A/N: You guys really seem to love the big fight between Rory and Jess!
Thanks for the encouragement.
Chapter 21
Out of the picture
~~~
"Jess what happened?"
"What makes you think anything happened? What could've happened? Maybe I just wanna leave now." He said frantically.
"I know something happened 'cause you're bouncing off the walls plus you're babbling."
"Okay so maybe something happened." He admitted, "Doesn't change the fact that I want to leave sooner."
"G-d Jess! Are you sure?" Skye had to ask he looked like a caged animal.
"Yes."
One word but it told a thousand tales it was coloured with so much emotion
"Okay, I just got off the phone and I have to go back earlier that planned so - "
"When do we leave?" he asked unflinchingly.
"Tomorrow."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
```
You say you're just friends
So why is she calling you at all hours of the night
You say you don't want us to end
So why does it feel like we're fading in the twilight
Feeling that little things about you have changed a lot lately
Could it be my imagination or am I face to face
With someone who no longer cares about me
Where is this going boy
Can't keep on her playing a starring role in your life
What do you feel boy
Caught up in a situation that's making me think twice
Got to be real, are you sure its me you need, you want by your side
If she truly is your past, me your future
Then why is she not out of the picture?
```
Rory woke up the next morning to ironically one of Skye's songs playing on the radio, mentally exhausted from her dreams.
They were, as usual, about Jess but this time it was as if her sub- conscious was trying to unlock a message.
She replayed their latest encounter in her mind, still disturbed by his cryptic remarks.
She had sensed he was trying to tell her something and for a moment she thought he's spit it out but it was almost like he'd backed out at the last second.
And the way he'd looked her, studying her as though he wanted to remember her.
Rory shook herself out of her wanderings, she was being melodramatic. Nothing out the ordinary had happened yesterday and Jess wasn't trying to tell her anything. It was just the remnants of her dreams filling her head with nonsensical meanderings.
So why couldn't she shake the feeling of impending gloom?
Her feelings of unease proved to be not so meaningless because when she got home after school she realised she had another visitor, déjà vu.
Only this time it was someone whose midnight blue eyes were shooting daggers at her. Rory was sorely tempted to turn around.
"Don't even think about it!" she was warned.
And so she prepared herself for another onslaught as she faced her antagonist.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What do you want?"
Skye had to bite back a retort at Rory's greeting. Getting more worked up was not going to help the situation.
"To talk."
"I have nothing to say."
"That's fine. I've got enough to go round." She said firmly.
"How nice for you," Rory bit out sarcastically, "don't expect me to invite you in."
"Not quite the warm welcome I was anticipating." She said with equal acrimony.
"Whatever Skye, can we get this thing moving along? I've got things to do."
Rory wanted her to get to the point, she'd get right down to it.
"You're being a jackass Rory." She stated simply.
It clearly was not what the other girl was expecting.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
"How dare you come here to insult me?"
"I dare plenty and why shouldn't I? I'm just returning the favour after all."
"I'm not following you." Rory said uncertainly.
"Of course you aren't 'cause you think nothing of me."
Again she was met with a look of puzzlement.
"I should actually be insulted but I'm not because I can see how things could be misconstrued but I at least am looking at both sides of the story where as you keep on harping on yours!"
"You don't beat around the bush do you?"
"No and especially not where Jess is concerned."
"Sent you to do his dirty work did he?"
Skye had never wanted to slap someone so much as she did at that moment. But somehow she managed to keep her temper in control.
"Actually," she said through gritted teeth, "he doesn't know I'm here."
"Really? I don't really know why you're here myself."
"Oh but you do, c'mon Rory deep down you knew I wasn't gonna let this whole thing slide without some sort of confrontation."
"I don't know what you're talking about. I don't spend my days wandering how and when you and I are gonna have a face off. I have better ways of spending my time."
"Like throwing away the chance at happiness."
Rory visibly balked and Skye knew she had hit a nerve.
"I don't know what you're talking about. You don't know me. I'm happy. I'm plenty happy "
"Please, Rory this is me you're talking to. Me, the one person you came to not too long ago searching for answers. Answers about Jess, I hasten to add. You know what it's like for him to open up to you and let you close. Compare that to what's going on now, the emptiness, the pain and you wanna tell me you're happy?" Skye asked incredulously. "That's bull Rory, absolute bull!"
"It is not bull! It's veracity!"
"Bull by any other name is still bull."
