I just want to be part of your symphony
By blackbirdfree
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Rory arrived home at around nine-o'clock in the evening. She spent the day shopping with Lane. Then, the two caught a movie at movie theater out-of-town. It was a typical movie theater you imagine at any town compared to the cozy and small home-made movie theater that was located in Stars Hollow. Finally, the two friends ended the night with dinner.
Rory wondered how Lane managed to have the entire afternoon and evening off.
"My mom said I had to lead Bible Study class for a whole month," explained Lane.
"Nice trade-off," replied Rory.
Rory still had homework to do when she arrived home. However, her thoughts ran around in circles. She thought of the two men in her life… Logan Huntzberger and Jess Mariano. She had feelings for both men. However, it felt like it was time to pick one-or-the-other. And the decision wasn't an easy one to make.
Rory's cell phone rang as she finished her last problem set. She answered it.
"Hello?" said Rory.
"Hi," said a familiar voice. It was Jess. Rory frowned. She remembered that the last time she spoke with Jess was at the party at Louise's house. Logan and Jess fought. Jess accidentally jostled Rory. She fell down and hit her head against a table. As a result, she needed ten stitches on her forehead.
"What's up, Jess?" asked Rory.
"You're up," he said plainly. "You're doing homework or something. Do you want to talk?"
Rory frowned. "How do you know I'm up?" she questioned. "I may be lying in bed about to fall sleep. I may be in a delirious and absent state-of-mind but I may have decided to pick up my cell phone out of habit."
However, Rory had an inkling. She stood-up from her seat at the desk and walked to the window.
Jess was there.
Rory quickly put down her cell phone and opened the window.
"What are you doing here, Jess?" she asked in a whisper. "It's ten thirty."
Jess shrugged. "I figured you and I need to talk," he explained.
"You mean about the party," said Rory plainly. "After you made me fall down. After I hit my head. After I got stitches at the hospital."
Jess nodded.
"You could have called me after the incident," said Rory in an annoyed tone-of-voice. "That would have been nice."
Jess was quiet for a second. He seemed to gather his thoughts before he spoke-up. "I'm sorry about what happened," he said. "I didn't mean for that to happen. It was an accident."
Rory rolled-her-eyes.
"How are you now?" he questioned.
Rory touched her forehead gingerly. "I'm all right," she said. "But that still begs the question… what are you doing here in the middle-of-the-night?"
"Like I said… I wanted to see how you were," said Jess. "Can I come in? It's kind of cold out here."
Rory bit her lip. She wondered whether or not that was a good idea. She decided to go-with-her-gut instead of going with what was practical.
"Fine," she said. "Just for a little while. I don't want Lorelai to over-hear us talking. I don't want her to barge in here."
Rory stepped back from the opened window. Jess entered the window into her bedroom. Then, he shut the window behind him with a snap.
Rory woke-up with bleary eyes. It was Sunday morning. Rory felt happy that she did not have to go to work at the D.A.R. that afternoon. She also managed to do a lot of her homework already. That meant that most of her day was free.
Rory stretched and sat-up in bed. She noticed that something that was not hers was on her desk. It was a book. It looked worn and well-loved. Jess must have left it for her the other night when he dropped by unannounced.
Rory reflected back on the previous night. Shivers went up her spine.
"So, what do you want to talk to me about?" asked Rory. She brushed a strand of her long brown hair behind her ear.
"I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry about the party. I didn't want that to happen to you."
"Do you mean you didn't want to see me there with your date? Or do you mean you didn't want me to get hurt?"
Jess frowned. "Both."
Rory sighed. "Well, thanks. I know you didn't mean to hurt me."
"Good."
"Thank you for lying to my mom. You told her that you're the one who had the idea to go to Louise's party. I'm not sure she's buying it... but I appreciate the effort on your part."
"I try," said Jess with a sardonic smile. "I wanted to tell you one more thing."
"What?" said Rory curiously.
"I want you to know that Shane and I aren't exclusive."
"Oh," said Rory. Her pulse quickened. "You're not officially dating her?"
"No. We can see other people."
"That's great," said Rory. She blushed and looked down at her hands.
"Are you and that blonde douche-bag an official item?"
Rory bit her lip. "We've gone out… but we're not really together. I am going to his family's annual Christmas party on Christmas Eve."
Jess looked at her intently. "I see."
"Yeah."
"Is that a date, then?"
"It is," said Rory.
"Then, let me take you out on Christmas Day."
"On Christmas Day? There's nothing open in Stars Hollow on Christmas Day."
"I think I can manage a little something."
Rory rolled-her-eyes. "Fancy yourself as Houdini, do you?"
"I am a master magician. You have yet to learn that about me."
Rory grinned. "All right. If you can manage to plan something on Christmas Day... then, I'll go out with you."
"Deal."
"He's definitely an enigma," said Rory quietly to herself.