DISCLAIMER: Wait, checking... nope, still own nothing. But thanks for thinking I did.
It was lunchtime in Stars Hollow, and all the local eateries were full. Jess was handling the rush at the café along with the few other people he employed. He handed the change to his cashier and headed off to help some customers find a few books in the stacks. He was waist high in books when Rory came through the door.
She smiled at the cashier, who gave her the food she ordered and more importantly, her afternoon caffeine rush, and she sat down at one of the small tables. She glanced around for Jess as she always did, and when she didn't see him she pulled out a book to read while she ate. She didn't know how long she'd had this habit, of reading while she ate alone, but she couldn't remember ever not doing it. The best part of doing it here was that it always brought Jess out from where ever he was hiding.
"Did you bring that book from home?" came the irritated voice above her.
"Yeah, so?" she smiled, not looking up at him.
"Rory. This is a bookstore. A place to buy books. You don't bring food to a restaurant, do you?"
"Jess, we have this conversation all the time. It's not like I probably didn't buy this here," she pointed out.
"Probably?"
"It may be from amazon.com," she muttered, looking away from him again.
Jess shook his head and let out a groan. He stuck out his hand for the book.
"I'm not giving you my book."
"You always give me your books."
She smacked his hand away as he attempted to grab it from her again.
"No, not 'til I'm done, Mr. Grabby," she chastised him.
"You're no fun."
"Hey, I'm just sitting here, a patron of your establishment, and you're harassing me," she pointed out.
"I agree with the patronizing part," he muttered as he walked away, towards the backroom to do some work. She went back to her book while she finished her sandwich. Her day was going perfectly. Work was going smoothly, and she got her daily fix of the best coffee in town for lunch. She called out to Jess that she'd see him later as she hurried back to work.
Three hours later, a very disgruntled Lorelai got of the bus from Hartford, school bag pulling her down. Her back ached, her brain felt expanded and all she wanted was coffee. Smiling, she looked towards the café and willed her weary legs to carry her the short distance. Slumping down into one of the comfy chairs, she let her book bag slam into the floor.
Jess noticed the pitiful expression on her face, and took his time wandering over to the teenager.
"Is there something I can help you with, Grandma?"
Lorelai dramatically opened just one eye to peer at the older man.
"Coffee," she demanded.
"I don't know. You're looking pretty worn out, unhealthy. How about some nice tea?"
"Ick! Tea has no healing powers! I need coffee, and quickly before I perish!"
"Not likely."
"I don't think my mother would look so kindly on you harassing me in this manner," she retorted.
"I think she knows you can take care of yourself. Just two shots?" he asked, giving in.
"Better make it three. I still have to walk home," she mused.
Shaking his head, he walked away to get her coffee. After he handed it to her, he immediately walked back into the storeroom to answer the phone. Sipping her coffee lazily, but gratefully, she relaxed back into the chair and pulled out her book to continue on her homework. Rory came in about a half hour later, noticing her daughter holed up drinking the last of her coffee. She sat next to her and held her hand towards the cup. Lorelai smiled and shook her head.
"Sorry, none left."
"How long have you been here?"
"Dunno, half hour?"
"Man, I worked late. Sorry, I didn't even realize the time," Rory said.
"You perfectionist, you," Lorelai teased.
"Hey, where's Jess? I need coffee!" Rory looked around.
"He disappeared into the storeroom, he's on the phone."
"Hmm. Think he'd mind if I just poured myself some coffee?"
"Remember the last time you tried that?"
"Well, he's so grouchy in the mornings," Rory protested.
"He doesn't like you messing with the coffee."
"Well, I can't wait now, can I?"
"Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you," Lorelai added, watching her mother go up to the counter, and sneak around behind it. She saw no sign of Jess, so she grabbed a cup and began to pour herself come coffee. Just as she came around the counter to rejoin Lorelai, Jess stepped out from the backroom blocking her way.
"What—How many times have I--," Jess started, looking at Rory accusatorily.
"You weren't around, I was thirsty. Where were you anyways?"
"On the phone. Get out from there!"
Jess lead her by the shoulders and sat her next to Lorelai. "I don't want to have to tell you again."
"Grump. What's up with you?"
"Just some family stuff. I don't want to talk about it," he said, as he walked away from them. Rory glanced at Lorelai, who shrugged her shoulders.
"Hey, ready to get out of here?"
"Sure, Mom, I just want to thank Jess. Those questions he gave me helped me out today."
"Okay, I'll take your bag to the car. Damn, how heavy do they make these books?" Rory groaned, trying to lift her daughter's book bag.
Lorelai laughed at her mother's attempts to carry her bag out of the bookstore. She turned towards the counter, now very energized and saw Jess.
"Hey, thanks for the homework help, it really saved my butt today."
"No problem. How are you liking the book?"
"Better. Mom never really was big on Hemingway, and I'd never saw it how you pointed it out. Made it bearable, anyway."
"Can I ask you something?" Jess asked, seemingly unsure of wanting to really ask.
"Sure."
"My nephew, he's coming to stay with me for a while. Do you think you could show him around, you know, help him feel welcomed and all that?"
