*Disclaimer: I don't own the series Gilmore Girls or the original
characters. All I own is my imagination and the plot.
*A/N: Hey!!! :-) I was having trouble with this chapter and ended up rewriting it more than once, so I hope this will do and I also hope that you like it.
*~*~*:-)*~*~*Bye, smile :-)
''The dark scares me..... Ever since I was a little girl I have been afraid of it. I was even more afraid of the night than I was off dark rooms. At night the darkness seemed so overpowering, because the entire world outside would be covered in its dark shadows. Up until this day, I still sleep with a night light.....''
*Flashback*
Rory was sitting on the bridge, her legs almost reaching the water, although her eyes had averted themselves from the dark pool as soon as she had sat down. This had caused her to miss the moon's reflection in it together with Jess's eyes as they studied the reproduction of her, that seemed to be lying on top of the water as it slightly faltered with every stray undulation. Rory kept her eyes fixed on her hands that lay clasped in her lap, but she couldn't help taking notice of the lurking shadows, that surrounded her, out of the corners of her eyes.
As the leaves rustled and the wood of the boards creaked underneath an invisible and ominous weight, Rory's heart started to beat just slightly faster and the feeling of panic didn't leave her mind when she thought about the childish innocence her belief held. She knew better than to believe in unseen threat and stories of apparitions that felt at home in this darkness. That was why she prefered summer, its days were longer, not giving the night a chance to capture her.
When the wind picked up in a long and eerie howl, she shivered and inched closer to the person beside her, who she had followed over to this place that was hidden behind the branches of trees and the leaves that decorated them. He would be able to turn night into days and nightmares into daydreams when he talked to her. It was a safe feeling, a feeling of recklessness and love on a certain level. A feeling he could take just as easily as he could give it with a blank expression or a few careless words. He has the power to purposely hurt you and shut you out if you asked too many questions. Rory had learned when was the appropriate time to ask and when not.
A smile appeared on her face as she felt Jess slide a free arm around her waist. This was one of those moments when she didn't have a single doubt about him in her mind. She knew that he was paying attention to her, although his eyes remained fixed on the pages in front of him, which were rustling freely in the wind.
She turned her head and hide her face in the nape of his neck. Her warm and familiar breath grazed against Jess's skin, making it hard for him to concentrate on the words that were slowly blurring as he felt Rory's fingers grasp at the hem of his shirt, causing for his hands to shake every time she slipped a little lower.
''Jess, are you almost done reading ?'' came her childish question, although the affect her soft whisper was having on him was anything but innocent.
His thoughts wandered to forbidden places as he fought to keep his expression normal. ''Why ?''
''Cause I wanna go home.''
''You followed me here,'' Jess pointed out, his voice just above a whisper, as he lowered his eyes to her fingers.
''I don't wanna walk home alone,'' was her pure remark, although Jess's interpretation was making his blood boil with infatuation.
''I don't like the dark,'' Rory clarified.
''Then why come here in the first place ?'' Jess asked, bringing his eyes up to look at her.
She lifted her head from his shoulder and met his eyes, not intimidated by the darkness in them, simply because she trusted him and had accepted the fact that he had secrets he didn't want to share and a past he wasn't proud of. Rory reached for his face and lowered her eyes to his lips as she traced the line of his jaw with her index finger.
''Because you were here.''
Jess followed her eyes as they traced her finger, fascinated by her concentration and careful touch, like she was afraid to hurt him.
''What are you doing ?'' he asked, his voice sounding a little rougher than usual, because of his rapid breaths.
''Trying to find an imperfection,'' Rory answered simply.
She wanted to lower her hand, but Jess grabbed it before it could drop and pulled her closer, pulling her lips onto his. He could hear Rory gasp right before their lips met. He immediately parted his so Rory's tongue would be tempted to enter. As their tongues continued to reach for each other, Jess playfully tugged at the strands of hair that were sprawled out on her back. Meanwhile Rory had one hand placed at the back of his neck, holding on to their kiss as long as she could, while her other was resting on his chest, before it started to slid down his torso. But he caught her hand before it would end up too low and broke the kiss.
