AN: Thanks for all the reviews! Especially those of you who took time to e-
mail me, you know who you are. Now on with the next chapter.
Be My Someone
Chapter 3: Problems
Written by: V Lynne
echoinghearts@yahoo.com
~ ~ ~
Three weeks passed unfortunately it didn't go without incident. It seemed now that Terry was back at good old Chilton he was determined to make up for lost time, starting with every attractive female in the junior and senior class. His arm always casually draped around the shoulders of some vapid girl who had a smug grin on her face that she was being paid attention to by the resident stud of the school. For such an important school they seemed to let anyone with the right dollar amount in their bank account onto the school grounds.
Today was no different, Jess had seen His-Godliness at least three times, each time with a different girl, and now walking out of her Chemistry class she caught sight of him yet again. The sounds of making out came across the hallway, mixed with the chatter of the students and scoffs of feet on the tiled flooring, as if it was targeted straight for her eardrums. Disgusted with him, she walked to her locker, only three down from the position he currently had his new conquest pressed against his mouth devouring hers with single mindedness.
"I see someone has put lip gloss to good use today," Sam kidded, as she came to rest her back next to the lockers on the opposite side of Jess's lockers that wasn't infested by PDA.
"I could have sworn tonsil-hockey was outlawed this early in the morning," Hillary added, standing directly behind Jess, who closed her locker after putting away her morning books in order to get her afternoon class books out.
"Obviously not. Don't they have closets for this purpose?" Jess asked as the three walked down the hall, out of the corner of her eye she saw him finally pull back from the giggling blond to cast a wink over his shoulder at her.
Sneering at him they went to class, as it was only passing period and Jess put the antics of lip locking by Terry out of her head.
Not until lunchtime did she finally have a reason to go off on his Studliness.
Out of her last class before lunch, she grabbed her usual Pepsi's that now had a designated spot in her locker, entering the cafeteria, which was lit by the sunlight that had the nerve to shine when she was so in the mood for over-cast skies and lightning storms. A wave by Adam directed her attention to their table when a passing flyer, printed on top quality paper with silver lettering on it, fell at her feet.
Bending down to pick it up with a thought that even something as simple as a school flyer wasn't allowed to be ostentatious as she righted her stature she found that it was not a flyer for something for school but rather an after school activity. An activity that included drinking and loud music also known as a party.
That wasn't what now had her stocking towards her table like a cat after its prey but rather just who was giving the party. None other than her nemesis, Terry. At the house on Friday, which was two days away and the day that Tristan was scheduled to be out of town until Sunday. Dropping her bag on the top of the table, the sound like a drop of a heavy book that startled the occupants, before she gripped the flyer in her hand. Turning she went in a direct path to Terry's table, where another member of the Terry-Worshipers, was almost making her way into the seat of Terry's lap. A small smile displayed itself over Jess's face, the rejected sound of Adam and Kyle calling her name didn't register, as she put her hands flat on the top of the table where Terry and his cronies were sitting.
"Terry is it possible for me to have a private," Jess's eyes narrowed at the girl who was all huffy now, "word with you."
"About?" His casual attitude was making her angrier by the second.
"Oh, a little something, I am sure that the latest acquisition into the Love-Terry fan club can do without you for two seconds if you can manage to get her hand off your thigh that is."
Low whistles came from the other three males at the table, one looking at her with avid interest, before Terry smiled indulgently at her like she was a pest that was tolerated and needed to be subdued.
"I am sure whatever it is it can wait."
"Oh I'm sure with your busy schedule it would seem that way but the matter of whether I let on to a certain parental unit of yours just what you are playing to have on Friday amounts to our discussion right now."
"Look, Terry doesn't have to go anywhere with you." The girl finally spoke up, her voice grading on Jess's nerves as it sounded like that of a five- year-old whose voice hadn't developed.
"Was I talking to you? If you put your hands any higher on his leg you might be sadly disappointed at the utter lack of equipment that Terry is packing in that region of his body."
That got his immediate move from the table, his hand harshly clutching her elbow and escorting her outside with instant talk at their backs. Almost throwing her arm away as if she was repulsive to him, he glared at her with murder in his eyes.
"Ready to deal with me now, DuGrey?"
"I don't even want to know why you act like a shrew at the most inappropriate times in my life but let me make one thing absolutely clear, Gilmore," his body moved with the grace and ability to dominate the space it took up causing her to take an involuntary step backwards against the railing that overlooked the courtyard below, "I will not have you over stepping your bounds on my life or my activities. My life is my own and if I want to throw a party at my house let me say that again in case you missed it, my house, I will. You are a guest, a thorn in my spine, for the next two months or so, I've let you get away with those looks you send my way since school started. I don't care what you think of me but I do care when you try to make me look like a fool. Stay the hell away from me, Gilmore, or I will make your life Hell because as much as you'd like to think it is now it's nothing compared to what I can do to it. When I get through you won't even have your pitiful friends to turn to, you'll be ostracized. An outcast to outcasts," Terry took a step closer to make his presence felt by her more clearly, "and if you ever seek to impose your self-righteous opinions of me in public again I will cut you till you bleed. Understand?"
"Perfectly," she congratulated herself that she sounded calmer than she felt, "and if you think that I'll put up with you being the complete conceited jackass you just proved yourself to be you've got another thing coming. I'm not afraid of you, DuGrey, we went through this once and I survived and if you think that I'll become one of your pathetic followers who thinks the sun rises and falls by your presence I suggest you take a good look in the mirror. Like you said, I am a guest in your father's house," she empathized that the house was his father's not his, "and as long as I and my are subjected to your womanizing whoring I suggest you get used to me commenting on them. Not everyone thinks your gods gift to womankind, DuGrey. You aren't even close. If you want to know a party, next time let me in on it so I don't have to go all Katherine in your presence. I can vent outside where you would appreciate it more. I want peace between us for the most part," Jess let a small smile come to her lips, "and if I have to put you in your place in order to keep us on equal terms rest assured that I am up to the task. Have a great lunch, DuGrey, I'm sure the hand job you were about to receive is still available if you need her services."
