A/N: Hello again. I haven't mentioned what has and has not happened in the show and I didn't really think it was relevant, until now. Just assume that "There's the rub" happened, so Paris and Jess know each other and have talked. Also note that Paris is one of my favorite characters partly because the only Jess she met was an intelligent, friendly, hot guy. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews. I dedicate this chapter to all of you. Enjoy!
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Jess and Rory step off the bus when they arrive at Chilton and Rory leads the way to her locker. Jess is leaning up against the lockers next to her seeing what she has in her locker. He sees familiar text books that she brings home all the time and a picture of her and Dean hung on the side of her locker with a magnet in the shape of a coffee mug.
"Rory!" Paris yells and grabs her arm and tries to pull her aside to talk. "Hi Jess." Paris says dryly as she walks away.
Rory reaches into her locker and pulls out Of Mice and Men and hands it to Jess so he'll have something to do, and then steps over to where Paris is standing. Jess nods at her appreciatively and opens the book.
"Yes, Paris?"
"You finally did it."
"Did what?"
"You dumped that yelling stock boy for the only male that might be able to out read you, and that can keep up in our conversations about books."
"Oh well, that's not…" Paris knows Rory isn't going to admit it just yet.
"Whatever Rory, if you don't want your teachers and everyone here to know that he's your boyfriend, that's fine, I'll keep your little secret."
"Thanks Paris." Rory forces, she will never be able to explain this to Paris. Better to let her think what she pleases.
"I'm with her." Rory hears Jess explain; when she turns around to look at him, he is pointing right at her.
The girls see Madeline and Louise hanging on to both of Jess's arms. Louise is stroking his cheek, and stops when Rory looks at them, but not before giving him a little wink.
Rory's face becomes red and she gets really jealous all of a sudden seeing them touching Jess. She really has no right to be jealous, but she is glad he resisted and walked over to her.
Paris walks in between Madeline and Louise and grabs them both by the arm and pulls them away and begins explaining that they were both just hitting on and fantasizing about Rory Gilmore's boyfriend.
"Wow, that girl is two for two." Louise says.
"Lou, we should spend more time in that little town of hers, do you remember how to get there?" Madeline responds.
"Get your head out of the clouds, you could spend everyday of your life in that town, and nothing half as good as what happens to Rory would happen to you." Paris snaps.
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Rory's Locker"What's this picture of you and Dean from?" Jess asks referring to the one in her locker.
"Oh, it was just a random date, we were supposed to go see a movie, you know, just decide when we get there, and my mom took a picture because she had no pictures of us. We reached the theater and couldn't decide on a movie and he got mad and started raving that couples should have more in common and then we ended up going home without seeing a movie and making up the next day." Rory explains and is at first taken back by how much she shares with Jess, but they were always comfortable together and she has always felt that she could tell him anything on her mind.
"Wow, I'd want a reminder a few times a day of that memory. Sounds magical."
"Well, I don't want my locker to be naked. I need something to replace it if I get rid of it. What do you suggest?"
Jess pulls his own book out of his pocket and flips through it until something falls out.
"Here." Pulls two pictures out of his book and uses the magnet to hold one to Rory's locker and sticks the second identical picture back in his book. It was at one of the "Buy-a-book" fundraiser in the town. Basically the only town event Jess actually looked forward to. Rory took Dean to it once and vowed never again, so she always met Jess there and they spent all day looking at books. The picture was of them sitting on the center of a bench with a stack of books on each side of them. The two teens were sitting in the same position reading and leaning slightly inwards to one another, each with a half smile, just looking really content. Rory examines the photo, smiles, and shuts her locker.
Madeline witnesses this interaction and winks and whispers in Rory's ear, "yeah, you're not together." Madeline walks away.
"What is with these girls and winking? And to think, I thought I was special." Jess tells Rory.
Rory rolls her eyes, "Please don't flatter yourself."
The bell rings.
"Alright, Jess, that's our first class. It's calculus."
"Wow, party."
"Come on."
Rory leads Jess to her classroom across the building from her locker. On their way, a few more girls whistle at Jess, and basically every girl they pass spends a little too long examining Jess. Rory stands close to Jess to make sure these girls think she and Jess are together, even if they aren't.
They enter the classroom. Rory points Jess to the back of the first row and informs him that the seat behind her is unoccupied. Rory reminds her teacher that today she has a shadow, and she smiles at Jess and motions for Rory to take her seat.
After a few minutes of class, Rory's calculus teacher gets a call and turns to face the class. "Would anybody like to go up to the office and get my mail? There's a form I need to fill out this period."
Rory's hand shoots up. There is really no point for anybody else to even try because Rory always gets to leave the class because she does all her homework and is never behind in math.
"Miss Gimore, you may go. You and your shadow may go." She corrects herself and smiles.
Rory turns around to face Jess and waits for him to stand up. She takes his hand and leads him out of the classroom.
