DISCLAIMER: I own neither the show nor the characters of the Gilmore Girls.
Just the messed up way in which I am portraying them.
An entire week passed and the Gilmore girls had been very reclusive. Almost hermit-like and the town was starting to talk. Rory went to work and straight home, never stopping for coffee once. Lorelai, too, had gone to school and straight home, not seen around town or just hanging out with friends. To say the least, it was uncharacteristic. Neighbors were at first worried they had fallen ill, but now thought something bigger was afoot. But they waited, to see what would happen.
Rory and Lorelai didn't really talk about their personal reasons for their Thoreau-inspired week, both were too relieved that the other didn't seem to want to do much. It was Friday night, and Rory called her mother to inform her that they had come down with some sort of bug and would be absent from dinner. She then padded down the hall in her favorite slippers and pajamas, a uniform she had been slipping into every night after work this week, and knocked on Lorelai's door.
"It's open."
"Hey, I just got us out of dinner with the grandparents."
"Oh, thanks."
"I figured last week should have bought us a night off."
"Yeah."
"So, you went and saw Tristan that night?"
Lorelai looked down at the homework she had been working on, and nodded slightly.
"I know that had to be hard for you, the whole other grandparents issue and all. I'm sorry you had to see all that. They aren't very nice people."
"Yeah, they seem a little cold," Lorelai said harshly.
"Oh, babe, just know that they're the ones that are missing out. On knowing you, on life in general. Nothing that happened back then has anything to do with you, okay?"
She nodded and brought her eyes to look up at her mother. She looked drawn, with dark circles under her eyes and the same pajamas she'd been wearing all week after work.
"Mom, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure," Rory replied, moving to sit opposite her daughter on the bed.
"What's up with the hermit routine? I'm going through coffee withdrawals."
"I've made coffee here."
"It's not really the same. Did you and Jess have a fight?"
Rory sighed. "Not really. Sort of. It's just, awkward."
"Want to talk about it?"
"Not really. I mean, it was sort of about your dad, but it wasn't, you know? There was more to it, but when I went to talk about what I thought was going on, he freaked out and told me leave."
"Jess made you leave?"
"Well, he didn't physically remove me, but I didn't feel like I had any other choice."
"Maybe you should talk to him."
"Maybe. Just, not now."
"Can I go get coffee without you?"
"As long as you bring me some, too," Rory smiled. She looked thoughtfully at Lorelai, "What about you?"
"What about me? I didn't fight with Jess."
"Exactly, but you've been hermity too."
"Hermity? And you call yourself a wordsmith."
"You know what I mean. Did something happen with Tristan?"
Lorelai bit her lip and thought about what exactly she wanted to convey to her mother. True, they told each other everything, but this had felt different.
"Sort of."
"Honey, you know you can tell me anything. Even things you don't think I'll want to hear."
"I know."
"Did you have a fight?"
"No."
"Did you, uh, you know?"
"Sex?"
"Yeah."
"Not exactly."
"Oh," Rory said knowingly.
"You have that look on your face," Lorelai half moaned.
"What look?"
"The 'I want to die because of what my daughter is telling me' look."
"I don't have a look that says that!"
"You do, and you're making it now."
"Well, I'm sorry. I just, never want to picture these things."
"So, listen and don't picture."
"My mind would be a happier place if I were able to do that."
Lorelai sighed.
"Okay, so you did ... that. So, what's with the hideout routine?"
"I just felt weird about it afterwards. I mean, I liked it, but I didn't know what to do afterwards, and I've just not been in the mood to talk to him. I feel like people know I've done it, you know?"
Rory inhaled forcibly, "Well, you know, when you get pregnant at sixteen, you do tend to know that feeling."
"That isn't going to happen to me, Mom. I swear."
"Oh, honey. Don't swear, you can't make promises about these things. They just, happen."
"I know, but that's kind of what freaked me out. I mean, it's basically the same, I mean, the same ends, you know? And if we're already doing that... I just, wanted to slow things down."
