*3 Hours later: Rory is standing outside the New York Bus station hailing a
cab. Her heart is beating fast, her mind reeling. Questions clutter her
mind, visions of Jess arriving home taking one look at her and splitting
haunt her.
"Hey Lady you getting in?" A cranky cabby asks.
Rory is pulled back to reality, "Yes, thank you." Rory says sheepishly.
"Where to?"
"248 Charles Street."
"Shoulda known.....all you upscale artsy chicks head up there," The cabby comments.
"We do?"
"Oh yeah....place is crawling yuppy scum."
"I didn't know that." Rory says fidgeting uncomfortably.
"Sure, I bet your guy's got an $80 hair cut, a bmw and wears a polo shirt," The cabby barks at Rory.
Rory giggles at the thought of Jess as a yuppy.
"What's so funny, blue eyes?"
Rory avoids looking at the cabby, ignoring his dark eyes staring her down.
"Nothing."
*5 minute later
"Well, hear ya go, 248 Charles Street." The cabby says gruffly.
Rory stares out the window at the large brick building to her left.
"Wow." She breathes.
"That'll be $12.25."
"Excuse me?"
"What? I gave you the 5% discount cause you got a pretty face."
Rory gives the man a stern look as she pulls 3 bills out of her wallet and hands them to the man.
He chuckles at her as she stumbles out of the car and onto the sidewalk. Even before she can close the door he speeds away down the street. Rory gives the cab a backward glance and then turns her attention to the building in front of her. It's huge with large bay windows on the first floor there is even a door man standing outside.
"Can I help you ma'am?" The plump elderly doorman asks.
"Um, yes please." She says quietly. The man nods expectantly at her, "Oh, uh 248."
"Right I'll just ring you in, who should I say is visiting?" The man raises an eyebrow at her.
"Oh, uh actually do you think I could speak with the hom-apartment owner, when you reach him that is." Rory says nervously.
"Sure," The man answer pressing a button on intercom.
"Yeah?" A groggy voice answers.
"Mr. Greer."
"Marty."
"There's a lady here to see you."
"Are you sure? For me?"
"Yes sir, she said 248 and she asked to speak with you."
"Alright..."
Marty motions for Rory to speak into the intercom.
"H-hello." She quivers.
"Hi." Matt answers annoyed. "So what do you want?"
"I'm actually looking to speak wi-
"Jess?"
"Y-yeah."
There is no reply from matt except for a loud buzzing noise.
"That's the buzzer ma'am he's buzzed you in." Marty states.
"Thank You."
"2nd floor, 4th door to the right of the escalators." He calls to her.
*248
Matt is already waiting in the doorway when Rory approaches the door.
"I knew you'd come."
"You know who I am?" Rory asks taken back.
"Don't act so surprised."
"I'm sorry, I just didn't think Jess talked about me that much."
"Look is there something you want, because he aint here."
"I know he's not...........I was hoping to come in and wait for him though."
"No way!" Matt exclaims closing the door on Rory.
Rory knocks on the door, "Please, I really need to talk to him."
"Well then come back when he's here 'cause I won't do that to my best friend, he's been through too much this week the last thing he needs to deal with is you."
Growing angry with Matt Rory exclaims, "Like you'd know anything about it."
Matt opens the door a crack and poked his head out, "I know enough about him to say that'd he'd never do any of the crap you blamed him for, and I know enough about the two of you to say that your relationship was screwed up way before last weekend and I know enough about you to say that you're a jerk for treating Jess like that."
Rory struggles for words as Matt slams the door again.
Rory sighs; giving up she heaves her self to the floor and begins to cry.
*10 minutes later. The door to Matt's apartment creaks open, Rory doesn't look up, her face is buried in her hands, her body coiled tightly against the wall. Matt peers out of the door at her and sighs heavily. He opens the door and exits, taking a seat next to Rory.
"So why'd you do it.....you know if cared so much about him?" Matt asks assertively.
"Scared I guess." Rory sniffles, wiping her face with her hands.
Matt pulls a hanky out of his pocket, "Here."
"Thank you." She says quietly, "I didn't think anybody carried these around anymore."
"They don't" Matt says bluntly. "So continue, you were scared....of what?"
"Everything, God I don't maybe of things not working out."
"And that's why you went psycho on Jess?" Matt raises an eyebrow at Rory.
"I wasn't thinking straight." Rory says despairingly.
"Alcohol will that to a girl."
