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 etc.
SPOILERS: None that I know of
DISCLAIMERS: I don't own anything
RATING: R
A/N: I had an unbelievably horrible exam today, I've been trying to study law a bit but it's really not for me..:( Anyway, I didn't get too many reviews for the last chapter, then again there wasn't too much happening in there. Well, after this chapter that's gonna change, more problems and God knows what is coming our way..:) Anyway, hope you like this, and it would be fun to get more reviews…
The Day After Tomorrow
Chapter Nine
*Monday, 10pm*
Rory was sitting in the car next to Lorelai. They were heading home from Hartford, after having dinner with Emily and Richard. The dinner had been pretty normal, the usual talk about school and work, but then Emily had done something Rory wasn't expecting. She had asked Rory about Jess, or more precisely she had asked if they were still together. Jess had never before been mentioned in that house and Rory couldn't understand what had made her grandmother ask about him now.
"Mom?" Rory said when they were about five minutes from home.
Lorelai looked at her with a question on her face, then turned her gaze back to the road.
"I was pretty surprised when grandma asked about Jess. She's never talked about him before"
"Yea" Lorelai replied, but didn't look at Rory. "I guess she was worried about last weekend, you being alone"
"Yea" Rory said quietly and wondered if it was good to push the subject with Lorelai. Then she decided that she might just as well give it a try. "Things are good for me and Jess"
Lorelai nodded and her neutral attitude made Rory nervous. It wasn't like her mother to act like this, especially when the subject was Jess.
"I know we haven't been together long, but I've never felt better and it's because of him"
Lorelai nodded again. Rory looked at her, she seemed so calm and casual. It was like she didn't even care how Rory felt about Jess, not to mention the fact that she would hate Jess. Rory and her mom were silent for the rest of the drive and when at home, Lorelai hurried inside saying she had some paperwork to do. Rory followed her to the kitchen and looked at her mother feeling confused. She had thought that they were getting on better, and they had been because Jess had not been a topic after their fight. But now Lorelai was acting very strangely again. She didn't seem angry, or worried. Just weird. Rory leaned against the wall, while Lorelai went through her papers by the table.
"Do you think you'll be able to understand?" Rory said quietly
Lorelai didn't say anything, a part of her wanted to tell Rory that she would try, but the other part… Lorelai knew what was going to happen, she knew guys like Jess and girls like Rory. It was a classic - the bad boy comes to town and takes advantage of the inexperienced small town girl. And she knew Rory would never believe her whatever she said, so there was really no point in telling her that.
Finally Rory nodded slowly. They had been looking at each other for a while now, neither had said a word. Rory was confused, she was so happy about Jess and at the same time she was terrified that her relationship with her mother had changed for good.
"I'm gonna go to bed" Rory said and Lorelai nodded slowly.
"Good night, Rory" Lorelai said and watched her daughter close the door to her room after her.
For a minute Lorelai sat by the table, then she turned down the lights downstairs and went up to her room. She sat down by her bed and thought about her daughter… with Jess.
*1am*
Rory was lying in bed when she heard a tap on the window. She smiled immediately knowing who it was. She got up silently and opened the window to see Jess smiling at her.
"Hey there, gorgeous" he whispered and Rory helped him climb in.
"I'm so glad you're here" Rory said and pulled him tightly against herself.
Jess could see something was wrong and he wrapped his arms around her firmly. They stood like that for a while, they both loved it, feeling the body of the other against their own, it was definitely good, perfect.
"You wanna talk about it?" he asked cautiously
Rory stepped a bit further away from Jess who sat down on the chair next to her desk and looked at her with a worried expression on his face. Rory sat down on the bed and said that she had tried to talk to her mom about her relationship with him.
"No success?"
"No, she didn't say a word when I asked her if she would be able to accept it"
"I'm sorry" Jess whispered
"It's just that I thought things were getting better. I guess things are good for me and my mom whenever we don't talk about you"
The look on Jess's face told her that he hated to be the one ruining Rory's relationship with her mother. Rory smiled at him slightly.
"You know, you make me feel perfect." she said and got up.
"Really?" he said and Rory could hear from his voice that he was happy.
Rory looked at him smiling and then sat on his lap so that their chests were against each other. She kissed him lightly and then put her forehead against his.
"Really" she said almost inaudibly and right away Jess pressed his lips against hers.
They kissed slowly, taking their time and enjoying each other's presence. Then Rory looked at him and saw him smile. It seemed to make all the trouble worthwhile. Seeing him happy, because of her.
"Doesn't this feel unreal?" she whispered to him and concentrated at looking into his eyes.
"Yea"
"But this is real, right?"
"Yea" Jess said again and took a deep breath.
Rory leaned against him, their chests against each other, her head against his neck. They had a firm hold of each other and they were both amazingly comfortable. That's when he whispered the words he had never said to anyone. Rory didn't move, she just wanted to stay like that and make the moment last longer. Finally she lifted her head and looked at him. The look on his face was vulnerable, the silence that surrounded them made the situation even more dreamlike.
