AN: Hey everyone. I'm so sorry that this took so long. Laura, Stew, and I worked very hard on this. Dana and Danyel did a great job betaing and editing. We're proud of this, I hope you guys like it. And please remember, everything I do, I do for a reason.
(I apologize for the lack of preview for the nest chapter. Its still in its beginning stages and I don't want to commit to any dialouge until the final draft.)
Danyel asked me to post this:
"Do not blame Jewls for the delay in posting this chapter. It would have been out three or four days ago had I not held up the works in beta, so send all torch-and-pitchfork waving mobs to *me* (author ID: Mad Minute), not to Jewls, your beloved author. Please remember, she can't write more of this if you lynch her for a stuff-up that was *my* fault."
He's a sweetie, isn't he?
**Special thanks to Ivy who let me use her as a sounding board for the 'minor' details of this chapter that mean a lot to me.**
Ok, so enjoy
and please review.
Chapter Sixteen
"- So the guy says, 'What are you complaining about? *I'm* the one that has to walk home by myself!'" Bree said as she and Jess entered the diner.
Jess shook his head, horrified laughter escaping him. "Oh, my god, that's just... wrong on so many levels!"
Bree laughed. "I know. Isn't it great?"
Jess nodded in agreement. "You know we're going to hell, right?"
"Oh yeah, that's a given."
Luke looked up from writing on a note pad at the sound of their voices.
"Where have you been?!" he bellowed.
"Excuse me?" Bree said, taken back.
"Jess, you were gone all night!"
"Yeah, I was at Bree's."
"I figured, but Jess, you can't do that. I have to know where you are at all times and you absolutely cannot stay out all night!"
Bree and Jess exchanged a look, rolling their eyes.
"Geez, alright," the Jess began. "You're -"
"And do not tell me I'm over-reacting! You are my responsibility and I have to know where you are and if you want to stay out past 11:00PM, you need my permission and a damn good reason. You know that!" Luke ranted.
Jess dropped his gaze to the floor for a moment; being chewed out like this - especially in front of Bree - was at least a little embarrassing. Being Jess, he tried to mask the humiliation with a show of attitude. "OK, Uncle Luke. I'm going to go upstairs and take a shower.... If that's okay with you, that is?"
He didn't wait for his uncle's response, simply heading upstairs. Bree shot a look at Luke and followed her friend.
"Is he serious?" she exclaimed on the way up.
"Sadly, yes."
"You have a curfew," Bree sing-songed.
Jess grunted something that might have been 'shut up.'
"Man, that sucks."
"Yeah, so every time we wanna go out, I gotta get a pardon from the warden," he sighed.
"You can always make a jail break," Bree said thoughtfully.
"Bree, are you... encouraging sneaking out? That's just so unlike you! 'Shock me, shock me, shock me with that deviant behaviour!'" Jess cried in mock surprise and disappointment.
Bree just smiled. "'Freedom is not something that anybody can be given. Freedom is something people take, and people are as free as they want to be.'"
"Mark Twain?"
"James Baldwin."
"I didn't realise there was a fifth Baldwin brother," he deadpanned.
"Yeah, well, they keep him locked in a closet."
"But he seems so intelligent," Jess 'protested', continuing the game.
"He's not hot," Bree shrugged.
"Oh, so there we go." Jess smiled triumphantly.
"What can I say? He's the black sheep."
"That is so wrong," he laughed.
"Since when did you become PC?" she jibed. Jess snorted, and she went on, "You know, I never had to sneak out, but I'm sure we can find a way... let's see, tying sheets together, blow-up doll in the bed...."
"Just call me Ferris Bueller."
"Adolescent and juvenile."
Jess nodded and smiled. "Pretty much."
"We're not gonna bother with that, are we? You'll be walking out the front door."
Once again Jess nodded and smiled. "Pretty much."
"Out-and-out defiance."
"Freedom is something you take..."
Bree smiled. "Amen, brother. We need you as a third. Just me and Dom doesn't quite work out as well and we've never found an adequate replacement for you."
"So this is why you guys are moving here? You need a third in the rotation?"
"Well, yes. But we need you in the rotation. Dom doesn't do as well on his own. You know he works best with a tag team partner. And for some reason he prefers you to me for that job."
"Hmm... I wonder why?" Jess wondered sardonically.
"When we go out, all he attracts are the bitchy, arrogant girls -"
"The ones that figure he's gotta have something worthwhile if he's with you?"
"Exactly, and all the nice girls -"
"Are too intimidated to approach 'cause they don't think they could compete with a girl like you," Jess finished for her. "Yeah, I know. I've been out with you, remember?"
Bree sighed. "To be young, rich and beautiful in America...."
"It's a curse," Jess laughed.
"It really is," she nodded. "So, that's why Dom needs you. You're the dark, mysterious, smart, brooding asshole -"
"And Dom's the goofy flirt. Yeah, we always did make a good team," he remembered fondly.
"It's because of you that he got the smart girls. He's been knee deep in bimbos for a while."
"He does have a thing for smart girls."
"It's a borderline fetish," Bree drawled. "He strives to screw better then himself."
"Intelligence through osmosis. You gotta respect his commitment to the theory."
Bree smiled. "See? This is why we need you. You're the smart angel. The one who defuses the bombs while still looking great in a bikini...."
"And not a hair out of place," he added.
"With the amount of gel you put in there, I should hope not," Bree quipped.
