Come with me.
What? What does that mean?
Rory opened her mouth and searched for words that had long since left the building.
"Go with you where?" New York? California? Wherever the hell else he had been or intended on going?
He was about to respond (how he was going to respond, he wasn't really sure. He hadn't exactly planned this out and had sort of been thinking of just asking her to go with him to the apartment. To her house. Somewhere, anywhere. But now he was thinking bigger. Better. Run away with him? Oh, it'll be great. Just like On the Road. You didn't like that? Could've sworn you did.), when something interrupted him.
His cell phone.
His brand-new cell phone, which he himself was surprised he had the money for, especially since he'd been sleeping on a mattress bumpier than their relationship and living off Spaghetti-o's and beer for the last few months. But whatever.
"Sorry, I, um, shit." Jess let go of her hands abruptly and patted his pockets frantically (where the hell was that thing?), cursing his luck and hating that Luke was right about cell phones. They were really just a pain in the ass. He found it buried deep inside his back pant pocket, beeping happily. He flipped it open, killing the noise.
"Hello?"
"Sweetie!"
He glanced at Rory who looked bewildered at the complete about-face in mood and obviously still trying to process what was happening. Or what had been happening before his mother called.
"What, Lizzie?"
"Oh, don't call me that. I'm not your girlfriend."
Jess cringed. "Thank you for that completely unnecessary incestuous mental image. It will haunt my every thought until I'm six-no, make it seven- feet under. Can I help you? I'm…" He looked at Rory again. Same expression. "I'm busy."
"Well, of course you're busy. You're always busy! Luke called, said you were staying a couple extra days."
"So Luke has his facts straight for once. You wanna get him a medal?"
"No, no. I didn't know you were staying, I thought maybe me and T.J. could hang around here a little. We could spend some time together. You, me, your new step-"
"-Don't say it." Jess hated thinking of having any relation whatsoever to T.J. Honestly, a man who loves tights and Etch-a-Sketch that much probably had a family tree that was as entwined as one of those stupid hemp bracelets everyone had in California. He hated those things; Lily had made him one, he wore it once to make her shut up. The next day it had been shoved under his mattress and reported missing.
"Alright, I thought you, me, and T.J. could do something together. Have lunch maybe? We have a few days before we gotta get back on the circuit. I've got some great new earrings I-"
"That's great, Liz. Lunch, dinner, free sample day at Doose's, whatever. I gotta go."
"Ok, honey."
"And don't call this cell too much."
"Why not?"
"Cause I hate this phone."
"Ok, sweetie. I love you."
"Bye Lizzie."
He quickly shut it off, and contemplated smashing it into the ground for good measure. Someone coughed politely.
Oh, right. Rory.
"Sorry about that. Just...my mom heard I was still here."
"Right. Cause you are."
"Are what?"
"Still here."
"Oh, yeah. I am."
Ok. Ok ok ok. This was not how it was supposed to go.
"So, where were we?"
Did that sound like a line? It sounded like a line.
"You had just asked me to go somewhere with you and I was inquiring just where that somewhere happened to be."
"Right."
He shoved his hands into his pockets and dug around for a cigarette, then remembered he was trying to quit.What he didn't remember was why he'd wanted to quit smoking in the first place.
"…The inquiry isn't over yet, Jess. I still don't know what the hell we're talking about."
"I want you to come with me."
There was a pause, and he took the opportunity to take her hands in his again. He felt like an idiot. The idea seemed to be growing in ridiculousness with every other word. He looked down at her hands. They were shaking just the slightest bit, like her voice.
"Why, Jess, would you want me to go with you anywhere? I don't…you don't…" she drew her hands back and ran her fingers through her hair.
"Come with me to New York."
"And what, exactly, would we do in New York, Jess? Open up a hot dog stand?" She'd been thinking of the one he'd taken her to that day oh-so-long-ago, when she'd skipped school to see him. But Jess cringed, thinking of Jimmy. He refused to become like him. Seriously. Aside from the skipping out on love ones and meandering pointlessly through life for the first 19 years of his existence, he was nothing like Jimmy. Not a damn bit.
"No. I'd work, you'd…work, you could find a job, Ror, and we'd live together-" he stumbled through his words with the eloquence of a drunk, reaching for unfinished thoughts.
"With a bunch of other guys in a tiny apartment?"
He looked at her, surprised.
"Luke…talked to my mom."
"Oh."
She looked at him sadly, and then laughed a little (sad little laugh, though it was.). He wasn't sure what she was laughing at, but he wanted to be let in on the joke.