Walking around him, her whole body tense as she had stared straight into his stormy-blue eyes the entire time and saw his jaw clench so tight she honestly thought he was going to break it.
"One more thing, Gilmore," he called his back to her, hands wrapped around the railing no doubt wishing it was her neck, "I'm having a party on Friday. Say one word to Tristan about it and I'll do more than just talk to you next time."
"That wasn't so hard now was it? Nothing better than being prepared for the drunks of the 'upper class' visiting the residence I'm staying at on Friday." Ignoring his threat, she replied.
She walked into the cafeteria, head held high, the talking muffled as she blocked out everything but the need to get to her table and pound her head against her heavy book bag. What the hell was she thinking talking to him like that in the middle of the cafeteria? It wasn't like her. She was passive-aggressive, or at least she thought she was but when she was around him she reverted to being a complete witch. Some things never changed.
"If I didn't know better I'd think that you actually were jealous just then," Adam commented the moment she sat down, thankful that Kyle had left the table and Nathan was nowhere in sight.
"Jealous? No. I just become this demon when I'm around him, not a pretty picture."
"Oh, I don't know about that. You were holding your own and those words that came out of your mouth were defiantly rememberable. How do you know so much about just where Cindy Rodriguez's hand was?"
Groaning, she set her head on the tabletop in defeat that she had let everyone hear what she said.
"If it makes you feel better Cindy was giving you death glares since you got back in." Hillary chimed in, taking a large bite out of her sandwich.
"Thanks I need more people thinking that I'm anything more than an A student that just wants to be on school paper, graduate in the top percentage of the class and go to art school, preferably in Europe. Anyone else thinking I'm complete deranged?"
"Oh those guys at Terry's table have watched you this entire time, kinda of creepy but lustfully and I heard one of the 'Popular' girls say that it was about time someone got the nerve to call Cindy a slut practically in front of the entire school."
"Wonderful. Glad to be of help."
Adam shook his head, a smile wide on his face until he saw the angered face of Terry, a stare meant to kill anything in its wake directly at Jess's back.
"So the talk went well?" Sam asked hopefully with amusement at also seeing Terry.
"I don't want to talk about it. Please," Jess's voice muffled by her arms lying around her head as if to cocoon herself into that small space, "can't we talk about something else?"
"I think you've done enough talking today, Jess." Hillary stated and lunch ended.
~
Nathan was passing the large amount of the student population that were in the varied array of going home mode. He had heard about Jess's little outburst when he got back from a discussion with the guidance counselor about his grades. As a senior he had classes with DuGrey and found himself being the usual ignored subject of study by DuGrey and his pals though this time it was different.
"You should tell your little girlfriend to take her PMS pills before school, Davenport," Zachary Richardson hollered across the class, as everyone had finished the test they had just taken and were allowed free time.
"She sure seemed frustrated, not giving her enough?" Brant Harding barked.
"Don't you Neanderthals have better things to do than accost him when people are still trying to finish the test?" a white-blond girl with disdainful hazel-mahogany eyes interrupted.
"Didn't think any love was lost between you and Gilmore, Paige?" Terry drawled, leaning in his seat.
"Doesn't mean I want to listen to you small minded males talk about her sexual habits now does it?" Paige Whitaker countered.
"Interesting and just what is your interest in Gilmore or rather," Terry's calculating smile appeared, "maybe its in what she believes is hers." His tone suggestive and he nodded to Nathan beside her.
A tint of pink showed on her cheeks but she didn't defer.
"Why don't you go finish your administrations on Cindy, I'm sure that she'd welcome your self-absorbed self since you can't get Gilmore."
His eyes narrowed dangerously at her.
"How nice of you to say so, I'm sure its one of the reasons you have guys pounding down your bedroom door, Whitaker, offering up girls who actually know how to please a guy."
Nathan glared at Terry as Paige shut up and turned her attention back to the book on her desktop.
"I can see why only brainless bimbos go for you, DuGrey, a girl with any sense would keep her distance. No lasting relationships must be a Mother issue, but that's right," Nathan's voice could have frozen ice, "she dates guys your age. Makes sense seeing as how her son is about as superficial as she is."
The landing of the desk that Terry had toppled over to get at Nathan laid abandoned on the ground as classmates quickly moved out of their desks as he barreled straight into Nathan's chest knocking them both backward with Nathan still in his desk. The teacher, a skinny skeleton of about seventy, tried to calm the students as the boys plummeted into one another with their fists. Cracking of flesh against bone sounded off and caused girls to shriek. Arms came out of nowhere and wrapped around Terry's arms in a hold as other arms came out to pull Nathan up and hold both boys away from one another.
Enraged eyes of Maxwell Medina, the Headmaster of Chilton, met the two boys glaze as the Coach and one of the other teachers had both boys held. The other teacher, Mr. Austin, was interrupted from teaching and had left his class that included Jess, Hillary and Sam in it now all in the hall along with the rest of the class wondering what was going on.
"Suspension. Now get them to my office now." The Headmaster announced, as they passed out of the doorway and into the corridor. Nathan's face was all black and blue setting in; his left eye was showing signs of swelling shut while Terry looked just as bad. Jess came forward to see Nathan as Coach let go of the boy.
"Nathan, what." Jess demanded only to see him hold up a hand.
"Later, Jess."
"Wouldn't want to involve you in this now would we?" Terry taunted, also having been let go of Mr. Austin, though the two teachers and Headmaster were walking with them.
"You idiot!" Jess called to Terry, only to have the Headmaster turn and glance at Jess.
"I think, Miss Gilmore, I would like a talk with you as well about that inappropriate behavior in the cafeteria earlier. Follow us."
