*The apartment has grown quiet over the past half hour. Jess is still
fuming; pacing back forth; Rory is sitting on the couch watching Jess
intently. She is angry at herself, angry that she doesn't know what to say
or do to make Jess feel better.....deep down she knows that there is
nothing, she is helpless in this situation.
Jess sighs, "I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize, jess." Rory replies.
"This was supposed to be a special night for you and I ruined it."
"You didn't ruin anything, it was really special.....how many times do I get to see you in a tux." Rory smiles faintly.
Jess laughs hoarsely, sitting down next to Rory.
Rory puts a hand on jess shoulder, "Tonight was great."
Jess lets his head drop to his chest, "I don't know why I let this bother me? It's so stupid, it's just like every other time he's shown up."
Rory pulls her hand away, suddenly struck with the realization that she has no idea what jess is talking about, all this time she'd complained about him being a bad boyfriend, she'd never once asked him about his past.
Jess notices Rory, cowering beside him, putting his arm around her he speaks, "This isn't the first time he's spontaneously shown up.....he used to show up once a year or so usually when he started his latest 12 step program or whatever. He'd come bring me some piece of shit, take me out somewhere drop me home 3 hours later and then he'd sped off to where ever the hell he was staying and I wouldn't see him for a year or so....that lasted until I was 13, when he gave up on me."
"Oh jess." Rory says sympathetically running a hand through his hair.
Jess lifts Rory's hand up intertwining it with his own, "It doesn't' matter, we never really had much of a connection anyway, it's not like I care that he decided to show his face again." Jess says bitterly.
Rory stares at Jess, "Yes you do."
Jess scoffs, "Why the hell would I care, he means nothing to me."
"He's your father, good or bad he means something to you."
Jess exhales loudly, "He's the reason I'm so screwed up."
"Hey." Rory says sharply. "You're not screwed up.........you're doing pretty good here."
Jess nods, "I'm as screwed up as they come Ror, the only way I managed to adapt to my surroundings is because of you, if I didn't have you here I'd still be the same screwed up asshole I was 2 years ago."
"Whatever you say, but Jess don't doubt yourself because of him.......you're a good person, you're nothing like him."
Jess gapes, "You can't say that, you don't even know him.........for all you know I could be the spitting image of him."
"You're right." Rory says sheepishly. "I'm sorry.
"God, I don't even know him." Jess muses with disdain.
Rory remains quiet.
"Maybe you should go." Jess says hoarsely.
Rory looks like she might cry, "o-ok."
Jess watches her leave before lying back on the couch, consumed in thought.
Rory descends the staircase, her eyes glues to the floor.
"Sweets?" Lorelai asks.
Rory shakes her head taking a seat at the counter.
Luke places a cup of coffee in front of Rory. Rory nods at Luke, "Thank you."
"Uh, should I......does he need...."
"I think he needs to be alone." Rory says quietly.
Luke sighs, Ok."
Rory turns to her mother, "I think I'm going to head home."
Lorelai nods, "I'll come with."
"No, finish your coffee, I need some quiet time."
"Ok." Lorelai replies hugging Rory.
Rory exits the diner.
*Outside: Rory stops at the bench in front of town hall. Daintily she slips off her shoes and begins to walk again.
"So you're the one keeping my son sane in this place?" A voice from behind says.
A fear stricken Rory turns around coming face to face with Jess' father.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you....and I wasn't following you, see I'm not to welcome there at Luke's on two accounts so I left and I've been walking around aimlessly for the last 30 minutes........nice town."
Rory nods mechanically.
"Small, now I see why Jess left.......Mariano's never do well in captivity, it's the big city or bust for us."
"You knew about him leaving?" Rory asks unable to stop herself.
Jess' father laughs, "Yeah, left cause he broke some girl......" He smirks, "Came back to see her too if I'm correct."
Rory nods, "How'd you know about that?"
"Just because I've been a deadbeat dad for 19 years doesn't mean I didn't keep tabs on my kid......I have friends in the city, one of Jess' teacher's was a frind of mine from college."
"Y-you went to college?"