''Rory,'' he half whispered and half moaned.
''I'm sorry, I didn't mean to,'' she apologized, as she lowered her eyes to where Jess was gripping her hand.
A blush revealed itself to Jess's studying gaze. ''I'll walk you home.''
Rory embarrassingly nodded and nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Jess helped her up, not missing how uncomfortable she was with the entire situation. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close until their sides were firmly touching.
''You did nothing wrong.''
Rory smiled, although he only caught a glimpse before she buried her face in his neck again, silently torturing him and hiding from the night at the same time.
*End of Flashback*
A wistful look softened Jess's expression as he relived this random memory. A memory brought upon him by the small article he still had his eyes fixed on. He had had these flashes of his past taunting him during the day, when he couldn't get too lost in his nightly fantasies that would make him lose his hold on his concentration, just like he had done when Rory had intruded in his closeness during his reverie. It had been vivid enough to make him shiver, as if he could actually feel her breath upon his skin, and it had been real enough to make him feel a sensation, that seemed forbidden during this time of the day, when he remembered the eager touch of her fingers.
Jess's spiral of thoughts came tumbling down when Taylor's voice forced his feet back onto the ground, although they were never planted firmly enough.
''That costs money, you know ?!''
''Huh, and here I thought those small number were just for decoration,'' Jess said, without really thinking about his response.
''Well, they're certainly not,'' Taylor started. ''They're there for a purpose, one that everyone seems to get except............''
''Geez, Taylor, take a tranquilizer or something, I'm sure you sell those too,'' Jess said, as he handed Taylor the money for the paper, 'Tick of Time', in exact change.
He nodded at Taylor before turning around and heading back to the diner, where he still worked, even though he had taken some night classes and earned a degree in politics and a certification of excellence in creative writing. He had never thought that he would end up studying politics, although he did have an interest in it. One that he had developed throughout the years and had decided to put to a good use. Creative writing was another story. He had enjoyed writing ever since he was a little boy. He would escape the harshness of his reality by creating a new setting for his childhood and spin an imaginative tale around it. But for some reason he hadn't managed to pack up his things and leave, ever since he moved back a few years ago. Partly because he had spend all the money he had saved on courses and night classes at a local college and another part of him didn't want to leave Stars Hollow, because he had eventually found a home here, and he was afraid of getting homesick if he left.
Jess smirked at the thought as he entered the diner. He smelled Lorelai's blackest of black coffee before even reaching the counter, which only lead to another obsessive memory. Jess passed both his uncle and Lorelai, planning on going upstairs so he could go through the paper he had just bought. He was so wrapped up in his longing, which he was trying to desperately deny, that he didn't notice the lack of conversation between Luke and the usual chipper Lorelai. But before he could slip through the curtains that separated the apartment from the rest of the diner, Luke's watchful gaze caught his actions.
''Where do you think you're going ?''
''Guess,'' was Jess's response, as he pushed the curtain aside and made an attempt to leave, but Luke stopped him by throwing a pen at him.
''You're shift just started.''
Luke gave him a pointed look, before disappearing into the kitchen. Jess rolled his eyes as he stuffed the rolled up newspaper in his back pocket, a movement Lorelai didn't miss. Jess grabbed one of the yellow notepads that always seemed to be lying around and started to go around the counter, but Lorelai reached for his arm as he passed. Jess abruptly stopped and moved his eyes from Lorelai's face to his arm and back again, letting her know that he didn't appreciate the fact that she was touching him. Lorelai noticed his discomfort and let go of his arm, meeting his eyes in the process as if to silently apologize. During her concern she had forgotten for a few seconds that they weren't that close.
''I know this is none of my business, but have you spoken to Rory lately ?''
Jess shook his head. ''No, why ?''
Lorelai shrugged. ''Don't know.''