"By not talking to him?"
"Yeah."
"Not going to work."
"I know. He tried to talk to me the first few days in school, but now, I haven't even seen him in class. He's been out the last two days. I think I blew it."
"Okay, it's time for me to be the Mom. Let's go to the bookstore, you need decent coffee."
"But your Jess thing!"
"I'm an adult, and I can sacrifice for my daughter. Let's go." She stood and moved to grab a jacket.
"Um, Mom," Lorelai pointed at her mother's outfit.
Rory looked down and smiled sheepishly. "Right. After I change."
A half hour later, the two walked to the bookstore, noticing the whispers that would stop and begin again after their passing from townspeople.
"What's going on?"
"Well, we have sort of been hiding from the world. I haven't even been to Doose's in a week."
"They're whispering about us? What do they think we're doing, coming up with plans for the next fusion bomb?" Lorelai looked about at the people in small groups, still whispering.
"Who knows? Just ignore them," Rory said, as their neighbor Babette appeared from the video store right in front of them.
"Hey, gals, how are ya? I haven't seen you two pretty things out lately!"
"Oh, well, I've had a lot of work, and she's had this big test to study for. Nothing earth shattering, Babette," Rory assured her.
"Well, hun, some people have been talking, you know, not me, but some people, that you left Jess' store in a bit of a huff last week, and that you two was having some sort of a lovers' quarrel."
"Oh, Babette, no! We aren't, uh, lovers," Rory said awkwardly.
"Sugar, I know! But the people in this town, they like to talk."
"Well, if you talk to any of these people, tell them that I'm fine. We're both fine. In fact, we're on the way to the bookstore right now."
"Good, good. Come over and see me sometime soon, will ya?"
"We will. Thanks, Babette."
As Babette walked off, Rory put her arm around Lorelai's shoulders.
"Well, at least you know they weren't talking about you," Rory said the last word pointedly.
"Babette is crazy, Mom."
"The whole town is, but they managed to pick up on the fact that I've been avoiding Jess."
"Ready to go in?"
"Yeah, I am. Let's get some coffee. No big deal, right?"
"Right."
They stepped into the café, and there were a fair amount of people gathered in the shop. Jess had some furniture set up and some of the shelves moved back so they could show a movie that night. It had been so long since they had been in town on a Friday that Rory forgot that it was movie night at the bookstore. Jess came out of the back with the reels, pausing slightly as he noticed them in the store, then quickly moved to the projector to load the film. Rory looked disappointed, but knew that him being cold to her was to be expected. Just then, Luke walked down from the apartment, and walked up to Lorelai and Rory.
"You guys here for the movie?"
"Uh, well, we came for coffee, but I guess we could stay since we're here in time," Lorelai said hopefully, looking at her mother.
Rory forced a smile. "Yeah, sure. Why not?"
"I've never seen you guys at a movie here."
"Well, usually we have to go to my grandparents house, but we're 'sick' tonight."
"Ah. Right. I'll go get you two some coffee."
"Thanks, Luke," Rory called out, before grabbing Lorelai and pulling her close. "Since we're here in time we could stay?"
"What? You love the movies here! You say it's much more personal than a theater, but more fun than a video at home!"
"Well, yeah, but not tonight, not here!"
"Mom, it's not like I'm making you talk to Jess. You can ignore him. You don't have to get up on a stage and fight it out in front of the whole town."
"How would you feel if I just invited Tristan over right now?"
"This is totally different. Unless you and Jess..." Lorelai raised an eyebrow at her mother.
"Oh. My. God. I don't even know you right now!" Rory whispered harshly, just before Luke walked back over with two steaming hot cups of coffee. Lured with her one vice, she followed Luke and Lorelai, sitting beside them as the lights went down and the movie started. As the opening credits rolled, Rory smiled as she saw the movie he was showing. His Girl Friday. Looking up from her coffee cup, she noticed Jess sneaking out the back entrance. She hesitated for a moment, wanting to go after him, but still fear churned in her stomach. Was it fear? Was it just anticipation of what she was hoping he'd let her say? She excused herself to the restroom, and sat her coffee on the counter before slipping out the same way he had.