Jess looked over at Bree. "Look who's talking"
"Hey, I have way more hair then you, and it's curly... and I'm a girl, so it's okay!" Bree defended.
Jess cocked his eyebrow. "Oh, so *now* you're a girl - but when Dom drags me to strip clubs, all of a sudden you're a guy and wanna come too?"
"I keep my penis in a jar," she said offhandedly. "And do I hinder your strip club experience in any way? I mean, really?"
"No... you're a better guy than many who were born that way," Jess confirmed reluctantly.
"And you like it when I come with you guys."
"Yeah, it's hot, alright? You happy?" he asked through a smile.
Bree nodded. "Very. Besides, what am I supposed to do when you guys are out having fun?"
"Have a sleep over with your girlfriends?" he teased.
"Right, and sit there doing our nails," she jeered. She shifted her voice for a moment, mimicking the worst kind of Valley Girl. "'Oh, my God! Did you, like, see what she was wearing?' I never understood why when getting their hair and nails done, woman talk about getting their hair and nails done. 'Like, last time, I got peach - but I have a date with Kevin tomorrow and he likes the red....' Do they not understand that it doesn't matter to guys what color their nails are? I mean, everyone knows that woman don't primp and dress to impress them. They do it to impress and one up each other!" Bree snorted.
"I'd imagine that you would enjoy that competition. You do like playing head games, you're good at it anyway."
Bree smirked. "Yeah, but that's not even the point. It's not really a competition - it's more like shooting fish in a barrel. There's no challenge to it. Besides, it's not the competition that I abhor, it's the pretence. You know me, I mean, do whatever you want, but be honest about it - if not with someone else, at least with yourself. If there's anything I can't stand, it's self-delusion and false modesty. And just because I'm good at it doesn't mean I like, respect or approve of it. With women, it's all cattiness and 'feelings'. Men on the other hand, are straightforward - and if there really *is* a problem, you beat the crap out of each other and then go for a beer. Simple, quick, honest. Do you have any idea how much I wish I could just pummel someone and have it be done with? It might sound barbaric but I think there comes a point where so-called maturity only hinders the individual. Ok, so some may see it as taking a few steps back in the evolutionary process, but at least they take some sort of action. And I'll take the 'barbarianism' of men over the two-faced, weepy society of woman any day of the week. Cause when it comes down to it, at least men are honest."
Jess nodded his head in agreement.
"So if I'm hanging with a bunch of girls, there'd better be massive amounts of alcohol present," (she dropped back into Valley-Speak) "or, I'm, like, gonna kill them!"
Jess laughed and shook his head. "You do that accent entirely too well."
Bree shrugged that off. "I lived with bitches like that for a while. It's ingrained into my psyche."
"Hey, I'm gonna hop in the shower. What about you?" Jess said, quickly changing the subject.
Bree raised her eyebrow then proceeded to mock him. "How dare you proposition a lady like that!"
"Lady? I don't see a lady. I see a creature with a detachable penis.... but no 'lady'."
"How do you know if it's attached right now?" Bree asked.
"I don't."
"Then why don't you find out for yourself?"
"Hence the proposition - which I wasn't making anyway."
"Well, if you weren't propositioning me, why do you wanna find out if I've got a third leg?"
"To see who takes the shower first," Jess replied without missing a beat.
Bree smiled at him, enjoying their banter but knowing that Jess had won this round.
"You go. I've gotta make a few phone calls, anyway."
"All right."
"Besides, I wouldn't want you to be tempted to sneak a peek," she added.
"So you'll choose to smell instead?"
"I don't smell bad," Bree said. "Besides, people will forgive a little odour with me."
"And why's that?"
"Well, when you're young, rich and beautiful in America, people can and will overlook almost anything."
"It's a curse," he smiled.
"It really is."
Jess shook his head and turned to go to the bathroom. Bree sighed and pulled her cell phone out of her pocket. As she went to dial the number, Jess's shirt came flying at her head. She laughed and called into the bathroom, "You know, Jess, you might have untapped potential as a stripper."
"Yeah, I'll put that on the list," he returned, rolling his eyes and turning on the shower. "Won't *that* be a proud day for all of us?"
Bree laughed and dropped Jess's shirt on the floor before dialling the number. She went and sat on a chair by the table while she waited for someone to pick up.
"Bill Peterson, please. Well, then patch me through to his cell phone, thank you." She drummed her fingers on the table while she waited. "Bill, hi. Your gal Friday learns quick. I just wanted to make sure there were no problems.... Yes, there was a payment charged to my credit card yesterday morning. NYPD, that's correct. I trust there were no problems? Good. About the apartment... I'm paying rent? Yes, that's fine...no, I don't know how long I'm going to be here, I trust that the landlord is... taken care of, good. Who?" Bree laughed. "No, no, it's not a problem, for me anyway. He, on the other hand... he's already signed the contracts? Excellent. Yes, I took care of that this morning." A wave of... something... passed over Bree's face. "Yes, I've spoken to him about my responsibilities. All right, have the contracts sent over as... they're already en route? Fine. Yes, I *will* sign them, as long as they stipulate the terms that were previously discussed. Make sure they are no new addenda, because I *will* find them and you and I both know I do not like having my patience tried. Good. Thank you."
Bree hung up the phone and took a deep breath. She smiled to herself, trying to convince herself that she was, in fact, doing the right thing.