"Freshman and sophomore year."
"Wow."
"Of course then I met Liz and well school work went down the drain after that."
Rory stands awkwardly staring at her feet.
"I loved her once, but we were so young she was 19 when I met her.......I didn't even know about Jess until after we broke up, stayed around until he was born but I, I just couldn't handle it.......Liz and I weren't the same people we were 2 years ago, and I wasn't responsible enough to be a father.......God I can't believe I'm telling you all this stuff."
"It's sad."
"I know."
"No, it's sad because here it's been 5 minutes and I know more about you than your own son does." Rory says coldly.
"He doesn't want to here it."
"He says he doesn't' but he's lying."
"Y-you think he wants to talk to me?"
Rory shakes her head, "I'm not completely sure, but part of you is in him and I think he wants to understand why he is the way he is........and you can help him."
"Well how about that, Jess found himself a nice girl........Luke must be doing something right.....the Jess I know would have walked all over a girl like you."
"The jess you knew never existed, he was always the way he is now.......you just never stuck around long enough to realize that." Rory replies turning on her heals.
"What's your name?" Jess father asks.
Rory turns her head, "Rory Gilmore, yours?"
"Robert, Robert Anthony Mariano."
Rory nods.
"It was nice talking to you Rory Gilmore......I hope to see you again some day."
"Are you leaving?"
"Just for the night, I rented a room at this little inn at the end of town, you know it?"
Rory smiles, "My mom manages it."
"The lady at the counter making Luke blush?"
Rory smiles, "Yeah."
"Man those two have good taste, well I'm sure you have somewhere to be, Goodnight Rory."
"Goodnight Mr. Mariano."
Robert turns towards the inn.
"Hey." Rory calls to him.
"Yeah?"
"Don't leave without saying goodbye to him."
"I won't."
*four days later: Rory steps off the bus after completing her very last day at Chilton
Lorelai is waiting at the bus stop.
"You made it out of Hell alive!"
"I did!" Rory exclaims hugging her mother.
"Come on let's go home and burn this thing." Lorelai says tugging on Rory's uniform.
*10 minutes later: Rory' in her bedroom.
"Take your uniform off and then we're gong out to celebrate!" Lorelai calls.
"Ok. Be out in minute." Rory replies closing her door.
Rory makes her way over to the mirror, examining herself. Her eyes fixate on a picture taped to the mirror, it's of her and Jess, Miss Patty who claimed they were too cute not to capture on film took it over a month ago. A week later the picture had materialized onto the Gilmore's porch.
Rory sighs touching the picture with the back of her hand, she and Jess haven't spoken since the incident at the diner.
Rory's concentration is broken by a tap at the window.
Rory turns to see Jess' face peering into her bedroom.
Rory lifts open the window, "Hey."
"Shouldn't you be burning that by now?" Jess asks referring to her uniform.
Jess climbs inside with a bang.
"Nah.....I need to save it to prove I made it back alive."
Jess laughs.
Rory remains silent.
Jess looks at her timidly, "Look I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you the other night."
"It's ok, I understand."
"I just needed to be by myself."
"I know." Rory says quietly.
"Rory, you ok I heard a really big noise."
Rory goes to speak but is cut of.
"It's ok it's just me." Jess says.
Rory's bedroom door swings open, Lorelai appears in the doorway raising an eyebrow she says, "Hello Jess."
"Hi."
"Hey sweets why don't we put off celebrating for another night......" Lorelai says.
"No, I want to do it tonight." Rory replies.
"Well if you're sure........you're welcome to tag along if you'd lie Jess."
"Uh, sure if you don't mind."
"Ok. Well I'm going to go call Sookie, invite her along let's say we reconvene in 60."
Rory nods.
Lorelai walks away leaving the door open.
"See I told you she'd warm up to you." Rory says hopefully.
"She feels sorry for me ror, that's why she's being nice." Jess replies sitting down on Rory's bed.
"Well at least she's trying."
Jess touches Rory's hand, "I know."
"well I should get changed before we leave."
"Oh alright." Jess replies not turning around.
