Run to the Bridge

Chapter 2 – Not supposed to cry, with anyone

Disclaimer: I don't own GG, or any books, movies, colleges, etc.

A/N: I'm sorry it's been so long since I updated this! I have up to chapter 8 of this written, so more should be up soon. I'm really having fun writing it; this is my favorite of the stories I'm working on! I hope to have 1-2 updates every week, on average, during the school year. Thanks for all the reviews!! I hope you like this. BTW, in The Fountainhead, which is a great book, Howard Roark says he won't cooperate—that's where the reference is from. Enjoy!   ~Arianna

After my mom and I finished eating, I went upstairs with Jess to get a book for me.

"What do you want to do today?" I asked.

"I don't know…" Jess replied. "I'm being forced to work at the diner."

I smiled at him. "I'll stay."

"Great."

"Maybe we can go to the bookstore later," I suggested.

"Okay."

I ended up taking Jess' copy of The Metamorphosis again, and we went back down to the diner together. We always take each other's books. I sat down at the counter and opened it. Mom had already left for the Inn; Luke and Caesar were in the supply room, looking for more ketchup, I think.  For now, in the diner, at the counter, it was just the two of us. Jess and me. And then, around the diner, there was Kirk, Babette and Morey, Andrew…

As Jess came around the counter to sit with me, I saw someone I didn't recognize. I noticed Jess watching him too. He was the same guy, the one I'd mentioned to my mom. He was wandering aimlessly outside the diner, looking around nervously.

"That's the guy I saw before…" I said.

"He looks like a bomb's gonna go off in a minute," Jess remarked.

"Maybe he's waiting for someone."

"Then it's someone he's scared of."

"Why around Luke's?" I wondered aloud.

"Where else is there?" Jess said sarcastically.

I grinned. "Come on, Jess. You know you love it here."

"Maybe I do, maybe I don't."

I pretended to cry for a minute. Then I started laughing at my attempt. We sat down, and Luke came out of the supply room, looking annoyed.

"What's wrong with Luke?" I asked softly.

He shrugged. "I don't know. He says he's just been working a lot." We were silent for a while. "Hey, wonder what would happen if I hide the ketchup—" he said in a low voice.

"Jess!" I hit him lightly, laughing.

"Luke would freak."

"Yeah, I know!"

"You're no fun."

"Jess, get to work!" Luke snapped. Jess looked over at me, innocently, pointing at the ketchup. I grinned in spite of myself. He got up and started pouring coffee for people.

I glanced at the door again. The mysterious guy seemed to have gotten up the courage to come in. Curious, I motioned for Jess to go take his order. He was still nervously looking around him, alternately tapping his hand on the table. Jess, amused by my eternal curiosity about what other people were doing, went over to his table.

"What do you want?" I heard Jess say.

"Coffee," the guy said shortly. Jess grabbed the pot and poured him some.

"Know what you want yet?"

The guy was silent.

"Would you order already?" Jess said impatiently.

"Jess, I—" the guy began.

"How do you know my name?"

He got up, without his coffee, and rushed out of the diner.

"How do you know my name?!" Jess yelled after him. Annoyed, he threw the pen on the table and came back over to me. "I don't get it," he said.

"I don't either—"

"People who know me avoid saying my name. I have no idea who this guy is."

"Probably he just heard someone talking about you in town," I said uncertainly.

"I guess." He shook his head. "I have to get out of here. Luke, I'm leaving!" he called.

Luke didn't respond, but I was pretty sure he'd heard. And he wasn't protesting. Jess and I left. We started walking down the street together, toward the bookstore. I reached over to put my arm around Jess, and he put his arm around me too. We continued walking in a comfortable silence, until we reached Stars Hollow Books, where we both hurried to the literature section.

"You know, you could have actually told Luke you were leaving," I pointed out.

"I was physically capable of doing so," he replied.

"You've lived with him for seven years…"

"I don't cooperate."

I bit my lip so I wouldn't laugh. "Yes, Howard Roark."

"Don't compare me to anyone from that book!" Jess exclaimed, half seriously.

"It's a great book!" I protested.

"So says the girl who loves Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," he shot back.

"It's a classic," I insisted.

"Let's not get into this again."

I laughed. "Okay, Holden Caulfield."

"Much better," Jess said, grinning. He went over to a shelf and casually picked up a book, reading the back of it. "How the hell did he know my name?" he muttered.

I went over to him. "Jess, calm down," I said, squeezing his shoulder. "I don't think it's a big deal."

"Okay, okay." He handed me the book he was holding. "This look good to you?"

