Oregano – Wasn't the last chapter a blast?  Hahaha!  Oh, Rory and your troubled ways… Thanks for reviewing, everyone!

emjai - *hi, emjai isn't here right now, she has currently locked herself in toilet cubicle G8 in town hall station and will not be freed for about a week. it all started when she got mad at oregano for being more talented at baking dumplings, but ended with getting trapped in toilet cubicle G8 in town hall station and will not be freed for about a week...*

Oregano (again) – Akk! (gets a manly Luke with an axe) Luke Man!  Save Emjai!  Quick!

Chapter Ten: Jess

In the trail of the words of Helen Fielding, "No. of minutes spent thinking about stapling each and every order sheet to Dean's head, 75 866 241."

Not that Bridge Jones' Diary can be considered my favourite book of all time.  The sheer lack of pronouns just bugged the hell out of me.  I mean really, who talks like that?  "Am going to lose 500 pounds because am so fat and thighs are quickly resembling Russia's landscape."

Please.

Hate Dean.

Gah, I mean, I hate Dean.

And it's so damn girly.  A carbon copy of Jane Austen without the funky period costumes.  Bah, for girls I say.  I'm a man, I need my Boo Radley's and my guns and my horses and my wars.

Not that I didn't enjoy Ms. Austen's work.

I absolutely want to rip Dean's head off.

I really do.

I hate him more than I hate my ugly brain, and that's saying A LOT.

Actually, Dean's just like Lorelai: One of those people you just HAVE to annoy. 

I have nothing against the guy.

Except that he has Rory yet doesn't deserve her.

God damn.

Jess seethed in his little anti-Dean pit behind the counter as he refilled some old guy's coffee.

"Hey, hey, watch it!"

Well, not exactly refill.  More like splash on the man's hand, pants and shirt.

"Sorry," he said, without even looking at the man or meaning what he said.

Look at him just sitting there, breathing, taunting me with his lazy countenance.

God damn Dean.

Rory laughed at something he said and Jess' seething gray cloud turned black.  You could practically see the smoke he emitted.

"Whoa, kid, ever heard of rehab?" the man said to him cautiously.

She turned her head for a moment and their eyes met.

He tried to hold her gaze, but she quickly whipped her attention back to Stupid Dean.

So that's how things are going to be, eh?

His face darkened as he made his way to their table.

"Hey, Jess."

Lorelai looked at him, nervous of what he had planned.

"Hi Lorelai."

Dean's jaw flexed.

"What do you want, Jess?"

"Oh, you answer to the name, 'Lorelai' now?  Okay.  Anyway, Lorelai, I'm, supposed to be asking you.  I work here."

I can just see him try to be civil.

"A burger and fries."

Applause to Dean for a well controlled answer.

"Now, is that a cheeseburger, or a beef burger, or a turkey burger with cheese?"

Rory looked at him pleadingly.

"Jess…"

"Oh, hey, Rory."

Oh, see Dean's eye tick.

"Are we still doing that Creative Assignment thing you have?"

Three, two, one.

"What Assignment?"

Right on cue, Deanster.

There was a collective pause among the four of them.  Rory looked like Hannibal Lecter for a second, Lorelai's eyes bugged out, Dean… well, actually, Dean looked like Hannibal Lecter, and Jess looked as smug as Adolf Hitler in the toilet—evil yet content with what he did.

"Gah, say, Dean, I think I need some help with my car.  Do you think you could check it out for me?" Lorelai said quickly.

"But…"

"Don't say anything, Dean, I need you."

Lorelai pulled Dean out of the Diner with a deadly glare at Jess.

"Well, we got rid of him for a while."

But Rory was not impressed.

Huh.

There may be a creeping possibility that what I did was stupid…

Hm…

From the Die-Jess-Die Look Rory's giving me, I'd say, yeah.

"Rory—"

"Why do you do that, Jess?"

"I…"

"What, is it not enough that I can't stop thinking about you even though I have a boyfriend?  Is it not enough that thanks to you, I'm having the worst and biggest dilemma I have EVER faced?  Do you just derive so much pleasure in hurting me?  Is that it?"

"Rory…"

"Don't talk to me, Jess.  Not now."

She gave him one last glower and left.

"Is it not enough that I can't stop thinking about you?" 

She thinks about me?

Jess bit his lip.

Oh, Rory.

After she said that, he just wanted to pull her in an embrace, but at the same time he couldn't. 

Because everything was his fault to begin with.

With a frustrated sigh, he went upstairs without telling Luke.

I need some brooding time.

He put on a HIM CD and lay on his bed.

Stupid Dean.

"Love is a flame that can't be tamed
and though we are its willing prey
we are not the ones to blame
Trust is a word all lovers know
The glorious art of staining souls
we are not the ones to blame

The more we have the more we want
and the more it hurts our hearts
it always ends up in tears
So keep on Pretending
our heaven is worth the waiting
keep on pretending - it's alright
So keep on Pretending
it will be the end of our craving
keep on pretending - it's alright
When doubts arise the game begins
The one we will never win"

Jess sighed, fully functional in his Brooding Mode Self.

Yep, this is me, brooding silent guy, deep in thought.

"Jess?"

"OH, GOD!" Jess yelled and tried to get up.  He fell off his bed instead.

It was Luke, looking like a timid rabbit by the doorway.

Jess popped his head up from behind the mattress and said, "What are you doing here, Luke?"

"Uh, I saw the little episode you guys had downstairs.  I just wanted to know if you're alright."

Well, this is a new update to things: Luke is asking ME if I'm alright?

Oof… I feel faint.  This must be what it feels like when the world ends.

"Feeling stupid, but generally, I'm great."

"Really?"

Jess paused.

"Yeah."

"Well, get your ass downstairs."

"What?"

"Rush hour's coming in.  You said you were great, I need you down there."

"You are a man of no sensitivity, Luke."

Luke snorted.

"Yeah, like you're some smooth Cassanova."

Luke is an evil man.

Jess got up and grudgingly went downstairs.

He made his way down, and Luke's mocking voice wafted up to him.

"Are we still doing that Creative Assignment crap, Jess?"

"You know I hate you, Luke."

"I know.  Wipe the tables."

Just stop thinking about it, and it will go away.

That's how thing subside.  People forget.

Dammit.  I can't.

Jess slapped the rag down and frowned.

"Luke."

"What now, Adam Screw-Things-Up?"

"Huh.  Very witty.  Really.  I'm blown away."

"What do you want, Jess?"

"I want a break."

"For what?"

"I just do."

Luke thought for a few seconds.

"Be back before dinner."

Jess took off his apron and went for the door.

A few minutes later, he was back.

"Why so early?"

"Forgot my coat."

Luke rolled his eyes.

And out he went, with a nice warm coat.

He was on a mission.

Destination: Gilmore residence.

Things were ugly with Rory, and he had to fix it.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, for the first time in history…

Jess Mariano is going to attempt the unfathomable:  He is going to apologise.

It's going to be bloody, it's going to be gory, audience discretion is strongly advised.

When he got there, he was all red and huffy.

He knocked on the door.

Lorelai answered.

Huh.  Perhaps I didn't think this quite through…

Lorelai, annoyed, crossed her arms in front of her and icily said, "What do you want, Jess?"

Oh, God.  Well, here goes…