"Do you think you could go....."
Jess smirks, "Shy?"
"Just a little." Rory blushes
"I'll face the wall."
"Jess.." Rory pleads.
Jess smiles, "Ok."
Jess steps out into the hallway, Rory closes the door.
"Ok I'm done!" Rory yells.
Jess enters Rory's bedroom where Rory is dressed in a yellow sundress.
"Feel the need to dress up?" Jess smirks.
"Well who knows what my mom means by celebrating."
"Hopefully she means getting wasted."
Rory sends Jess a murderous glance.
"Alright I get it not funny."
Rory nods, falling silent again.
Jess clears his throat, "So I hear you've been having late night chats with strangers."
Rory looks up at him, bewildered, "you talked to him."
"To Robert? Yes."
"Oh Jess I hope you're not mad at me we kind of just started talking by accident...." Rory rambles.
Jess quiets her with a kiss, "It's ok." He whispers.
'S-so what happened?" Rory fumbles
Jess smiles at Rory's uneasiness.
"Well?" Rory say impatiently.
"He left on Monday."
"Oh."
"He had to be back for work this morning."
Rory nods.
"......but he's coming back for graduation on Saturday."
Rory looks up, "He is?"
"He asked if he could come, I said ok."
"What changed your mind?"
"Why do you ask questions that you already know the answer to?"
"Jess."
"As always my decision was made because of you......i sat down a listen to what the guy had to say because of you."
Rory smiles.
"He showed up at the diner as I was leaving for work, so we walked and talked, not before I got some choice words in first."
"Of course."
"So we talked and he told me about himself and asked me about my life and school and stuff."
"So you're ok?"
"Well no, I mean he's a total stranger I only remember seeing him a few times, his face is something out of an old photo album.......he's still a stranger."
"Oh."
"But I'm going to make an effort, he says he wants to get to know me, well I'll give him the benefit of the doubt but the second he goes to walk away that's it."
"I don't think he's going to walk away this time." Rory says, sitting on Jess' lap.
"Well we'll see."
Rory kisses Jess' cheek.
"He asked me to move in with him."
Rory pulls away, "What?"
"California, says it's a real nice town......"
"You're not going to go are you?"
"I don't know."
"What happened to him being a stranger?"
"Well he is and that's why I'm probably not going to go."
"Probably?"
"Well he did mention that he could get me into a pretty decent college out there....and you'll be going to Yale in the fall......"
"Jess."
Jess squeezes Rory tightly, "Rory I'm not going anyway, not for a while anyway.....I'm not stupid I'm not just going to agree to travel across the country to move in with someone who for all intensive purposes I just met this weekend."
Rory smiles faintly.
"Come on, I love you I'm not going to just runaway.......again."
"What?" Rory replies, taken back.
"I said I'm not going to runaway." Jess says suspiciously.
"No before that." Rory smiles at Jess.
Jess smirks, "Oh THAT." Jess smiles, "I love you." He says softly.
Rory wraps her arms around Jess, "I love you too."
Jess holds Rory by her wrists, "Are you sure?"
"What?"
"I mean didn't you tell me it took you over 6 months to tell Dean you loved him."
"That was different." Rory replies, "I didn't know what love was then......but now...."
Jess stops Rory from finishing, his lips crashing into hers.
Lorelai appears at the door, "Alright you rabbits......ready to go?"
Rory leaps off of Jess' lap, Jess wipes his mouth.
"Yeah we're ready." Rory replies.
Lorelai eyes Jess skeptically, "Alright I'll meet you two in the car in 5."
Rory nods, going to follow Lorelai towards the front door.
Jess pulls on her arm.
"Hey Ror?"
"Yeah?"
"Let's not worry about what's going to happen in the fall/.......let's just enjoy tonight."
Rory smiles at him, "Ok."
As Jess takes her hand in his Rory can't help but notice the gnawing feeling in her stomach, things are going to change........and not for the better.
A/n That's it for now I'm going to try and work on this again on Friday but no promises. Yay new episode tonight hooray!! I don't think Jess sis in this episode, sad....hopefully Dave will be though I heart him, sadly I think he'll be absent too though. Anyway have a good night enjoy the show hope you enjoyed this chapter read and review por favor.
