A/N: Thanks to those who left reviews on the previous chapter. I think maybe I lost some readers since Rory & Jess actually, finally got together, but I hope that's not the case. Please stick around for the happy... which will doubtless turn into further drama later ;)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 21

"So, you think you can keep Rory away from the bridge?"

"Sure, sure." Lorelai waved her hand dismissively at Jess. "I can have some major league fashion crisis for my next date with your uncle, or need her help with stuff here at the inn, or... something. It's no problem, she won't be bridge-bound tomorrow. At least, not until you take her there," she said with a grin.

"Thanks." Jess smiled back at her, just a little awkward about how into the whole big date thing his girlfriend's mom really was.

He liked Lorelai a lot, actually. They got on surprisingly well and she had really been there for him since he came to Stars Hollow. She was a lot like Rory, Jess noted, or rather he supposed Rory was a lot like Lorelai, since she was the younger of the two. Either way, it wasn't overly surprising to him that he got along so well with both Gilmore girls, albeit in very different ways. He just didn't want to cross the feeds or whatever.

"So, seems like things are going pretty good with you two," said Lorelai then, smiling widely. "Don't worry, I'm not asking for details, because that's my daughter and my boyfriend's nephew, so eew! But things are good?"

"Things are good," Jess agreed, nodding his head. "You know, it's really weird you being cool with this."

"Seriously?" Lorelai asked, making a face. "I'm cool about everything, man. So cool you could run a refrigerator off me."

"I know," said Jess without pause, "but, you know, I'm not exactly a Forester type. From what I hear, he and Rory were like this golden couple. Then along comes Mariano and blows it all apart."

"Jess, honey, you didn't blow anything apart," said Lorelai, patting his hand on the reception desk. "You just... well, you're a better fit for Rory these days. Sure, she and Dean were happy for a while, but even before you showed up, it was all getting a little sour. The guy was clingy with a capital cling. A nice guy, don't get me wrong, but still. Besides, as much as I loved Dean, he didn't keep up with the Gilmore chatter or the sickle wit too well. You, my friend, are much better at that."

"I'm trying to take that as a compliment. I'm just wondering if it makes me as crazy as you guys," he said with a smirk that he hoped proved he meant no harm.

Lorelai took the comment in good humour, as he hoped she would. "You're walking a fine line, Mariano," she said, pointing a mock-angry finger at him, even as she grinned. "So, are things good at school?"

"School is... school." Jess shrugged. "It's still there, I go, it's fine."

"And you got your SAT scores back, right?" Lorelai prompted. "I asked Luke, but he seemed oblivious, as always."

"I got them. They were fine too," he said evasively, really hoping Lorelai didn't push any further.

The look on her face suggested that she wanted to, but at the same time, they had just established how cool she was. He really hoped she wasn't about to go all preachy on him, because Jess wasn't sure he could take that, not from Lorelai.

"You know, I'm not like Rory," he said, hoping to stave off a lecture or similar. "Sure, we have a lot in common, but she's all career-focused and college-bound. That's not me, Lorelai, and it's never going to be."

"Hey, did I say college?" she checked, hands raised as if she was surrendering. "Pretty sure I just asked about your SATs. Taking a friendly interest, that is all."

Jess didn't entirely believe her, but he decided it wasn't worth getting overly defensive and losing a friend and confidante here. He sighed and rubbed as his forehead.

"I wasn't... I didn't mean to accuse you of anything," he explained. "It's just the teachers, the principal, Luke, sometimes even Rory, they're all just bugging me to be the best that I can be. It's not like I want to be useless and worthless my whole life, but high school is just... it's not worth it," he said, shaking his head. "I mean, look at you. You dropped out to take care of Rory, right?"

"I did do that." Lorelai nodded once.

"And you're fine. You have everything you want. A house, a job, a daughter, friends, and a boyfriend, all without high school."

"Yeah, but Jess, I had to work so hard for all of that," she reminded him. "My life has been uphill, believe me, and even now, I'm going to business classes, trying my best to finally, finally graduate, in my thirties, I hasten to add," she said, meeting his eyes. "You don't have to want a big career, or even college, actually - though I do not doubt you're smart enough to go - but please, take one small piece of advice from me on this. Finish high school. Keep your grades up, graduate next year, get that diploma while you have the chance. I promise it will be worth it."

His instinct was to argue. To dismiss her kindly meant words and just do his own thing. Jess had been doing that his whole life. Every time Liz got a sudden burst of motherly concern and stuck her nose in his business. Every time one of her husbands or boyfriends decided to try to be his daddy. Every time a teacher decided to make efforts to 'put him back on the right path'. It just came naturally to rebel against adults who thought they knew him better than he knew himself.

Lorelai was saying similar things, but somehow, he trusted that she didn't mean it in the same way as the others. She cared. Like, really, genuinely cared what happened to him, much as Luke did. It was weird and entirely unfamiliar for Jess, but he was trying to get used to it, he really was.

