Disclaimer: Nope. None of it. Not even a part. Song is Sway by Bic Runga.
Pairing: Literati
Rating: PG-13
A/N: I'm started to put more focus into this story. It started out as something to help me get rid of my writer's block, which I'm still experiencing whenever I try to finish "Everything." But now? I like this story best ;-) Anyway, I know this is getting redundant, but I'll continue to say it in every note. THANK YOU. The feedback means a lot to me.
By the way, I didn't express myself clearly in the last part of the chapter. I suppose I should have said "one of the few people they had in common", rather than, "the one" because now I have everyone thinking it's Luke. You silly, silly people. How could I kill Luke off? Really, though, I'm sorry for that mix up. I should have written clearly what I meant
A note for readers of "Everything": Please be patient. I'm in the middle of these two new stories that are important to me as well, but that was my first fan fic, so in no way do I want to leave it unfinished. However, I've run into a roadblock. I think I need a while to work it out through other stories. It WILL be back, and finished eventually. This note is probably mostly for BestDeceptions, because, you're the only one who I know is reading it, lol. I need to thank you and everyone else who supported it though.
When It's Raining
Chapter 3--Lost (Her)
"sometimes...when you and I collide...I fall into and ocean of you...pull me out in time...don't let me drown..."
~~~
Rory sighed. She knew that with every bit of light that was lost, she had less time to get home. But she continued to wait. One by one, the faces of the few stars that dared to poke through clouds peered out from inky black and gleamed, and the rain dissolved to a mere drizzle. She was lost, still waiting for the rain to stop. Because, then she could try and forget. For now. But the weather didn't want to cooperate with Rory Gilmore, and with every drop of water that streamed down her face, another memory exploded in her mind. For every puddle that formed, she once again wondered where Jess Mariano was at that particular moment. Had she walked just around the corner and down the street when she had thought of this in the first place, she would have known.
~~~
The rest of her senior year was a blur, except for him. She had gone on several dates after she had seen Brielle to try and get her mind off of him, but no matter who she dated, she knew it just wasn't going to happen.
Her days were marked by various diner chats with him. She would lean over the countertop, and he would dip slightly towards her, eyes glittering, grinning, teasing her. Often, they would discuss various literary works over coffee, and occasionally, if they were alone, despite harsh scolding from Rory, he would have a cigarette. The coffee cup's steam would waft in her face, and the remains would mix with the blue smoke emitted from his mouth.
This continued for many days filled with snow and sun, many nights overtaken by black haze and fog. Nothing changed. However, every time Jess would smile, or bite his lips, or smirk, or run his hands through his hair, she was sent back to the day, and she could almost smell summer in the air again. She felt that weakness, overpowering warmth when he dipped close to her. It seemed to grow stronger with time. But she never was the type to give in to her impulses. Aside from that day at the wedding. So nothing happened between them. This was mostly because Rory was under the mistaken impression that Jess didn't want anything anymore.
Rory made it through the year to her graduation. She had won a full scholarship to Yale, and despite her past dreams of Harvard, she found she was excited to be going there instead. She was valedictorian, as everyone in Stars Hollow had expected she would be. She was still living in a picture perfect world, and only Jess knew she couldn't wait to escape. She was tried of living under the scrutiny of the entire town. She was craving an independent life. She wanted to be second best for once.
The night before graduation, dressed in her cap and gown, she had stopped in Luke's for one last coffee. Jess came down the stairs, Brielle in tow, to see her. She managed to find him despite the flashes surrounding her from various cameras. Brielle was standing directly to his right, staring right at the two, but he embraced her in a not-so-platonic hug. Their bodies touched, emanating warmth, and filling the air with an old, familiar electricity that couldn't be ignored, but had to be, for now.
"Good Luck. Hope the incredible senior prank I know you planned for tonight works out for you."
"Oh yeah. The podium will explode, spraying coffee all over everything."
"Just as you're saying your speech, of course," he added, fighting to keep a straight face.
"Of course, because in order to perform at my best, I need the caffeine," she replied. She tried hard not to take the step to get closer to him. Her body ached for another touch from him. Then she scolded herself. These feelings simply got her into more trouble.