Jess sighs, "I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize, jess." Rory replies.
"This was supposed to be a special night for you and I ruined it."
"You didn't ruin anything, it was really special.....how many times do I get to see you in a tux." Rory smiles faintly.
Jess laughs hoarsely, sitting down next to Rory.
Rory puts a hand on jess shoulder, "Tonight was great."
Jess lets his head drop to his chest, "I don't know why I let this bother me? It's so stupid, it's just like every other time he's shown up."
Rory pulls her hand away, suddenly struck with the realization that she has no idea what jess is talking about, all this time she'd complained about him being a bad boyfriend, she'd never once asked him about his past.
Jess notices Rory, cowering beside him, putting his arm around her he speaks, "This isn't the first time he's spontaneously shown up.....he used to show up once a year or so usually when he started his latest 12 step program or whatever. He'd come bring me some piece of shit, take me out somewhere drop me home 3 hours later and then he'd sped off to where ever the hell he was staying and I wouldn't see him for a year or so....that lasted until I was 13, when he gave up on me."
"Oh jess." Rory says sympathetically running a hand through his hair.
Jess lifts Rory's hand up intertwining it with his own, "It doesn't' matter, we never really had much of a connection anyway, it's not like I care that he decided to show his face again." Jess says bitterly.
Rory stares at Jess, "Yes you do."
Jess scoffs, "Why the hell would I care, he means nothing to me."
"He's your father, good or bad he means something to you."
Jess exhales loudly, "He's the reason I'm so screwed up."
"Hey." Rory says sharply. "You're not screwed up.........you're doing pretty good here."
Jess nods, "I'm as screwed up as they come Ror, the only way I managed to adapt to my surroundings is because of you, if I didn't have you here I'd still be the same screwed up asshole I was 2 years ago."
"Whatever you say, but Jess don't doubt yourself because of him.......you're a good person, you're nothing like him."
Jess gapes, "You can't say that, you don't even know him.........for all you know I could be the spitting image of him."
"You're right." Rory says sheepishly. "I'm sorry.
"God, I don't even know him." Jess muses with disdain.
Rory remains quiet.
"Maybe you should go." Jess says hoarsely.
Rory looks like she might cry, "o-ok."
Jess watches her leave before lying back on the couch, consumed in thought.
Rory descends the staircase, her eyes glues to the floor.
"Sweets?" Lorelai asks.
Rory shakes her head taking a seat at the counter.
Luke places a cup of coffee in front of Rory. Rory nods at Luke, "Thank you."
"Uh, should I......does he need...."
"I think he needs to be alone." Rory says quietly.
Luke sighs, Ok."
Rory turns to her mother, "I think I'm going to head home."
Lorelai nods, "I'll come with."
"No, finish your coffee, I need some quiet time."
"Ok." Lorelai replies hugging Rory.
Rory exits the diner.
*Outside: Rory stops at the bench in front of town hall. Daintily she slips off her shoes and begins to walk again.
"So you're the one keeping my son sane in this place?" A voice from behind says.
A fear stricken Rory turns around coming face to face with Jess' father.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you....and I wasn't following you, see I'm not to welcome there at Luke's on two accounts so I left and I've been walking around aimlessly for the last 30 minutes........nice town."
Rory nods mechanically.
"Small, now I see why Jess left.......Mariano's never do well in captivity, it's the big city or bust for us."
"You knew about him leaving?" Rory asks unable to stop herself.
Jess' father laughs, "Yeah, left cause he broke some girl......" He smirks, "Came back to see her too if I'm correct."
Rory nods, "How'd you know about that?"
"Just because I've been a deadbeat dad for 19 years doesn't mean I didn't keep tabs on my kid......I have friends in the city, one of Jess' teacher's was a frind of mine from college."
"Y-you went to college?"
"Freshman and sophomore year."
"Wow."
"Of course then I met Liz and well school work went down the drain after that."
Rory stands awkwardly staring at her feet.