Hillary and Sam both blanched as Jess swallowed the lump in her throat and followed them.
~
Max Medina sat behind his desk, having both boys set in the twin chairs in front of him while he let Jess stay out in the waiting area. Terry had a cut lip; multiple bruises on his right cheekbone and also had a growing black eye though his was on his right.
"Glad to see that even now you both can work out your disagreements like gentlemen," his voice laced in sarcasm, "I don't want to know what caused your argument and the fight because frankly I don't care. What I care about is your disturbing my school not to mention your class and destroying school property to get at one another. This school does not tolerate such behavior and I shouldn't even have to be speaking to either one of you on this matter, as both your records are not the cleanest I've ever seen. In fact one more incident like this and I will expel you both," Max's eyes resting on Terry, "and the fact that you know I will leaves me wondering if maybe allowing you back wasn't the brightest idea. You cannot seem to keep yourself out of trouble whether with Mr. Davenport here or with your verbal battles with Miss Gilmore. So from now until Winter Break which is almost two and a half months away you both will serve detention everyday after school together for two hours. If this gets in the way of your other commitments that is too bad," Max pointed his look at Nathan, "the Coach has given you a chance to be on the football team although he has moved practice to six you will still be missing an hour everyday after school that I'm sure you will have to make up to him. For you, Mr. DuGrey, I suggest you keep whatever problems you have out of my school because your father and I have had this talk and although I agreed at the time to let you back into school I made sure that if you cause more than one incident that caused you to visit my office you would be gone. No expectations. I want you both out of my office, the detention will start today with Mr. Esters class that you will clean up all the Chemistry cabinets and wash everything till in shines. I will notify both your parents and for the next two days you are both suspended. I want you here after school is over, however to do your detention on both days. Gather you things and I will see you back here when school is over. Good day gentlemen," as the door opened Jess stood as both boys passed her, "please Miss Gilmore, come in."
Shutting the door behind her was Nathan.
"I'll call you." He whispered before the heavy oak door shut.
Sitting in front of Mr. Medina, he smiled slightly at her.
"I won't keep you long, Miss Gilmore," he offered, "I just wanted to let you know that we do have a policy on yelling and defaming anywhere on campus. I am sure that it was in the heat of the moment as you have never showed in any instance to be one to openly state your opinions so vocally. As whatever it was Mr. DuGrey had done that set you off next time I suggest you talk to him away from prying eyes and ears."
"Yes, sir."
"Another thing before you leave, Miss Gilmore, we are throwing a Halloween Mask Ball and we need some creative people to work on decorations, feel up to it?"
"Sure."
"See Miss Whitaker," his eyes were cast on his paperwork in front of him so he didn't see the grimace on her face, as she stood up his eyes caught hers, "oh and try to keep a reign on your brother, Miss Gilmore, I have a feeling that you'll have more luck with him than I will."
"Terry isn't my brother." Jess stated.
"I wasn't talking about Mr. DuGrey."
Jess nodded, blushing.
"You may go, Miss Gilmore."
She left and sighed with relief as she got outside his door only to have his secretary stare at her that she quickly hightailed it out of his office.
~
As soon as she went around the corner she gave a startled gasp as both Hillary and Sam seemed to appear out of nowhere.
"What happened? Are you in trouble? Did you know that both boys are suspended until Monday?" Hillary said quickly.
"Got reprimanded, no, and no I didn't."
"So what did he want?"
"To tell me not to screech at Terry in public and to tell me that I'm needed for the Halloween Mask Ball decorations."
"A Halloween Mask Ball?"
"Gee, guys, I thought you knew everything?"
"Awesome, a real chance to dress up. So come on and let's talk."
Each girl took one of Jess's arms and led her to their next class.
~
Entering the DuGrey household was to walk into World War III. The minute she opened the front door she was bombarded by Adam and C.J. leading her upstairs to the railing that overlooked downstairs to watch and listen to the verbal set down by Tristan to Terry.
"Are you in trouble? Cause if you are then you'll be next in that office." Adam declared.
"No, I'm not and why are you two listening in? It's eavesdropping."
"Grow up, Jess, everyone does it." C.J. informed his elder sister.
"Oh, excuse me, Mr. Grown Up. I'm gonna go put my stuff in my room."
"Alright but hurry up." Adam called after her.
Opening her bedroom door she tossed her book bag next to her desk, pulled off her uniform and pulled on comfortable jeans and a gray t-shirt, walking back down the hall to where the two still watched when the sudden opening of the den door caused her to look over as well.
"..we agreed. One more stunt like that, Terry and you are going back to France."
"Alright, already, Dad." Terry said, his walk that of a man on the warpath.
"You three can stop staring down at me now."
So distracted by the interaction of Terry and Tristan none of the three saw Terry look up at them.
"Sorry, Terry." Adam said guiltily.
"What for? Everyone eavesdrops."
"See!" C.J. told his sister.
"I can see where you learned that philosophy."
"If it isn't the Comforting Queen, why aren't you with Davenport soothing his aches that I put there?"
"Get bent, DuGrey."
As if on queue the phone rang and Mrs. Fitz called for Jess to pick it up. Finding the phone that was in the middle of the hallway on a small table she picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Jess, meet me at Luke's in fifteen minutes."
"I might have homework to do or something you can't just assume."
"Will you for once just do what I ask?"
"I'll be right there, Nathan."
She set the phone in the cradle as she turned and almost came into chest-to- chest contact with Terry.
"I see that Beck and Call Boy rang you. Going?"
"Not that it's any business of yours."
"Not even going to ask how I'm doing, I'm crushed."
"I'm sure you'll find some other female to lick your wounds for you."
"Why go looking when I have one right here?" Terry wondered, his hands on the small table and his presence too close for her comfort.
Ignoring him she went to her room and grabbed her car keys, jingling in her hand and her jacket before heading back downstairs calling out a goodbye to Tristan, Adam and C.J. who were now on the couch in the living room.