*******************************************
Kirk entered the diner and stood notably before the door, looking around. He finally cleared his throat, trying to demand the attention of the unconcerned patrons. When a few eyes acknowledged him, he stated, rather importantly, "I need to speak to the owner of this establishment."
Luke looked up from his order pad. "What is it, Kirk?"
Kirk approached Luke, fixing a clip-on tie on his pink pin-stripe shirt. "Are you the owner?"
Luke glared at Kirk, exasperated. "Kirk, what do you want? I don't have time for this."
Kirk dropped the formality and slipped into a nearby table, gesturing for Luke to join him. When the two of them were seated, Kirk folded his hands and began to state his purpose. "Would you be able to close your diner for approximately two months?"
"No."
"After closing time?"
"Would I be able to close my diner after closing time?"
"Yes. That is my question."
"You mean would I be able to keep the diner open longer after closing time?" Luke asked, trying to make sense of the crazy man's ramblings.
"No. I mean, would you be able to keep your diner closed after closing time?"
"Forever?"
"No. Just for the night."
"So, you're asking me if I can keep my diner closed after I've closed it but before I've opened it again?"
"Yes," Kirk stated, as if it was obvious.
Luke sighed. "I think I can manage that, Kirk."
"Great. So would I be able to use your diner after it's closed?"
"For what?" Luke demanded, getting tired of Kirk very quickly.
"To shoot my next movie."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"No."
"No, I really am."
"I don't care if you're serious. The answer is no."
"I'll give you a part in the movie," Kirk offered.
"No," Luke replied promptly.
"No acting skills or IQ required."
"I wouldn't want to steal *your* part, Kirk."
Kirk didn't let Luke's comment deflect him. "I appreciate your sarcastic humor, but I would ask you to take this seriously now. This is my future we're talking about."
The softer, sympathetic Luke beneath the gruff exterior was moved by Kirk's plea. "Fine. You can use the diner after closing for two weeks. I'm right upstairs and I don't want to have to hear anything going on down here. The minute I do, you're out. Do what you have to do quietly and make sure you clean up after."
"Thank you." Kirk shook Luke's hand. "You won't regret it. Now can we discuss some of the remodelling I'll have to do for the film?"
Luke's eyes bugged out. "What!?"
"Just a few things."
"No," Luke replied sternly, just about ready to rip Kirk's head off.
"Okay. Just one thing. I'll have to move the counter."
"Kirk, don't touch my counter."
"Can I at least move the register?"
"No."
"Okay. No remodelling, then." Kirk scratched something off a piece of paper, and handed the paper and pen to Luke. "Can you please read the agreement and sign the contract? Oh, and on the flip side there's a list of film-maker's rights."
Luke got up, crumpled up the sheet of paper, and threw it with the trays he began to clear off.
"When can I began filming?" Kirk called out.
Luke ignored him and walked to the kitchen.
************************************************
Bree walked around the apartment, while she waited for Jess to get out of the shower. She looked at the safe and took note of the number that the dial was rested on. She found herself in Luke's side of the apartment and looked at the bed, which was made haphazardly. She glanced over into the half open drawer on the bedside table. Inside, was an old, worn, black and white picture of a couple on their wedding day. Next to it, lay a black detachable camera lens.
She looked up and her eyes rested on a guitar leaning in the corner. She furrowed her eyebrows. The guitar seemed out of place for a guy like Luke but she smiled at the small revelation into his character. She knelt beside it and winced as she ran her finger across the strings. Resisting the urge to tune it, she stood up and walked over to the window, fingering the curtains along the way.
As she made her way back into the main area of the apartment she came across a brown, leather bound notebook lying open on the table beside a solar calculator. She looked over it and mentally redid some of the calculations, double checking Luke's answers. She nodded at his accuracy and wandered over to pick up Jess's shirt off the floor, smelled it and made a face. Fresh from that experience, she wandered into Jess's room, shirt in hand, and glanced around it. It was messy, clothes strewn about, books here and there, CDs scattered across the dresser... she smiled at the familiarity of it all. Tossing his shirt onto the bed, she lifted her own for a quick sniff; wincing at what she found, she swept it off and lay back on Jess's bed, dressed only in a black bra and Jess's jeans.
********************************************
Lorelai and Rory surveyed the diner for seats as they came in, but all were occupied... except for two at Kirk's table. They walked over and looked down at Kirk who sat with a blank expression on his face.
"Uh, Kirk?" Lorelai began. "Did you order something?"
Kirk did not answer.
"Because, uh, see, we would like to order something, and we would like to eat our order, and I like to sit when I eat because, well, if I eat standing up, it all goes to my feet and it's bigger shoes for me, and while I normally jump at any excuse to go shoe shopping, I'm trying to avoid canoe shopping, so I'd like a table where I can sit and eat my food, but all the other tables are occupied with people eating and here's this one with two extra chairs and you... not eating. So...."
Kirk came out of his trance. "Oh, did you say something? Excuse me. I was just processing rejection."
"She must have been brutal," Lorelai assessed.
Kirk nodded and stood suddenly. "He's a good guy, but he can just be rigid and close-minded sometimes."
Lorelai and Rory exchanged perplexed looks as they sat down at the table. Luke came over to get their orders.
Kirk extended his hand. "I just want you to know that there are no hard feelings."
Luke quickly shook Kirk's hand. "Yeah, that's great Kirk." He looked past the would-be _auteur_ to the Gilmores. "What do you want?"
