Chapter 9: Will They or Won't They?

Jess: "Rory...."

Rory (interrupting): "Jess...."

The silence in that room could cut like a knife. Rory had so much to say and yet not sure where to start.

Jess couldn't figure out what to say. All the thoughts running through his head wouldn't come out in a straight sentence. He felt exhausted from trying so hard.

Suddenly Jess got up as quickly as he had entered the room and left. Rory was stunned by this. She at least expected him to say something but, after all, this was Jess. Why did she expect anything different? Jess was known for his one-liners or dramatic soliloquies that always got her in deeper. Her emotions were already going crazy. Why when things were about to possibly make sense did everything seem to just fall apart again?

Jess found his uncle eating breakfast in the dining area. He just shook his head as he passed by with the intent on leaving the inn.

Lorelai noticed from a distance this exchange and wondered....but another incident was quickly materializing before her eyes...

Dean had just walked into the inn only to come face to face with the one person he was determined was already there.

Dean: "Of course you are here. What did you do to her now?"

Jess: "I was just going to ask you the same thing."

The two young men stared hard at each other for what felt like an eternity as each struggled not to be the one to speak next. They were interrupted by hands on their shoulders.

Luke had also witnessed this from where he sat in the dining room (as well as some of the guests). He immediately got up at the same time Lorelai was running over to where she was working at the front desk.

Luke grabbed Jess by the shoulders as Lorelai grabbed Dean by the shoulders and yanked them in separate directions, desperately trying to avoid the confrontation they were expecting.

Rory had rushed down the stairs after Jess just in time to see Luke and Lorelai usher Jess and Dean to opposite sides of the inn. She just stood there for a moment, not sure which fire to put out first. For the umpteenth time that day, she questioned herself on her decision to call Jess.

Lorelai had dragged Dean outside to the porch.

Lorelai: "You really ought not be here right now," speaking as sternly as she had the night Dean had taken Rory to her dance and they ended up staying out all night by accident.

Dean: "Lor...."

Lorelai: "No, not now, Dean. I mean it. Go home."

Rory (racing out to the front porch): "Mom... Don't. Please. Let me talk to him."

Lorelai (backing off, looking between her daughter and Dean): "Please, just do me a favor and take a walk. Don't have this conversation here."

Meanwhile, Jess felt outraged that he had been taken a hold of like that by his uncle. He struggled free of Luke's grasp.

Jess: "You can't keep me away from him for long you know. I'll find him sooner or later."

Luke: "Jess, there are some times when just walking away works wonders. I thought you already knew that."

Jess just turned and did just walk away. But, he walked in the direction of the front doors.

As he walked out there, he saw Dean walking with Rory through the courtyard and toward the duck pond and bridge.

Jess (To Lorelai): "How could you let them go off like that? I mean...."

Lorelai (interrupting, holding her hand up): "Jess, there are several things here that you are not involved in. The emotional decisions of both Rory and Dean need to be dealt with right now. And I don't think your presence is really helping things right now."

Jess (scowling): "He's scum. I knew that guy would end up hurting her. I never should have left."

Lorelai: "Well, hun, you did leave. And now Rory has to straighten out how she is really feeling. And, if you really care about her, you need to give her the time to do just that."

Luke walked out onto the porch to overhear this conversation.

Luke (To Jess): "Are you staying for awhile?"

Jess just looked at his uncle and shook his head in disappointment and walked off. Why? Why had he come back here? Did he expect anything to be different?

Luke put his arm around Lorelai's shoulder and Lorelai just looked up at him in silence mouthing the words, "thank you...."

Luke had just bent over to kiss her when Taylor, Patty, Babette, Kirk and Lulu stepped outside with all their luggage, ready to go home...

Kirk (to the others): "I told you! No over ever believes me! Pay up, please!"

Taylor: "Kirk...please...!"

Patty: "Ohhhh! I do believe we interrupted you two... don't mind us, we were just leaving. It has been a wonderful stay, Lorelai. You have outdone yourself."

Luke and Lorelai had quickly jumped apart at the sound of Kirk's voice.

Lorelai (To Patty): slightly embarrassed "Thanks Patty..."

Taylor: "I took the initiative to leave my list of complaints with your concierge, young lady. It would be wise for you to take a look."

Lorelai: "Of course, Taylor. We appreciate your feedback. Thanks for coming."

Luke just stood back and watched this exchange. Now everyone knew about him and Lorelai. He wasn't sure how he felt about that.

As the group was stepping off the front porch to head back home, Kirk pulled Luke aside.

Kirk: "I - uh - (obviously embarrassed) -Thank you, Luke." His eyes were slightly down.

Luke: "Just go home, Kirk." (Not wanting to talk about the previous night's events.)

The group left and Michel came out onto the front porch to let them know that all the guests had gone and that they needed to have their staff meeting now. Lorelai looked at her watch. 11:30 AM! How did the time pass by so quickly? She nodded to Michel.

Lorelai (To Michel): "Okay, have the staff gather in the dining room. I will be right in." (To Luke): "Well, I have to go now." She then added softly: "Meet you later?"

Luke: (brushing a light, soft kiss over her lips) "Well, we do have a lunch date..."

Lorelai: "Bye, for now...."

Luke: "Bye...Wait....."

Luke realized that he had still left his bag in the room upstairs.

Lorelai: "What? No, don't tell me, Jess had more news for you besides that he still loves Rory?"

Luke just shook his head.

Luke: "I left my bag inside. What will...I mean...everyone will see us walk in together...."

Lorelai: "They already know, Luke."

Lorelai took his hand and they walked into the inn together.

Luke went to gather his things as Lorelai went into the dining room, where her staff was waiting for their first review session.

(A/N I have been thinking about all the possible Rory/Jess situations that could have happened more in this chapter, but this is what came out. It really didn't live up to my expectations to what I really think will happen when the show starts up again though....I need to come up with some more ideas for the next chapter...Any ideas would be fabulous!)