He was leaned up against the brick wall of the next building, facing the bookstore. A lit cigarette was barely an inch from his mouth, at the ready for his next puff. He had been letting the smoke slowly out of his mouth, but when his eyes caught a sight of her, he exhaled quickly, and smoke came from both his nose and mouth. It was chilly, and she realized she left her jacket inside. Suddenly she desperately wanted to go back in, but now he was looking at her expectantly. She had to stay and say ... something.
Back inside the warm bookstore, Lorelai relaxed back into the couch she was sharing with Luke. She knew where her mother was going, and was glad one of them could solve their problems tonight. She knew she should talk to Tristan, but she didn't know where to start. She knew that after her father's visit, she didn't want to end up like them. And that night, she had been so upset, and just lost herself in the intense feelings he created in her. It was so much better than what she had been feeling, the wishing she'd never been born, how she had created all these problems by just existing—he took all those away when he touched her. But now she'd ruined that.
She was taken out of her thoughts when she felt something brush up against her arm. She looked down, to see that Luke had moved his arm to his side, resting up against hers. Quickly looking away, she refocused on the movie.
Outside, Rory was struggling for words. She decided saying anything was better than nothing, so she uttered the first words that came to her.
"It's sort of cold tonight, huh?"
Dumb, dumb.
"If you're cold get back inside, you're missing the movie out here freezing."
He would be full of common sense tonight.
"I needed the fresh air, and I was hoping we could talk."
"If you'd like." His tone remained emotionless, and she wanted to scream.
"I'm sorry I haven't been in sooner, but after last week, I just figured you were mad at me."
"I'm not mad at you."
"Well, you asked me to leave."
"I was closing."
"But, that's not how it works."
"Yeah, it is. I close; people have to leave the store. Ask anyone."
"Come on, Jess," she pleaded for his understanding, moving closer to him, now hugging her arms to her. The wind had breezed through the small alleyway, making her think that the temperature might dip low enough tonight for an early snowfall.
"What do you want me to say, Rory? That I was pissed at you? Fine. I was pissed." His façade cracked, and the anger seeped out.
"But, why?"
"Because you're selfish! The basis of our entire relationship is you taking things from me. Me providing whatever it is you need. Coffee, thoughts, ideas, columns, relationship advice, helping your kid with homework, it's me!"
He took another drag of the cigarette, ignoring the tears that were welling up in her eyes.
"And I'm just sick of it. When you blew me off in your office, I just couldn't take it anymore. I don't ask anything from you, you know that. I have a sister that I have to pick up after in this life, and I don't need to be taking care of you, too."
"I never asked you to take care of me. If I'm such a burden to you, then forget I exist. I'm sure you'll have no trouble with that," she said, turning before the tears came streaming down her face. They were hot and almost welcomed as she took off towards her house without her jacket into the chilly night air. He leaned back against the building, letting his finished cigarette fall under his foot as he crushed it. Closing his eyes, he wouldn't let his mind think about how badly this got taken out of what it was supposed to be. He wouldn't think about the tears forming in her eyes at his words. He took out another cigarette and lit it up, not thinking.
Lorelai coughed a little, which startled Luke. He realized then that they were sort of pressed up together, and her mother had left. He jumped and she giggled. Her laugh made him smile, and then they both realized they were smiling at each other. Immediately, they righted their expressions and looked away.
"Have you seen this before?" came his low whisper.
"Yeah, it's Mom's favorite old movie."
"Makes sense. Do you like it?"
"It's okay. Why?"
"Want to get out of here?"
"Sure."