"I think we're hopeless."
He smirked slightly. "I figured that out a long time ago."
"Doesn't surprise me."
"I always was smarter than the average delinquent."
"Even when you were stealing picnic baskets." She smiled. He returned it.
"I can't run away with you, you know that."
He sighed. "I know. I guess it's just…wishful thinking."
Rory nodded, biting her bottom lip. It made Jess want to kiss her.
Just once couldn't hurt.
He leaned forward and brushed her lips with his.
Just like old times, huh? Just like.
- - - - - - -
"She was mad, Luke."
"I know."
"Really…mad. She shouldn't be mad at me! I'm her best friend, Luke! Her confidante! And instead of being angry with him, like any normal person would be, she's mad at me for pointing out that she should be mad with him!"
"That's "
"You bet. Top me off."
Luke poured more coffee into her mug, which she accepted with a murmur of thanks before looking thoughtfully at the back wall. He turned to see what she was looking at, but seeing only the phone he concluded she was deep in thought and decided to take his coffee pot elsewhere. But not to Miss Patty, who was eyeing him and giggling.
Creepy.
He'd been worried when Lorelai rushed through the door, completely ignoring Kirk talking to his man purse (again) and demanding coffee. He realized he should probably be annoyed at Jess for going over there in the first place, like he hadn't already screwed up enough. But Lorelai was more concerned with Rory; Luke knew it hadn't been easy on them, the whole college deal, the leaving, the Mariano debacle. They hardly saw each other and it seemed that when they did, they talked about him, fought about him, rehashed old crappy experiences with him. And he sort of felt bad for him because he was a good guy, a dumbass occasionally but pretty nice overall.
After all, he had fixed the toaster.
And through the diner window, Luke saw him kissing her, and was very, very glad that Lorelai was facing the other direction.
- - - - - -
Rory almost fell over, she was so surprised. What did he think he was doing, kissing her? And what on earth did she think she was doing, kissing him back? And what did Luke think he was doing, coming out and interrupting them?
"Jess."
Jess did a double take, pulling immediately away from where he was currently attached to Rory's lips.
"Geez, L-"
"Why don't you go inside, Rory. I need to…talk to Jess."
Rory, flushed and embarrassed and mad as hell at Jess for kissing her (madder still at herself for kissing him back) nodded and hurried inside the diner without a second look at Jess.
Luke sighed.
"Jess, you can't-"
"I know." His eyes were trained on the ground.
"Rory and Lorelai, they've been having some trouble. And you…you and Rory would just make it worse-"
"I know, Luke."
"Then what the hell are you doing? Kissing Rory, geez. Are you crazy? What if she had a boyfriend?"
"Does she?"
"Not the point, Jess."
"Then what is the point?"
"The point is-"
"You know what?" Jess put his hands up and started walking into the diner. "I don't care what your point is. In fact, I don't really care about anything coming out of your mouth right now because you are the last person in the world I should be listening to about relationships."
"Hey!" Luke growled, pushing the sleeves up on his (what else?) flannel shirt. "I'll have you know that Lorelai and I are fast becoming a…thing. And it's not like you're here to monitor progress."
Jess ignored him and walked into the diner. He was surprised when Luke came up behind him, got a death grip on his elbow, and dragged him upstairs after calling out incomprehensible orders to Caesar.
"Hey, watch it." Jess snapped once Luke had successfully manhandled him up the stairs. Shutting the door, Luke sighed and observed Jess who was scowling unpleasantly.
"Can I...say something here?" Luke panted- dragging a stubborn nineteen year old up the stairs wasn't the most relaxing activity.
"Be my guest. I'm obviously not going anywhere without an escort."
"Jess. I know you're not seventeen anymore. I'm not stupid, I don't know if you'll listen to me, but lately you've been good to your mom and me and I just want you to…hear me out."
Jess nodded tersely and looked at Luke.
"I know you're a good kid. I know you li-love Rory. And I know I gave you those books in some strange, romance-induced delusion that maybe they'd help you get her. But Lorelai-"
"Great. So this is Lorelai's opinion? I haven't heard this one enough. Please, lay it on me." Jess had been listening before but at the mention of her name he decided it would be all bullshit anyway.
Not to be deterred, Luke bravely soldiered on. "Lorelai is having trouble getting along without Rory. They hardly see each other, and if you do this to her the only times they'll speak to each other is when they're fighting about you. They don't need that, Jess. Not now."
"I love her."
"I know, Jess."