"I loved her once, but we were so young she was 19 when I met her.......I didn't even know about Jess until after we broke up, stayed around until he was born but I, I just couldn't handle it.......Liz and I weren't the same people we were 2 years ago, and I wasn't responsible enough to be a father.......God I can't believe I'm telling you all this stuff."
"It's sad."
"I know."
"No, it's sad because here it's been 5 minutes and I know more about you than your own son does." Rory says coldly.
"He doesn't want to here it."
"He says he doesn't' but he's lying."
"Y-you think he wants to talk to me?"
Rory shakes her head, "I'm not completely sure, but part of you is in him and I think he wants to understand why he is the way he is........and you can help him."
"Well how about that, Jess found himself a nice girl........Luke must be doing something right.....the Jess I know would have walked all over a girl like you."
"The jess you knew never existed, he was always the way he is now.......you just never stuck around long enough to realize that." Rory replies turning on her heals.
"What's your name?" Jess father asks.
Rory turns her head, "Rory Gilmore, yours?"
"Robert, Robert Anthony Mariano."
Rory nods.
"It was nice talking to you Rory Gilmore......I hope to see you again some day."
"Are you leaving?"
"Just for the night, I rented a room at this little inn at the end of town, you know it?"
Rory smiles, "My mom manages it."
"The lady at the counter making Luke blush?"
Rory smiles, "Yeah."
"Man those two have good taste, well I'm sure you have somewhere to be, Goodnight Rory."
"Goodnight Mr. Mariano."
Robert turns towards the inn.
"Hey." Rory calls to him.
"Yeah?"
"Don't leave without saying goodbye to him."
"I won't."
*four days later: Rory steps off the bus after completing her very last day at Chilton
Lorelai is waiting at the bus stop.
"You made it out of Hell alive!"
"I did!" Rory exclaims hugging her mother.
"Come on let's go home and burn this thing." Lorelai says tugging on Rory's uniform.
*10 minutes later: Rory' in her bedroom.
"Take your uniform off and then we're gong out to celebrate!" Lorelai calls.
"Ok. Be out in minute." Rory replies closing her door.
Rory makes her way over to the mirror, examining herself. Her eyes fixate on a picture taped to the mirror, it's of her and Jess, Miss Patty who claimed they were too cute not to capture on film took it over a month ago. A week later the picture had materialized onto the Gilmore's porch.
Rory sighs touching the picture with the back of her hand, she and Jess haven't spoken since the incident at the diner.
Rory's concentration is broken by a tap at the window.
Rory turns to see Jess' face peering into her bedroom.
Rory lifts open the window, "Hey."
"Shouldn't you be burning that by now?" Jess asks referring to her uniform.
Jess climbs inside with a bang.
"Nah.....I need to save it to prove I made it back alive."
Jess laughs.
Rory remains silent.
Jess looks at her timidly, "Look I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you the other night."
"It's ok, I understand."
"I just needed to be by myself."
"I know." Rory says quietly.
"Rory, you ok I heard a really big noise."
Rory goes to speak but is cut of.
"It's ok it's just me." Jess says.
Rory's bedroom door swings open, Lorelai appears in the doorway raising an eyebrow she says, "Hello Jess."
"Hi."
"Hey sweets why don't we put off celebrating for another night......" Lorelai says.
"No, I want to do it tonight." Rory replies.
"Well if you're sure........you're welcome to tag along if you'd lie Jess."
"Uh, sure if you don't mind."
"Ok. Well I'm going to go call Sookie, invite her along let's say we reconvene in 60."
Rory nods.
Lorelai walks away leaving the door open.
"See I told you she'd warm up to you." Rory says hopefully.
"She feels sorry for me ror, that's why she's being nice." Jess replies sitting down on Rory's bed.
"Well at least she's trying."
Jess touches Rory's hand, "I know."
"well I should get changed before we leave."
"Oh alright." Jess replies not turning around.
"Do you think you could go....."
Jess smirks, "Shy?"
"Just a little." Rory blushes
"I'll face the wall."
"Jess.." Rory pleads.