''Hasn't she called you ?'' Jess carefully asked.
Lorelai nodded, before a small smile took over her features, straightening the small lines in her forehead. ''Practically every day. She just hasn't visited for a while.''
''She's probably busy with her job and in the process of adjusting to married life,'' Jess said, trying to give some sort of comfort to her.
''Yeah, that's probably it.'' Lorelai nodded and lowered her eyes to her coffee for a few stray seconds, before raising them to Jess's face again. ''Things between you are......?''
Jess shrugged, trying to remain unaffected by the sad reality of Lorelai's earlier words, she hadn't visited in a while. ''She has Joey by her side day and night, so........'' The harshness of his words was meant to hide the sadness and disappointed from Lorelai's observant eyes.
Lorelai felt sorry for Jess. It must have been hard for him to let go of Rory completely. To forget about her for her sake, although Lorelai could only guess how hung up they both still were on each other. She knew that her daughter had found her perfect match, but perfection could end up being boring and Lorelai also knew that the chemistry between Jess and Rory had never completely faded. Sparks were still there and now that Rory was officially married, she had fallen out of Jess's reach. And Lorelai felt sorry for Jess, but she was also scared, scared of the fact that Rory seemed to be detaching herself from everything that might threaten her perfect life and relationship with Joey. Lorelai wondered if Rory had told Joey about Jess and their rocky, but memorable past. He was the reason why Rory felt threatened, threatened by the first flaw that could invade her life and possibly ruin it if she let it.
Jess was thinking the same thing as he made his way over to a table. He knew that Rory had made herself a stranger to this town, because of him and his unavoidable presence, one she would be forced to face if she would visit. But he also understood that he had partly brought this on himself when he asked her for some space. Space he had desperately needed after seeing Joey slide a ring around her finger and seeing how happy they were together. Unlike Lorelai, he didn't know if it was all a facade, but he had seen Rory's reaction when he said that, and she never spilled a single tear over something that she had already cried over.
*~*~*
Rory sat behind her desk, staring at the several paragraphs that decorated her computer screen. She had just read her article for the third time and she still wasn't satisfied with the result, yet she couldn't find anything that needed changing in her eyes. She sighed and opened up another file. This was tomorrow's confession, one she had to get out in the open as soon as she could, because she wanted to know what other people would think about it. She was so desperate that she had called the newsroom this morning, while Joey was in the kitchen preparing breakfast, so she could make a minor change to today's issue. She had almost ordered them to announce this topic in her confession column instead of the one they had planned on only a few days ago.
Rory felt a little guilty about not telling Joey about what she had written down last night and the memories that lay behind it, but she had to express her feelings. And people who didn't know her wouldn't be able to judge her, because they didn't know about Jess and the detailed history they had had together.
She knew that there were still some lingering feelings there by the way she had savored the kisses he had giving her on her wedding day, when no one was around to see. His kisses were always sensual, because of the slow movements of his lips and the time he took to place them. Rory couldn't deny not still being fascinated by him, by his clear presence although he didn't say a lot and by his skillful way of moving. She got distracted from her thoughts by the familiar figure that had entered her office and was standing in the door frame.
''Joey, what are you doing here ?'' she asked, trying to sound pleased instead of surprised by his sudden appearance.
''I thought I would pick you up and take you to dinner, unless you're too busy.''
Rory smiled. ''Are you kidding ? Let me just get my jacket.''
She got up and walked over to him, placing a quick kiss on his cheek before leaving her office to get her jacket.
Joey took his opportunity to walk over to her desk and sit down. He was always interested in how she would build up her articles and how she would make every single own come out as inviting and enjoyable to read. But as his eyes landed on the small paragraph in front of him, he knew that there was another truth hiding underneath this one. He quickly read the article, just like he did last night, only this time he couldn't help but become suspicious and read something in to it.
*~*~*
''So,'' Joey started, as he looked up from his plate. ''I have been wondering about something for a while now. What was that name of the guy at your wedding again ?''
