PAIRING: R/J

SUMMARY: The story starts with the episode 'Help wanted'. The fight between Rory and Lorelai doesn't end well, Rory realises that she loves Jess and things develop from there.

SPOILERS: None that I know of

DISCLAIMERS: I don't own anything

RATING: R (probably PG for the first few chapters, but as soon as I get to the interaction between Rory and Jess it's gonna be R)

A/N: So, here goes the second chapter, hope you like it. I had many ideas about where I wanted to go with this story, I hope I chose the right one.. And thank you very, very much for the reviews..:)

The Day After Tomorrow

Chapter Two

After the fight with her mum, Rory had got home around ten at night. Lorelai's car had been parked in front of the house, but she wasn't downstairs and so Rory didn't see her. Rory went straight to her room and to bed. But she hadn't slept until the early hours of the morning. She had been thinking, about her mother and herself, but most of all, about Jess.

*Lane's house, the next day*

Rory was sitting on Lane's bed and her best friend stared at her silently. Rory had told her about the fight she had had with Lorelai and Lane couldn't have been more surprised. Rory and her mother had always been on the same wavelength, they had been best friends who told each other everything. Now they weren't even speaking, and they hadn't seen each other after Rory had ran out of his grandfather's office.

"You think I'm crazy, don't you?" Rory said and looked at Lane warily

"I'm surprised. But then again, I guess this was just waiting to happen. The fight about Jess, I mean."

"I know you don't like him, but… He's not what you think he is. He's just different from all of us. His whole life has been so different, he doesn't know how to trust people or even like people."

"He likes you" Lane said and smiled slightly. "I confess that he's not my favourite person in the world, but I believe you when you say that he's different with you. He seems to be a completely different person around you, maybe that's who he really is."

Rory was relieved to hear her friends words. "He can be annoying, I'll say that, but at the same time he's so intelligent, you should hear him talking about literature and things he really cares about."

"Those things being you. Everyone can see that he's crazy about you. It's so obvious, the look on his face when he sees you. And the look can be seen on you face, too."

Lane had suspected that Rory would try to deny her feelings for Jess, but she was wrong. Rory didn't say anything, she just nodded and then a wide smile spread on her face. She looked happy, happier than Lane had seen her in a while.

"I was up last night, thinking about him. If I didn't know it before, I know it now. I really, really, really like him, Lane. When I just think about him, I can't stop smiling. I feel weird, I think about kissing him and God know what else" Rory smirked as Lane's eyes were suddenly wide open.

Lane and Rory spent hours talking. It was a Sunday and Lane's mother was at an antique fair, so they had no one to interrupt them. Lane was nervous for her friend, especially she was worried about Rory's relationship with Lorelai. They had always meant so much to each other, but now everything seemed so different.

"I have to talk to Dean" Rory said as she was preparing to leave for home. "I thought I should do it today, I want to get it done."

"Even though you don't know how you'll find Jess and what he'll say when you tell him how you feel about him"

"Great, make me feel insecure!" Rory cried out laughing. "Whatever happens, I can't stay with Dean, when I want Jess. And I can't stay with Dean, just because my mother or this town wants me to. I have to do what's right for me."

Lane saw the determined look on her friend's face and silently wished that some day she would have the same kind of courage to stand up for herself as Rory did.

"I want to sort things out with my mum, but right now, I can only concentrate on Jess. I can't let him slip away from my life"

"Everything's gonna turn out fine, you'll find Jess and you'll make up with your mum."

"I hope you're right" Rory said and started walking home.

*The Gilmore House*

Lorelai was sitting on the couch, reading a book. Actually, she was sitting on the couch holding a book. She hadn't been able to concentrate, she hadn't been able to do anything. She hadn't seen Rory after the fight, she was worried about her and angry at her. Her mother had heard the fight between her and Rory and had been furious at both of them, especially Lorelai for letting her daughter run out like that. Emily had called the house three times that day to see if they had worked things out. Each time she had got the same answer, Rory wasn't there and Lorelai hadn't even seen her. 

Lorelai heard some footsteps on the porch, she lifted her book up again and pretended to read. Rory stepped inside and closed the door after her. The room filled with a silence that was completely unfamiliar to both Gilmores. Rory stood by the door and didn't know what to do, Lorelai still sat down and didn't look at her daughter.

"Mum?" Rory said finally

Lorelai turned her head and was sure that she would hear an apology. Rory moved a bit closer, but didn't sit down.

"I'm sorry about what happened last night. I'm sorry I said those things to you and I'm sorry you said those things to me."

Rory remained quiet for a minute, perhaps waiting for her mother to reply. She didn't, therefore Rory had only one more thing to say.

"But I guess it doesn't change the fact that we both meant what we said."

