Rating: same as before (PG-13)
Disclaimer: I don't own it. How many times do I have to explain that I owe everything in this fic to the writing styles of Amy Sherman Palladino? I do, OKAY? So please, do not sue me.
Summary: What if Jess hadn't been able to go to California, what if there was something holding him back. (Literati)
Author's Note: I am soooooo sorry that this chapter took so long to update, but I hope it is worth it. I am very excited, because Jess is coming back to Star's Hollow in the real show, for at least 3 episodes! I'm sorry, people who don't live in the U.S. But anyway, back to my fic. I really hope you all like this chapter. Stay tuned because chapter six will be very exciting, and there will be a big surprise soon after that, so please R/R. Next Chapter will come soon!
Dedication: This chapter is for miarae. She didn't exactly give me an idea that I am planning on using, but she tries so hard and that is worth a review. Her reviews are always heart felt and lengthy (hint hint) and she is just so sweet and nice. Thank you so much. Other readers, if you want a dedication, please R/R good reviews, and maybe I will dedicate to you. Luv you all.
Chapter 5: The Hat That Corresponds to Your Gender
Rory had been avoiding Jess all week. She had made a conscious effort to avoid seeing him. She sent Lorelai on daily trips to Luke's, and the two of them had ordered enough take out to feed two small armies. In fact, the only places Rory had gone were Lane's house and her own home. Tonight would be the first time she had been past Luke's since the scenario with Jess. It was only because of the town meeting, which she had considered skipping, but since she hadn't been in a few weeks, and the probability of Jess going was very unlikely, she decided to go. She was going to risk passing Luke's for her town. They should feel lucky, she thought.
Rory reached into the fridge and pulled out the box of left over Pad Thai. She sat down and curled up on the couch cushions, letting them absorb her weight. She knew that the meeting would only consist of Taylor screaming at Luke, and then Luke screaming at Taylor, and then Babette and Ms. Patty calming the two fuming men down. Rory smiled. That would be worth passing by Luke's for.
* * *
Jess stared up at the ceiling. He was lying on his bed in a white T-shirt and a pair of flannel boxers, even though it was 2:00 in the afternoon. His hands were crossed over his stomach, and they moved up and down as he took long slow breaths. Luke decided to give him the afternoon of, since Jess had opened up for him this morning. He was tired, but he didn't feel like reading. He hadn't really felt like it for a while. It reminded him of Rory too much. Jess hated having not seen Rory for what seemed like centuries. He had seen her mom come into the diner almost every day, but Rory was never there with her. He felt like such an idiot. He didn't know if she had purposely been annoying him, but he couldn't bear the thought of it. What was worse was, Luke had made him promise to go to every town meeting and event as punishment for cutting school, which he would be starting again in the fall. Rory hadn't at the meeting for the past few weeks, and sitting in a folding chair watching Taylor's head turn red, with out Rory there to laugh with him about it, just wasn't the same. He doubted it, but Jess hoped she'd be there today. Even if she did ignore him, he would act as if he didn't care and brush it aside. But inside, he knew that it would hurt more than anything would. He had to think of something to do to win her back.
* * *
Rory and Lorelai headed down to the town meeting. Rory's stomach felt like one of those crazy Cirque du Soleil acrobats, flip flopping all over. It even hurt to swallow. She didn't know what to do if she were to see Jess. God, she was so mad at him. It felt like he couldn't trust her, and that really hurt. He was always so secretive. She just wanted to help him. She wanted to know his past, so that she could insure that his future would be better. She really did love him. But everything he said just seemed like a line from one of those Kay Diamonds commercials. He wanted him to tell her something honest. Maybe he would, he just needed time. But if she never saw him, that couldn't happen, could it? Now she sort of wanted to see him. She was really starting to confuse herself.
Lorelai interrupted her thoughts with, "Rory, Sweets, are you okay? You've been really quiet lately. And you haven't been by Luke's in forever. Even for beautiful coffee. Is everything okay with Jess?"
"It's just that he's never open with me," she complained, "It's like he always has to seem really tough."
"Babe, all guys are like that. They think that thoughts and feelings are too feminine. Besides, they are always really confused about their own feelings, or at least they don't know how to articulate them. It's how the world was made, girls are talk, guys grunt."