''What ?'' Rory asked, trying to sound as casual as she could, while her mind was already stirring up a variety of emotions.
''That guy, I know you introduced me to him, but I forgot his name and I was just trying to remember it.''
''Why ?'' Rory asked, as she lowered her eyes and took another bite of her food.
''You know me, I'll just keep thinking about it until I finally do remember, but it's kinda distracting, so I was hoping you could help me.''
Rory shrugged. ''It's just a name.''
''I know,'' Joey said. ''But I assume he's a friend of yours and it would be kind of rude for me not to remember his name.''
''We're not friends,'' Rory declared.
''Well, you invited him to our wedding, so............''
''Jess and I used to be friends,'' Rory interrupted, hoping that Joey would stop asking questions now that he got what he wanted, something he was good at.
''So, he's a non friend from your past ?'' Joey asked, raising an eyebrow.
''Uhm, yeah, something like that.''
Joey watched Rory's nervous movements as they tugged at her hair and knew that she wasn't telling him the entire story. ''Rory, is this subject making you uncomfortable ?''
''No, no, I'm just surprised,'' Rory answered. She lowered her hands back to the table when she realized that she had been giving herself away all this time, although Joey had never managed to read her as well ass Jess. ''So many of my friends were at the wedding, so why remember him out of......them all ?''
Joey shrugged. ''Most of your friends have been out to dinner with us or something like that and he hasn't, Jess hasn't, I mean.''
''He isn't exactly a people person,'' Rory explained. ''Why the sudden interest anyway ?''
''Just curious, that's all,'' Joey answered, although he was positive that at least part of her answer had been a lie. It would have explained why she went and followed Jess when he had left the party without telling anyone, but it didn't explain the redness in Rory's eyes when she had joined him again. Normally he didn't have trouble believing her, but right now he was doubting her answer. And for the first time he realized that her confessions held more truth to them than he felt comfortable with.
*~*~*
Rory waited until she heard the shower run, before grabbing the phone and sitting down on the bed. Her fingers automatically found the right numbers and before she knew it she came in contact with a voice she had missed and had only heard in her dreams lately.
''Luke's diner, if you want fries we've got it,'' Jess said mockingly, as he answered the phone, rolling his eyes at Luke who was glaring at him.
''Jess, it's me.''
''Rory ?''
''Yeah, uhm, how are you ?''
''I still have both arms and legs,'' came his answer, which made Rory smile. ''You ?''
''Okay, I guess.''
''Don't tell me there's trouble in paradise already,'' Jess joked, although he was completely serious.
''No, I........ maybe, I'm sorry I called.''
''Why ?''
''Because you made it perfectly clear that you wanted some space and now I'm calling you............''
''Why are you calling ?'' Jess interrupted.
''Well, we haven't spoken for a while and.......'' Rory sighed. ''People here don't read.''
Jess softly chuckled at her answer. ''Glad to know I can still be of service.''
Rory was just about to respond when the bathroom door opened and Joey came out, dressed in a pair of sweats only.
''I'm sorry, I have to go.''
Before Jess could tell her goodbye she hung up.
''Who was that ?''
''My mom,'' Rory lied.
Joey nodded. ''So, the bathroom's all yours now.''
Rory smiled and got up. ''Thanks.''
They shared a brief kiss, before she entered the bathroom and locked the door behind her, something she did often, although they were married and had seen each other naked before. Joey walked over to the phone and pressed the redial button without thinking about it. After two rings someone finally answered.
''Luke's diner...............''
Joey hung up and let out a silent groan as a look of disapproval took over his features. He had just found the evidence of her messily told lie, one that she wasn't covering up thoroughly enough.
R*E*V*I*E*W*! Please ? :-) Well, my opinions on this chapter........could have been better, but then again it can always be better. I hope Joey's suspicioun and Rory's doubts came across. Anyway, lemme know and I'm really thankful for the reviews I got on the last chapter. You guys have been very kind so far. Thanks :-)
*A/N: Hey!!! :-) I was having trouble with this chapter and ended up rewriting it more than once, so I hope this will do and I also hope that you like it.
