Chapter Three: The Art Of The Silent Treatment

It had been a week since the incident between Rory and Jess. Lorelai had the worst job of trying to drag Rory to Luke's everyday, and Jordan had finally managed to get the story out of Jess. She had reacted the way Jess knew her best. She yelled at Jess for kissing Rory, and she got mad at Rory for yelling at Jess.

Lorelai had also gotten wind of the story, but Rory so cleverly left out the fact that she had blamed Jess for leaving, and had insulted him several times.

One day, Jess decided to go for a walk, or rather just loiter and see where his thoughts would take him. They took him to the bridge. Unfortunately, they did the same thing to Rory, resulting in a masterly example of the silent treatment.

"Jess, I -," Rory stopped, when she realized Jess wasn't paying any attention to her. "Jess, please look at me." His head turned further away from her, and she sighed. "I'm sorry." His head turned slightly toward her direction, Rory took a breath and continued. "I was just surprised. I mean, the first time Dean kissed me, I ran. The first time I kissed Tristan, I ran. The first time I kissed you, I ran. I guess now you know what would happen if I stayed. Not one of my finest hours." Jess looked at her, nodding in agreement. "Look, I have to go, but I'll see you later. Tell Jordan I said 'hi'." Jess nodded, and Rory stood up before saying, "Welcome home, Jess." Jess smiled to himself as Rory quickly ran home.

***

"She apologized?" Jordan asked, with a mouth full of pizza.

"Yep," Jess replied.

"Well, what did you say?" she asked.

"Nothing," he replied.

"Ah, the art of the silent treatment," she smiled. "How long is that going to last?"

"Not long," Jess said. "Just as long as I don't kiss her again."

"Well, I hope it doesn't last too long. One of our regulars, Mr. Sherman, only responds to politeness, but I just can't bring myself to do it." Jordan said.

"A little 'please' and 'thank you' never hurt anyone." Jess told her.

"And this is coming from the devil's spawn, himself?"

Jess laughed, and a small silence filled the room. "Jord?"

"Yeah?"

"Why did you come here?"

"Well, duh, I came to see you," she replied.

"But I wasn't here when you came to Stars Hollow, why'd you stay? Why didn't you go home?" he asked.

"Well, I could go home. Though it would help if I had a home to go home to." Jordan replied.

"What?"

"You know how your parents usually have an age when they kick you out and you have to fend for yourself?" she asked. "Well, my age was nineteen, not twenty-one when I would get my savings. Nineteen, when I was flat broke. So, there I was, homeless. Where was I supposed to go? Liz? God she's as bad as my mother. Grandpa? The eighty-year-old Playboy King? Luke and Jess? Small town, diner owner, free food. Well, there's your answer." She stood up, and threw away the pizza box. "Besides, I had gone three weeks without smoking, I was dying."

Jess smiled, weakly, but his face was full of concern. "Why didn't you come to Venice? You would've liked that a lot more."

"Hello? The money!" Jordan reminded.

"Sorry," Jess said, sheepishly.

"It's ok, though. Because I'm here now, and I'm three dollars a day," she smiled. "Don't worry, Jess."

Jess suddenly reached for the phone. "Jess, who are you calling?"

"Your mother." Jess replied as he dialed the familiar number he had dialed all his life. Jordan reached forward and hung up the phone. "What the -,"

"Look, if you call her now, my mother will verbally kick your ass. At least wait until her five o'clock cocktail." She explained.

"Fine," Jess sighed, he paused, then asked, "So, what was it like being homeless?"

***

Lorelai sat on Luke's lap, as she softly kissed him on the lips.

"Luke?" she asked.

"Mmm?"

"We have to talk," she stated, simply.

Luke groaned. "We have to talk? That's probably the worst thing you can say to me right now."

"Jess is back," Lorelai said, ignoring him.

"Yes, Jess is back," Luke agreed.

"So it's only a matter of time before they get back together," she continued.

Luke laughed, heartily. "Sure."

"I'm serious, Luke!" Lorelai exclaimed. "If our relationship is serious, it's only a matter of time, before you do something about it...while sitting on one knee." She added, slyly.

"Oh..." Luke said, nervously, standing up forcing Lorelai to the floor. "Marriage? Y-you want to talk about marriage?"

"And my daughter. I think you should lay those ol' famous ground rules for Jess again." Lorelai told him.

"But they're not even dating!" he exclaimed.

"But it's only a matter of time," Lorelai argued.

"That's right! It's only a matter of time! It's only a matter of time for Rory and Jess to start dating! It's only a matter of time for me to propose! It's only a matter of time before the Earth spins out of control and all our heads explode!" Luke yelled.

"But I - I -," Lorelai stammered.

"I need a beer!" Luke exclaimed, leaving the room. Lorelai just sat there, trying to figure what the hell just happened.

***

Rory sat at the bridge, smiling thoughtfully to herself. She was once again thinking about Jess. She remembered the time they were here the first time after the kiss. Dean had just broken up with her in front of the whole town, and Jess had followed her to the bridge. And she had finally told him how she truly felt. He had done the same, and at that moment she had felt closer to him than ever, but she never told him that of course.

"Hey," a voice said behind her. Her smile grew wider.

"A word," she said as he sat next to her.

"Well, not talking can really wear you down." He paused. "What are you doing here?"

"Lorelai and Luke were taking up the couch. It was kind of sickening watching your mother make out with Diner Boy Senior." Rory told him.

Jess laughed," I think that would be Diner Man," he corrected.

"Right, since he's so manly and all." Rory said, gruffly.

Again, Jess laughed. "You know, Rory, you were the best girlfriend I ever had." Rory smiled. "And don't say the same, because you and I both know it's not true."

Rory nodded. "Okay. But you know, I've kissed four men in my life and you were by far the best. But don't tell any of them, because I'm sure it would certainly ruin their egos."

"Oh, now, you see, I have to track down Dean and tell him exactly the same thing you just said." Rory laughed, softly, and sighed. "Do you know who we are?"

"Who?"

"Joey and Pacey," she replied, smiling.

"Oh God, my name's Pacey now?" he asked.

"Well, the way I see it is they broke up, Pacey left went sailing out on the Caribbean and came back with a great tan," she added, looking at Jess's. "Then he comes back and Joey sees him and she freaks, exactly like I did. But then she comes to his boat, and they talk, exactly like their doing now."

"Ah, you have a point, Gilmore, but..." Jess trailed off.

"But..."

"I'd have to say, Ross and Rachel." He said.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," Rory said.

"Nope, I'm serious." Jess said, sincerely.

"Ross and Rachel?"

"The perfect example of a 'will they, won't they' couple." Rory stared at me. "Like us."

"Us? We're a 'will they, won't they' couple?" Rory asked.

"Whether you believe it or not." Jess confirmed.

"Well, cool," Rory smiled. "I've always wanted to be linked to Jennifer Aniston in some way."

"Well, now you have you wish." Jess noted.

"Yes, I do." Rory said. They continued talking as the night dragged on, and Jess? Well, it looks like he's closer to getting that girl.