"I just wish that he'd just tell me stuff. I mean it's like he never tells me anything."
"Ror, if he really loves you, he'll come around."
"Well then, I guess he doesn't," Rory smirked.
"Rory," Lorelai turned to her, "he came back to Star's Hollow for you. I think that says something."
"Who says that it was for me? He won't tell me if it was or not, so I don't know!" she cried. The rest of the walk was silent. Rory had become mad at Jess again. She sort of wanted to see him, but she also dreaded it. She decided to let him decide, and let him take the lead. He could choose when he would talk to her. He dug the hole, now he had to get himself out of it.
The Gilmore girls walked through the big wooden doors. They were about to enter the meeting, but Taylor, who was holding two black top hats full of small slips of paper, stopped them.
"Please write your first and last name on the slip of paper, and place it in the hat that corresponds to your gender," Taylor said, showing the women the two hats labeled "Men" and "Women" in Taylor's cursive writing.
"Please write your first and last name on the slip of paper and place it into the hat corresponding to your gender," Taylor said, showing the women the two hats, labeled "Men" and "Women" in his perfect cursive writing.
"What exactly is this for, Taylor?" asked Lorelai, as she wrote "Lorelai Gilmore" on a slip and placed it in the "Women" hat.
"You'll both see, now go grab yourselves a seat so that the people behind you can write their names down too," Taylor ordered, with a rather stern look imprinted on his face.
"Okay, Taylor," Rory said after placing her slip into the "Women" hat.
The girls sat down in a pair of rusty brown folding chairs near the center of the room, on the aisle. The room was about half full, considering they were about ten minutes early. Rory saw the lights in Luke's go dark through the window. The lights in the apartment were off too. That means Jess wasn't there. He was probably just out doing something that he also wouldn't tell her about, but maybe, just maybe, he would come. Rory didn't know if that was a good or bad thing, but that was for Jess to determine.
Sure enough, Jess dragged himself right behind Luke as he did his "linebacker shuffle" into the meeting.
"No, Taylor, not again, no no no!" yelled Luke, after seeing the hats.
"Now Luke, you see, this is not another festival that we've been doing for years. Nope it isn't. I decided to try something new this summer. Shake things up a bit, if you will. So if you please, would you write your first and last name on the slip of paper, and place it in the hat corresponding to your gender?"
"Fine, whatever, Taylor," Luke responded, then he wrote his name on the paper and forcefully threw it into the hat. Then he walked away from Taylor and angrily headed down the aisle. Jess followed silently behind him.
"Excuse me, young man," Taylor called after Jess, "You didn't write your name on the paper, and place it in the hat."
"I don't really do festivals."
"Sure you do. Now write down your name on the paper, and place it in the hat corresponding to your gender.
"Um, uh, all right," Jess said and walked over to Taylor. Rory could tell that Jess would have found a way to back out of it, if he had thought of one. She had gotten really tired of Taylor's whole hat line too.
The two men chose seats about two rows in front of Lorelai and Rory. Luke grunted, and Jess smirked at him. Rory couldn't help but giggle. She was super curious about what the new festival was going to be. She thought that it must have something to do with separate genders or something like that. Or maybe it would be a battle of the sexes thing, like that show on MTV. Whatever it was, she was very excited to find out.
Taylor walked up to the podium and cleared his throat, so loudly that that everyone in the room whipped their heads around in one swift motion. "Attention, everyone. Let's let the meeting begin now. If you would all turn your attention towards me, I would be able to tell you all about Star's Hollow's new annual festival." Everyone now sat facing Taylor completely. "Everyone, the new Star's Hollow festival is,"
"Oh, come on, Taylor, tell us already. I'm sure everyone would really like to know," Ms. Patty interrupted.
"Well, Patty, if you would please stop interrupting me, maybe I would," Taylor snapped.
"I'm sorry, I just thought that you were over dramatizing it a little too much."
"Any way," Taylor said turning back to the audience. "The new Star's Hollow festival will be Famous Historical Couples Day!"