I took it and started reading.

We spent about an hour at the bookstore.

"Luke's gonna kill you if you don't get back soon," I commented.

"Yeah, you're right," Jess replied, but didn't move.

"C'mon," I said. We left, Jess more reluctantly, and walked back to the diner together. That same guy was sitting alone at a table, staring out the window.

"What's he doing here now?" Jess said incredulously.

I shook my head. "No idea." We headed toward the counter. The guy got up from the table and came over to us. He looked twice as nervous as he had looked that morning.

"Jess…can I talk to you?" he said.

I know Jess doesn't like having no idea what's going on, especially when it involves him. And he wasn't happy now. "Why?"

"Just—just hear me out, okay?"

"Okay…" Jess said uncertainly, leading him into the back room. I went in too.

"Uh…" the guy said, looking at me.

"Rory can stay," Jess said immediately.

"It's okay, I can leave."

"No." If Jess wanted me there, then I was staying. I quietly went to the corner and sat down on an empty box.

"Jess, I…" he began.

"Would you get on with it?"

"Look, I just came here—I wanted to see you…I…it's been—"

"What?"

"I'm your father," he said suddenly. The look on Jess face…I felt awful for him. I knew he hated being helpless, hated looking upset. I could barely imagine how shocked he must have been…he'd never known his dad. I mean, I was his best friend. He told me everything; I'd seen him cry. But it was a side of him he never showed anyone else; didn't want anyone else to know about.

Now…I could see it all in his eyes. He was upset, scared, confused…I didn't know what to do, torn between staying where I was and going over to be with Jess.

He couldn't speak; didn't know what to say. Then he turned and left the diner, walking fast. Jess' dad turned to me, but I looked the other way and hurried after Jess.

I found him at the bridge, like I'd known I would. He was sitting there silently, facing the other way. I could tell by the way he was shaking that he was trying not to cry.

I didn't say anything either. I just sat down next to him, as quietly as I could. Neither of us spoke for a long time.

"I'm sorry, Jess," I said at last. I didn't bother asking him if he was okay. I knew he wasn't. He was still trying not to cry, and he was getting closer and closer to losing it.

"You don't have anything to be sorry for, Rory." He paused. "I'm sixteen! I'm not supposed to cry at stuff like this. Why should I care? He's never cared…especially about me…"

"Hey," I said softly. "It's just me. No one's gonna know."

Jess shook his head. "It's true."

"Don't say that."

"Ror…"

"Listen—"

"No," he said fiercely. "I don't wanna talk about it."

I knew better than to insist. Not now. "Okay," I said, moving closer to Jess on the bridge. I saw a tear escape from Jess' eyes, and I quietly put my arm around him.

"I'm okay," he said quickly.

"Jess…"

"Really, I'm fine." He swallowed hard. "I was surprised, that's all. He could have picked a different way of telling me!"

"I know…" I was his best friend. And right now he didn't need my opinions. He needed me to sit there, and comfort him, and listen to what he had to say.

"How could I have missed it?" Jess exclaimed suddenly, realizing something.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Luke—that's why he was so annoyed…" Jess stopped, then went on. "I know he hates my dad, 'cause he left Liz…I'm gonna kill him. He didn't tell me." He turned to me. "Look, Rory—can we talk about something else?"

"Sure." I looked at him more closely, figuring I could ask now. "You okay?"

"Yeah. I am now. There's no way I'm gonna cry over this. He's not worth it," he said dismissively.

I leaned over and gave him a hug. He seemed surprised, but he hugged me back.

"If you need anything, I'm here," I said softly.

"I know." He paused. "Thanks, Ror. So…new topic of conversation?"

"Uh…Kafka's style of writing?" I said.

Jess stared at me. "Kafka's style of writing? Come on, Rory."

"Hey, I'm coming up with something on short notice here," I grinned. "Cut me some slack."

"So creative under pressure," he teased. I could tell he was relieved to fall back on our usual friendly banter. I knew he was probably still hurting…but I hoped if he needed to, he would talk to me. I'd always be there…he knew that, right? Like when my mom was fighting with my dad and my grandparents…I stayed at the diner for two days. And Jess just held me, listened, and gave me free coffee, as always.

I didn't get it either though. Jess' dad hadn't been there all his life…why now? It didn't make any sense. Or did it? I couldn't be sure…but I was still confused. And I knew Jess was too. And I wished, for him, that I could understand—that he could understand. That his dad could choose to be part of his life or to just stay out of it.

I didn't like people hurting my best friend. I couldn't protect him, I couldn't really help in this case…Jess didn't deserve this.