A/N - Hey! Thanks for the reviews, its REALLY great knowing someone out there is reading :-p And thanks to the people who sent me a few tips, you know who you are and I read you loud and clear, thank you! Now, on with the show!
Summary: Rory has some explaining to do to Lorelai, and Jess.
Why Me? - Chapter 7
Rory had just hung up with Jess and she laid back on her bed. 'This is insane…' she thought. Then she heard a knock on her door. She quickly wiped her eyes and fixed her hair the best she could.
"Come in!"
Lorelai walked through the door and studied her daughter. 'How could she not tell me? What did I do wrong?' she thought. She smiled at Rory and began tearing up.
"Mom, what's wrong?" Rory asked, knowing fully what the answer was.
"Why couldn't you tell me Ror, I just… I thought we shared everything…" Lorelai began to cry as she saw her daughters face. How long had he been doing this? Why did he do this? How could she not have known? She asked herself so many questions and wanted so many answers, but knew she would have to wait to get them. She walked over to Rory and gave her a huge hug and laid down in the bed with her.
"Mom, I am so sorry… I really really really am! Its just, the first time I thought it was an accident and I was scared and ashamed and I didn't know what to do…" Rory began to cry with Lorelai, and they held each other in there arms for what seemed like forever until finally, Lorelai broke the silence.
"When did it start?" Lorelai calmly asked, as much as she wanted to know she was afraid to ask because she didn't want to hear that it had been going on for months and months and her be clueless to it.
"I don't know exactly…" Rory knew it was a lie but talking about it made it reality. Talking about being hit made it really happen. Before it was all just a dream and they never broke up and he never hit her. But the conversation with Jess made her think, and the conversation with her mom made it hit her hard. "It just, happened one day. The day I wanted to hang out with Lane instead of him… he got really angry and just slapped me. I was so scared mom, I was terrified. It was almost in a sense, not real because I know that someone who loved me and someone that I loved would never hurt me. But I guess it wasn't like that for him, I don't know, mom I never meant to hurt you, I'm so sorry! I'm so scared, I never want to see him again…"
Rory wanted to start crying even harder but she couldn't. She had cried so much that she couldn't do it anymore. This didn't happen to Stars Hollow, this didn't happen to her, this happened on street corners, and where the husbands beat there wives and where kids are afraid to come home because there dad might be drunk and hit them. But never in a thousand years did she think this would be her. She was a victim, just another victim of abuse, a number, a statistic. It happened everyday, but she couldn't understand why to her.
"Rory, don't worry. Honey I will take care of you and protect you forever. Brad will never step foot in Stars Hollow again, you understand? I will tell everyone to look out for him and if they ever see him to call the police. Ok honey? I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe, you know that. I love you."
"Thanks Mom."
Lorelai thought a minute then decided she wanted some answers. Rory was having a hard time and she respected that - but she just had to know what happened earlier.
"Rory, honey, I know this is really hard for you and all but what happened earlier today? Why did he hit you?"
"I was bored, and nobody was answering there phones so I decided to call Dean. Well, he answered and we got to talking. It was really innocent talking, nothing big just about school and work and stuff. Then I realized I had been talking to him for a really long time, and that Brad was 15 minutes late. So I told him I had to go and that Id talk to him later. When I turned around - there was Brad, all pissed off and standoffish. I told him Dean and I were nothing and that I loved him but he wouldn't have it, we argued and he tried to leave. I wouldn't let him, and he told me to get out of his way. I wouldn't, so he pushed me aside. I told him that I hated him, and that just pissed him off more…"
Lorelai was listening intently as her daughter told her everything that had happened. 'The banister?' Lorelai thought, 'I'm such an idiot, no banister can do that much damage'.
"… and then basically he threw me down, picked me up, and then punched me and left. I was so scared Mom, I didn't know if he was going to come back or do it again or what and I just… was scared."
