Disclaimer: See chapters 1 and 2. To reiterate, I own almost nothing.
A/N: Hey guys. Wow, ff.net has been dead. I'm reading older stories now. Sorry if I haven't reviewed yours yet, I probably haven't read it yet. Heh. Wait, this was not at all how I meant to start this out. How on Earth did I get here?
Here's the right way: Hey! I'm back from my in-home baby-sitting gig and I've had this chapter bouncing around in my head for three days. So it should be good. There a few key points I need to hit on.
A) The call with Amy, I wasn't sure who I was going to have it be to at first. I was thinking Rory, but no that would make him seem too pushy and that is way out of character. Lorelai? What would that accomplish? Luke. Maybe Jess had seen that Luke was trying to be a good guy, a father figure (look at the boat scene in Swan Song. Would just any old guy go out on a boat looking for a swan? I think not.) and thought maybe calling him and at least asking how she was was a good idea. But then I thought, wait, Amy and Jess need to bond. You like Amy, I like Amy, I'm about to kick Amy almost completely out of the story so let's make it Amy.
B) Jackson and Sookie's last name. What is it? I know Sookie's was St. James.
C) Thanks for all the great reviews. I came home to a bunch after baby-sitting and it really cheered me up. And thank you for the condolences (you know who you are) they were appreciated.
Happy Friday the 13th to everyone!!!!
*************IMPORTANT BACKGROUND INFORMATION**************
Hehe, I feel important. Okay so here's the lowdown of what went on during the summer. Rory went to Europe with her Mom. She didn't tell Lorelai about anything that had happened in Venice Beach because she felt she needed to think this through herself. Jess studied for a good part of the summer and was able to pass his test for his GED. The whole time Amy, Lilly, Sasha, and Jimmy were there to support him. He made some inner changes as well. A few walls came down. He realized that Venice Beach was exactly what he needed to start appreciating what he had. Now, with a new perspective and a slightly new edge to his personality because of it he had decided to show up in Stars Hollow. This time though, he wasn't planning on taking the bus.
He had worked the good part of the summer shift in a bookstore on the boardwalk and with the money he had saved was able to buy a '65 Ford Mustang Fastback for close to nothing. The guy who had previously owned it knew nothing about cars and when the clutch had went out on it he decided to unload it onto anyone who would take it. With Jimmy's help he had fixed the Midnight blue classic and now it purred like a kitten. After saying his goodbyes, he loaded his belongings into the trunk and went off to Stars Hollow.
Okay, read and review. The blue button gets sad when you don't push it. Here's the story.
~*~*~*~*Chapter 6*~*~*~*~
Jess stopped the car at a gas station in Hartford. He still wasn't sure what he was going to do now that he was here. Or, well almost. He dug some change out of his pocket and stuck it in an old telephone booth. Sighing, he dialed a familiar number. After two rings someone answered.
"Luke's Diner," the grumpy voice said.
"Nice to see you've found yourself in a better disposition, Uncle Luke."
"Jess? Where are you?" His voice was inquisitive at first then angry with a hint of something else. Relief, fear, Jess really couldn't be sure.
"Oh. The sunny town of Hartford at the moment but I'm on my way to Stars Hollow."
"You're coming back to Stars Hollow?"
"Yep."
"Here? You, here?"
"Yep."
"Why?"
"Well, I figured everyone was missing me."
"Jess, don't be a smart..."
"You didn't miss me?"
"That's not the point."
"So, you did miss me."
"Jess." Luke grumbled warningly.
"Okay, okay. I came back to see Rory and you. Oh, guess what."
"Jess, just leave Rory alone."
"I got my GED, I'm going to take classes at the community college. Oh, I got a car. To replace the one that was stole....." something hit him that he hadn't thought about before. "That you hid from me. I have money, not much but some."
"You're going to take classes at college?"
"Yep. Figured as much. Hold on, got to put more change in."
As Jess dug around in his pocket for change Luke stood there leaning against the wall. Jess had a GED, he came back to see Rory. Did Rory know? Did Lorelai know? Is that why she was being so moody? Wait, did he say he came back to see me too? Before he got to think about it too much Jess was back on the line.
"Sorry about that. So...where were we?"
"What classes?"
"What?"
"At college? What classes are you going to take?"
"Something English oriented. I don't know yet."
"That sounds good."
"Uh, Luke...."
"Where are you going to stay?"
"About that... I don't really know."
"I guess you can stay here a few nights. Not permanently. Just until you can find a job and an apartment. That's all. And if you screw up, you're out."
"Understood. Thanks."
"Yeah. She's at home. I think."
"Thanks. Bye, Luke."
They hung up. Well, off to Star's Hollow.
About an hour later
He parked the old mustang at the corner of the street and started his walk towards the Gilmore house.
The light was on in the kitchen and in Rory's room. Huh, they're not together, that's different. He walked around to Rory's bedroom window and looked in through the opening in the curtains. She was in there. And wearing her cake pajamas. She looked so cute in those. But, wait, she appeared to be mad. Yep, mad. She was sitting back against her pillows with her knees up and her arms crossed over them. He could have sworn that if she stared at the wall any harder and any meaner there would have been a hole in it. Ouch.
