Acoustic #3

Category: T/R, but R/J friendly

Summery: Rory runs away from the world she hated, but cant seem to get away from her past. This chapter is set in the past describing events before Ch.3.

A.N. I put a little something in there for you Jess fans.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls or Green Day's Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)

Feedback: Always welcome!

'Another turning point a fork stuck in the road. Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go. So make the best of this test and don't ask why. It's not a question but a lesson learned in time.'

Rory had never felt more alive in her life. When she boarded that bus to New York, she was scared out of her wits. Everyone knew New York was a scary place. One of those 'eat or be eaten' type towns. Sure, Rory had survived Hartford and all its misfortunes, but New York City was a whole new game to her. As much as she hated to admit it, her parents had paid for Rory to have every luxury. She had a nice car, a gorgeous home, and trusts fund the size of Julia Roberts's bank account. But now, she would have to make it on her own. As much as that scared her, it excited her as well. She now had a choice. Rory could run scared, or act on this excitement. But in Rory's mind, it was decided. She was going to make it on her own two feet. And after much deliberation on the bus ride to this unpredictable city, Rory had decided to open a café. Not just any café, but one with a bookstore. It was the perfect way to combine her two life's passions. For the second time in the past day, a true smile formed on Rory's lips.

'It's something unpredictable, and in the end there's right. I hope you have the time of your life.

Tristin couldn't bear it anymore. Everywhere he looked, he was reminded of Rory. He wasn't so much mad at her for leaving, but curious. Curious as to what it was that got so bad, that she started to die inside. What was so terrible that it made her leave? And wherever she was, was she happy? But as much as he wanted these questions answered, he didn't want to stick around long enough to find out. The day after graduation, Tristin packed up his things, threw it all in the back of his Jag, and sped off. New York was his destination. After all, isn't that where everyone goes when they run away from a problem? New York City, the city that never sleeps. When he got there, he realized his lack of planning. He hadn't bought an apartment, gotten a job, anything. He, however, decided to throw caution to the wind. 'Quit planning, just do!' was what his mind was telling him, so he followed his conscience. Tristin drove off to a restaurant and picked up a paper. The waiter soon came over.

"What can I get for you, sir?" he asked with a bored tone.

"Coffee, black." Tristin swiftly ordered, and got back to his mission of finding an apartment. If only he had looked to the corner table, for the girl that caused him all this trouble was sitting, browsing the same exact section of the paper.

'So take the photographs and still frames in your mind. Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time. Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial, for what it's worth it was worth all the while.

Rory sat down at a quaint little diner that next afternoon. It reminded her of this other diner she had once visited in a town called Stars Hollow. Her parents had been in a particularly nasty fight that night, so Rory had gone for a joy ride. Never before had she seen a town so full of life. A robust woman with an old fashioned cigarette was directing dancing girls dressed as fairies; a man with a gray sweater vest was busy sweeping the road, and a young man with a camcorder was pestering a scruffy guy with a backwards baseball cap. These memories alone were enough to make her laugh. After downing three cups of coffee and the best cheeseburger she ever tasted, Rory set out to investigate apartment listings. She had found one in the paper that looked pretty reasonable: a two bedroom, two bathroom flat that was reasonably priced that she would share with another person. Calling a taxi, Roy made her way to a beautiful building next to Central Park. After paying the driver, Rory made her way up the front stoop. 'Beep' Rory buzzed the buzzer.

"Yeah?" called a guy.

"Um, I'm here to see someone about the ad in the newspaper for this apartment?" Rory asked uncertainly.

"Come on up." The voice answered back. With another beep, Rory led herself up the stairway. Carefully, she knocked on the door. A really cute guy answered. He had thick dark brown hair, and mysterious brown eyes.

"Hi…" Rory faltered. "I'm, um… Leigh, Leigh Hayden."

"Well, hi, I'm Jess Mariano." The cute guy answered. "You've come to see the apartment?" Rory nodded her head. After a long conversation involving the fact that they both love books, and the same music, Jess decided that Rory was perfect to be his new roommate.

"Well, how soon can you move in?" inquired Jess.

"Right now, actually." Rory replied sheepishly. Jess gave her a smirk than said,

" Well, OK then. Do you need any help?"

"Yeah, that would be great. I've been tugging along these suitcases all day long!" Rory gushed. They both made there way down the stairs, and brought everything, including two suitcases, and a dufflebag of books and CDs, back up the stairs. After settling in, Rory and Jess made a plan to buy a Rory some furniture the next day. They both plopped down on the couch, and watched Traffic, before falling asleep at their respected ends.