Chapter Seven: The Bearer Of Bad & Good News

"Thanks a lot for lunch," Rory said as she pulled up to Luke's diner. "I had a lot of fun."

"Yeah, me too." Jess said with a smile. He opened the car door and got out. Before leaving, he bent down, "I hope everything works out. I'll call you later on."

"Thanks."

Jess closed the door and watched the car speed away from him. He'd been having such a good time with Rory lately that his father's death had almost slipped his mind. He turned and looked through the blinds of the diner, watching Luke as he cleaned the counter. It took him a while before he actually went in.

The familiar ring of the bell made Jess feel at home. He had always liked living with Luke, even if he didn't show it very well. He walked up to the counter and sat down.

"What can I get ya?" Luke asked, his head still down.

"Hey Uncle Luke."

Luke looked up at Jess. He smiled, not looking surprised to see him. This made Jess curious. There was no indication that he was coming, unless somehow Liz had heard about Jimmy dying and called Luke. That couldn't be though. Jess only knew because Sasha had called him, telling him about the accident. Sasha didn't even know about Liz. So there was no way.

"Hey Jess." Luke came around the counter and sat down next to him. "How have you been?"

"Okay, you don't looked surprised to see me."

"I knew you were in town."

"How?"

"Lorelai."

Jess's eyes widened, "Lorelai?"

"Yeah."

"How did she know I was here? Did she see me?" Jess sounded panicked.

"No, Miss Patty told her."

"How did Miss Patty know?"

"Miss Patty knows everything."

"What are you doing back here, Jess? I mean, don't get me wrong, I love seeing you. But I've known you a long time, and in that time, I've come to learn that you don't just come to see people. There's always a reason."

"It's Jimmy."

"Jimmy?"

"He's dead."

"What?"

"Car accident. Three days ago. Hit and run. Still haven't found the guy."

"Aw, Jess I'm sorry."

"It's okay. Wasn't much of a father to me anyway. Not like you."

That brought a smile to Luke's face. Jess thought of him as a father figure. Him. Luke Danes. He guessed he was now capeable.

The two of them sat in silence for a long time. Luke got up and hugged Jess tightly. He returned behind the counter and made a fresh pot of coffee. Jess gestured to the stairs and Luke nodded. He walked up the familiar staircase and into the apartment that was once his home. He'd never knew what it felt like to be loved and have a real home until he moved in with Luke. He'd missed it. He'd missed it a lot. He let his stubborness get the best of him two years ago. Thats why he'd left. He had too much pride. Now he'd wished he could go back and rethink it all. Maybe he'd still be with Rory. Maybe.

Jess heard Luke's footsteps as he climbed the stairs to the apartment they had once shared. Luke opened the door and gave Jess a sympathetic look. "Hey, you don't have to feel sorry for me, okay?" Jess fired, trying to act tough. Luke lifted his hands in a shielding manner and walked to the refrigerator.

"I saw her."

"Saw who?" Luke said, his head still in the refrigerator.

"Rory."

"Oh, you did? Where?"

"Actually, last night. We were together all night."

Luke jumped up and turned around with a look of concern taking over his face. "You spent the night with her?"

"Yeah. Not what you think though."

"Well, what.. happened?"

"Long story." Jess filled Luke in on all of the details of what had happened the night before. What Rory had told him about her mother and not finishing school. He'd never been brutally honest with anyone in his life aside from Luke. Luke was always easy to talk to and Jess was glad that he'd come back to Stars Hollow.

"Wow."

"Yeah. So, you and Lorelai? Getting married?"

"Yup," Luke said, drifting off into his own happy thoughts.

"I'm glad."

"Really?"

"Yeah. You deserve it. You deserve a Gilmore."

"Well," Luke answered, slightly laughing, "Maybe I deserve one, but it doesn't mean I'm prepared to handle one."

"I hear ya." Jess laughed. Luke had been able to make Jess laugh regularly. Jess didn't laugh much. The only people that were able to make him flat out laugh were Luke and Rory. The two most important people in his life, no matter how little he got to see them.

"So, you still want one?"

"One what?"

"A Gilmore Girl."

"Well," Jess said, looking up at the ceiling, "You know how tough it is to get over those Gilmores."

"That I do."

Jess go up from his seat at the table and walked past his uncle to the bathroom. He locked the door and closed his eyes, banging his head against the wall. How did he get himself into this? Here he was, again, pining for this girl that was totally out of reach for him. He had her once before and still didn't understand why she'd given him a chance. She's so much better than me, he thought opening his eyes and leaning on the bathroom counter. I don't have a shot in the world. I had my chance and screwed it up miserably. I need to get out of here.

He raced out of the bathroom and into the kitchen. Luke looked up trying to figure out what was going on. He walked over to Jess, putting his hand on his shoulder. "Hey? Where are you going?"

Jess turned around and looked Luke square in the face. "I have no idea."

"Come on," Luke said sympathetically, "Let's talk."

"Luke, you know me. You know very well that I'm not the kind of guy that sits around and cries when his life doesn't go exactly the way he wanted it." Jess started a furious pace back and forth across the small apartment. "My life has mostly been crap. There have been a million times when I just wanted to bail. First, my dad leaves right after I'm born, not the right way to get the father of the year award. Then, I mess up things at home. Then, my mom ships me off here, away from my friends and my life!"

"Jess, I'm sorry that things haven't gone well for you in the past bu-"

"No, let me finish." Jess came closer to Luke, his arms swinging in the air with every word he spoke. "My mom sent me here to live with you, the uncle I never really knew. I thought it was going to be the worst thing that ever happened to me. I was too stupid to realize that good that you were doing for me. You were making me go to school and work. You straightened me out. I was just too dumb to realize that." Jess paused and sat down on the edge of Luke's bed. He took his head out of his hands and looked up at his uncle. "You took me back when I wanted to come live here again. You really did care about me, but once again, I was an idiot."

"Then I finally land the girl of my dreams, stealing her away from her prize-winning boyfriend, and I screw it all up. I failed school and bailed. That was the STUPIDEST thing I've done in my life. I should have taken your offer and done the year over. Maybe I'd still have Rory, maybe I wouldn't be some screw up."

"Jess! You're not a screw up!" Luke sat down next to him. "Everyone makes mistakes, you just made a bunch of them. You can still get everything together. Go back to school and-"

"I already did."

"You did?" a smile appeared on Luke's face.

"This year I finished up high school. I got a job at a bank and I've been saving money to go to college."

"Have you applied anywhere yet?"

"No."

"Well, the summer just started, we can get some applications and turn them in as soon as possible."

"One problem."

"What?" Luke was so excited that he was practically glowing.

"I don't have much money. Only about two thousand. That's not gonna get me anywhere."

"It's okay. I'll help you."

"Luke, that'll be so expensive. Dorm and tuition? I can't take all of that money."

"Okay, I'll help with the tuition and you can live here, with me, again."

"Here?" Jess thought a moment. He remembered what he had just said about Luke straightening him out. If he really wanted to do this college thing, he'd need Luke's help, "Are you sure?"

Luke's smile suddenly turned into a stern, serious visage, "As long as you go to all of your classes and you don't screw it up. I'd be happy to help you."

"Okay."

"Promise?"

"I promise." Jess couldn't help but smile. He got up and hugged Luke. Maybe things were finally working out for him.