A/N:: guess what?? I'm BACK. I had an EXTRA long writers block where everything I wrote turned out like crap. Like, okay, I had some ideas—good ideas—but I couldn't make them work. ;( But I felt like writing a few nights ago, and here's what came from that. I think this story's a teeny bit boring but for some reason I keep getting people e-mailing and reviewing demanding that I continue. Go figure!! So, tell me. Is this total crap?? I mean, you could maybe put it a little nicer when you tell me, if you feel that way, but w/e lol. Anyway, if you don't like this chapter, or story for that matter, let me know [nicely?? Pleeeeeease??] and I'll work on my 'Help Me Remember' story b/c I have like so many ideas for that one, and I'll end up doing it next anyway, b/c I already started on it forever ago. So, anyway, let me know which story you want me to do. 'Help Me Remember', JSYK, is a Literati fic where Jess like goes into a coma or something and wakes up and can't remember anything. Kinda like Everwood. ;x But I TOTALLY DID NOT base it on that, and if/when I write the story, hopefully it won't turn out like that at all. Anyway, this is my first time posting a new chapter in months, so...please review and let me know if I suck or not. I'd appreciate it, thanks!! Sorry it took me so long to get over...whatever it was that I had to get over. I hope I'm actually BACK now, though. That's all up to you guys.
Chapter 4
"So, Jess. He sure ain't much of a talker, is he?" Gary asked.
"You'd be surprised," Liz replied. "He's living proof of the phrase 'actions speak louder than words'. Although, tonight..."
Luke cleared his throat. "How long have you two been engaged?" he wanted to know.
"Just a week," Like answered.
"Wow, that's not very long." Lorelai shook her head vigorously as everyone just stared at her. "No, I mean...Weddings take a lot of planning. Will everything be done in time?"
Liz visibly relaxed. "Oh, sure. It's going to be just close friends and family."
"Oh...I didn't realize. Well if you didn't have enough chairs, Rory and I could just stand in the back or something, because—"
"Lorelai, it's fine," Liz assured her, placing her hand on Lorelai's.
"No, really. Because we like standing. We prefer it, actually. We do it all the time. Look, I'm standing right now."
Liz laughed. "Nonsense." She turned to Gary and Luke. "Why don't you guys go in the living room and bond or get to know each other or whatever you guys call it, and send Rory in here."
Luke exchanged a glance with Lorelai. She looked trapped, with an almost pleading expression on her face. Like she didn't want him to leave her.
Oh, how he wished he could just—
"Luke, you better go after Gary. No telling what Jess will..."
Luke snapped out of his reverie, nodding. He smiled at Lorelai and obediently left the room.
"So," Liz started, fixing her eyes on Lorelai, "what's the deal with you and Luke?"
"We're friends," Lorelai replied.
"Just friends? You aren't dating?"
"No, just friends..." Lorelai sighed. She didn't like where this conversation was going.
"If you are just friends, then why did he invite you and your daughter to my weddingm when we haven't even met before?"
"God, where's Rory?" Lorelai muttered under her breath. She caught Liz's eye. "Because my daughter is dating your son, and she was invited to come here by you, if I remember correctly. And since I am friends with Luke, I got an invite, too. If it's too much of a burden, or if it complicates things in any way, I won't come. I'll—"
"I'm sorry if I offended you," Liz said as Rory walked into the room. "I was just trying to see what was going on with you and my brother. That's all. Please come to the wedding."
"What did I miss?" Rory asked after a moment, smiling nervously.
"Jess. Tell me about yourself."
Jess glared at Gary. This guy was a joke. He didn't know what his mother saw in him. It must be more of a sexual relationship. Or maybe Gary was her drinking buddy.
"I'm seventeen, and my mother shipped me off to Connecticut about a year ago to live with my uncle, whom I hardly knew at the time. You go." Luke hid a smile, glancing at Gary.
Gary raised an eyebrow. "I met yer mom right after I moved here from Texas, and things moved along pretty fast, and I found myself getting engaged. I've never known anyone like yer mother. She's a special person."
"Touching."
"I'm going to just...Yeah." Luke left unnoticed. He went outside on the small balcony, and was surprised to find Lorelai already out there.
"What are you doing out here?" she asked, looking up.
"I could ask you the same question," he returned.
Lorelai pushed back the stray hairs that the wind blew in her face. "I—well, I thought Liz and Rory should talk by themselves."
"Really."
"Well, yeah. Liz kept trying to get me to admit—"
"Admit what?"
Lorelai glanced over at Luke, who now stood next to her, leaning over the balcony and staring at the ground below. He turned his head and caught her eye, when she didn't answer.
"Nothing," Lorelai replied softly. Her eyes searched his face. Finally she sighed, forcing her eyes away.
"So, Rory."
Rory bit her lip, glancing in the direction her mother had run off in, hoping Lorelai would magically reappear beside them. How could she just leave like that?
"Since you don't go to school with Jess, I'm wondering how you know him?"
'Was that a question or a statement?' Rory wondered. Judging from Liz's expectant face, she assumed it was a question.
"Well, I still live in Stars Hollow," Rory pointed out. "And Mom and I go to Luke's diner all the time, so we met Jess through Luke."
"And how old are you?"
"I'm seventeen," Rory replied, glancing at the wall clock. How long did they say they were going to stay again?
"I'm sorry, I'm asking too many questions. You should get to know me, as well. I'm not sure how 'involved' you and my son are, but you're the first girl he's brought home. That has to mean something, right?" Liz asked with a laugh.
Rory blushed, forcing a smile on her face as she inadvertently glanced back at the clock. Where was Jess when she needed him?
"Your girlfriend seems nice," Gary commented.
"That's because she is," Jess responded, toying with the empty can of soda in his hands.
"How long have you known 'er?"
"How long have you known my mom?" Jess shot back.
"Some odd months."
"What about the even ones?"
Gary laughed, slapping a hand on Jess's back. "You mom didn't tell me you were funny."
Jess's eyes flashed at Gary's touch, and he glared down at the guy's arm on his shoulder, seconds away from doing something he'd regret later on, no doubt. Well, not so much that he would regret it, but Rory would make him pay for it. A touch one, she was—when she wanted to be.
So instead of taking out his frustration on Gary, Jess slowly inched away from the guy's grasp. That was easy enough. Now where was everyone else? He was sick of being alone with this guy.
As if on cue, Lorelai and Luke stepped inside from the balcony, and Liz and Rory came back into the living room from the kitchen.
Jess jumped up and quickly took the opportunity to give Rory 'a tour of the apartment'.
He led her to his old room, and they sat down on his bed. "Don't leave me again," Jess told her.
Rory looked at him. "What?"
"In there. Don't leave me alone in there. I can't stand that guy. Luke left me alone with him. I almost punched the guy."
"Mom left me alone with your mother."
"How'd that go?" Jess asked dryly.
"Pretty much the same."
Jess nodded. "Figured. Well, if we stay together, it shouldn't be so bad, right?"
"Right," Rory agreed, standing up.
"Where are you going?" Jess demanded.
"Back out there."
"Why?"
"Because..." She trailed off as Jess took her hand and pulled her back onto the bed, so he could kiss her. They slowly fell back, but were interrupted not long after by Lorelai.
"Rory, get your butt back in here! If I have to be out here, so do you!" she hissed.
Rory pulled away from Jess, but he leaned over and gave her another quick kiss, before they both got up and reluctantly followed Lorelai out of the room.
A/N:: *chews nervously on fingernails*...well?? is it total crap, or should I keep going, or both, or...or...you tell me. ;D
