Title: Too Late to Forget
Author: coffeechick87, a.k.a. Jayde.
Disclaimer: I own nothing! Well, except Asia, who actually is my cat.
Pairing: Rory and Jess.
Rating: Pg-13 - to be safe.
Summary: AU. Raised in LA, 17 year old Rory Hayden runs away to Stars Hollow to find her mother. There, she meets the quirky townspeople, and finds herself drawn to one in particular.
AN: Wow! Thank you so much for your reviews! I'm shocked that so many people had something to say! RoryLeighDugray, I'm timing this about a week later, so she had time to drive cross-country. I have no idea how long it actually would take to get from Hollywood to Stars Hollow, but for the sake of my fic, I just made it a week. And mori, I think Rory generally has the same personality, maybe a little more world weary, but still Rory. I might make it L/L in later chapters, I'm not sure. I made Chris an ass in this so there is little possibility of L/C action. Sorry. And as for the explanation on why Rory isn't with Lorelai. well, you'll find out in chapter 3. If you give me enough feedback, that is! Lol. So, On with the show!
Too Late to Forget
Chapter 2:
The Lorelai Bowls, Sparkling Flying Pigs, and Confessions.
Recap:
After parking her car, putting a leash on the sleeping cats collar and securing it to the steering wheel, she walked into the diner. and everything went silent.
Rory tucked a stray hair behind her ear, and smiled a bit nervously. Chatter broke out again, and she slightly relaxed, walking to the counter, and - unknowingly -- sat down in the stool her mother had occupied just minutes before. A boy who seemed to be around her age walked over to her, behind the counter.
"You're new. They really don't get to see people from the outside world much." He motioned to the people who had just been gawking, and smiled at her.
Surprisingly, she found herself smiling back.
"I'm Jess, Jess Mariano."
"Rory Hayworth." She remembered to use her Grandmothers last name, a name she used most of he time as opposed to Hayden, and it also helped just incase anyone knew about her father from Lorelai.
"Well, Rory, what can I get you?"
"Can I please get the biggest cup of coffee that you have?" She was bordering on begging.
He chuckled. "One Lorelai Bowl coming up."
At her mother's-- and her - name, her head shot-up, and her eyes widened. Composing her face before Jess turned back around, she asked as calmly as she could, "Lorelai Bowl?" He placed the coffee on the counter in front of her and nodded at it. Indeed, it was the size of a small cereal bowl.
"One of the regulars, Lorelai Gilmore, she always complained about the size of the coffee cups, they were always too small. So, Uncle Luke - he owns this place, and between you and me, loves Lorelai - he ordered these special mugs for her, and made her paint them all herself, too. She's a bit odd, not dangerous, but just as she says 'kookie'. And that's why you have sparkling blue flying pigs on your cup. Or as everyone knows it, your 'Lorelai Bowl'." He explained, his brown eyes sparkling with amusement.
She laughed, "That sounds like something I would do!" So she *had*inherited her love of coffee from her mother.
"So, are you just passing through Stars Hollow?" Jess walked over to her side of the counter, his own coffee cup in hand.
"Ummm.. Well, I'm actually looking to re-locate somewhere. I fell in love with this town the instant I saw it, so." 'Well, that's true enough.' Rory thought. "Do you know if there are any small apartments or anything for rent around here?"
He grinned, " Well, my uncle Luke, he's going to rent out an apartment above the diner. You could talk to him if you're interested."
"Oh, I am." She took a gulp of the coffee and sighed. "This has to be the best coffee that I've ever had."
"Uncle Luke blend it himself a mix of about 5 different roasts, I think." He sipped his coffee and looked at her, taking in her styled past the shoulder dark hair, and her clear blue eyes. "You can't be that far from my age, shouldn't you be in school, not looking for a place to live."
"Well, I'm 17, and I graduated early last year. I'm taking a few years off school so I can do my own thing. And looking for a place, would be considered doing my own thing." She laughed. "What about you? You don't look as if you grew up here. Don't sound like it, either." She referred to his slight New York accent.
"Well, I didn't. I grew-up in New York City. Was shipped out here a year ago in attempts to get me to curb my wild city ways. I'm 18 now, by the way."
There was a crash, then, "JESS!" Luke barked. He walked out of the storeroom, dripping raw eggs everywhere.
"Obviously they were unsuccessful on curbing your wild ways." Rory laughed, as Luke squished over, glaring at Jess.
"Hello, Uncle Luke. Did you want me for something?" Jess kept a straight face, only his eyes hinting at his amusement. Luke glared, then looked at Rory. "Uncle Luke, This is Rory Hayworth, Rory, this is my Uncle Luke."
"Hello. I'd shake your hand, but I have to have a shower." He turned around, but looked back as Rory spoke,
"Luke, one thing, don't use hot water."
