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 chapter one. Here's the reader's digest version: Me poor. Don't own Gilmore Girls. Don't sue.
Wow...you guys give out the best compliments. Thanks for all the great reviews!! I hope you all like this chapter. I think you will. Ooh, to get off subject for a second…I'm on vacation. I can't say that enough! Hooray for me and my non-school week! *grin*
Oh, one more thing that's actually important and has relevance to the story…I know that in reality (or in TV reality…Heh) Luke would be at Jess's wedding. But for the sake of my sanity, (I don't want to have to write him in) I'm not going to have him in the story. I figured some of you would point this out so I decided to point it out first. So, there! Ha! Oh dear. I'm acting like I'm four. Anyways, on with the story…
She stared down at the sea of taxis and buses. Dozens of people milled about on the sidewalks below. The sounds of the traffic floated up to her. She was used to the noise but it was still very loud and a bit distracting.
Then she felt his arms wrap around her waist. The sounds that had been deafening just seconds before melted away to background noise. All she could hear was their breathing.
"Hey beautiful," he whispered.
She smiled and turned around. "Hey."
She leaned forward. And for a few minutes she was in her own little world, kissing him. He could always do that, cause everything else to fade away and have it just be him and her…together.
She felt one of his hands in her hair and the other on the small of her back. Her arms were wrapped around his neck and she knew she could stay like this forever.
When he pulled away, he pushed a strand of hair behind her ear and said, "I love you, Ror."
She found herself smiling again.
"I love you too, Jess."
Then a loud beeping noise rang out.
It all began to slip away. Suddenly, Rory was lying in her bed, alone.
Groaning, she turned over and hit the button for the alarm clock. The sound still didn't stop and she continued to slam her hand onto it. Finally the clock took a nose dive off of her night stand table and shattered on the floor. She let out another groan. This day was off to a bad start.
"Ror, are you up?" Lane called through the door.
"Mmphf."
"Uh, I'll take that as a no." She came through the door anyway. "But it's time to get up." She stopped when she saw the alarm clock (well actually the tiny pieces left of it) scattered on the ground. "You murdered your clock."
"It was self-defense."
"What did it ever do to you?"
"It emitted an odd beeping noise."
"That monster."
Rory sat up. "What time is it?"
"Ten. You have two hours to get to Chris's apartment."
"Do me a favor and kill me."
"I'm sorry but haven't we had this conversation once before?"
"I think so. How did it end?"
"It ended with me refusing to commit murder."
Rory pouted. "You're no fun."
"Go get in the shower and I'll put on some coffee."
"Almost as good as killing me. Thanks."
Lane shook her head and walked out to the kitchen.
Rory slowly got out of bed. She headed over to the bathroom and turned on the shower. She put the water on as hot as she could bear it and climbed in.
Today was the day.
His wedding.
How was she going to do this? How could she just stand there and watch him get married?
There was this horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach. It was growing stronger with every minute. It wasn't supposed to be like this. She wasn't supposed to feeling this way. This awful.
Her dream began to replay in her head. Their kiss, his words.
She took in a deep breath. The hot water mixed with her tears.
"Hey Rory!" Chris exclaimed, giving her a hug. "You're on time!"
Rory pulled away and gave her a half smile. "Of course. Today's the big day."
"Well, come in, come in." Chris closed the door behind her. "Ror, you remember Hailey and Sandra from the other night, right?" Chris asked as she pointed to each one.
They were the other bridesmaids and had been introduced to Rory the night before. "Yeah. Hey again."
Angela came out of Chris's bedroom. "Rory!" She squealed. "You're here! Let's get to it!"
Suddenly, Rory was sucked into a whirlwind of dresses, make-up, and hair curlers.
She did her best to avoid helping Angela with anything at all. No one seemed to notice this. Chris did Angela's hair while Hailey did her make up. She had yet to put on her wedding dress.
When all of the bridesmaids were dressed and ready, Chris took Angela into her bedroom to help her get dressed.
Meanwhile, Rory looked into a mirror. She was wearing a spaghetti-strap dress in the color bluestone (as Angela had described it). It seemed grayish blue to Rory and it looked beautiful on her. She sighed. She had no one to impress.
A few minutes later, Angela walked over to her. "What do you think my dress?" Angela asked.
Rory turned to look at her. That horrible pain in her stomach intensified when she looked at Angela. She looked beautiful in the dress and Rory hated her for it.
She knew it was awful to hate Angela. She didn't even know her well and yet she was judging her for something she had no control over.
"It's great," Rory said. It was all she could come up with.
Angela gave her a thank you before heading over to Hailey. Rory turned back toward the mirror.
Rory took a deep breath and smoothed down her dress. She just had to walk down the aisle and smile like a good girl. Don't cry, she ordered herself. There will be plenty of time for that afterward.
She just had to avoid looking at Jess. That was her number one priority. Seeing him would just make the pain a hundred times worse. He would bring the tears out.
"Time to go!" Chris called out. She turned toward Angela. "Time to get you married!"
Rory turned around and followed them out the door.
The church looked even more beautiful than it had the night before.
Rory stood by one of the windows in the entrance of it and looked out. The weather was very gloomy. It was foggy and beginning to rain. Wonderful, Rory thought. It matches my mood.
Chris came over to her then. "It's time," she said.
The order was Chris, Rory, Hailey and then Sandra. They got in line.
The conversation Rory had had with Jess the other night began to play in her mind. Their kiss hadn't meant anything, he had said. He thought they wouldn't work out even though she thought they could.
His words echoed through hear head, "But I guess we'll never know."
All of the regrets she had ever had about her and Jess began to fill her head as well. If only she had broken up with Dean. If only she had told Jess she loved him.
If only.
But as Jess said, they would never know.
Chris began down the aisle.
Then it was Rory's turn.
She took a deep breath, trying her best to hold back the tears. For the last few steps she could just pretend. Jess was hers and she would get a fairy tale ending.
Yes, pretending. It was what she was best at.
Slowly down the aisle she went. Just these last steps and that was it. She would only allow herself these few seconds of make believe. Because as soon as she stopped walking her life would be over. Sure she had lived six years without him. But then she still had some hope. But now it was over. She was going to have to watch him marry her.
She stopped at the end of the aisle. She saw Jess standing there looking absolutely gorgeous in his tuxedo. Their eyes met and for a split second it felt like she was the bride.
It was a wonderful feeling that left as soon as it came. She held back her tears walked over to her spot next to Chris.
Hailey and Sandra made their way down the aisle and took their places next to Rory.
Then the wedding march began and the guests stood up. Angela appeared from the back of the church.
Rory averted her gaze to the ground. Eventually the music stopped and the priest began.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…"
She didn't need to hear this. She did her best to tune the priest out but a couple of minutes later, his voice broke through.
"And do you Jess take Angela Green to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward?"
Then Rory made the mistake of looking up. What she didn't expect was to see Jess looking directly at her.
It was a weird look. She couldn't figure out what he meant by it. For some reason, he wasn't saying I do.
Was he giving her another chance?
She wasn't sure what to make of his silence but she knew she had to take advantage of it.
He was seconds away from being married and he was looking at her. This was it. Now or never.
Last chance.
"STOP THE WEDDING!"
A/N: *evil cackle* Ah, cliffhangers…