"Um, excuse me," Kirk interrupted. "Should I leave my number in case you sleep on it and change your mind?"
"That won't be necessary, Kirk."
"Very well then," Kirk said, disappointed, and left the diner.
"You could have at least done dinner and a movie," Lorelai scolded.
"He looks so heartbroken," Rory added compassionately.
"What are you two talking about?" asked a baffled Luke.
"You and Kirk," Lorelai answered.
"He only asked for the movie. You want me to agree to that and throw in free dinner?"
"Well, yeah."
"It's only proper, Luke," Rory admitted.
"Look, this is my diner. I decide what goes on in here, and I'm not going to have Kirk come in here and change everything around."
"Just remember what happened with Rachel," Lorelai reminded.
"What does this have to do with Rachel?"
"It has nothing to do with Rachel. It has to do with you and being willing to share your life with someone."
"As far as I'm concerned, I'm sharing my life with too many people. It's my diner I can't share with any more. Let Kirk film his movie at Taylor's."
"Huh? Is that what that was about?"
"Yeah. What did you think it was about?"
"Well, um, I thought Kirk wanted you...." Lorelai looked to Rory for a save.
"- To co-direct his movie," the youngest Gilmore shrugged.
"No. Though, I tell you, the answer would have been 'no' to that, too. That's a money pit waiting to happen. Anyway, what do you girls want?"
"Luke," Rory broke in, "Is Jess here?"
"Yeah, he's upstairs. You can go up if you want."
Rory excused herself and went upstairs.
"So, what time did Jess get in?" Lorelai asked casually.
"About twenty minutes ago."
"Huh." The two lapsed into awkward silence, both dreading what the 'I told you so' that threatened the ambience would do.
Luke broke first. "Look, I'm sorry about last night. You were right. I guess I'm just not used to this whole parent thing."
"Hey, that's understandable. It fell on your lap unexpectedly, and Jess is a grown kid so he's got a lot of baggage with him. You're used to something totally different and so is he, and you need time to get adjusted to each other. I mean, you two did last a year together right? Now that his friends are here, he might start to fall back into old behaviours. All I'm saying is that rules can be helpful."
"And you're right, and I appreciate the advice. Let me ask you something. Who taught you how to raise Rory?"
"Well, I was young and my parents weren't around, not that I would have wanted tips from them anyway, so it was pretty much 'learn as I go' with Rory."
"And she turned out great."
"That she did."
"See, I'd like to learn as I go. I need to make my own mistakes and hopefully learn from them."
"As opposed to me playing the teacher. I got it. Sounds fair."
"Great. And I'm really sorry about last night."
"Yeah. Me too."
"So, uh, coffee and some sort of greasy, salty, or sugary thing, am I right?"
"That sounds about right. A pig on a cow, and a cheese Danish."
"And for Rory?"
"The same."
"Jesus." Luke shook his head as he turned to go. "Coming right up!"
"Oh, and Luke?" He turned back to hear the interruption. "If it's any consolation, I'm still learning, too."
Luke nodded and returned to the kitchen.
***************************************************
Bree walked over to a pile of Jess's books and lightly ran her fingers across the spines, reading the titles as she went. Confusion washed over her features as her finger stopped on a copy of 'The Fountainhead'. She pulled it out and flipped to a random page and read some of his notes. She smiled to herself and flipped to another page where she laughed and rolled her eyes in amusement. Her eyes darted around the room and finally landed on what she was looking for, she picked up the pen and scribbled in a few notes next to Jess's and then threw the book on to the bed, on top of the shirt she recently discarded there.
She looked around the room and noted that something was missing. Bree thought for a second, and reached under Jess's pillow only to find it empty. After another moment's thought, she ran her finger across the bookshelves once again - this time with purpose. Her finger stopped on a thick book entitled 'Remembrance of Things Past'. She took it off the shelf and opened it, revealing it to be hollow. She smiled as she went through it. Inside, she found ticket stubs from movies and concerts; a familiar pair of keys that Bree knew opened a certain third floor apartment in the Village; an expired metro card; a bus ticket stub from a one way ticket from Port Authority to Stars Hollow; an open-ended one-way ticket from Star's Hollow to Port Authority; a slip of paper that has scribbled on it 'NY Methodist - Bree's direct line' with a phone number underneath. On the bottom of the box lay a familiar photograph of the three of them. Dom stood in the middle, holding up an official looking piece of paper whose words the camera didn't quite get. They were smiling. Proud and happy, capturing that brief moment in time almost two years ago when they were free and their lives full of possibilities. She smiled.
Breaking her trance, she heard the apartment door open and someone walk in. She put the 'book' back in its place and walked towards the door
"Jess?" Rory called.
Bree walked out of Jess's room and saw Rory standing there, her back to her. "He's in the shower," she supplied casually, leaning against the doorframe.
Rory spun around to face Bree. "OH! You scared me!" She forced a smile, absorbing the sight of Bree in her bra... after coming out of Jess's room.
"Sorry. I can get him if you want."
"No, that's okay."
"It's no problem," Bree assured her. "He spends too much time in the bathroom anyway." Crossing to the bathroom, Bree walked right in without knocking, closed the door behind her and waved some steam away from her face. "Jesus, Jess. Leave some hot water for the rest of the town!"
"What do you want?"
"Other than a 1972 Glenturret Single Highland Malt Scotch? Rory's here."
