Ch 10 Collisions
"I want to go fishing!" Lorelai exclaimed as they entered Luke's the next morning. Rory just shook her head as they took a seat at the counter. "I'm serious!"
"You can't go fishing," sighed Rory, "You'll have to get up at dawn."
"That's why we've got coffee," Lorelai pointed out.
"You need to sit out on a boat in the cold," Rory continued.
"The invention of sweaters comes in handy then," Lorelai shivered just thinking about it the cold though.
"You need to put worms on hooks," Rory finished. She knew that her mother would drop the idea now.
"Fine!" Lorelai gave in making a face, "How can anybody do that?"
"What?" Luke came up ready to take their order.
"Go fishing," Rory answered. Luke just grunted and poured their coffees. "I'll have pancakes too." Luke nodded and shouted to Caesar and stalked away. Lorelai watched him go disgruntled.
"I can't believe he's still pulling Mr. Freeze!" Lorelai exclaimed.
"You said things were better between you two," Rory looked over at her mom.
"Well, I thought things were," Lorelai sighed and took a big gulp of coffee. Soon enough Rory went into more detail about what she had done in Washington since more wallowing had been done the night before than talking. Rory had really missed her mom all summer.
A while later, as the two Gilmores were just polishing off their third cup of coffee, a girl with dark brown hair and hazel eyes entered the diner in a hurry. Rory watched her curiously. She knew as a fact that this girl did not live in Star's Hollow. "I've never seen her before now," Lorelai read her mind. Rory nodded silently as the girl walked right up to the counter. She wore a baggy shorts and t-shirt with some unknown band's name on it. Luke came back over and asked what she was having.
"Nothing," the girl told him, "I was just wondering were I could find Jess Mariano."
"He should be here," Luke grunted, "Working, so if you see him send him my way." The girl just nodded and started off.
"Why are you looking for the little delinquent?" Taylor, who had been sitting nearby, asked.
"Nothing that concerns you," the girl responded sharply. Taylor looked shocked at her attitude.
"Try the bridge," Rory spoke up, "He's usually around there."
"I don't know where that is," the girl pointed out.
"It's easy to find," Rory said, "I'll show you." The girl just shrugged. Rory slid off her stool and told Lorelai she'd meet her back at the diner later. Then, they were off. They walked in silence out of the diner, outside Rory introduced herself, "My name's Rory by the way."
"Charisma," the girl said searching her pockets, "Call me Riz." Finally, the girl gave up looking for whatever it was and just walked on. They were halfway to the bridge when they found Jess lip locked with Sarah on a bench. Both Riz and Rory stopped in her tracks.
"Well," Rory said turning around while holding back the tears, "You found him." She sped away running as fast as she could back home the tears blinding her.
Jess pulled away slowly from Sarah. She was no Rory, but there was no way he could ever have her. Sarah was a good distraction though, more like the girls he had went around with back in New York. Suddenly out of the corner of his eye Jess saw something that made his heart stop. There was Rory running away which he felt guilty about, but it was also about something else. Riz was standing there not far away. Jess stood up and began to walk towards her. Riz was three years younger than him, but he had known her forever. "What're you doing here?" he asked as he reached her.
"I needed to see you," Riz replied.
"You could've called," he pointed out a little annoyed.
"You could've called too before you left New York," Riz growled, "Again!"
"Let's go!" Jess said walked back towards the diner.
"What about blonde babe over there?" Riz asked, "You going to ditch her here?"
"Riz don't start," Jess warned. Riz just rolled her eyes and followed Jess into the diner. Luke looked up from where he was taking his orders when they walked in. Jess sat Riz down in a booth at the far corner of the diner. Jess looked at her waiting for some sort of explanation, but Riz just sat with her arms crossed glaring at him. Looking away from her he saw Rory outside, she was pulling open the door and she didn't look too cheerful. He watched as she sat down at the counter where Lorelai was waiting, her back was to him. Riz caught on to his staring and followed his gaze.
"You shouldn't be with the bimbo if you really love her," Riz broke through, "You're just hurting someone else who cares for you and I know she does. I saw her run away earlier."
"Stay out of it," Jess growled, "You have no clue what's going on."
"I wonder why!" Riz's voice was rising a little, "Can we do this in private?"
"Yeah," Jess nodded and rose from his seat. Riz followed as they went upstairs.
