The encounter with Jess had thoroughly spooked Rory. She had assumed he lived in New York, but she never thought she would run into him. Well, she'd thought about it. But she didn't expect that she actually would, with the immensely large population of New York.
Rory had come to New York for the weekend with Marty, just a friendly trip. She felt guilty for not spending as much time with him, and when she suggested the trip, he had happily agreed.
Of course, her choosing New York may have had to do with the fact that she suspected Jess of living there… But she didn't tell Marty that.
She was excited about drinks with Jess later that night, but also nervous. She hadn't seen him for two years, and they hadn't parted on great terms. She thought she should plan what she wanted to say to him, and how she wanted to phrase it so she didn't come off as a complete idiot.
But for the time being, Rory and Marty walked down the crowded sidewalk, happily eating frozen yoghurts.
"Oh, Marty," Rory said, deciding to bring up the encounter with Jess. It was unavoidable. "I ran into an old friend today…"
"Oh yeah?" Marty said.
"Yeah, and I told him I'd catch up with him later tonight,"
"Oh," said Marty. He sounded disappointed. Rory wasn't sure if it was because her 'old friend' was male, or that she was implying that she was thinking of ditching him that night.
"Of course," she quickly added, "You're welcome to come too,"
"No," he said, his voice with a hint of sadness. "You'll have more fun without me."
Rory felt bad. She had invited Marty to come with her to New York, and didn't feel right about abandoning him, even if it was just for a night.
So she smiled at him and said "Marty, I want you to come."
He smiled back and agreed.
The bar was smoky and Rory had trouble peering through the haze, but she quickly scouted out Jess, who was sitting at the bar.
Jess stared as Rory approached with Marty in tow.
"Want to get a booth or something?" Rory suggested, aware that the situation might have been less awkward had she not insisted Marty come.
"Sure," Jess said. His voice almost came out in a growl, and Rory could tell without looking at the empty beer mugs in front of him that he'd been drinking.
"I'll find one," Marty said, leading them to a less smoky corner.
"Boyfriend?" Jess hissed in her ear when Marty was out of earshot.
Rory was surprised to hear the disappointment in his voice.
She smirked. "No, but I'm glad you seem to care,"
They say down, Jess with a expression that was slightly relieved and slightly cocky.
"Jess, this is my friend Marty," Rory said, clearing her throat and trying to break the silence. Marty was looking around awkwardly. "Marty, this is my… uh… this is Jess."
"Nice to meet you, Jess," Marty said politely and nervously.
Jess laughed and lit a cigarette.
"I thought you quit," Rory said.
"That was two years ago, babe," he said. "I started again after I left."
"I have to, uh… I'll be right back," said Marty, sliding out of his seat.
"What is with you?" Rory hissed at Jess once Marty was gone.
"What do you mean?" Jess said, a crooked grin plastered on his face. "By the way, are you sure he's not your boyfriend? 'Cause he certainly looks like it."
Rory groaned. "God, Jess, I thought we were supposed to be 'catching up'. And yes, I'm sure he's not my boyfriend."
She wondered what had caused the sudden change in him. He had seemed so different, earlier that day. He had been kind, sympathetic, and genuinely happy to see her.
"Three beers," he said suddenly, as if in answer to her silent question.
"What?" she said.
"That's how much I had before you came. You were late, by the way."
"By ten minutes," she said. But the alcohol consumption explained the change in attitude. "You know what, I think I'm going to go,"
"Come on, you've been here for five minutes," he leaned back against the seat and spread out his arms.
"Well, maybe we can 'catch up' when you're slightly more sober," She said.
"Me? I'm fine," he said.
"Well, I have to say I'm not surprised," She said, standing up. "You haven't changed a bit."
Back in the hotel, Rory couldn't stop fuming about Jess.
"You know, it was weird, when I saw him this morning it was like… I don't know, he was different or something…"
"Different than what?" Marty sighed. He decided it would be best to allow Rory to go on with her rant without interruptions.
"Different than when he got up and left me two years ago!"
"Left you?" Marty still didn't know what Rory's relationship with the guy was, although he was beginning to get an idea.
"We were together," she said, talking more to herself than Marty. "I really liked him, but he didn't treat me the greatest. We would fight about stupid stuff and he would go away without talking to me. Then one night he got mad at me for no reason, and he left town without talking to me, without saying a word or anything. And he left me there, all by myself, feeling stupid for ever thinking he cared about me."
Marty shifted uncomfortably.
"Anyways, I really missed him, I did, but I was still mad at him because he had been a jerk. And then today, I was just so… I don't know, happy to see him that I just ignored everything bad that had happened because I didn't want to be mad at him. Because before he left and before he started acting like a jerk, I really loved the way he made me feel. And I think a part of me wanted that back." She paused and let out a deep breath. "But now I realize how stupid that is because he is still obviously a jerk, and the time away from him must have made me forget that."
Marty didn't say anything. Rory looked at him apologetically. "I'm sorry for ranting at you like that,"
"It's okay," he murmured.
"And I'm sorry about tonight. It was horrible. I never should have suggested it."
"Don't worry about it," Marty said. "It's late. We should get to sleep. We have some more sightseeing to do tomorrow."
"Alright," Rory said, settling into the double bed as Marty climbed on to the couch. "You can sleep here, Marty," Rory said, patting the empty space on the queen bed beside her.
"No, I'm fine," he said quietly, rolling over and facing the couch back, closing his eyes and trying to get Rory out of his head.
The two were suddenly jerked out of sleep as Marty's cell phone went off at three in the morning.
Marty tried to ignore it and covered his head with his pillow.
After five minutes, the ringing still persisted.
"Just answer it," Rory groaned across the small room at him.
Marty tossed the pillow aside and stood up. He rubbed his eyes and followed the sound of the ringing phone a corner of the room where he had discarded his pants.
"What the hell do you want?" He answered, annoyed,
"This is Marty, I'm assuming."
"Who is this?"
"It's Jess, you met me tonight."
"What the hell do you want? And how the hell did you get my number?"
"Relax. I'm calling because Rory left her purse at the bar. I opened it and inside I found a piece of paper that said 'Marty' and had this number. So I called it. And that's why I'm talking to you right now."
"Makes sense,"
"I'm glad. So where is she?""Across the room from me."
"That's real helpful. I meant how can I get this purse back to her?""How about I wake her up, ask her, and we'll call you back."
"Sounds like a plan. And Marty?""Yeah?"
"You're not her type." He hung up.
Marty closed the phone angrily.
"Who was it?" asked Rory sleepily amid a sea of hotel blankets.
"It was Jess. You left your purse at the bar and you're going to have to see him again if you want it back."