Disclaimer: Nope, still own nothing…
Author's note: A very late third chapter, and it's be a bit short, but more is on the way, I promise! Next chapters should be up by next week, and the whole story could be done in another fortnight, but I can't quite guarantee anything, it all depends on the erratic flow that is my writing… In the meantime, do R&R please! :0) By the way, I have never actually been to NYC before, so comments, especially with regard to accuracy, are greatly appreciated!!!
* * *
Jess spent the weekend in morose solitude, avoiding the old hangouts of his friends. He always kept a book by his side, as he roamed the streets of New York, pensive and sometimes losing track of where he went. He stopped by Meg's at least once a day, picking up the occasional book which he'd yet to read, before proceeding to the nearby Washington Square Park to read in silence. It had never really been a haunt of his in the pre-Stars Hollow days, but he loved it there. It was quieter than other parks, visited only by New Yorkers, and almost had a quaint air to it. He had a favourite bench there too, just at the edge of the park, facing within, the view of the entire park before him when he sat there—it made him think of the bridge.
Monday soon came around, but Jess took no notice. With Liz so very much the way she was, his old school had yet to be informed of his return to the city. He figured he probably had a couple of weeks before they got his transcripts from Stars Hollow, and got round to calling the apartment, so his life settled into a daily pattern in the time he had when school was a non-issue. He'd awaken late, grab whatever leftovers there were from his previous night's dinner, head out, and pop by Meg's for a few hours, before grabbing lunch from the hot dog stand a block away, then heading out to the park. Sometimes, the order changed, but his daily activities were regular nonetheless. There was the odd visit to the various music stores he patronised, including a return to the little hole he'd dubbed Championship Vinyl in his mind. His nights would then consist of buying dinner back to the apartment, where he'd dine alone before leaving something for Liz and something for himself the next day. He read at night too, of course, out on the fire escape by the light of the street lamp, or in bed when the weather prevented him from sitting outside.
He tried not to think of Stars Hollow too much, yet she always crept bad into his mind. She was a figure always on the edge of his consciousness, and she often had a companion. Much as he'd rather have it otherwise, he'd hated leaving them the way he did, one without a word, the other, with more hurt than he should ever have felt. He tried to keep himself as occupied as he could, but their faces still drifted into his mind when a phrase in a book provoked the memory, or the familiar sight of a cap on the head of some random stranger, or even when he just emptied his mind of all thoughts, and they crept right into that void. He hated the way he felt when this happened, yet he missed the memories. What Meg had said still stuck with him, but they both gingerly avoided the topic when he went by the store.
Tuesday was when it all began to change again. He went by the store in the afternoon, only to find Meg inundated with a rather large flock of customers, some impatiently waiting at the cash register, others badgering her with queries. Jess quickly strode to the counter, wordlessly taking over the task of ringing up the purchases, while Meg tended to the enquiring customers. Ten minutes later, the rush was finally abated, and Meg slid behind the counter, exhausted as she perched herself on the stool behind the counter. Jess was somewhat overwhelmed; even the diner had never had a rush like that before.
"It get like that often?"
"No, not usually," Meg replied, still tired from dealing with the crowd.
"Think you'll need help?"
Meg arched an eyebrow in surprise, turning to face him. "Are you offering, Jess Mariano?"
"New York's only got so much for me to do…"
"Well, well, well, never thought I'd see the day when Jess Mariano had nothing to do in this big city," Meg teased, a warm grin spread across her soft features.
"I'm not too sure I'm the same Jess Mariano New York knew." His eyes connected with the searching ones of the woman who had always been Aunt Meg. It chilled her to recognise the lost, pleading look in his eyes.
"Well, didn't you go there to change?"
"I didn't even want to go there, Aunt Meg." Jess pushed himself away from the counter, looking more directly at Meg. "I didn't want to change."
"But you know you did. And I don't think you can actually tell me you changed for the worse."
Jess didn't have to reply at all. Meg only looked at the boy in the kind, gentle manner she'd always looked at him with, then softened her tone, and said, "I've got a new shipment of books in the back. You wanna go shelve them?"
She saw the relief and gratitude in his eyes as he silently went around her, officially starting his job.
* * *
A/N: Like it? Hate it? See that "Go" button down there? CLICK!!! :0) Reviews and comments are truly appreciated… And I promise, the next update will be longer…