The crowd was speechless. Rory had no idea that that's what Taylor had been planning. But, it sounded fun, as long as she was paired with someone other than Kirk. She didn't know what it would be like if she got paired with Jess. But the probability of that happening was like 1%, so she figured that she didn't really have to worry unless that actually happened.
"The festival will consist of both a man and a woman being paired together, randomly out of these hats. Both partners will dress up as their pair, and then the town will vote on which pair they would like to be named King and Queen of the festival. Then, the pair will give an expectance speech and lead fun and challenging activities with the theme being couples as King and Queen."
A soft murmur fell over the audience. "Should we start the selection of couples then?" Taylor asked.
"Oh, get on will it, Taylor," Babette called. "Besides, I want to be paired with Mr. Hunkola over there," she said, now looking at Jess.
"Okay, then. I designed the couples. There will be some old famous ones and some rather more hip new ones as well." Rory giggled under her breath. The first couple will be Marc Anthony and Cleopatra. The man will be." Taylor reached into the hat, "Kirk."
"Oh god, not me not me not me," whispered Lorelai.
"And the woman will be Lorelai."
"Shit," she murmured, "No matter who you get, you'll be better off than I am." Rory smiled.
"The next couple is Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez." The crowd laughed at that. "The woman will be Patty." Taylor reached into the "Men" hat. "And Luke will be the man."
"Ha," Lorelai laughed loudly. "Nope, Luke's worse off than me." Luke grunted loudly and mumbled something profane under his breath.
Several couples passed. They were normally funny, but Rory was concerned about her partner. Neither her name, nor Jess's name had been called yet. Rory was sort of excited, but also scared, because if she were to be with Jess, she would obviously have to talk to him. And to her, that was scary. She didn't know what she would say." The next couple will be Romeo and Juliet," Taylor said, "The woman will be Rory." Rory was so nervous. The acrobats started to perform in her stomach again. "And the man will be Jess."
Sorry, that was a bit predictable and it was sort of a transition chapter so bare with me, but it will be really really good later, I promise. There is going to be this crazy thing happening in the next chapter at the festival. It will be mainly from Jess's perspective. Then, chapter seven will be surprising and fun! Be excited and please please R/R. Until next chapter (which should be soon) -Carie
Disclaimer: I don't own it. How many times do I have to explain that I owe everything in this fic to the writing styles of Amy Sherman Palladino? I do, OKAY? So please, do not sue me.
Summary: What if Jess hadn't been able to go to California, what if there was something holding him back. (Literati)
Author's Note: I am soooooo sorry that this chapter took so long to update, but I hope it is worth it. I am very excited, because Jess is coming back to Star's Hollow in the real show, for at least 3 episodes! I'm sorry, people who don't live in the U.S. But anyway, back to my fic. I really hope you all like this chapter. Stay tuned because chapter six will be very exciting, and there will be a big surprise soon after that, so please R/R. Next Chapter will come soon!
Dedication: This chapter is for miarae. She didn't exactly give me an idea that I am planning on using, but she tries so hard and that is worth a review. Her reviews are always heart felt and lengthy (hint hint) and she is just so sweet and nice. Thank you so much. Other readers, if you want a dedication, please R/R good reviews, and maybe I will dedicate to you. Luv you all.
Chapter 5: The Hat That Corresponds to Your Gender
Rory had been avoiding Jess all week. She had made a conscious effort to avoid seeing him. She sent Lorelai on daily trips to Luke's, and the two of them had ordered enough take out to feed two small armies. In fact, the only places Rory had gone were Lane's house and her own home. Tonight would be the first time she had been past Luke's since the scenario with Jess. It was only because of the town meeting, which she had considered skipping, but since she hadn't been in a few weeks, and the probability of Jess going was very unlikely, she decided to go. She was going to risk passing Luke's for her town. They should feel lucky, she thought.
Rory reached into the fridge and pulled out the box of left over Pad Thai. She sat down and curled up on the couch cushions, letting them absorb her weight. She knew that the meeting would only consist of Taylor screaming at Luke, and then Luke screaming at Taylor, and then Babette and Ms. Patty calming the two fuming men down. Rory smiled. That would be worth passing by Luke's for.
