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She agreed to go with him. Jess still can't believe it. He keeps looking over at her in the car as if Rory could disappear. He probably wouldn't be surprised if this was some crazy dream. Jess never imagined this to happen, never imagined even asking her. Seeing Dean threw Jess off. He wanted to see Rory, talk to her, try and find some way to start over, but this? Jess never planned asking her to go with him. The words were just out there. Jess didn't take them back. He was on the edge of his breath, waiting, and Rory said yes. He saw her hesitation. It was the same stunned look when he told her he loved her, and Jess considers what she'd have said if he hadn't run. When he asked her to go Jess could see how Rory almost said no, nearly expected her to. He doesn't know what he'd have done if she had, but Rory said yes, and he was kissing her. And now they're driving back to New York. Jess glances at Rory's profile but can't read anything from it. She's staring out of the window and doesn't turn round. He almost expected her not to come back after telling Lorelai. Jess was glad he parked around the corner. He had visions of Lorelai chasing him down with a bat or something. It's still a reasonable risk. If Lorelai didn't hate him before she definitely does now. What else is new?
Jess is kind of embarrassed when they're in the apartment. It's not exactly the Ritz. Even sharing Luke's apartment was five stars compared to this, and that's before they expanded it. But Rory doesn't say anything. Her eyes darts around, her expression shy, and she mumbles that she just wants to sleep. Jess is sure she's still a virgin. Luke hasn't alluded to Rory having any boyfriends since he's gone. Jess assumes Lorelai would have told him if there'd been a guy, though he wonders why Dean was there when Jess showed up. Seems weird for them to be hanging out. Isn't Dean married now? Whatever. Jess guesses it's not his business, but it bites at him a little, like when he read that poster about Rory and Dean at Miss Patty's One Woman Show. That feels like a million years ago now, Stars Hollow, the whole thing, but the feelings rise back up like bile. Jess pushes them back and kisses Rory. Kissing her feels familiar, in a good way. A perfect way. It practically wipes all their months apart, but when they step apart Jess can feel the distance again, and wonders if Rory feels it too. He wonders where her life has been this year. He gets into bed with Rory but doesn't ask her. God, just lying next to her is driving him crazy. Rory is tense but she relaxes when Jess kisses her shoulder, sighing slightly. Being in bed with her was all Jess thought about last year. He wants to keep kissing her but lies back, turning off the light, and closing his eyes. Jess can't unwind. Rory is in his bed. How is he just expected to go to sleep? Eventually he must do as light is filling the apartment and Rory is scrunching her face up in a yawn. He grins at her.
"Morning."
"Morning," Rory says sleepily. Her hair is mussed up and she tucks it behind her ears, and she giggles as Jess gives her a kiss. She's gorgeous, morning breath notwithstanding, and his probably isn't much better. Rory kisses him back and nods when Jess stops to ask, "You want breakfast or something?"
The pantry isn't what you'd call overflowing but Jess grills some bread and dices some tomatoes. That'll work, right? Damn, he doesn't have coffee. No biggie, they can go out for that. He brings the plates over, along with a bottle of water from the fridge, and says shyly, "Sorry it's not much..."
"No, this is perfect." They eat cheerfully but Rory seems shy once she finishes. She wanders with her plate over to the sink to wash it and Jess says, "Hey, I can do that."
"I don't mind."
"Morning privilege...how's that?"
"I like that." They smile and Rory says, "I thought I'd take a shower - is that okay?"
"You don't have to ask." Especially if she's going to be living with him, but Jess doesn't add that. It still feels crazy to him too. He shows her how to work the temperamental dial and washes the plates while she showers, a yelp reminding him not to have the faucet running at the same time. Rory laughs when she comes out, dressed in a skirt and shirt Jess hasn't seen before and her hair dripping. He showers too, tugging on some jeans and a old T-shirt, and he's just wondering what to suggest they do when Rory says, "I left my car."
"What?"
"My car - it's still at Yale."
