Constant Change by rjs0123
Usual Disclaimers Apply
~Chapter 3: Not without a fight~
"Are you staying or just passing through?" Luke finally breaks the silence.
"Staying, at least for a while." I don't care to elaborate on the reason for my visit just yet. Partially because it's not exactly clear to me.
"Do you know where you're staying?" Oh, the ever-dependable Luke, making sure I'm okay.
"Actually, no. I could always stay at the house or at the Dragonfly..." I trail off.
"But they remind you too much of your mom." Luke finishes my sentence for me. I nod, tears returning to my eyes.
Luke comes to my rescue. "You know, you could always stay here..."
"Really?!" I bring my face up to meet his eyes, the first real smile gracing my face since returning to the town.
"Of course."
"Thanks," I say. "I really appreciate it. You don't know how much."
I go back to drinking my coffee, almost missing Luke's low whisper.
"Actually, I think I do."
~
I make my way back to the diner marveling at how quickly the town comes to life. Not half an hour ago, as I ran out of the diner, the little town was still asleep, the shops still closed, the people still lying comfortably in their beds. Now, the shops are open, many of the residents shopping, trying to catch the rare early-bird specials.
I open the door to the diner and, as always, the bell rings. The previously empty tables are now full, and Luke runs around, barely able to keep up with demand.
I scan the tables, searching for her gorgeous hair, her penetrating gaze, not finding her. Alarmed, I wonder where she would go, if she was already gone. Had I lost my last chance with her?
"Jess." Luke speaks my name with such urgency I immediately know he means 'come-in-the-back-this-isn't-suitable-for-the-town-to-hear.' We quickly make our way to the back room and Luke shuts the door behind us.
I whirl around quickly, asking, "Where is she?!"
"Upstairs. Resting." The certainty in Luke's tone calms me down.
"Is she staying?" the next most important question in my mind.
"I'm not sure. I think she is at least temporarily."
"How is she?"
"Hurting."
"Damn."
"Look, Jess..." I can tell this is the start of his age-old, Jess, don't hurt her speech, so I interrupt.
"I won't. Don't you understand, Luke, I've grown up. I'm not the same troubled rebel I was when I came here. The town has finally accepted me, why can't you? Besides, I've waited for her for eight years, I don't plan on blowing the only chance I've got."
"Jess..." The energy that had built up within me during my rant dissipated and I looked at Luke.
"Yeah?"
"That wasn't what I was going to say."
"Oh."
"What I was going to say was that you should make sure she knows you're here for her because she's hurting and needs a friend."
"Oh."
~
I smile, as I lay in the bed upstairs, listening to the conversation going on below me. It's nice to know that after all these years those two guys, so crucial to my life, still love me.
~
It's hard to believe that only yesterday morning she walked through the door. The depth of the feelings that resurfaced with her appearance still astounds me. I haven't had to deal with these feelings, with the object of my affection so close for eight years. The last time I was in this situation, I took the easy way out. I ran because I was scared. Scared of commitment, rejection. You name it, it frightened me. And I was confused as hell - the only thing I knew for sure was that I loved her.
Now it's happening all over again. But this time it's going to be different. I won't take the easy way out. I'm going to let her decide, but I'll do everything within my power to influence her decision. I love her, and I'm not losing her without a fight.
~
For the first time in eight years, I wake up to the bittersweet aroma of coffee invading my nose. I decide to get up, slipping my feet into my fuzzy pink slippers. Clutching my cotton robe close, I make my way down the stairs, being careful not to wake anybody up.
As I enter the diner, I realize me struggle to keep quiet was not necessary - I see Luke making pancakes and Jess sitting behind the counter, reading.
Jess. He confuses me...or at least he used to. I haven't spoken to him properly for years. Not since his phone call at my graduation.
He still looks the same. Creamy chocolate eyes. Messy hair. In a word, hot. Oh, the what-if's that are evoked from simply looking at Jess. I shake my head. I can't think like this. I'm here to pay my respects to my mother, not think about love. Lorelai is dead, and since she can't have fun, I don't deserve to either.
I sit down on the stool diagonally across from Jess. He turns around, retrieves a coffee mug, sets it down and pours me a cup of coffee. Instead of resuming his previous position, he plants himself directly across from me.
"So, read any good books lately?"
~
AN: It's a little longer, I guess, but still short. So, what do you think?