"I'm in the shower."
"Yeah, so... what do you want me to do? Send her in?" Bree said rolling her eyes
Jess smiled behind the curtain.
"Stop smiling," Bree scolded lightly. "So how long are you gonna be?"
"I dunno. Just tell her I'll talk to her later."
Bree stood outside the shower looking down at the condensation collecting on the tiles, contemplating whether or not to interfere. After a moment, she made an uncertain start. "Jess?"
"What?" Jess barked, a touch irritably.
"You should talk to her."
"Why? Bree, what's going on?"
Bree sighed. "Exactly."
"What?"
"When's the last time you talked to her? Y'know, more then just 'hello' and 'goodbye'?"
Jess paused and thought. "Ummm...."
"Was it before I got here?"
"Yes?" he answered hesitantly.
"And you like this girl...?"
"... yes..."
"You're an idiot, Jess.." Bree sighed.
"Yeah, I know," he nodded, comprehension sinking in. "Shit. Any suggestions?"
"You really like her?" Bree confirmed.
"Yeah."
"Grovel."
"Really? But, you hate guys who grovel."
"She's not me, Jess. The same rules don't apply. It would help to remember that," Bree said, only half joking.
Jess rolled his eyes. "Really? Cause I couldn't tell. You two could be sisters."
"Ooo, Rocky's such a funny boy," Bree cooed sarcastically.
Jess snorted at the name, thinking fast. "Okay, just...um, tell her to wait. I'll be out in a minute."
Bree nodded and headed to the door; she paused when she got there, one hand on the handle. "Sure, but you know the longer you take in there, the longer I hang out with Rory and you never know what we might start talking about... Rocky," she said wickedly, and was gone, closing the door behind her.
"Bree? Bree! Dammit!" he hissed, washing the shampoo out of his hair as fast as humanly possible.
Bree walked over to where Rory was standing uncomfortably. "He'll be out in a second."
Rory just nodded and stared at the wall.
"He's just giving his hair a pep talk," Bree joked.
Rory gave a tight smile; ordinarily she would be laughing about Jess and his hair, but Bree put her a little on edge.
"Each strand has its own voice."
"Like the leaves in Monty Python?" Rory joined in.
"Exactly."
Almost despite themselves, they shared a laugh.
"I love Monty Python," Rory reminisced.
"Me too. Although 'The Life of Brian'...?"
"You didn't get it either?"
"No."
"Thank you!" Rory laughed.
Bree joined in. "Jess claims that he does and that it's funny, but I know him. That's just him being superior. He does that, but you get used to it." Even as she said that, she watched Rory's smile go from genuine to forced. "You know, I could probably do this small talk for days, but I don't think pretence does anyone any good, so go ahead."
"What?"
"If you have something to say, go ahead," Bree explained gently.
"Um, no. I don't really have anything to say." Rory glanced about nervously.
"Really?" Bree asked tonelessly.
"Really."
Bree didn't buy the other girl's 'I'm not uncomfortable' act for a second. "Right. Well, we haven't really talked so I don't really know how you feel about my being here." She paused to give Rory a chance to chime in; Rory thought about what she could say to Bree, something appropriate and not strange and weird, but Bree went on before anything came to mind. "Not that it really matters. I mean, it's not going to change anything, for me anyway. You're entitled to your feelings, of course."
"...Of...course," Rory replied, her unease growing by the moment.
"And they'll dictate your actions... but not mine. Regardless, you don't need to worry about me. My being here has, absolutely nothing to do with you. So... you can chill." Bree gave Rory an honest smile.
"I am...chill," Rory asserted. "I'm, I'm very chill. I'm so chill, I'm actually a little bit cold."
Bree smiled at her, as if to say 'well, if you say so.'
Before anything more could be said, Jess walked out of the bathroom clad in only a towel around his waist and a smaller towel around his neck. "Hey."
"Hi," Rory replied faintly.
Bree looked at Jess and snorted. "What? Do you shower in the dark?" She took the smaller towel from around Jess's neck and wiped away some shampoo still left lingering on his ear.
Jess rolled his eyes. "Thanks, mom."
"Oh, yeah, right. Do you really wanna explore *that* little Freudian nightmare?"
Jess thought for a moment and then shuddered.
"Didn't think so."
Rory watched, a little amazed, as Bree started to inspect Jess's hair further. He saw her expression and rolled his eyes. "It's easier not to fight it."
Rory smiled in spite of herself, watching Bree momentarily take control of Jess's free will. Jess always gave at least the appearance of control, but seeing him submit to Bree this way showed her a new side of him. A side that was both amusing and distressing. Bree had a power over Jess, and Rory wasn't sure how, or even if, she would be able to contend with it.
"Alright, alright. That's enough," Jess finally said, shooing Bree away. He raised his hands to the back of his neck, as if to wipe away the lingering effect that Bree's touch left on his skin.
"Alright," Bree said casually, "I'm gonna hit the shower. Jess, you should probably get dressed. Not that the scenery isn't just...lovely, but I do think Rory is getting a little red faced. I guess she's not used to seeing you quite so... exposed."
Jess rolled his eyes shot Bree a look that told her to shut up. Bree laughed and turned to Rory.
"Rory, it was nice talking to you and I look forward to seeing you around. Jess, put some pants on before that towel falls off and you really embarrass Rory... and yourself." Bree smacked Jess's backside with the small towel before turning and walking in the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.