*~*~*:-)*~*~*Bye, smile :-)
''The dark scares me..... Ever since I was a little girl I have been afraid of it. I was even more afraid of the night than I was off dark rooms. At night the darkness seemed so overpowering, because the entire world outside would be covered in its dark shadows. Up until this day, I still sleep with a night light.....''
*Flashback*
Rory was sitting on the bridge, her legs almost reaching the water, although her eyes had averted themselves from the dark pool as soon as she had sat down. This had caused her to miss the moon's reflection in it together with Jess's eyes as they studied the reproduction of her, that seemed to be lying on top of the water as it slightly faltered with every stray undulation. Rory kept her eyes fixed on her hands that lay clasped in her lap, but she couldn't help taking notice of the lurking shadows, that surrounded her, out of the corners of her eyes.
As the leaves rustled and the wood of the boards creaked underneath an invisible and ominous weight, Rory's heart started to beat just slightly faster and the feeling of panic didn't leave her mind when she thought about the childish innocence her belief held. She knew better than to believe in unseen threat and stories of apparitions that felt at home in this darkness. That was why she prefered summer, its days were longer, not giving the night a chance to capture her.
When the wind picked up in a long and eerie howl, she shivered and inched closer to the person beside her, who she had followed over to this place that was hidden behind the branches of trees and the leaves that decorated them. He would be able to turn night into days and nightmares into daydreams when he talked to her. It was a safe feeling, a feeling of recklessness and love on a certain level. A feeling he could take just as easily as he could give it with a blank expression or a few careless words. He has the power to purposely hurt you and shut you out if you asked too many questions. Rory had learned when was the appropriate time to ask and when not.
A smile appeared on her face as she felt Jess slide a free arm around her waist. This was one of those moments when she didn't have a single doubt about him in her mind. She knew that he was paying attention to her, although his eyes remained fixed on the pages in front of him, which were rustling freely in the wind.
She turned her head and hide her face in the nape of his neck. Her warm and familiar breath grazed against Jess's skin, making it hard for him to concentrate on the words that were slowly blurring as he felt Rory's fingers grasp at the hem of his shirt, causing for his hands to shake every time she slipped a little lower.
''Jess, are you almost done reading ?'' came her childish question, although the affect her soft whisper was having on him was anything but innocent.
His thoughts wandered to forbidden places as he fought to keep his expression normal. ''Why ?''
''Cause I wanna go home.''
''You followed me here,'' Jess pointed out, his voice just above a whisper, as he lowered his eyes to her fingers.
''I don't wanna walk home alone,'' was her pure remark, although Jess's interpretation was making his blood boil with infatuation.
''I don't like the dark,'' Rory clarified.
''Then why come here in the first place ?'' Jess asked, bringing his eyes up to look at her.
She lifted her head from his shoulder and met his eyes, not intimidated by the darkness in them, simply because she trusted him and had accepted the fact that he had secrets he didn't want to share and a past he wasn't proud of. Rory reached for his face and lowered her eyes to his lips as she traced the line of his jaw with her index finger.
''Because you were here.''
Jess followed her eyes as they traced her finger, fascinated by her concentration and careful touch, like she was afraid to hurt him.
''What are you doing ?'' he asked, his voice sounding a little rougher than usual, because of his rapid breaths.
''Trying to find an imperfection,'' Rory answered simply.
She wanted to lower her hand, but Jess grabbed it before it could drop and pulled her closer, pulling her lips onto his. He could hear Rory gasp right before their lips met. He immediately parted his so Rory's tongue would be tempted to enter. As their tongues continued to reach for each other, Jess playfully tugged at the strands of hair that were sprawled out on her back. Meanwhile Rory had one hand placed at the back of his neck, holding on to their kiss as long as she could, while her other was resting on his chest, before it started to slid down his torso. But he caught her hand before it would end up too low and broke the kiss.