Rory saw Jess and Riz leave to go upstairs, but averted her gaze when Jess turned around. She couldn't believe that Jess had actually kissed her when he was with that Sarah. Yet, she couldn't help but wonder how this Riz fit into the whole thing. Soon, they began hearing yelling from upstairs. The whole diner quieted down to listen to what was going on. "Jess, you left me twice!" Riz was saying, "Twice, and the second time around by choice to a town you said you hated!"
"I had my reasons," Jess' voice was a bit more calm and collected.
"You've tried to protect me from everything my whole life," Riz went on, "Yet, you leave when I need you the most and now you want me to go back to all of that!"
"You're mom will be worried," Jess was saying. Rory saw her mother move closer to the door for upstairs and fought the urge to do the same. This had nothing to do with her.
"That's a load of crap and you know it!" Riz exclaimed, "My mother couldn't care less if I were dead! You know that or how else would I have been wandering around on your floor when I live five floors below you at the age of three, or how I ran around the streets all the time. So, don't even try that!"
"Riz." Jess started. Rory couldn't help but notice he was different around her. He wasn't sarcastic like he was with the town, or witty and mysterious like he was with her. He was more protective.
"Don't even try coming up with more lies Jess," Riz cut him off, "I know you all too well. Did you know my dad started hitting me again? I've got bruises all over. See this scratch on my face? The others are fighting more than usual, taking more drugs and stealing things that are more dangerous like guns! Guns Jess!" There were moments of silence and Rory wondered what possible could be going on. Soon, Jess emerged from upstairs. Averting her gaze once again turned back to her mother and coffee.
Luke watched Jess approach from where he had been standing behind the counter listening to what was going on. He looked at him questionably wondering whether he would get some sort of explanation to what had just happened. Nothing came at first, but finally Jess spoke up. "I need your help," he said quietly clearing his throat.
"Who is she Jess?" Luke asked.
"A friend," Jess replied, "From back in New York."
"What do you need?" Luke asked moving into the storage room because people were staring.
"She needs a place to stay," Jess' voice was still low. He didn't like asking for help from anyone but he knew Riz was in trouble and needed him. At a time like this there was no way he could abandon her again.
"You know there's no room here," Luke pointed out.
"She can stay with us!" Lorelai piped in, "Or at the Inn!"
"Do you ever mind you own business?" Luke wondered. Lorelai smiled mischievously and shook her head. "Didn't think so." Then turned back to Jess to see if he agreed with what Lorelai said.
"I'll have to check with her first," Jess said and returned upstairs.
Lorelai didn't really know why she had offered, but she knew she should. After hearing that whole shebang with Jess and Riz she knew it would be the best thing and it would show Rory that she could be nice. This didn't mean she liked Jess; no she didn't like him one bit. Rory did though and right now that's what mattered to Lorelai. The little weasel had corrupted her daughter's heart and entered their lives. There was no turning back now. Rory had broken up with Dean and after her grieving there was no doubt they would eventually end up together, but little did Lorelai know that not everything was what it seemed.
Rory was shocked at her mother's suggestion. Since when was her mother, Lorelai Gilmore, nice to Jess of all people whom she claimed she hated? If Riz did agree to the plan it was more than certain that she would be seeing Jess around more often either at the inn or the house. Now, with this whole Sarah business Rory wasn't sure if this was quite a good idea. Obviously she had fallen for someone who was only interested in playing games. She had been wrong about Jess.
Jess came back with the affirmative that Riz had agreed to stay with the Gilmore girls. It was only because she had met Rory earlier and had caught on to his feelings for her. Riz could read him like a book because they had known each other since they were little kids with messed up parents.
They had met when he was six and she three. She had been this little girl with big brown eyes wandering around his floor as he was going into the hall and get away from all the yelling. She had come over and sat down next to him. From then on they were companions. You never saw one without the other. Jess taught her to read and write and they both shared common grounds. Her father was an abusive alcoholic and her mother was doped up on so many drugs she didn't have a clue what was going on around her. She had always been 'stupid girl' to them and Charisma to everyone but Jess.
By the time Jess turned eleven he was always at the library and little eight- year-old Riz followed him around, everywhere. They read and re-read everything and anything just to get a deeper understanding to what the author was trying to tell them. They were no longer in the little kids section, but Jess was always wary of what he let her read for some reason.