The night air was refreshing though cold, and it hit their lungs sharply as they escaped into the empty town square. They walked past the high school, seemingly aimless in their wanderings.
"So, how are you liking school?"
"It's school. I joined the track team," he shrugged.
"That's good. It's good to keep busy around here."
"Yeah. How's your school?"
"Oh, fine."
"You don't sound so fine."
She let out a sigh and her hand went unconsciously to her hair, twirling a single strand.
"I'm sort of having this thing with my boyfriend."
"Fight?"
"More of a not talking, not even sure if we're still dating thing."
"O-kay. How does that happen?"
"I just wouldn't talk to him, and now he isn't showing up to classes, a very successful avoidance technique, I might add."
"So, call him. He does own a phone, right?"
"I'm not sure if I should."
Luke nodded, walking along her in silence for a moment.
"So, nice set up, by the way."
"It wasn't a set up. Well, not my idea, anyway."
"Lane's nice, she's just not my type of girl."
"What is your type of girl?"
"I just like simple girls. Not rocker chic wanna-bes."
"Don't say that too loud! You'll break her mother's heart."
"That's another thing! Psycho-killer religious nut mothers are a definite turn off," he laughed.
"Mrs. Kim just doesn't trust boys. Or girls. Or anyone, really."
"No kidding."
"So, tell me your type. Maybe I know someone from Chilton."
"I can find my own girls, thank you very much."
"Hey, just trying to be a friend. If I can't find a guy, at least I can help others find someone."
"You have a guy. He'd be crazy not to talk to you."
"Thanks," she said, giving him a genuine smile as they continued to walk.
"Anytime."
The moviegoers had long since cleared out. Jess picked up the majority of the stuff left behind, moving furniture back, and putting the projector away. He came back out to move the last couch, and saw it. Her purse and jacket. Purse, damn, she needed that. If it were just her jacket, his conscience would let him forget and not make him go over and deliver it. He looked outside, and he swore he saw several snowflakes falling from the sky. Now he had to trudge over there in the cold and snow, and deliver it. He didn't have to talk to her, he was sure he'd made sure she wouldn't want to anyway. He stared at the purse for a moment as if he were arguing with it. Finally he picked up the two objects and grabbed his own jacket and locked the door behind him.
Lorelai and Luke got back to the bookstore and tried the door. Finding it locked, Luke turned to Lorelai looking dumbfounded.
"What?"
"I didn't bring my keys. I figured Jess would still be here when we got back."
"Oh. So, you're locked out?"
"For now."
"Well, I would say let's go to my house, but I'm betting he went over there himself. And that isn't a scene we want to be at."
"What's going on there, anyway? He's been pissed all week, and you guys haven't been around."
"He and Mom are having this weird silent fight."
"So, it's snowing. Where do we go now?"
"We could try Ms. Patty's."
"No way, she's pinched my ass one too many times!" Luke shook his head.
"Not her house, her studio. She won't be there, I promise."
"And what if she is?" he asked as she began to pull him along with her.
"I'll be your human body shield," she giggled. The look on his face was more than pleased as his mind ran away with her words.
As soon as his feet hit on the Gilmore porch, Jess immediately banged on the door. He just wanted to hand her the purse and leave. Purse and leave. Purse and leave. He had it down. What he wasn't prepared for was the look on her tear-stained face when she opened the door.
"You, uh, forgot this," his tone softer than he'd wanted it to come out.
"Oh."
He held her purse and jacket out to her, almost as an afterthought, and she took it, looking down at her purse as if it were the most interesting thing she'd ever seen. He cleared his throat, and she looked back at him.
"So, I guess I'll be going."
"I'm sorry," she said quietly, causing him to turn back to her.
"For what?" he sighed.
"For taking you for granted. You're right, I always run to you, and I was horrible to you last week. I was so stressed over family stuff—but that's no excuse for treating you like that."
"I didn't mean to say all those things, I was just frustrated."
"I just," she looked back into the house and back at him. "Can you come in for a while?"
