Disclaimer: I own nothing, absolutely nothing, which is just so incredibly sad except for the fact that I really don't wish to get sued henceforth you don't see me trying to take credit for this whole thing. Well, the story's mine, and so is the one original (somewhat) character here, Meg, but that's all. Really.
Author's Note, Part 1: Okay, I know this is a little similar in premise to another story that's on FanFiction.net, but I've refrained from reading the other one, so hopefully there really won't be too many similarities… Would greatly appreciate all comments though!!!
Author's Note, Part 2: Takes place after Jess returns to New York, and what causes him to go back to Stars Hollow. You might want to read another one-off fic that I did, "Trouble", before reading this, though it's not entirely necessary. My first multi-chapter fic, so please read, (hopefully) enjoy, and R&R!!! :0)
Home
Jess held in his hand his set of keys—those familiar keys he had had no reason to use for the past six months—Or has it been longer? Now, he stood before the same old scratched door, the apartment number still loose and hanging upside down by the lone screw left. He hadn't told her he was coming back; he hadn't expected her to meet him at the bus station either, nor prepare in any way for his return.
He shoved the key into the lock and turned, feeling it resist until the same old jiggle got it open. It had been that way for as long as he could remember; the same applied when he swung the door open and saw the mess.
Liz never cleaned up after herself; in his absence, the apartment had got even worse, if that was at all possible. The resignation setting in, he hefted up his bag, stepping into the tiny space, not bothering about the cardboard cartons and articles of Liz's clothing as he trampled over them and into his room.
The room was dimly lit, what little sunlight that could find its way down to the window filtered out by the layer of dust that had settled there. It was completely bare. All his things—and literally, all his belongings—were at Luke's, save for what he now carried with him. Jess was, as a matter of fact, mildly surprised the crap filling the rest of the apartment hadn't overflowed into the room. But Liz was probably way too drunk to even think of using Jess's room to dump her crap in.
Jess snorted slightly in derision, slinging his bag onto the bare mattress. Nothing had changed. Liz was probably still at the pub, doing her shift. Either that or flirting with the latest customer. The apartment was cold, empty, devoid of life, except maybe of the insect variety. Nothing had changed.
He stalked out of the place, trampling over half-eaten pizzas and moth-eaten clothes again on his way out. Slamming the door shut, he trod down the narrow stairs, and out into the bustling Brooklyn street, with at least some activity going on down there. He knew that if he cared to, he could easily find his old buds hanging out amongst the alleys and corners along the streets, but he didn't care to. Instead, he strode past all the huddled groups, some consisting of kids barely half his own age, his head down as he let his legs take him by instinct and memory to where he wanted to be.
God, I hope it's still there, he thought as he turned the corner, knowing just how many times it had been on the verge of disappearing amongst the countless struggling shops of Brooklyn. He cast that doubt aside, believing that it had to still be there, or else…
He finally turned into the right street, and breathed a small sigh of relief when he spotted that old weather-beaten sign. It's still here, then. He stopped outside the door for a moment, savouring the memory of the place, before stepping up to the door and gently pushing it open.
The windchime on the door tinkled pleasantly, as the comforting smell of musty books wafted across to him. The air within was cool yet comforting, the store crammed full of books yet well-lit without being utterly garish. The warmth and familiarity all came back to him as a smile threatened to creep upon Jess Mariano's sullen features.
A figure suddenly stepped out of one of the tiny aisles, arms full of books, and that smile instantaneously blossomed into a full-on grin that stretched from ear to ear. The woman gasped in surprise, the delight showing in her delicate features, as she dumped the books down on the counter, and went forward to embrace him.
Jess gladly hugged her back, delighted to feel that familiar warmth, as he casually greeted, "Hey, Aunt Meg."
A frown appeared on the plump old lady's face as she shot back, lightly smacking him on the arm, "Don't you 'Hey Aunt Meg' me, young man. I thought I told you to visit!"
Sheepishly, Jess scuffed the edge of his sneakers against the scarred hardwood floor, as he mumbled, "Well, I've been busy with… other things."
Aunt Meg gasped knowingly, as the teasing smile returned. "Oh, I see… Small Connecticut town distractions… Well, we all know about those, now don't we?"
