Title: I Want You Back
Author: Sirius
Pairing: R/J
Summary: Jess writes Rory a letter from California and she doesn't know how
to respond.
This past week has gone by as slow as molasses. It's not like I have anything to keep me busy. I haven't met anyone to hang out with. I can't concentrate on books. I don't even have school to go to, not like I would go anyway. I've tried to stay out of the house as much as possible. It's too confining in there. So now I'm left walking aimlessly around.
I wonder if she got the letter. I have absolute faith in the postal service, don't get me wrong, but did she open it? Would Lorelai have tried to protect her by confiscating the letter? Would she really do that? Hell yeah, she would. She would do anything to help her daughter get over me. Mother's instincts I guess. Or maybe its just flat-out hatred toward me. If Rory actually received the letter, did she open it? If I were her, I doubt I would. But Rory's different. She probably made a pro-con list first, but then she would have opened it. Curiosity would have taken over.
Now the only problem is, will she answer the phone? Tonight is Friday the 22nd. At 4:30 my time, I plan to keep my word and call her. If she believed what I wrote in the letter, she'll answer. There's nothing left I can do but hope I sounded as sincere as I feel.
Right now it's about 3 o'clock. I've got an hour and a half to think of what to say if she answers. No, when she answers. I'm gonna be optimistic about this. Maybe it would be better if I didn't plan what to say, that way all I have to do is be honest. Whenever I plan something to say it sounds wrong when it actually comes out and then I feel stupid for panning something in the first place. Okay, it's settled then, I'll just be honest and say what I feel if...WHEN she answers.
I'm still walking around outside, passing various eclectic stores, looking at all the people. Is it just me, or does everyone seem to be with their significant other? It makes me mad. No, it makes me feel guilty. There's no reason to deny other peoples' happiness just because I'm an idiot. Still, they should go home. The sidewalks were specifically made for dopes like me who screwed up the perfect relationship. It must be an unspoken law or something.
I've wasted about half an hour now, only an hour to go. God, this is excruciating. Let's see, I should get something to eat. I make my way over to Bill's burrito stand. Bill has come to be an acquaintance of mine over the past few weeks. I've had to get out of the house a lot lately and he always suggests a burrito. Usually it makes everything better. Tonight, it will at least take away fifteen on the sixty minutes I have left to endure. I order a chicken, cheese, and lettuce burrito and take it to a nearby bench where I eat as slowly as possible.
When I'm done, I look at my watch again. Wow, a full sixteen minutes have gone by. I guess I can start to head home. I mean, I have to call in exactly forty-four minutes, so if I walk really slowly, and dial really slowly, maybe I can make it.
It took thirty six minutes to get home. I went into the den where my bed/couch was, and sat down. I channel-surfed for five minutes, finding a music video on MTV. When it was over, I leaned over and took the phone off the side table and took it into the coat closet. Dialing the familiar numbers in the dark, I held my breath as the dial-tone turned into a ring.
One ring.
Two rings.
Three rings.
I knew all too well that the answering machine would pick up after four rings.
Four rings.
The answering machine didn't pick up, but the ringing stopped. No one said anything. I strained to listen, but I didn't even hear breathing. I took a chance.
J: Hello?
Nothing.
J: Is anyone there?
Again, nothing.
J: Rory? Is that you?
R: I got the letter.
J: You did? Did you read it?
R: I read it.
J: Okay, uh... I meant everything I wrote.
R: I figured you did. You never said anything you didn't mean.
J: Yeah. Look, I'm sorry it took me so long to write.
R: Why did you? J: Why did I write?
R: Yeah, I mean, if it took you so long to write, you must have been hesitant to.
J: I didn't think you'd want to talk to me.
R: Then why did you?
J: I guess I wanted you to forgive me. I know that sounds selfish and completely unjustified after all the shit I put you through, but it's the truth.
R: Okay, well, I forgive you, bye.
J: Wait! Rory! Hold on a sec.
R: (long pause)
J: You there?
R: (sigh) I'm here.
J: I'm sorry. (sounds a little choked up)
R: I know you are.
J: I feel like the biggest jerk ever. I ruined everything.
R: You only ruined it by running away. We could have figured stuff out.
J: I thought you'd hate me.
R: I was mad at you, but I know you well enough to know that I can't hate you.
J: Do you regret me?
R: No. (pause) I miss you.
J: I bet you're the only one.
R: Probably the only one besides Luke. (she laughs quietly)
J: Yeah, well, you're the only person that matters, so that's fine with me.
R: Really?
J: Yeah, you're the only one that I cared about. The only one that cared about me. You were the only person I confided in and the only person I could trust.
R: Oh. Jess?
J: Yeah?
R: I love you too.
Dial tone. The most droning sound I have ever laid ears on. I hung my head and slowly turned the door knob. After making my way back to the den, I set the phone back on its base and flopped down on the couch with my arms crossed behind my head. What have I done?