"I love you, too, Jess"
Slowly Rory pressed her lips against his again and when he replied to the kiss, she could feel his emotions in it. The kiss was powerful, almost violent or distressed. She was overwhelmed by everything, everything involving Jess. When they both needed a breath, their foreheads rested against each other and they were breathing hard.
"I should probably get going, Luke saw me leaving and made me swear I'd be back in an hour"
"I'll walk you back" Rory said smiling when she got off him and grabbed her jeans.
"No, you stay here. I don't want you walking alone in the night, besides…"
"Besides, there's no one out at this hour" Rory said and pulled off her pyjama pants replacing them with jeans. "Come on, it's not fair that you're always the one coming to me"
"There would be some difficulties if you wanted to climb in through my window" Jess smirked and after Rory had pulled on a jacket, he helped her out of the window.
"It's pretty warm out here" Rory said when she took a firm rip of his hand. "And school is almost over"
"Thank God for that" Jess sighed and laughed when Rory looked at him disapprovingly.
"You know Jess, I was thinking that I should start taking the pill. So, we wouldn't have to worry about anything like that"
Jess looked at her more seriously and nodded. It was definitely the sensible thing to do, and if Rory was willing to do it then he was happy with it.
"I guess that means your mom is gonna find out soon. It's not easy to hide it from her"
"Yea, I was hoping that today… we could have talked. I was hoping that she had got used to the idea of us together. But I know I can't hide the fact that I'm on the pill, so I have to tell her even if she'll disapprove"
"I'm sorry this is so hard" Jess said almost silently.
"Me, too. But I guess there's nothing neither of us can do about it"
"Yea" Jess said absentmindedly and stared into the distance.
The town was beautiful at night, so quiet and so peaceful. It wasn't often Rory and Jess got to walk on the streets without people gossiping and staring. Rory squeezed Jess's hand and he looked at her reassuringly.
*Tuesday, 3pm*
Jess was walking toward Luke's. It was an incredibly warm day and he couldn't believe that this was his last week at school. The past month had passed so quickly and so much had happened. He actually felt like smiling right there in the middle of the street, but he managed to control himself. Jess knew that Rory had got off school earlier today so she would probably already be at the diner. When he crossed the street, he saw her sitting by the window. She had a wide smile on her face and Jess couldn't help but wonder how she could be so beautiful. He hurried in and saw Rory sitting with Lane.
"Jess!" Rory cried out smiling when she saw him step in.
Jess walked to her and kissed her quickly, then turning to see Lane.
"Hi"
"Hey, Jess"
Then there was silence. Lane and Jess looked at each other, then they both turned to see Rory. Actually, Jess and Lane had never really spent any time together. Once in a while they bumped into each other at school, but that was it.
"You wanna join us?" Rory asked and smiled at how uncomfortable Jess looked around other people.
"Luke probably needs me" Jess said and looked at her apologetically.
"Or not" Rory replied smiling. "You might have noticed that the diner is pretty empty"
Jess looked around and he had to confess that Rory was right. He looked at the girls and asked if they wanted more coffee. Both said yes and soon he returned with the coffeepot.
"Thanks" Lane said and looked at Jess and Rory slightly uncomfortably. She was glad to notice that there were no adoring glances, or kisses that would have made her even more uncomfortable, and so she decided to make conversation.
"So, do you have some plans for the summer? Since this is our last week at school"
Rory looked at Jess and shook her head. Jess did the same and then returned the question to Lane, who grimaced.
"My mom is sending me to bible camp. For two weeks"
Lane stared into the distance and the look on her face told Jess and Rory that she was in fact imagining all the things she'd get to do at the camp.
"Well, it might not be too bad" Jess finally said and tried to sound comforting.
"I've been there each summer since I was eight" Lane said and quivered. "You can't even imagine"
Rory laughed at her friend and reminded her that after she was back they could do loads of fun things to make her forget the painful two weeks.
"I'm gonna hold you to that" Lane said and sipped her coffee looking more relaxed. "So, you two are just gonna hang around here?"
"Actually I was hoping I could go to New York for a while" Jess said and when Rory looked at him surprised, he smiled "And I was hoping I could take you with me"
"Ooh, that would be great!" Rory squealed excited.
"Yea, it would be great, but it's hardly gonna happen. I have a feeling your mom won't let you leave this town with me"
Rory looked at him and seemed a bit disappointed. It would have been great to go to New York with Jess, but she had to be realistic, it was never going to happen. The three talked for a bit more, finally Lane had to go and they all got up after finishing their coffee.
"So, Rory, do you wanna come upstairs and get the book I promised to loan you?"
"The book?" Rory asked a bit confused, but when he turned to see Jess she realised what he'd been talking about. "Oh, the book. Yea, sure"
Lane looked at them and shook her head suppressing a smile. She headed for the door and turned around once more to see Jess grabbing Rory's hand gently and pulling her upstairs. There was a twinge a jealously in her heart, she couldn't even imagine someone taking her hand. And the bible camp wasn't likely to do much about that.
