A/N Hey guys! Before you continue reading I want to thank everyone for the
amazing feedback! You make my day! As such I should say to anyone and
everyone FEEDBACK IS APPRECIATED!!!! And moving on, I hope you like the
chapter! Tell me what you think, suggestions are always welcome. Also I'm
trying to think up screen names for Jess and Rory, and I need help (no this
isn't going to turn into another 'CoffeeJunkie02 meets Nyer02' which by the
way was an awesome story!! But I may incorporate a little online chat
later.tell me what you think!!!
Disclaimer ~ I own nothing but the storyline, sue me if you want, I'm not sure the clothes off my back are worth much, but you can try!!
Spoilers ~ I never included this before!! Hehe sorry! Alright everything has happened, this is just my end for season 3
Chapter 3: A Confrontation
The silence in Luke's had remained absolute for a while after Jess' departure, the only sound that was heard was the tinkling of the bells over the door as I left.
As I walked down the streets of Stars Hollow it struck me as crazy that everyone could be so jovial. Didn't they know what was going on? This was Stars Hollow for gods sake, news traveled faster then a Kenyan in a marathon. I hated the seeing the smiles on peoples faces as I thought of how completely broken Jess was feeling, and in turn how I was feeling.
Why had he shied away when I touched him? Why couldn't I help him? What is going to happen next?
Hundreds of answerless questions exploding like fireworks in my mind as I walked along the familiar path to the Inn; I had too see my mom. She was the only one who I could rant to and the only one I could ask for advice seeing as Lane was currently being cleansed and biblically purified at a Korean Bible Camp in Wichita.
The instant I pushed the heavy door to the Independence open my eyes began roving over the faces of the people bustling about the crowded lobby. There were florists delivering bouquets of lilies for the dining room, upholsterers recovering all of the sofas in the Lobby, and at least four families checking in for the weekend, but no Lorelai. So after not locating her face I made my way through the crowds to the kitchen where I found her leaning against the counter debating the menu with Sookie. The kitchen was otherwise empty.
"Jess' dad is here"
The two of them went absolutely still before mom's face became confused and she looked at me. "What are you talking about??"
At this I began my rant.
"Jess' father is in town. He just walked into the diner this morning and declared that he wanted a second chance. Well maybe he didn't declare it, more whispered it . . . but mom you should have seen the look on Jess' face. He was completely hurting and resentful and terrified and then he tensed up when I tried to help him and now I don't know where he is. Jess is hurting and I don't know how to help him and damn it I need some kind of advice. "
I drew a deep breathe and watched as my rambled processed and answers were formulated.
"Wait back up, Jess dad is in town? As in here? Stars Hollow?"
Well thank god my mother is so goddamn quick
I sighed exasperatedly "Yes mom! God weren't you LISTENING?? He is here, and another thing, you have probably met him. He's staying in the Inn."
"He's staying at the Inn?"
OH MY GOD welcome to the world of Rory Gilmore and her mother, also known as her echo
"Mom your really sucking at this whole 'help your daughter who is currently freaking out' thing" my patience was draining quickly, but I finally saw a look of comprehension flitter in my mom's face.
"A suit came in here earlier; he was tallish, graying hair, almost forty?"
"By George I think she's got it"
"God that's Jess' father? Actually you know what? I kind of see the resemblance. He checked in this morning, He's staying for a week."
"Yes I know, could we move on to the advice portion of this session?" I was being irritable and I knew it, but right now I needed guidance. I hated the feeling of being completely lost.
"Alright Rory, this is all just a little odd. I mean you've told me all of the minimal facts Jess has provided about his dad, but it wasn't enough to make this guy seem real. Now that he's here its weird. Just back up and start from the beginning."
I drew in a deep breath before speaking rapidly. "Well he showed up and asked for Jess and then Jess came out and didn't recognize him so he introduced himself and Jess kinda froze, his entire body went rigid and then he just ran upstairs. I followed him, finding him sitting in an angry, resentful, pained cloud on his bed and I tried to talk to him but everything I said just made it worse . . . " And I proceeded to tell her about our conversation, everything he had said, everything I had said, and the details of the second confrontation. When I finished she just looked at me for a while. She bit her upper lip before speaking slowly and calculatedly.
"Rory I think this is something he needs to do by himself. This is his father, these are his demons. You can be there when he needs you, but Hun, I don't think there is much you can do here. He needs to do this and knowing Jess he probably understands that and he will do it. The important thing for you to do is be the one he can talk to, be there when he needs you, be there when its over, be there when the repercussions start, kind of like a safety net for him to fall on. " Her expression remained solid and knowing throughout her entire speech and the second she was done I felt a weight being taken from my shoulders. Thank god for mothers.