One afternoon when he was thirteen he waited for her down by the elementary school after cutting all his classes, smoking and clowning around with his friends. She didn't come out though. He entered the school and snuck behind the secretary's desk and checked the attendance list. Riz hadn't been in all day. Riz knew Jess cut classes and where he hung and if she had decided to join them he'd have seen her. Something was wrong Jess could feel it. Racing over to her apartment and swinging open the door he looked around. No one was visible. He called her name and heard only a groan coming from the far corner. He knew what had happened. Her father had beat on her again, but this time it had been worse.
In the four years following the beating Jess was extremely protective. When him and his friends were out causing trouble he made sure she was never around to get caught. He watched out for and made sure she didn't get hurt when fights arose and when he drank she was never allowed a sip. Her father stopped hitting her because she was out all day with Jess, and when she came home at night it was late and he was already knocked out on the couch. Then, he got shipped off to Star's Hollow and she was left alone. When he had went back he didn't know things were that bad. The day Rory had visited she had disappeared for a while. Now, here she was in trouble. Not with the law, but with everything he had felt the need to protect her from. The life he had chosen and her father.
At the moment he was walking Riz over to stay at with Rory and Lorelai. He realized now that he would have to see Rory more often and most likely Dean too. A whole day had past since she had returned home, yet with Riz's sudden appearance it seemed like eternity.
Rory thought of how much had changed since she had gotten back. It amazed her that only a day had passed and so much had occurred. She had broken up with Dean because love just wasn't there, the person she now felt something life love for was dating someone else and Riz had popped into the picture. Rory still wasn't sure what category Riz fell into yet, but maybe she'd find out soon. Rory needed to take a walked alone.
As they were passing by the market Jess and Riz were intercepted by Dean. Jess smiled smugly when he saw Dean's expression and knew that this should be fun. "Why Dean!" he exclaimed, "I think you've gotten taller since I last saw you!" Dean just glared at him.
"I hope you're happy," he growled.
"Not particularly, why?" Jess wondered curiously.
"Rory and I broke up," Dean said sharply, "Or haven't you heard?"
"Haven't you heard?" Jess continued in his nonchalant way, "That I have a girlfriend now?" Dean grunted.
"You better not hurt her," he said gruffly, "or I'll take you on again. Hopefully she'll come to her senses soon" Jess raised an eyebrow; Dean actually thought that he could take him on. Riz who had been standing next to Jess this whole time cleared her throat.
"I'd actually like to get going," she put in, "Before Rory and Lorelai think I've changed my mind and I'm sure you'd like to get back to Blondie."
"Who're you?" Dean asked.
"Never you mind that," she said staring Dean down, "Scurry off to whatever lab you escaped from." Jess could see Dean was getting agitated and he smiled again. It was always fun getting Dean upset. Finally, after a while Dean gave up thinking of something to say and stormed off.
"I'm guessing Frankenstein's the reason you're with Blondie?" Riz said after Dean was out of sight. Jess remained silent. Riz was always giving nicknames to people she didn't like much even if she didn't know them. "You can't hide it from me Jess and you know it."
"Fine!" Jess caved, "Yes that's it, you're right! Thing is she kissed me and went on being with Dean and then ran off to Washington. So, I said hell with that and found Sarah. She's just a distraction."
"Who would've thunk?" Riz smiled, "My tough boy Jess in love." Jess just glared angrily at her. She had picked up on his sarcasm all right.
"Are you happy now?" he asked keeping his cool.
"No," she shook her head, "I need to hear you say it."
"What?"
"Say what I just discovered out loud."
"I did."
"Not the part I want you to say."
"That I'm in love." Little did Jess know that Rory was standing right behind him, jumping to the wrong conclusions.
"Well, I hope you two are happy," she gulped back tears and ran off. Jess ran his fingers through his hair. This couldn't be happening. Rory thought he loved Sarah. He understood what Riz had been trying to do now. All she wanted was to see Jess lighten up and be himself. Not keep bottled up inside. There were only two people he could talk to. Riz, his best friend and protégée and Rory, his only friend in Star's Hollow other than them he was always sarcastic and tough around others. Even then there were some things he wasn't able to tell Rory. Like: How he'd fallen for her.
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A/N: I though, since this is my tenth chapter I'd make it a bit longer than usual. Sorry if Jess was a little bit too out of character here and there, but mostly around Riz because of their history. I though that Jess should have someone who he's protective of and 'different' around. Anyway, I hope this was good. Please, review!