Jess turned to Rory. "Sorry about that. Bree's a little...." He trailed off for a moment. "Well, they haven't exactly created a word that quite describes her. So I'm just gonna say 'different' and leave it at that."
Rory giggled in spite of herself.
"But she's right. I really should put some pants on," he added, getting a tighter grip on the towel around his waist. "I'll be right back."
Rory nodded as Jess walked past her into his room and shut the door. When he was gone, she sat on the couch, her hands resting on her legs. She looked at the bathroom door, then looked to the door of Jess's room, then looked up at the ceiling. She started counting the little holes in the ceiling; once that started hurting her eyes, she moved on to twiddling her fingers. She looked up at the ceiling again, back at Jess's door, and to her twiddling fingers once more. She stopped twiddling them and just sighed.
Rory was so lost in herself that when Jess finally emerged from his room a few minutes later, the sound of the door actually startled her.
"Hey." Jess smiled in amusement at catching her off-guard.
"Hi."
"So...." he started. "Look, I know that I've been a little preoccupied the last few days, and I wanted to say that I'm sorry -"
"Why exactly are you sorry, Jess?" Rory snapped, surprising herself even as she stood up to face him. "Are you sorry you were busy just because you had better things to do otherwise, things that have nothing to do with me? Are you sorry because you've hardly been around to serve me coffee and you know Luke doesn't draw the funny faces on my napkin? Are you sorry because you haven't called me at all and haven't spoken to me in person for more than two minutes for the past few days? Are you sorry because I've felt like an idiot thinking there was something more between us when there's hardly anything between us? I mean, is there anything between us? Because I thought there was and then Bree came and you changed with me and everyone saw it. I mean, this is Stars Hollow we're talking about. Now, I don't know why but my first instinct is to trust you, but then my mom was saying -"
"Your mom?" Jess interrupted, caustically interrogative.
"Not just my mom. Miss Patty, Kirk, Babette, everyone. Because, you see, I'm not the only one who thought there was something more between us. And then they kept asking me whether or not we were together and I didn't even know what to say. I mean, it seems to be obvious to everyone that you and Bree are not over, that you're very much together, so where does that leave me? Do I just not factor into your life at all? Am I a customer, an acquaintance for occasional conversation, a friend, a... oh, I don't know. All I know is that if I fall into anything after acquaintance, then I don't deserve how I've been treated these past few days. I don't deserve to be ignored. I don't deserve to be, at best, an after-thought for you to run into me and remember, 'hey, I know this girl. I should say 'hi' or something.' I don't deserve to sit there asking Luke every day where you are, when you're coming back, when can I talk to you. I don't deserve to have everyone looking at me like some pathetic idiot doting after when you don't even give me a second glance when you're with Bree. I don't dote, okay? And I just don't deserve to feel like I don't matter because you've got friends now, like I was just a bench warmer. And I don't even know where that came from because I don't like sports so how they come into my analogies, I don't know, but you know, it fits. And I'm going to shut up now because I'm just going to ramble nonsensically and it's going to ruin the seriousness of my complaint." Rory finished up gasping for breath while trying to remain strong.
Silence settled in among them. Jess was taken back by Rory's rant and didn't know what to say, where to start.
"You know, for someone who's not a sports person, you pull off that analogy pretty well. You might wanna think about a new career. Goodbye, Christiane Amanpour, hello, Howard Cosell."
Rory sighed in frustration. "You know what? Just forget it. Forget everything, I certainly will." She turned and begun to walk away.
Jess quickly caught up to her and grabbed her arm. "Rory, wait!"
"What? You wanna make some more jokes?"
"I'm sorry."
"For making jokes?"
"For the past few days," he amended, letting go of her arm. "I've been a dick, and you're right, you don't deserve that. I would try to explain... but it would come across sounding like an excuse and it doesn't matter anyway. So I'm just gonna say I'm sorry, and hope that you can forgive me."
Rory looked at him, a little stunned by his candor.
"And I really hope you can because I really don't want this to end before it even gets a chance to really start," Jess finished.
"'This'?" A smile played on her lips.
Jess smirked. "This, " he said, then pulled her in close to him and kissed her gently. "Us. " He looked her in the eyes, trying to convince her it was for real. The walls broke away and he looked at her with such openness and want that it almost scared her. In all the time she'd known him, he'd never lowered his guard like this, never left himself this vulnerable.
"You know, you look like a puppy who knows he's been bad and it trying to escape punishment."
Jess smirked and rolled his eyes, then gave a little pout.
Rory sighed. "Why can't I stay mad at you?"
Jess leaned in and kissed her again. She tried to get a few more words out, but he silenced them with more kisses. Both were smiling.
"I just didn't know where we were. I mean, we spent the summer together as kind'a friends, and it was -"
"Great," Jess finished, then kissed her again.
"Yeah. And then we fight. And then you to come to my window and we make out, and then Bree shows up, and I just didn't know where we stood. And everyone was telling me all these things and I didn't know what to think."
Jess pulled away and looked her in the eye. "Next time you want to know something, just ask me, okay? Because none of these people know what I'm thinking and I can't read your mind."
"Okay. I will."
"And I really don't want to have to constantly defend myself against the stupid nosy people in this town. They don't know me, and they don't know us."
Rory looked away, feeling stupid and ashamed and just a little petty over how she'd acted earlier. "I know."