I smiled a little bit as I nodded and turned to walk out through the swinging door. Breathing deeply I began to make my way for the diner, I needed coffee now, and maybe Jess was there, maybe he felt like talking.
I was lost in thought as I battled the masses to get out of the Inn, and barely noticed as I bumped shoulders with another person. I paused and turned around just as the other person did. The second I saw his face I felt my stomach drop and fought the impulse to just spin on my heel and charge out of there. This guy didn't deserve conversation. But I stayed, for some reason my feet wouldn't move.
"I uh, I'm sorry." I said as I found my feet again and began to turn away but was stopped by his voice.
"Wait, please wait."
I spun back around to look at him and it took my everything to not grab the poker out of the fire and smack him with it. I clenched my teeth and said nothing,
"You're the girl. From the diner . . . you know Jess."
"I do, I'm his girlfriend." For some reason I felt it was necessary the he knew this, don't ask why.
I watched him shrewdly as his expression went limp. His shoulders dropped and he bit the inside of his lip nervously.
"Could you, would you, I mean its just . . . I never wanted to leave." He said sadly and I almost felt a pang of sympathy but, upon remembering who I was speaking to, let my voice cool as I talked.
"I'm really not the person you should be talking to." I said icily but he didn't relent.
"How is he?"
"Suddenly you care?" I spat. This wasn't me, I was attacking someone I didn't even know with express fury, but because I was with Jess and I saw how he was feeling I felt the need to hate this guy.
"I know you probably have heard terrible and maybe-"
"Deserved?"
"I was going to say unflattering, but yea I guess that works. I never wanted to hurt him. I never wanted to leave, but I had to. It was my only choice."
I finally softened a little at the helplessness in his voice, and the sorrow painted on his expression. And, bringing myself back to his question, said, "He's not great. He is really upset, more so then I have ever seen him. And angry . . . can't forget that." He nodded shortly and, suddenly becoming embarrassed, thanked me for my time and offered a weak smile as he walked toward the elevator.
I really wanted to hate him, I mean I tried with all of my might to not sympathize for him, but no matter how much I tried, I couldn't bring myself to do it. Not after talking to him, not after hearing the lament in his voice and seeing lines of worry creasing his forehead, and especially not after once again seeing the exhausted look in his eyes. The look that suggested years of pain, of remorse, of wondering.
I watched him get onto the elevator silently, and after he was gone stared at the spot where he had been. There was something about him, something cryptic and hidden, and something invisible to the naked eye.
It took me a while to tear my eyes from the spot and turn to walk out of the Inn. I was going to find Jess, if I knew him at all I knew that now, after he had been given a chance to digest it and think about it, was the time that he needed to talk.
Disclaimer ~ I own nothing but the storyline, sue me if you want, I'm not sure the clothes off my back are worth much, but you can try!!
Spoilers ~ I never included this before!! Hehe sorry! Alright everything has happened, this is just my end for season 3
Chapter 3: A Confrontation
The silence in Luke's had remained absolute for a while after Jess' departure, the only sound that was heard was the tinkling of the bells over the door as I left.
As I walked down the streets of Stars Hollow it struck me as crazy that everyone could be so jovial. Didn't they know what was going on? This was Stars Hollow for gods sake, news traveled faster then a Kenyan in a marathon. I hated the seeing the smiles on peoples faces as I thought of how completely broken Jess was feeling, and in turn how I was feeling.
Why had he shied away when I touched him? Why couldn't I help him? What is going to happen next?
Hundreds of answerless questions exploding like fireworks in my mind as I walked along the familiar path to the Inn; I had too see my mom. She was the only one who I could rant to and the only one I could ask for advice seeing as Lane was currently being cleansed and biblically purified at a Korean Bible Camp in Wichita.
The instant I pushed the heavy door to the Independence open my eyes began roving over the faces of the people bustling about the crowded lobby. There were florists delivering bouquets of lilies for the dining room, upholsterers recovering all of the sofas in the Lobby, and at least four families checking in for the weekend, but no Lorelai. So after not locating her face I made my way through the crowds to the kitchen where I found her leaning against the counter debating the menu with Sookie. The kitchen was otherwise empty.
"Jess' dad is here"
The two of them went absolutely still before mom's face became confused and she looked at me. "What are you talking about??"
At this I began my rant.
"Jess' father is in town. He just walked into the diner this morning and declared that he wanted a second chance. Well maybe he didn't declare it, more whispered it . . . but mom you should have seen the look on Jess' face. He was completely hurting and resentful and terrified and then he tensed up when I tried to help him and now I don't know where he is. Jess is hurting and I don't know how to help him and damn it I need some kind of advice. "
I drew a deep breathe and watched as my rambled processed and answers were formulated.
"Wait back up, Jess dad is in town? As in here? Stars Hollow?"