He nodded, and slipped past her into the house.
An entire week passed and the Gilmore girls had been very reclusive. Almost hermit-like and the town was starting to talk. Rory went to work and straight home, never stopping for coffee once. Lorelai, too, had gone to school and straight home, not seen around town or just hanging out with friends. To say the least, it was uncharacteristic. Neighbors were at first worried they had fallen ill, but now thought something bigger was afoot. But they waited, to see what would happen.
Rory and Lorelai didn't really talk about their personal reasons for their Thoreau-inspired week, both were too relieved that the other didn't seem to want to do much. It was Friday night, and Rory called her mother to inform her that they had come down with some sort of bug and would be absent from dinner. She then padded down the hall in her favorite slippers and pajamas, a uniform she had been slipping into every night after work this week, and knocked on Lorelai's door.
"It's open."
"Hey, I just got us out of dinner with the grandparents."
"Oh, thanks."
"I figured last week should have bought us a night off."
"Yeah."
"So, you went and saw Tristan that night?"
Lorelai looked down at the homework she had been working on, and nodded slightly.
"I know that had to be hard for you, the whole other grandparents issue and all. I'm sorry you had to see all that. They aren't very nice people."
"Yeah, they seem a little cold," Lorelai said harshly.
"Oh, babe, just know that they're the ones that are missing out. On knowing you, on life in general. Nothing that happened back then has anything to do with you, okay?"
She nodded and brought her eyes to look up at her mother. She looked drawn, with dark circles under her eyes and the same pajamas she'd been wearing all week after work.
"Mom, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure," Rory replied, moving to sit opposite her daughter on the bed.
"What's up with the hermit routine? I'm going through coffee withdrawals."
"I've made coffee here."
"It's not really the same. Did you and Jess have a fight?"
Rory sighed. "Not really. Sort of. It's just, awkward."
"Want to talk about it?"
"Not really. I mean, it was sort of about your dad, but it wasn't, you know? There was more to it, but when I went to talk about what I thought was going on, he freaked out and told me leave."
"Jess made you leave?"
"Well, he didn't physically remove me, but I didn't feel like I had any other choice."
"Maybe you should talk to him."
"Maybe. Just, not now."
"Can I go get coffee without you?"
"As long as you bring me some, too," Rory smiled. She looked thoughtfully at Lorelai, "What about you?"
"What about me? I didn't fight with Jess."
"Exactly, but you've been hermity too."
"Hermity? And you call yourself a wordsmith."
"You know what I mean. Did something happen with Tristan?"
Lorelai bit her lip and thought about what exactly she wanted to convey to her mother. True, they told each other everything, but this had felt different.
"Sort of."
"Honey, you know you can tell me anything. Even things you don't think I'll want to hear."
"I know."
"Did you have a fight?"
"No."
"Did you, uh, you know?"
"Sex?"
"Yeah."
"Not exactly."
"Oh," Rory said knowingly.
"You have that look on your face," Lorelai half moaned.
"What look?"
"The 'I want to die because of what my daughter is telling me' look."
"I don't have a look that says that!"
"You do, and you're making it now."
"Well, I'm sorry. I just, never want to picture these things."
"So, listen and don't picture."
"My mind would be a happier place if I were able to do that."
Lorelai sighed.
"Okay, so you did ... that. So, what's with the hideout routine?"
"I just felt weird about it afterwards. I mean, I liked it, but I didn't know what to do afterwards, and I've just not been in the mood to talk to him. I feel like people know I've done it, you know?"
Rory inhaled forcibly, "Well, you know, when you get pregnant at sixteen, you do tend to know that feeling."
"That isn't going to happen to me, Mom. I swear."
"Oh, honey. Don't swear, you can't make promises about these things. They just, happen."
"I know, but that's kind of what freaked me out. I mean, it's basically the same, I mean, the same ends, you know? And if we're already doing that... I just, wanted to slow things down."