"Why?"
She turned a bit red, "I uh, did that to one of my dads' ex's before, and she used hot water to clean it, and. It ended up much like scrambled eggs in her hair - wasn't pretty." She chuckled as he went upstairs, grumbling.
Jess started to laugh, "Did you really do that to one of your dad's exes?"
"Well, she wasn't an Ex at the time, but it pretty much sealed that relationship. I remember her mumbling something like 'devil child' under her breath as she was leaving."
*~**~*~**~*
"So, Rory, You'd like to rent the empty apartment above the diner?" Luke questioned 15 minutes later, egg free. "It's $475.00 a month, you have basic heat, power, and water included. It comes furnished, with a TV, couch, table, queen size bed, fridge, stove, microwave, and chairs, things like that."
"It sounds great. I have a cat... That wouldn't be a problem, would it? It's litter trained, so he wouldn't be going outside."
"Umm, no, it's not a problem. Do you have a job?"
"No, I should look for one though, I really don't need the money, but I could use something to keep me busy."
Luke mulled that over, "Well, You could always work in the diner. I'd cut the rent back, and you can have all the free food that you want."
"Perfect." She smiled and shook his hand.
*~**~*(*)*~**~*
An hour later, Rory was sprawled on her bet absently petting Asia, who was sleeping on her stomach, and talking to herself.
"I'm scared Asia. I mean, she sounds cool. But, she's still my mother, ya' know? I've never even met her, and I know that I got my crazy coffee addiction from her, I mean, my dad never let me touch the stuff, I got it from the cook.
"Should I feel bad about lying why I'm here? I mean, I mostly told the truth; I just edited some facts out, some very large, and important facts. At least I didn't lie about my name. I've been going by Grandmas last name for years; Dad doesn't know I changed it, so he can't trace me by my bank account. And I got grandma to transfer the trust into the Hayworth account."
Rory shook her head, her eyes misting, "I've wanted to know her since I was a little girl, and now that I can actually meet her. I'm petrified. I mean, will she know me? Probably not. She hasn't seen me since I was born, and I don't even know if she saw me then. Maybe she's wanted to see me, and Dad won't let her, I wouldn't put it past him. He stopped Bonnie from seeing me just because her dad went to jail. Asshole. Maybe Lorelai tried to see me."
"Rory?"
"Jess!" Rory sat up quickly, dislodging Asia, and dumping him onto the bed. How much had he heard?
"You know Lorelai?" Jess walked farther into the room, sitting on the bed beside Rory.
"In a way. Kinda." She picked Asia back up, sitting him on her lap, and stroking him nervously.
"How do you 'kinda' know her?"
"She's ummm. My full name's Lorelai Leigh, I was named after my mother."
"She's your mother?!" Jess's eyes were wide.
"Yea, I've never met her. I guess that she was 16 when I was born, and my dad was 25. I lived with him in LA 'til last year, when I moved out. Before I left I was on my dad computer, and I found a file on her. Before I found the file, all I knew about my mother was that I had her first name, and that she was alive. Anyway, I moved out a week later, and had a copy of the file. A week ago, my dad, Chris, he told me that he was re-marrying. I don't really are about that, it's just that all Traci wants is the Hayden money, well I told Chris that, and he doesn't believe me, which is ok, I should have expected that."
Jess reached over and took her hand in his, smiling slightly she continued, "So, I told them that I was going on a very, very long vacation. When I got to my apartment, I opened the file, and decided that I was coming here, to meet my mother. And now, I'm scared shitless. I mean, what do I do now?! I can actually meet her! I've wanted this since I was old enough to ask why I don't have a mother! Now it's within my grasp, and I'm clueless!"
"Well, I'd take it slow, become her friend first. Then, when you feel the time's right, talk to her about it. You already have the coffee addiction to bind you. And she'll be in the diner a lot. She can't cook, so this is practically her second home. And she never pays, remember that. Luke doesn't mind, so if she leaves money on the counter, it's your tip."
"Is that your subtle way of saying that you guys need help in the diner?" Rory raised an eyebrow, and Jess grinned sheepishly. "I thought so. Just, can you keep all this quiet, please?"
"Of course." He nodded, and stood up, holding a hand out for her. Setting Asia on the bed, she took his hand, and got up as well. Casually draping his arm around her, he grinned, "And I also came to say hello to my new neighbor. I live in the apartment beside you with Luke, It's a bit bigger that this one."
"Well, hello then, neighbor boy." She grinned.
"Ya' know, I think you and Lor are gonna get along pretty good." He said as they went downstairs into the diner. "Pretty good, indeed."
*~**~*~**~*
So? Tell me what you think. Please.
