Disclaimer: I don't own it, but the song is I Cry by Westlife

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: Literati, and I suppose, undertones of P/J

A/N: The next chapter is here, finally. Thank you to those of you who support this story. I realized that I say that in every one of my stories, but I don't care. I just want you all to know that I really appreciate the feedback and all. Anyway, the chapters are gonna be coming a little slower now, because I've started school.

When It's Raining

Chapter 4--She's Gone Away (Him)

".if you could see me now...you would know just how...how hard I try...not to wonder why..."

Jess couldn't sleep. He had tried everything. Counting sheep, warm milk. But it seemed like he was haunted by Rory Gilmore. And he knew it was because of the weather. In the warm, buttery glow of the lamplight in the living room, he waited for drowsiness to come. But it didn't. So he continued the Rory life-story that was playing in his mind, his legs draped casually over the couch, his lean frame sprawled.

The rain had stopped to a drizzle, glinting softly under the streetlamps outside, barely visible in the nighttime sky. But he was so lost in thought, he failed to notice the time, or put together the fact that his girlfriend should have been home by now. Jess was always like that when it rained. 

~~~

Her gown was trailing behind her, billowing out, sheer and white, and her face held a self-confidence that he didn't remember seeing there before. Her cap was placed firmly on her head, and her tassel was lightly dusting her face each time she moved. As she walked into the diner, he dragged Brielle down the stairs. Jess had to see Rory before graduation. They had become so close, that he regretted not actually going to the ceremony. But he was sure she had some guy of her own to go and see her at graduation. He thought this with a bitter scowl. Brielle didn't notice, but rather, noticed the fact that he was once again leaving her to see Rory. Her full lips fell into a pout, her hand clutching his arm tightly.

"Try not to take too long, OK?" she stated, but she spoke it as a question. Brielle raised her perfectly-shaped eyebrows suggestively, and he couldn't help but smile just a little, despite his annoyance at the way she always badgered him.

"We'll be back up in a second."

And with that, he dragged her to meet Rory. As soon as he saw her, he forgot Brielle was standing there. There was something about her eyes on this particular night, a fire that had never been there before. The blue sparkled and flickered as she stood there, determined and nervous all at once. Her gown fluttered at her ankles as she stopped short before him. Her hair was shining under the flashing cameras, and he felt something only Rory could bring out in him.

Jess stared for a minute, and suddenly, he embraced her in a hug. He knew he shouldn't have, because it wasn't the friendly type of hug. She could feel her body tight against his, her arms around his back, pulling him in. He ended it quickly, though, because he knew she weakened his self-control, and Brielle was standing there next to him. He tried to find a sarcastic remark to open a conversation, but even as he did so, he couldn't resist looking her over again. Brielle didn't notice. A quick glance at her, and he saw she was impatient. He didn't care.

"Good Luck," he said sincerely, and then added, "Hope the incredible senior prank I know you planned for tonight works out for you."

Rory smiled at this, and shot back. "Oh yeah. The podium'll explode, spraying coffee over everything."

Jess tried not to smile. 'Spoken like a true Gilmore,' he thought. "Just as you're saying your speech of course."

"Of course." She affirmed, "Because, in order to perform at my best, I need the caffeine." She grinned and took a sip of the cup of coffee sitting on the counter to prove her point. He looked into her eyes and she seemed to step forward, but as soon as he thought that she had, he realized it was probably just imagination. Or wishful thinking. He resisted the urge to reach out for her, snake his arms around her, and kiss her hard on the lips. He sighed, wondering why all these feelings were coming back so strong.

"So..." he began, uncomfortable, and then he repeated something he had already said, but sincerely. "Good luck tonight." He felt Brielle tugging on the sleeve of his shirt, but he took no notice for a few more seconds. He stared at her for a minute, then forced himself to turn away, Rory mumbling goodbyes as he did so. He looked at her one last time as he started up the stairs, and he knew she'd be back. With one last wave, Rory Gilmore left the diner into the fading sky, the sheer gown trailing behind her, wafting in the stormy breeze.

~~~

Hours later, it was raining heavily, the type of summer rain that's light and has a scent that's only attributed to itself. The type that pounds the windowpanes and rooftops, yet caresses your face when you step outside. The night was dull with water. Jess sent Brielle home. He went to the bridge to think, despite the weather. He watched the rain hit the water gently, causing ripples in outward spirals. Running his hand casually through his rain-soaked hair, he tried hard not to think about Rory. A picture of her blue eyes appeared fleetingly in the liquid below him. Suddenly, he heard footsteps, and he knew it was her. He held back a grin when he saw her figure coming clearer in the haze, cap in hand, hair clumped and messy with water.