He took a deep breath and knocked three times in rapid secession on the window.
Rory jumped a little and stared at the window a moment thinking she had been hearing things. When she heard the knock again she got up. She flung the curtains open and pushed up the window. On a gasp, she jumped back as if she were burned.
"Jess! What are you doing here?" she asked after a moment.
"I'm bad with waiting."
They were both silent a moment.
"Jess..."
"Rory..." They had said each other's names at the same time.
"Jess, let me stay with you tonight."
"What?"
"I need to get away. Let me stay with you tonight."
"Rory, is this a good idea...Lorelai...."
"I don't care what she thinks. It's her I need to be away from. Please, Jess."
"Okay. It should be okay. Can I use the phone?"
"Yeah. Hold on."
She walked through the living room and into the kitchen where Lorelai had the phone.
"I need to use the phone," she said grabbing the phone.
"Rory, it's eleven at night, who could you be calling?"
"Dad," she lied. "He doesn't know we're home yet."
"You can call him tomorrow."
"No. I'm calling him now."
"Rory..."
"Mom. Drop it. I don't want to stand here and argue with you right now. I have more important things to do."
Lorelai just sighed and dropped her gaze. Rory walked back into her room and closed the door. She then did something she had never done before.....locked her mother out. She walked over to the window and handed Jess the phone.
"Phone."
"I see that. Thanks."
"I'm going to pack some essentials."
"Okay."
She turned around as she heard him dialing.
"Hey, it's me," he said.
Rory turned her attention to packing. She found her book bag and laid it out. In the bottom she dropped clean underwear and a clean bra. She then found her favorite, most comfortable cut-offs and a shirt. Clothes taken care of. On top of that she put a copy of Franz Kafka's Greatest Short Stories collection, Hilary Clinton's new book, and a book of early American poets. That would have to do. She rummaged through her room looking for her travel toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, hairbrush, and shampoo. When she found it she threw it into a pocket. She looked over to where Jess was standing, obviously arguing with whoever was on the phone. She sighed and walked over to her bedside table, pulled open the drawer. She took out the tiny box inside and opened it.
Inside the box were three condoms. Lorelai had bought them for her when she started dating Dean. Just in case. She slipped them into a pocket in her book bag hoping Jess wouldn't notice. She threw the box away and slipped on her shoes. All ready. God, she really needed coffee.
"Okay," Jess held the phone out to her. "Just write a note saying that you're going to be at Luke's so your Mom won't freak. Then, we'll be set. You done packing?"
"Yeah," she nodded. "But I'm not staying at Luke's why should I say I am?"
"Because you are. That's where I'm staying."
"Oh. Okay."
She grabbed a notebook out of her desk and found a pen to write her mom a note.
Mom-
Going to Luke's. I'll be there for a while. Leave me alone.
Rory
She laid the note on her bed.
"I'll be right back," she said.
She took the phone into the living and placed it on it's cradle then went back into her room. She handed Jess the book bag through the window and climbed out herself. They started the walk to Jess' car in silence. Jess was carrying Rory's book bag for her and she reached out and took his free hand in hers. She looked at him as he looked at her and smiled. It's going to be okay, she told herself.
Just as they got to Jess' car Lorelai walked into Rory's room to try to talk to her. She saw the note on Rory's bed and read it. She frantically checked out the window, but couldn't see her daughter. She then ran to check the phone to see who she had really called. Danes, Lucas appeared on the display. Oh thank God. At least she'd be safe. She muffled a sob. She had turned into her mother. She had pushed Rory away. On top of it all, Rory had lied to her. It seemed silly that Rory lying to her was what concerned her most, but it was.
At Luke's
Jess knocked on the door then took Rory's hand again. She seemed to be needing the constant contact. He needed it too he admitted silently. He had missed her. A lot more than he thought he had. Luke jerked the door open.
"Hi."
"Hi," Jess replied.
"Hi, Luke," Rory said looking at the ground. Luke hadn't seen her in her pajamas in years.
They walked in and Jess sat Rory's book bag and his own duffle next to his old bed.
"Um, that's your bed, obviously. Jess, blankets and pillows are on the couch. I tucked both sides in for you Ror, it's how your Mom likes it, so I figured you might like it that way too," he was speaking very awkwardly and waving his hands around like he didn't know what to do with them. "I've never had a girl in here before sorry. Or I mean, not a.... well a girl yes. But not," he fumbled.
"Luke, shut up," Jess said laughing. He turned to whisper to Rory. "Truth is, I think I may have had more girls up here than he has."
"Shane in the closet doesn't count."
"Yes it does."
"You didn't sleep with her."
"Uh, leaving that one alone."
"In here? Jess?"
"Yes, Uncle Luke?"
"Jess I swear if I find out that..."
"Uh, guys? Sex life not important here. Coffee is." Rory said on the brink of laughter.
"Sorry. I'm going to take her into the diner. Get her coffee, catch up. Okay?"