~Jayde
Author: coffeechick87, a.k.a. Jayde.
Disclaimer: I own nothing! Well, except Asia, who actually is my cat.
Pairing: Rory and Jess.
Rating: Pg-13 - to be safe.
Summary: AU. Raised in LA, 17 year old Rory Hayden runs away to Stars Hollow to find her mother. There, she meets the quirky townspeople, and finds herself drawn to one in particular.
AN: Wow! Thank you so much for your reviews! I'm shocked that so many people had something to say! RoryLeighDugray, I'm timing this about a week later, so she had time to drive cross-country. I have no idea how long it actually would take to get from Hollywood to Stars Hollow, but for the sake of my fic, I just made it a week. And mori, I think Rory generally has the same personality, maybe a little more world weary, but still Rory. I might make it L/L in later chapters, I'm not sure. I made Chris an ass in this so there is little possibility of L/C action. Sorry. And as for the explanation on why Rory isn't with Lorelai. well, you'll find out in chapter 3. If you give me enough feedback, that is! Lol. So, On with the show!
Too Late to Forget
Chapter 2:
The Lorelai Bowls, Sparkling Flying Pigs, and Confessions.
Recap:
After parking her car, putting a leash on the sleeping cats collar and securing it to the steering wheel, she walked into the diner. and everything went silent.
Rory tucked a stray hair behind her ear, and smiled a bit nervously. Chatter broke out again, and she slightly relaxed, walking to the counter, and - unknowingly -- sat down in the stool her mother had occupied just minutes before. A boy who seemed to be around her age walked over to her, behind the counter.
"You're new. They really don't get to see people from the outside world much." He motioned to the people who had just been gawking, and smiled at her.
Surprisingly, she found herself smiling back.
"I'm Jess, Jess Mariano."
"Rory Hayworth." She remembered to use her Grandmothers last name, a name she used most of he time as opposed to Hayden, and it also helped just incase anyone knew about her father from Lorelai.
"Well, Rory, what can I get you?"
"Can I please get the biggest cup of coffee that you have?" She was bordering on begging.
He chuckled. "One Lorelai Bowl coming up."
At her mother's-- and her - name, her head shot-up, and her eyes widened. Composing her face before Jess turned back around, she asked as calmly as she could, "Lorelai Bowl?" He placed the coffee on the counter in front of her and nodded at it. Indeed, it was the size of a small cereal bowl.
"One of the regulars, Lorelai Gilmore, she always complained about the size of the coffee cups, they were always too small. So, Uncle Luke - he owns this place, and between you and me, loves Lorelai - he ordered these special mugs for her, and made her paint them all herself, too. She's a bit odd, not dangerous, but just as she says 'kookie'. And that's why you have sparkling blue flying pigs on your cup. Or as everyone knows it, your 'Lorelai Bowl'." He explained, his brown eyes sparkling with amusement.
She laughed, "That sounds like something I would do!" So she *had*inherited her love of coffee from her mother.
"So, are you just passing through Stars Hollow?" Jess walked over to her side of the counter, his own coffee cup in hand.
"Ummm.. Well, I'm actually looking to re-locate somewhere. I fell in love with this town the instant I saw it, so." 'Well, that's true enough.' Rory thought. "Do you know if there are any small apartments or anything for rent around here?"
He grinned, " Well, my uncle Luke, he's going to rent out an apartment above the diner. You could talk to him if you're interested."
"Oh, I am." She took a gulp of the coffee and sighed. "This has to be the best coffee that I've ever had."
"Uncle Luke blend it himself a mix of about 5 different roasts, I think." He sipped his coffee and looked at her, taking in her styled past the shoulder dark hair, and her clear blue eyes. "You can't be that far from my age, shouldn't you be in school, not looking for a place to live."
"Well, I'm 17, and I graduated early last year. I'm taking a few years off school so I can do my own thing. And looking for a place, would be considered doing my own thing." She laughed. "What about you? You don't look as if you grew up here. Don't sound like it, either." She referred to his slight New York accent.
"Well, I didn't. I grew-up in New York City. Was shipped out here a year ago in attempts to get me to curb my wild city ways. I'm 18 now, by the way."
There was a crash, then, "JESS!" Luke barked. He walked out of the storeroom, dripping raw eggs everywhere.
"Obviously they were unsuccessful on curbing your wild ways." Rory laughed, as Luke squished over, glaring at Jess.
"Hello, Uncle Luke. Did you want me for something?" Jess kept a straight face, only his eyes hinting at his amusement. Luke glared, then looked at Rory. "Uncle Luke, This is Rory Hayworth, Rory, this is my Uncle Luke."
"Hello. I'd shake your hand, but I have to have a shower." He turned around, but looked back as Rory spoke,
"Luke, one thing, don't use hot water."
