Disclaimer: Don't own Gilmore Girls, never have, never will…
AN: We are almost to the end and what you've all been waiting for…soon…enjoy…
Months passed since Rory moved to Los Angeles. When she first got there it was hard. There was nothing she could even compare to Stars Hallow, the people were rude, the traffic was horrible, the air was smoggy, and it was hot, well hotter then she expected for the time of year that it was. But she was making the best out of her situation and she was trying her hardest to finally live the life she had only dreamed of. Although there seemed like so much change, which was all leaning on the negative side Los Angeles had its good side too, her job was great, her apartment was beautiful, and she already made new friends. Not many, but at least she had them, they were nothing like the ones back in Stars Hallow, but they would do just fine, they were loud and eccentric and unique, she could honestly say she had never met anyone like them before. Unlike most of the people here they took her under their wing, and showed her how to survive, they took her out, introduced her to new people (since it was all about who you know), and they showed her where the stars hung out, although she had yet to see one… but she was living her life for once and enjoying it, she was spontaneous and figuring out who she was.
Although she was having what she thought was the time of her life, she couldn't help but let her mind wander sometimes, wander back to where she came from and to him, what was he doing? What was he wearing? How was he doing? How was Reagan? How was their life? Was there a new girl? She easily could have gotten the answers to these questions, but she feared that the answers would hurt. That they would crush her, and ruin her good times, her new life.
Before she left she had promised to call Reagan, but that promise was broken long ago. She couldn't bring herself to do it, maybe if Reagan lived alone, but she was only four, so that was out of the question. Instead she shied away, and wrote her letters. She didn't care if Jess read the letters, but him answering the phone? She would have to hear his voice; she would have to make small talk, and she wasn't sure small talk was an option with the two of them; she would have no idea where to start or what to say. So instead she avoided the phone all together.
Growing up Rory would have never pictured this life. If anyone would have told her that Jess and she would be living thousands and thousands of miles away from each other she would have laughed at them… told them they were mistaken and maybe just maybe stomped on their foot… only if she was eight of course.
She always feared the idea of them not being "one". She could deal with blizzards, and she could deal with spiders, she could deal with snakes, and heights, but she could never deal with the thought of being alone, because that meant she would be without Jess, and being without Jess, was like dying to her, it was the end of the world, well that's what she always imagined it to be, but now that they were separated, she was beginning to think she was okay, and that maybe just maybe she had always blown it out of proportion, because she was doing fine, she was alone, and she was content with it.
Two months she had been here and tonight was her first date. She had been preparing for it all week, and she was determined to make it perfect. Nothing was going to stand in her way, not tonight, not thoughts of him, or memories of him, not pictures of him, nothing. Tonight was about her, she was letting go, once and for all. It took him years to get over 'her'; it was taking her two months to get over 'him'.
His name was Gio, his real name was Giovanni, but Gio made him sound like a model, and to be quiet honest he looked like one as well. She never really went after the gorgeous ones, she never felt pretty enough, they could have anyone they wanted, and the thought that one of them would want her… it irked her, she figured it was doomed from the start, but not tonight, tonight she was going to prove to herself that she was worth it, that she was just as good as anyone else out there. That she was beautiful and she knew it.
She had met him at a show. She didn't see him at first; well she wouldn't have seen him at all if it wasn't her for her foot. She was covering the show for work; it was only her second assignment so she really had to make an impact. They had given her backstage passes for her and one guest, and since she was still new to the city she took her neighbor Jillian, (they had clicked from the moment she moved in). The two of them were sitting backstage on a bright yellow couch waiting for Rory's interview with the band. She was laughing at something that Jillian had said her eyes were closed when he entered the room. Her eyes were even closed when he tripped over her foot and landed on top of her. Her eyes then flew open with shock and she was only more surprised to see someone as beautiful as him on top of her. She hated the beautiful types, but she had never really met one before, and he seemed nice enough. He apologized over and over, but didn't move. She apologized for not paying attention, and they both agreed that it was neither one of their fault. He explained how he was just heading to get something to drink and offered to get her something as well. She accepted and he came back with a bottle of water for her and they talked. He was smart, and funny, and he complimented her. She was never one to take compliments well, but coming from him, she believed him. They called her in for her interview, and thinking on a whim, she gave him her number. She wrote it on the palm of his hand, and he promised not to wash it until he got home. She wasn't expecting him to call, they never did, but the next night her phone woke her up and they made plans for a date. She wasn't as nervous as she thought she would be, but that was because she felt like she knew him. He reminded her of someone she used to know, or well… still does know… someone she was trying to forget.