"Sure. No problem. When's he coming?"
"Uh, next week sometime, I guess."
"Well, as long as it doesn't interfere with my social life, sure," Lorelai smiled, waving to Jess as she went to rejoin her mother.
That night was Chinese night at the Gilmore house. They had cartons of food spread out all over the living room and the television was playing a classic movie from the 80's—The Breakfast Club. Rory had selected that, Sixteen Candles and Say Anything, and announced that tonight was the best teen angst of the eighties night. It was Thursday and since they had to go to the grandparents the next night, Rory had been trying to do movie night the day before to lift their spirits. Lorelai knew it was more to lift her mother's spirits, as Lorelai didn't mind going to her grandparents so much. It did impinge on her dating life, but she found ways to deal with that.
"So, Jess' nephew is coming to stay with him? For a visit or what?" Rory asked between mouthfuls of lomein noodles.
"He said to stay with him," Lorelai shrugged, grabbing another egg roll.
"That's weird. I can't see Jess being responsible for a kid."
"He said he was my age, so I don't think he has to worry about watching the kid."
"I still worry about watching you," Rory teased.
"Hah."
"So you're going to show him around?"
"I guess so. I can kill an hour to show him around this town."
"What's on the roster for this weekend?"
"I have a date," Lorelai disclosed.
"Again?"
"Different guy," Lorelai insisted.
"It always is. Who's the lucky boy this week?"
"Mom, seriously, I can't be tied to one guy. What fun would that be?"
"Do I get to meet this one?"
"If you're around."
"Does it have a name?"
"Tristan."
"Mmm, nice name. Trust fund baby?"
"Aren't they all?"
"You're dangerous at that school," Rory commented.
"Hey, it's your fault I'm so devastatingly gorgeous."
"Hey, Chris has half the blame. Did you talk to him yet?"
Lorelai shook her head no, biting into the egg roll. Rory handed Lorelai the phone and gave her the sternest look she could summon.
"You call him," she protested.
"He's not my father."
"So call your father."
"I'm having dinner with my father tomorrow. If you'd like to have dinner with Chris, then I won't make you call him now."
"Fine. But I'm doing this out of duress. This is child abuse."
"Call Taylor after your father then. I'm sure he'd know the proper town authority to haul me away."
Lorelai smiled and dialed the phone, huffing for effect. Rory rolled her eyes, and turned up the volume. Lorelai hopped up, taking a box of fried rice into her room with her so she could hear. Rory stayed in the front room, wrapped up in a blanket, eating noodles and engrossed in the movie again.
It was lunchtime in Stars Hollow, and all the local eateries were full. Jess was handling the rush at the café along with the few other people he employed. He handed the change to his cashier and headed off to help some customers find a few books in the stacks. He was waist high in books when Rory came through the door.
She smiled at the cashier, who gave her the food she ordered and more importantly, her afternoon caffeine rush, and she sat down at one of the small tables. She glanced around for Jess as she always did, and when she didn't see him she pulled out a book to read while she ate. She didn't know how long she'd had this habit, of reading while she ate alone, but she couldn't remember ever not doing it. The best part of doing it here was that it always brought Jess out from where ever he was hiding.
"Did you bring that book from home?" came the irritated voice above her.
"Yeah, so?" she smiled, not looking up at him.
"Rory. This is a bookstore. A place to buy books. You don't bring food to a restaurant, do you?"
"Jess, we have this conversation all the time. It's not like I probably didn't buy this here," she pointed out.
"Probably?"
"It may be from amazon.com," she muttered, looking away from him again.
Jess shook his head and let out a groan. He stuck out his hand for the book.
"I'm not giving you my book."
"You always give me your books."
She smacked his hand away as he attempted to grab it from her again.
"No, not 'til I'm done, Mr. Grabby," she chastised him.
"You're no fun."
"Hey, I'm just sitting here, a patron of your establishment, and you're harassing me," she pointed out.
"I agree with the patronizing part," he muttered as he walked away, towards the backroom to do some work. She went back to her book while she finished her sandwich. Her day was going perfectly. Work was going smoothly, and she got her daily fix of the best coffee in town for lunch. She called out to Jess that she'd see him later as she hurried back to work.
Three hours later, a very disgruntled Lorelai got of the bus from Hartford, school bag pulling her down. Her back ached, her brain felt expanded and all she wanted was coffee. Smiling, she looked towards the café and willed her weary legs to carry her the short distance. Slumping down into one of the comfy chairs, she let her book bag slam into the floor.
Jess noticed the pitiful expression on her face, and took his time wandering over to the teenager.
"Is there something I can help you with, Grandma?"
Lorelai dramatically opened just one eye to peer at the older man.
"Coffee," she demanded.
"I don't know. You're looking pretty worn out, unhealthy. How about some nice tea?"
"Ick! Tea has no healing powers! I need coffee, and quickly before I perish!"
"Not likely."
"I don't think my mother would look so kindly on you harassing me in this manner," she retorted.
"I think she knows you can take care of yourself. Just two shots?" he asked, giving in.
