Disclaimer: I don't own anything! Please don't sue me, it would be a huge waste of time!
A/N:Thank you to my reviewers!! You're all great and why I'm writing this in the first place!! I had wanted to update sooner, but I had to stay at my dad's house for a couple nights and he doesn't have a computer! But here it is!
*
The next morning was a wednesday, Rory got prepared for another day of torture. The whole way to work she couldn't quit thinking about how insane this is. How can they compare this to a love story, she wondered? I've never seen a love story like this, I've never seen anything like this come to think about it.
When she got to work she said the same thing to Claire.
"Well, Never Been Kissed is a little bit like that. He's the authority figure, and they fall for eachother."
Rory stared at her. "No, it's not like this. They never knew or dated eachother before."
"Well, I can't think of any stories like that."
"Then they can't say this is like a love story." Rory said.
"Fine, it SHOULD slash COULD be a love story." she said.
"Not true. It should slash could be a HORROR story."
Claire rolled her eyes, "Whatever you say."
"I can see it now, The Return Of The Evil Ex-boyfriend." Rory said.
"Okay, I noticed we didn't exactly hit it off this time, but do really think I'm evil?"
Rory turned to face Jess. "Thanks Claire." she mumbled to her friend.
Jess just stood there, smirking, waiting for her to answer.
"Honestly?" Rory asked.
"No." he said.
"Nope, I think you're just awesome. Actually, I'm tiptoeing on the brink of falling in love."
"Now honestly." he said.
"Yes, you're awful."
"Thank you."
"Anytime, Mr. Mariano." she fake smiled.
"Well, at least I've got that pleasure to hang on to." he said.
"Yes, I've noticed."
"Could you get me a cup of coffee, Miss Gilmore?"
"You are enjoying this way too much," she went to walk by him to go get his coffee, "Mr. Mariano." And she went in the lounge to get his coffee.
She brought it back, he was now in his office.
"Here you go." she put in in front of him.
"Thanks. There's no rat poison in this, is there?"
"No, I'm not quite at the 9 to 5 stage yet, check back in a week or so."
"Good to know."
"Anything else?" she asked.
"No, I'm good."
"Good." She went back to her cubicle.
At lunch Claire came over to Rory. "Hey, blabber mouth."
"Hey, mums the word."
She smiled, "You ready?"
"We have to wait for Andy." Rory said.
"No, you don't." Andy said.
"We don't?" Then she saw Jess come out of his office and over their way.
"No, I've got other lunch plans." he told her. "Sorry, I forgot to tell you."
Jess made his way to Andy.
"You're going with him?" she gestured to Jess.
"No, I'm standing here because I'm stalking you." Jess said.
"Fine. Ditch us." Rory rolled her eyes playfully to Andy.
"Sorry." Andy said.
"We'll just wander around like lost puppies for our lunch hour." she continued.
"You could always come with us." Jess said, "Have a little heart to heart. Catch up. Hey, how's Lorelai?"
"No thanks, I'll chew on my milk bone." she said.
"Suit yourself." he shrugged.
"I want to go." Claire pouted.
"He was being sarcastic." Rory informed her. "It's his specialty."
"One of many." he said.
"And ego's right up there in the top three." Rory said.
"Okay, are we intending on eating?" Claire asked Rory.
"Oh, don't let me hold you up. This isn't one of my evil ploys." he said.
"We're leaving now. Have a good lunch." Rory said as she and Claire started to leave.
"He's is so cute." Claire said once they were out of earshot.
"No he's not." Rory said.
"You need glasses." Claire said.
"I do not, he's not all that cute when he's annoying you to no end."
"Well, he can annoy ME to no end anytime." she said.
"Let's go, I'm starved."
*
After she went home, Rory took a bath. When she got out the phone was ringing.
"Hello?" she answered taking the towel off her head.
"Hello."
"Paris! Hey, I haven't heard from you in a long time."
"I know, that's pretty much why I was calling."
"Well, how've you been?" Rory asked.
"I'm doing really well. Actually, really REALLY well."
"Why, what's up?"
"Alan asked me to move in with him."
"Oh my gosh! That's great."
"Yeah. So, what have you been up to?" she didn't really want to talk about it.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Try me." Paris said.
"Okay, do you remember a really long time ago that guy I was going out with, Jess?"
"Yeah. He left though, right?"
"Yeah. Well, he's my new boss."
"No way."
"I'm afraid so."
"How is that possible?"
"I don't know. It was handed to him. Mom and Shelly are not helping. Can you believe that my mom's actually worried that I'm going to fall for him? Isn't that rediculous?"
"I don't know, is it?" she asked.
"Of course it is. He's annoying me, Andy went to lunch with him today, Claire won't stop drooling over him."
"Claire? Oh, the dippy one you work with."
"Yeah. And I don't understand why Mom would think that. Then Shelly said I liked him, I was in the middle of telling her all of the things I couldn't stand about him. And she just says I like him. Then telling her all of the thing that drove me nuts about him, I burnt my Hamburger Helper."
"You were making Hamburger Helper? Why? You don't make Hamburger Helper unless you're upset."
"You're all nuts. A person sometimes just wants to make dinner."
"Well, are you and Jess getting along?"
"Sure we are, like a charging bull and a red scarf."
"That's not good."
"Nope. We're at eachother's throats all the time."
"Any romantic interest leftover?" she asked.