"Prank go as planned?" he asked, a smile in his voice.

A slow smile spread across her face, lighting her features in the darkness. "Oh yeah. I take full credit."

"Yeah, you always were one for the spotlight," he quipped.

She rolled her eyes, but then she was silent for a moment. Her gown was clinging to her curves in a way that drew Jess's eyes to her. The white was sheer with rain, and he could see her clingy black floral dress underneath. He had the strongest urge to reach for her hand. Then her voice pierced the silence, quiet and sharp, interrupting his visual inventory.

"Jess?" she asked shakily. He simply nodded in acknowledgment, waiting for her to continue.

"Why are you with her?"

Jess was taken aback. He didn't know how to answer that question, possibly because he didn't know the answer either. Brielle was gorgeous, and they had a lot in common, and she was a good kisser, but he knew better to say that he was with her because he liked her. Because, as bad as it was to say, he didn't like her like that. But he couldn't say this to Rory, so instead he retorted in the only way he knew how.

"Why were you with him?" he asked quietly, mimicking her tone. There was much more emotion in the statement than he intended to show, and he mentally cursed himself.

"I'm leaving tomorrow, you know," she stated, as if he didn't. He had been thinking about how to say goodbye. He knew she would be gone for the whole summer, and possibly until Christmas, and he always had to convince himself that it wasn't a good idea to follow her wherever it was that she was going. He wasn't the stalker type, he always thought.  He would miss her, and he knew it. He also knew he would constantly wonder about what could have been. He hated the feeling.

She paused, letting the rain kiss her face for a few minutes. Then she looked back at him. He saw that familiar fire in her blue eyes, a fire he had seen only twice before.

"I wanted to give you something to think about," she whispered huskily. Jess took a breath, reminding himself that it was just Rory. But her curves and her blue eyes drew him in. And just as he was thinking so, his mouth dry, she leaned in. He snaked his arms around her waist, and she pulled him closer. He felt her breath hot on his face. And then she bridged the gap.

Her body rested against his, her torso soft, her lips warm and wet, tasting almost tangy. He breathed in the scent of her hair, a mix of tropical something and the rain. The heat coming off of her skin in the cold radiated against him, and he opened his mouth to her, hoping she would respond. She did. Her tongue slid against his, smooth and slick. It was all too much to take. Vaguely, he registered the fact that it was thundering in the distance. Then he wondered when she had grown so impulsive. Then, just as soon as it started, it stopped.

"Something to think about." She repeated in that same husky tone, and he felt weak between his legs, behind his knees, in a different way. "And every time it rains..." she began with a smile that was almost shy. Her innocence never left her. And then she walked away. No goodbye. He watched her hips roll gently as she walked into the night, and he knew...or thought...that it was over.

~~~

Jess thoughts of Rory were interrupted by the ringing of the telephone, just as Rory's thoughts of him had been interrupted by her cell. He sighed, snapping out of his reverie. He snapped up the phone. Telemarketer. His girlfriend hated them. And then he fell back to reality with a sharp thud. His girlfriend. The one who hadn't come home that night from her job. All of a sudden, Jess was panicked. He dialed his girlfriend's mother quickly. It rang once and her voice came over the line.

"Hello?"

"Hi Mrs. Gellar, it's Jess."

"Oh, hello. How are you?"

"Fine thanks. I just wondered if you had received any calls from Paris tonight?"

"No, I haven't. Why?"

"It's just, well, she's usually home from work by now, and she hasn't called or anything, and I don't know where she is. She's usually home before I am, and I've been home for over 3 hours now." Jess's voice rose a little in panic. He shouldn't be thinking of Rory now. His girlfriend wasn't home. Where could she possibly be?, he wondered. Then Mrs. Gellar's response echoed distantly in his mind. Her voice cracked slightly.

"Alright. Well, I suppose I'll start making some calls."

"Keep me posted."

"I will Jess, don't worry."

"Thanks."

And Jess hung up the phone with a loud click, one that echoed for minutes after in his empty room. The rain outside came to a complete stop, leaving only the dullness of the night and the reality that was now setting in.

~~~

A/N: And that's that. I'm so sorry that I haven't posted in a while. I've been too damn busy. I'll try and post every weekend if possible, or during the week *MAYBE* if I have time. But rather than boring you with my list of activities, let me just tell you that I'm too busy to post very regularly...sorry :( And with that, on to pressing the button ;)