"Why?"
She turned a bit red, "I uh, did that to one of my dads' ex's before, and she used hot water to clean it, and. It ended up much like scrambled eggs in her hair - wasn't pretty." She chuckled as he went upstairs, grumbling.
Jess started to laugh, "Did you really do that to one of your dad's exes?"
"Well, she wasn't an Ex at the time, but it pretty much sealed that relationship. I remember her mumbling something like 'devil child' under her breath as she was leaving."
*~**~*~**~*
"So, Rory, You'd like to rent the empty apartment above the diner?" Luke questioned 15 minutes later, egg free. "It's $475.00 a month, you have basic heat, power, and water included. It comes furnished, with a TV, couch, table, queen size bed, fridge, stove, microwave, and chairs, things like that."
"It sounds great. I have a cat... That wouldn't be a problem, would it? It's litter trained, so he wouldn't be going outside."
"Umm, no, it's not a problem. Do you have a job?"
"No, I should look for one though, I really don't need the money, but I could use something to keep me busy."
Luke mulled that over, "Well, You could always work in the diner. I'd cut the rent back, and you can have all the free food that you want."
"Perfect." She smiled and shook his hand.
*~**~*(*)*~**~*
An hour later, Rory was sprawled on her bet absently petting Asia, who was sleeping on her stomach, and talking to herself.
"I'm scared Asia. I mean, she sounds cool. But, she's still my mother, ya' know? I've never even met her, and I know that I got my crazy coffee addiction from her, I mean, my dad never let me touch the stuff, I got it from the cook.
"Should I feel bad about lying why I'm here? I mean, I mostly told the truth; I just edited some facts out, some very large, and important facts. At least I didn't lie about my name. I've been going by Grandmas last name for years; Dad doesn't know I changed it, so he can't trace me by my bank account. And I got grandma to transfer the trust into the Hayworth account."
Rory shook her head, her eyes misting, "I've wanted to know her since I was a little girl, and now that I can actually meet her. I'm petrified. I mean, will she know me? Probably not. She hasn't seen me since I was born, and I don't even know if she saw me then. Maybe she's wanted to see me, and Dad won't let her, I wouldn't put it past him. He stopped Bonnie from seeing me just because her dad went to jail. Asshole. Maybe Lorelai tried to see me."
"Rory?"
"Jess!" Rory sat up quickly, dislodging Asia, and dumping him onto the bed. How much had he heard?
"You know Lorelai?" Jess walked farther into the room, sitting on the bed beside Rory.
"In a way. Kinda." She picked Asia back up, sitting him on her lap, and stroking him nervously.
"How do you 'kinda' know her?"
"She's ummm. My full name's Lorelai Leigh, I was named after my mother."
"She's your mother?!" Jess's eyes were wide.
"Yea, I've never met her. I guess that she was 16 when I was born, and my dad was 25. I lived with him in LA 'til last year, when I moved out. Before I left I was on my dad computer, and I found a file on her. Before I found the file, all I knew about my mother was that I had her first name, and that she was alive. Anyway, I moved out a week later, and had a copy of the file. A week ago, my dad, Chris, he told me that he was re-marrying. I don't really are about that, it's just that all Traci wants is the Hayden money, well I told Chris that, and he doesn't believe me, which is ok, I should have expected that."
Jess reached over and took her hand in his, smiling slightly she continued, "So, I told them that I was going on a very, very long vacation. When I got to my apartment, I opened the file, and decided that I was coming here, to meet my mother. And now, I'm scared shitless. I mean, what do I do now?! I can actually meet her! I've wanted this since I was old enough to ask why I don't have a mother! Now it's within my grasp, and I'm clueless!"
"Well, I'd take it slow, become her friend first. Then, when you feel the time's right, talk to her about it. You already have the coffee addiction to bind you. And she'll be in the diner a lot. She can't cook, so this is practically her second home. And she never pays, remember that. Luke doesn't mind, so if she leaves money on the counter, it's your tip."
"Is that your subtle way of saying that you guys need help in the diner?" Rory raised an eyebrow, and Jess grinned sheepishly. "I thought so. Just, can you keep all this quiet, please?"
"Of course." He nodded, and stood up, holding a hand out for her. Setting Asia on the bed, she took his hand, and got up as well. Casually draping his arm around her, he grinned, "And I also came to say hello to my new neighbor. I live in the apartment beside you with Luke, It's a bit bigger that this one."
"Well, hello then, neighbor boy." She grinned.
"Ya' know, I think you and Lor are gonna get along pretty good." He said as they went downstairs into the diner. "Pretty good, indeed."
*~**~*~**~*
So? Tell me what you think. Please.
~Jayde