"When pigs fly and my first money tree sprouts." Rory replied.
"So, that's a no."
"It sure is."
"Well, I've gotta get going, I just wanted to call and tell you."
"Oh, okay, well congratulations."
"Thanks. Bye."
"Bye." We hung up.
When Shelly got home she had pizza in hand. "Hope Jess didn't get to you today because I have food and if he did and you're cooking, he's paying for the pizza."
"Hey Shel,"
"Hey, no burning noodles, should I take that as a good sign?"
"Sure. If you want too."
They sat on the couch and ate their pizza. "So, how was work today?"
"Good, but I have a bone to pick with you." Rory said.
"What'd I do?"
"There are not any stories like this. Claire couldn't think of any, I couldn't think of any."
"There's this one book that you guys are reminding me of, but I can't remember it's name. It's an Avalon Romance."
"I've never read anything by that name."
"They aren't your kind of books. Darn it, I can't remember what it's called. You guys aren't exactly like it, they didn't meet or date before, but he was her boss and in order to save his business he had to get married and stay married for at least a year to get some uncle's money from his will. He had this employee, Sarah, and he proposed as a business deal for her to marry him for one year. He'd get the money to save his business and he'd pay her enough to go to college or something like that. It was a good book, Only For A Year, that's it." she said.
"How nice."
"It was actually a very good book."
"I'm sure."
"I know, it's not your type of book, but your situation reminded me of the book."
"I'll take your word for it. Oh, guess what?"
"What?"
"Today I was talking to Claire and she didn't bother to tell me that Jess was standing right behind me and he heard me call him the evil ex-boyfriend."
Shelly laughed, "Oh my gosh, my boss would've fired me on the spot."
"I don't think he could fire me, I'm just his wench. But he heard me, then he asked if I really thought that."
"What'd you say?" she asked wide eyed.
"I asked if he really wanted to know. At first he said no, but then he said yes."
"What'd you say?"
"I told him I thought he was awesome and close to falling in love."
She gaped at me.
"I was being sarcastic." Rory told her.
"Oh, okay, what'd you say when he said he did want to know?"
"I said he was awful."
"Very nice." Shelly said.
"Yeah, about as nice as leaving someone who really cares about you. At least I told him how I feel, he could've extended that courtesy to me."
"True." she nodded.
"Anyway, I need another piece of pizza." Rory went to get more pizza.
*
The next morning she went to work. She went in and got Jess' coffee before he even asked her to. She took it in to his office.
"Here you go." she brought it to him.
He looked up surprised. "You brought me coffee?"
"I always bring you coffee." Rory pointed out.
"Yes, but never without cursing my names several times to yourself and never without me asking."
"Well, I decided to save a little time. Plus, this way I got to curse your name more times." she said with a smile that was actually friendly, one that she would've flashed him years ago in high school. She didn't mean it though, she surprised herself just as much as him. "Okay, I'm gonna go if you didn't need anything else."
"I don't. Thanks."
She walked out. "Hey," Claire greeted her.
"Hi,"
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing, I'm just feeling too friendly today."
"How come?"
"I don't know. No big deal, I have to work."
"Oh, okay, see you at lunch."
"Bye." she sat down, sighed to herself, then started typing.
At lunch Andy and Claire got there at the same time.
"Hey, Miss Gilmore." Andy teased.
"Mr. Yates." she teased back.
"So, are you joining us, or Jess?" Claire asked when she saw Jess.
"I'm going with you and the puppy here today." he put an arm around Rory, which Jess followed with his eyes.
"Bad choice, but if you say so." Claire smiled at Jess.
Rory rolled her eyes. "Can we go to lunch before I lose my appetite?" she pushed her chair in and looked at Claire expectantly. "Are you coming?"
"I'm coming, I'm coming." she said. "Someone's feeling friendly today." she said sarcastically.
"I'm just hungry." Rory said.
"I'm gonna leave unless you'll be getting to the catfighting part soon." Jess smirked.
"No catfight happening here." Rory said.
"Okay, let's go. I'm hungry." Claire said.
"Me too." Rory agreed.
"Although I shouldn't be, I had a big breakfast."
"What was that?" Andy asked.
"I ate a bowl of Special K and a half a banana."
Now I remember why I hate being around her when she's flirting, thought Rory. It's nauseating.
"Well, I'm going to eat. A burger, some fries, I might splurge and get a strawberry milkshake too." Rory said. Do you want a lemon in your water or is that too many calories, is what she felt like saying.
Jess smiled accidentally, "I see the Gilmore appetite stayed in tact."
"Yes it did." she said proudly. Then they both put their friendly faces away.
"See you after lunch." he said after a few seconds of awkwardness.
"Yeah." And they both went in opposite directions.
"I think I like you guys better when you're trying to make eachother miserable." Andy said.
"I think so too." Claire said. "When you're being nice it's kind of weird."
"I know. I don't think I like it either. I'm just in a funky mood today. No big deal."
*
After lunch Rory was back in her cubicle. She dialed some numbers.
"Hello, Independence Inn."
"Mom."
"Hey, Rory. What's wrong?"
"I need you to put me in a bad mood."
"What?" Lorelai questioned.
"I don't like the mood I'm in. Help me change it."
"Okay, uh, how am I supposed to do that?"
"I don't know but the level of weirdness in this building is driving me insane."
"How's Jess?"
"Mean." Rory said.