She had been getting ready since four o'clock this afternoon. It was now six and he would be here in thirty minutes, if he was the punctual type. Jillian from across the hall had come over to help, to keep her company, and keep her calm. They had become very close since Rory had moved in. Jillian was still a teenager, Rory guessed she was about 19 or 20, but more mature for her age then Rory would have expected. They connected because they were both trying to figure out who they were. Jillian was a waitress… well an 'actress' is what she called herself, but Rory new that was just a dream, so typical for a girl living in L.A.
When Rory first moved in, she knew no one. She didn't even know where to start, or where to find a friend. She noticed the apartment across the hall was always alive. There were people coming and going at all hours of the night and in the day. She noticed the girl that lived there, they passed each other in the hall a couple of times, and exchanged smiles, but that was the extent of it. Rory described her as 'spunky', she had short black and purple hair, and looked like she had stepped right out of the 80's, and she wore the leggings and the neon colors. Rory liked it. She felt like she was in another world. A couple of days after Rory moved in, there was a knock on the door. It was Jillian from across the hall, purple hair and all; Rory smiled when she opened the door and noticed a huge plant in her hands. Jillian explained how someone had given her a plant when she first moved in, and it made her feel welcome. It was like she had a reason to come home, because the plant needed to be watered. That maybe no one else gave much thought to the plant, but Jillian knew that if she let it die, it was the first sign that she was a failure. As long as that plant was alive, she knew she was doing right, and good things were waiting for her. Jillian handed the plant over to Rory, she explained it was a housewarming gift, and she made Rory promise not to let it die. Rory promised and invited her in. Jillian ended up helping her unpack, and since… they have done everything together.
Rory was in the bathroom finishing her hair and Jillian was on the couch looking through one of the hundreds of magazines spread across Rory's coffee table.
"Are you sure about this?" Jillian asked now standing in the doorway of the bathroom watching Rory brush a strand of hair out of her face.
"Why would I not be?" she turned to look at her.
"Well, I don't know, it just seems kind of fast. You've only been living here for two months, and you only talked to this guy for what? Fifteen minutes?"
"Well how much time am I supposed to wait when in a new city? I didn't think it mattered." She turned her attention back to the mirror.
"Well, it's just…I know there was someone else." She quickly sighed.
"Someone else?" Rory questioned.
"Someone before Los Angeles."
Rory shook her head. "Jilly….That doesn't matter now. I'm starting over, this is now, that was then, and I can't go on living my life, letting things pass me by, just because there was someone else. There is always going to be someone else."
"I guess…I don't know… I just want to make sure this is what you want."
Rory smiled, no one, especially Jess had never paid much attention to her wants, "It's what I want" she assured her and she walked passed her and into her bedroom. "And hey, maybe if he's a keeper, he'll have a friend for you…" she walked back out of her room putting the final earring in her ear.
Jillian laughed, "Yes just what I need, another distraction."
There was a light knock on the door, and both girls looked at each other. Rory ran back into her room, to put her shoes on, and Jillian went to answer the door. As she was headed to the door there was another knock, this time faster and a little harder.
"I'm coming, I'm coming, calm down will you?" she called. For this being a date he sure was impatient. She opened the door, "Can I help you?"
"I'm looking for Rory."
Jillian stood there confused, "One second." She turned around and shouted towards Rory's room, "HEY… UM ROR… You might want to come see this." She said quietly to herself.
Rory came out of her room with a smile on her face, she was walking towards the door when Jillian stepped aside and Rory froze in her place… "Reagan?"
"RORY!" she ran into the apartment and into Rory's arms.
Jillian went to close the door, and Rory spoke up, "Wait." Jillian turned to look at her, "She's not alone." Rory set Reagan down on the floor and knelt down to her level, "Where is your dad?" she asked.
She shrugged.
"What do you mean…" Rory mimicked her and shrugged as well.
She shrugged again.
"I see." Rory stood up.
"Rory…?" Jillian was still in shock, "… is she… yours?"
Rory shook her head, "No, but might as well be."
Jillian didn't exactly understand, but nodded her head anyways, "You guys have the same eyes." She stated.
Quickly changing the subject Rory stood back up and looked at Jillian, "Can you do me a favor?" she asked.
"Sure, yeah what do you need?" Jillian nodded her head.