* * *
Jess stared up at the ceiling. He was lying on his bed in a white T-shirt and a pair of flannel boxers, even though it was 2:00 in the afternoon. His hands were crossed over his stomach, and they moved up and down as he took long slow breaths. Luke decided to give him the afternoon of, since Jess had opened up for him this morning. He was tired, but he didn't feel like reading. He hadn't really felt like it for a while. It reminded him of Rory too much. Jess hated having not seen Rory for what seemed like centuries. He had seen her mom come into the diner almost every day, but Rory was never there with her. He felt like such an idiot. He didn't know if she had purposely been annoying him, but he couldn't bear the thought of it. What was worse was, Luke had made him promise to go to every town meeting and event as punishment for cutting school, which he would be starting again in the fall. Rory hadn't at the meeting for the past few weeks, and sitting in a folding chair watching Taylor's head turn red, with out Rory there to laugh with him about it, just wasn't the same. He doubted it, but Jess hoped she'd be there today. Even if she did ignore him, he would act as if he didn't care and brush it aside. But inside, he knew that it would hurt more than anything would. He had to think of something to do to win her back.
* * *
Rory and Lorelai headed down to the town meeting. Rory's stomach felt like one of those crazy Cirque du Soleil acrobats, flip flopping all over. It even hurt to swallow. She didn't know what to do if she were to see Jess. God, she was so mad at him. It felt like he couldn't trust her, and that really hurt. He was always so secretive. She just wanted to help him. She wanted to know his past, so that she could insure that his future would be better. She really did love him. But everything he said just seemed like a line from one of those Kay Diamonds commercials. He wanted him to tell her something honest. Maybe he would, he just needed time. But if she never saw him, that couldn't happen, could it? Now she sort of wanted to see him. She was really starting to confuse herself.
Lorelai interrupted her thoughts with, "Rory, Sweets, are you okay? You've been really quiet lately. And you haven't been by Luke's in forever. Even for beautiful coffee. Is everything okay with Jess?"
"It's just that he's never open with me," she complained, "It's like he always has to seem really tough."
"Babe, all guys are like that. They think that thoughts and feelings are too feminine. Besides, they are always really confused about their own feelings, or at least they don't know how to articulate them. It's how the world was made, girls are talk, guys grunt."
"I just wish that he'd just tell me stuff. I mean it's like he never tells me anything."
"Ror, if he really loves you, he'll come around."
"Well then, I guess he doesn't," Rory smirked.
"Rory," Lorelai turned to her, "he came back to Star's Hollow for you. I think that says something."
"Who says that it was for me? He won't tell me if it was or not, so I don't know!" she cried. The rest of the walk was silent. Rory had become mad at Jess again. She sort of wanted to see him, but she also dreaded it. She decided to let him decide, and let him take the lead. He could choose when he would talk to her. He dug the hole, now he had to get himself out of it.
The Gilmore girls walked through the big wooden doors. They were about to enter the meeting, but Taylor, who was holding two black top hats full of small slips of paper, stopped them.
"Please write your first and last name on the slip of paper, and place it in the hat that corresponds to your gender," Taylor said, showing the women the two hats labeled "Men" and "Women" in Taylor's cursive writing.
"Please write your first and last name on the slip of paper and place it into the hat corresponding to your gender," Taylor said, showing the women the two hats, labeled "Men" and "Women" in his perfect cursive writing.
"What exactly is this for, Taylor?" asked Lorelai, as she wrote "Lorelai Gilmore" on a slip and placed it in the "Women" hat.
"You'll both see, now go grab yourselves a seat so that the people behind you can write their names down too," Taylor ordered, with a rather stern look imprinted on his face.
"Okay, Taylor," Rory said after placing her slip into the "Women" hat.
The girls sat down in a pair of rusty brown folding chairs near the center of the room, on the aisle. The room was about half full, considering they were about ten minutes early. Rory saw the lights in Luke's go dark through the window. The lights in the apartment were off too. That means Jess wasn't there. He was probably just out doing something that he also wouldn't tell her about, but maybe, just maybe, he would come. Rory didn't know if that was a good or bad thing, but that was for Jess to determine.
Sure enough, Jess dragged himself right behind Luke as he did his "linebacker shuffle" into the meeting.
"No, Taylor, not again, no no no!" yelled Luke, after seeing the hats.