"Jess is?"
"No, you are."
"Why? You asked me to help you get in a bad mood, that usually does it."
"Okay, well tell me things that he used to do that made me mad."
"Okay, he smoked, can you say bad lungs?"
"Okay, now you've got me worried about his health."
"Not helping. Okay, he stole the lawn gnome. Babbette was so attached to that little gnome."
"But he did give it back to her." Rory pointed out.
She sighed quickly, "He crashed you car the night you were trying to help him study, then he left, went to New York and never even told you."
"But then he came back within a couple weeks."
"He...did a chalk outline and bothered Taylor."
"He bothered Taylor. 'Nuff said."
"He wouldn't call or come over when he said he would. Remember Dean's hockey game?"
"But after that game I found out he hadn't called because he wanted to surprise me with concert tickets."
"He did?"
"Yep."
"Oh-kay, uh, to me he was very rude, crude AND he had a tedency to brood."
"He was angry at his mother for shipping him off because she didn't want to deal with- okay, now I'm feeling sorry for him."
"He left you at your grandma's when he showed up with the black eye."
"I didn't trust him, I'd have left me there too." Rory said.
"He went to California without even bothering to tell you that he was never going to see you again. He didn't leave you any closure whatsoever and you wouldn't date any guy for a year after he left, because you were so afraid of getting hurt, because of him." she hit the one thing that was infallible.
"You're right." Rory said. It worked. "You're right. He did do that. That did happen. Okay, I feel much worse."
"Good?"
"Very good."
"'Kay, well, I'm going to get back to work if you're feeling better- or worse I guess."
"Okay, thanks Mom." Rory said.
"Anytime, sweetie. I'm your one stop Jess bashing shop."
"I love you. Bye Mom." She hung up.
Jess had heard the 'bye Mom' part. "Miss Gilmore," he greeted.
"Hello." Rory responded.
"Calling home?"
"Yep, Mom." she said.
"Huh."
"Did you need something?" Rory asked.
"No, this is a social call, just visiting old friends. Darn, I forgot your Hallmark card." he said sarcastically.
"I think I'll survive somehow." she replied.
"Oh good."
"Yeah. Can I help you with something?" she asked after a couple seconds.
"Nope. Not really."
"Then what are you doing here?"
"I'm bored,"
"That's nice. Well, since your job is so boring, get a crossword puzzle book."
"Good idea. It really is quite boring." he knew this was taunting her, 'cause he knew she wanted the job.
"Well, I can't help you there, they gave YOU the job, twiddle your thumbs."
"That's no fun." he said.
"But this is?"
"Yes, actually it is."
"Well, I'm not bored."
"Then how come you're calling home? Missing Booneville?"
"Nope, missing LA?" she asked.
"Nope, I didn't live in LA."
"Oh, well, you didn't tell me and I didn't stalk you, so short of being able to spot a person in a location on the other side of the country, or being a mind reader, I couldn't have possibly known that."
"I just love these friendly little exchanges."
"Hey, you're the one that started playing pshycho boss."
"What good is having power if you can't abuse it?"
"Yes, well that's not everyone's twisted way of thinking."
"Or it could be that you're slightly jealous."
"Nope, mean people get promoted faster than nice people, so if you and I were in the running for the same job, it's only logical that you'd get it."
"Ouch."
"Don't tease."
"Wow, you really do NOT like me today."
Rory stood up, "I'm going to get coffee, do you want some?"
"No thanks."
"Okay." she walked off to get her coffee.
*
Claire came over to Rory. "What?"
"Wow, I feel so welcome." Claire said.
"Sorry, I'm in a bad mood."
"Yeah, geeze you're moody today."
"I am not. I'm just annoyed and busy, and Jess is bored and I have just about had it up to here with this day. I feel like a yo-yo, I'm going home and going to bed."
"Wow, that good, huh?"
"Yep."
"Now, what was that about Jess?" Claire hid her smile.
"Oh, well, Mr. Wonderful is apparently bored."
"Now I'm Mr. Wonderful? I wish you'd make up your mind, you're confusing me." Jess smirked.
"Claire, do you not know how to say 'he's right next to you'?" Rory shook her head.
Claire just smiled.
"So, which is it? Evil, awful or wonderful?"
"Can I say all three?" Rory asked.
"If you're extremely indecisive. Do I get to pick three adjectives to describe you?"
"No."
"Oh, I see how it is."
"Not a two way street."
"Well, that's not fair."
"I know. If you want to pick three adjectives to describe me you have to say them when I'm not supposed to be listening, now what do you want?"
"So, basically any time I'm talking to you?"
"I listen to you." Rory argued.
"Yeah right." he rolled his eyes.
"I've always listened to you."
"Uh huh."
She was getting frustrated. "I have. If I didn't listen to you, I wouldn't know how you take your coffee."
"Whatever you say." he turned to walk away, hiding his amusement and knowing she'd follow him.
"I do!" she grabbed some papers and followed him.
"I know, I'm just teasing you, calm down." Claire rolled her eyes, not that they noticed.
"You're impossible." she said. He sat down and she just stood there arms crossed.
"I know, it's one of the things you love about me." he smirked.
"I'm not going to comment on that."
"What? You said you were close to falling in love with me, you weren't just getting my hopes up for nothing now were you?"
"You're so infuriating."
"I know, no one can annoy you like I can."
"That's very true." Rory agreed.
