Disclaimer: Don't own Gilmore Girls, never have, never will…
AN: Hey there everyone. Wow it feels like forever since I've been here. Anyways I'm glad to be back. I know its been a long time, but with the holidays and all the drama going on, I just haven't been in the mood to read or write, or do anything much. But I'm here now. For how long?... I don't know… but hopefully for awhile. I'm still working on my other story, and I'm trying hard to get the next chapter written, but there is just so much in my head I don't know how to put it all in order and make it flow smoothly. Hopefully soon though… Anyway, thank you to all who are still reading this and sticking with it, and I hope you enjoy…
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The day continued to drag on, and on, and on, it had all been way too much for Jess, and it this point he was wishing he had just never woken up at all. At 6pm he had crawled out of bed after sleeping his day away and yet wondered where his day had gone, and now it was 12:32am and he was standing in a room that he now called his own.
So much had happened that he wasn't quite sure what to do with himself. Should be happy? Or sad? Should be go to bed? Or lay awake for hours trying to figure this all out? Should he go find Tristan and become his friend? Or maybe a take a tour of the house? He didn't know, so instead he stood there, in the middle of his 'room' and sighed. He began to look around him and let out a laugh, this new room was three times the size of his whole apartment and not one thing in there reflected who he was in any way. The bed was made, the room was clean, his clothes had been washed and either folded neatly and put in drawers or ironed and hung up, everywhere he turned there was something that looked valuable, there were vases with flowers in them, and expensive art hung from the walls, nothing like his old room, which was piled high with books, dirty clothes and stacks upon stacks of CD's.
Once finally getting a grasp on reality, and figuring that this was no dream at all, he began to feel suffocated. At this point he felt trapped, so he grabbed his book off the bed, a lighter, and his last pack of cigarettes and ran right out of the room to the front door. As soon as he stepped outside he stopped moving and took a deep breath, even the air was different, it was clean, and all he could smell was himself. He took a look around outside and noticed the silence, it was eerie, no cars, no people, not even a rustle in the bushes. He stepped off the front porch and onto the lawn where he began to walk around looking for any place that would maybe make him feel at home.
After walking about fifteen feet, he found a bench, 'who actually has a bench in their front yard?' He thought to himself before sitting on it. It wasn't the park, but it would have to do for now, it was all he could find. He glanced around a bit before removing a single cigarette from the pack in his shirt pocket and placing it lightly between his lips. He took out his lighter and watched the flames dance a bit before he lifted it up to his mouth and lit the cigarette that was in it. He took a long drag, it felt good, he felt relaxed, and for the first time today he had a smile on his face. That one drag was all he needed to feel back at home.
He lay down on the bench and closed his eyes. He tried to remember how this all happened, but it didn't really matter, because he was here now, and he was going to be here… for awhile. He reached his hand around to his back pocket and took out the book he had placed in it earlier during his rush out of the house. He flipped through the pages a bit before opening it to the marked page; the pages seemed blank, he knew there was writing on them, but he couldn't see it. He couldn't concentrate on the book, and sighed and closed it again. He set it down on his chest and began to concentrate once again on the cigarette his mouth.
Just as he was beginning to dose off he heard a noise, something that he had never heard before back in New York. It was a rustling, then a clink, followed by a high whisper… "TRISTAN!"
He smiled to himself and then got up off the bench; he quickly finished his cigarette and tossed it in the bushes before making his way around the corner of the house. He stopped when he saw a girl around his age standing in the grass, "TRIST…"
"Hello" Jess interrupted her whispering causing to her jump back and almost fall over.
She turned quickly and dropped the pebbles in her hand, "Oh my god" she put her hand on her chest, "Don't scare me like that!" she caught her breath before continuing, "Hi?" she questioned.
"Girlfriend?"
"Best friend."…she smiled, "Boyfriend?"
"Roommate."
"Roommate?" she looked puzzled.