"By not talking to him?"
"Yeah."
"Not going to work."
"I know. He tried to talk to me the first few days in school, but now, I haven't even seen him in class. He's been out the last two days. I think I blew it."
"Okay, it's time for me to be the Mom. Let's go to the bookstore, you need decent coffee."
"But your Jess thing!"
"I'm an adult, and I can sacrifice for my daughter. Let's go." She stood and moved to grab a jacket.
"Um, Mom," Lorelai pointed at her mother's outfit.
Rory looked down and smiled sheepishly. "Right. After I change."
A half hour later, the two walked to the bookstore, noticing the whispers that would stop and begin again after their passing from townspeople.
"What's going on?"
"Well, we have sort of been hiding from the world. I haven't even been to Doose's in a week."
"They're whispering about us? What do they think we're doing, coming up with plans for the next fusion bomb?" Lorelai looked about at the people in small groups, still whispering.
"Who knows? Just ignore them," Rory said, as their neighbor Babette appeared from the video store right in front of them.
"Hey, gals, how are ya? I haven't seen you two pretty things out lately!"
"Oh, well, I've had a lot of work, and she's had this big test to study for. Nothing earth shattering, Babette," Rory assured her.
"Well, hun, some people have been talking, you know, not me, but some people, that you left Jess' store in a bit of a huff last week, and that you two was having some sort of a lovers' quarrel."
"Oh, Babette, no! We aren't, uh, lovers," Rory said awkwardly.
"Sugar, I know! But the people in this town, they like to talk."
"Well, if you talk to any of these people, tell them that I'm fine. We're both fine. In fact, we're on the way to the bookstore right now."
"Good, good. Come over and see me sometime soon, will ya?"
"We will. Thanks, Babette."
As Babette walked off, Rory put her arm around Lorelai's shoulders.
"Well, at least you know they weren't talking about you," Rory said the last word pointedly.
"Babette is crazy, Mom."
"The whole town is, but they managed to pick up on the fact that I've been avoiding Jess."
"Ready to go in?"
"Yeah, I am. Let's get some coffee. No big deal, right?"
"Right."
They stepped into the café, and there were a fair amount of people gathered in the shop. Jess had some furniture set up and some of the shelves moved back so they could show a movie that night. It had been so long since they had been in town on a Friday that Rory forgot that it was movie night at the bookstore. Jess came out of the back with the reels, pausing slightly as he noticed them in the store, then quickly moved to the projector to load the film. Rory looked disappointed, but knew that him being cold to her was to be expected. Just then, Luke walked down from the apartment, and walked up to Lorelai and Rory.
"You guys here for the movie?"
"Uh, well, we came for coffee, but I guess we could stay since we're here in time," Lorelai said hopefully, looking at her mother.
Rory forced a smile. "Yeah, sure. Why not?"
"I've never seen you guys at a movie here."
"Well, usually we have to go to my grandparents house, but we're 'sick' tonight."
"Ah. Right. I'll go get you two some coffee."
"Thanks, Luke," Rory called out, before grabbing Lorelai and pulling her close. "Since we're here in time we could stay?"
"What? You love the movies here! You say it's much more personal than a theater, but more fun than a video at home!"
"Well, yeah, but not tonight, not here!"
"Mom, it's not like I'm making you talk to Jess. You can ignore him. You don't have to get up on a stage and fight it out in front of the whole town."
"How would you feel if I just invited Tristan over right now?"
"This is totally different. Unless you and Jess..." Lorelai raised an eyebrow at her mother.
"Oh. My. God. I don't even know you right now!" Rory whispered harshly, just before Luke walked back over with two steaming hot cups of coffee. Lured with her one vice, she followed Luke and Lorelai, sitting beside them as the lights went down and the movie started. As the opening credits rolled, Rory smiled as she saw the movie he was showing. His Girl Friday. Looking up from her coffee cup, she noticed Jess sneaking out the back entrance. She hesitated for a moment, wanting to go after him, but still fear churned in her stomach. Was it fear? Was it just anticipation of what she was hoping he'd let her say? She excused herself to the restroom, and sat her coffee on the counter before slipping out the same way he had.