~Chapter 3: Not without a fight~
"Are you staying or just passing through?" Luke finally breaks the silence.
"Staying, at least for a while." I don't care to elaborate on the reason for my visit just yet. Partially because it's not exactly clear to me.
"Do you know where you're staying?" Oh, the ever-dependable Luke, making sure I'm okay.
"Actually, no. I could always stay at the house or at the Dragonfly..." I trail off.
"But they remind you too much of your mom." Luke finishes my sentence for me. I nod, tears returning to my eyes.
Luke comes to my rescue. "You know, you could always stay here..."
"Really?!" I bring my face up to meet his eyes, the first real smile gracing my face since returning to the town.
"Of course."
"Thanks," I say. "I really appreciate it. You don't know how much."
I go back to drinking my coffee, almost missing Luke's low whisper.
"Actually, I think I do."
~
I make my way back to the diner marveling at how quickly the town comes to life. Not half an hour ago, as I ran out of the diner, the little town was still asleep, the shops still closed, the people still lying comfortably in their beds. Now, the shops are open, many of the residents shopping, trying to catch the rare early-bird specials.
I open the door to the diner and, as always, the bell rings. The previously empty tables are now full, and Luke runs around, barely able to keep up with demand.
I scan the tables, searching for her gorgeous hair, her penetrating gaze, not finding her. Alarmed, I wonder where she would go, if she was already gone. Had I lost my last chance with her?
"Jess." Luke speaks my name with such urgency I immediately know he means 'come-in-the-back-this-isn't-suitable-for-the-town-to-hear.' We quickly make our way to the back room and Luke shuts the door behind us.
I whirl around quickly, asking, "Where is she?!"
"Upstairs. Resting." The certainty in Luke's tone calms me down.
"Is she staying?" the next most important question in my mind.
"I'm not sure. I think she is at least temporarily."
"How is she?"
"Hurting."
"Damn."
"Look, Jess..." I can tell this is the start of his age-old, Jess, don't hurt her speech, so I interrupt.
"I won't. Don't you understand, Luke, I've grown up. I'm not the same troubled rebel I was when I came here. The town has finally accepted me, why can't you? Besides, I've waited for her for eight years, I don't plan on blowing the only chance I've got."
"Jess..." The energy that had built up within me during my rant dissipated and I looked at Luke.
"Yeah?"
"That wasn't what I was going to say."
"Oh."
"What I was going to say was that you should make sure she knows you're here for her because she's hurting and needs a friend."
"Oh."
~
I smile, as I lay in the bed upstairs, listening to the conversation going on below me. It's nice to know that after all these years those two guys, so crucial to my life, still love me.
~
It's hard to believe that only yesterday morning she walked through the door. The depth of the feelings that resurfaced with her appearance still astounds me. I haven't had to deal with these feelings, with the object of my affection so close for eight years. The last time I was in this situation, I took the easy way out. I ran because I was scared. Scared of commitment, rejection. You name it, it frightened me. And I was confused as hell - the only thing I knew for sure was that I loved her.
Now it's happening all over again. But this time it's going to be different. I won't take the easy way out. I'm going to let her decide, but I'll do everything within my power to influence her decision. I love her, and I'm not losing her without a fight.
~
For the first time in eight years, I wake up to the bittersweet aroma of coffee invading my nose. I decide to get up, slipping my feet into my fuzzy pink slippers. Clutching my cotton robe close, I make my way down the stairs, being careful not to wake anybody up.
As I enter the diner, I realize me struggle to keep quiet was not necessary - I see Luke making pancakes and Jess sitting behind the counter, reading.
Jess. He confuses me...or at least he used to. I haven't spoken to him properly for years. Not since his phone call at my graduation.
He still looks the same. Creamy chocolate eyes. Messy hair. In a word, hot. Oh, the what-if's that are evoked from simply looking at Jess. I shake my head. I can't think like this. I'm here to pay my respects to my mother, not think about love. Lorelai is dead, and since she can't have fun, I don't deserve to either.
I sit down on the stool diagonally across from Jess. He turns around, retrieves a coffee mug, sets it down and pours me a cup of coffee. Instead of resuming his previous position, he plants himself directly across from me.
"So, read any good books lately?"
~
AN: It's a little longer, I guess, but still short. So, what do you think?