(A/N: Hey guys! Thanks for the reviews on the last chapter. I really love hearing from you all. I hope you liked this chapter. It turned out relatively like I'd hoped it would. I dunno if I'm gonna continue this. If I do, it will end up like the rest of the stories where Jess comes back and everything is peachy keen. But I did enjoy writing again so hopefully I will start back on some of my old stories. Thanks for reading and please review if you feel like it. ~Amanda)
This past week has gone by as slow as molasses. It's not like I have anything to keep me busy. I haven't met anyone to hang out with. I can't concentrate on books. I don't even have school to go to, not like I would go anyway. I've tried to stay out of the house as much as possible. It's too confining in there. So now I'm left walking aimlessly around.
I wonder if she got the letter. I have absolute faith in the postal service, don't get me wrong, but did she open it? Would Lorelai have tried to protect her by confiscating the letter? Would she really do that? Hell yeah, she would. She would do anything to help her daughter get over me. Mother's instincts I guess. Or maybe its just flat-out hatred toward me. If Rory actually received the letter, did she open it? If I were her, I doubt I would. But Rory's different. She probably made a pro-con list first, but then she would have opened it. Curiosity would have taken over.
Now the only problem is, will she answer the phone? Tonight is Friday the 22nd. At 4:30 my time, I plan to keep my word and call her. If she believed what I wrote in the letter, she'll answer. There's nothing left I can do but hope I sounded as sincere as I feel.
Right now it's about 3 o'clock. I've got an hour and a half to think of what to say if she answers. No, when she answers. I'm gonna be optimistic about this. Maybe it would be better if I didn't plan what to say, that way all I have to do is be honest. Whenever I plan something to say it sounds wrong when it actually comes out and then I feel stupid for panning something in the first place. Okay, it's settled then, I'll just be honest and say what I feel if...WHEN she answers.
I'm still walking around outside, passing various eclectic stores, looking at all the people. Is it just me, or does everyone seem to be with their significant other? It makes me mad. No, it makes me feel guilty. There's no reason to deny other peoples' happiness just because I'm an idiot. Still, they should go home. The sidewalks were specifically made for dopes like me who screwed up the perfect relationship. It must be an unspoken law or something.
I've wasted about half an hour now, only an hour to go. God, this is excruciating. Let's see, I should get something to eat. I make my way over to Bill's burrito stand. Bill has come to be an acquaintance of mine over the past few weeks. I've had to get out of the house a lot lately and he always suggests a burrito. Usually it makes everything better. Tonight, it will at least take away fifteen on the sixty minutes I have left to endure. I order a chicken, cheese, and lettuce burrito and take it to a nearby bench where I eat as slowly as possible.
When I'm done, I look at my watch again. Wow, a full sixteen minutes have gone by. I guess I can start to head home. I mean, I have to call in exactly forty-four minutes, so if I walk really slowly, and dial really slowly, maybe I can make it.
It took thirty six minutes to get home. I went into the den where my bed/couch was, and sat down. I channel-surfed for five minutes, finding a music video on MTV. When it was over, I leaned over and took the phone off the side table and took it into the coat closet. Dialing the familiar numbers in the dark, I held my breath as the dial-tone turned into a ring.
One ring.
Two rings.
Three rings.
I knew all too well that the answering machine would pick up after four rings.
Four rings.
The answering machine didn't pick up, but the ringing stopped. No one said anything. I strained to listen, but I didn't even hear breathing. I took a chance.
J: Hello?
Nothing.
J: Is anyone there?
Again, nothing.
J: Rory? Is that you?
R: I got the letter.
J: You did? Did you read it?
R: I read it.
J: Okay, uh... I meant everything I wrote.
R: I figured you did. You never said anything you didn't mean.
J: Yeah. Look, I'm sorry it took me so long to write.
R: Why did you? J: Why did I write?
R: Yeah, I mean, if it took you so long to write, you must have been hesitant to.
J: I didn't think you'd want to talk to me.
R: Then why did you?
J: I guess I wanted you to forgive me. I know that sounds selfish and completely unjustified after all the shit I put you through, but it's the truth.
R: Okay, well, I forgive you, bye.
J: Wait! Rory! Hold on a sec.
R: (long pause)
J: You there?
R: (sigh) I'm here.
J: I'm sorry. (sounds a little choked up)
R: I know you are.
J: I feel like the biggest jerk ever. I ruined everything.
R: You only ruined it by running away. We could have figured stuff out.
J: I thought you'd hate me.
R: I was mad at you, but I know you well enough to know that I can't hate you.
J: Do you regret me?
R: No. (pause) I miss you.
J: I bet you're the only one.
R: Probably the only one besides Luke. (she laughs quietly)
J: Yeah, well, you're the only person that matters, so that's fine with me.
R: Really?
J: Yeah, you're the only one that I cared about. The only one that cared about me. You were the only person I confided in and the only person I could trust.
R: Oh. Jess?
J: Yeah?
R: I love you too.
Dial tone. The most droning sound I have ever laid ears on. I hung my head and slowly turned the door knob. After making my way back to the den, I set the phone back on its base and flopped down on the couch with my arms crossed behind my head. What have I done?
(A/N: Hey guys! Thanks for the reviews on the last chapter. I really love hearing from you all. I hope you liked this chapter. It turned out relatively like I'd hoped it would. I dunno if I'm gonna continue this. If I do, it will end up like the rest of the stories where Jess comes back and everything is peachy keen. But I did enjoy writing again so hopefully I will start back on some of my old stories. Thanks for reading and please review if you feel like it. ~Amanda)