He was leaned up against the brick wall of the next building, facing the bookstore. A lit cigarette was barely an inch from his mouth, at the ready for his next puff. He had been letting the smoke slowly out of his mouth, but when his eyes caught a sight of her, he exhaled quickly, and smoke came from both his nose and mouth. It was chilly, and she realized she left her jacket inside. Suddenly she desperately wanted to go back in, but now he was looking at her expectantly. She had to stay and say ... something.
Back inside the warm bookstore, Lorelai relaxed back into the couch she was sharing with Luke. She knew where her mother was going, and was glad one of them could solve their problems tonight. She knew she should talk to Tristan, but she didn't know where to start. She knew that after her father's visit, she didn't want to end up like them. And that night, she had been so upset, and just lost herself in the intense feelings he created in her. It was so much better than what she had been feeling, the wishing she'd never been born, how she had created all these problems by just existing—he took all those away when he touched her. But now she'd ruined that.
She was taken out of her thoughts when she felt something brush up against her arm. She looked down, to see that Luke had moved his arm to his side, resting up against hers. Quickly looking away, she refocused on the movie.
Outside, Rory was struggling for words. She decided saying anything was better than nothing, so she uttered the first words that came to her.
"It's sort of cold tonight, huh?"
Dumb, dumb.
"If you're cold get back inside, you're missing the movie out here freezing."
He would be full of common sense tonight.
"I needed the fresh air, and I was hoping we could talk."
"If you'd like." His tone remained emotionless, and she wanted to scream.
"I'm sorry I haven't been in sooner, but after last week, I just figured you were mad at me."
"I'm not mad at you."
"Well, you asked me to leave."
"I was closing."
"But, that's not how it works."
"Yeah, it is. I close; people have to leave the store. Ask anyone."
"Come on, Jess," she pleaded for his understanding, moving closer to him, now hugging her arms to her. The wind had breezed through the small alleyway, making her think that the temperature might dip low enough tonight for an early snowfall.
"What do you want me to say, Rory? That I was pissed at you? Fine. I was pissed." His façade cracked, and the anger seeped out.
"But, why?"
"Because you're selfish! The basis of our entire relationship is you taking things from me. Me providing whatever it is you need. Coffee, thoughts, ideas, columns, relationship advice, helping your kid with homework, it's me!"
He took another drag of the cigarette, ignoring the tears that were welling up in her eyes.
"And I'm just sick of it. When you blew me off in your office, I just couldn't take it anymore. I don't ask anything from you, you know that. I have a sister that I have to pick up after in this life, and I don't need to be taking care of you, too."
"I never asked you to take care of me. If I'm such a burden to you, then forget I exist. I'm sure you'll have no trouble with that," she said, turning before the tears came streaming down her face. They were hot and almost welcomed as she took off towards her house without her jacket into the chilly night air. He leaned back against the building, letting his finished cigarette fall under his foot as he crushed it. Closing his eyes, he wouldn't let his mind think about how badly this got taken out of what it was supposed to be. He wouldn't think about the tears forming in her eyes at his words. He took out another cigarette and lit it up, not thinking.
Lorelai coughed a little, which startled Luke. He realized then that they were sort of pressed up together, and her mother had left. He jumped and she giggled. Her laugh made him smile, and then they both realized they were smiling at each other. Immediately, they righted their expressions and looked away.
"Have you seen this before?" came his low whisper.
"Yeah, it's Mom's favorite old movie."
"Makes sense. Do you like it?"
"It's okay. Why?"
"Want to get out of here?"
"Sure."
The night air was refreshing though cold, and it hit their lungs sharply as they escaped into the empty town square. They walked past the high school, seemingly aimless in their wanderings.