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"I want to go fishing!" Lorelai exclaimed as they entered Luke's the next morning. Rory just shook her head as they took a seat at the counter. "I'm serious!"
"You can't go fishing," sighed Rory, "You'll have to get up at dawn."
"That's why we've got coffee," Lorelai pointed out.
"You need to sit out on a boat in the cold," Rory continued.
"The invention of sweaters comes in handy then," Lorelai shivered just thinking about it the cold though.
"You need to put worms on hooks," Rory finished. She knew that her mother would drop the idea now.
"Fine!" Lorelai gave in making a face, "How can anybody do that?"
"What?" Luke came up ready to take their order.
"Go fishing," Rory answered. Luke just grunted and poured their coffees. "I'll have pancakes too." Luke nodded and shouted to Caesar and stalked away. Lorelai watched him go disgruntled.
"I can't believe he's still pulling Mr. Freeze!" Lorelai exclaimed.
"You said things were better between you two," Rory looked over at her mom.
"Well, I thought things were," Lorelai sighed and took a big gulp of coffee. Soon enough Rory went into more detail about what she had done in Washington since more wallowing had been done the night before than talking. Rory had really missed her mom all summer.
A while later, as the two Gilmores were just polishing off their third cup of coffee, a girl with dark brown hair and hazel eyes entered the diner in a hurry. Rory watched her curiously. She knew as a fact that this girl did not live in Star's Hollow. "I've never seen her before now," Lorelai read her mind. Rory nodded silently as the girl walked right up to the counter. She wore a baggy shorts and t-shirt with some unknown band's name on it. Luke came back over and asked what she was having.
"Nothing," the girl told him, "I was just wondering were I could find Jess Mariano."
"He should be here," Luke grunted, "Working, so if you see him send him my way." The girl just nodded and started off.
"Why are you looking for the little delinquent?" Taylor, who had been sitting nearby, asked.
"Nothing that concerns you," the girl responded sharply. Taylor looked shocked at her attitude.
"Try the bridge," Rory spoke up, "He's usually around there."
"I don't know where that is," the girl pointed out.
"It's easy to find," Rory said, "I'll show you." The girl just shrugged. Rory slid off her stool and told Lorelai she'd meet her back at the diner later. Then, they were off. They walked in silence out of the diner, outside Rory introduced herself, "My name's Rory by the way."
"Charisma," the girl said searching her pockets, "Call me Riz." Finally, the girl gave up looking for whatever it was and just walked on. They were halfway to the bridge when they found Jess lip locked with Sarah on a bench. Both Riz and Rory stopped in her tracks.
"Well," Rory said turning around while holding back the tears, "You found him." She sped away running as fast as she could back home the tears blinding her.
Jess pulled away slowly from Sarah. She was no Rory, but there was no way he could ever have her. Sarah was a good distraction though, more like the girls he had went around with back in New York. Suddenly out of the corner of his eye Jess saw something that made his heart stop. There was Rory running away which he felt guilty about, but it was also about something else. Riz was standing there not far away. Jess stood up and began to walk towards her. Riz was three years younger than him, but he had known her forever. "What're you doing here?" he asked as he reached her.
"I needed to see you," Riz replied.
"You could've called," he pointed out a little annoyed.
"You could've called too before you left New York," Riz growled, "Again!"
"Let's go!" Jess said walked back towards the diner.
"What about blonde babe over there?" Riz asked, "You going to ditch her here?"
"Riz don't start," Jess warned. Riz just rolled her eyes and followed Jess into the diner. Luke looked up from where he was taking his orders when they walked in. Jess sat Riz down in a booth at the far corner of the diner. Jess looked at her waiting for some sort of explanation, but Riz just sat with her arms crossed glaring at him. Looking away from her he saw Rory outside, she was pulling open the door and she didn't look too cheerful. He watched as she sat down at the counter where Lorelai was waiting, her back was to him. Riz caught on to his staring and followed his gaze.
"You shouldn't be with the bimbo if you really love her," Riz broke through, "You're just hurting someone else who cares for you and I know she does. I saw her run away earlier."
"Stay out of it," Jess growled, "You have no clue what's going on."
"I wonder why!" Riz's voice was rising a little, "Can we do this in private?"
"Yeah," Jess nodded and rose from his seat. Riz followed as they went upstairs.