Rory followed Jess to the apartment. He held her hand when he pulled her to his room and closed the door. Then he backed her against the door and locked her in between his arms.
"So" he said and smiled
"Yea" Rory replied when he leaned in to kiss her lightly.
"Did you notice that today is a really beautiful day?"
Rory looked at Jess and couldn't help but grin. Jess talking about beautiful weather wasn't something she could hear every day. She nodded and Jess smiled at her letting his hands run down her sides to her waist. Rory shivered slightly and he looked at her attentively. Then he pressed his cheek against hers, placing gentle kisses on her ear loaf and then down her neck. Rory didn't do anything, she just enjoyed his lips on her skin. In the end he pulled a bit further away and smiled.
"You seem to be on a good mood" Rory said and looked at him somewhat suspiciously
"Yea" Jess replied and took her hand pulling her to the bed.
He laid down and she cuddled close to him. Their fingers were entwined and Jess reached out his hand to grab a book from the nightstand.
"Guess what I'm reading?"
"Hemingway?" Rory said and made a face.
"No, D.H. Lawrence"
"Really?" Rory said and lifted her head to see the book. "Sons and lovers, I haven't read that"
"It's pretty good. Supposed to be an autobiography of some sort"
"Would you mind reading it to me?" Rory said and looked at him smiling.
"And what would I get in return?" he asked lifting his eyebrow
"You'd get to enjoy my delightful company!" Rory cried out laughing and Jess opened to book after making sure Rory was comfortable lying half on top of him.
*4.30pm*
Rory opened her eyes drowsily, the room was dim and it took her a while to remember where she was and what day it was. She lifted her head slightly and saw Jess looking at her.
"Hi" he said and smiled
"Hi. What time is it?"
"4.30. You've been asleep an hour. I guess D.H. Lawrence isn't your thing"
Rory smiled and cuddled closer to him, leaning her head against his chest. His heart was beating in a steady rhythm and his fingers carefully stroked her hair. His eyes were closed and he took a deep breath enjoying Rory's scent that was surrounding him.
"Jess" Rory whispered quietly and he opened his eyes to look at her. "Do you ever think about the future?"
"Yea" he said quietly. "Do you?"
"Yea"
Jess looked at her, he couldn't see her the look on her eyes, but he saw she was just staring into the distance. He had thought about the future, but he really didn't know anything about it. It was something she and Rory hadn't ever discussed in all the time they'd been together. Rory knew what his plans had been before they were together, and Jess was pretty sure she hadn't brought the subject up lately, because she wasn't sure if she wanted to hear what Jess was planning.
"I just want things to stay like this, I don't want anything to change"
"Things always change, Rory. Whether we want it or not. But for now, things are good"
"And when we go to college?" Rory asked almost silently.
Rory knew it was no good pressuring Jess. And she wasn't going to force him in to college. She wouldn't love him any less even if he didn't go to college. But the thing that was always in the back of her mind was that before they had been together, he had planned on getting as far away from Stars Hollow as possible.
"We don't have to think about it now, Rory" Jess said and sounded notably indifferent.
Rory hadn't expected him to say that they'd be together forever, although the thought had crossed her mind more than once, but his careless attitude toward their future made her restless. She loved him so much, and she had no doubts he felt the same way about her. But in some ways he was so different from her, his attitude towards life was so indifferent and cynical, and although he was definitely more optimistic than he had been before her, he still seemed somehow… Rory didn't even know the right word to describe it.
Rory had been silent for a while, when Jess lifted himself so that he could look at her properly. He knew what Rory meant by the talk of the future. He had thought about it a lot, but he didn't have any answers for her. He didn't know what would happen when Rory would go to college and he would… do something.
"Rory, I love you. I have never ever loved anyone, but I love you"
His dark eyes seemed passionate, it was like the careless words he had said before had come from someone else. Rory smiled at him weakly and pulled him tightly against her. She felt so good holding him like this and when Jess pulled away slightly, he placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
"I'm here, Rory" he said softly and looked her in the eye.
"I know" she whispered and smiled a bit. "And I'm so glad you are"
"Who wouldn't be?" Jess said and manage to lighten up the situation. "I should really go and help Luke"
"And I should go home" Rory said and sat up taking Jess with her. "I was actually supposed to talk to you about this pill thing. I'm gonna see a gynaecologist tomorrow so I'll probably start them as soon as I can"
"You'll tell Lorelai soon?" Jess asked when he got out of bed and ran his fingers through his hair.
Rory nodded and said she would tell her mom that night if she would just find a good moment.
"So, I was hoping you'd come over tonight" Rory said and looked at him with a hopeful look in her eyes. "And stay for a few hours"
"Really?" Jess replied smiling and took her hand. "Yea, maybe I can do that"