"I know its Ok, listen, why don't you get some sleep and we will talk about all of this tomorrow, I plan on taking this to the police and his parents. He wont get away with this honey, I love you." She kissed her daughter goodnight on the forehead and got up off the bed.
"Goodnight Mom, thank you so much."
Lorelai walked out of the room and upstairs to her bedroom. Once there, she changed into her pajamas, crawled in bed, and cried herself to sleep.
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Rory heard the knock on her window and jumped. She grabbed the phone that was beside her bed and walked over to the window with it, planning to use it as a weapon if necessary. She crawled out of bed and turned on the light, fully prepared to throw the phone and run upstairs. But when she eventually got up the courage to call turn on the light, she saw no other than Jess standing there looking slightly confused.
"Ror… hey Ror!" Jess whispered as loudly as he could. Rory walked over to the window and slide it open.
"Jess, what are you doing here??" Rory asked him, almost sounding annoyed.
"Do you not want me here? I can go, I just thought maybe we could talk or something… or go out? Whatever you want is fine I'm down for whatever your down with…" Rory cut him off, "Jess, your babbling. Just come inside."
He blushed a little, but not enough for her to notice. He crawled inside her window as he had done many times before. Every time Rory and Brad would argue, she would call up Jess and ask him for advice. They were best friends, just like Jess and Brad were, but they always seemed to have this special connection that Brad and Rory never had. She knew that he had liked her before her and Brad started dating, but she wasn't sure if he did anymore. If Rory and Brads fights were really intense, he would come over and comfort Rory, usually sneaking through her window so Lorelai wouldn't know and so one of Stars Hollows spy's wouldn't catch him going to Rory's house and spread the word, only making things worse. The sat down on her bed, Rory towards the top and Jess almost falling off at the bottom. He still had a thing for her, he figured he always would. But in the past he just could never do that to Brad. Now everything was changing, everything would soon be very different, and he couldn't wait.
Rory looked at Jess and was glad he was there, but was to tired to do anymore explaining.
"That looks pretty bad." Jess said, referring to Rory's cheek. She put her hand up to it and touched it, forgetting that the makeup had all come off when she was crying.
"Yea, I guess…" Rory stated uncomfortably. She could tell that Jess cared, she could sense it in the way he was talking to her. He was being very quiet and very gentle with the things he said. He usually wasn't like this, but Rory could tell he wanted to do something to help, do something to make her feel better. She wanted him to do something to help and make her feel better as well, so she decided to offer him to stay there with her.
"Hey Jess?"
"Yea Rory?"
"Will you stay here with me tonight, I'm just, afraid Brads gonna come by…"
"Oh…" Jess was stunned at the offer but quickly replied, "Sure, of course, I mean If you want me to."
Rory smiled a little at his uneasiness.
"Thank you so much, I'm sure my Mom will understand. But what about Luke? He…"
"Knows." Jess interrupted. "He knows. I had to tell him really quick on my way out, he wasn't gonna leave me alone until I did."
"Oh God, he's going to kill that kid!" Rory sat up abruptly and began to panic. "Why would you tell Luke?! He's going to beat the hell out of him and then he's going to get in trouble and then what if he gets put in jail!? Where will you live? What are we gonna do???"
"Rory - stop for two seconds! Luke isn't going to do anything, at least not now he wont. The kid already got the shit kicked out of him, I think Luke's gonna wanna wait until he's at his best so he can get a good fight in." Jess smiled, hoping to make Rory feel better.
"Jess… you beat him up? What were you thinking? He's your best friend!"
"WAS my best friend Rory, WAS."
Rory looked at him and could see the hatred in his eyes. She didn't know what to say. She still loved Brad, love isn't something that you just get over and she knew that. She knew it would take time, after all, she just lost her boyfriend, one of her best friends, lied to her mom, and broke everyone's trust in one day. But she couldn't help at that time to think about what like would have been like with Jess, with someone who would have treated her right and never hit her. Now she was afraid everyone could snap like that, and was unsure of even her closest friends and family. Jess just seemed so easy to get along with. Like she didn't have to work so hard at the friendship, that it was just there and always would be. That's what she loved about Jess more than anything. That he was just there, and she knew he always would be.
