**Again, if you want to repost my story somewhere, just ask, I'd be honored. Unless, that is, you want to repost it on 'examples of bad fanfic'- if there even is such a place. That would earn a 'mean.' Please don't make me have to use that word. Please leave a review and let me know what you think. Thank you!**
*^*ChApTeR 2: Wow, You Too?
**Recap from Chapter 1: Jess realizes that he loves Rory, and converses with Loralei (Rory is out of town). He lets it slip that he loves Rory, and this chapter follows Loralei's reaction and Jess' realization. Rory will be back in the very next chapter.**
**Spoilers: Up to "Face Off"…Also, this is slightly in the future, but only by a month or so. In my mind, Rory and Jess have been dating for 4 months…And, there aren't plans for Jess to leave with his Dad in my story, so forget that is happening in the 'real' world.**
Jess slowly looked down at the sparkling Formica counter and realized that he had spent the last two minutes unconsciously wiping it. Smirking in spite of himself, he realized once again what had just happened.
'I can't believe I let myself slip like that. I am always aware of what I'm saying, when I'm saying it, before I'm saying it. And I never open up to anyone but Rory… I just told my girlfriend's mother…her MOTHER, for God's sake…that I love her daughter. That is DEFINITELY not something you tell your girlfriend's mother. At least, not before you tell your girlfriend. If I wasn't strangely aware that Loralei is watching my every move, I'd have to physically slap my self for my stupidity. I always planned on telling Rory that I was in love with her….that is, when I realized I was….I just always thought she'd be the first one to know.'
"Hey Jess, look at me for a second." Loralei's voice had lost the calm tone and adapted a new, almost concerned one in a matter of minutes.
'Concerned? For who? Me? No, couldn't be. Rory? Does she really think that I'm going to hurt her? Fill her with false love and hope only to leave her disappointed and alone? Its happened before. I'm not perfect, not close. But, this is Rory…and I love her. I wouldn't hurt her even if I wanted to. Imagine that…I really and truly would do anything to NOT hurt this crazy girl named Rory…I should probably look up now so she won't think I've gone completely insane and shelter Rory from me, not letting me tell her how I feel…Yes. Good plan. Look up now. No, now….Good, I'm looking up. That wasn't so hard…Look her in the eyes…'
"Umm…yeah…"
'Calm down. Just ask her what she wants to know…or, better, let her tell you, and then explain. You can tell you girlfriend's mother why you love her daughter. Alright. Here goes….'
"Yeah, Loralei. I do love Rory. And it scares me more than you'd know."
"Brutally honest much?" Loralei couldn't help but smile at the look on Jess' face. He appeared happy that she'd injected some kind of humor into the situation.
"Guess so, " Jess replied, relieved that he was still able to talk.
"I take it from your silence to the other aforementioned question, that Rory doesn't know that you love her?" Loralei asked, knowing by the expression on his face that she was right.
"No, she doesn't know. I didn't know until, well…today, I guess…and I was thinking about it so much that it just slipped out when I was talking about how special she is…well, you know how special she is, I don't have to get into it." Jess replied, slightly blushing at the candidness of his answer.
'Never did I think I would blush in Loralei Gilmore's presence…at least, not without Rory in the room…what has she done to me?'
"This is going to sound incredibly nosy and somewhat odd, okay, its going to sound like me, but, what do you love about her today that you didn't love about her yesterday?" Loralei asked, leaning forward slightly against the counter, sipping her now cold coffee. And for once, she didn't care that it was cold.
"Nothing," Jess replied, a hint of a smile almost recognizable on his once again masked face, " I mean, there isn't anything different about her now, its just, I finally have realized that I DO love her, and that I have for the longest time, so, there's nothing but the new realization of how I feel to love."
"The longest time?" Loralei was interested in these three words, wanting to catch Jess off-guard. 'Or maybe I already have,' she thought.
"When I came here, I hated everything. The town, the people, the size of everything and its 'quaintness' the trees, everything. And then Luke dragged me to your house for dinner, and I met Rory. And suddenly, I didn't hate everything so much. Everything was a lot less dark, and I became 'Dodger.'"
"Yes, the infamous Dodger, how you've changed so. We've been sitting here for twenty minutes, Jess. Talking. And I haven't killed you yet. I've realized something today, just like you have." Loralei smiled, watching his face contort into a look of slight confusion, "Granted, it's taken me along time to realize this, and it hasn't made our beloved Rory very happy. But, I think I'm beginning to trust you, kid. You ain't so bad after all, " Loralei added, grinning at Jess, who looked rather pleased, though shocked, none the less.
'Did she just say that she trusts me? Or, almost trusts me? That's just as good, and Rory will be happy….Great.'
"The last time I was told that I 'wasn't so bad', Miss Patty pinched my cheeks. And I'm not talking about these, " he added, gesturing towards his face.
