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: First, a few things. I know absolutely nothing about the US school system, therefore in this story the school-year ends in late May (like in Finland), hope it's not too far from the truth. Also, in this story Sookie's wedding is in the beginning of June, don't really know what the time it was in the actual show. Hope this isn't confusing to anyone. And one more thing, Rory is not going to Washington for the summer, she hasn't even been offered the chance to go.
Again, thanks for the reviews. I know Lorelai seems a bit out of character, but yea it was necessary for this story. Then again, if you think of the events of e.g. the episode 'Help wanted' and her behaviour there, you'll see that Jess doesn't really bring out the best in her. People do strange things when they think something or someone threatens them.
Anyway, this story is coming closer to its end. A few more chapters left and then there's the sequel…
The Day After Tomorrow
Chapter Eleven
*Jess's bedroom, Monday 9pm*
Jess had just got out of bed. School was over and this was the first day of his summer vacation. He was just picking out a new book to start reading, when he heard Luke enter the apartment.
"Jess? I need you downstairs"
"This is my first day off school" Jess said without lifting his eyes from the book in his hands.
"It's not like you've spent too much time there anyway. Come on"
"I'll be down soon"
Luke looked at Jess warily. He seemed different again, he seemed like the old Jess, indifferent and cynical. Luke couldn't help but wonder how Rory could affect him like this. He had been much more helpful and optimistic when he'd first come back from New York and started being with Rory, but now… Luke wasn't exactly sure about everything that had happened, but he knew Rory and Jess had spent very little time together after Rory had fought with her mom.
"So, planning to see Rory today?" he started, trying his best to sound casual
Jess shrugged and said he didn't know.
"Have you talked to her? Properly, I mean"
"She's not really too anxious to see me, so no" Jess said and his voice sounded so harsh it surprised himself as well as Luke.
"Do you know what the fight was about?"
Jess turned to look at him and seemed irritated.
"A good guess would be me, but I don't really know much more about it"
Rory had been avoiding him for a week now. She had barely come to the diner and she hadn't called Jess once. They had sat at the bridge a few times reading, but they hadn't actually talked and Jess had been afraid to ask what was going on. He didn't want her to feel pressured, and at the same time he was beginning to wonder if Rory really needed him in her life.
"Yea" Luke said quietly, he really didn't know what to say.
"Haven't you talked to Lorelai about it?" Jess said and Luke shook his head seeming a bit embarrassed
"I haven't really had much time to talk to Lorelai, she's been busy since Sookie's wedding is on Saturday"
Luke hadn't dared to ask Lorelai about the fight she'd had with Rory, and he was somewhat ashamed of it. But he knew they still weren't speaking, they hadn't come to the diner together for a week, and Lorelai had been quiet and stressed.
"Well, come down when you have the time" he said to his nephew
"Yea" Jess said and put the book back on the shelf.
*Tuesday, Noon*
Lane walked in the diner and looked around. It was lunchtime and the place was crammed. Luke was running around looking frustrated, but somehow Lane managed to get his attention to ask if Jess was around.
"Probably in his room reading" Luke replied before returning to the kitchen and Lane headed for the stairs.
She had never been at the apartment before, and after knocking and waiting for an answer that didn't come, she went in. She looked around curiously and it took her a while to notice Jess, who was lying on the couch with a book. Finally she noticed him staring at her and she gasped.
"Gosh! You scared me"
"I did nothing" he replied and sat up
Lane looked at him and thought that this was going to be difficult. Jess wasn't in his best moods, but then again Lane couldn't really blame him.
"So, I've never been here before"
"Really?"
"Really"
They were both silent and Lane let her gaze go around the room.
"I actually wanted to talk to you about Rory"
At least she now had his undivided attention. The look on his face was hard to read, but it wasn't indifferent. It was tense and anxious. Lane had never seen him like this before.
"You haven't seen her a lot lately"
"You could say that" Jess replied and put the book down next to him.
"I don't want to butt in, but… She just… You know how it is with her and Lorelai, right?"
Jess nodded and looked at Lane warily. It felt strange that she was there talking to him about his girlfriend. A part of him was afraid that she didn't have too many nice things to say to him.
"It's really tough for her to fight with her mom. Do you know what the fight was about?"
