Talk About Books

Chapter 1 – You don't get paid for talking

Disclaimer: I don't own: Gilmore Girls, anything to do with Gilmore Girls, any books, any authors, or any movies referred to in this fic. The "Christian Service Society" or whatever is completely made up. If, somewhere, there is a society of the same name, I had no idea when I wrote this!

A/N: I was going to finish my other fics before I started a new one, but… I was looking through my old notebooks, filled with different stories and stuff, and I found this. I had written part of the first chapter, on a different premise, before I started Believe Me, I'll Be There, and I ended up continuing that one instead. But now I have a new idea, so: this is just a basic AU Rory/Jess thing. It's in Rory's POV, and it starts with her being with Dean. Jess has been in Stars Hollow for a reasonably short amount of time, and they're sort of friends. And stuff happens, and… I know this idea has been used a million times, but I'm hoping I can make this different, original, etc. I don't exactly have it planned out, but sort of. If people like it, I'll definitely keep writing. If not, I might make it a 2 or 3-chapter thing or something, but I hate not finishing fics I've started, and I need lots of stuff to do this summer. lol. So—hope you like it; please tell me what you think! I'm making an attempt to make Jess more "Jess" in this one. We'll see. lol. Sorry for the long A/N, and I think the next chapter will be longer!  ~Arianna

I was sitting at Luke's, reading deToqueville's Democracy in America, waiting for Lane. Then the door flew open, and she ran inside.

"Rory!"

"Hey, Lane. What is it?"

She sat in the chair next to mine and started talking. "My mom is hiring this Christian Service Society or something like that to clean the antique store. They're doing projects like this to earn money to donate to charities, so my mom gets an idea: let's get them to clean our house too, because your closet hasn't been cleaned in years, etc. etc. etc. Therefore, I need help and a place to store my CD's."

I smiled. "Sure, we've got plenty of room. Do I get to listen to them too?"

"Anything! Thank you!"

"Sure. Do you have time to order anything?" I asked.

She looked at her watch. "No, not really. I have to be home in approximately four minutes."

"I guess you'd better go."

"Yeah. See ya later, Rory."

"Bye!" I called. I opened my book and went back to reading. Then I heard footsteps on Luke's stairs and looked up.

"Jess. Pour the coffee," Luke told him without looking up. Jess picked up the pot of coffee and came over to my table.

"Coffee?" he said. Even after only this long, he had to know the answer to that.

"Of course."

"Democracy in America, huh?"

"Yeah."

"He makes some interesting points, but I'm not sure I agree," Jess remarked. I had thought Jess just wanted to ask about coffee. But if he wanted to discuss what I was reading, I was fine with that. I didn't know anyone else who would.

"Yeah, I know," I said. "The idea of one person speaking up, despite what everyone else thinks, is what America is based on."

"Even if it's unusual?"

"Uh huh."

"That's what I think," Jess agreed. "Though it can be hard to remember that in this town."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Have you ever heard anyone disagree in Stars Hollow?" I tried to interrupt, but he wouldn't let me right then. "Stage a protest? Go on strike?"

I grinned. I could only remember one protest in almost seventeen years. Jess had a point there. "So it's not New York."

"No, it is not."

"Do you miss it?" I asked. He shrugged.

"I don't care." I knew he did care, one way or another. Of course, caring about anything would ruin his reputation. I let it go.

"Okay, whatever."

"Something wrong?" Jess asked.

"Oh no." We both sat there, quiet, uncomfortably, for a while. "So what are you reading?" I asked Jess.

He looked relieved to have something else to talk about. "I just finished Northanger Abbey for the…fifth time. Any recommendations?"

"You're asking me?" I knew he knew I loved books. I just…I guess I…didn't expect Jess to ask, that's all.

"Who else would I ask?" So Jess did think I was good for something. I wasn't sure just then if that thought was maybe…unfair. Maybe I didn't know him well enough to think that.

"I don't know. I thought you thought you'd read everything I had."

"Maybe," he replied.

I paused. "Tried The Fountainhead?"

"Tell me you're joking."

"Of course not!"

"I'm not a fan of politics."

"You don't have to be!" I protested.

"Yeah right."

"So you haven't read everything I have," I said.

"I started it!"

"No way."

He held up his hands. "Forget I said anything."

"Okay, fine."

"Did I do something wrong?"

"No, you didn't."

"Huh."

"Jess!" Luke yelled from across the room. "You're not earning anything doing that!"

Jess glanced at me. "Guess I have to work."

"Yeah…"

"See you around," he said.

"See ya," I replied. Realizing I had told my mom I'd be home soon, I got up and left the diner. I had gone a couple blocks when I ran into someone.

"Rory?"

"Hey, Dean."

"Hey. You going home?"

I nodded.

"See you tomorrow then." He leaned down; kissed me. I kissed him back, quickly.

"Bye, Dean," I called, and continued walking home. I wasn't entirely sure if he was staring after me. Maybe he was.

I used to know, whenever he was. Why didn't I now?

Why didn't I care like I used to?

I guessed it was probably that when I first started dating Dean, I was so excited—he was my first boyfriend.

As I walked home, I felt like someone was watching me, though. Maybe from the diner. But I didn't turn around to look; decided not to think about it.