"Where are you going?" Tristan asked.
"To Luke's. I have the cell with me."
He nodded satisfied.
~
When she pulled her car up to Luke's she got out and headed into the diner. Her grandmother at the counter as usual begging Luke for another cup of coffee while Luke went around the counter upon spying Jess.
"He's up in the apartment. He got pretty torn up in the face, who'd he get in fight with?"
"DuGrey."
That got Lorelai's attention.
"Nate got in a fight with Playgirl Model?"
"I'm going up to see him." Jess called ignoring Lorelai's comment.
Climbing the stairs, she knocked on the small apartment, that used to belong to Luke located right above the diner but was usually just a hang out now that he lived with Lorelai. Opening the door at no answer, she found him lying on the couch bed, ice in a washcloth on his face the television on MTV and turned up that it drowned out any other sound.
"Now I know why you can't hear me." Jess announced, turning the knob on the television volume down before moving beside him to look at his face.
Taking the washcloth away she winced at his face.
"That bad, huh?"
"You look like a bad makeup commercial for people who can't put on the right amount of eye shadow."
"Thanks."
"No problem," she tossed her jacket with her keys onto a nearby chair and settled next to him on the bed, sitting and leaning over checking out his face. At his pained expression she went and got more ice before searching for a first aid kit to clean up the cuts on his face.
Finding the small metal white box, she took out gauze and ointment, before putting ice in a plastic baggy, as with just the washcloth he was getting water everywhere as it was took much ice, then putting the wet washcloth in the sink before finding a clean dry one and wrapping the ice baggy inside then taking all of it back over to him. Making him sit up she squeezed ointment onto the gauze and proceeded to clean his cuts, after hearing him hiss in pain she finished up and then gave over the ice for his eye.
"Nice job, Mom." Lorelai commented, as she stepped into the apartment and had been quietly observing.
"Thanks, not really proficient at this whole After-Fight fix up."
"Doing great," Lorelai seemed to be rummaging through Luke's cupboards.
"What are you looking for?"
"Coffee. He ran out." Lorelai whined.
"A crime."
"And he doesn't see it that way. Hateful man."
Jess laughed, as Nathan pointed to the far cabinet.
"Coffee, top shelf last cabinet."
Lorelai did as he said and yelled with triumph.
"Thanks, babe, you are a life saver. Keep him iced and he'll be fine." Lorelai declared before going back downstairs.
"Your grandma is a weird one."
"Don't let Uncle Luke here that or you'll be disowned."
"Somehow I don't think he'll disagree with me. Gilmore genes being what they are."
Jess raised an eyebrow, "Oh, and what's that?"
"Unstable."
"Funny. How about I leave your macho self alone and I'll go back to the DuGrey Palace to confront Playgirl Model."
"Playgirl Model?"
"Don't ask, Grandma's nickname for Terry."
"Just proves my point."
"Shut up," Jess saw him lift the corner of his mouth in a smile, "so where's your mom? Shouldn't she be all Mom-Worried about you?"
"Called my pager and left message that she was upset that I was in a fight and will be home Tuesday."
"Nice."
"Never said she was the greatest mom in the world."
"At least yours didn't abandon you with the Devil Incarnate."
"He doesn't seem all that bad."
"Then why were you two fighting?"
"I said something about his mom."
Jess cringed.
"Bad idea?"
"Claudia D'Anton is not someone Terry ever took lightly. My mom said Tristan only married her because of the DuGrey tradition to marry bright shining objects that rest on your arms. Family wanted it. He's been in love with my mother since they were our age."
"So why'd she let Dad get her pregnant?"
"That's the night she graduated, had a little too much to drink and found out that Claudia had just presented Tristan with a son. I guess if the guy I loved had married someone else and had a baby with her I'd be a little out of it too. Plus Dad was not known for not offering comfort to a over- emotional woman," Jess's pointed look at Nathan, "or else you wouldn't be here either."
"True. At least he provided our moms with us before he went off to become the next Indian Jones."
"Only cooler, right?" Jess joked.
"He is cool, the whole rebel thing that Terry's got."
"You do have that quality too, Nate."
"I'll pass, last thing I want is to find some needy female and get her pregnant. I'll end up married to her."
"So you've been hiding that whole respectable part of yourself from me, huh?"
"Can't have my sister finding everything out about me now can I?"
"Fine be that way," Jess playfully hit his arm, "did you tell Mr. Medina you are my brother?"
"No, outside us and our family I didn't think anyone else knows."
"He does. When he talked to me today he said to try to keep a reign on my brother and when I assumed he was talking about Terry he said he wasn't."
"Okay. So he knows, no big deal."
"If it's no big deal why are you the one that wants to keep us being siblings a secret?"
"Don't you think you have enough to worry about with C.J. and Terry then everyone knowing about me?"
"So you like people thinking you're my lover?"
"No but that's what small minded people need, gossip and conclusions to jump to. Besides I don't think my mom wants me to jump and down screaming you're my sister when she has everyone thinking the guy she got pregnant by lives in England and died before they could get married."
"True, Amanda's not real thrilled about me being related to you as well as to the DuGrey's."
"My mother loves you its just public opinion of her matters."
"Are you feeling any better?"
"If you want to go now."
"I asked a question, Nate."
"No, I feel like a met someone's fist several times and who'd have thought that Pretty Boy has good aim or fighting skills."
"I'm shocked, you actually called him a nickname. I think I'm converting you."
"You are not."
"Yes I am. I am going to run downstairs and tell Luke that his nephew is becoming more Gilmore like."
"Do that and I'll never talk to you again."
"What's with males and threats today? First Terry, now you. Do all the men in my life feel the need to threaten me in order to keep me in line."
"Speaking as one male in your life, yes."
Jess grinned.
~
Well, that's it for now. Let me know what you think..hope this helps with the confusion on Rory's behavior..more to come soon.