"So, how are you liking school?"
"It's school. I joined the track team," he shrugged.
"That's good. It's good to keep busy around here."
"Yeah. How's your school?"
"Oh, fine."
"You don't sound so fine."
She let out a sigh and her hand went unconsciously to her hair, twirling a single strand.
"I'm sort of having this thing with my boyfriend."
"Fight?"
"More of a not talking, not even sure if we're still dating thing."
"O-kay. How does that happen?"
"I just wouldn't talk to him, and now he isn't showing up to classes, a very successful avoidance technique, I might add."
"So, call him. He does own a phone, right?"
"I'm not sure if I should."
Luke nodded, walking along her in silence for a moment.
"So, nice set up, by the way."
"It wasn't a set up. Well, not my idea, anyway."
"Lane's nice, she's just not my type of girl."
"What is your type of girl?"
"I just like simple girls. Not rocker chic wanna-bes."
"Don't say that too loud! You'll break her mother's heart."
"That's another thing! Psycho-killer religious nut mothers are a definite turn off," he laughed.
"Mrs. Kim just doesn't trust boys. Or girls. Or anyone, really."
"No kidding."
"So, tell me your type. Maybe I know someone from Chilton."
"I can find my own girls, thank you very much."
"Hey, just trying to be a friend. If I can't find a guy, at least I can help others find someone."
"You have a guy. He'd be crazy not to talk to you."
"Thanks," she said, giving him a genuine smile as they continued to walk.
"Anytime."
The moviegoers had long since cleared out. Jess picked up the majority of the stuff left behind, moving furniture back, and putting the projector away. He came back out to move the last couch, and saw it. Her purse and jacket. Purse, damn, she needed that. If it were just her jacket, his conscience would let him forget and not make him go over and deliver it. He looked outside, and he swore he saw several snowflakes falling from the sky. Now he had to trudge over there in the cold and snow, and deliver it. He didn't have to talk to her, he was sure he'd made sure she wouldn't want to anyway. He stared at the purse for a moment as if he were arguing with it. Finally he picked up the two objects and grabbed his own jacket and locked the door behind him.
Lorelai and Luke got back to the bookstore and tried the door. Finding it locked, Luke turned to Lorelai looking dumbfounded.
"What?"
"I didn't bring my keys. I figured Jess would still be here when we got back."
"Oh. So, you're locked out?"
"For now."
"Well, I would say let's go to my house, but I'm betting he went over there himself. And that isn't a scene we want to be at."
"What's going on there, anyway? He's been pissed all week, and you guys haven't been around."
"He and Mom are having this weird silent fight."
"So, it's snowing. Where do we go now?"
"We could try Ms. Patty's."
"No way, she's pinched my ass one too many times!" Luke shook his head.
"Not her house, her studio. She won't be there, I promise."
"And what if she is?" he asked as she began to pull him along with her.
"I'll be your human body shield," she giggled. The look on his face was more than pleased as his mind ran away with her words.
As soon as his feet hit on the Gilmore porch, Jess immediately banged on the door. He just wanted to hand her the purse and leave. Purse and leave. Purse and leave. He had it down. What he wasn't prepared for was the look on her tear-stained face when she opened the door.
"You, uh, forgot this," his tone softer than he'd wanted it to come out.
"Oh."
He held her purse and jacket out to her, almost as an afterthought, and she took it, looking down at her purse as if it were the most interesting thing she'd ever seen. He cleared his throat, and she looked back at him.
"So, I guess I'll be going."
"I'm sorry," she said quietly, causing him to turn back to her.
"For what?" he sighed.
"For taking you for granted. You're right, I always run to you, and I was horrible to you last week. I was so stressed over family stuff—but that's no excuse for treating you like that."
"I didn't mean to say all those things, I was just frustrated."
"I just," she looked back into the house and back at him. "Can you come in for a while?"
He nodded, and slipped past her into the house.