"Thank God, as much as I love taking notes on Rolle's theorem, I would much rather go for a stroll in the hallway with you."
Jess squeezes Rory's hand tighter as they walk.
A boy approaches Rory, "Hey Mary."
"Tristan, you're tardy."
"So are you."
"No I'm not, I just need to go pick something up."
"Oh, ok. Who's this?" Tristan asks referring to Jess.
"This is Jess."
"Hi. New boyfriend?"
"Yes." Rory answers a little too quickly.
"Oh," is all Tristan can say, "take care of her, she's a good girl."
"I know," Jess tells Tristan.
"See ya around." Tristan says to Rory and Jess and begins walking away. He leaves the two standing and holding hands in the middle of a deserted hallway at Chilton. Jess releases his grip on Rory.
"What's wrong?" Rory inquires.
"What's up with you today?" Jess asks slightly irritated.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm your boyfriend now?"
"It's just that Tristan hates Dean and he always makes fun of me for it. Everybody already seems to think we're a couple. If I'd told him no, he would have assumed something is wrong with you. Plus, I don't mind when people assume we're together." Rory smiles at Jess knowing that he'd like the attention. She smiles right into his cold, distant face. Ok, so, apparently not.
"Oh really? How nice for you. Well I do, I do mind. You know why? Because we're not together. We are not together. As much as it feels like we are, we're not, you have a boyfriend. Stop leading me on. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love hanging out with you and I want to be your friend, but you flirting with me and holding my hand only prepares me for the knife you stab in my heart when I see you kissing Dean. Please just be aware of what you're doing to me and if you're not the kind of girl who takes pleasure in ripping out my heart, please stop."
Rory's eyes have filled up with tears when she realizes what she is doing to Jess.
"Oh my God, Jess, I am so sorry. I didn't realize I caused you so much pain. You're welcome to go home now. I need to get back to class."
"No, I'll come with you." Jess looks at Rory apologetically and she returns the look. Jess puts his arm around her shoulders and leads her to finish their errand and then back to class. When they are in the office, a receptionist sees and studies Jess and Rory. She watches their wordless interactions; their walking in sync, the comforting touches, the love pats, and the caring glances. When they exit, the only thing she can think is 'wow, they are lucky to have found each other already. I didn't find my soul mate until a month after my 27th birthday.' Soul mate. Soul mates? Maybe.
Rory just needs to deal with the minute issue of her boyfriend. Rory sits through Calculus and tries to listen; she hears everything her teacher says but does not comprehend anything. They exit class and when they reach the hallway, they pull each other into a tight hug, not wanting to let go.
Scared of stepping outside their comfort zone.
Scared of starting a relationship and having it not last.
Scared of ruining the friendship.
Neither has been more terrified.
Yet, the comfort of their touch, keeps them calm. Rory gently guides Jess to take a seat on a bench nearby.
Dean is walking through the halls of Stars Hollow High when he feels a vibration in his pants. He pulls it out and answers his cell.
D: "Hello?"
R: "Hi, Dean."
D: "Hey Ror, I only have a couple minutes before class, but what's up?"
R: "Well, I'm feeling a little guilty about some stuff and I need to tell you."
D: "Alright, what do you feel guilty about? Didn't finish your math homework? Forgot one of your twelve daily books?"
R: "No Dean, this is serious."
D: "Alright, alright, what is it?
R: "I'm hanging out with another guy."
D: "At school?"
R: "Yeah."
D: "Tristan?"
R: "Jess."
D: "Huh."
R: "That's what he says."
D: "Huh."
R: "Anything else?"
D: "Why is he at your school?"
R: "He is shadowing me, he might come here."
D: "Wow, ok. You know that guy just hits me the wrong way."
R: "Yeah I know."
D: "But I trust you."
R: "You do?"
D: "Of course. You're my girlfriend."
Rory starts to cry. "Why? Dean, why do you trust me? Why are you making this so hard?"
"Making what so hard?… Rory?… You there?… What's wrong?… I have to go. I'll call you after my next class."
And with that, Rory hears his phone click off, signaling the end of the conversation between them; anything else she says cannot be heard on the receiving end. Even with this knowledge being established, Rory whispers, "bye" before she hangs up her own phone.
What just happened? She was supposed to call Dean and he was supposed to yell and get mad and she would break up with him because he was always jealous. He wasn't. He trusted her. He trusts her more than she trusts herself. Why can't she control herself when she is around Jess? She doesn't like losing control. Control is something she is used to. She is scared not to be in control. She is scared of loving someone so much it pains her to have to go to school without him and go to sleep without him.
She is scared of exiting her fantasy world of Rory and Jess as a couple and actually opening up and walking through the door of the real and true, flesh and bone, Rory and Jess. What if he isn't everything she's imagined? What if he is? What if he breaks up with her? What if he doesn't? What if he meets someone else? What happens when they get in a fight?
She doesn't know. But she is ready to find out.
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A/N: Once again, thanks for taking the time to read my story!