"And if there is even the slightest chance of her not hating me, I'm going to take it. I don't care if it screws up her and Lorelai, I need this. C'mon, Luke." He looked desperate; the last time Luke had seen him like this he was asking to move back in, after running off to New York. It always came back to Rory, didn't it? Always came back.
"Jess, don't get into it. Not now."
Jess took a deep breath and looked around the apartment. "Then what, Luke? What, I just leave? Again?"
"Maybe you could say goodbye this time."
"I don't want to say goodbye to her, Luke."
"I know you don't, kid."
Jess swallowed. His throat was dry.
Luke nodded to nothing in particular, then headed towards the refrigerator. "You want a beer?"
Jess smirked. "Offering alcohol to a minor, Lucas? Your morals have descended rapidly since my leaving. In fact-."
"Shut up and find my bottle opener."
- - - - - - - - -
"So." Lorelai smiled at Rory who continued playing morosely with the saltshaker.
"So?"
Lorelai let out a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I was a jerk about it. I shouldn't judge your…very confusing relationship with Jess, especially without knowing all the facts."
"No, you shouldn't.""And I know if you were going to get back together with him, you'd tell me first."
"I would."
"Fight over? Please? Cause I can't make fun of watching Jess get dragged upstairs by the elbow by myself. You're so good with the quippy insults.."
Rory grinned a little. "Fight over." Lorelai hugged her tightly, almost falling off the stool.
"That's my girl. Now-"
"He kissed me."
Lorelai pulled back suddenly.
"I'm sorry what?"
"Jess. He kissed me when we were outside the diner. I walked around after our fight and eventually wandered over here; he was outside. We talked."
"And what, he said 'hey baby, what's your sign' and planted a big one on you?" Lorelai tried to joke but obviously had visions of wielding an ax near his head.
"No, we were talking. And I don't know, he just-"
"Tripped and fell on your lips?"
"Mom!"
"Sorry, it's just…wow, didn't we just have an argument about you guys not getting back together? Or was I making that up in my head? Don't tell me the little pink elephants aren't real either." Lorelai, obviously flustered, stood up and grabbed her purse.
"Mom, we're not-"
"We're not going to have this argument here."
"What argument?"
"The argument that's about to be had, c'mon." Lorelai was halfway out the door before Rory stood up. Another fight about Jess. Allow me to curb my enthusiasm. And get a to-go cup.
- - - - - - - - - -
"So."
"So?"
Jess and Luke were sitting at the table, thinking their separate thoughts and nursing their beers.
"You got a plan of action?"
"I'm planning on finishing this beer."
"I'm serious, Jess. What are you going to do about, you know."
"By 'you know' I assume your referring to Rory."
"It's like we share a brain." Luke muttered, and glanced towards the door. "We should probably get down there, though. Caesar will be mad I left him alone."
"Caesar's never mad. He's only upset when you refuse his request for a raise or someone orders the special."
"No one ever orders the special, especially since you changed it."
"I changed it what, a year ago? Two? I highly doubt the switching of the specials resulted in lack of business. Do you even know what the special is?"
"Some...omelet thing. Not the point."
"Man, you are having trouble expressing your point today."
"Shut up. You gonna help?"
"Yeah, yeah." Luke stood and tossed his bottle in the trash and headed towards the door. He realized Jess wasn't following when he reached the door.
"Jess? You coming-"
"Do you think me and Rory will ever work things out?"
Luke adjusted the hat on his head. "I'd say that if she's letting you kiss her, things are working themselves out pretty well."
Jess half smiled and looked at the bottle in his hands.
"Now move your ass. Lunch rush."
- - - - - - - -
Rory looked at her mom as she sliced tomatoes.
"…No, seriously. What are you doing?"
"Slicing tomatoes."
"Why?"
"It's cathartic."
"No, getting knocked off the bridge is cathartic. This…this is wrong. You and organic foods, it's just...put the knife down."
"It's relaxing."
"Well, it's freaking me out. Knife. Down. Now."
Lorelai pouted and put it down. "But I need to take my anger out on something! Why not tomatoes?"
"Can't you just make fun of Kirk and his man purse? Why are you so angry, anyway?"
"Because! You and Jess, and Jess and you…I don't like it."
"We're not together."
"But you're kissing."
"We kissed. Once. That doesn't exactly scream long term relationship."
"Yeah, well, isn't that how you two started?"
Rory blushed and looked at the mutilated tomato.
"That was different."
"How?"
"Cause I kissed him. This time, he kissed me. See? Completely different, no resemblance whatsoever." She moved her hands around rapidly, expressing her point.
