Title: It Was Always You
Author: Angeleyez
Summary: Future Fic: Rory left for college on bad terms with Jess. Now six years later Rory is happy and successful working as an advice columnist at a newspaper in New York City. Her best friend's sister just got engaged and Rory can't believe who the groom to be is.
Rating: PG: 13
Disclaimer: Blah, blah, blah. You want the long version? See prologue. Here's the reader's digest version: Me poor. Don't own Gilmore Girls. Don't sue.
Wow! I have over fifty reviews! That is so incredibly great! And omg… I'm on someone's favorite stories' list. Woohoo! And wow, someone proposed to my story. My story feels very honored but for the time being will remain single. Heh. Oh and one reviewer (imonadiet) said it was obvious that I put a lot of care into this and I must say that made me very happy. I do really put a lot of care into this; it takes me a while to write each chapter. Then I have to edit it and do the whole spelling/grammar check. Although writing this is very fun. Thanks to everyone who reviewed! You all get gold stars for the day! *grin*
"Are you sure you left your purse in your office?" Lane asked.
"For the last time, I'm positive," Rory replied. "Now we are in and out. This is a vacation day I'm taking and if Holly or Lily spot me they are going to give me some of their letters and make me work."
Rory and Lane continued walking to the New York Post building where Rory worked. It was almost noon and they were planning on getting lunch. Just as soon as they picked up Rory's purse.
"Are you ever going to tell me?" Lane asked suddenly.
"Tell you what?" Rory was confused.
"About Jess."
"I already told you about him."
"No, Rory, all you said was that he was back and engaged and lunch was awkward. But that's it."
"Yeah, that is it. What else do you want to hear?"
"I wanna hear how you really feel about it. About him. You haven't seen him since the lunch two weeks ago. And you haven't mentioned him since you told me you saw him and I want to know!"
"There is nothing to know!"
"You cannot be serious. He leaves without a word to you and then six years later he's back and engaged. You feel something!"
"I don't want to talk about this, okay?"
"Fine." They had reached Rory's work. Rory held the door open for Lane. They headed over to the elevator and both got inside. "Ready to talk yet?"
"Lane…"
"Right okay, sorry. No more talking from me."
The two waited to reach their floor in silence. The doors opened and they both got off and headed toward Rory's office. Lane was walking fast ahead of Rory.
"Lane? Are you mad at me?"
"No. I kinda get it. But you have to promise me that you will eventually talk to me about this," Lane said turning around to talk and walking backwards.
"That's a promise."
Lane turned back around. She rounded a corner and then immediately turned around and came back.
"What, what's the matter?" Rory asked.
"Jess alert," Lane replied.
"He's here?" Rory asked nervously. She did not need to see him right now. She was confused about how to feel towards him although she was still a bit mad about what had happened at lunch. "Is Angela here too?"
Lane peeked around the corner. "Oh my god."
"What's going on?"
"Well I'm guessing the girl hanging on his arm is Angela but wow! She looks just like you."
"Oh, she does not."
"Rory? Yeah she does. I mean from far away and in the right lighting she could be you."
"No she could not. I mean, I'm much prettier."
"Well, of course you are." Lane peeked her head around the corner and then looked back at Rory. "But you're missing the point. She could be your sister." Lane looked again.
"She doesn't look that much like me."
"You are so in denial. I think she's even your height."
"How can you tell? We're all the way over here."
"I see her standing next to Jess and I have seen you stand next to him before. I remember things like that." Lane continued to steal glances around the corner. "What color eyes does she have?"
"I didn't notice," Rory said meekly.
"Rory…"
"Blue."
"Okay that settles it. She's your twin." Lane took another look at Angela.
"No she is not. And would you stop doing that? They are going to see you!"
"No they aren't." Lane peeked her head out again. She then jumped backwards startling Rory.
"What happened?"
"They saw me."
Rory sighed. "Of course."
"Hey, Lane? Is that you?" Christine called out.
"Well? They saw you. Go out there before they think you're some kind of weirdo who was watching them."
"I am a weirdo because I was watching them!" Lane said before turning the corner. "Oh hey Chris!"
"Come over here! I want you to meet my sister and her fiancée," Christine called over.
"Well?" Lane whispered.
"Go over there!" Rory whispered back. "And don't forget you don't know Jess!"
Lane walked over. Introductions were made and Lane shook Angela's and Jess's hands.
"It's great to meet you guys. Wow, Angela. I don't know if you've noticed but you look a lot like Rory," Lane said shooting Jess a look. Jess didn't seem fazed by what she said.
"Yeah I did notice that. But I am of course much prettier." Angela said.
Lane began to laugh but then stopped abruptly when she saw Angela wasn't joking.
"Speaking of Rory, where is she? I mean, isn't she why you're here?" Chris asked.
"Oh we had to grab her purse. Then we're off to lunch."
"As a matter of fact, so are we," Chris said brightly.
Rory, who had been trying her best to hear them, had heard that loud and clear. And she had a feeling Chris was about to invite them to come. Rory did not need a tension filled lunch with Jess and his fiancée.
"Hey guys!" Rory exclaimed, rounding the corner.