''Rory,'' he half whispered and half moaned.
''I'm sorry, I didn't mean to,'' she apologized, as she lowered her eyes to where Jess was gripping her hand.
A blush revealed itself to Jess's studying gaze. ''I'll walk you home.''
Rory embarrassingly nodded and nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Jess helped her up, not missing how uncomfortable she was with the entire situation. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close until their sides were firmly touching.
''You did nothing wrong.''
Rory smiled, although he only caught a glimpse before she buried her face in his neck again, silently torturing him and hiding from the night at the same time.
*End of Flashback*
A wistful look softened Jess's expression as he relived this random memory. A memory brought upon him by the small article he still had his eyes fixed on. He had had these flashes of his past taunting him during the day, when he couldn't get too lost in his nightly fantasies that would make him lose his hold on his concentration, just like he had done when Rory had intruded in his closeness during his reverie. It had been vivid enough to make him shiver, as if he could actually feel her breath upon his skin, and it had been real enough to make him feel a sensation, that seemed forbidden during this time of the day, when he remembered the eager touch of her fingers.
Jess's spiral of thoughts came tumbling down when Taylor's voice forced his feet back onto the ground, although they were never planted firmly enough.
''That costs money, you know ?!''
''Huh, and here I thought those small number were just for decoration,'' Jess said, without really thinking about his response.
''Well, they're certainly not,'' Taylor started. ''They're there for a purpose, one that everyone seems to get except............''
''Geez, Taylor, take a tranquilizer or something, I'm sure you sell those too,'' Jess said, as he handed Taylor the money for the paper, 'Tick of Time', in exact change.
He nodded at Taylor before turning around and heading back to the diner, where he still worked, even though he had taken some night classes and earned a degree in politics and a certification of excellence in creative writing. He had never thought that he would end up studying politics, although he did have an interest in it. One that he had developed throughout the years and had decided to put to a good use. Creative writing was another story. He had enjoyed writing ever since he was a little boy. He would escape the harshness of his reality by creating a new setting for his childhood and spin an imaginative tale around it. But for some reason he hadn't managed to pack up his things and leave, ever since he moved back a few years ago. Partly because he had spend all the money he had saved on courses and night classes at a local college and another part of him didn't want to leave Stars Hollow, because he had eventually found a home here, and he was afraid of getting homesick if he left.
Jess smirked at the thought as he entered the diner. He smelled Lorelai's blackest of black coffee before even reaching the counter, which only lead to another obsessive memory. Jess passed both his uncle and Lorelai, planning on going upstairs so he could go through the paper he had just bought. He was so wrapped up in his longing, which he was trying to desperately deny, that he didn't notice the lack of conversation between Luke and the usual chipper Lorelai. But before he could slip through the curtains that separated the apartment from the rest of the diner, Luke's watchful gaze caught his actions.
''Where do you think you're going ?''
''Guess,'' was Jess's response, as he pushed the curtain aside and made an attempt to leave, but Luke stopped him by throwing a pen at him.
''You're shift just started.''
Luke gave him a pointed look, before disappearing into the kitchen. Jess rolled his eyes as he stuffed the rolled up newspaper in his back pocket, a movement Lorelai didn't miss. Jess grabbed one of the yellow notepads that always seemed to be lying around and started to go around the counter, but Lorelai reached for his arm as he passed. Jess abruptly stopped and moved his eyes from Lorelai's face to his arm and back again, letting her know that he didn't appreciate the fact that she was touching him. Lorelai noticed his discomfort and let go of his arm, meeting his eyes in the process as if to silently apologize. During her concern she had forgotten for a few seconds that they weren't that close.
''I know this is none of my business, but have you spoken to Rory lately ?''
Jess shook his head. ''No, why ?''
Lorelai shrugged. ''Don't know.''
''Hasn't she called you ?'' Jess carefully asked.