"Housemate." Jess corrected himself. They both stood there staring at each other, "So throwing rocks at the window, how very 5th grade of you." He smiled.
She let out a small laugh and then introduced herself, "Rory" she held out her hand and stepped forward.
He quickly took a step back without thinking when she leaned in. But once he realized all she wanted was a hand shake he switched his book from his right hand to his left and took her hand in his own. "Jess" He said quietly, and then quickly stepped back again. He couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was.
It was a short firm handshake, a good handshake. First impressions were everything, and a handshake could tell him all he needed to know.
"Jess?...I heard about you" she tilted her head, "You'll be staying awhile."
Jess nodded his head and repeated her, "awhile" he almost whispered. His eyes darted everywhere but at her and he took another small step away from her.
"You afraid of me?" she laughed.
He shook his head "no".
"Are you always this jumpy?"
"You always throw rocks at windows?"
Rory let out a laugh, "Only when you're here."
"I see…" there was a small silence, "So you need to get in? Cause I live here now and I can get you in. I mean unless you enjoy throwing rocks at windows. But that window is looking pretty dead to me." He pointed up.
"It usually takes awhile, but eventually my prince comes." She looked up at the window, "But I'll take you up on your offer. It's easier your way." She smiled and followed him into the house.
Once inside they stood there. Jess looked around him, wondering from which direction he had come from. He was so busy running to get outside that he forgot to leave a trail of breadcrumbs for himself.
She then broke his thoughts, "Well thanks" she smiled, "I think I can find my way from here." She turned and started heading up the stairs.
"Rory wait!" Jess called after her quietly.
She smiled to herself and turned around slowly, "Yes?"
"Well, you may be able to find your way, but I don't think I can find mine."
She laughed and replied in a child like voice, "Awww… is Jess lost? Would you like me to take you by the hand and lead you to your room?"
He held out his hand waiting for her to take it in her own, but instead she rolled her eyes and laughed, "This way dork."
She turned and began walking up the steps. Jess stood there for a moment longer, they had met no more then ten minutes ago, and he couldn't believe that he was being so playful with her. It usually took him days if not weeks to even look at a person. But this was different, he was starting over, and she was someone who didn't know him well enough to judge him.
"Are you coming?" she had stopped halfway up the stairs and turned her attention back to him.
"I don't know, you forgot my hand, and I was lost already."
She turned around and began going back up the stairs. He watched her and ran to catch up.
"So you're Tristan's best friend… cute."
"So what book is that in your back pocket?" she changed the subject.
"How did you know there was a book in my back pocket? Someone taking a little extra look… were they?"
"It was in your hand outside, and now its not…" she gave him a small smile.
"Oh… well it was just a book."
"I know it was just a book…" she mimicked him "that's why I'm asking you what book it was?"
Just then Tristan opened the door to his room and stepped into the hallway.
"I thought I heard something at my window." He smiled.
Rory turned around, "yeah… try like 10 minutes ago."
"Well I'm here now, so that's all that matters." He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her. He looked up at Jess "So I see you've met my Mary."
"Mary?" Jess questioned.
Rory turned around and smacked Tristan, "I am not your Mary. When are you going to get that through your thick skull? I haven't been your Mary for a long time now, and you know I hate that nickname."
"I thought your name was Rory?" Jess was confused.
"My name is Rory" she smiled, "Tristan is just a jerk." She turned around and glared at him. "Come on" she grabbed Jess's hand, "Just point when it looks familiar, since I don't know exactly what room your staying in."
"Oh, I didn't know I was interrupting something." Tristan looked down at their hands. "He's in the master guestroom. Down the hall and to the right…" He smiled at her, "I'll be waiting for you, Ror-y."
She laughed and rolled her eyes, "Come on Jess." She began walking down the hallway with Jess and looked back at Tristan, he was standing there watching her. Watching as she got smaller and smaller and then turned the corner.