"Now Luke, you see, this is not another festival that we've been doing for years. Nope it isn't. I decided to try something new this summer. Shake things up a bit, if you will. So if you please, would you write your first and last name on the slip of paper, and place it in the hat corresponding to your gender?"
"Fine, whatever, Taylor," Luke responded, then he wrote his name on the paper and forcefully threw it into the hat. Then he walked away from Taylor and angrily headed down the aisle. Jess followed silently behind him.
"Excuse me, young man," Taylor called after Jess, "You didn't write your name on the paper, and place it in the hat."
"I don't really do festivals."
"Sure you do. Now write down your name on the paper, and place it in the hat corresponding to your gender.
"Um, uh, all right," Jess said and walked over to Taylor. Rory could tell that Jess would have found a way to back out of it, if he had thought of one. She had gotten really tired of Taylor's whole hat line too.
The two men chose seats about two rows in front of Lorelai and Rory. Luke grunted, and Jess smirked at him. Rory couldn't help but giggle. She was super curious about what the new festival was going to be. She thought that it must have something to do with separate genders or something like that. Or maybe it would be a battle of the sexes thing, like that show on MTV. Whatever it was, she was very excited to find out.
Taylor walked up to the podium and cleared his throat, so loudly that that everyone in the room whipped their heads around in one swift motion. "Attention, everyone. Let's let the meeting begin now. If you would all turn your attention towards me, I would be able to tell you all about Star's Hollow's new annual festival." Everyone now sat facing Taylor completely. "Everyone, the new Star's Hollow festival is,"
"Oh, come on, Taylor, tell us already. I'm sure everyone would really like to know," Ms. Patty interrupted.
"Well, Patty, if you would please stop interrupting me, maybe I would," Taylor snapped.
"I'm sorry, I just thought that you were over dramatizing it a little too much."
"Any way," Taylor said turning back to the audience. "The new Star's Hollow festival will be Famous Historical Couples Day!"
The crowd was speechless. Rory had no idea that that's what Taylor had been planning. But, it sounded fun, as long as she was paired with someone other than Kirk. She didn't know what it would be like if she got paired with Jess. But the probability of that happening was like 1%, so she figured that she didn't really have to worry unless that actually happened.
"The festival will consist of both a man and a woman being paired together, randomly out of these hats. Both partners will dress up as their pair, and then the town will vote on which pair they would like to be named King and Queen of the festival. Then, the pair will give an expectance speech and lead fun and challenging activities with the theme being couples as King and Queen."
A soft murmur fell over the audience. "Should we start the selection of couples then?" Taylor asked.
"Oh, get on will it, Taylor," Babette called. "Besides, I want to be paired with Mr. Hunkola over there," she said, now looking at Jess.
"Okay, then. I designed the couples. There will be some old famous ones and some rather more hip new ones as well." Rory giggled under her breath. The first couple will be Marc Anthony and Cleopatra. The man will be." Taylor reached into the hat, "Kirk."
"Oh god, not me not me not me," whispered Lorelai.
"And the woman will be Lorelai."
"Shit," she murmured, "No matter who you get, you'll be better off than I am." Rory smiled.
"The next couple is Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez." The crowd laughed at that. "The woman will be Patty." Taylor reached into the "Men" hat. "And Luke will be the man."
"Ha," Lorelai laughed loudly. "Nope, Luke's worse off than me." Luke grunted loudly and mumbled something profane under his breath.
Several couples passed. They were normally funny, but Rory was concerned about her partner. Neither her name, nor Jess's name had been called yet. Rory was sort of excited, but also scared, because if she were to be with Jess, she would obviously have to talk to him. And to her, that was scary. She didn't know what she would say." The next couple will be Romeo and Juliet," Taylor said, "The woman will be Rory." Rory was so nervous. The acrobats started to perform in her stomach again. "And the man will be Jess."
Sorry, that was a bit predictable and it was sort of a transition chapter so bare with me, but it will be really really good later, I promise. There is going to be this crazy thing happening in the next chapter at the festival. It will be mainly from Jess's perspective. Then, chapter seven will be surprising and fun! Be excited and please please R/R. Until next chapter (which should be soon) -Carie