- Thanks for all the reviews, sorry I had to spend the weekend in a hotel
for a soccer tournament, no internet there…
Chapter 2: Run Rory, Run
THE NEXT MORNING (Sunday)
Rory and Lorelai were still not on speaking terms, well; actually they hadn't seen each other either since the dinner incident. Rory had stayed the nights at Lane's, though she had had to hide in a closet until Lane's mother went to bed so that Rory wouldn't get kicked out. They woke pretty early, Rory feeling much better after venting out her issues to a considerate Lane, then spending a quite enjoyable day of music, shopping and ice cream followed by a thoughtless night of rest. Lane had suggested they call Dean and Henry to go along with them on their outings, but Rory had declined saying she would rather spend the afternoon with just Lane. Rory had been in no mood to talk to let alone even see Dean. She just felt like forgetting all about Dean, her mom and Jess, and just spending a carefree afternoon, without thinking of the three people that were cause of all her problems. However, try as she might, she still couldn't get them off her mind, well, actually it wasn't them that she couldn't get off her mind but rather a certain him. Jess was driving her absolutely mad. The worst part was that she hardly even knew him, and already she couldn't stop thinking about him. She felt so guilty; she knew that Dean was a great guy and he was her boyfriend and she couldn't deny that. Admitting that did her no condolence thought, for she knew that even if she admitted he was a great guy and a great boyfriend, it still didn't mean that she loved him, and that's what got to her the most. She knew she didn't love him any more, and it troubled her. She wanted to love him, it made since to love him, he provided security, respect, loyalty and trust and, well, he loved her. That in itself was what made this so hard for Rory. She knew that he would do anything to make her happy, that he would stay loyal long after her heart had wandered. Because of this, she respected him, and because of this she told herself she had to stick with him, that eventually her feelings for him would resurface, she was just in a weird stage. Yes, Jess was definitely not worth ending what she had with Dean; besides, she didn't even know if Jess liked her more than as a person he could stand to talk to once in a while.
After these series of revelations, Rory relaxed and had quite an enjoyable day. However, this convincing promise to stay with Dean seemed to hold no ground when she was with Jess. All her well laid out plans fell to peaces as soon as she looked into his searching eyes though she adamantly refused admittance of this event and its results on her quickly wavering feelings.
Rory rolled over and stretched out her arms into the air, letting out an early morning groan. Batting open her eyes she turned, the room dimly lit from the outside light trying to poke its way in through the closed blinds in Lane's room.
"Lane?" Rory called out sleepily. "You awake?" She asked very much doubting an answer to this question. Rolling back over on to her back she stared up at the blank ceiling. "What time is it?" she said out loud, but directed more toward herself than Lane.
"8:30" Lane's voice called out muffled from her pillow. "Uh, Rory," she grunted trying to turn to face Rory, "my moms going to make me stay in today…" she stifled a yawn and it was a few seconds before she continued, "and do all my chores and homework, she always makes me do all my things early on Sunday so I can get to bed early tonight." She said, then yawned again and continued. "So, if you hid again you could probably stay for a while, but we don't have any coffee in here, and I doubt you'll be able to sneak out then back in to get it, but you can give it a try if you're up to it. I could play music and distract her, or call the other line while you hop the window, or I could-"
"Lane."
"Set a diversion while you-"
"Lane!"
"Oh, sorry. What?"
"It's ok, I know you can't do stuff on Sunday. I'll just go to Lu… out to breakfast or something." Rory said with a nervous smile.
"Rory…" Lane said unconvinced
"No really Lane, I'll be fine." Rory said trying persuade Lane she really would be ok.
It wasn't working. "Listen Rory, I don't think Luke's would be the best place to go. How about you just, uh, go home?" Lane said, a hint of concern
"Lane…" Rory said eying her friend with the look that said 'you know why I can't go home'.
"I know, I know, but you need to make up with her, and it's better than going to Luke's and running into Jess." Lane said
"Look Lane, I'm not ready to deal with my mother yet, and if will make you feel better I'll go to Al's for breakfast, ok?" Rory said hoping she could convince Lane and have her drop it.
"Ok, fine." She said, but without any real certainty in her voice.