January 2, 2002
Be My Someone
Chapter 3: Problems
Written by: V Lynne
echoinghearts@yahoo.com
~ ~ ~
Three weeks passed unfortunately it didn't go without incident. It seemed now that Terry was back at good old Chilton he was determined to make up for lost time, starting with every attractive female in the junior and senior class. His arm always casually draped around the shoulders of some vapid girl who had a smug grin on her face that she was being paid attention to by the resident stud of the school. For such an important school they seemed to let anyone with the right dollar amount in their bank account onto the school grounds.
Today was no different, Jess had seen His-Godliness at least three times, each time with a different girl, and now walking out of her Chemistry class she caught sight of him yet again. The sounds of making out came across the hallway, mixed with the chatter of the students and scoffs of feet on the tiled flooring, as if it was targeted straight for her eardrums. Disgusted with him, she walked to her locker, only three down from the position he currently had his new conquest pressed against his mouth devouring hers with single mindedness.
"I see someone has put lip gloss to good use today," Sam kidded, as she came to rest her back next to the lockers on the opposite side of Jess's lockers that wasn't infested by PDA.
"I could have sworn tonsil-hockey was outlawed this early in the morning," Hillary added, standing directly behind Jess, who closed her locker after putting away her morning books in order to get her afternoon class books out.
"Obviously not. Don't they have closets for this purpose?" Jess asked as the three walked down the hall, out of the corner of her eye she saw him finally pull back from the giggling blond to cast a wink over his shoulder at her.
Sneering at him they went to class, as it was only passing period and Jess put the antics of lip locking by Terry out of her head.
Not until lunchtime did she finally have a reason to go off on his Studliness.
Out of her last class before lunch, she grabbed her usual Pepsi's that now had a designated spot in her locker, entering the cafeteria, which was lit by the sunlight that had the nerve to shine when she was so in the mood for over-cast skies and lightning storms. A wave by Adam directed her attention to their table when a passing flyer, printed on top quality paper with silver lettering on it, fell at her feet.
Bending down to pick it up with a thought that even something as simple as a school flyer wasn't allowed to be ostentatious as she righted her stature she found that it was not a flyer for something for school but rather an after school activity. An activity that included drinking and loud music also known as a party.
That wasn't what now had her stocking towards her table like a cat after its prey but rather just who was giving the party. None other than her nemesis, Terry. At the house on Friday, which was two days away and the day that Tristan was scheduled to be out of town until Sunday. Dropping her bag on the top of the table, the sound like a drop of a heavy book that startled the occupants, before she gripped the flyer in her hand. Turning she went in a direct path to Terry's table, where another member of the Terry-Worshipers, was almost making her way into the seat of Terry's lap. A small smile displayed itself over Jess's face, the rejected sound of Adam and Kyle calling her name didn't register, as she put her hands flat on the top of the table where Terry and his cronies were sitting.
"Terry is it possible for me to have a private," Jess's eyes narrowed at the girl who was all huffy now, "word with you."
"About?" His casual attitude was making her angrier by the second.
"Oh, a little something, I am sure that the latest acquisition into the Love-Terry fan club can do without you for two seconds if you can manage to get her hand off your thigh that is."
Low whistles came from the other three males at the table, one looking at her with avid interest, before Terry smiled indulgently at her like she was a pest that was tolerated and needed to be subdued.
"I am sure whatever it is it can wait."
"Oh I'm sure with your busy schedule it would seem that way but the matter of whether I let on to a certain parental unit of yours just what you are playing to have on Friday amounts to our discussion right now."
"Look, Terry doesn't have to go anywhere with you." The girl finally spoke up, her voice grading on Jess's nerves as it sounded like that of a five- year-old whose voice hadn't developed.
"Was I talking to you? If you put your hands any higher on his leg you might be sadly disappointed at the utter lack of equipment that Terry is packing in that region of his body."
That got his immediate move from the table, his hand harshly clutching her elbow and escorting her outside with instant talk at their backs. Almost throwing her arm away as if she was repulsive to him, he glared at her with murder in his eyes.
"Ready to deal with me now, DuGrey?"
"I don't even want to know why you act like a shrew at the most inappropriate times in my life but let me make one thing absolutely clear, Gilmore," his body moved with the grace and ability to dominate the space it took up causing her to take an involuntary step backwards against the railing that overlooked the courtyard below, "I will not have you over stepping your bounds on my life or my activities. My life is my own and if I want to throw a party at my house let me say that again in case you missed it, my house, I will. You are a guest, a thorn in my spine, for the next two months or so, I've let you get away with those looks you send my way since school started. I don't care what you think of me but I do care when you try to make me look like a fool. Stay the hell away from me, Gilmore, or I will make your life Hell because as much as you'd like to think it is now it's nothing compared to what I can do to it. When I get through you won't even have your pitiful friends to turn to, you'll be ostracized. An outcast to outcasts," Terry took a step closer to make his presence felt by her more clearly, "and if you ever seek to impose your self-righteous opinions of me in public again I will cut you till you bleed. Understand?"
"Perfectly," she congratulated herself that she sounded calmer than she felt, "and if you think that I'll put up with you being the complete conceited jackass you just proved yourself to be you've got another thing coming. I'm not afraid of you, DuGrey, we went through this once and I survived and if you think that I'll become one of your pathetic followers who thinks the sun rises and falls by your presence I suggest you take a good look in the mirror. Like you said, I am a guest in your father's house," she empathized that the house was his father's not his, "and as long as I and my are subjected to your womanizing whoring I suggest you get used to me commenting on them. Not everyone thinks your gods gift to womankind, DuGrey. You aren't even close. If you want to know a party, next time let me in on it so I don't have to go all Katherine in your presence. I can vent outside where you would appreciate it more. I want peace between us for the most part," Jess let a small smile come to her lips, "and if I have to put you in your place in order to keep us on equal terms rest assured that I am up to the task. Have a great lunch, DuGrey, I'm sure the hand job you were about to receive is still available if you need her services."