"I'll take it under advisement," he said eventually, slowly nodding his head.

"It's all I ask." Lorelai smiled. "So, tomorrow, I'll keep our girl off that bridge, okay?"

"Thanks, again," Jess told her. "Good luck at your Friday Night Dinner."

Lorelai heaved a sigh that he heard clearly even as he turned to walk away.

"Unfortunately, I think I'm gonna need it!"

Rory was relieved to realise that the Stars Hollow High pep rally was early in the evening on Friday, giving her the chance to attend before she had to head off to Hartford for dinner. She really did not like the idea of Lane being mad at her or thinking she didn't support her choice to be a cheerleader.

"I just want her to know that it's cool with me, you know, if she feels like she needs to... be peppy," she told Jess as they huddled together against the cold, waiting for the performance to begin.

"Rory, it'll be fine," he assured her, kissing her temple. "She'll cheer, you'll catch up to her after, tell her you're sorry, job done."

"I hope it's that simple," Rory muttered, just as the cheerleaders got into formation to start.

She felt her jaw drop when the music started and when she was finally able to tear her eyes away long enough to glance at Jess, she found even he looked a little surprised. Though he knew something about Lane's plans when joining the cheer squad, he could not have known how much their friend could achieve in so short a time. A cheerleading routine to One Step Beyond? Nobody could have predicted that, or how well it actually worked.

The moment it was over, Rory rushed forward to get to Lane, and Jess hung back, leaning on the post of the nearest light so he could read a few more pages in his book. Still, as much as he was trying to concentrate on the story, his eyes kept going to the girls as they talked, and then laughed, and then hugged. It made him smile to see it. He was happy for both of them and glad to see them coming towards him a few moments later, arm-in-arm.

"That was something else," Jess told Lane of her performance. "Cheering to Madness? Very... John Waters," he said after considering it a moment.

"Thank you, that's what I was going for." Lane grinned at him. "So, it's Friday. You guys can't be going out tonight, because it's dinner in Hartford night. Isn't the big date tomorrow?"

"It is tomorrow," Rory confirmed, "and yes, I do have to leave right now for Friday Night Dinner, but we absolutely had to see your performance first. Besides, I thought maybe I could lend you my boyfriend, just for tonight, and only in a friend capacity, obviously. Your debut really should be celebrated."

"Just so we're clear," said Jess, leaning in to speak to Lane as if confidentiality, "she's not pimping me out. It's cool with me too, if you want to hang out."

"Thank you, both of you," said Lane happily, "for being so supportive. I really do appreciate it, but I actually can't hang out with anyone tonight. I risked a lot just coming to the rally. I am homeward bound just as soon as I cover up these clothes with something Mrs Kim appropriate."

She was gone within a minute and Rory sighed watching her go.

"Then there were two."

"And about to be one," Jess reminded her, pulling her close by a handful of her coat. "Any chance of making the most of the... two-and-a-half minutes we have left?" he asked, having checked his watch for the correct time.

Rory grinned at him. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean," she said coyly, before putting her lips to his own.

"That was the complete opposite of fun," said Rory with a huge sigh, the moment the door to her grandparents' house closed behind her and Lorelai. "It was like Grandma actively wanted to blame you for the termites! And she really was not happy to hear you borrowed money from Luke instead of her!"

"And when you admitted that you and Dean were over and now you were with Jess?" Lorelai shook her head. "The judgement! Even for Emily, that was extra over-the-top."

"Maybe she misses Grandpa now he's back at work, doing the whole notice period thing." Rory shrugged. "I mean, they have just spent a whole month with each other."

"Ugh, I can't even think about the whys and the wherefores," her mother complained, leaning heavily on the front of the car. "I just need to go home... or at least to the inn, since home is tented and being fixed," she reminded herself. "Remind me again that there are good things in my life, because I'm coming up all crazy mother and munching termites right now."

"You have me," said Rory, giving her an awkwardly sideways hug, "and Luke, and Sookie and Jackson, plus the house will be fixed soon, and you have your great job at the inn. Things aren't so bad."

Lorelai took a deep breath, straightened up, and turned to properly hug her daughter.

"You are the best kid," she declared, squeezing her tight and kissing the top of her head. "Also, you have all those things you just listed, plus the very snazzy boyfriend who has big plans for you tomorrow, right?" she said with a grin.

"That is true," Rory agreed, a blush rising in her cheeks. "I really don't even know what to expect. Jess is... well, he's not traditionally romantic, you know?"

"I know. I guess he's like Luke that way," Lorelai considered. "Still, I think you'll find you end up liking what he has planned. After all, the guy is nuts about you and only wants to make you happy. There is no bad there."

"Agreed," Rory smiled widely as they both climbed into the car to go home.

The most recent part of this night really hadn't been the best, but both before and after dinner had been better. Plus, Rory was really looking forward to tomorrow!

To Be Continued...