"Me" he replied and then added that he didn't know much more about it.
"You haven't asked her?" Lane said rather curiously
"Well, I haven't really seen her much and I didn't want to… I figured she'd tell me when she wanted to"
Again they were both silent, finally Jess asked her if Rory knew she had come to see him. Lane shook her head.
"You make her happy, Jess" she blurted out and Jess looked at her surprised. He had expected something else, maybe Lane telling him that Rory was really better off without him.
"Yea, I just wanted to tell you that" she said and went to the door. She was about to step out, when she stopped and looked at him again.
"You don't have to be so careful with her, Jess. You don't have to protect her from anything, tell her what you're thinking. You're not so easy to read" Lane smiled a bit and then disappeared behind the door rapidly.
Jess stared at the floor for a while. Okay, now he had to think. What should he do? He picked up the book that was beside him. He had no idea how far he had got in it, but he really didn't even care.
*Tuesday, 10pm*
Luke had just finished closing up the diner and he climbed upstairs feeling exhausted. He found Jess lying on his bed, with his earphones. He knocked on the door, but he didn't hear anything. Just when Luke stood right in front of him, he noticed his uncle's presence. He took off the earphones and looked at Luke.
"Yea?"
"Lane was here today"
"Yea" Jess replied and sat up.
"I didn't know you two were friends"
"Well, we're not really friends. She just… wanted to talk about Rory"
Luke nodded and continued to look at his nephew. Normally, Jess had no desire to talk about his problems with Luke, but right now he needed to talk to someone.
"She said I should go and talk to her"
"Maybe you should"
"Yea, maybe"
"Wouldn't it be better to clear things out for good? She looks miserable, when I've seen her around. And I've seen you in a better mood, too"
Jess shrugged and started playing with the cd cover that he was holding.
"I don't really know. Maybe I should just… Rory asked me about the future"
"And?"
"I don't know anything about the future. I don't know what's gonna happen when she goes to college, cause I don't know what I'm gonna do"
"You mean, you might not be around" Luke sat on a chair and looked at Jess apprehensively. He was pretty sure that this was the most meaningful discussion they had ever had.
"I've never planned anything, and now… She's been really careful when she's talked about the future, I know she doesn't want to pressure me, but she needs to know something about what's gonna happen"
"Can't you just tell her what you told me?"
"That I may leave her next year?" Jess asked and looked at Luke seriously. "Lane said I shouldn't try to protect her, but… Her relationship with Lorelai is ruined, because I wanted to be with her for a year"
"Are you sure it's gonna be just a year?"
Jess shook his head. He didn't know anything, it was possible that he would end up going to college, but he might end up doing something completely different.
"I don't know. I don't know anything, I don't know what's going on. She hasn't really even looked at me
for a week, and I don't know why"
Right after Jess had said this, he and Luke both heard a noise from the other room and they jumped up looking at each other. The door to Jess's room had been half open and now someone opened the door properly and appeared in the doorway.
"Rory?" Jess said and the look on his face was a mix of nervousness and horror. He had been completely unprepared to see her.
Luke stared at her and then turned to see Jess whose eyes were fixed on her intensely.
"I'm gonna go down and… Yea" Luke said and quickly went past Rory closing the apartment door behind him.
A/N: So, that was chapter eleven. I don't usually like these "cliffhangers" but I didn't find a better place to stop, so this is it for now. And here are the lyrics to the song "The Day After Tomorrow" by Saybia. It reminded me of Rory and Jess when I first heard last autumn, way before they had admitted their feelings to each other. I think the easiest way to describe Saybia's music would be to say that they sound a lot like Coldplay.
The day After Tomorrow
Please tell me why do birds
Sing when you're near me
Sing when you're close to me
They say that I'm a fool
For loving you deeply
Loving you secretly
But I crash in my mind
Whenever you are near
Getting deaf, numb and blind
Just drowning in despair
I am lost in your flame
It's burning like a sun
And I call out your name
The moment you are gone
Please tell me why can't I
Breathe when you're near me
Breathe when you're close to me
I know you know I'm lost
In loving you deeply
Loving you secretly
But I crash in my mind…
Tomorrow
I'll say it all tomorrow
Or the day after tomorrow
I'm sure I'll tell you then