Walking around him, her whole body tense as she had stared straight into his stormy-blue eyes the entire time and saw his jaw clench so tight she honestly thought he was going to break it.
"One more thing, Gilmore," he called his back to her, hands wrapped around the railing no doubt wishing it was her neck, "I'm having a party on Friday. Say one word to Tristan about it and I'll do more than just talk to you next time."
"That wasn't so hard now was it? Nothing better than being prepared for the drunks of the 'upper class' visiting the residence I'm staying at on Friday." Ignoring his threat, she replied.
She walked into the cafeteria, head held high, the talking muffled as she blocked out everything but the need to get to her table and pound her head against her heavy book bag. What the hell was she thinking talking to him like that in the middle of the cafeteria? It wasn't like her. She was passive-aggressive, or at least she thought she was but when she was around him she reverted to being a complete witch. Some things never changed.
"If I didn't know better I'd think that you actually were jealous just then," Adam commented the moment she sat down, thankful that Kyle had left the table and Nathan was nowhere in sight.
"Jealous? No. I just become this demon when I'm around him, not a pretty picture."
"Oh, I don't know about that. You were holding your own and those words that came out of your mouth were defiantly rememberable. How do you know so much about just where Cindy Rodriguez's hand was?"
Groaning, she set her head on the tabletop in defeat that she had let everyone hear what she said.
"If it makes you feel better Cindy was giving you death glares since you got back in." Hillary chimed in, taking a large bite out of her sandwich.
"Thanks I need more people thinking that I'm anything more than an A student that just wants to be on school paper, graduate in the top percentage of the class and go to art school, preferably in Europe. Anyone else thinking I'm complete deranged?"
"Oh those guys at Terry's table have watched you this entire time, kinda of creepy but lustfully and I heard one of the 'Popular' girls say that it was about time someone got the nerve to call Cindy a slut practically in front of the entire school."
"Wonderful. Glad to be of help."
Adam shook his head, a smile wide on his face until he saw the angered face of Terry, a stare meant to kill anything in its wake directly at Jess's back.
"So the talk went well?" Sam asked hopefully with amusement at also seeing Terry.
"I don't want to talk about it. Please," Jess's voice muffled by her arms lying around her head as if to cocoon herself into that small space, "can't we talk about something else?"
"I think you've done enough talking today, Jess." Hillary stated and lunch ended.
~
Nathan was passing the large amount of the student population that were in the varied array of going home mode. He had heard about Jess's little outburst when he got back from a discussion with the guidance counselor about his grades. As a senior he had classes with DuGrey and found himself being the usual ignored subject of study by DuGrey and his pals though this time it was different.
"You should tell your little girlfriend to take her PMS pills before school, Davenport," Zachary Richardson hollered across the class, as everyone had finished the test they had just taken and were allowed free time.
"She sure seemed frustrated, not giving her enough?" Brant Harding barked.
"Don't you Neanderthals have better things to do than accost him when people are still trying to finish the test?" a white-blond girl with disdainful hazel-mahogany eyes interrupted.
"Didn't think any love was lost between you and Gilmore, Paige?" Terry drawled, leaning in his seat.
"Doesn't mean I want to listen to you small minded males talk about her sexual habits now does it?" Paige Whitaker countered.
"Interesting and just what is your interest in Gilmore or rather," Terry's calculating smile appeared, "maybe its in what she believes is hers." His tone suggestive and he nodded to Nathan beside her.
A tint of pink showed on her cheeks but she didn't defer.
"Why don't you go finish your administrations on Cindy, I'm sure that she'd welcome your self-absorbed self since you can't get Gilmore."
His eyes narrowed dangerously at her.
"How nice of you to say so, I'm sure its one of the reasons you have guys pounding down your bedroom door, Whitaker, offering up girls who actually know how to please a guy."
Nathan glared at Terry as Paige shut up and turned her attention back to the book on her desktop.
"I can see why only brainless bimbos go for you, DuGrey, a girl with any sense would keep her distance. No lasting relationships must be a Mother issue, but that's right," Nathan's voice could have frozen ice, "she dates guys your age. Makes sense seeing as how her son is about as superficial as she is."
The landing of the desk that Terry had toppled over to get at Nathan laid abandoned on the ground as classmates quickly moved out of their desks as he barreled straight into Nathan's chest knocking them both backward with Nathan still in his desk. The teacher, a skinny skeleton of about seventy, tried to calm the students as the boys plummeted into one another with their fists. Cracking of flesh against bone sounded off and caused girls to shriek. Arms came out of nowhere and wrapped around Terry's arms in a hold as other arms came out to pull Nathan up and hold both boys away from one another.
Enraged eyes of Maxwell Medina, the Headmaster of Chilton, met the two boys glaze as the Coach and one of the other teachers had both boys held. The other teacher, Mr. Austin, was interrupted from teaching and had left his class that included Jess, Hillary and Sam in it now all in the hall along with the rest of the class wondering what was going on.
"Suspension. Now get them to my office now." The Headmaster announced, as they passed out of the doorway and into the corridor. Nathan's face was all black and blue setting in; his left eye was showing signs of swelling shut while Terry looked just as bad. Jess came forward to see Nathan as Coach let go of the boy.
"Nathan, what." Jess demanded only to see him hold up a hand.
"Later, Jess."
"Wouldn't want to involve you in this now would we?" Terry taunted, also having been let go of Mr. Austin, though the two teachers and Headmaster were walking with them.
"You idiot!" Jess called to Terry, only to have the Headmaster turn and glance at Jess.
"I think, Miss Gilmore, I would like a talk with you as well about that inappropriate behavior in the cafeteria earlier. Follow us."
Hillary and Sam both blanched as Jess swallowed the lump in her throat and followed them.