"You just agreed with me."
"I am not ever going to admit that."
Claire sighed, "Geeze, you two are annoying."
"I know." they both said in unison.
"Aww, how cute." she teased.
"Don't you have to get Andy coffee or something?" Jess asked.
"Nope," she smiled, "He's busy, I could stand here and watch you two pretend you don't like eachother all day." she said.
"Claire." Rory and Jess said in unison again, then looked at eachother.
She smiled. "You know, you guys kind of remind me of what you've told me about how your Mom and Luke used to act."
Rory gaped at her, "Do NOT compare him and me to Luke and Mom . That's just wrong."
"Uh huh. I'm going now, I can only take so much." she said.
A very flustered Rory rolled her eyes, shoved some papers at the amused Jess and walked out to her cubicle and started typing furiously on her keyboard.
*
When she got home Shelly was there.
"I do not like him."
"Bad day?" Shelly turned the TV off.
Rory grumbled. "Claire is really starting to bug me. I want to go to bed and not wake up until next year."
"Oh, it's Claire's fault?" she picked up the control up to turn the TV back on.
"Well, her and Jess." Rory said.
"Oh." she put the control back down and looked up at Rory, "Continue."
"She compared us to Mom and Luke, I'm disturbed."
"Ooh, already?"
"Already? She's full of it. We're at eachother's throats constantly."
"Bo and Hope used to be too."
"Who?"
"On Days Of Our Lives. But now they're married."
"And that has what to do with me?"
"You and Jess, you" she did air quotes,"don't like" she put her hands down, "eachother."
"We really don't like eachother, there's no hidden soap opera thing there. We just don't like eachother, enemies like eachother more."
"Uh huh."
"I don't understand why no one believes me. It's not like we even had feelings that deep for eachother all those years ago, let alone now."
"Yeah right." Shelly stood up. "I have to speak up here. If that's not the biggest lie I've heard since Michael Jackson only had three plastic surgeries, I don't know what is. Maybe you haven't noticed, but you definitely cared deeply for this guy, if not NOW then you did."
"How do you know?"
"Because, in case you haven't noticed, for the past four days Jess is all you've talked about," Shelly stepped forward, Rory frowned and backed up, "all you've thought about," Shelly stepped forward and Rory backed up again, "he's the only male name you've spoken since you saw him again." She stepped forward and Rory went to step back but was out of room so she fell on the couch. "Not a day goes by that you don't think about him. You are not going to tell me that even though the guy has been the only thing other than coffee occupying your mind this week, you don't care about him."
Rory didn't know how to respond, she just crossed her arms,"He is not all that occupies my mind."
"That's funny, 'cause he's all you've talked about."
"Not tr-"
"And there are many witnesses that would attest to that."
Rory thought about this for a second, "That's only because he's driving me nuts."
"Ror, you know I'm right. If you like the guy then tell him, or do something. Not that it isn't fun to watch your head rotate as you try to convince us both that you don't like him, it is, but I think you know you like him."
"I DON'T like him." Shelly wasn't convinced. "I don't."
"I know he hurt you-"
"No, he didn't. I mean, okay, he kind of did. But he doesn't have that much- you know what? I'm bored, we need to do something. I want to think about something other than work."
"It's not just work."
"Yes, it is."
"So, it's strictly 'hi sir, do you need anything?' then 'yes please, can you book this meeting?'"
"Well..." Then she thought of the inexplicable friendly looks today, the getting his coffee before he even asked, her mom saying she didn't want her to fall for the Run Away Rebel. Oh my gosh, she thought. I am not going to fall for... "We're going out tomorrow night."
"What?" Shelly asked confused.
"Tomorrow Lane's band has an opening gig, we're going."
"We are?" Shelly asked.
"Yes, I don't want to go alone."
"I have plans with James."
"Invite him along. Come on, it'll be fun."
"I'm not sure where this is coming from, but we don't go to those things, all people ever do at those grand opening parties is promote their business and shop around for their next mate."
"So? If you don't want to go you don't have to, I guess I could go alone."
"No way are you going alone. But why do you want to go?"
"Lane's my friend, and you never know, maybe I'll meet somone I like."
"I've got to learn to keep my mouth shut." Shelly rolled her eyes, "Fine, James and I will tag along, but we're leaving early. You're not going for Lane, because if that were the reason you'd just go to their concert."
"Okay, so tomorrow night we're going out, and it'll be fun."
"Mmm hmm, fun fun fun. I liked it better when you just thought incessantly about Jess."
"I have thought about him enough in the past 6 years. Now, I'm going to shower, then go to bed and endure the last day of work this week."
"Okay, so your out of the blue urge to go find a distraction- oops, I mean go have fun at a party has nothing to do with the whole 'Not a day goes by that you don't live, think, talk and breathe Jess' thing, right?"
Rory just smiled, "I'm going to go take a shower."
"Fine, I'll call James and tell him we're going to the mosh pit."
Rory went to take her shower, and her mind off Jess. She was done thinking about Jess, she'd had enough of him for one lifetime. Right?
*
A/N: I'm ending it here, I'll try to update soon! Next chapter they go to the party and Rory tries to forget about Jess. PLEASE REVIEW!!~ Thank you to all my reviewers! I hope you liked this chapter, I have many ideas for the future but I don't want to rush the story. Sorry this chapter was a little long, I just started typing and my fingers wouldn't stop! Please review, I'll be forever grateful!