Lorelai sighed and tucked a rebellious strand of hair behind Rory's ear.
"Did you ever even stop liking him?"
"Yes."
"Did you ever stop loving him, hon?"
Rory didn't speak for a minute-her eyes remained on the tomato.
"It doesn't matter."
"What'd you guys talk about?"
"…Maybe you should sit down."
"…Maybe I should stand and keep this knife handy in case I have to do to Jess what I just did to this tomato."
"Just…don't freak out, okay?"
"Okay."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
"Cross your heart and hope to go to the spa again with Grandma?"
"Ugh. Yes, cross my heart and hope for all that other awful stuff."
"He wanted me to run away with him."
"…Did you want me to bring you back a robe?"
"Mom-"
"No! No, no no. He's not going to do this! He's not going to come back with some stupid, grand romantic gesture! He's not-"
"I'm not going with him."
Lorelai stopped chattering and sat down, resting her head in her hands.
"I hate him. I really do."
"I know."
"And you what, love him? You love him, right?"
"I guess."
"You guess? This is your life, babe. This isn't whether or not you're getting French toast or waffles, this is more important. Yes, more important than breakfast. Give it some thought."
Rory sat down and sighed. "I love him."
"Ok. Does he know that?"
"…No. Well, I mean, I never told him."
"Well, hon, maybe you should."
"You're actually telling me to go tell him I love him?"
"Shocking, I know. But if you love someone, they deserve to know. Even if it is some Marlon Brando-Wild One type who refuses to drink my lemon Coke.""But don't you hate him?"
"Oh, you have no idea how much."
Rory suddenly wrapped her arms around Lorelai and squeezed tightly. Lorelai smiled and kissed the side of Rory's head.
"But I swear, if you run off with him to New York, I'm bringing the knife and the tomato and finding you two."
"Duly noted."
- - - - - - -
It was late at night. Jess had, in a moment of nostalgic sappiness, headed to the bridge. He hadn't been there since the night of the accident; he hadn't been there with her since the picnic basket auction.
The day of the auction had been one of the best days of his life. Of course, that lead to the eternal pondering of just what "one of the best" was supposed to mean, as there was only one "best" and there couldn't be a group of "bests" but people used that phrase all the time and he-
"Hey."
Rory had interrupted his mental ramblings, thankfully.
"Hey."
She looked lost for a moment, then sat down next to him.
"Haven't been here in a while."
"Me neither."
"Remember the auction-"
"Yeah."
"I can't believe you ate that stuff."
"I can't believe you let me."
They smiled, and drifted back into the soft silence that seemed to follow the two.
"What are you doing out here?"
"I love you."
Jess stiffened.
"I love you."
She said it again. Louder this time. She knew he had heard her, but it was oddly enjoyable saying it out loud. I love you, I love you, I love you. I hope you love me back.
"I think now is when you say something back. Maybe. I don't know."
So this must be how Dean felt. How awful.
"I love you, too."
And all was right with the world.
"So. We're in love."
"So it seems."
"What now?"
"Now we sit." Jess's hand snuck over hers.
"Sit?"
"Sit."
And they did just that.
- - - - - - - - - - -
Lorelai woke up the next day, stretched, admired her picture of a shirtless Brat Pitt that she kept on her bedside table (a Christmas present from Rory, who always knew just what to buy) and pulled her slippers on. Shuffling downstairs, she passed Rory's room and tapped on it impatiently.
"Up, up. Mommy lacks the motor skills to make coffee. I suggest Luke's."
After receiving a very lackluster response, she pushed the door open and wandered over to the bed.
"Honey?"
"Umph."
"I agree."
"I need sleep."
"Well, I need coffee. And I believe that being the head honcho of this house, I get to pick our agenda."
"I need sleep more than you need coffee."
Lorelai scoffed.
"I do!" Rory protested weakly and flopped over. It was then Lorelai noticed she was still clothed, and wrapped up in Jess's jacket.
"When'd you get home last night?"
"Late."
"And by 'late', you mean 'early', right?"
Rory hugged a pillow to her.
"Yes."
"C'mon. It's summer. Summer is the time for coffee and returning Jess's clothing."
"Ten minutes?"
"Fine. I'll get dressed." Lorelai flounced out of the room, pausing only to stick her head back in and look at Rory sleeping peacefully, tightening the jacket around her.
- - - - -
"Ok. I'll be needing a play-by-play of everything that happened last night."
Rory sighed and looped her arm in her mother's.