Lorelai nodded, before a small smile took over her features, straightening the small lines in her forehead. ''Practically every day. She just hasn't visited for a while.''
''She's probably busy with her job and in the process of adjusting to married life,'' Jess said, trying to give some sort of comfort to her.
''Yeah, that's probably it.'' Lorelai nodded and lowered her eyes to her coffee for a few stray seconds, before raising them to Jess's face again. ''Things between you are......?''
Jess shrugged, trying to remain unaffected by the sad reality of Lorelai's earlier words, she hadn't visited in a while. ''She has Joey by her side day and night, so........'' The harshness of his words was meant to hide the sadness and disappointed from Lorelai's observant eyes.
Lorelai felt sorry for Jess. It must have been hard for him to let go of Rory completely. To forget about her for her sake, although Lorelai could only guess how hung up they both still were on each other. She knew that her daughter had found her perfect match, but perfection could end up being boring and Lorelai also knew that the chemistry between Jess and Rory had never completely faded. Sparks were still there and now that Rory was officially married, she had fallen out of Jess's reach. And Lorelai felt sorry for Jess, but she was also scared, scared of the fact that Rory seemed to be detaching herself from everything that might threaten her perfect life and relationship with Joey. Lorelai wondered if Rory had told Joey about Jess and their rocky, but memorable past. He was the reason why Rory felt threatened, threatened by the first flaw that could invade her life and possibly ruin it if she let it.
Jess was thinking the same thing as he made his way over to a table. He knew that Rory had made herself a stranger to this town, because of him and his unavoidable presence, one she would be forced to face if she would visit. But he also understood that he had partly brought this on himself when he asked her for some space. Space he had desperately needed after seeing Joey slide a ring around her finger and seeing how happy they were together. Unlike Lorelai, he didn't know if it was all a facade, but he had seen Rory's reaction when he said that, and she never spilled a single tear over something that she had already cried over.
*~*~*
Rory sat behind her desk, staring at the several paragraphs that decorated her computer screen. She had just read her article for the third time and she still wasn't satisfied with the result, yet she couldn't find anything that needed changing in her eyes. She sighed and opened up another file. This was tomorrow's confession, one she had to get out in the open as soon as she could, because she wanted to know what other people would think about it. She was so desperate that she had called the newsroom this morning, while Joey was in the kitchen preparing breakfast, so she could make a minor change to today's issue. She had almost ordered them to announce this topic in her confession column instead of the one they had planned on only a few days ago.
Rory felt a little guilty about not telling Joey about what she had written down last night and the memories that lay behind it, but she had to express her feelings. And people who didn't know her wouldn't be able to judge her, because they didn't know about Jess and the detailed history they had had together.
She knew that there were still some lingering feelings there by the way she had savored the kisses he had giving her on her wedding day, when no one was around to see. His kisses were always sensual, because of the slow movements of his lips and the time he took to place them. Rory couldn't deny not still being fascinated by him, by his clear presence although he didn't say a lot and by his skillful way of moving. She got distracted from her thoughts by the familiar figure that had entered her office and was standing in the door frame.
''Joey, what are you doing here ?'' she asked, trying to sound pleased instead of surprised by his sudden appearance.
''I thought I would pick you up and take you to dinner, unless you're too busy.''
Rory smiled. ''Are you kidding ? Let me just get my jacket.''
She got up and walked over to him, placing a quick kiss on his cheek before leaving her office to get her jacket.
Joey took his opportunity to walk over to her desk and sit down. He was always interested in how she would build up her articles and how she would make every single own come out as inviting and enjoyable to read. But as his eyes landed on the small paragraph in front of him, he knew that there was another truth hiding underneath this one. He quickly read the article, just like he did last night, only this time he couldn't help but become suspicious and read something in to it.
*~*~*
''So,'' Joey started, as he looked up from his plate. ''I have been wondering about something for a while now. What was that name of the guy at your wedding again ?''