A/N:Thank you to my reviewers!! You're all great and why I'm writing this in the first place!! I had wanted to update sooner, but I had to stay at my dad's house for a couple nights and he doesn't have a computer! But here it is!
*
The next morning was a wednesday, Rory got prepared for another day of torture. The whole way to work she couldn't quit thinking about how insane this is. How can they compare this to a love story, she wondered? I've never seen a love story like this, I've never seen anything like this come to think about it.
When she got to work she said the same thing to Claire.
"Well, Never Been Kissed is a little bit like that. He's the authority figure, and they fall for eachother."
Rory stared at her. "No, it's not like this. They never knew or dated eachother before."
"Well, I can't think of any stories like that."
"Then they can't say this is like a love story." Rory said.
"Fine, it SHOULD slash COULD be a love story." she said.
"Not true. It should slash could be a HORROR story."
Claire rolled her eyes, "Whatever you say."
"I can see it now, The Return Of The Evil Ex-boyfriend." Rory said.
"Okay, I noticed we didn't exactly hit it off this time, but do really think I'm evil?"
Rory turned to face Jess. "Thanks Claire." she mumbled to her friend.
Jess just stood there, smirking, waiting for her to answer.
"Honestly?" Rory asked.
"No." he said.
"Nope, I think you're just awesome. Actually, I'm tiptoeing on the brink of falling in love."
"Now honestly." he said.
"Yes, you're awful."
"Thank you."
"Anytime, Mr. Mariano." she fake smiled.
"Well, at least I've got that pleasure to hang on to." he said.
"Yes, I've noticed."
"Could you get me a cup of coffee, Miss Gilmore?"
"You are enjoying this way too much," she went to walk by him to go get his coffee, "Mr. Mariano." And she went in the lounge to get his coffee.
She brought it back, he was now in his office.
"Here you go." she put in in front of him.
"Thanks. There's no rat poison in this, is there?"
"No, I'm not quite at the 9 to 5 stage yet, check back in a week or so."
"Good to know."
"Anything else?" she asked.
"No, I'm good."
"Good." She went back to her cubicle.
At lunch Claire came over to Rory. "Hey, blabber mouth."
"Hey, mums the word."
She smiled, "You ready?"
"We have to wait for Andy." Rory said.
"No, you don't." Andy said.
"We don't?" Then she saw Jess come out of his office and over their way.
"No, I've got other lunch plans." he told her. "Sorry, I forgot to tell you."
Jess made his way to Andy.
"You're going with him?" she gestured to Jess.
"No, I'm standing here because I'm stalking you." Jess said.
"Fine. Ditch us." Rory rolled her eyes playfully to Andy.
"Sorry." Andy said.
"We'll just wander around like lost puppies for our lunch hour." she continued.
"You could always come with us." Jess said, "Have a little heart to heart. Catch up. Hey, how's Lorelai?"
"No thanks, I'll chew on my milk bone." she said.
"Suit yourself." he shrugged.
"I want to go." Claire pouted.
"He was being sarcastic." Rory informed her. "It's his specialty."
"One of many." he said.
"And ego's right up there in the top three." Rory said.
"Okay, are we intending on eating?" Claire asked Rory.
"Oh, don't let me hold you up. This isn't one of my evil ploys." he said.
"We're leaving now. Have a good lunch." Rory said as she and Claire started to leave.
"He's is so cute." Claire said once they were out of earshot.
"No he's not." Rory said.
"You need glasses." Claire said.
"I do not, he's not all that cute when he's annoying you to no end."
"Well, he can annoy ME to no end anytime." she said.
"Let's go, I'm starved."
*
After she went home, Rory took a bath. When she got out the phone was ringing.
"Hello?" she answered taking the towel off her head.
"Hello."
"Paris! Hey, I haven't heard from you in a long time."
"I know, that's pretty much why I was calling."
"Well, how've you been?" Rory asked.
"I'm doing really well. Actually, really REALLY well."
"Why, what's up?"
"Alan asked me to move in with him."
"Oh my gosh! That's great."
"Yeah. So, what have you been up to?" she didn't really want to talk about it.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Try me." Paris said.
"Okay, do you remember a really long time ago that guy I was going out with, Jess?"
"Yeah. He left though, right?"
"Yeah. Well, he's my new boss."
"No way."
"I'm afraid so."
"How is that possible?"
"I don't know. It was handed to him. Mom and Shelly are not helping. Can you believe that my mom's actually worried that I'm going to fall for him? Isn't that rediculous?"
"I don't know, is it?" she asked.
"Of course it is. He's annoying me, Andy went to lunch with him today, Claire won't stop drooling over him."
"Claire? Oh, the dippy one you work with."
"Yeah. And I don't understand why Mom would think that. Then Shelly said I liked him, I was in the middle of telling her all of the things I couldn't stand about him. And she just says I like him. Then telling her all of the thing that drove me nuts about him, I burnt my Hamburger Helper."
"You were making Hamburger Helper? Why? You don't make Hamburger Helper unless you're upset."
"You're all nuts. A person sometimes just wants to make dinner."
"Well, are you and Jess getting along?"
"Sure we are, like a charging bull and a red scarf."
"That's not good."
"Nope. We're at eachother's throats all the time."
"Any romantic interest leftover?" she asked.
"When pigs fly and my first money tree sprouts." Rory replied.