~
Max Medina sat behind his desk, having both boys set in the twin chairs in front of him while he let Jess stay out in the waiting area. Terry had a cut lip; multiple bruises on his right cheekbone and also had a growing black eye though his was on his right.
"Glad to see that even now you both can work out your disagreements like gentlemen," his voice laced in sarcasm, "I don't want to know what caused your argument and the fight because frankly I don't care. What I care about is your disturbing my school not to mention your class and destroying school property to get at one another. This school does not tolerate such behavior and I shouldn't even have to be speaking to either one of you on this matter, as both your records are not the cleanest I've ever seen. In fact one more incident like this and I will expel you both," Max's eyes resting on Terry, "and the fact that you know I will leaves me wondering if maybe allowing you back wasn't the brightest idea. You cannot seem to keep yourself out of trouble whether with Mr. Davenport here or with your verbal battles with Miss Gilmore. So from now until Winter Break which is almost two and a half months away you both will serve detention everyday after school together for two hours. If this gets in the way of your other commitments that is too bad," Max pointed his look at Nathan, "the Coach has given you a chance to be on the football team although he has moved practice to six you will still be missing an hour everyday after school that I'm sure you will have to make up to him. For you, Mr. DuGrey, I suggest you keep whatever problems you have out of my school because your father and I have had this talk and although I agreed at the time to let you back into school I made sure that if you cause more than one incident that caused you to visit my office you would be gone. No expectations. I want you both out of my office, the detention will start today with Mr. Esters class that you will clean up all the Chemistry cabinets and wash everything till in shines. I will notify both your parents and for the next two days you are both suspended. I want you here after school is over, however to do your detention on both days. Gather you things and I will see you back here when school is over. Good day gentlemen," as the door opened Jess stood as both boys passed her, "please Miss Gilmore, come in."
Shutting the door behind her was Nathan.
"I'll call you." He whispered before the heavy oak door shut.
Sitting in front of Mr. Medina, he smiled slightly at her.
"I won't keep you long, Miss Gilmore," he offered, "I just wanted to let you know that we do have a policy on yelling and defaming anywhere on campus. I am sure that it was in the heat of the moment as you have never showed in any instance to be one to openly state your opinions so vocally. As whatever it was Mr. DuGrey had done that set you off next time I suggest you talk to him away from prying eyes and ears."
"Yes, sir."
"Another thing before you leave, Miss Gilmore, we are throwing a Halloween Mask Ball and we need some creative people to work on decorations, feel up to it?"
"Sure."
"See Miss Whitaker," his eyes were cast on his paperwork in front of him so he didn't see the grimace on her face, as she stood up his eyes caught hers, "oh and try to keep a reign on your brother, Miss Gilmore, I have a feeling that you'll have more luck with him than I will."
"Terry isn't my brother." Jess stated.
"I wasn't talking about Mr. DuGrey."
Jess nodded, blushing.
"You may go, Miss Gilmore."
She left and sighed with relief as she got outside his door only to have his secretary stare at her that she quickly hightailed it out of his office.
~
As soon as she went around the corner she gave a startled gasp as both Hillary and Sam seemed to appear out of nowhere.
"What happened? Are you in trouble? Did you know that both boys are suspended until Monday?" Hillary said quickly.
"Got reprimanded, no, and no I didn't."
"So what did he want?"
"To tell me not to screech at Terry in public and to tell me that I'm needed for the Halloween Mask Ball decorations."
"A Halloween Mask Ball?"
"Gee, guys, I thought you knew everything?"
"Awesome, a real chance to dress up. So come on and let's talk."
Each girl took one of Jess's arms and led her to their next class.
~
Entering the DuGrey household was to walk into World War III. The minute she opened the front door she was bombarded by Adam and C.J. leading her upstairs to the railing that overlooked downstairs to watch and listen to the verbal set down by Tristan to Terry.
"Are you in trouble? Cause if you are then you'll be next in that office." Adam declared.
"No, I'm not and why are you two listening in? It's eavesdropping."
"Grow up, Jess, everyone does it." C.J. informed his elder sister.
"Oh, excuse me, Mr. Grown Up. I'm gonna go put my stuff in my room."
"Alright but hurry up." Adam called after her.
Opening her bedroom door she tossed her book bag next to her desk, pulled off her uniform and pulled on comfortable jeans and a gray t-shirt, walking back down the hall to where the two still watched when the sudden opening of the den door caused her to look over as well.
"..we agreed. One more stunt like that, Terry and you are going back to France."
"Alright, already, Dad." Terry said, his walk that of a man on the warpath.
"You three can stop staring down at me now."
So distracted by the interaction of Terry and Tristan none of the three saw Terry look up at them.
"Sorry, Terry." Adam said guiltily.
"What for? Everyone eavesdrops."
"See!" C.J. told his sister.
"I can see where you learned that philosophy."
"If it isn't the Comforting Queen, why aren't you with Davenport soothing his aches that I put there?"
"Get bent, DuGrey."
As if on queue the phone rang and Mrs. Fitz called for Jess to pick it up. Finding the phone that was in the middle of the hallway on a small table she picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Jess, meet me at Luke's in fifteen minutes."
"I might have homework to do or something you can't just assume."
"Will you for once just do what I ask?"
"I'll be right there, Nathan."
She set the phone in the cradle as she turned and almost came into chest-to- chest contact with Terry.
"I see that Beck and Call Boy rang you. Going?"
"Not that it's any business of yours."
"Not even going to ask how I'm doing, I'm crushed."
"I'm sure you'll find some other female to lick your wounds for you."
"Why go looking when I have one right here?" Terry wondered, his hands on the small table and his presence too close for her comfort.
Ignoring him she went to her room and grabbed her car keys, jingling in her hand and her jacket before heading back downstairs calling out a goodbye to Tristan, Adam and C.J. who were now on the couch in the living room.