"Oh. Scarred for life? Understandable." Loralei could sympathize. She'd seen one too many boys subjected to Miss Patty's harassments, and only took it as a sign that maybe some other townies were beginning to trust Jess.
"But, that's okay," Loralei continued, "It just means she likes ya', she wants to hug ya', she wants to---"
"Please, please stop. I don't want to know what she wants to 'do' to me. Don't make me know."
"Now that I've sufficiently haunted you for months to come, I should make my departure. I want to grab some snacks at Doose's before Rory gets home." Loralei hopped off the stool, and grabbing her purse, walked to the door.
Before she'd gotten out the door, Jess had called her back in.
"Rory's getting home around eight, right?" He asked, a hopeful glint in his eyes.
"Yeah, she should be home around then…Do you want me to tell her to call you?" she answered, wondering if he would tell her tonight.
"No….would it be okay if I came over when I get off work? Nine-ish? This is kind of a face-to-face thing, right?" he asked, seemingly nervous.
"Yeah, it is. Come when you get off. I'll make myself scarce, don't worry."
"Thanks, Loralei." Jess half smiled, amazed with himself for being so…respectful.
"Anytime, kid. I trust ya now, ya know." With that, she turned and made her way to the door.
Jess smiled to himself, knowing that he and Rory, and he and Loralei were okay. She was trusting him, and they'd even talked for a good half and hour about something that was extremely important to both of them. Things were good.
"Hey Jess."
Looking up, Jess realized that Loralei had never left the diner; instead, she stood by the door watching him.
'Okay, somewhat creepy, but…'
"I love Rory, too. Remember that."
Smirking, Jess retaliated, "Wow, you too?"
"She'll be home tonight…suspect I'll see you there."
'Yes, yes, you will,' he thought, 'And its because of Rory. Because I love Rory.'
"Yep."
**Okay, I know, Jess was extremely out of character…at least, from his character on the show. I hope everyone didn't hate it…if anyone is reading it, that is. I got 4 reviews for the last chapter, hopefully more will come with this one. I know it wasn't that good, but, I had a great *or so I thought* chapter typed up, and my computer froze and I lost it. Funny how that works, isn't it? Hope you enjoyed it, and please REVIEW, I really want to know what more than 4 people think.**
To those 4 people who DID review the last chapter *and maybe more, I haven't checked in awhile* : Thank you. Those helped me decide to post this chapter. I'm just mad its not as good as I would have liked….
**Upcoming Chapter: Rory gets home *same night* Jess goes to visit…who knows what will be said. Seriously, who knows. I haven't written it yet. You'll find out….thanks for reading.**
*^*ChApTeR 2: Wow, You Too?
**Recap from Chapter 1: Jess realizes that he loves Rory, and converses with Loralei (Rory is out of town). He lets it slip that he loves Rory, and this chapter follows Loralei's reaction and Jess' realization. Rory will be back in the very next chapter.**
**Spoilers: Up to "Face Off"…Also, this is slightly in the future, but only by a month or so. In my mind, Rory and Jess have been dating for 4 months…And, there aren't plans for Jess to leave with his Dad in my story, so forget that is happening in the 'real' world.**
Jess slowly looked down at the sparkling Formica counter and realized that he had spent the last two minutes unconsciously wiping it. Smirking in spite of himself, he realized once again what had just happened.
'I can't believe I let myself slip like that. I am always aware of what I'm saying, when I'm saying it, before I'm saying it. And I never open up to anyone but Rory… I just told my girlfriend's mother…her MOTHER, for God's sake…that I love her daughter. That is DEFINITELY not something you tell your girlfriend's mother. At least, not before you tell your girlfriend. If I wasn't strangely aware that Loralei is watching my every move, I'd have to physically slap my self for my stupidity. I always planned on telling Rory that I was in love with her….that is, when I realized I was….I just always thought she'd be the first one to know.'
"Hey Jess, look at me for a second." Loralei's voice had lost the calm tone and adapted a new, almost concerned one in a matter of minutes.
'Concerned? For who? Me? No, couldn't be. Rory? Does she really think that I'm going to hurt her? Fill her with false love and hope only to leave her disappointed and alone? Its happened before. I'm not perfect, not close. But, this is Rory…and I love her. I wouldn't hurt her even if I wanted to. Imagine that…I really and truly would do anything to NOT hurt this crazy girl named Rory…I should probably look up now so she won't think I've gone completely insane and shelter Rory from me, not letting me tell her how I feel…Yes. Good plan. Look up now. No, now….Good, I'm looking up. That wasn't so hard…Look her in the eyes…'
"Umm…yeah…"
'Calm down. Just ask her what she wants to know…or, better, let her tell you, and then explain. You can tell you girlfriend's mother why you love her daughter. Alright. Here goes….'
"Yeah, Loralei. I do love Rory. And it scares me more than you'd know."