"So, that's a no."
"It sure is."
"Well, I've gotta get going, I just wanted to call and tell you."
"Oh, okay, well congratulations."
"Thanks. Bye."
"Bye." We hung up.
When Shelly got home she had pizza in hand. "Hope Jess didn't get to you today because I have food and if he did and you're cooking, he's paying for the pizza."
"Hey Shel,"
"Hey, no burning noodles, should I take that as a good sign?"
"Sure. If you want too."
They sat on the couch and ate their pizza. "So, how was work today?"
"Good, but I have a bone to pick with you." Rory said.
"What'd I do?"
"There are not any stories like this. Claire couldn't think of any, I couldn't think of any."
"There's this one book that you guys are reminding me of, but I can't remember it's name. It's an Avalon Romance."
"I've never read anything by that name."
"They aren't your kind of books. Darn it, I can't remember what it's called. You guys aren't exactly like it, they didn't meet or date before, but he was her boss and in order to save his business he had to get married and stay married for at least a year to get some uncle's money from his will. He had this employee, Sarah, and he proposed as a business deal for her to marry him for one year. He'd get the money to save his business and he'd pay her enough to go to college or something like that. It was a good book, Only For A Year, that's it." she said.
"How nice."
"It was actually a very good book."
"I'm sure."
"I know, it's not your type of book, but your situation reminded me of the book."
"I'll take your word for it. Oh, guess what?"
"What?"
"Today I was talking to Claire and she didn't bother to tell me that Jess was standing right behind me and he heard me call him the evil ex-boyfriend."
Shelly laughed, "Oh my gosh, my boss would've fired me on the spot."
"I don't think he could fire me, I'm just his wench. But he heard me, then he asked if I really thought that."
"What'd you say?" she asked wide eyed.
"I asked if he really wanted to know. At first he said no, but then he said yes."
"What'd you say?"
"I told him I thought he was awesome and close to falling in love."
She gaped at me.
"I was being sarcastic." Rory told her.
"Oh, okay, what'd you say when he said he did want to know?"
"I said he was awful."
"Very nice." Shelly said.
"Yeah, about as nice as leaving someone who really cares about you. At least I told him how I feel, he could've extended that courtesy to me."
"True." she nodded.
"Anyway, I need another piece of pizza." Rory went to get more pizza.
*
The next morning she went to work. She went in and got Jess' coffee before he even asked her to. She took it in to his office.
"Here you go." she brought it to him.
He looked up surprised. "You brought me coffee?"
"I always bring you coffee." Rory pointed out.
"Yes, but never without cursing my names several times to yourself and never without me asking."
"Well, I decided to save a little time. Plus, this way I got to curse your name more times." she said with a smile that was actually friendly, one that she would've flashed him years ago in high school. She didn't mean it though, she surprised herself just as much as him. "Okay, I'm gonna go if you didn't need anything else."
"I don't. Thanks."
She walked out. "Hey," Claire greeted her.
"Hi,"
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing, I'm just feeling too friendly today."
"How come?"
"I don't know. No big deal, I have to work."
"Oh, okay, see you at lunch."
"Bye." she sat down, sighed to herself, then started typing.
At lunch Andy and Claire got there at the same time.
"Hey, Miss Gilmore." Andy teased.
"Mr. Yates." she teased back.
"So, are you joining us, or Jess?" Claire asked when she saw Jess.
"I'm going with you and the puppy here today." he put an arm around Rory, which Jess followed with his eyes.
"Bad choice, but if you say so." Claire smiled at Jess.
Rory rolled her eyes. "Can we go to lunch before I lose my appetite?" she pushed her chair in and looked at Claire expectantly. "Are you coming?"
"I'm coming, I'm coming." she said. "Someone's feeling friendly today." she said sarcastically.
"I'm just hungry." Rory said.
"I'm gonna leave unless you'll be getting to the catfighting part soon." Jess smirked.
"No catfight happening here." Rory said.
"Okay, let's go. I'm hungry." Claire said.
"Me too." Rory agreed.
"Although I shouldn't be, I had a big breakfast."
"What was that?" Andy asked.
"I ate a bowl of Special K and a half a banana."
Now I remember why I hate being around her when she's flirting, thought Rory. It's nauseating.
"Well, I'm going to eat. A burger, some fries, I might splurge and get a strawberry milkshake too." Rory said. Do you want a lemon in your water or is that too many calories, is what she felt like saying.
Jess smiled accidentally, "I see the Gilmore appetite stayed in tact."
"Yes it did." she said proudly. Then they both put their friendly faces away.
"See you after lunch." he said after a few seconds of awkwardness.
"Yeah." And they both went in opposite directions.
"I think I like you guys better when you're trying to make eachother miserable." Andy said.
"I think so too." Claire said. "When you're being nice it's kind of weird."
"I know. I don't think I like it either. I'm just in a funky mood today. No big deal."
*
After lunch Rory was back in her cubicle. She dialed some numbers.
"Hello, Independence Inn."
"Mom."
"Hey, Rory. What's wrong?"
"I need you to put me in a bad mood."
"What?" Lorelai questioned.
"I don't like the mood I'm in. Help me change it."
"Okay, uh, how am I supposed to do that?"
"I don't know but the level of weirdness in this building is driving me insane."
"How's Jess?"
"Mean." Rory said.
"Jess is?"
"No, you are."