Brielle looked on, her facial expressions clearly showing her impatience. Jess ignored her, and this wasn't the first time either. Rory could see her irritation on her eyes, the same eyes that were the color of turquoise jewelry and every ocean on the Earth.
"So...good luck tonight," Jess said sincerely, looking at her almost affectionately, something familiar in his eyes, dark and warm. Rory once more fought the urge to grab him. Brielle tugged Jess's arm just then. Rory noticed and mumbled reluctantly.
"I guess I better go."
Jess waved as Brielle dragged him up the stairs once more. Rory sighed. Her mother was waiting for her in the car. She lifted her gown, the length of it blowing in the wind behind her. Struggling to keep her cap on her head and unmarred, she hobbled quickly towards the car. She noticed the small drizzle droplets appearing sporadically on her window. Soon, a steady rain was thumping the top of the Jeep. Rory sighed and prepared herself for her graduation.
~~~
Present-day Rory smiled at the memory of the rain, and then smiled at the light drizzle that was in the present with her. She was getting to the best part. And the worst part. The reason she was out here in the first place. The hard bench gnawed at her tailbone, and streetlight illuminating what it could. She shouldn't be out here now. But she didn't care. She had to finish this story that played inside her mind.
Just as she was about to return to the past for the last time, a muffled ringing from inside her bag interrupted. Confused, she began to dig through the main compartment, but then she remembered her cell in the side pocket. Sighing, she snapped open the phone and greeted the caller in a tired voice.
"Hello?"
"Rory? Is that you?" asked an older, motherly sounding voice on the line. It was certainly not her mother.
"Yes...may I ask who this is?" Rory asked, confused, and sounding apologetic, as if it were her place to know exactly who the caller was.
"Oh, yes, I'm sorry! This is Mrs. Gellar! Paris's mother?" Rory wondered if she looked as shocked as she felt. Mrs. Gellar...calling her? It made no sense. She had only met her once. Vaguely, she wondered how she had gotten her cell number.
"Hi, Mrs. Gellar. I'm sorry I didn't recognize you. It's been kind of a long night."
"Oh, it's fine. It's just, I was wondering if Paris was with you."
Rory shook her head, confused. She hadn't seen Paris in over two weeks. After they had graduated, Rory found out that Paris would be attending Yale as well. They had stayed friends through everything, and kept in contact. They tried to meet once a month for coffee to catch up, but she hadn't seen Paris since their last meeting, and she certainly wasn't with her now.
"Umm, no Mrs. Gellar. I haven't seen her in over two weeks. Why do you ask?" she ventured politely.
"Well, her boyfriend called. You know, the one she just started living with?"
"Wow! She didn't mention it." "
"Yes, well, she was supposed to be home a few hours ago, and I'm trying to think of people she could be with. We are running out of ideas. I don't know where she would be at this hour. Although, I should be asking you the same question, honey! I tried your house and no one picked up. It's a good thing you always have your cell with you."
"Yes. Well....I don't know what to tell you. I'll call you if I happen to run into her, or if I hear anything."
"Thank you, dear."
"No problem, Mrs. Gellar. Bye."
Rory hung up the phone with a loud, echoing click, shaking her head. It was only 9:00. Her mother was probably overacting. Besides, it's not like she would know. She returned to Stars Hollow in a dreary-weather daze and went back to that rainy night. But a lot of things were happening on this one, too.
~~~
Paris Gellar sighed impatiently. It was nearly 8:00, it was raining, and her car had broken down. She despised the rain. It was wet, cold, and it was ruining her good clothes. She tried to call a taxi. Her lips pursed when the one taxi that drove by not only didn't stop, but sprayed droplets of grey, murky water all over her face and clothing.
The sky was nearly dark. There was still a hint of blue mixed in with the black, but it was faint. The sky was nearly covered by grey, rolling clouds, and the stars were trying to wedge their way into a clear patch. Streetlamps and lights from apartment buildings nearly blocked the light of the twinkling white anyway. Paris looked nervously at the sky, and waiting for someone to come. In this part of the city, there were fewer cars coming by. She supposed it was her punishment for living on the outskirts. Just as she was berating herself for this, a car drove up and stopped beside her.