"Rory, I know this probably isn't the best time but, I want you to know that I care about you - alot. And that I will never let Brad do anything to hurt you again, or anyone for that matter. You know that, right?" He stared deeply into her eyes and saw the answer before she could say it.
"Of course I know that Jess. I care about you a lot to… I just hope you can understand that right now I cant get into a relationship. God, its only been a few hours since Brad and I broke up. A year Jess, a year and two months gone. I don't know what to do…"
Jess crawled up to the top of her bed and hugged her.
"Things are different now Rory, I just need you to give me a chance. I'm willing to wait if your willing to let me know when your ready for another relationship. I don't want to pressure you into anything, and I don't want to be your rebound guy. So take your time because I'm not going anywhere."
Rory smiled and moved over to one side of the bed, she patted her hand on the other side signaling for him to come lay down next to her. He did, and they wrapped there arms around each other. She felt so safe, so comfortable, so right. This is what she wanted. This is what she needed.
She slipped beneath the covers and laid her head gently on his chest. Jess stayed above the covers and watched Rory intently as she got comfortable. She listened to his heart beat and slowly feel asleep feeling completely safe for the first time in almost a year and a half. Hours passed by, and Jess watched Rory sleep. This was what he wanted, this pure bliss and happiness he felt when he was with Rory. The way she was so beautiful, even when she slept, the way she could always make him feel better, the way the sight of her put butterflies in his stomach even though he would never admit it to anyone. That is what he wanted. That is what he needed.
A/N - Ok, this chapter is the first one I actually took more than one day on. I usually get pretty impatient and try to rush things. Plus this is my first fan fiction. I forgot to inform you guys about that, sorry! But anyway, please review because I will love you forever if you do! Thanks for reading, and Ill probably update sometime soon. I'm never sure of my schedule so I'm not exactly sure when, but soon pretty much sums it up J
Summary: Rory has some explaining to do to Lorelai, and Jess.
Why Me? - Chapter 7
Rory had just hung up with Jess and she laid back on her bed. 'This is insane…' she thought. Then she heard a knock on her door. She quickly wiped her eyes and fixed her hair the best she could.
"Come in!"
Lorelai walked through the door and studied her daughter. 'How could she not tell me? What did I do wrong?' she thought. She smiled at Rory and began tearing up.
"Mom, what's wrong?" Rory asked, knowing fully what the answer was.
"Why couldn't you tell me Ror, I just… I thought we shared everything…" Lorelai began to cry as she saw her daughters face. How long had he been doing this? Why did he do this? How could she not have known? She asked herself so many questions and wanted so many answers, but knew she would have to wait to get them. She walked over to Rory and gave her a huge hug and laid down in the bed with her.
"Mom, I am so sorry… I really really really am! Its just, the first time I thought it was an accident and I was scared and ashamed and I didn't know what to do…" Rory began to cry with Lorelai, and they held each other in there arms for what seemed like forever until finally, Lorelai broke the silence.
"When did it start?" Lorelai calmly asked, as much as she wanted to know she was afraid to ask because she didn't want to hear that it had been going on for months and months and her be clueless to it.
"I don't know exactly…" Rory knew it was a lie but talking about it made it reality. Talking about being hit made it really happen. Before it was all just a dream and they never broke up and he never hit her. But the conversation with Jess made her think, and the conversation with her mom made it hit her hard. "It just, happened one day. The day I wanted to hang out with Lane instead of him… he got really angry and just slapped me. I was so scared mom, I was terrified. It was almost in a sense, not real because I know that someone who loved me and someone that I loved would never hurt me. But I guess it wasn't like that for him, I don't know, mom I never meant to hurt you, I'm so sorry! I'm so scared, I never want to see him again…"
Rory wanted to start crying even harder but she couldn't. She had cried so much that she couldn't do it anymore. This didn't happen to Stars Hollow, this didn't happen to her, this happened on street corners, and where the husbands beat there wives and where kids are afraid to come home because there dad might be drunk and hit them. But never in a thousand years did she think this would be her. She was a victim, just another victim of abuse, a number, a statistic. It happened everyday, but she couldn't understand why to her.