Rory got up, "Look, you go back to sleep, its not like you have much to look forward today anyway, and try to get the most out of your dream world as you can…" Rory said smiling down at Lane.
"Best idea you've had all morning." Lane smelled sleepily back.
"And I'll get changed and go." Rory continued gathering up her clothes and making her way to Lane's door and then the bathroom.
"K, just put my pajamas back in the closet, oh, and make sure to go out the back door, my mom will probably be in the front store part." Lane responded sleepily
"Thanks Lane, I'll call you later and inform you how my situation's going."
"No prob, see yha." Lane said rolling back on to her side.
Rory changed and snuck down the stairs and out of Lane's house as quietly as possible. Rory walked with her hands in her jacket pocket and made her way down the side walk to Al's. As she walked she glanced sidelong into Luke's window. Her mom wasn't there, and Luke's back was turned taking someone's order. She stopped and her eyes scanned the whole restaurant, and she even inched to the left a little to get a better look behind the counter into the kitchen. No Jess. No Jess and Luke had so much better coffee and pancakes than Al's. What could it hurt, no Jess, no mom, and besides, she could just get the food and coffee to go; she'd for sure avoid conflict that way. Rory, satisfied her plan was flawless strode into Luke's and plopped down at the counter.
"Hey Luke" she said trying not to sound to apprehensive
"Rory" Luke nodded moving to fill up her cup with coffee.
"No, wait, can I get the coffee to go?... Please?" She added as Luke gave her a very quizzical look
"To go."
"Yes, to go."
"As in portable takeout?" Luke as with a quizzical expression
"Yes, that is what one might think 'to go' would imply." Rory said raising her eyebrows trying to act as though this was a normal request and a very obvious thing.
"But it's Sunday. You only get 'to go' on school days." Luke said, his brow furrowed in concern
"Yha, well, and on rare occasions, and this is one of those rare occasions." Rory said
"Hummm." He said eying her suspicious. "What's going on?" He said rather as a demand to know, not as a question
"Oh, I don't know." Rory said exasperated. "We had this big fight yesterday and I'd rather like to avoid my mom."
"Yha, I noticed. It was quite a hostile situation for an innocent pancake man." Luke said. It was not a prompt to continue, but Rory took that he still wanted to know more by his expression
"It was a stupid fight, she was prying into my life, and she got offended when I wouldn't tell her some stuff she really doesn't need to know about. So to prevent further conflict, I told her my problems were mostly just about me and Dean and some problems we've been having, then she accused me of lying when she asked if our issues had anything to do with…" Rory trailed off, her eyes fixed on something, or rather someone behind Luke. Luke following her gaze turned and looked at Jess standing on the stares his arm shirt and blue vest on over it, and an expression Rory couldn't quite read.
"…Jess." Rory finished barley in a whisper, but Luke didn't need her to finish and he told her such when his eyes came back to fix on hers.
"Oh." Luck said giving an understanding nod.
Rory just sighed and said "Could I get that coffee, and, well, just a muffin to go too. Oh, um, blueberry please." Rory said to Luke, but all the while her eyes following Jess as he headed toward them.
"You got it, coffee and a muffin to go." Luck said as he turned to get Rory's order.
Jess came and stood in front of Rory in Luke's previous spot and raised an eyebrow, nodding a greeting as he said "Hey. Ah, you look good." Luke watched over his shoulder, a little anxious, and almost spilled the coffee all over himself. Rory looked up, and their eyes locked. She quickly looked down at her hands in her lap and began to fidget, annoyed that her stomach jumped just by gazing into his eyes. Talking more to her shoes than Jess, she sarcastically responded "Gee thanks."
"What's wrong?" Jess asked rather frankly, and just the way Luke had; more as a demand than a question
"Nothing, I'm fine" Rory tried to shrug it off, but still not being able to meet his eyes again.
Jess smirked "Ummm, sure you are." he said, his eyes searching her face for some sort of clue to her dilemma.
"No, really, I just had a fight with my mom, but I'm fine." She said, but her gaze remained fixed on her hands in her lap getting annoyed he wouldn't leave her alone; Dean always felt like a distant memory when she was with Jess and it scared her.