"We talked. We kissed."
"Location?"
"Bridge."
"Bridge?"
"You know, the one we had the picnic at."
"Aw, sappy memories."
"Hush, you."
"So you talked, you kissed. Once?"
"Twice."
"Initiated by?"
"First by him, then by me."
"Tongue?"
"Mom!"
"Just wondering!"
They walked along in silence for a minute.
"…There was tongue, right?"
"Mom!"
"Alright, alright. So what happens now?"
"We don't really know. We were going to talk today."
"Good, good." Lorelai bit her lip and looked at Rory again.
"What?"
"You promise you're not going to run off with him?"
"I promise. We're not even really…dating. We just, you know, love each other."
"You love each other, you kiss, you talk. Oddly enough, most cultures would count this as having some sort of romantic entanglement. In fact, I'll bet in some places you'd have to be married to engage in that kind of action, young lady."
"He might be going back to New York. Or California. I don't even know."
"Well, that's what talking is for. And hey, I give my word I won't kill him."
"Thank you." Rory kissed Lorelai on the cheek as they entered the diner. Jess was taking someone's order. Lorelai ignored him and grabbed a table, while Rory went over to him. Jess finished writing (someone had actually ordered the special. It was truly a momentous occasion) and smiled at her.
"Hey."
"Hey."
Neither knew what to do. Kiss? Hug? Playful punch to the shoulder? Jess swallowed and nervously leaned forward and brushed his lips against her cheek before pulling back immediately.
"I gotta give Caesar the order."
Rory nodded and crossed her arms, searching the diner for the gossips. Babette, sitting by a window with Morey, had seen the kiss on the cheek and dialed Miss Patty immediately. Rory groaned.
"Hey."
She turned to see Jess behind her, looking nervous and cute and in love. It almost made one forget that he was wearing a shirt that had a butt with hands flipping people off.
"Hey."
"You want coffee?"
"Always."
He smiled and she sat down at the counter, tapping her nails nervously on it. Jess watched her for a moment before putting his hand on top of hers.
"You ok?"
"Are you going back to New York?"
She looked so worried that he wasn't really sure what she wanted to hear.
"I don't know. I haven't really...given it all that much thought. I mean, things have been…" He moved his hands around, trying to explain just how things had been. It wasn't necessary- she knew what he meant.
"Yeah."
"Yeah. I just...my apartment's there, my job's there, but…" he trailed off.
Rory observed him. "You're working."
He raised an eyebrow. "I am."
"You're working here. Helping out. At Luke's. That has to mean you've thought about staying here."
He tapped his pencil on the ordering pad.
"The thought's crossed my mind."
She nodded and took his hand in hers. They smiled (not entirely oblivious to Lorelai's stares).
"I'm still a little bit mad at you, you know."
"I know."
"But maybe that's okay."
"Maybe."
He leaned in, she closed her eyes, the phone rang. Reluctantly, he pulled back.
"Hold on a second."
Turning, he plucked the phone from its holder and nestled it between his ear and shoulder as he poured Rory coffee.
"Yeah?"
He was instantly reprimanded for his greeting by a half-glare from Rory.
"Jess?"
His jaw tightened.
"What do you want, Jimmy?"
This caused Rory to look up, worried.
"I…how are you?"
"Save it. What do you want?"
"I…we need help, Jess."
It was then that Jess realized his voice was choked.
"…What's wrong?"
"It's Sasha. Ah, God…"
Jess leaned on the counter.
"What happened?"
"Sasha's dead, Jess."
A/N: So sorry about the complete lack of updates- I took classes online this summer, and had finals. Not to mention a severe case of writer's block (it has yet to go away). Reeeally sorry that this chapter sucks (I reiterate, damn writer's block) It's mostly filler and, trust me, it will get better. Oh, and since I didn't really understand when I first wrote it (I'm sure you're all a great deal smarter than me but humor me)- Lorelai left the house right after their fight, went to Luke's. Rory wandered around, wound up at Luke's. Lorelai didn't bump into Jess, he went outside after her arrival. Sorry if I'm insulting your intelligence by repeating that, I just wanted to say it again to see how long I could hold your attention (kidding.). Oh, and surprising news- I was nominated for the Pride and Prejudice fanfiction awards! I was shocked, to say the least, since I'm an absolutely awful writer. But I'm giddy about it all the same. Anyway, thank you all SO much for your reviews- be kind and review this chapter, won't you? And, may I just say, ideas are ALWAYS welcome (the writer's block may not leave for quite some time). Thanks again!
