Is There More?
Author: Knowhere
Chapter 15: Pendulum
Rating: Pg-13
Disclaimer: Nothing
AN: This AN shall serve as my deepest gratitude to the author whom I know as Columbiachica. Her amazing stories are some of the contributing factors to why I even started this journey of writing. "The Luckiest" trilogy drove me to write in the AU category and "Both Sides Now" can still move me to tears even though I've read it about twenty-ish times. May this serve to thank you—whoever you are and wherever you are.
Summary: AU. College life is a journey of ups and downs; are Rory and Jess ready to take on what life is about to throw at them including a prospect of a new relationship, or will they choose the path of friendship like they did years ago? Literati.
The rain is falling steadily outside and it hits the roof creating a sort of tinkering music. I slowly open my eyes and become aware that I'm in a different surrounding. I look straight ahead and I'm greeted by the sight of stuffed animals and old school ribbons. I try to turn to my other side but I'm stopped by Jess's sleeping form. I'm finally fully awake now and I chuckle seeing the two of us cramped together in my old twin bed. Last night after we came home from the bridge we just went into my room and spent the rest of the night together. We're finding that time is a precious commodity that we don't seem to have enough of. Graduation is approaching soon and we get caught up in the wave of work that must be completed in order for us to be launched into the working world. Sometimes I wonder what will happen once we both start working.
Gently peeling his arms off from around my waist I slip on his sweatshirt and pull on a pair of socks. I've always loved the rainy weather; it always makes me want to curl up with a book and just read all day. The door slightly creaks as it lets me through into the kitchen. I swiftly make my way to the cabinet that holds the cherished coffee to start my day off with a fresh cup of java. Flipping on the little button, it whirs to life and begins to putter and spit out the brown liquid. I open the fridge to see what's left over and upon seeing that there's nothing worth eating, I grab a packet of pop-tarts and head towards the front door to get the morning paper. I bend down to pick up the news and take a moment to observe the rain drenching the street in front of me. Looking at nothing in particular, I tilt my head and contemplate about what I want to do today. I'll probably just hang out with Mom some more since Jess and I will be leaving tonight.
"Hey Early Bird, what are you staring at?" Jess appears behind me in his checkered black and white boxers with a bemused smile on his face.
"Hey you." I wrap my arms around his neck and greet him with a long satisfying kiss. He guides me back inside the house while still kissing me and by the time he has shut the door with his foot, we're starting to stumble back to my room. His fingers have snuck their way to the bottom of the sweatshirt that I'm wearing and I can tell that he's about to pull it off when we hear a slight, "Ahem."
Breaking away from his lips I turn to see Luke looking extremely embarrassed. Right now, I feel like a kid again being caught kissing in my parents' house. With a crimson hue creeping onto my cheeks, I meekly reply, "Hey Luke. It's a great morning, huh?" Jess is maneuvering his way behind me to hold me at my waist and I'm baffled by how unaffected he always seems about everything. I turn around and shoot him a look but he just shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly and gives me a lopsided smirk.
I turn back to Luke when he asks, "It's raining; why would it be a great morning?"
"Oh, I was just saying that because…well, um." I'm at a loss for words and I can't seem to piece together a coherent thought. Jess is running his hands around my hips and stomach underneath my shirt and I barely see Luke now since my sight is hazy with the emotions that are stirring inside of me.
Luke shakes his head at us with a slight smile and he inquires, "You guys want some breakfast?"
"Yeah breakfast would be nice, sure that's good." I slip out of Jess's arms and I try to avoid his gaze because I know that he's giving me that puppy-dog look for leaving him there. I've got to remain somewhat in control or else we'd never leave the bedroom.
"Hey Sweets!" Mom waddles her way into the kitchen and gives Luke a kiss while she pats me on the head like a dog. She giggles at me and sits across the table putting her game face on. "So, I thought since that today it's all rainy and stuff, that we would just stay at home and watch some movies, pig out, and just basically veg. Sound good?"
"Sure Mom, whatever you want to do." I smile at her and I'm grateful that we can spend some time together. Once the baby and graduation arrives, who knows if we'll ever really get to spend some quality time together?
"Is this like an all-girls event or can I join? I don't have much to do since it is raining and since Taylor put the whole town on alert to guard their property. It doesn't look like I can have much fun this time."
"Sure Jess you can join. Just get us an insane amount of junk food and we'll let you join in the festivities. We can even paint your nails." Mom claps her hand like one of those silly monkeys and her eyes are wide with anticipation.
Jess shoots me a look that translates to 'Help me' but it's my turn to shrug nonchalantly and to give him one of my sweet, innocent smiles. Besides, once Mom gets going on stuff like that there's no turning back until she wins.
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Junk food, pizza, and soda can be seen sporadically placed at arm's length around the sofa and the TV. Mom is lying down on the couch and I'm sitting in front of Jess between his legs as he idly draws random circles with his fingertips on my thigh. I lean back with a small sigh of contentment and he smiles down at me and gently kisses my forehead.
Mom catches the slight movement and childishly complains, "Hey, none of that kind of huggy-kissy business in my house. Geez, Jess I never knew you could become so whipped." She teases him but I can tell that deep down she's happy that I'm finally so cheerful in my relationship with a guy.
"Yea, you know how it goes. I guess it's just the Gilmore charm." He throws Mom a confident smirk and turns back taking one of my hands into his.
"Well, you know that we Gilmores are very charming ladies. No one can compete." She tosses her hair and bats her eyes like a damsel while she shoves a hand-full of M&M's into her mouth.
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"So, does my Gilmore charm make you want to do anything for me?" I give Jess my wide doe eyes with a minor pout of my lips.
"Almost anything." He smiles down at me and we continue walking hand in hand down to the familiar path that leads to the bridge. After the movie Mom fell asleep and as Luke helped her up to bed, Jess and I decided on a walk to get a breath of fresh air.
"Aww, I'm disappointed that I can't make you do anything. I guess I just haven't developed my charm to its full potential."
He shakes his head at my absurd comments as we reach the beginning of the bridge. I think about all the fond memories it holds and I feel sad that we're not able to come to it as often as we'd like to now that we lived in the city. The sun is high in the sky and the rain has cleared out of the clouds and nothing is left but the bright sunshine that begins to beat down upon us. "Hey Jess?"
"Yeah?" He throws a sideways glance over my way and I can't seem to form the right words to break our peaceful moment. Another time, another place. "Rory, did you want to say something?" He furrows his brow and I suddenly loose any courage I had ever possessed.
"Um, I was thinking that…" I decide to just play along as the laid-back couple we seem to be. "…Maybe we could spend some time just you and me when we get back home. Is that okay?"
He smiles and it only creates a pit in my stomach. "Sure. I don't know why you'd bother asking." He chuckles at himself, realizing how deeply he has fallen into the relationship. He leans back on his palms on the warm wood beneath us and I lay my head down on his chest looking up at the clouds that are slowly making their trek across the sky. I breathe in deeply the air that I hope will bring me solace, and I'm momentarily comforted. "Hey…" Jess looks at me searching my eyes and I try to mask my feelings from him. I can see him squinting, not from the sun but from slight confusion and I plaster on a bright smile to throw him off.
He's still digging in my gaze searching for an answer but before he can get any further I sit up and scoot closer to him while I lean forward. "I love you Jess." He's about to return my sentiments but I interrupt him with a kiss that focuses on nothing but us on the bridge, warm with the sunlight.
AN: As always, I'd love to hear from you.