!"
"Might as well make my trip to the mall a community event, anyone call Kirk yet?", Jess mutters under his breath.
"Jess, be polite, going to the mall isn't exactly my idea of a swell time either, I called Lorelai cause she knows where to go and what to buy. It'll go by faster", I warn.
"I'll make sure we have a swell time", Lorelai mocks me.
"Are you sure you didn't call her so you two could-", I don't give him the chance to finish that sentence.
"Just hurry up and get ready, we'll be downstairs", I cut him off.
"Whatever", he mumbles.
Lorelai excitedly follows me out the door, leaving an annoyed Jess.
Jess's POV:
"Just try it on!", Lorelai pleads.
"Why? It's a medium, I'm a medium, let's go", I retort.
"The cut is different on this specific shirt, I wanna make sure it fits"
"Then let's just get something else, I don't care!"
"Jess, lower your voice", Luke tells me.
"Just pick something else", I groan, lowering my voice.
"No, this is your color", she argues, handing me the shirt.
"The more you complain, the longer we're here", Luke points out.
I finally give up, take the shirt from her, and storm to the fitting rooms.
I get the shirt on and take a look in the mirror, Lorelai was right, the shirt had a bit of a tighter fit. It was a plain, grey, long sleeve shirt, I have to admit, Lorelai has a good sense of what I don't mind wearing.
"Jess, come on out, let us see", Lorelai calls into the fitting room.
"It's fine", I call back, not moving.
"It's not too tight?", she asks.
"It's fine", I repeat.
"Let me see", she says again.
I sigh, realizing there's no point in arguing.
As soon as I open the door Lorelai gasps.
"I was right! That's definitely your color!", she exclaims.
"Say that a little louder", I say sarcastically.
Luke gives me 'the warning eyes' so I stop talking and let Lorelai examine me.
"I think we should go a size up, just in case it shrinks in the wash"
"I'm taking this off", I decide, walking back into the fitting room.
"Hey, Jess?", Luke calls.
I turn around to look at him.
"That shirt looks nice on you", he smirks.
I roll my eyes and he chuckles.
I put my own shirt back on and walk back out to find Luke standing alone.
"I gave Lorelai my credit card and she went to pay for all the stuff. Don't worry, she grabbed a size up in that shirt"
"Wasn't worried", I reply.
He laughs lightly.
"Shouldn't we go find her?", I ask.
"She's gonna meet us outside by the car. I just thought we haven't really talked a while and I should take the opportunity while we're here and you can't just storm upstairs"
"I could always just go back in the fitting room", I mumble.
"Jess, I'm being serious. I know you miss Jason, I miss him too, I just want you to know that just because your brother isn't here to have your back 24/7, doesn't mean you're alone. I'm here, Jess, you can talk to me. Despite what you think, you're still a kid, and no kid deserves to feel alone"
"I know", I mutter awkwardly, avoiding eye sight.
"Then why don't you talk to me?"
"I don't know what to say", I say quietly.
"What?", he asks.
"I don't know what to say", I repeat.
He sighs.
"Jess, that's the thing about having someone who cares about you no matter what, you don't have to know. I'll be here to help either way. Whatever it is, we'll get through it together. I promise."
I don't say anything, I give a slight nod, and continue to avoid eye contact.
"Look at me, I'm never gonna give up on you, okay?"
"Okay", I reply, looking at him.
"Good, now let's go find Lorelai", he says, letting out a sigh of relief, patting me on the back.
Luke's POV:
"Jess, do you wanna take a break?", I ask. I've been keeping my eye on him since we got back from the mall. I only had to ask him once to come down to the diner and help, no customers have complained about him all day, and he hasn't asked to get off early all day.
He shrugs.
"I've got nothing better to do", he responds, not looking up from the table he was clearing.
"Okay, take one whenever you need one, you've been doing pretty good today"
He nods.
Lorelai walks into the diner and ruffles Jess's hair up on her way to the counter. Jess rolls his eyes, stops what he's doing, picks up the napkin dispenser and looks at his reflection through it to fix his hair.
I can't help but smile.
"Hey!", she greets cheerfully.
"Hey", I respond, kissing her over the counter.
"So, how have you been since this morning's successful shopping spree?", she asks.
"Fine"
"Well, I've been great. I feel accomplished"
"And why is that?", I smile.
"Because look at what Jess is wearing!", she exclaims.
We both turn around and look at Jess who I can tell by his face, was hating the attention.
"Oh yeah, he finally changed his shirt", I note.
"He didn't just change his shirt, he's wearing the shirt that was his color that he pretended not to care about just because he didn't wanna admit that he cared when in fact, he really does", she explains.
"Or maybe he's just wearing the first shirt he grabbed out of the bag when Luke called him down for his shift", Jess calls from the other side of the diner, talking in third person.
"I don't believe that for a second", Lorelai calls back.
"That's your right, I guess"
"That's enough you two, Jess go take a break", I tell him.
He walks over to the counter to grab his book and leaves his apron in its place.
"I'll be at the bridge", he says on his way out.
"Wow, he even told you where he was going. I think we should go on more shopping trips, shopping is a lot cheaper than therapy", Lorelai says.
"My credit card would beg to differ", I grunt.
"Seriously, what did you say while I went to the register?"
"I just reminded him that he's not alone and that I'll always be there for him. I think I may have actually gotten through to him this time"
"Aw, Luke, that's so great", she smiles and takes my hand.
"I like the improvement I'm seeing", I agree.
"Things might actually start going back to normal"
I shake my head.
"It's not gonna be 'normal' till Jason comes back, and even then there's always gonna be ups and downs", I reply, my lip curling to a slight smile at the thought of me, Jess, and Jason all being together again.
"You're right, normal is boring", Lorelai decides.
Jason's POV:
"I need a job. Any job. I'll do anything" are the words I thought I'd never say but suddenly have been saying all morning to every building I walk by.
"I'll tell you what, kid, there happens to be a bus boy position that just opened up, you can start today", the owner of a small Italian restaurant tells me.
"Thank you so much"
"Out of curiosity, what's a kid like you doing looking for a job in the city? You don't look like you're from here"
I let out a short laugh.
"Actually I was born here and lived most of my life here until recently, I moved to a small town outside of Hartford, Connecticut for about a year, and now I'm back"
"What are you doing back? If I was you I'd stay out of this city as long as I could"
I give a small smile and sigh.
"It was just time for me to come back"
"I can't say I understand but that's not my business. Sign this contract and you'll be ready to go"
"Perfect. What's the date?", I ask.
"The twelfth", he answers.
I write it down next to my signature and something hits me. I know there's something important on the fourteenth of this month. I always circled it on whatever calendar I ever got my hands on. I know it was something really important. It finally hits me.
The fourteenth is Jess's birthday.