"Brutally honest much?" Loralei couldn't help but smile at the look on Jess' face. He appeared happy that she'd injected some kind of humor into the situation.
"Guess so, " Jess replied, relieved that he was still able to talk.
"I take it from your silence to the other aforementioned question, that Rory doesn't know that you love her?" Loralei asked, knowing by the expression on his face that she was right.
"No, she doesn't know. I didn't know until, well…today, I guess…and I was thinking about it so much that it just slipped out when I was talking about how special she is…well, you know how special she is, I don't have to get into it." Jess replied, slightly blushing at the candidness of his answer.
'Never did I think I would blush in Loralei Gilmore's presence…at least, not without Rory in the room…what has she done to me?'
"This is going to sound incredibly nosy and somewhat odd, okay, its going to sound like me, but, what do you love about her today that you didn't love about her yesterday?" Loralei asked, leaning forward slightly against the counter, sipping her now cold coffee. And for once, she didn't care that it was cold.
"Nothing," Jess replied, a hint of a smile almost recognizable on his once again masked face, " I mean, there isn't anything different about her now, its just, I finally have realized that I DO love her, and that I have for the longest time, so, there's nothing but the new realization of how I feel to love."
"The longest time?" Loralei was interested in these three words, wanting to catch Jess off-guard. 'Or maybe I already have,' she thought.
"When I came here, I hated everything. The town, the people, the size of everything and its 'quaintness' the trees, everything. And then Luke dragged me to your house for dinner, and I met Rory. And suddenly, I didn't hate everything so much. Everything was a lot less dark, and I became 'Dodger.'"
"Yes, the infamous Dodger, how you've changed so. We've been sitting here for twenty minutes, Jess. Talking. And I haven't killed you yet. I've realized something today, just like you have." Loralei smiled, watching his face contort into a look of slight confusion, "Granted, it's taken me along time to realize this, and it hasn't made our beloved Rory very happy. But, I think I'm beginning to trust you, kid. You ain't so bad after all, " Loralei added, grinning at Jess, who looked rather pleased, though shocked, none the less.
'Did she just say that she trusts me? Or, almost trusts me? That's just as good, and Rory will be happy….Great.'
"The last time I was told that I 'wasn't so bad', Miss Patty pinched my cheeks. And I'm not talking about these, " he added, gesturing towards his face.
"Oh. Scarred for life? Understandable." Loralei could sympathize. She'd seen one too many boys subjected to Miss Patty's harassments, and only took it as a sign that maybe some other townies were beginning to trust Jess.
"But, that's okay," Loralei continued, "It just means she likes ya', she wants to hug ya', she wants to---"
"Please, please stop. I don't want to know what she wants to 'do' to me. Don't make me know."
"Now that I've sufficiently haunted you for months to come, I should make my departure. I want to grab some snacks at Doose's before Rory gets home." Loralei hopped off the stool, and grabbing her purse, walked to the door.
Before she'd gotten out the door, Jess had called her back in.
"Rory's getting home around eight, right?" He asked, a hopeful glint in his eyes.
"Yeah, she should be home around then…Do you want me to tell her to call you?" she answered, wondering if he would tell her tonight.
"No….would it be okay if I came over when I get off work? Nine-ish? This is kind of a face-to-face thing, right?" he asked, seemingly nervous.
"Yeah, it is. Come when you get off. I'll make myself scarce, don't worry."
"Thanks, Loralei." Jess half smiled, amazed with himself for being so…respectful.
"Anytime, kid. I trust ya now, ya know." With that, she turned and made her way to the door.
Jess smiled to himself, knowing that he and Rory, and he and Loralei were okay. She was trusting him, and they'd even talked for a good half and hour about something that was extremely important to both of them. Things were good.
"Hey Jess."
Looking up, Jess realized that Loralei had never left the diner; instead, she stood by the door watching him.
'Okay, somewhat creepy, but…'
"I love Rory, too. Remember that."
Smirking, Jess retaliated, "Wow, you too?"
"She'll be home tonight…suspect I'll see you there."
'Yes, yes, you will,' he thought, 'And its because of Rory. Because I love Rory.'
"Yep."
**Okay, I know, Jess was extremely out of character…at least, from his character on the show. I hope everyone didn't hate it…if anyone is reading it, that is. I got 4 reviews for the last chapter, hopefully more will come with this one. I know it wasn't that good, but, I had a great *or so I thought* chapter typed up, and my computer froze and I lost it. Funny how that works, isn't it? Hope you enjoyed it, and please REVIEW, I really want to know what more than 4 people think.**
To those 4 people who DID review the last chapter *and maybe more, I haven't checked in awhile* : Thank you. Those helped me decide to post this chapter. I'm just mad its not as good as I would have liked….
**Upcoming Chapter: Rory gets home *same night* Jess goes to visit…who knows what will be said. Seriously, who knows. I haven't written it yet. You'll find out….thanks for reading.**