"Need a ride?" came the gravelly voice of the man from inside the car. He appeared to be middle aged, his eyes dark and sunk into their sockets, his hair dark, disheveled, and slightly tinged with grey.
Paris normally wouldn't have taken a ride from a random passing car, but she was desperate. She nearly smiled as she nodded.
"Yes, thanks, I do."
"Hop in."
So Paris did just that. Lifting her skirt, she slid into the passenger's side of the car, saying her address as she did so. But the man didn't respond or listen, and he pressed the accelerator and drove off. Had Paris not been so tired, she would have noticed he was going in the opposite direction. Her eyes closed slightly, and as she willed herself not to fall asleep, her lids became heavier and heavier.
~~~
Rory ignored the strange feeling in her stomach and returned to her memories. Finally, the rain was letting up. So she walked slowly back to her house, dazed by the past, thinking about him.
~~~
"And so, in conclusion..." Rory's voice boomed over the sound system. She had been strangely unaware of each word that came out of her mouth through her entire speech. Sighing with satisfaction, she finished her sentence and stepped out from behind the podium. Careful not to trip on her gown, she returned to her chair. She couldn't wait for this ceremony to be over. She was leaving tomorrow for New York City. She had decided to rent an apartment for a little while in the summer, and her mother would be up shortly. But she needed an escape from it all.
She was conscious of the Headmaster speaking, and nearly subconsciously, Rory picked up her tassel in tandem with her other graduates and placed it back down, smiling faintly. A cheer ran through the auditorium, and a heavy weight lifted off Rory's heart. Now if only Jess would...
~~~
The night was cold and rainy, and Rory wanted to see Jess, so she returned to the diner as soon as she reached her hometown again. She was leaving Stars Hollow the next day. She needed to see him. That graduation night, all her memories came flying back, and old feelings had been resurfacing. But when she reached the diner, she saw only Luke moving in the shadows of the greenish eerie light inside, and when she asked Luke where Jess was, he simply shrugged. Frustrated, Rory stalked back home. It was lucky she decided to pass the bridge on the way home.
By the time she reached him, her cap was off and in her hand, and her hair was in wild, tangled, disarray, matted and separated from the heavy rain. Her white gown adhered to her body as she rushed over to him. He looked up, his eyes heavy upon her. His feet dangled low over the water, which was reflecting fuzzy stars on it's surface. He rose to his feet, his voice breaking the quiet of the night.
"So. Prank go as planned?"
"Oh yeah. I take full credit."
"You always were one for the spotlight."
"Jess?"
Jess simply nodded. Rory swallowed her heart as felt it slide back down her throat and into her stomach.
"Why are you with her?" she asked softly, almost inaudible, but yet, the words so loud and clear.
"Why were you with him?" he retorted, just as softly. There was vulnerability buried in his pupils and tugging on his mouth that she had never seen. It shocked her. She knew.
"I'm leaving tomorrow you know."
"Really? Huh." Jess mumbled sarcastically, and she knew he knew.
"I wanted to give you something to think about." The rain was surrounding them, pouring in sheets. It was a warm night, the first signs of summer on the breeze. Her eyes wandered the length of his rain-soaked clothing. She saw his lean, strong figure defined through his thin cotton shirt, his chiseled features standing out in the night. The moonlight lit the raindrops so they glistened before they hit the water. And with that, she grabbed him again, just as she had about a year ago.
Their wet bodies melded together, his hard-muscled chest melding to her soft, small torso. Their kisses tasted like rain, water streaming down both of their faces. He opened his mouth, and she responded. His hands stroked her sides and rested on her hips, and she felt as if she could fall without him there to support her. Her mouth burned, and he tenderly caressed his mouth with hers. She kissed back earnestly, their tongues darting past, and then stopping and stroking. Finally, she pulled away.
"Something to think about," she whispered. "And every time it rains..."
She didn't need to finish the sentence. They both knew that it was something they would remember, and memory that would always intensify when the weather took this particular turn. But this was their goodbye. For now. It was supposed to haunt them. Perfectly natural. Wasn't it?
~~~
Thanks for reading. Love you all! :) Next chapter: coming soon.