Chapter 2: And So It Begins..

The house seemed quieter than usual that morning. She knew she was just imagining it, Rory had been away at school and Lorelai spent many nights alone in the house. But there was something different about this time. The knowing that things had not ended well between them.

She stumbled downstairs, looking frazzled in her blue robe. She wanted to curl up in bed and cry, like she had done a mere month ago over losing Luke. This was different.

The weird thing about this situation was that as soon as Luke told her Jess was coming back to Stars Hollow, she didn't roll her eyes or get annoyed considering her nights at Luke's would be no more. She felt calm. Like maybe, despite Jess's screwed-up life, maybe having him home could have Rory reconsider everything.

The ringing phone interrupted her thought process.

"House of 1000 corpses." She answered the phone jokingly.

"My God. What kind of greeting is that?"

Silently cursing herself for even picking up the phone, she knew what she had to do.

"You know, mom, my phone has been messed up all day so I may cut of--kkkkkkkshhhhh" She gargled into the phone, hanging it up. Of course it rang right away as she glared at it.

She turned on the CD, amping up the Barry Manilow that she brought into the house once Rory went off to school. Ignoring the incessant ringing of the phone, she went into the shower.

"I have good news and bad news." Were the first news out of Luke's mouth.

"Pregnant again?" She shot back as he rolled his eyes. He picked up a box and placed it on the counter.

"Oh my. The rainboots!" She squealed as she pulled them out.

"We were broken up when I got them and when we got back together, I completely forgot to give them back to you." He said carelessly.

"I cannot believe you. What if it had rained? And because of this huge slippery puddle, I slip fell and broke my ankle, without the trusty care of these adorable boots. What would you have done? Thank god they are in my care now." She rambled as he looked at her, half-annoyed and half-amused.

"I'm guessing paid your insurance for this broken ankle in the huge puddle that will never exist because this town doesn't get bad weather, ever." He shot back.

"Fine. Well shoot me the bad news." She said, closing her eyes.

"Why are you closing your eyes?"

"Wondering how much this will kill me." She said jokingly.

"Jess came in this morning." Her eyes shot open.

"Really?" She asked, disbelieving.

"Really."

"Wow."

"Wow what?"

"I just wasn't expecting him this soon, that's all." She explained. Luke shrugged.

"I think he got into some trouble in New York."

"Where is he now?"

"Getting a hair-cut."

A choked-out laugh came through.

"I'm sorry, let me bring out my recorder so you can say that again. He's going to get his hair-cut?"

"Well, it was shaggy like that and who knows if it would fall into customers food.."

"His head of hair is falling into customers foods..?" She said mockingly

"A strand of hair. He's just getting it back to the old hair. And can we please stop talking about Jess's hair..it's freaking me out." He said, annoyed. Lorelai shot him her infamous flirt smile.

"Fine. But I have to go." She said, leaning over the counter and kissing him.

"Hey Ace. How you holding up?"

Rory looked up from her book and shrugged.

"I'm okay."

"You dropped out of Yale, huh?"

"I didn't drop out. I am on a hiatus. I am living the free life." She said defensively. Logan held his hands up in mock surrender.

"Whoa there, back down." He said, grinning. She smiled at him.

"Sorry, this whole thing has me on edge. My mother and I haven't spoken since last night..."

"Is that bad?" He asked, confused.

"For us. I mean, we've gone days without talking but we didn't end things on a fight. I just hate the fact she won't back me up on this." She said softly, rubbing her temples with her fingers. She didn't know how everything became so screwed up. The disappointment on her mother's face as they stared at each other from outside was a horrible feeling. She knew her mom thought she was overreacting, but she didn't want to devote time and money to go to school without knowing what she wanted to do in her life.

"It will be okay. You both will make up and go back to your unique ways. I promise." He whispered as he pulled her into his arms. She snuggled against him, trying to feel safe and protected from the world around her.

"So, get into trouble in New York?" Lorelai asked as Jess walked out of the barber. He made an annoyed noise and kept moving.

"I mean, you had to get into pretty big trouble in order to come back to the place you ran out of as soon as you can." She pestered as he did his best to get away from her.

"What do you want from me?" He muttered.

"I need your help."

He stopped slowly and turned around.

"With what?"

"Rory."

Jess shook his head, anger spewing through him.

"I don't know what kind of games your playing.."

"I'm not playing games." She stated, her delicate features turning serious. Seeing how broken Lorelai looked, Jess felt concern piling up inside of him.

"What's wrong with her?"

"She got involved with this rich boy, Logan. Long story short, she got an internship with his dad, who told her she doesn't have what it takes to be as a journalist...she stole a boat with Logan, got arrested with Logan, and is on a break from Yale..she's not going to college.." She said. She saw the looks on Jess's face as she told him the story.

"I can't help you." He said, turning away.

"I know you care about her." She shouted. He turned around, beyond angry.

"Look, Rory has made it more than clear she doesn't want me a part of her life. So let's leave it at that." He shouted.

"Then why did you come here?" She asked "You must have thought she would be around considering she would be on summer break, so why come back if you weren't trying to win her back?"

Jess shook his head, giving her a dirty look.

"I have to go." And with that, he took off.