"Rory, hey!" Chris said happily.
"Well, Lane and I really have to get going. I'm starved. So I'll see you guys around." Rory began to pull Lane away while Chris stared at them confused.
"Wait, Rory, I wanted to invite you to our engagement party this Saturday." Rory froze. Angela didn't seem to notice the look of horror on her face and continued on, "My parents and aunt and uncle are coming up as well as a bunch of my friends from home. Some of Chris's friends are coming too so it would be great if you could come."
"Wow, this weekend. Very soon," Rory said.
"Oh please say you'll come." Angela looked like she actually wanted her to be there. Rory looked at Jess. She wanted to know how he felt about this. His expression was his usual stoic one.
Chris looked at Rory pleadingly. She wanted her there. And if Rory said no, they would want to know why. She needed an excuse.
"I have a lot of work to do. I mean I am swamped. I'll be slaving away this weekend." There we go. Work was always a good excuse. A get out of jail free card.
"Oh, Ror. Pawn some work off on Holly. God knows she does it enough to you," Chris suggested.
Damn. Rory looked at Lane. Why wasn't she saying anything? Why wasn't she getting her out of this?
"Well, I guess." Rory gave in.
"Okay, great. Oh, I left my coat in your office, Chris. Come get it with me, Jess." She then pulled on Jess's arm and they began walking away. Then Angela turned around and said, "You could bring your little Chinese friend to the party too." She then walked off.
"Uh, hello? I'm Korean! And what did she mean by 'little'? I am not little," Lane said once they were out of ear shot.
"Just ignore what she said," Chris said. "Ror, I have question for you."
"Yeah?"
"Well one of Angela's friends that's coming up is this really great guy nam-"
"No! Oh you are not setting me up!" Rory said, stepping away.
"Wait, before you say no,"
"I already did," Rory muttered but Chris continued on.
"Just hear me out. I have known this guy my entire life. He was the boy next door." She stopped when she saw Rory raise her eyebrows. "I mean, literally. He was our next door neighbor. Anyways, I know this guy really well. He is really handsome and smart. He is sweet and honest. He doesn't walk around in ladies' underwear and believe me when I tell you this: He has never dressed up as a squirrel."
Rory's eyes widened "How did you know that?"
"I have my ways," Chris said smugly.
"You can never talk about that again! Ever!"
"Right, no mentioning the furvert. Check."
"I don't care if you know him or not. I'm not going out with him."
"Come on. He's not a psycho, I swear."
"Chris, I don't even know this guy."
"Okay, I have an idea. He is arriving in the city tomorrow. He supposedly can't wait to see us but I think it's an excuse for more time off of work. Anyways, tomorrow night Angela and I are going to dinner with him. Why don't you meet us there? Then if you don't like him, don't date him." Angela seemed very pleased with her idea.
"Well, if it's just to meet him and to have dinner with you guys…" Rory trailed off. It was no big deal and why not? It's not like she was involved at the moment. Jess flashed through her mind. He was engaged. He wasn't spending every waking moment thinking of her. Oh for god sakes it's been six years, she thought to herself. "Okay tomorrow night."
"Great! Meet us at The Blue Room at six-thirty. See you then!" Chris then hurried away to her office to collect Jess and Angela.
Rory turned toward Lane. She was smiling at her. "What?"
"You are moving on! That's wonderful!" Lane squealed.
"What are you talking about? Moving on from what? I have been dating."
"Well Jess is back and you are going to date another guy."
"First of all, tomorrow night is not a date. It's a dinner with friends. Second of all, Jess is engaged."
"And if he wasn't going to be getting married?"
"Drop it."
"So, we're going to their engagement party?" Lane asked, changing the subject. "We need dresses."
"Oh no. I am not going to that party."
"How are you going to get out of it?"
"I'll just have to kill myself," Rory said matter-of-factly.
"Well, let me tell you as the religion expert, suicide means you'll go to hell."
"Oh, well we can't have that now, can we?" Rory thought for a second. "Hey, I know! You can kill me!"
"Uh, then I would go to hell."
"But you know I would visit you there!"
"I'm walking away now." Lane headed off in the direction of Rory's office.
"Oh come on! All of the great musicians you love go to hell. You know because of the whole rock n' roll is evil thing. You'd be happier down there!"
"I'm ignoring you!" Lane called out.
Rory ran to catch up with her friend. "I'd do it for you."
"You would not. Now come on. Let's get your purse, go to lunch, and discuss what you are going to wear on your date tomorrow." Lane said and then proceeded to walk quickly away from her friend.
Rory threw her hands up in the air. "It's not a date!"
A/N: Okay I know, abrupt ending. And yes, I know this chapter was kind of boring. But these kinds of chapters are necessary to move the story along. Anyways, the non-date is in the next chapter and there will be more Rory and Jess interaction coming up. Oh, the engagement party! We can't forget that. I will try my best to update as often as I can but I also have a lot of school work to do! I have a biology paper due next week, a history paper and an English term paper (worth 1/3 of my 3rd quarter grade) to do. And yes I know you don't care about my school life so I'll stop now. Review, review!