"Better make it three. I still have to walk home," she mused.
Shaking his head, he walked away to get her coffee. After he handed it to her, he immediately walked back into the storeroom to answer the phone. Sipping her coffee lazily, but gratefully, she relaxed back into the chair and pulled out her book to continue on her homework. Rory came in about a half hour later, noticing her daughter holed up drinking the last of her coffee. She sat next to her and held her hand towards the cup. Lorelai smiled and shook her head.
"Sorry, none left."
"How long have you been here?"
"Dunno, half hour?"
"Man, I worked late. Sorry, I didn't even realize the time," Rory said.
"You perfectionist, you," Lorelai teased.
"Hey, where's Jess? I need coffee!" Rory looked around.
"He disappeared into the storeroom, he's on the phone."
"Hmm. Think he'd mind if I just poured myself some coffee?"
"Remember the last time you tried that?"
"Well, he's so grouchy in the mornings," Rory protested.
"He doesn't like you messing with the coffee."
"Well, I can't wait now, can I?"
"Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you," Lorelai added, watching her mother go up to the counter, and sneak around behind it. She saw no sign of Jess, so she grabbed a cup and began to pour herself come coffee. Just as she came around the counter to rejoin Lorelai, Jess stepped out from the backroom blocking her way.
"What—How many times have I--," Jess started, looking at Rory accusatorily.
"You weren't around, I was thirsty. Where were you anyways?"
"On the phone. Get out from there!"
Jess lead her by the shoulders and sat her next to Lorelai. "I don't want to have to tell you again."
"Grump. What's up with you?"
"Just some family stuff. I don't want to talk about it," he said, as he walked away from them. Rory glanced at Lorelai, who shrugged her shoulders.
"Hey, ready to get out of here?"
"Sure, Mom, I just want to thank Jess. Those questions he gave me helped me out today."
"Okay, I'll take your bag to the car. Damn, how heavy do they make these books?" Rory groaned, trying to lift her daughter's book bag.
Lorelai laughed at her mother's attempts to carry her bag out of the bookstore. She turned towards the counter, now very energized and saw Jess.
"Hey, thanks for the homework help, it really saved my butt today."
"No problem. How are you liking the book?"
"Better. Mom never really was big on Hemingway, and I'd never saw it how you pointed it out. Made it bearable, anyway."
"Can I ask you something?" Jess asked, seemingly unsure of wanting to really ask.
"Sure."
"My nephew, he's coming to stay with me for a while. Do you think you could show him around, you know, help him feel welcomed and all that?"
"Sure. No problem. When's he coming?"
"Uh, next week sometime, I guess."
"Well, as long as it doesn't interfere with my social life, sure," Lorelai smiled, waving to Jess as she went to rejoin her mother.
That night was Chinese night at the Gilmore house. They had cartons of food spread out all over the living room and the television was playing a classic movie from the 80's—The Breakfast Club. Rory had selected that, Sixteen Candles and Say Anything, and announced that tonight was the best teen angst of the eighties night. It was Thursday and since they had to go to the grandparents the next night, Rory had been trying to do movie night the day before to lift their spirits. Lorelai knew it was more to lift her mother's spirits, as Lorelai didn't mind going to her grandparents so much. It did impinge on her dating life, but she found ways to deal with that.
"So, Jess' nephew is coming to stay with him? For a visit or what?" Rory asked between mouthfuls of lomein noodles.
"He said to stay with him," Lorelai shrugged, grabbing another egg roll.
"That's weird. I can't see Jess being responsible for a kid."
"He said he was my age, so I don't think he has to worry about watching the kid."
"I still worry about watching you," Rory teased.
"Hah."
"So you're going to show him around?"
"I guess so. I can kill an hour to show him around this town."
"What's on the roster for this weekend?"
"I have a date," Lorelai disclosed.
"Again?"
"Different guy," Lorelai insisted.
"It always is. Who's the lucky boy this week?"
"Mom, seriously, I can't be tied to one guy. What fun would that be?"
"Do I get to meet this one?"
"If you're around."
"Does it have a name?"
"Tristan."
"Mmm, nice name. Trust fund baby?"
"Aren't they all?"
"You're dangerous at that school," Rory commented.
"Hey, it's your fault I'm so devastatingly gorgeous."
"Hey, Chris has half the blame. Did you talk to him yet?"
Lorelai shook her head no, biting into the egg roll. Rory handed Lorelai the phone and gave her the sternest look she could summon.
"You call him," she protested.
"He's not my father."
"So call your father."
"I'm having dinner with my father tomorrow. If you'd like to have dinner with Chris, then I won't make you call him now."
"Fine. But I'm doing this out of duress. This is child abuse."
"Call Taylor after your father then. I'm sure he'd know the proper town authority to haul me away."
Lorelai smiled and dialed the phone, huffing for effect. Rory rolled her eyes, and turned up the volume. Lorelai hopped up, taking a box of fried rice into her room with her so she could hear. Rory stayed in the front room, wrapped up in a blanket, eating noodles and engrossed in the movie again.