"I don't have to listen to this."
Rory made to walk away but Skye stopped grabbed hold of her arm.
"Don't make me have to kick your ass to make you have to listen to reason." She warned. "You are gonna hear what I came here to say."
"Fine." Rory pulled herself away.
"I know Jess has tried to explain but you keep shutting him out. Truth is he was trying to tell you so much more but you aren't willing to listen. Can't you see how important this is?"
Skye raked her hands through her hair, fighting against tears of frustration.
"Okay you've got my attention." Rory confessed albeit parsimoniously but at least Skye could make her point.
"The whole tattoo story, we had been friends for about three years. It took us almost that long to really believe that the other wouldn't abandon us at the next available opportunity. Jess had been through some serious crap with his mom and it was made worse by the fact that his father wasn't around.
"One day we got to talking about how we really were friends and what qualities made up friendship. We both agreed that trust was a major player in the equation and so we decided to cement our bond by getting the tattoos of trust.
"The love part came in afterwards. I have no doubt that Jess loves me and I love him unconditionally. I also know that he's not in love with me, which is what a lot of people have thought over the expanse of our relationship.
"Basically love and trust is the basis of our friendship and our friendship is also the basis of the love and trust we have for each other. Am I making any sense here?" she asked on a ragged sigh.
Skye had never explained this to anyone in so much detail. She'd never explained her and Jess' friendship at all before coming to Stars Hollow. But she was desperate for Rory to understand that what she and Jess could have should be embraced because it wasn't likely to come round again.
"I don't get it why are you so hell bent on making me understand? What makes you think I want to?"
"I know you want to, you care I know you do. And I'm trying to make you understand because if you don't you're going to lose him."
"I don't care."
"G-d Rory stop being so damn stubborn. Open your eyes!"
"Why should I have to?"
"For someone who's supposed to be so smart you sure can be dense! You should open your eyes because Jess is leaving Rory. He's going back to New York - tonight."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"All set?"
"Yeah I guess. I don't have that much stuff."
"You're sure about this?"
"Luke - " Jess warned.
"It's just kinda sudden that's all."
"I was going to leave next week."
"I know but that still gave me, us time."
"Please try to understand." Jess asked struggling against the lump in his throat.
"I'm trying." Luke said gruffly.
"Thanks again for everything."
"No problem. it's gonna take a while getting used to."
"What?"
"The silence, the absence of Metallica and The Sex Pistols thumping in my brain."
Jess laughed.
"Luke?"
"Yeah."
"I'm gonna miss you too."
"Thanks. You're gonna take care of yourself right?"
"Of course."
"Jess, I'm really sorry things didn't work out."
"Me too and thanks."
Luke went downstairs to give Jess some time and space for which he was grateful.
This was it.
He looked around for the last time remembering that he'd kissed her here in this very room.
Jess didn't even try to fight the tears.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I could have but it wouldn't have meant the same to him..
You're a smart girl, you figure it out.
But he held you and let you hold him.
Jess puts up a mask that he only lets a few people past and you're one of them Rory.
He's let you closer than you realise.
Are you sure that's the real reason, that you care.
For someone who's supposed to be so smart you sure can be dense! Open your eyes.
"And so I said Richard, 'don't be ridiculous'. I mean can you imagine - "
Rory only heard snippets of her grandmother's day, she was still in shock after her conversation with Skye.
"Rory is everything alright?" She was shaken from her reverie by Emily Gilmore.
"Everything's fine grandma."
"You're sure dear? You seem a bit out of sorts."
"I'm fine." She said putting a forkful of food in her mouth to appease her.
But she soon found her mind wandering again.
You're a smart girl, you figure it out.
For someone who's supposed to be so smart you sure can be dense! Open your eyes.
Music is Skye's therapy
What's yours?
You.
You're a smart girl, you figure it out.
For someone who's supposed to be so smart you sure can be dense! Open your eyes.
He didn't even say goodbye, how could he be leaving?
You won't have to avoid me anymore 'cause I won't be around.
I'll stay out of your way I promise.
Open your eyes.
Are you sure that's the reason, that you care.
Open your eyes.
"OH MY G-D!" Rory exclaimed, jumping up from the table.
"What? Where's the fire?" Lorelai asked in panic.
But Rory wasn't listening, how could she have been so stupid?
"Mom, grandma. I'm really sorry. Mom can I borrow the car? I'll explain later but I really really have to go!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: So should I carry on or not? Let me know people.