"Rory, don't worry. Honey I will take care of you and protect you forever. Brad will never step foot in Stars Hollow again, you understand? I will tell everyone to look out for him and if they ever see him to call the police. Ok honey? I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe, you know that. I love you."
"Thanks Mom."
Lorelai thought a minute then decided she wanted some answers. Rory was having a hard time and she respected that - but she just had to know what happened earlier.
"Rory, honey, I know this is really hard for you and all but what happened earlier today? Why did he hit you?"
"I was bored, and nobody was answering there phones so I decided to call Dean. Well, he answered and we got to talking. It was really innocent talking, nothing big just about school and work and stuff. Then I realized I had been talking to him for a really long time, and that Brad was 15 minutes late. So I told him I had to go and that Id talk to him later. When I turned around - there was Brad, all pissed off and standoffish. I told him Dean and I were nothing and that I loved him but he wouldn't have it, we argued and he tried to leave. I wouldn't let him, and he told me to get out of his way. I wouldn't, so he pushed me aside. I told him that I hated him, and that just pissed him off more…"
Lorelai was listening intently as her daughter told her everything that had happened. 'The banister?' Lorelai thought, 'I'm such an idiot, no banister can do that much damage'.
"… and then basically he threw me down, picked me up, and then punched me and left. I was so scared Mom, I didn't know if he was going to come back or do it again or what and I just… was scared."
"I know its Ok, listen, why don't you get some sleep and we will talk about all of this tomorrow, I plan on taking this to the police and his parents. He wont get away with this honey, I love you." She kissed her daughter goodnight on the forehead and got up off the bed.
"Goodnight Mom, thank you so much."
Lorelai walked out of the room and upstairs to her bedroom. Once there, she changed into her pajamas, crawled in bed, and cried herself to sleep.
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Rory heard the knock on her window and jumped. She grabbed the phone that was beside her bed and walked over to the window with it, planning to use it as a weapon if necessary. She crawled out of bed and turned on the light, fully prepared to throw the phone and run upstairs. But when she eventually got up the courage to call turn on the light, she saw no other than Jess standing there looking slightly confused.
"Ror… hey Ror!" Jess whispered as loudly as he could. Rory walked over to the window and slide it open.
"Jess, what are you doing here??" Rory asked him, almost sounding annoyed.
"Do you not want me here? I can go, I just thought maybe we could talk or something… or go out? Whatever you want is fine I'm down for whatever your down with…" Rory cut him off, "Jess, your babbling. Just come inside."
He blushed a little, but not enough for her to notice. He crawled inside her window as he had done many times before. Every time Rory and Brad would argue, she would call up Jess and ask him for advice. They were best friends, just like Jess and Brad were, but they always seemed to have this special connection that Brad and Rory never had. She knew that he had liked her before her and Brad started dating, but she wasn't sure if he did anymore. If Rory and Brads fights were really intense, he would come over and comfort Rory, usually sneaking through her window so Lorelai wouldn't know and so one of Stars Hollows spy's wouldn't catch him going to Rory's house and spread the word, only making things worse. The sat down on her bed, Rory towards the top and Jess almost falling off at the bottom. He still had a thing for her, he figured he always would. But in the past he just could never do that to Brad. Now everything was changing, everything would soon be very different, and he couldn't wait.
Rory looked at Jess and was glad he was there, but was to tired to do anymore explaining.
"That looks pretty bad." Jess said, referring to Rory's cheek. She put her hand up to it and touched it, forgetting that the makeup had all come off when she was crying.