"Why? You asked me to help you get in a bad mood, that usually does it."
"Okay, well tell me things that he used to do that made me mad."
"Okay, he smoked, can you say bad lungs?"
"Okay, now you've got me worried about his health."
"Not helping. Okay, he stole the lawn gnome. Babbette was so attached to that little gnome."
"But he did give it back to her." Rory pointed out.
She sighed quickly, "He crashed you car the night you were trying to help him study, then he left, went to New York and never even told you."
"But then he came back within a couple weeks."
"He...did a chalk outline and bothered Taylor."
"He bothered Taylor. 'Nuff said."
"He wouldn't call or come over when he said he would. Remember Dean's hockey game?"
"But after that game I found out he hadn't called because he wanted to surprise me with concert tickets."
"He did?"
"Yep."
"Oh-kay, uh, to me he was very rude, crude AND he had a tedency to brood."
"He was angry at his mother for shipping him off because she didn't want to deal with- okay, now I'm feeling sorry for him."
"He left you at your grandma's when he showed up with the black eye."
"I didn't trust him, I'd have left me there too." Rory said.
"He went to California without even bothering to tell you that he was never going to see you again. He didn't leave you any closure whatsoever and you wouldn't date any guy for a year after he left, because you were so afraid of getting hurt, because of him." she hit the one thing that was infallible.
"You're right." Rory said. It worked. "You're right. He did do that. That did happen. Okay, I feel much worse."
"Good?"
"Very good."
"'Kay, well, I'm going to get back to work if you're feeling better- or worse I guess."
"Okay, thanks Mom." Rory said.
"Anytime, sweetie. I'm your one stop Jess bashing shop."
"I love you. Bye Mom." She hung up.
Jess had heard the 'bye Mom' part. "Miss Gilmore," he greeted.
"Hello." Rory responded.
"Calling home?"
"Yep, Mom." she said.
"Huh."
"Did you need something?" Rory asked.
"No, this is a social call, just visiting old friends. Darn, I forgot your Hallmark card." he said sarcastically.
"I think I'll survive somehow." she replied.
"Oh good."
"Yeah. Can I help you with something?" she asked after a couple seconds.
"Nope. Not really."
"Then what are you doing here?"
"I'm bored,"
"That's nice. Well, since your job is so boring, get a crossword puzzle book."
"Good idea. It really is quite boring." he knew this was taunting her, 'cause he knew she wanted the job.
"Well, I can't help you there, they gave YOU the job, twiddle your thumbs."
"That's no fun." he said.
"But this is?"
"Yes, actually it is."
"Well, I'm not bored."
"Then how come you're calling home? Missing Booneville?"
"Nope, missing LA?" she asked.
"Nope, I didn't live in LA."
"Oh, well, you didn't tell me and I didn't stalk you, so short of being able to spot a person in a location on the other side of the country, or being a mind reader, I couldn't have possibly known that."
"I just love these friendly little exchanges."
"Hey, you're the one that started playing pshycho boss."
"What good is having power if you can't abuse it?"
"Yes, well that's not everyone's twisted way of thinking."
"Or it could be that you're slightly jealous."
"Nope, mean people get promoted faster than nice people, so if you and I were in the running for the same job, it's only logical that you'd get it."
"Ouch."
"Don't tease."
"Wow, you really do NOT like me today."
Rory stood up, "I'm going to get coffee, do you want some?"
"No thanks."
"Okay." she walked off to get her coffee.
*
Claire came over to Rory. "What?"
"Wow, I feel so welcome." Claire said.
"Sorry, I'm in a bad mood."
"Yeah, geeze you're moody today."
"I am not. I'm just annoyed and busy, and Jess is bored and I have just about had it up to here with this day. I feel like a yo-yo, I'm going home and going to bed."
"Wow, that good, huh?"
"Yep."
"Now, what was that about Jess?" Claire hid her smile.
"Oh, well, Mr. Wonderful is apparently bored."
"Now I'm Mr. Wonderful? I wish you'd make up your mind, you're confusing me." Jess smirked.
"Claire, do you not know how to say 'he's right next to you'?" Rory shook her head.
Claire just smiled.
"So, which is it? Evil, awful or wonderful?"
"Can I say all three?" Rory asked.
"If you're extremely indecisive. Do I get to pick three adjectives to describe you?"
"No."
"Oh, I see how it is."
"Not a two way street."
"Well, that's not fair."
"I know. If you want to pick three adjectives to describe me you have to say them when I'm not supposed to be listening, now what do you want?"
"So, basically any time I'm talking to you?"
"I listen to you." Rory argued.
"Yeah right." he rolled his eyes.
"I've always listened to you."
"Uh huh."
She was getting frustrated. "I have. If I didn't listen to you, I wouldn't know how you take your coffee."
"Whatever you say." he turned to walk away, hiding his amusement and knowing she'd follow him.
"I do!" she grabbed some papers and followed him.
"I know, I'm just teasing you, calm down." Claire rolled her eyes, not that they noticed.
"You're impossible." she said. He sat down and she just stood there arms crossed.
"I know, it's one of the things you love about me." he smirked.
"I'm not going to comment on that."
"What? You said you were close to falling in love with me, you weren't just getting my hopes up for nothing now were you?"
"You're so infuriating."
"I know, no one can annoy you like I can."
"That's very true." Rory agreed.
"You just agreed with me."