"Oh." Jess noticed it out front but forgot when they were talking in her dorm, and Rory says, "I need to go get it."
"Someone might steal it," Jess says honestly. It's not the safest of neighbourhoods, but Rory insists she needs it, and Jess can't argue with that. He missed his car the whole time he was in California, and Rory can't really store it at Lorelai's. He offers to drive her but Rory says she'll take the bus. He goes with her to the station, reminding her of the route back.
"There's the store on the corner," Jess tells her. "That's where you turn for our street." Our street. It sounds so wonderfully alien.
"I know," Rory says, and she lifts her cellphone. "I can call you if I lose my way."
"Right."
Rory smiles, sipping the coffee they stopped to get, and gives Jess a kiss. "I won't be long."
Jess guiltily stuffs his phone back in his pocket after Rory gets on the bus. He's had five missed calls from Luke already and it's only because his uncle is so inept with technology that Jess doesn't have five angry voicemessages to go with them. Maybe it wasn't so smart finally getting a cellphone and giving Luke the number. Stopping at a small grocery store, Jess picks up more bread and some eggs, meat and a packet of coffee. That's enough, right? On the way to the counter he grabs a packet of condoms. Jess doesn't know when they'll actually sleep together, but he's only got one condom in the apartment, and hopes he's not being too optimistic in assuming that won't be enough. Helps to be prepared and all that. When he gets back Jess stuffs the condoms in a drawer in case Rory thinks he's trying to push her or something, and then his cellphone goes off again. Jess hesitates and then tells himself to quit being pathetic and answers it. He's not afraid to talk to Luke.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Hello to you too," Jess says pleasantly. He holds the phone away as Luke says furiously, "Jess, I'm going to kill you."
"Why?"
"Don't act stupid, you know why."
"You said to share my feelings...some Bette Midler junk like that."
"Yes, share, not run off with your old girlfriend! My God, this is taking that message on a whole other level!"
"She wanted to go with me."
"You're not in the right place to be doing this," Luke says. His voice is quieter but he sounds more serious. "You know it, Jess. You've been broken up for a year."
"We're back together."
"You can be back together in Stars Hollow!"
"I am done with Stars Hollow!"
"I mean visit Rory, Jess! You can't move in with her," Luke argues. "It's too soon."
"This coming from the guy who got married on a cruise ship?"
"Dammit Jess, do not get smart with me!" Luke snaps. "Take it from someone who knows this. You want to give it a shot but you're taking it way too far. You aren't ready for this kind of commitment."
"Whatever."
"Don't whatever me," Luke says angrily. "I thought we were past this. You're being an idiot."
"Gee, thanks."
"You'd better not do anything to Rory. If you get her in trouble -"
"In trouble?" Jess echoes. "What is this, 1955?"
"I mean it, Jess. If you -"
"Relax." Jess decides not to mention the condoms. Something tells him it wouldn't calm Luke's mind.
"Relax? Are you insane? This is unbelievable, the whole thing! I thought Lorelai was going to kill me! When she stopped ranting to tell me I thought she had to be kidding!"
"Rory wanted to go with me," Jess says again. "I didn't do anything."
"You should never have asked her to go!"
"Rory wanted to go," Jess insists. "It's her decision too."
"You are going to regret this bigtime, both of you."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Jess says sarcastically. He hears Luke snort and hang up and Jess sighs, looking at the phone for a moment before putting it on the table. He feels a pang at fighting with his uncle again. Last night they'd had a pretty good talk and now it's almost like being back at square one again. Still, it's not as if Jess expected a party.
Jess picks up his book and tries to read but can't concentrate. His mind keeps wandering to Rory. What if she changed her mind? What if she didn't want him to drive her because she'd decided this whole thing was a mistake? What if he waits here all day and she bails on him like before, and then as he did to her? It's hardly implausible. Jess starts making the food with the worries rushing in but then his phone is sounding and Rory is outside. She's here, she's home and time is theirs.