Disclaimer: I don't own them. Wish I did. Especially Jess/Milo. :) The title is a Dashboard Confessional song. Check them out. They kick booty.
Rating: PG13, I had to change it to do what I *really* wanted to do.
Summary: I don't really know what to say. It's a funny fic I wrote for a challenge. I thought I should mention now.. it's AU, kinda. lol.
AN: Like I said, I wrote this for a challenge. I decided to have it be R/J at the end because... I said so. This chapter took me forever to write. Or at least it seemed that way. I'm not sure why, it just did. This chapter's mostly Jess, which of course means it's hysterical, 'cos I love Jess. I practically AM Jess. I write him pretty well I think, hit me with a review and tell me if you think I write Jess pretty well.
The Challenge: The story(chapter) MUST include the following:
*Luke
*red
*stars
*cotton
*reference to pioneer days
*the bridge
*Doritos
This Brilliant Dance
Rory sighed, Lane was chatting up some guy in a red cotton shirt and Jess was fending off some girls by the Doritos. Rory pushed aside the slight feeling of jealous and turned away from the sight.
She sighed again as she wandered through the halls of Madeline's house. She paused outside a familiar door, running her hand over the solid wood as memories assaulted her. Her hand grasped the handle as she opened the door. Just inside she stopped, and blinked slowly before turning back out the door.
He turned just in time to see her walk back out. His heart seemed to soar and drop all at once. He sighed and closed his eyes, his shoulders slumped in defeat. All of a sudden the door opened again and there she was. A vision, even more beautiful than he remembered.
Both of their breaths caught as she shut the door and moved into the room. Neither said a word as she walked over to the piano bench and sat down. They simply stared at each other for a few moments. Finally it was Rory who broke the silence, almost breathlessly saying, "Tristan."
Tristan stared at her, his eyes searching her face for some sign of how she felt. Finally he said, in the same manner, "Rory."
"You're back," Rory simply stated.
"Only for vacation," he answered.
"Do you like it?" she asked, "School I mean."
"Yeah," he replied, "even though at times it's stricter than Chilton. It's a nice change. No one there knows me."
She nodded, "It's nice to see you."
He smiled a little, "It's good to see you too. We should keep in touch."
She nodded and pulled a pen and napkin out of her bag and handed them to him. He scrawled the school address and phone number on it. She took it from him and put it back in her purse.
They stared at each other in silence for a little while. Suddenly she reached out and gently touched his face, whispering, "it really is you."
He turned his head into her hand and gently kissed her palm then looked back at her. Slowly, with her hand still on his face, they leaned towards each other. Their lips met in a slow, soft, yet passionate kiss. As suddenly as it happened they pulled apart. She jumped up as did he. "Rory, don't," he pleaded.
Rory looked at him. "I'm sorry," she said, "I shouldn't have, not now. Not when I'm so confused, and you're leaving. I'm sorry." She turned and bolted out the door.
Rory ran up to Lane, "We have to go, now." Lane nodded as Rory grabbed her hand and dragged her away. She found Jess and grabbed him as well despite his protests. They got to the jeep and climbed in, barely having time to buckle their seatbelts before Rory hit the accelerator. None of them noticed the hurt looking blonde watching from the side of a BMW.
"Mind telling me what that was all about?" Jess asked from the passenger seat.
Rory's knuckles tightened on the steering wheel as Lane asked, "It happened again didn't it?" Rory nodded.
"What happened again?" Jess asked only to be ignored.
"Rory! You've got to stop kissing your enemies!" Lane exclaimed.
Jess turned pale, "She WHAT?"
Lane turned to Jess, "She kissed her enemy, Tristan." Lane shifted her gaze to Rory, "Again."
"I'm not following here," Jess said as the jeep sped along the highway.
Rory sighed, "When I first started Chilton, there was this guy."
"Tristan," Lane interjected.
"He was," Rory paused, "A ladies man, a player. I became one of his conquests."
"Attempted," Lane interjected again.
"Yes, attempted," Rory conceded. "I didn't give in. He tortured me and called me Mary the rest of the time he was at Chilton."
Jess snorted and Rory shot a glance at him out of the corner of her eye before continuing, "It wasn't long after you arrived in Stars Hollow that his parents sent him to military school in North Carolina."
Jess let out a low whistle and said half sarcastically, "Jesus, what'd he do?"
"Broke into a safe," Rory said seriously.
Jess stared at her as Lane leaned forward from the back. "You would have gotten along great with him," she teased Jess with a grin.
Jess glared at her. By now they were in Stars Hollow. Rory pulled the jeep into her driveway and shut it off. They all climbed out and began walking to Lanes. Rory told them about getting Tristan's address and number. However before Lane could give advice they'd reached her house and she had to hurry in so her mother wouldn't see Jess with them. Once Lane was inside the door Jess turned to Rory, "You want to take a walk?"
"Sure," she replied.
They began walking and she crossed her arms over her chest. They were both silent, but it was a comfortable silence. After a few moments Rory realized they were approaching the bridge. She glanced over at Jess, he was walking along with his head down. She tipped her head down as well and walked out onto the bridge along side him.
They sat down on the bridge and just looked at each other for a moment. Rory smiled at him and lay back to look at the stars. Soon Jess lay next to her. She sighed softly, "isn't it pretty?"
Jess was watching her and slowly responded in the affirmative. She looked at him and smiled. "Quiet too," he added, looking up at the night sky.
"Yeah," Rory said, "It's as quiet as the prairie."
Jess smirked, "How Laura Ingalls."
Rory let out a little laugh, "Yeah."
They were silent for a few more moments. "So what are you going to do about Tristan?" Jess asked.
Rory sighed yet again, "I don't know."
Jess looked over at her, "Well, why did you run off?"
Rory turned and looked at him, "I was scared, and confused."
"About what?"
"My feelings," Rory said resignedly.
"Your feelings? You have feelings for him?" Jess asked in a flat tone.
"Well I know I used to, and I did miss him." Rory sighed and shook her head a bit, "But now I don't think so."
"Why not?"
"I just didn't feel any sparks. Besides, there's someone else I think I'm interested in."
"Oh," Jess said waiting for her to elaborate.
Rory sighed, she knew he was waiting for more information but no, not yet. "Jess," she started, "I'll tell you more when I'm more sure." He nodded and she got up. "I better go, see you tomorrow." She turned to leave.
"Rory?" Jess called.
"Yeah?" she questioned turning around.
"At least write the poor guy and tell him."
"I will Jess," she said before turning and walking away.
Jess remained there a while longer then walked to Luke's. Luke looked up when he entered.
"How was it?" he asked.
"Interesting and boring," Jess said and Luke raised an eyebrow. "I think those rich kids have more issues than me."
"I'm sure they do," Luke said thinking of Lorelai.
Jess shrugged, "Kind of makes me feel a little better." He turned and walked up the stairs.