"I wasn't drunk." Rory says effortlessly.
"But Jess said-
"Jess didn't know."
"Oh." Matt replies looking down at his shoes.
Rory sighs, "And I guess maybe that's why I got so upset with him, I mean I was so disgusted at myself for doing what I did and lying to Jess like that but then this little voice in the back of my head kept saying "The only reason he slept with you was because you were drunk." And then when I looked him in the eye that morning the voice in my head kept getting louder and louder........" Rory trails off.
"He wouldn't do something like that." Matt says bitterly.
"I know." Rory says quietly, nodding, "You know he tried to explain and I wouldn't listen."
"You were angry, upset." Matt says suddenly sympathetic.
Rory glances at him, "What changed you're tune o' door slammer?" Rory raises an eyebrow at him.
"He was right you know, he always said Give Rory Gilmore ten minutes and she can change your perspective on everything......even the 'Fountain Head'.
"H-he told you about that?"
"Who do you think explain the first 20 pages to him?"
"So you guys have been friends for a while?"
"Since we were 5, some kid took my lunch money.....Jess knocked him and got it back for me.....with a $.50 commission of course, and we've been friends ever since."
"Wow. So why hasn't he ever mentioned you?" Rory asks bluntly.
"We have an understanding, he comes and visits me a few times a year, he doesn't mention me to anybody causing him to miss me and cry all over himself." Matt smirks at Rory.
"That thing is contagious isn't it.?" Rory asks referring to Matt's smirk.
"I believe he will one day corrupt the world with it." Matt replies grinning.
Rory's eyes go soft at the thought of Jess' smirk, "He wouldn't even talk to me."
"What do you mean?"
"He came to Stars Hollow today, I saw him I called to him and he wanted nothing to do with me."
"I think he's a little mad at himself.....and at you, but mostly I think he's trying to stay away from you, you know so he doesn't "hurt" you again."
"If he wants to stay away, than why did he come to Stars Hollow?"
"Dunno, maybe he wanted one more look at you."
Rory runs her fingers through her hair, "He started smoking again."
"Yeah..." Matt trails off, knowing that he started Jess' addiction. He stands up, "So, if you're going to be sticking around, I guess you'll want some coffee."
"How'd you know?" Rory smirks.
"Just a hunch." Matt replies shuffling into the apartment, Rory following behind him.
"Hey Lady you getting in?" A cranky cabby asks.
Rory is pulled back to reality, "Yes, thank you." Rory says sheepishly.
"Where to?"
"248 Charles Street."
"Shoulda known.....all you upscale artsy chicks head up there," The cabby comments.
"We do?"
"Oh yeah....place is crawling yuppy scum."
"I didn't know that." Rory says fidgeting uncomfortably.
"Sure, I bet your guy's got an $80 hair cut, a bmw and wears a polo shirt," The cabby barks at Rory.
Rory giggles at the thought of Jess as a yuppy.
"What's so funny, blue eyes?"
Rory avoids looking at the cabby, ignoring his dark eyes staring her down.
"Nothing."
*5 minute later
"Well, hear ya go, 248 Charles Street." The cabby says gruffly.
Rory stares out the window at the large brick building to her left.
"Wow." She breathes.
"That'll be $12.25."
"Excuse me?"
"What? I gave you the 5% discount cause you got a pretty face."
Rory gives the man a stern look as she pulls 3 bills out of her wallet and hands them to the man.
He chuckles at her as she stumbles out of the car and onto the sidewalk. Even before she can close the door he speeds away down the street. Rory gives the cab a backward glance and then turns her attention to the building in front of her. It's huge with large bay windows on the first floor there is even a door man standing outside.
"Can I help you ma'am?" The plump elderly doorman asks.
"Um, yes please." She says quietly. The man nods expectantly at her, "Oh, uh 248."
"Right I'll just ring you in, who should I say is visiting?" The man raises an eyebrow at her.
"Oh, uh actually do you think I could speak with the hom-apartment owner, when you reach him that is." Rory says nervously.
"Sure," The man answer pressing a button on intercom.
"Yeah?" A groggy voice answers.
"Mr. Greer."
"Marty."
"There's a lady here to see you."
"Are you sure? For me?"
"Yes sir, she said 248 and she asked to speak with you."
"Alright..."
Marty motions for Rory to speak into the intercom.
"H-hello." She quivers.
"Hi." Matt answers annoyed. "So what do you want?"