"Can you take her over to your place for a bit? I need to talk to him."
"Him?" Jillian asked, "Her father?"
"The someone else." Rory looked away and out the open the door.
"Oh…" she paused… "Yeah…Okay." Now she was starting to understand.
Rory once again knelt down to Reagan's level, "Hey Reagan? This is my friend Jillian, she lives across the hall, and she's going to take you to her place to play for a bit okay?"
Reagan didn't understand but she nodded her head anyway.
Jillian held out her hand and Reagan took it, she smiled at Rory and followed Jillian out the door with a huge grin on her face.
The door closed and Rory took a seat on the couch, 'this isn't happening' she thought. 'This can't be happening, not tonight.'
There was another knock on the door and Rory was hesitant. She knew who it was, and she wasn't sure she was ready to face him. She stood up slowly and walked towards the door, she opened it, and thousands of thoughts, and feelings and emotions flooded her body.
"Jess." She stated.
He smiled a small smile and then looked away.
"What are you doing here?"
"I think you know what I'm doing here."
She thought that she could do this. Seeing Reagan was one thing, but now that he was standing in front of her, looking at her, she couldn't do it…she shook her head, "Go away."
"What?"
"Go away, I mean it, leave." She started to close the door but he stuck his foot in the way.
"Rory…"
"No Jess, I don't want to hear it, Go away."
His were pleading with her to let him in. They both stood there in silence, neither looking away from the other. Then there was a ding, and it broke their gaze. They both turned their attention to the elevator just as to doors began to open. Jess didn't recognize the man in the elevator, not that he would, since he didn't live out here and the only person he knew he was standing in front of, he turned his attention back at Rory, and his eyes sunk as he watched her face light up from the man that was now walking their way.
"I wasn't expecting you to be in the hall" Gio walked towards her and handed her a flower, a single lily.
Jess stood off to the side feeling like a third wheel; he rolled his eyes when he saw the flower, 'a lily? Everyone knew chrysanthemums were her favorite' a small smirk slid across his face.
She took the flower and smiled, "Sorry, just an old friend stopped by." Rory turned and looked at Jess, no emotion written on her face what-so-ever.
Gio stepped in and gave Rory a hug, he pulled away and glanced over at Jess, he nodded and Jess didn't respond.
"Where is she?" Jess glared at Rory.
"Who?" she broke eye contact with Gio and turned her attention to Jess.
"Reagan… if you want me to go, I need my daughter."
Rory pointed behind him, "She's with Jillian she's fine."
He gave her nasty smile, he didn't care that she was fine; he knew she was fine; he just wanted her so he could leave. He turned around to knock on the door. "Wait." She sighed, she couldn't let him walk away, not when he had come this far, she slowly walked with Gio down the hall and told him she would meet him downstairs, he kissed her cheek and stood back in front of the doors he had just emerged from.
Rory made her way back down the hall to Jess; she glanced back at Gio just as he turned to look back at her and smiled. She stepped into her apartment and gestured for Jess to follow.
He shut the door behind him.
"Jess…" she looked past him.
"What?" Jess snarled.
She paused before replying, "Nothing… never mind." She went to walk past him, and back out the door, but instead he spoke up.
"Rory," Jess called out, she turned around and faced him, "So this is how it's going to be? I came all the way here to talk to you, and you're not even going to hear me out?"
Rory looked up at the ceiling and then at her feet, she took a deep sigh and then looked at him, "Maybe if you would have called first, but I have a date right now." She opened the door and was halfway out…
His mouth fell open and he let out a sighed "huh…I'm glad to see L.A. is working for you, turning you into one fine upper class grade A bitch… you know what forget it… fine… see you around." He couldn't believe she was acting so cold, like she didn't even care, like he meant nothing to her.
She felt like her heart had just been ripped out and stomped on. His words hurt. She couldn't believe he just said that to her. Just because she wasn't the same Rory she was when she left, just because he thought she should drop everything for him, because he showed up out of no where, she had plans, and he had no right to come and disrupt the life she had going. She didn't need this, she didn't need him.
He wanted to take the words back as soon as he saw the look on her face and the hurt in her eyes, but he knew he couldn't. He knew he had just made a mistake, when he first got here, her eyes were curious, they were warm, and it looked like maybe she would give him a chance, now they were cold, she was done with him, and he could see that.
She gave him a cold smile and then turned and walked out the door, leaving him in her apartment alone.