"You know you're really not good at lying." Jess said back
"Um, guess not, but what the hell are you going to do about it" Rory said now annoyed to the point of anger that he still could make her feel gitty just by look into his eyes. Before Jess could answer, Luke came over with her coffee and a bag that obviously housed her muffin. Rory got up and pulled a couple of bucks out of her pocket, put it on the counter smiled at Luke, and let her gaze travel over to Jess who stood watching her, a bit confused at her unprovoked anger. She held her gaze with narrowed eyes of confusion and annoyance as their eyes locked once again. She broke it once more and turned to leave.
"Bye… thanks Luke." She called as she headed toward the door needing to get away from the one person that could so easily make her forget all about who she really was, or rather who she was trying to convince herself to be. She was convinced her and Dean's relationship was dependent on her distance from Jess, besides she told herself, Dean never made her feel so vulnerable. But there she went again, who said she didn't mind the vulnerable feeling Jess gave her, the feeling of an unexpected newness she was so hungry for. But no, once again security and certainty was what she needed in a relationship, and Dean was the guy to fulfill that. She sighed as pushed the door open and stepped out into the cool morning air confusion the cause of her furrowed brow. Jess watched as the door banged shut behind her and as she headed down the street, in the opposite direction of her house. His emotions were swirling as he picked up the washcloth and began to rub down the counter. Bending his head over his work, he thought about Rory, wondering what was wrong with her; he could comprehend why she had acted so cordial to him if she had just had a fight with her mom? Sighing, he straightened, looked over at Luke who was back in the kitchen, and flung the towel down on the counter and walked to the door. Luke turned as he saw Jess heading out and called out
"Where are you going, you've got to work."
"Church" Jess responded smirking
"What?" Luke said annoyed
"Yep, I suddenly discovered my sudden need to repent for all my sins." Jess said as he opened the door to leave
"Oh no you don't, you've got work to do." Luke said now upset at the gall Jess had
"Sorry Luke, God before burgers." Jess said shrugging in a very condescending manner. He didn't even wait to hear Luke's response as he shut the door behind him, smiling to himself as he herd Luke yelling at him from inside. Completely ignoring him Jess walked off down the street heading for the place he was sure Rory would be.
More coming soon (especially R/J), please R&R and tell me what you think. -Breanna
Chapter 2: Run Rory, Run
THE NEXT MORNING (Sunday)
Rory and Lorelai were still not on speaking terms, well; actually they hadn't seen each other either since the dinner incident. Rory had stayed the nights at Lane's, though she had had to hide in a closet until Lane's mother went to bed so that Rory wouldn't get kicked out. They woke pretty early, Rory feeling much better after venting out her issues to a considerate Lane, then spending a quite enjoyable day of music, shopping and ice cream followed by a thoughtless night of rest. Lane had suggested they call Dean and Henry to go along with them on their outings, but Rory had declined saying she would rather spend the afternoon with just Lane. Rory had been in no mood to talk to let alone even see Dean. She just felt like forgetting all about Dean, her mom and Jess, and just spending a carefree afternoon, without thinking of the three people that were cause of all her problems. However, try as she might, she still couldn't get them off her mind, well, actually it wasn't them that she couldn't get off her mind but rather a certain him. Jess was driving her absolutely mad. The worst part was that she hardly even knew him, and already she couldn't stop thinking about him. She felt so guilty; she knew that Dean was a great guy and he was her boyfriend and she couldn't deny that. Admitting that did her no condolence thought, for she knew that even if she admitted he was a great guy and a great boyfriend, it still didn't mean that she loved him, and that's what got to her the most. She knew she didn't love him any more, and it troubled her. She wanted to love him, it made since to love him, he provided security, respect, loyalty and trust and, well, he loved her. That in itself was what made this so hard for Rory. She knew that he would do anything to make her happy, that he would stay loyal long after her heart had wandered. Because of this, she respected him, and because of this she told herself she had to stick with him, that eventually her feelings for him would resurface, she was just in a weird stage. Yes, Jess was definitely not worth ending what she had with Dean; besides, she didn't even know if Jess liked her more than as a person he could stand to talk to once in a while.
After these series of revelations, Rory relaxed and had quite an enjoyable day. However, this convincing promise to stay with Dean seemed to hold no ground when she was with Jess. All her well laid out plans fell to peaces as soon as she looked into his searching eyes though she adamantly refused admittance of this event and its results on her quickly wavering feelings.