Tristan went back into his room and lay down on his bed. It had been a year since they broke up, and he was happier now more then ever. Some people make better girlfriends then friends, and she was definitely a better friend, but a part of him still loved her more then ever before, a part of him was jealous seeing her hold Jess's hand, he used to get to hold her hand, he used to get to kiss her, he used to get to touch her whenever he wanted. Not much had changed but the feelings. The feelings that he knew would never go away, and only grow stronger.
Rory and Jess had finally made it to his door. "So I think this is you" she smiled.
He smiled back at her, and opened the door, then playfully responded "thanks… I don't know what I would have done without you."
"You would have wandered around aimlessly, lost for hours, dehydrated and starving, with nothing but your cigs to smoke and your book to read."
"Sounds devastating." He shook his head and grinned.
"Well I better get back to Tristan… and you…" she trialed off.
"It's been a long day, I better get to bed." He finished her sentence.
"Yeah… right, well then, I'm sure I'll be seeing you around."
"I'm sure you will be… good night." He went to turn away.
Rory stood there, she was watching him. There was something about him, something that made her want to know him more, maybe it was the book in his back pocket or the fact that he was from New York, maybe it was because she couldn't read him like she could everyone else, or maybe it was just that he wasn't as innocent as her, or perhaps it was the hurt that she swore she saw in him. Whatever it was, it was there, and sooner or later she was going to find out what it was.
"Um… Rory…" Jess spoke up quietly.
"Yeah?" she snapped out of her daze and looked at him.
"My hand?" he looked down.
She followed his gaze and realized that she was still holding his hand, "Oh... Sorry" she quickly jerked it away, "I'll be in Tristan's room if you need anything" and with that she turned and made her way back down the hall.
He turned his attention back to his room and closed the door behind him as he entered. He went straight for the bed even though he wasn't tired. When he fell on it he put his hands behind his head and began to think. Thoughts of New York swarmed his head. His mother, his friends, and her, he didn't tell her she was leaving, they hadn't spoken in over a week, she was smart she'd figure it out, he wasn't even sure they were still friends. But that didn't matter now, no, not anymore, because now there was Rory, and no matter how perfect he thought 'she' was, Rory was better, he could tell.
Rory had returned to Tristan's room and opened the door to find him lying on the floor. She went and took a seat next to him, "So what do you know about Jess?"
"Nothing really… why?" he sat up and looked at her.
"No reason, I just think there is a lot to know."
"Probably… I mean I met him in a police station, where he was chummy with the officer and his house, well I wouldn't call it a house…"
"His apartment?"
"I wouldn't call it that either… it was more like his pile of bricks…literally… well lets just say I don't think he's had the same kind of luxuries we have…"
"Well… he's cute" Rory smiled.
"Leave it be Ror." Tristan moved to lean against his bed.
"I didn't say anything, I just think he's cute, and I want to get to know him, I think he needs someone like me, someone to show him the better side of life."
"Well leave that to me" Tristan raised his eyebrows and smiled.
Rory laughed, "No… we are not going to have another Tristan around here… we don't need another Tristan, I'm not even sure we like the one we already have." She playfully hit him.
Tristan smiled, "And I don't think you need to make him over into another one of your Ken's. He's real Rory, he's lived, just let him be who he is, and come to us."
"I know, I know, I'm just not sure he will come to us."
"He will… just give him time." There was a small silence, and then a pillow came flying at his head.
Rory turned around to face Tristan and threw a pillow at him, "Another one of my Ken's" she muttered under her breath, "I am NOT a Barbie."
Tristan laughed, "Yeah you got that right… you don't have the chest."
Rory glared, "I don't know why I'm your friend…you don't deserve me." She laughed at his remark, "jerk…".
Neither of them said another word, Rory moved and sat next to Tristan, leaning against the bed, she picked up the magazine that was on the floor next to her and began to read it, which reminded her of Jess and the book in his back pocket, and she smiled at the thought that he actually liked to read.