"I'm actually looking to speak wi-
"Jess?"
"Y-yeah."
There is no reply from matt except for a loud buzzing noise.
"That's the buzzer ma'am he's buzzed you in." Marty states.
"Thank You."
"2nd floor, 4th door to the right of the escalators." He calls to her.
*248
Matt is already waiting in the doorway when Rory approaches the door.
"I knew you'd come."
"You know who I am?" Rory asks taken back.
"Don't act so surprised."
"I'm sorry, I just didn't think Jess talked about me that much."
"Look is there something you want, because he aint here."
"I know he's not...........I was hoping to come in and wait for him though."
"No way!" Matt exclaims closing the door on Rory.
Rory knocks on the door, "Please, I really need to talk to him."
"Well then come back when he's here 'cause I won't do that to my best friend, he's been through too much this week the last thing he needs to deal with is you."
Growing angry with Matt Rory exclaims, "Like you'd know anything about it."
Matt opens the door a crack and poked his head out, "I know enough about him to say that'd he'd never do any of the crap you blamed him for, and I know enough about the two of you to say that your relationship was screwed up way before last weekend and I know enough about you to say that you're a jerk for treating Jess like that."
Rory struggles for words as Matt slams the door again.
Rory sighs; giving up she heaves her self to the floor and begins to cry.
*10 minutes later. The door to Matt's apartment creaks open, Rory doesn't look up, her face is buried in her hands, her body coiled tightly against the wall. Matt peers out of the door at her and sighs heavily. He opens the door and exits, taking a seat next to Rory.
"So why'd you do it.....you know if cared so much about him?" Matt asks assertively.
"Scared I guess." Rory sniffles, wiping her face with her hands.
Matt pulls a hanky out of his pocket, "Here."
"Thank you." She says quietly, "I didn't think anybody carried these around anymore."
"They don't" Matt says bluntly. "So continue, you were scared....of what?"
"Everything, God I don't maybe of things not working out."
"And that's why you went psycho on Jess?" Matt raises an eyebrow at Rory.
"I wasn't thinking straight." Rory says despairingly.
"Alcohol will that to a girl."
"I wasn't drunk." Rory says effortlessly.
"But Jess said-
"Jess didn't know."
"Oh." Matt replies looking down at his shoes.
Rory sighs, "And I guess maybe that's why I got so upset with him, I mean I was so disgusted at myself for doing what I did and lying to Jess like that but then this little voice in the back of my head kept saying "The only reason he slept with you was because you were drunk." And then when I looked him in the eye that morning the voice in my head kept getting louder and louder........" Rory trails off.
"He wouldn't do something like that." Matt says bitterly.
"I know." Rory says quietly, nodding, "You know he tried to explain and I wouldn't listen."
"You were angry, upset." Matt says suddenly sympathetic.
Rory glances at him, "What changed you're tune o' door slammer?" Rory raises an eyebrow at him.
"He was right you know, he always said Give Rory Gilmore ten minutes and she can change your perspective on everything......even the 'Fountain Head'.
"H-he told you about that?"
"Who do you think explain the first 20 pages to him?"
"So you guys have been friends for a while?"
"Since we were 5, some kid took my lunch money.....Jess knocked him and got it back for me.....with a $.50 commission of course, and we've been friends ever since."
"Wow. So why hasn't he ever mentioned you?" Rory asks bluntly.
"We have an understanding, he comes and visits me a few times a year, he doesn't mention me to anybody causing him to miss me and cry all over himself." Matt smirks at Rory.
"That thing is contagious isn't it.?" Rory asks referring to Matt's smirk.
"I believe he will one day corrupt the world with it." Matt replies grinning.
Rory's eyes go soft at the thought of Jess' smirk, "He wouldn't even talk to me."
"What do you mean?"
"He came to Stars Hollow today, I saw him I called to him and he wanted nothing to do with me."
"I think he's a little mad at himself.....and at you, but mostly I think he's trying to stay away from you, you know so he doesn't "hurt" you again."
"If he wants to stay away, than why did he come to Stars Hollow?"
"Dunno, maybe he wanted one more look at you."
Rory runs her fingers through her hair, "He started smoking again."
"Yeah..." Matt trails off, knowing that he started Jess' addiction. He stands up, "So, if you're going to be sticking around, I guess you'll want some coffee."
"How'd you know?" Rory smirks.
"Just a hunch." Matt replies shuffling into the apartment, Rory following behind him.