Jess smiles, "Ok."
Jess steps out into the hallway, Rory closes the door.
"Ok I'm done!" Rory yells.
Jess enters Rory's bedroom where Rory is dressed in a yellow sundress.
"Feel the need to dress up?" Jess smirks.
"Well who knows what my mom means by celebrating."
"Hopefully she means getting wasted."
Rory sends Jess a murderous glance.
"Alright I get it not funny."
Rory nods, falling silent again.
Jess clears his throat, "So I hear you've been having late night chats with strangers."
Rory looks up at him, bewildered, "you talked to him."
"To Robert? Yes."
"Oh Jess I hope you're not mad at me we kind of just started talking by accident...." Rory rambles.
Jess quiets her with a kiss, "It's ok." He whispers.
'S-so what happened?" Rory fumbles
Jess smiles at Rory's uneasiness.
"Well?" Rory say impatiently.
"He left on Monday."
"Oh."
"He had to be back for work this morning."
Rory nods.
"......but he's coming back for graduation on Saturday."
Rory looks up, "He is?"
"He asked if he could come, I said ok."
"What changed your mind?"
"Why do you ask questions that you already know the answer to?"
"Jess."
"As always my decision was made because of you......i sat down a listen to what the guy had to say because of you."
Rory smiles.
"He showed up at the diner as I was leaving for work, so we walked and talked, not before I got some choice words in first."
"Of course."
"So we talked and he told me about himself and asked me about my life and school and stuff."
"So you're ok?"
"Well no, I mean he's a total stranger I only remember seeing him a few times, his face is something out of an old photo album.......he's still a stranger."
"Oh."
"But I'm going to make an effort, he says he wants to get to know me, well I'll give him the benefit of the doubt but the second he goes to walk away that's it."
"I don't think he's going to walk away this time." Rory says, sitting on Jess' lap.
"Well we'll see."
Rory kisses Jess' cheek.
"He asked me to move in with him."
Rory pulls away, "What?"
"California, says it's a real nice town......"
"You're not going to go are you?"
"I don't know."
"What happened to him being a stranger?"
"Well he is and that's why I'm probably not going to go."
"Probably?"
"Well he did mention that he could get me into a pretty decent college out there....and you'll be going to Yale in the fall......"
"Jess."
Jess squeezes Rory tightly, "Rory I'm not going anyway, not for a while anyway.....I'm not stupid I'm not just going to agree to travel across the country to move in with someone who for all intensive purposes I just met this weekend."
Rory smiles faintly.
"Come on, I love you I'm not going to just runaway.......again."
"What?" Rory replies, taken back.
"I said I'm not going to runaway." Jess says suspiciously.
"No before that." Rory smiles at Jess.
Jess smirks, "Oh THAT." Jess smiles, "I love you." He says softly.
Rory wraps her arms around Jess, "I love you too."
Jess holds Rory by her wrists, "Are you sure?"
"What?"
"I mean didn't you tell me it took you over 6 months to tell Dean you loved him."
"That was different." Rory replies, "I didn't know what love was then......but now...."
Jess stops Rory from finishing, his lips crashing into hers.
Lorelai appears at the door, "Alright you rabbits......ready to go?"
Rory leaps off of Jess' lap, Jess wipes his mouth.
"Yeah we're ready." Rory replies.
Lorelai eyes Jess skeptically, "Alright I'll meet you two in the car in 5."
Rory nods, going to follow Lorelai towards the front door.
Jess pulls on her arm.
"Hey Ror?"
"Yeah?"
"Let's not worry about what's going to happen in the fall/.......let's just enjoy tonight."
Rory smiles at him, "Ok."
As Jess takes her hand in his Rory can't help but notice the gnawing feeling in her stomach, things are going to change........and not for the better.
A/n That's it for now I'm going to try and work on this again on Friday but no promises. Yay new episode tonight hooray!! I don't think Jess sis in this episode, sad....hopefully Dave will be though I heart him, sadly I think he'll be absent too though. Anyway have a good night enjoy the show hope you enjoyed this chapter read and review por favor.