Jess put his fingers under her chin and raised her head so she was looking back in his eyes. "So when they start talking shit...."
"I'll come talk to you."
"That's all I ask," he said and kissed her on the neck. "And that wasn't making out. When we're making out, you'll know."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." He kissed her softly.
"Are we making out now?" Rory whispered.
Jess kissed her again, a little longer but still sweet. She smiled inwardly and kissed him back.
"What about now?"
They shared a small kiss, making their way back over to the couch.
"Now?"
They both smiled and kissed again.
"Now?"
Jess kissed her again, this time harder, open-mouthed.
"What about now?" Rory giggled.
Jess moved to kiss her again, but she pulled away.
"Now?" she smiled.
Jess kissed her deeper and more passionately and gently pulled her down onto the couch with him. His hands ran through her hair while his tongue found hers in an intimate dance. Her hands moved over his chest, mapping out the new territory. When Jess felt Rory becoming more comfortable, he let his hands drift slowly down her sides to her thighs. He pulled his mouth from hers and trailed kisses along her jaw line, making his way to her neck. His kisses were soft and gentle, not pushing her too far and she felt safe in his arms. She instinctively tilted her head back to give him better access to her soft skin.
"Now?" she whispered.
Jess smiled. She certainly was a cute tease. "If you don't know, then I'm definitely not doing something right; and I need more practice."
"Well, anything I can do to help...." Rory dipped her head down and pulled Jess back into the kiss; not about to resist temptation, he eagerly returned it and they laid back on the couch and continued to make out.
***************************************
Downstairs, Luke watched in disgust as Lorelai finished her meal. "Ever think of going to that Nathan's hot dog contest? You might be the one to beat that skinny Asian kid."
"I'm sorry, Luke, but I am a lady," she retorted in mock delicacy.
"She says as she licks the last of the barbecue sauce off her fingers."
"That sure was good. Well, I'd hate to eat and run but this is how I burn the calories."
"But Rory's still upstairs. Jesus, you couldn't even wait for her."
"Oh no. I have a feeling that's going to be a while. She and Jess have some... issues to settle."
"What are you talking about?"
"Closure, my friend. Closure. Gotta go. Bag Rory's food and save it someplace warm for her. Thanks a bunch." Lorelai took a moment to drain her coffee and left the diner.
***********************************
Mouths merging relentlessly, Jess's hand played with the hem of Rory's shirt as she ran her hands through his hair. He pulled away slightly and moved his mouth back down the length of Rory's neck, pausing every so often to suck on the skin softly. Rory rolled her head back in pleasure... and glanced at the clock.
"I have to go!"
"What? No, why do you have to go?" Jess asked, not moving away from her neck.
"I have SAT prep class."
"Oh, I was wondering why you were in your uniform. Not that I'm complaining. I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth," he replied, his attention still on her neck.
She was momentarily distracted once again by what he was doing, letting out a soft moan before focusing once more. "I have to go."
"Didn't you already take the SAT's?" Jess asked, running his hand up her side, enjoying how it made her shiver.
"Yes, but if I'm gonna go to Harvard, I'm gonna need to take them as many times as I can to get the highest score."
"But you don't need that class, you know all that stuff anyway." He kissed her neck again, desperately trying to get her to stay here with him.
"Hey, the classes may be easy, but I need all the practice I can get."
"I'll help you practice." His lips found hers again and he kissed her passionately.
"You will?" Rory asked in surprise.
"Sure." He moved back to her neck. "I'll even take the test for you...."
Rory smiled. "Jess...."
"You don't have to go," he insisted gently, sliding his hand under the hem of her skirt to caress her knee.
"Jess, no, I have to go."
Stifling a groan, Jess stopped and sat up, trying to calm himself down. "Alright. Alright."
Rory stood up and straightened out her clothes before making her way to the door. Jess followed, lagging behind a little to adjust himself.
Rory stopped just short of the door and turned around. "Jess."
"Yeah?" he replied, caught off guard for a second.
"What happens after I leave?"
"Other then the me having to take a long, cold shower?"
She blushed bright pink. "No, I mean...." Her voice failed her for a moment. "Am I gonna see you again?"
Jess smiled in spite of himself. "Yeah, of course."
"When?" she asked, trying to be firm, making sure he wouldn't just forget about her.
"'When'?"
"Yes. I need a plan," Rory explained firmly. "I need a day and a time and notice. And I need you to stick to it."
Jess wasn't used to having his life mapped out or having a set schedule, but he relented and gave in to her. "When are you going to be free today?"
"After four."
"Okay. I don't know when Dom's gonna be here, so I don't know when we're gonna be done with the moving...."
"Oh...kay... well, we could see each other tomorrow...."
"No, I wanna see you tonight. What about eight? We should be done by then."
Rory smiled at his commitment to her. "Okay, so eight o'clock."
"Right. Eight o'clock at the apartment."
".... I don't know where it is."
"Oh. Right. Um, ok, so here then. Downstairs?"
Rory nodded and smiled. "Our first date."
"First date," he confirmed, smiling back at her.
"Okay, so... bye."
Jess leaned in and gave Rory one last parting kiss.
"Rory?" he whispered, his forehead resting against hers.
"Mmm?"
"Never again let me go twenty-four hours without doing that."
Rory smiled and gave him a light kiss before separating herself from him. "Bye."
Jess nodded his head goodbye and Rory walked out the door, closing it behind her.
