How Many People Did You Have To Kill?
Part 2 - Rory
If he hadn't come, life would have stayed the same. Dean and I would be perfect, Mom and I would be fine and Luke and Mom might've actually got somewhere.
Instead, Jess came, saw and conquered everything that I was starting to get a grasp on. Since then, everything has been shaken up. However, it's hard to find anything wrong with that when he gives me one of those long, penetrating looks. And he does that every chance he gets.
I'm not sure what exactly inspired me to go to New York. The phone call, I guess. So little was actually said between us, and I missed him. I hadn't had an intelligent discussion with anyone since he left. Not to mention our last conversation in the car before the accident sent my mind reeling. I started questioning everything I've ever done and everything I'm planning to do with my life.
I've only ever focused on Harvard. Overseas correspondent has been my dream. Aiming for the top, overcoming all obstacles has always been first and foremost. Since that conversation, all I can think about is "Am I ready for that?" "What if Jess is right?" and "What if it is too rough?" I mean, look at me in New York. That was frightening enough.
Boys only existed when Dean stumbled into me one day. Kissing only started because of Dean. Breaking up only started because of Dean. Love was only said because of Dean. Jess questions all of my first and makes me want to go out and experience an all new set of firsts. But with him, not with Dean.
He even makes me question my relationship with my mother. I love and admire her more than anyone in the world but I feel that we're slowly growing apart. There's always a sense of suspicion whenever certain things are brought up, which just drives that wedge of uncertainty deeper. She doesn't trust me as much as she says she does. Ever since I neared sixteen, she's been freaked out that I'm going to do what she did. That's why Jess is such a problem.
This still isn't helping explain why I went. Maybe it's simpler than all that. I missed him. Got that. He didn't say goodbye. That's what I said, at least. My mother's words keep making my ears ring and my soul ache, but they can't be true, can they?
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Just as Rory set down her pen, the phone rang beside her. It was late. She let it ring a few times, waiting for her mother to answer. She had stuck by her promise of not touching the phone. After four rings, she stuck her head out the door to hear the message.
The answering machine beeped and there was a few seconds of silence. A deep breath and -
"Hey Rory." It could only be- "Jess here. I know it's late to be calling, but I thought I should let you know I'm on my way back. I'm at the bus station now. I leave in a few minutes, but I thought I'd try giving you a call. Anyway, I'll be there within a couple of hours." There was a pause. "I guess that's it. See you around." Another pause and- "Goodbye."
Rory's heart had leapt to her throat when she had first heard his voice. It had fallen back into her chest, but only to throb painfully. When the message ended, she found herself standing in front of the answering machine. She tentatively reached to press the playback button.
"Wait," she heard behind her. She spun around and there was Lorelai at the bottom of the stairs.
"Mom! I was just listening to-"
"-Jess. I heard."
Rory looked down at the floor and after a few seconds shrugged. Her eyes were guarding any emotion and she yawned obviously.
"Well, I'm off to bed. Good night."
"Right," said Lorelai calmly. "Have a good sleep."
Rory walked down the hallway to her room and Lorelai could hear the door shut firmly behind her.
She walked to the answering machine and glared at the blaring red one message. She didn't hesitate when she pressed the delete button and she smiled a tight little smile when she did. The likeness to Emily Gilmore at that moment would have freaked her out if she had known she did it.
She walked into the kitchen and sat in a chair facing Rory's door. Keeping watch seemed like a good idea.
In a few minutes though, she was asleep, forehead resting on her arm. Little did she know Rory was quietly dressing and silently opening one of her windows. Dropping feet first, she didn't even stop to look back. She had to be there to meet Jess.
Part 2 - Rory
If he hadn't come, life would have stayed the same. Dean and I would be perfect, Mom and I would be fine and Luke and Mom might've actually got somewhere.
Instead, Jess came, saw and conquered everything that I was starting to get a grasp on. Since then, everything has been shaken up. However, it's hard to find anything wrong with that when he gives me one of those long, penetrating looks. And he does that every chance he gets.
I'm not sure what exactly inspired me to go to New York. The phone call, I guess. So little was actually said between us, and I missed him. I hadn't had an intelligent discussion with anyone since he left. Not to mention our last conversation in the car before the accident sent my mind reeling. I started questioning everything I've ever done and everything I'm planning to do with my life.
I've only ever focused on Harvard. Overseas correspondent has been my dream. Aiming for the top, overcoming all obstacles has always been first and foremost. Since that conversation, all I can think about is "Am I ready for that?" "What if Jess is right?" and "What if it is too rough?" I mean, look at me in New York. That was frightening enough.
Boys only existed when Dean stumbled into me one day. Kissing only started because of Dean. Breaking up only started because of Dean. Love was only said because of Dean. Jess questions all of my first and makes me want to go out and experience an all new set of firsts. But with him, not with Dean.
He even makes me question my relationship with my mother. I love and admire her more than anyone in the world but I feel that we're slowly growing apart. There's always a sense of suspicion whenever certain things are brought up, which just drives that wedge of uncertainty deeper. She doesn't trust me as much as she says she does. Ever since I neared sixteen, she's been freaked out that I'm going to do what she did. That's why Jess is such a problem.
This still isn't helping explain why I went. Maybe it's simpler than all that. I missed him. Got that. He didn't say goodbye. That's what I said, at least. My mother's words keep making my ears ring and my soul ache, but they can't be true, can they?
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Just as Rory set down her pen, the phone rang beside her. It was late. She let it ring a few times, waiting for her mother to answer. She had stuck by her promise of not touching the phone. After four rings, she stuck her head out the door to hear the message.
The answering machine beeped and there was a few seconds of silence. A deep breath and -
"Hey Rory." It could only be- "Jess here. I know it's late to be calling, but I thought I should let you know I'm on my way back. I'm at the bus station now. I leave in a few minutes, but I thought I'd try giving you a call. Anyway, I'll be there within a couple of hours." There was a pause. "I guess that's it. See you around." Another pause and- "Goodbye."
Rory's heart had leapt to her throat when she had first heard his voice. It had fallen back into her chest, but only to throb painfully. When the message ended, she found herself standing in front of the answering machine. She tentatively reached to press the playback button.
"Wait," she heard behind her. She spun around and there was Lorelai at the bottom of the stairs.
"Mom! I was just listening to-"
"-Jess. I heard."
Rory looked down at the floor and after a few seconds shrugged. Her eyes were guarding any emotion and she yawned obviously.
"Well, I'm off to bed. Good night."
"Right," said Lorelai calmly. "Have a good sleep."
Rory walked down the hallway to her room and Lorelai could hear the door shut firmly behind her.
She walked to the answering machine and glared at the blaring red one message. She didn't hesitate when she pressed the delete button and she smiled a tight little smile when she did. The likeness to Emily Gilmore at that moment would have freaked her out if she had known she did it.
She walked into the kitchen and sat in a chair facing Rory's door. Keeping watch seemed like a good idea.
In a few minutes though, she was asleep, forehead resting on her arm. Little did she know Rory was quietly dressing and silently opening one of her windows. Dropping feet first, she didn't even stop to look back. She had to be there to meet Jess.