Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls

Chapter 3: Time is something precious

Taya had noticed him ever since he started coming to class. Apart from his good looks she liked how he was so mysterious. He never talked to anyone. As soon as he got there he would sit down at his usual desk, open up his textbook and wait for the lesson to start. During class he sometimes made comments which seemed to amaze even the teacher. He surely was smart. Especially when it came to literature. He always had comment when they discussed a certain book. He was interesting. Dark and mysterious. Just the kind of guy Taya went for. She wasn't exactly the prettiest girl in the world, but she knew that men considered her good-looking and sexy. It must have been her lack of dates lately, because she decided to walk up to this mysterious guy in her GED class, who she knew was called Jess, to ask him out.

Jess didn't even notice her when she walked up to him. He had his head buried in one of the text books he had gotten to study from for his GED. He never really paid attention to the people around him. He was not interested in them. He was just here so that he could get his GED. Nothing more, nothing less. He didn't need to socialize with his fellow class takers. So he was quite surprised when he heard someone say his name.

"Jess?"

A blonde girl was standing in front of him, looking at him expectantly. He shrugged. Did he know her? Maybe an old acquaintance from when he still lived with Liz. But no, he couldn't recall her face.

Since Jess didn't reply Taya simply went on.

"Jess, that's your name, right? Hi I'm Taya"

"Hi, um yes, that's my name."

"Okay, well I was wondering whether maybe you'd be interested in getting some coffee after class. I noticed you are always here alone and so I thought-"

"Are you asking me out?" Jess asked her confused. He was stunned. He didn't even know the girl. In fact he couldn't even remember seeing her in class. He never bothered.

Why did she come up to him then? Had he a sign on his forehead that said 'Ask me out'? Probably not. At least he hadn't notice.

"Well, yeah" Taya responded somewhat uncertain of how to read his answer "yeah, I would like to ask you out. What do you think?"

In the meantime Jess had been able to overcome his initial surprise and tried to come up with an answer. This girl was somewhat pretty and from what he could see she had wits. Had he met her a year ago, he probably would have gone for that date, but not now. No, he didn't want to date. He didn't need to date. He loved Rory. He didn't want to go out with another one. He just somehow had to explain Taya.

"Well, I have to admit I am flattered, but um, I can't go on a date with you."

"Oh, do you have a girlfriend?"

"Um, not but…"

"You're….gay?" Taya asked smirking. He didn't seem to be the gay type, if there ever was a gay type, but there were always surprises. She had always kind of sensed whether a guy was into girls or not. But she guessed, with this guy, there wasn't much to sense. You just couldn't read him. He was a total mystery, mostly because her didn't talk or converse with people.

"No, I am not gay" It was quite pathetic but Jess was very quick with his answer. Why did straight guys always have a problem when they were asked whether they were gay?

Taya eyed him curiously. She was not ready to give up yet. She wanted to know what this boy was about.

"Well, why can't you go out with me then?"

"Because…"  Jess didn't know how to explain. Actually he didn't want to explain. It was no one else's business. He should have just gone with the girlfriend thing. He wouldn't have to come up with some stupid excuse. Well, he could of course tell her she was not his type or tell her that he thought she was ugly. But that wasn't the truth. He couldn't be mean. Geez, Rory. What did you do to that smart-ass? Before he ever met you, he never minded hurting people, especially when he didn't know them.

"… I am just not up to dating."

"You like to be alone? Don't like to socialize?"

"Yeah, yeah something like that." Taya was still looking at him. Great, Jess thought to himself. She wanted more for an answer. "I am just too busy at the moment." The words didn't exactly come out fast.

"I am just too busy, you know…with all this GED stuff, and then there's work."

"Okay, so maybe not now, but maybe we could go celebrate once we passed our GEDs, what do you think?" No, Taya wouldn't let him off the hook. She was way to proud to take a rejection with so little an explanation.

"Um…actually." Funny, smart-ass Jess who had always had a quick smart-ass answer for anyone was now fumbling for words "um, no, sorry, but I don't think I am interested then either."

"So you don't like me?"

"Um, can't exactly say that, since I don't know you."

"So why not."

"I'm just not dating. That's why."

"You're not dating?"

"No I am not dating."

"Why?" Okay, this was going way too far. He was getting annoyed with her. He didn't like to be pressured, and more importantly, he did not want to talk about Rory. Thinking of her was hard enough, but explaining to a complete stranger how he had found the love of his life, had lost her by own fault and was now trying to change for her, even if he never saw her again, was impossible to do. He would always love Rory. He could never date another.

"I just don't date" Jess snapped at her. "I am not interested".

Taya immediately took a step back, surprised and even a bit scared by his outburst. When Jess sensed that he immediately felt sorry. This girl was just trying to be nice.

"Look, I am sorry, but please take no for an answer."

Taya simply nodded and turned around to take her seat in her usual desk. The class was about to start and she didn't want to dig further. In a few days she would have already forgotten this little episode. It wasn't that important to her.

However, it was important to Jess. Although he didn't want to date her, he realized that he had not spoken to a single person about personal stuff since his last talk with Rory. He hadn't even leisurely chatted with anyone in the store for example. All he ever talked to people about was stuff about his GED and things that concerned his work. Whenever a costumer tried to make conversation while he was checking him out at the music store, Jess would always just respond with a "hmm" or something like that and ultimately people would give up.

That wasn't right, was it? I mean, he was trying to get himself a new life. He made an effort to change. Himself and his way of life. He couldn't just brood all by himself. He would have to make some friends. Jess sighed at this thought. He never had many friends and he would never become the favourite boy on the block. However, he had some social contacts before, and he would have to start socializing again some time in the future. Jess sighed again. This chain of thoughts was keeping him from paying attention in class. They were discussing Jane Austen. Oh well, he might just as well keep on brooding, not much to miss there.

Yes, Jess would have to go back to lead a somewhat normal life again sometime. He would start acting normal around people, eventually. He just needed time. Right now, he wasn't able to do it, but eventually, some time in the future, he would go back to socializing. All he needed was time, all he needed was time…

A.N.: Okay, chapter three is up. Let me know what you guys think. You probably noticed I changed the format. I was thinking about changing it in the second chapter already, but I wasn't sure. I might still do it, if I feel like it.  I might still go back to the old format, depending on how the chapter turn out. I guess I like using it to express Jess's brooding. Smile1, thanks a lot for your reviews, I hope you keep on reading!