''What ?'' Rory asked, trying to sound as casual as she could, while her mind was already stirring up a variety of emotions.
''That guy, I know you introduced me to him, but I forgot his name and I was just trying to remember it.''
''Why ?'' Rory asked, as she lowered her eyes and took another bite of her food.
''You know me, I'll just keep thinking about it until I finally do remember, but it's kinda distracting, so I was hoping you could help me.''
Rory shrugged. ''It's just a name.''
''I know,'' Joey said. ''But I assume he's a friend of yours and it would be kind of rude for me not to remember his name.''
''We're not friends,'' Rory declared.
''Well, you invited him to our wedding, so............''
''Jess and I used to be friends,'' Rory interrupted, hoping that Joey would stop asking questions now that he got what he wanted, something he was good at.
''So, he's a non friend from your past ?'' Joey asked, raising an eyebrow.
''Uhm, yeah, something like that.''
Joey watched Rory's nervous movements as they tugged at her hair and knew that she wasn't telling him the entire story. ''Rory, is this subject making you uncomfortable ?''
''No, no, I'm just surprised,'' Rory answered. She lowered her hands back to the table when she realized that she had been giving herself away all this time, although Joey had never managed to read her as well ass Jess. ''So many of my friends were at the wedding, so why remember him out of......them all ?''
Joey shrugged. ''Most of your friends have been out to dinner with us or something like that and he hasn't, Jess hasn't, I mean.''
''He isn't exactly a people person,'' Rory explained. ''Why the sudden interest anyway ?''
''Just curious, that's all,'' Joey answered, although he was positive that at least part of her answer had been a lie. It would have explained why she went and followed Jess when he had left the party without telling anyone, but it didn't explain the redness in Rory's eyes when she had joined him again. Normally he didn't have trouble believing her, but right now he was doubting her answer. And for the first time he realized that her confessions held more truth to them than he felt comfortable with.
*~*~*
Rory waited until she heard the shower run, before grabbing the phone and sitting down on the bed. Her fingers automatically found the right numbers and before she knew it she came in contact with a voice she had missed and had only heard in her dreams lately.
''Luke's diner, if you want fries we've got it,'' Jess said mockingly, as he answered the phone, rolling his eyes at Luke who was glaring at him.
''Jess, it's me.''
''Rory ?''
''Yeah, uhm, how are you ?''
''I still have both arms and legs,'' came his answer, which made Rory smile. ''You ?''
''Okay, I guess.''
''Don't tell me there's trouble in paradise already,'' Jess joked, although he was completely serious.
''No, I........ maybe, I'm sorry I called.''
''Why ?''
''Because you made it perfectly clear that you wanted some space and now I'm calling you............''
''Why are you calling ?'' Jess interrupted.
''Well, we haven't spoken for a while and.......'' Rory sighed. ''People here don't read.''
Jess softly chuckled at her answer. ''Glad to know I can still be of service.''
Rory was just about to respond when the bathroom door opened and Joey came out, dressed in a pair of sweats only.
''I'm sorry, I have to go.''
Before Jess could tell her goodbye she hung up.
''Who was that ?''
''My mom,'' Rory lied.
Joey nodded. ''So, the bathroom's all yours now.''
Rory smiled and got up. ''Thanks.''
They shared a brief kiss, before she entered the bathroom and locked the door behind her, something she did often, although they were married and had seen each other naked before. Joey walked over to the phone and pressed the redial button without thinking about it. After two rings someone finally answered.
''Luke's diner...............''
Joey hung up and let out a silent groan as a look of disapproval took over his features. He had just found the evidence of her messily told lie, one that she wasn't covering up thoroughly enough.
R*E*V*I*E*W*! Please ? :-) Well, my opinions on this chapter........could have been better, but then again it can always be better. I hope Joey's suspicioun and Rory's doubts came across. Anyway, lemme know and I'm really thankful for the reviews I got on the last chapter. You guys have been very kind so far. Thanks :-)