"Yea, I guess…" Rory stated uncomfortably. She could tell that Jess cared, she could sense it in the way he was talking to her. He was being very quiet and very gentle with the things he said. He usually wasn't like this, but Rory could tell he wanted to do something to help, do something to make her feel better. She wanted him to do something to help and make her feel better as well, so she decided to offer him to stay there with her.
"Hey Jess?"
"Yea Rory?"
"Will you stay here with me tonight, I'm just, afraid Brads gonna come by…"
"Oh…" Jess was stunned at the offer but quickly replied, "Sure, of course, I mean If you want me to."
Rory smiled a little at his uneasiness.
"Thank you so much, I'm sure my Mom will understand. But what about Luke? He…"
"Knows." Jess interrupted. "He knows. I had to tell him really quick on my way out, he wasn't gonna leave me alone until I did."
"Oh God, he's going to kill that kid!" Rory sat up abruptly and began to panic. "Why would you tell Luke?! He's going to beat the hell out of him and then he's going to get in trouble and then what if he gets put in jail!? Where will you live? What are we gonna do???"
"Rory - stop for two seconds! Luke isn't going to do anything, at least not now he wont. The kid already got the shit kicked out of him, I think Luke's gonna wanna wait until he's at his best so he can get a good fight in." Jess smiled, hoping to make Rory feel better.
"Jess… you beat him up? What were you thinking? He's your best friend!"
"WAS my best friend Rory, WAS."
Rory looked at him and could see the hatred in his eyes. She didn't know what to say. She still loved Brad, love isn't something that you just get over and she knew that. She knew it would take time, after all, she just lost her boyfriend, one of her best friends, lied to her mom, and broke everyone's trust in one day. But she couldn't help at that time to think about what like would have been like with Jess, with someone who would have treated her right and never hit her. Now she was afraid everyone could snap like that, and was unsure of even her closest friends and family. Jess just seemed so easy to get along with. Like she didn't have to work so hard at the friendship, that it was just there and always would be. That's what she loved about Jess more than anything. That he was just there, and she knew he always would be.
"Rory, I know this probably isn't the best time but, I want you to know that I care about you - alot. And that I will never let Brad do anything to hurt you again, or anyone for that matter. You know that, right?" He stared deeply into her eyes and saw the answer before she could say it.
"Of course I know that Jess. I care about you a lot to… I just hope you can understand that right now I cant get into a relationship. God, its only been a few hours since Brad and I broke up. A year Jess, a year and two months gone. I don't know what to do…"
Jess crawled up to the top of her bed and hugged her.
"Things are different now Rory, I just need you to give me a chance. I'm willing to wait if your willing to let me know when your ready for another relationship. I don't want to pressure you into anything, and I don't want to be your rebound guy. So take your time because I'm not going anywhere."
Rory smiled and moved over to one side of the bed, she patted her hand on the other side signaling for him to come lay down next to her. He did, and they wrapped there arms around each other. She felt so safe, so comfortable, so right. This is what she wanted. This is what she needed.
She slipped beneath the covers and laid her head gently on his chest. Jess stayed above the covers and watched Rory intently as she got comfortable. She listened to his heart beat and slowly feel asleep feeling completely safe for the first time in almost a year and a half. Hours passed by, and Jess watched Rory sleep. This was what he wanted, this pure bliss and happiness he felt when he was with Rory. The way she was so beautiful, even when she slept, the way she could always make him feel better, the way the sight of her put butterflies in his stomach even though he would never admit it to anyone. That is what he wanted. That is what he needed.
A/N - Ok, this chapter is the first one I actually took more than one day on. I usually get pretty impatient and try to rush things. Plus this is my first fan fiction. I forgot to inform you guys about that, sorry! But anyway, please review because I will love you forever if you do! Thanks for reading, and Ill probably update sometime soon. I'm never sure of my schedule so I'm not exactly sure when, but soon pretty much sums it up J