Well thank god my mother is so goddamn quick
I sighed exasperatedly "Yes mom! God weren't you LISTENING?? He is here, and another thing, you have probably met him. He's staying in the Inn."
"He's staying at the Inn?"
OH MY GOD welcome to the world of Rory Gilmore and her mother, also known as her echo
"Mom your really sucking at this whole 'help your daughter who is currently freaking out' thing" my patience was draining quickly, but I finally saw a look of comprehension flitter in my mom's face.
"A suit came in here earlier; he was tallish, graying hair, almost forty?"
"By George I think she's got it"
"God that's Jess' father? Actually you know what? I kind of see the resemblance. He checked in this morning, He's staying for a week."
"Yes I know, could we move on to the advice portion of this session?" I was being irritable and I knew it, but right now I needed guidance. I hated the feeling of being completely lost.
"Alright Rory, this is all just a little odd. I mean you've told me all of the minimal facts Jess has provided about his dad, but it wasn't enough to make this guy seem real. Now that he's here its weird. Just back up and start from the beginning."
I drew in a deep breath before speaking rapidly. "Well he showed up and asked for Jess and then Jess came out and didn't recognize him so he introduced himself and Jess kinda froze, his entire body went rigid and then he just ran upstairs. I followed him, finding him sitting in an angry, resentful, pained cloud on his bed and I tried to talk to him but everything I said just made it worse . . . " And I proceeded to tell her about our conversation, everything he had said, everything I had said, and the details of the second confrontation. When I finished she just looked at me for a while. She bit her upper lip before speaking slowly and calculatedly.
"Rory I think this is something he needs to do by himself. This is his father, these are his demons. You can be there when he needs you, but Hun, I don't think there is much you can do here. He needs to do this and knowing Jess he probably understands that and he will do it. The important thing for you to do is be the one he can talk to, be there when he needs you, be there when its over, be there when the repercussions start, kind of like a safety net for him to fall on. " Her expression remained solid and knowing throughout her entire speech and the second she was done I felt a weight being taken from my shoulders. Thank god for mothers.
I smiled a little bit as I nodded and turned to walk out through the swinging door. Breathing deeply I began to make my way for the diner, I needed coffee now, and maybe Jess was there, maybe he felt like talking.
I was lost in thought as I battled the masses to get out of the Inn, and barely noticed as I bumped shoulders with another person. I paused and turned around just as the other person did. The second I saw his face I felt my stomach drop and fought the impulse to just spin on my heel and charge out of there. This guy didn't deserve conversation. But I stayed, for some reason my feet wouldn't move.
"I uh, I'm sorry." I said as I found my feet again and began to turn away but was stopped by his voice.
"Wait, please wait."
I spun back around to look at him and it took my everything to not grab the poker out of the fire and smack him with it. I clenched my teeth and said nothing,
"You're the girl. From the diner . . . you know Jess."
"I do, I'm his girlfriend." For some reason I felt it was necessary the he knew this, don't ask why.
I watched him shrewdly as his expression went limp. His shoulders dropped and he bit the inside of his lip nervously.
"Could you, would you, I mean its just . . . I never wanted to leave." He said sadly and I almost felt a pang of sympathy but, upon remembering who I was speaking to, let my voice cool as I talked.
"I'm really not the person you should be talking to." I said icily but he didn't relent.
"How is he?"
"Suddenly you care?" I spat. This wasn't me, I was attacking someone I didn't even know with express fury, but because I was with Jess and I saw how he was feeling I felt the need to hate this guy.
"I know you probably have heard terrible and maybe-"
"Deserved?"
"I was going to say unflattering, but yea I guess that works. I never wanted to hurt him. I never wanted to leave, but I had to. It was my only choice."
I finally softened a little at the helplessness in his voice, and the sorrow painted on his expression. And, bringing myself back to his question, said, "He's not great. He is really upset, more so then I have ever seen him. And angry . . . can't forget that." He nodded shortly and, suddenly becoming embarrassed, thanked me for my time and offered a weak smile as he walked toward the elevator.
I really wanted to hate him, I mean I tried with all of my might to not sympathize for him, but no matter how much I tried, I couldn't bring myself to do it. Not after talking to him, not after hearing the lament in his voice and seeing lines of worry creasing his forehead, and especially not after once again seeing the exhausted look in his eyes. The look that suggested years of pain, of remorse, of wondering.
I watched him get onto the elevator silently, and after he was gone stared at the spot where he had been. There was something about him, something cryptic and hidden, and something invisible to the naked eye.
It took me a while to tear my eyes from the spot and turn to walk out of the Inn. I was going to find Jess, if I knew him at all I knew that now, after he had been given a chance to digest it and think about it, was the time that he needed to talk.