Jess smiled to himself, amazed at how much she got to him. Her gentle touches, her innocence - it blew him away. He heard the shower running in the background and remembered Bree. He went to the closet and pulled out a towel before making his way into the bathroom, leaving the door partially open behind him.
Bree, sensing that there was someone in the room, popped her head out from behind the curtain.
"Hey," she greeted, then took notice of the towel. "Oh, thanks."
"I know you usually air dry, but you run the risk of giving someone a heart attack that way."
"Aww, how sweet," Bree cooed, returning under the shower stream.
"Hey, I'm not trying to be sweet. I'm just being realistic. No matter how vivid the imagination, very few people are prepared to see you Full Monty."
Bree looked down at her naked body and shrugged in agreement.
"When's Dom coming?"
"Soon."
"Cool, cause I made plans with Rory tonight."
"Alright," Bree said indifferently. "Everything okay?"
Jess smiled to himself. "Yeah."
"Cool. She really does like you, you know."
Jess was about to say something when Bree beat him to it. "I think Luke's coming into the apartment."
Jess stuck his head out the door, and sure enough he heard Luke thumping up the stairs. "Jesus, you have ears like a bat. "
"Go. I'm done here anyway. I'll be down in a few minutes."
"All right," Jess said, leaving her to her ablutions.
Luke looked up at Jess as he closed the door to the bathroom behind him. "I just saw Rory leave. Is everything all right?"
"None of your business. I'm going downstairs," he replied nonchalantly.
Luke grabbed Jess's arm as he walked past. "Jess."
He rolled his eyes. "What? Do you want a full report of everything I've done since you saw me last? Or better yet, how about we get a pint of ice cream and just girl talk?"
Luke sighed, as much in frustration as annoyance, and released his nephew's arm.
"No? Okay, bye," Jess said and walked out of the apartment.
Luke just stood there and watched the door that Jess had just left from, wishing that things were just a little easier when it came to that kid. He shook it off and looked towards the glow of light through the crack under the bathroom door and mumbled to himself as he made his way over to it. "How many times do I have to tell him to turn off the ligh...?"
He pushed open the door, only to stop short as he beheld the naked, wet, perfectly flawless body of Bree. Bree stood casually brushing her teeth and looked over at Luke then back to the mirror. If she was perturbed by her nakedness or Luke's seeing it, her voice and body-language sure didn't show it. "I found a spare toothbrush under the sink - I hope you don't mind."
Luke just stared at her, unable to do anything. If he had been a cartoon character, his jaw would have hit the floor.
"I'm gonna take that as a 'no'," Bree said, answering for him. She gave him a smile then waved and snapped her fingers at him. "Hey, Luke? Anybody in there?"
Luke finally snapped out of it and looked away quickly. He mumbled a 'sorry!' and left, closing the door behind him.
Bree laughed to her herself and rolled her eyes then went back to brushing her teeth.
On the other side of the door, Luke shook his head, trying to get a hold of himself before going back downstairs. Still in a daze, he didn't make it back to the diner unharmed, tripping over numerous objects on his way out.
Jess was waiting at the foot of the stairs when he arrived. "Luke, we're out of -" His sentence died when the stunned look on his uncle's face registered. "Jesus, what happened to you?"
"Why didn't you tell me that Bree was in the bathroom?"
Jess smirked... then burst out laughing. "Oh, man, I haven't see that look in ages...." He sighed and patted Luke on the back. "It'll be okay. What was she doing?"
"Brushing her teeth."
Jess laughed again. "Yeah, it'll be okay."
Luke looked at his nephew for a few seconds before laughing nervously and going back to work.
A few minutes later Bree walked down the stairs and into the diner, her hair still wet and small droplets visible on her chest and shoulders. She wore jeans, a white wife beater with a black bra visible underneath, and completed the look with a familiar flannel shirt tied around her waist. "I borrowed your shirt, Luke. I hope you don't mind."
Luke looked up from the counter and stared at Bree once again, getting flashbacks to her in the bathroom, only moments earlier. He snapped out of it after a second or two. "Jeez... I'm sorry, I -"
Bree smiled at him. "It's okay, Luke."
"Really, I didn't know you were in there."
"I know, Luke. It's okay," she repeated, with gentle emphasis.
Luke nodded and went to take another order, carefully distracting himself.
Jess had come in from the back during the little tableau. "Hungry?"
"No."
"Bree...."
"Not hungry!" she insisted, sitting down at the counter.
"Eat," Jess ordered, putting a muffin in front of her.
She growled but started eating anyway.
Jess smirked and Luke walked past, going to put in an order. Bree smiled at him and waved her fingers. Luke stopped and stared for a second then whipped his head around and walked right into the back room.
"Bree, stop torturing the man," Jess said, holding back a laugh.
"Well, he's taking it better then you did," Bree murmured.
"In my defense, you were doing a lot more then just standing there brushing your teeth."
Bree laughed harder and Jess just shook his head.
The bell rang, announcing a new arrival in the diner. Before Jess could look up, a familiar voice filled the room.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, prepare to worship me, I come bearing New York! HnH bagels, Ray's pizza individually wrapped for travel, seafood salad for Bree, giant pretzels ready to be heated, a year's supply of hot dogs from Pete the hot dog guy which Jess'll go through in a week, and four, count 'em, four sausage and pepper heroes from LnB's in Brooklyn - so come here and show me some love!"