Chapter 21
Out of the picture
~~~
"Jess what happened?"
"What makes you think anything happened? What could've happened? Maybe I just wanna leave now." He said frantically.
"I know something happened 'cause you're bouncing off the walls plus you're babbling."
"Okay so maybe something happened." He admitted, "Doesn't change the fact that I want to leave sooner."
"G-d Jess! Are you sure?" Skye had to ask he looked like a caged animal.
"Yes."
One word but it told a thousand tales it was coloured with so much emotion
"Okay, I just got off the phone and I have to go back earlier that planned so - "
"When do we leave?" he asked unflinchingly.
"Tomorrow."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
```
You say you're just friends
So why is she calling you at all hours of the night
You say you don't want us to end
So why does it feel like we're fading in the twilight
Feeling that little things about you have changed a lot lately
Could it be my imagination or am I face to face
With someone who no longer cares about me
Where is this going boy
Can't keep on her playing a starring role in your life
What do you feel boy
Caught up in a situation that's making me think twice
Got to be real, are you sure its me you need, you want by your side
If she truly is your past, me your future
Then why is she not out of the picture?
```
Rory woke up the next morning to ironically one of Skye's songs playing on the radio, mentally exhausted from her dreams.
They were, as usual, about Jess but this time it was as if her sub- conscious was trying to unlock a message.
She replayed their latest encounter in her mind, still disturbed by his cryptic remarks.
She had sensed he was trying to tell her something and for a moment she thought he's spit it out but it was almost like he'd backed out at the last second.
And the way he'd looked her, studying her as though he wanted to remember her.
Rory shook herself out of her wanderings, she was being melodramatic. Nothing out the ordinary had happened yesterday and Jess wasn't trying to tell her anything. It was just the remnants of her dreams filling her head with nonsensical meanderings.
So why couldn't she shake the feeling of impending gloom?
Her feelings of unease proved to be not so meaningless because when she got home after school she realised she had another visitor, déjà vu.
Only this time it was someone whose midnight blue eyes were shooting daggers at her. Rory was sorely tempted to turn around.
"Don't even think about it!" she was warned.
And so she prepared herself for another onslaught as she faced her antagonist.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What do you want?"
Skye had to bite back a retort at Rory's greeting. Getting more worked up was not going to help the situation.
"To talk."
"I have nothing to say."
"That's fine. I've got enough to go round." She said firmly.
"How nice for you," Rory bit out sarcastically, "don't expect me to invite you in."
"Not quite the warm welcome I was anticipating." She said with equal acrimony.
"Whatever Skye, can we get this thing moving along? I've got things to do."
Rory wanted her to get to the point, she'd get right down to it.
"You're being a jackass Rory." She stated simply.
It clearly was not what the other girl was expecting.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
"How dare you come here to insult me?"
"I dare plenty and why shouldn't I? I'm just returning the favour after all."
"I'm not following you." Rory said uncertainly.
"Of course you aren't 'cause you think nothing of me."
Again she was met with a look of puzzlement.
"I should actually be insulted but I'm not because I can see how things could be misconstrued but I at least am looking at both sides of the story where as you keep on harping on yours!"
"You don't beat around the bush do you?"
"No and especially not where Jess is concerned."
"Sent you to do his dirty work did he?"
Skye had never wanted to slap someone so much as she did at that moment. But somehow she managed to keep her temper in control.
"Actually," she said through gritted teeth, "he doesn't know I'm here."
"Really? I don't really know why you're here myself."
"Oh but you do, c'mon Rory deep down you knew I wasn't gonna let this whole thing slide without some sort of confrontation."
"I don't know what you're talking about. I don't spend my days wandering how and when you and I are gonna have a face off. I have better ways of spending my time."
"Like throwing away the chance at happiness."
Rory visibly balked and Skye knew she had hit a nerve.
"I don't know what you're talking about. You don't know me. I'm happy. I'm plenty happy "
"Please, Rory this is me you're talking to. Me, the one person you came to not too long ago searching for answers. Answers about Jess, I hasten to add. You know what it's like for him to open up to you and let you close. Compare that to what's going on now, the emptiness, the pain and you wanna tell me you're happy?" Skye asked incredulously. "That's bull Rory, absolute bull!"
"It is not bull! It's veracity!"
"Bull by any other name is still bull."
"I don't have to listen to this."