Rory saw Jess and Riz leave to go upstairs, but averted her gaze when Jess turned around. She couldn't believe that Jess had actually kissed her when he was with that Sarah. Yet, she couldn't help but wonder how this Riz fit into the whole thing. Soon, they began hearing yelling from upstairs. The whole diner quieted down to listen to what was going on. "Jess, you left me twice!" Riz was saying, "Twice, and the second time around by choice to a town you said you hated!"
"I had my reasons," Jess' voice was a bit more calm and collected.
"You've tried to protect me from everything my whole life," Riz went on, "Yet, you leave when I need you the most and now you want me to go back to all of that!"
"You're mom will be worried," Jess was saying. Rory saw her mother move closer to the door for upstairs and fought the urge to do the same. This had nothing to do with her.
"That's a load of crap and you know it!" Riz exclaimed, "My mother couldn't care less if I were dead! You know that or how else would I have been wandering around on your floor when I live five floors below you at the age of three, or how I ran around the streets all the time. So, don't even try that!"
"Riz." Jess started. Rory couldn't help but notice he was different around her. He wasn't sarcastic like he was with the town, or witty and mysterious like he was with her. He was more protective.
"Don't even try coming up with more lies Jess," Riz cut him off, "I know you all too well. Did you know my dad started hitting me again? I've got bruises all over. See this scratch on my face? The others are fighting more than usual, taking more drugs and stealing things that are more dangerous like guns! Guns Jess!" There were moments of silence and Rory wondered what possible could be going on. Soon, Jess emerged from upstairs. Averting her gaze once again turned back to her mother and coffee.
Luke watched Jess approach from where he had been standing behind the counter listening to what was going on. He looked at him questionably wondering whether he would get some sort of explanation to what had just happened. Nothing came at first, but finally Jess spoke up. "I need your help," he said quietly clearing his throat.
"Who is she Jess?" Luke asked.
"A friend," Jess replied, "From back in New York."
"What do you need?" Luke asked moving into the storage room because people were staring.
"She needs a place to stay," Jess' voice was still low. He didn't like asking for help from anyone but he knew Riz was in trouble and needed him. At a time like this there was no way he could abandon her again.
"You know there's no room here," Luke pointed out.
"She can stay with us!" Lorelai piped in, "Or at the Inn!"
"Do you ever mind you own business?" Luke wondered. Lorelai smiled mischievously and shook her head. "Didn't think so." Then turned back to Jess to see if he agreed with what Lorelai said.
"I'll have to check with her first," Jess said and returned upstairs.
Lorelai didn't really know why she had offered, but she knew she should. After hearing that whole shebang with Jess and Riz she knew it would be the best thing and it would show Rory that she could be nice. This didn't mean she liked Jess; no she didn't like him one bit. Rory did though and right now that's what mattered to Lorelai. The little weasel had corrupted her daughter's heart and entered their lives. There was no turning back now. Rory had broken up with Dean and after her grieving there was no doubt they would eventually end up together, but little did Lorelai know that not everything was what it seemed.
Rory was shocked at her mother's suggestion. Since when was her mother, Lorelai Gilmore, nice to Jess of all people whom she claimed she hated? If Riz did agree to the plan it was more than certain that she would be seeing Jess around more often either at the inn or the house. Now, with this whole Sarah business Rory wasn't sure if this was quite a good idea. Obviously she had fallen for someone who was only interested in playing games. She had been wrong about Jess.
Jess came back with the affirmative that Riz had agreed to stay with the Gilmore girls. It was only because she had met Rory earlier and had caught on to his feelings for her. Riz could read him like a book because they had known each other since they were little kids with messed up parents.
They had met when he was six and she three. She had been this little girl with big brown eyes wandering around his floor as he was going into the hall and get away from all the yelling. She had come over and sat down next to him. From then on they were companions. You never saw one without the other. Jess taught her to read and write and they both shared common grounds. Her father was an abusive alcoholic and her mother was doped up on so many drugs she didn't have a clue what was going on around her. She had always been 'stupid girl' to them and Charisma to everyone but Jess.
By the time Jess turned eleven he was always at the library and little eight- year-old Riz followed him around, everywhere. They read and re-read everything and anything just to get a deeper understanding to what the author was trying to tell them. They were no longer in the little kids section, but Jess was always wary of what he let her read for some reason.