"Yeah. Have fun. Not that kind of fun but...." he sighed. "Jess, don't touch her."
"Who says she won't touch me?"
"Come on Jess, coffee."
"Okay. We'll finish this later Luke."
"No we won't. I'm serious. About the not touching thing I mean."
"Got it."
They walked downstairs together, hand-in-hand. Jess still found it entertaining to get Luke riled up occasionally.
In the diner
Rory sipped on the coffee Jess had made her.
"So, how was L.A?"
"Okay. I kind of liked it. Hey, why did you want to stay with me?"
"My mom and I fought, I don't want to talk about it."
"Well, I don't want to talk about L.A."
"Did you sleep with Shane?"
"Nah."
"Good. Have you ever...."
"Yeah. Twice."
"Oh."
"Rory, that doesn't mean anything."
"I know, I know."
"Does that bother you?"
"No, not really. I sort of knew you had. I just..... I hope it's good for you. With me not having had..... I mean..."
"You sound like Luke now Rory. Don't worry. As long as it's with you it'll be the best anyone has ever had."
She smiled.
"Wait. Hold on a minute. We're sitting here talking about having sex. Not just sex, but us having sex..."
"Making love," she cut him off. "It sounds more romantic."
"Okay. We're talking about us making love. Does this mean we're together?"
"Yeah. That's kind of why I'm here. I told my Mom I wanted to be with you. She kind of yelled. I kind of yelled. I kind of told her that if she didn't let me be with you I'd go to L.A. with you and never come back."
"You didn't. Rory...."
"I meant every word I said, Jess. She forbid me to leave the house."
"Not smart, Lorelai."
"Nope. I was determined to leave no matter where I went."
"Yeah. She should have seen that coming."
"Yeah." She walked over and sat down on his lap. "I've been wanting to do this a very long time.
She kissed him long and hard and deep. A small moan escaped her throat. They kissed like that for several long minutes until Jess broke away.
"Rory..."
"Jess, please."
"This isn't right."
"This is what I want. I wanted it before you left, I was ready for it and I wanted it to be with you. You left to keep from hurting me. You thought it would be easier if I could hate you rather than be disappointed. That made me love you even more. Please Jess."
"This isn't you. You're mad at your mom."
"Yes, I am. But she's separate from you Jess. When you wanted me you didn't pull away telling me it was wrong. Don't you want me anymore Jess?"
"Oh God Rory, I want you. I want you so much."
"Then take me. I love you, Jess."
"I love you, too. But...not here."
"Upstairs. Luke is asleep."
"Rory."
"Please, Jess. You want me, I want you, we're ready. This is the next logical step."
He leaned his head against her breastbone. " I don't have protection. I don't want to hurt you, I don't want to get you pregnant."
"I have one."
"You have a condom?"
"Three actually."
"Well, aren't we Miss Girl Scout USA."
"Jess....."
".............Okay."
She pulls him upstairs.
Inside the apartment all is quiet. Luke is indeed asleep with his door closed.
"I'm thankful he remodeled the place." Jess said.
"Yeah, I never really paid attention to it until now."
They walked into the bedroom and shut the door.
"So," Rory said, suddenly very nervous.
"You sure about this?"
"Yeah."
Jess leaned in and kissed her. The kiss was slow and deep and romantic. Rory reached behind him and pulled off his shirt.
"Aren't we in a hurry," he said slightly amused.
"Jess, come on. I don't know how long Luke will be asleep."
"You're right."
He started unbuttoning her shirt. "I'll take more time next time, I promise." He pushed the shirt off her shoulders.
3:00 am
Jess woke up with a start. He'd been dreaming again. He reached back and felt his head. Hey, it wasn't sore. He hadn't hit the coffee table this time. Wait, he wasn't on the floor, or on the sofa. He was on a bed, with a girl curled up in his arms. He opened his eyes and was able to make out Rory. So he hadn't been dreaming. Rory was here. Absently he stroked her bare back. Had this been a good idea? Yes. It had. He looked over his shoulder at the clock. Three am!!! Luke was getting up in an hour.
He kissed Rory on the lips softly whispering "I love you" to her before getting up. He found his boxers and pulled them on. That would suffice as pajamas. He gathered the rest of his clothes and dumped them behind the duffle. Just in the nick of time he remembered the used condom. He walked over to the bed-side table and got it. That could've been bad.
He walked into the bathroom to bury it in the trash. In the process he found another used condom. Eww. Gross. He thought. He looked around the bathroom and gasped when he saw a very familiar shirt. It was Lorelai's. Huh.
He walked out an eyed the sofa suspiciously. I don't like you, he thought. I was just in a nice comfy bed with a beautiful woman and now I have to settle for you. He sighed and readied himself for bed.
Later in the diner
Jess and Rory sat in the diner eating pancakes when Lorelai walked in.
"Luke is Rory here?"
"Yeah."
"Hi, Mom." Rory said from her seat across from Jess.
"Oh my God!" She said angrily.
"Uh, hi Lorelai." Jess said looking down at his plate.
To be continued.....................................................................