"I am not ever going to admit that."
Claire sighed, "Geeze, you two are annoying."
"I know." they both said in unison.
"Aww, how cute." she teased.
"Don't you have to get Andy coffee or something?" Jess asked.
"Nope," she smiled, "He's busy, I could stand here and watch you two pretend you don't like eachother all day." she said.
"Claire." Rory and Jess said in unison again, then looked at eachother.
She smiled. "You know, you guys kind of remind me of what you've told me about how your Mom and Luke used to act."
Rory gaped at her, "Do NOT compare him and me to Luke and Mom . That's just wrong."
"Uh huh. I'm going now, I can only take so much." she said.
A very flustered Rory rolled her eyes, shoved some papers at the amused Jess and walked out to her cubicle and started typing furiously on her keyboard.
*
When she got home Shelly was there.
"I do not like him."
"Bad day?" Shelly turned the TV off.
Rory grumbled. "Claire is really starting to bug me. I want to go to bed and not wake up until next year."
"Oh, it's Claire's fault?" she picked up the control up to turn the TV back on.
"Well, her and Jess." Rory said.
"Oh." she put the control back down and looked up at Rory, "Continue."
"She compared us to Mom and Luke, I'm disturbed."
"Ooh, already?"
"Already? She's full of it. We're at eachother's throats constantly."
"Bo and Hope used to be too."
"Who?"
"On Days Of Our Lives. But now they're married."
"And that has what to do with me?"
"You and Jess, you" she did air quotes,"don't like" she put her hands down, "eachother."
"We really don't like eachother, there's no hidden soap opera thing there. We just don't like eachother, enemies like eachother more."
"Uh huh."
"I don't understand why no one believes me. It's not like we even had feelings that deep for eachother all those years ago, let alone now."
"Yeah right." Shelly stood up. "I have to speak up here. If that's not the biggest lie I've heard since Michael Jackson only had three plastic surgeries, I don't know what is. Maybe you haven't noticed, but you definitely cared deeply for this guy, if not NOW then you did."
"How do you know?"
"Because, in case you haven't noticed, for the past four days Jess is all you've talked about," Shelly stepped forward, Rory frowned and backed up, "all you've thought about," Shelly stepped forward and Rory backed up again, "he's the only male name you've spoken since you saw him again." She stepped forward and Rory went to step back but was out of room so she fell on the couch. "Not a day goes by that you don't think about him. You are not going to tell me that even though the guy has been the only thing other than coffee occupying your mind this week, you don't care about him."
Rory didn't know how to respond, she just crossed her arms,"He is not all that occupies my mind."
"That's funny, 'cause he's all you've talked about."
"Not tr-"
"And there are many witnesses that would attest to that."
Rory thought about this for a second, "That's only because he's driving me nuts."
"Ror, you know I'm right. If you like the guy then tell him, or do something. Not that it isn't fun to watch your head rotate as you try to convince us both that you don't like him, it is, but I think you know you like him."
"I DON'T like him." Shelly wasn't convinced. "I don't."
"I know he hurt you-"
"No, he didn't. I mean, okay, he kind of did. But he doesn't have that much- you know what? I'm bored, we need to do something. I want to think about something other than work."
"It's not just work."
"Yes, it is."
"So, it's strictly 'hi sir, do you need anything?' then 'yes please, can you book this meeting?'"
"Well..." Then she thought of the inexplicable friendly looks today, the getting his coffee before he even asked, her mom saying she didn't want her to fall for the Run Away Rebel. Oh my gosh, she thought. I am not going to fall for... "We're going out tomorrow night."
"What?" Shelly asked confused.
"Tomorrow Lane's band has an opening gig, we're going."
"We are?" Shelly asked.
"Yes, I don't want to go alone."
"I have plans with James."
"Invite him along. Come on, it'll be fun."
"I'm not sure where this is coming from, but we don't go to those things, all people ever do at those grand opening parties is promote their business and shop around for their next mate."
"So? If you don't want to go you don't have to, I guess I could go alone."
"No way are you going alone. But why do you want to go?"
"Lane's my friend, and you never know, maybe I'll meet somone I like."
"I've got to learn to keep my mouth shut." Shelly rolled her eyes, "Fine, James and I will tag along, but we're leaving early. You're not going for Lane, because if that were the reason you'd just go to their concert."
"Okay, so tomorrow night we're going out, and it'll be fun."
"Mmm hmm, fun fun fun. I liked it better when you just thought incessantly about Jess."
"I have thought about him enough in the past 6 years. Now, I'm going to shower, then go to bed and endure the last day of work this week."
"Okay, so your out of the blue urge to go find a distraction- oops, I mean go have fun at a party has nothing to do with the whole 'Not a day goes by that you don't live, think, talk and breathe Jess' thing, right?"
Rory just smiled, "I'm going to go take a shower."
"Fine, I'll call James and tell him we're going to the mosh pit."
Rory went to take her shower, and her mind off Jess. She was done thinking about Jess, she'd had enough of him for one lifetime. Right?
*
A/N: I'm ending it here, I'll try to update soon! Next chapter they go to the party and Rory tries to forget about Jess. PLEASE REVIEW!!~ Thank you to all my reviewers! I hope you liked this chapter, I have many ideas for the future but I don't want to rush the story. Sorry this chapter was a little long, I just started typing and my fingers wouldn't stop! Please review, I'll be forever grateful!