Rory rolled over and stretched out her arms into the air, letting out an early morning groan. Batting open her eyes she turned, the room dimly lit from the outside light trying to poke its way in through the closed blinds in Lane's room.
"Lane?" Rory called out sleepily. "You awake?" She asked very much doubting an answer to this question. Rolling back over on to her back she stared up at the blank ceiling. "What time is it?" she said out loud, but directed more toward herself than Lane.
"8:30" Lane's voice called out muffled from her pillow. "Uh, Rory," she grunted trying to turn to face Rory, "my moms going to make me stay in today…" she stifled a yawn and it was a few seconds before she continued, "and do all my chores and homework, she always makes me do all my things early on Sunday so I can get to bed early tonight." She said, then yawned again and continued. "So, if you hid again you could probably stay for a while, but we don't have any coffee in here, and I doubt you'll be able to sneak out then back in to get it, but you can give it a try if you're up to it. I could play music and distract her, or call the other line while you hop the window, or I could-"
"Lane."
"Set a diversion while you-"
"Lane!"
"Oh, sorry. What?"
"It's ok, I know you can't do stuff on Sunday. I'll just go to Lu… out to breakfast or something." Rory said with a nervous smile.
"Rory…" Lane said unconvinced
"No really Lane, I'll be fine." Rory said trying persuade Lane she really would be ok.
It wasn't working. "Listen Rory, I don't think Luke's would be the best place to go. How about you just, uh, go home?" Lane said, a hint of concern
"Lane…" Rory said eying her friend with the look that said 'you know why I can't go home'.
"I know, I know, but you need to make up with her, and it's better than going to Luke's and running into Jess." Lane said
"Look Lane, I'm not ready to deal with my mother yet, and if will make you feel better I'll go to Al's for breakfast, ok?" Rory said hoping she could convince Lane and have her drop it.
"Ok, fine." She said, but without any real certainty in her voice.
Rory got up, "Look, you go back to sleep, its not like you have much to look forward today anyway, and try to get the most out of your dream world as you can…" Rory said smiling down at Lane.
"Best idea you've had all morning." Lane smelled sleepily back.
"And I'll get changed and go." Rory continued gathering up her clothes and making her way to Lane's door and then the bathroom.
"K, just put my pajamas back in the closet, oh, and make sure to go out the back door, my mom will probably be in the front store part." Lane responded sleepily
"Thanks Lane, I'll call you later and inform you how my situation's going."
"No prob, see yha." Lane said rolling back on to her side.
Rory changed and snuck down the stairs and out of Lane's house as quietly as possible. Rory walked with her hands in her jacket pocket and made her way down the side walk to Al's. As she walked she glanced sidelong into Luke's window. Her mom wasn't there, and Luke's back was turned taking someone's order. She stopped and her eyes scanned the whole restaurant, and she even inched to the left a little to get a better look behind the counter into the kitchen. No Jess. No Jess and Luke had so much better coffee and pancakes than Al's. What could it hurt, no Jess, no mom, and besides, she could just get the food and coffee to go; she'd for sure avoid conflict that way. Rory, satisfied her plan was flawless strode into Luke's and plopped down at the counter.
"Hey Luke" she said trying not to sound to apprehensive
"Rory" Luke nodded moving to fill up her cup with coffee.
"No, wait, can I get the coffee to go?... Please?" She added as Luke gave her a very quizzical look
"To go."
"Yes, to go."
"As in portable takeout?" Luke as with a quizzical expression
"Yes, that is what one might think 'to go' would imply." Rory said raising her eyebrows trying to act as though this was a normal request and a very obvious thing.
"But it's Sunday. You only get 'to go' on school days." Luke said, his brow furrowed in concern
"Yha, well, and on rare occasions, and this is one of those rare occasions." Rory said
"Hummm." He said eying her suspicious. "What's going on?" He said rather as a demand to know, not as a question
"Oh, I don't know." Rory said exasperated. "We had this big fight yesterday and I'd rather like to avoid my mom."