"Apparently." Lorelai said and she felt her heart sank.

Lorelai wanted to do something to make things better again, but she couldn't. She couldn't tell her daughter that she didn't hate Jess, the only thing she could have said is that he was going to ruin her life.

"You hate him and despise him and if that's the way it is, then there's nothing I can do about it. But you should know that there's also nothing you can do to change the way I feel about him. I know him, mum and right now all I want is be with him"

"And Dean?"

"I'm going over to his house now. I want to sort everything out"

"I see."

Rory and Lorelai looked at each other for a minute, neither said a word. They could both feel the barrier that now stood between them, and neither was ready or willing to do anything about it. Rory took a deep breath and went back out, leaving Lorelai alone, more alone than she had ever been in her life.

Rory walked to Dean's house, like she had done so many times before. She knew that she would hurt him, but she knew she had to do it. She felt like a completely new person, it made her somewhat nervous, but in a way she liked it. She knew that there was something completely new waiting for her in the future.

*The Gilmore House, Later that night*

Rory was lying on her bed, listening to music. It had been ages since she had had a Sunday night like this. Usually she hang out with Lorelai, but tonight her mother was working at the inn. Not that it would have changed much even if her mother had been home. In 24 hours they had gone from best friends to people who had very little to say to each other.

Rory had absolutely nothing to do. Of course she could have read or studied but she really didn't have the energy. It had been a rough day, not being in speaking terms with her mum and breaking up with Dean. They had been together for a long time, and Dean didn't seem very surprised when Rory had told him about her feelings for Jess. She had been open with him, and also told him about the fight with her mum. Dean hadn't said much, just stared at her and then asked her to leave.

It was around ten at night when the telephone rang and Rory was forced out of bed. She had some trouble finding the phone, but eventually she located it behind the couch. She was breathing a bit harder than normal when she answered it and when she heard the caller's voice was, she was about to stop breathing all together.

"Rory?" he said again when she remained silent.

His voice sounded deep, it sounded even better than she remembered. Rory held the phone and a huge grin was soon on her face.

"Rory, is it you?" his voice said again, and this time she was able to answer him.

"Yea, it's me. I was just surprised to hear your voice."

"I didn't mean to bother you, you're probably hanging out with Lorelai, I just wanted to make sure you're ok."

"I'm fine. Really. Actually I…"

Rory didn't know what to say. She thought it wouldn't be the best idea in the world to tell him about her feeling for him over the phone, but she had to tell him something so that he wouldn't give up on her.

"I broke up with Dean today."

There, is was out in the open. Now she just had to wait for his response. But it didn't come.

"Jess?" she finally said and was scared to death that he didn't care.

"I'm still here" she heard him say. "You just surprised me there"

"Yea, I sort of surprised everyone"

"Lorelai isn't happy, is she?"

"Not really, actually we're not speaking to each other at the moment. We had a big fight yesterday and.. But hey, you called me and here I am babbling on and on about myself. How are you doing?"

"I'm cool. But you know I did call to see how you were doing. I don't mind listening to you"

"Yea, I know" Rory said and Jess could hear that she sounded happy. "You know, there's something I wanted to talk to you about, I was just wondering how I might be able to find you."

"Well, lucky you that I called then, huh? What did you want to talk to me about?"

Rory wondered to herself if Jess had any idea about what she was going to say. She didn't know that Jess was just as nervous as she was. Before calling he had been worried about how Rory would feel about him after the accident, now he was nervous because of the break up. There was a little voice in his head that wondered if it could have something to do with him.

"It's really not something I wanted to say on the phone. I was… You don't think you could consider moving back to Stars Hollow, do you?"

After a short silence, the reply came and she had been expecting it.

"Why?" Jess said quietly, feeling probably more vulnerable than ever.

He felt his whole future depended on what she would say. Rory was glad to be so sure of her feelings, for the first time in her life, she had no trouble expressing them, especially to him.

"I want you to come back, Jess" her voice sounded soft and there was not a hint of doubt in it.

Again, there was a silence during which they both were smiling. Jess standing on the street in New York, Rory standing in the middle of her living room.

"You sound sure about this" Jess finally said wanting to make sure she wouldn't change her mind.

"I've never been more sure about anything in my life. Luke will have you back, he misses you. And I need you back"

Rory sat down on the coach and closed her eyes when she heard his words

"I'll be there. The day after tomorrow "

A/N: That was it for now, I'll do my best to update soon, maybe Wednesday, but I have a busy week ahead of me. The title of the story is actually something I borrowed from a Danish band called Saybia. The Day After Tomorrow is one of their songs and the lyrics reminded me of Jess and Rory. I might post the lyrics here some time… Anyway, please review and thank you for reading!