Rory made to walk away but Skye stopped grabbed hold of her arm.
"Don't make me have to kick your ass to make you have to listen to reason." She warned. "You are gonna hear what I came here to say."
"Fine." Rory pulled herself away.
"I know Jess has tried to explain but you keep shutting him out. Truth is he was trying to tell you so much more but you aren't willing to listen. Can't you see how important this is?"
Skye raked her hands through her hair, fighting against tears of frustration.
"Okay you've got my attention." Rory confessed albeit parsimoniously but at least Skye could make her point.
"The whole tattoo story, we had been friends for about three years. It took us almost that long to really believe that the other wouldn't abandon us at the next available opportunity. Jess had been through some serious crap with his mom and it was made worse by the fact that his father wasn't around.
"One day we got to talking about how we really were friends and what qualities made up friendship. We both agreed that trust was a major player in the equation and so we decided to cement our bond by getting the tattoos of trust.
"The love part came in afterwards. I have no doubt that Jess loves me and I love him unconditionally. I also know that he's not in love with me, which is what a lot of people have thought over the expanse of our relationship.
"Basically love and trust is the basis of our friendship and our friendship is also the basis of the love and trust we have for each other. Am I making any sense here?" she asked on a ragged sigh.
Skye had never explained this to anyone in so much detail. She'd never explained her and Jess' friendship at all before coming to Stars Hollow. But she was desperate for Rory to understand that what she and Jess could have should be embraced because it wasn't likely to come round again.
"I don't get it why are you so hell bent on making me understand? What makes you think I want to?"
"I know you want to, you care I know you do. And I'm trying to make you understand because if you don't you're going to lose him."
"I don't care."
"G-d Rory stop being so damn stubborn. Open your eyes!"
"Why should I have to?"
"For someone who's supposed to be so smart you sure can be dense! You should open your eyes because Jess is leaving Rory. He's going back to New York - tonight."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"All set?"
"Yeah I guess. I don't have that much stuff."
"You're sure about this?"
"Luke - " Jess warned.
"It's just kinda sudden that's all."
"I was going to leave next week."
"I know but that still gave me, us time."
"Please try to understand." Jess asked struggling against the lump in his throat.
"I'm trying." Luke said gruffly.
"Thanks again for everything."
"No problem. it's gonna take a while getting used to."
"What?"
"The silence, the absence of Metallica and The Sex Pistols thumping in my brain."
Jess laughed.
"Luke?"
"Yeah."
"I'm gonna miss you too."
"Thanks. You're gonna take care of yourself right?"
"Of course."
"Jess, I'm really sorry things didn't work out."
"Me too and thanks."
Luke went downstairs to give Jess some time and space for which he was grateful.
This was it.
He looked around for the last time remembering that he'd kissed her here in this very room.
Jess didn't even try to fight the tears.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I could have but it wouldn't have meant the same to him..
You're a smart girl, you figure it out.
But he held you and let you hold him.
Jess puts up a mask that he only lets a few people past and you're one of them Rory.
He's let you closer than you realise.
Are you sure that's the real reason, that you care.
For someone who's supposed to be so smart you sure can be dense! Open your eyes.
"And so I said Richard, 'don't be ridiculous'. I mean can you imagine - "
Rory only heard snippets of her grandmother's day, she was still in shock after her conversation with Skye.
"Rory is everything alright?" She was shaken from her reverie by Emily Gilmore.
"Everything's fine grandma."
"You're sure dear? You seem a bit out of sorts."
"I'm fine." She said putting a forkful of food in her mouth to appease her.
But she soon found her mind wandering again.
You're a smart girl, you figure it out.
For someone who's supposed to be so smart you sure can be dense! Open your eyes.
Music is Skye's therapy
What's yours?
You.
You're a smart girl, you figure it out.
For someone who's supposed to be so smart you sure can be dense! Open your eyes.
He didn't even say goodbye, how could he be leaving?
You won't have to avoid me anymore 'cause I won't be around.
I'll stay out of your way I promise.
Open your eyes.
Are you sure that's the reason, that you care.
Open your eyes.
"OH MY G-D!" Rory exclaimed, jumping up from the table.
"What? Where's the fire?" Lorelai asked in panic.
But Rory wasn't listening, how could she have been so stupid?
"Mom, grandma. I'm really sorry. Mom can I borrow the car? I'll explain later but I really really have to go!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: So should I carry on or not? Let me know people.