"Yha, I noticed. It was quite a hostile situation for an innocent pancake man." Luke said. It was not a prompt to continue, but Rory took that he still wanted to know more by his expression
"It was a stupid fight, she was prying into my life, and she got offended when I wouldn't tell her some stuff she really doesn't need to know about. So to prevent further conflict, I told her my problems were mostly just about me and Dean and some problems we've been having, then she accused me of lying when she asked if our issues had anything to do with…" Rory trailed off, her eyes fixed on something, or rather someone behind Luke. Luke following her gaze turned and looked at Jess standing on the stares his arm shirt and blue vest on over it, and an expression Rory couldn't quite read.
"…Jess." Rory finished barley in a whisper, but Luke didn't need her to finish and he told her such when his eyes came back to fix on hers.
"Oh." Luck said giving an understanding nod.
Rory just sighed and said "Could I get that coffee, and, well, just a muffin to go too. Oh, um, blueberry please." Rory said to Luke, but all the while her eyes following Jess as he headed toward them.
"You got it, coffee and a muffin to go." Luck said as he turned to get Rory's order.
Jess came and stood in front of Rory in Luke's previous spot and raised an eyebrow, nodding a greeting as he said "Hey. Ah, you look good." Luke watched over his shoulder, a little anxious, and almost spilled the coffee all over himself. Rory looked up, and their eyes locked. She quickly looked down at her hands in her lap and began to fidget, annoyed that her stomach jumped just by gazing into his eyes. Talking more to her shoes than Jess, she sarcastically responded "Gee thanks."
"What's wrong?" Jess asked rather frankly, and just the way Luke had; more as a demand than a question
"Nothing, I'm fine" Rory tried to shrug it off, but still not being able to meet his eyes again.
Jess smirked "Ummm, sure you are." he said, his eyes searching her face for some sort of clue to her dilemma.
"No, really, I just had a fight with my mom, but I'm fine." She said, but her gaze remained fixed on her hands in her lap getting annoyed he wouldn't leave her alone; Dean always felt like a distant memory when she was with Jess and it scared her.
"You know you're really not good at lying." Jess said back
"Um, guess not, but what the hell are you going to do about it" Rory said now annoyed to the point of anger that he still could make her feel gitty just by look into his eyes. Before Jess could answer, Luke came over with her coffee and a bag that obviously housed her muffin. Rory got up and pulled a couple of bucks out of her pocket, put it on the counter smiled at Luke, and let her gaze travel over to Jess who stood watching her, a bit confused at her unprovoked anger. She held her gaze with narrowed eyes of confusion and annoyance as their eyes locked once again. She broke it once more and turned to leave.
"Bye… thanks Luke." She called as she headed toward the door needing to get away from the one person that could so easily make her forget all about who she really was, or rather who she was trying to convince herself to be. She was convinced her and Dean's relationship was dependent on her distance from Jess, besides she told herself, Dean never made her feel so vulnerable. But there she went again, who said she didn't mind the vulnerable feeling Jess gave her, the feeling of an unexpected newness she was so hungry for. But no, once again security and certainty was what she needed in a relationship, and Dean was the guy to fulfill that. She sighed as pushed the door open and stepped out into the cool morning air confusion the cause of her furrowed brow. Jess watched as the door banged shut behind her and as she headed down the street, in the opposite direction of her house. His emotions were swirling as he picked up the washcloth and began to rub down the counter. Bending his head over his work, he thought about Rory, wondering what was wrong with her; he could comprehend why she had acted so cordial to him if she had just had a fight with her mom? Sighing, he straightened, looked over at Luke who was back in the kitchen, and flung the towel down on the counter and walked to the door. Luke turned as he saw Jess heading out and called out
"Where are you going, you've got to work."
"Church" Jess responded smirking
"What?" Luke said annoyed
"Yep, I suddenly discovered my sudden need to repent for all my sins." Jess said as he opened the door to leave
"Oh no you don't, you've got work to do." Luke said now upset at the gall Jess had
"Sorry Luke, God before burgers." Jess said shrugging in a very condescending manner. He didn't even wait to hear Luke's response as he shut the door behind him, smiling to himself as he herd Luke yelling at him from inside. Completely ignoring him Jess walked off down the street heading for the place he was sure Rory would be.
More coming soon (especially R/J), please R&R and tell me what you think. -Breanna