Jess groaned slightly as he tried not to let his face turn pink. "Meg, it's not that sort of thing. 'Sides, she's already got herself a boyfriend."
"Well, not for long, I'm sure, knowing you," she teased again, picking up the books she'd left on the counter, and going to reshelve them. "So how has the small town life treated you? Not badly, I hope?"
Jess shook his head as he replied, "Oh, yes badly. Badly enough that I'm back." He detailed all his gripes to her, from Taylor to the insane school to the countless idiotic town festivals to the crazy folk who patronised the diner. Then he got to Rory Gilmore. He fell silent at that point, deep in thought, remembering the circumstances that brought him back.
Meg gazed at him, eyes full of wisdom and understanding, as she asked, "This girl is really something special to you, isn't she?"
The corner of Jess's mouth turned up as he softly answered, "Yeah." He stopped for awhile but Meg said nothing, so he continued. "I mean, it's not just because she was nice to me—although she was the only person in town to be nice to me—and it wasn't just because she loves to read almost as much as me. I mean, if that were the case, I'd be totally in love with you already."
Aunt Meg smacked him on the arm again as she shot back, "Oh, stop flirting with me already, Jess Mariano. You know I can't afford to give you any more discounts."
Jess laughed a little as he retorted, "Damn, you found me out." He chuckled again, then got serious as he continued. "But Rory… there's just something so different about her. There's this light in her eyes every time I look at her… an innocence mixed with a worldly wisdom, this desire to embrace life, yet hesitant to leave all that she knows…" He cringed inwardly, knowing how ridiculous he sounded. "I know it's stupid, but…"
"Oh, I know what you mean," Aunt Meg stated matter-of-factly. "I know that look you're talking about. I've seen it before," she said, looking pointedly at Jess.
Jess groaned again as he said, "Aunt Meg, you know I was NOT that innocent little boy you thought I was when I first walked in here—"
"Yes you were," Meg firmly held, as she walked back to the counter, perching herself atop the stool behind it. "Now, tell me this, Jess. This girl, the way you describe her, the look in your eyes when you talk about her—" Jess frowned again, but Meg continued. "It looks to me like that was reason enough for you to stay on. What happened?"
Jess leaned against the counter, looking at his intertwined fingers, before detailing the incident. Aunt Meg kept silent all this while, not interrupting, as she listened intently to the boy.
"… I figured I'd probably be burned at the stake after that, so there really was no point in staying," Jess finished, his account matter-of-fact and distant. But he forgot the woman to whom he was telling all this had, after all, watched him grow up in this very store.
"You were afraid she'd blame you too."
He looked up, a little surprised. "What?"
"That's why you came back. You knew everyone there hated you, and you thought she would too, after you crashed the car her boyfriend made her."
"Wow, would you look at that? It's late already."
"It's not even seven. You were afraid to find out whether she really loved her boyfriend, so you ran away."
"You hungry yet, Aunt Meg? I'm still craving for the pizza from that place near here…"
"Was it all worth hating, Jess? Did everyone hate you, or what you made yourself out to be?"
"I could call them to order, you know. I think they have delivery…"
"What about your uncle Luke? Did he hate you too?"
"Or maybe I could just go over. After all, it's just a block away."
"He didn't hate you, did he? And neither did any of the others in that town. They just hated what you seemed to be, they hated the person you made yourself out to be."
"They hated me because I was different! And I am different from those loonies!"
"They didn't really hate you, Jess. You're different, yes, but it doesn't mean that they'd hate you just for that. You didn't want them to like you either, right?"
Jess had nothing to say to Meg's reasoning, and only kept his eyes averted, staring out at the street beyond the plate glass window.
"You know your uncle didn't hate you. You know half those people wouldn't hate you either if you hadn't intentionally done something to them. So the question is, why'd you come back to a city where no one cares for you, rather than stay in a town where people do care?"
The windchime on the door tinkled again then, signalling the entrance of a new customer. Meg frowned, looking down at the stubborn boy, before saying, "I'll be right back, Jess." She turned her attention towards the gentleman in the suit, leaving Jess alone at the counter, contemplative and deep in thought.