"Where are you going?" Tristan asked.
"To Luke's. I have the cell with me."
He nodded satisfied.
~
When she pulled her car up to Luke's she got out and headed into the diner. Her grandmother at the counter as usual begging Luke for another cup of coffee while Luke went around the counter upon spying Jess.
"He's up in the apartment. He got pretty torn up in the face, who'd he get in fight with?"
"DuGrey."
That got Lorelai's attention.
"Nate got in a fight with Playgirl Model?"
"I'm going up to see him." Jess called ignoring Lorelai's comment.
Climbing the stairs, she knocked on the small apartment, that used to belong to Luke located right above the diner but was usually just a hang out now that he lived with Lorelai. Opening the door at no answer, she found him lying on the couch bed, ice in a washcloth on his face the television on MTV and turned up that it drowned out any other sound.
"Now I know why you can't hear me." Jess announced, turning the knob on the television volume down before moving beside him to look at his face.
Taking the washcloth away she winced at his face.
"That bad, huh?"
"You look like a bad makeup commercial for people who can't put on the right amount of eye shadow."
"Thanks."
"No problem," she tossed her jacket with her keys onto a nearby chair and settled next to him on the bed, sitting and leaning over checking out his face. At his pained expression she went and got more ice before searching for a first aid kit to clean up the cuts on his face.
Finding the small metal white box, she took out gauze and ointment, before putting ice in a plastic baggy, as with just the washcloth he was getting water everywhere as it was took much ice, then putting the wet washcloth in the sink before finding a clean dry one and wrapping the ice baggy inside then taking all of it back over to him. Making him sit up she squeezed ointment onto the gauze and proceeded to clean his cuts, after hearing him hiss in pain she finished up and then gave over the ice for his eye.
"Nice job, Mom." Lorelai commented, as she stepped into the apartment and had been quietly observing.
"Thanks, not really proficient at this whole After-Fight fix up."
"Doing great," Lorelai seemed to be rummaging through Luke's cupboards.
"What are you looking for?"
"Coffee. He ran out." Lorelai whined.
"A crime."
"And he doesn't see it that way. Hateful man."
Jess laughed, as Nathan pointed to the far cabinet.
"Coffee, top shelf last cabinet."
Lorelai did as he said and yelled with triumph.
"Thanks, babe, you are a life saver. Keep him iced and he'll be fine." Lorelai declared before going back downstairs.
"Your grandma is a weird one."
"Don't let Uncle Luke here that or you'll be disowned."
"Somehow I don't think he'll disagree with me. Gilmore genes being what they are."
Jess raised an eyebrow, "Oh, and what's that?"
"Unstable."
"Funny. How about I leave your macho self alone and I'll go back to the DuGrey Palace to confront Playgirl Model."
"Playgirl Model?"
"Don't ask, Grandma's nickname for Terry."
"Just proves my point."
"Shut up," Jess saw him lift the corner of his mouth in a smile, "so where's your mom? Shouldn't she be all Mom-Worried about you?"
"Called my pager and left message that she was upset that I was in a fight and will be home Tuesday."
"Nice."
"Never said she was the greatest mom in the world."
"At least yours didn't abandon you with the Devil Incarnate."
"He doesn't seem all that bad."
"Then why were you two fighting?"
"I said something about his mom."
Jess cringed.
"Bad idea?"
"Claudia D'Anton is not someone Terry ever took lightly. My mom said Tristan only married her because of the DuGrey tradition to marry bright shining objects that rest on your arms. Family wanted it. He's been in love with my mother since they were our age."
"So why'd she let Dad get her pregnant?"
"That's the night she graduated, had a little too much to drink and found out that Claudia had just presented Tristan with a son. I guess if the guy I loved had married someone else and had a baby with her I'd be a little out of it too. Plus Dad was not known for not offering comfort to a over- emotional woman," Jess's pointed look at Nathan, "or else you wouldn't be here either."
"True. At least he provided our moms with us before he went off to become the next Indian Jones."
"Only cooler, right?" Jess joked.
"He is cool, the whole rebel thing that Terry's got."
"You do have that quality too, Nate."
"I'll pass, last thing I want is to find some needy female and get her pregnant. I'll end up married to her."
"So you've been hiding that whole respectable part of yourself from me, huh?"
"Can't have my sister finding everything out about me now can I?"
"Fine be that way," Jess playfully hit his arm, "did you tell Mr. Medina you are my brother?"
"No, outside us and our family I didn't think anyone else knows."
"He does. When he talked to me today he said to try to keep a reign on my brother and when I assumed he was talking about Terry he said he wasn't."
"Okay. So he knows, no big deal."
"If it's no big deal why are you the one that wants to keep us being siblings a secret?"
"Don't you think you have enough to worry about with C.J. and Terry then everyone knowing about me?"
"So you like people thinking you're my lover?"
"No but that's what small minded people need, gossip and conclusions to jump to. Besides I don't think my mom wants me to jump and down screaming you're my sister when she has everyone thinking the guy she got pregnant by lives in England and died before they could get married."
"True, Amanda's not real thrilled about me being related to you as well as to the DuGrey's."
"My mother loves you its just public opinion of her matters."
"Are you feeling any better?"
"If you want to go now."
"I asked a question, Nate."
"No, I feel like a met someone's fist several times and who'd have thought that Pretty Boy has good aim or fighting skills."
"I'm shocked, you actually called him a nickname. I think I'm converting you."
"You are not."
"Yes I am. I am going to run downstairs and tell Luke that his nephew is becoming more Gilmore like."
"Do that and I'll never talk to you again."
"What's with males and threats today? First Terry, now you. Do all the men in my life feel the need to threaten me in order to keep me in line."
"Speaking as one male in your life, yes."
Jess grinned.
~
Well, that's it for now. Let me know what you think..hope this helps with the confusion on Rory's behavior..more to come soon.
January 2, 2002