One afternoon when he was thirteen he waited for her down by the elementary school after cutting all his classes, smoking and clowning around with his friends. She didn't come out though. He entered the school and snuck behind the secretary's desk and checked the attendance list. Riz hadn't been in all day. Riz knew Jess cut classes and where he hung and if she had decided to join them he'd have seen her. Something was wrong Jess could feel it. Racing over to her apartment and swinging open the door he looked around. No one was visible. He called her name and heard only a groan coming from the far corner. He knew what had happened. Her father had beat on her again, but this time it had been worse.
In the four years following the beating Jess was extremely protective. When him and his friends were out causing trouble he made sure she was never around to get caught. He watched out for and made sure she didn't get hurt when fights arose and when he drank she was never allowed a sip. Her father stopped hitting her because she was out all day with Jess, and when she came home at night it was late and he was already knocked out on the couch. Then, he got shipped off to Star's Hollow and she was left alone. When he had went back he didn't know things were that bad. The day Rory had visited she had disappeared for a while. Now, here she was in trouble. Not with the law, but with everything he had felt the need to protect her from. The life he had chosen and her father.
At the moment he was walking Riz over to stay at with Rory and Lorelai. He realized now that he would have to see Rory more often and most likely Dean too. A whole day had past since she had returned home, yet with Riz's sudden appearance it seemed like eternity.
Rory thought of how much had changed since she had gotten back. It amazed her that only a day had passed and so much had occurred. She had broken up with Dean because love just wasn't there, the person she now felt something life love for was dating someone else and Riz had popped into the picture. Rory still wasn't sure what category Riz fell into yet, but maybe she'd find out soon. Rory needed to take a walked alone.
As they were passing by the market Jess and Riz were intercepted by Dean. Jess smiled smugly when he saw Dean's expression and knew that this should be fun. "Why Dean!" he exclaimed, "I think you've gotten taller since I last saw you!" Dean just glared at him.
"I hope you're happy," he growled.
"Not particularly, why?" Jess wondered curiously.
"Rory and I broke up," Dean said sharply, "Or haven't you heard?"
"Haven't you heard?" Jess continued in his nonchalant way, "That I have a girlfriend now?" Dean grunted.
"You better not hurt her," he said gruffly, "or I'll take you on again. Hopefully she'll come to her senses soon" Jess raised an eyebrow; Dean actually thought that he could take him on. Riz who had been standing next to Jess this whole time cleared her throat.
"I'd actually like to get going," she put in, "Before Rory and Lorelai think I've changed my mind and I'm sure you'd like to get back to Blondie."
"Who're you?" Dean asked.
"Never you mind that," she said staring Dean down, "Scurry off to whatever lab you escaped from." Jess could see Dean was getting agitated and he smiled again. It was always fun getting Dean upset. Finally, after a while Dean gave up thinking of something to say and stormed off.
"I'm guessing Frankenstein's the reason you're with Blondie?" Riz said after Dean was out of sight. Jess remained silent. Riz was always giving nicknames to people she didn't like much even if she didn't know them. "You can't hide it from me Jess and you know it."
"Fine!" Jess caved, "Yes that's it, you're right! Thing is she kissed me and went on being with Dean and then ran off to Washington. So, I said hell with that and found Sarah. She's just a distraction."
"Who would've thunk?" Riz smiled, "My tough boy Jess in love." Jess just glared angrily at her. She had picked up on his sarcasm all right.
"Are you happy now?" he asked keeping his cool.
"No," she shook her head, "I need to hear you say it."
"What?"
"Say what I just discovered out loud."
"I did."
"Not the part I want you to say."
"That I'm in love." Little did Jess know that Rory was standing right behind him, jumping to the wrong conclusions.
"Well, I hope you two are happy," she gulped back tears and ran off. Jess ran his fingers through his hair. This couldn't be happening. Rory thought he loved Sarah. He understood what Riz had been trying to do now. All she wanted was to see Jess lighten up and be himself. Not keep bottled up inside. There were only two people he could talk to. Riz, his best friend and protégée and Rory, his only friend in Star's Hollow other than them he was always sarcastic and tough around others. Even then there were some things he wasn't able to tell Rory. Like: How he'd fallen for her.
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A/N: I though, since this is my tenth chapter I'd make it a bit longer than usual. Sorry if Jess was a little bit too out of character here and there, but mostly around Riz because of their history. I though that Jess should have someone who he's protective of and 'different' around. Anyway, I hope this was good. Please, review!
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