Title: Emotionless
Author: Kate M. better known on the net as many things including (kait, katem_23, kate, k8, kiss_me_k8 [FF screenname], and GWTDC - if you're fair)
Chapter: 3.
Disclaimer: Don't own it, probably never will.
Rating: R
Summary: AU fic. At 36 years of age, Jess Mariano has become the last person he ever wanted to be -- his father. In this chapter - Welcome to the world where Atticus lives. This is the life he is settling into, but is it time to settle? Or are things just about to change?
Author's Notes: Ok, so this is taking place in the year 2021...I'm not even going to try and go out on the limb of predicting what it's going to be like, so i'm just sticking to what life is like now, maybe inventing a few new bands and such, but most likely no. Other than that thanks to everybody who reviewed, I hope you enjoy it. Oh yeh, and i added a twist (there's going to be quite a few), you may think something's one thing, but then it's going to be something different...tell me if you catch it ok?
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Dodge! You're going to be late! Rory called down the hall of the large three-bedroom apartment she shared with her son. It's your first day back!
A sleep-deprived Atticus walked out of his room and headed straight to the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. Rory laughed at him and walked back into the kitchen, pouring out two cups of coffee. Just as she turned around Atticus grabbed on of the mugs and downed half the cup before she could open he mouth.
I have to stop by the inn today, and then I have to go to the city, but I'll be back tomorrow. Have dinner at Luke's, there's emergency money in the fishing box, and you know my cell number.
Atticus just nodded and started digging in the fridge.
Don't do anything stupid! Oh, and the keys for the jeep are on the table by the door. Check in with Mom tonight.
She turned to look him in the eyes, I love you. She spun back and walked out of the well furnished apartment. Outside the apartment she sighed and walked down the hall.
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Atticus climbed out of the jeep and purposely mussed his hair. He rolled his eyes and looked down at himself. His usual baggy pants were swapped for well-fitted khakis and his t-shirt exchanged for a long-sleeved Oxford, adorned with the Chilton crest. He rolled his eyes and tried to walk away from himself, towards the school, unfortunately it didn't work and his body - including the uniformed part - followed right behind him.
He made a quick stop in at the guidance office, and headed towards his locker- 323- And spent a few minutes fiddling with the door, he got frustrated and slammed it open. Pulling out his books he saw a figure moving astutely in his peripheral vision.
Hey stud, back already? I didn't think we'd see you until at least October, yet here you are on the first day.
Yep, here I am.
So, any big plans for Friday night?
He pushed her back against the lockers and whispered seductively, I probably will have some homework to finish up. his breath lingerered on her ear, causing a sensation to rise throughout her body, she pushed him backwards, and he smirked. It was so easy to cause a rise in the Chilton girls. He knew that when he was close to her she could barely contain herself. She gave him a coy smile, I'll see you around Dodger.
He watched her walk away. He had been coming to Chilton on and off for the past three years. At first he had tried to keep his personal life and school separate- he figured it would be easier that way, and he had done a fairly good job of it. He liked the way the girls whispered about him, and how the guys had stopped asking if he wanted to go drinking on the weekend, because the answer would always be no.
He was what was supposed to be considered a , but chances were that he wouldn't be graduating at the end of the year. Chilton was hard enough for people entirely focused on school, for Atticus, it was like teaching a three-year old Quantum physics. He always passed, but he was by no means his mother. His focus had never been school, that was just who he was. He had never dreamed about Ivy league, actually he had never really dreamed much at all. Except when he was little and he dreamed that one day Jess would come back.
But he'd given up on that a long time ago, and now wasn't the time to think about it. He shook it off and walked to class.
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On his way from History to Calculus he encountered three people he would rather have skipped seeing - Teal Harris, Oliver Terra, and Dominique DuGrey. Three teenagers who had more money than they knew what to do with, and used sex as a weapon better than anyone else Atticus had ever met - including himself. They were the new generation Chiltonites and they knew how to party. When they weren't making out with their flavour-of-the-day, they would terrorize those less fortunate than themselves - the ones who didn't always have the Hartford mansion to themselves, and couldn't afford to drive their Jaguar while intoxicated.
At first, Atticus was the target of these attacks, however after throwing Oliver against a locker and having an intimate encounter with Dominique, both in junior year, the trio had a silent respect for him, and left him alone - for the most part.
He was silently praying that they would walk by without notice. He had never actually been to Chilton on the first day of the year, and so far it wasn't going very well. Of course, Teal never could hold herself back when she saw that the enigmatic boy had returned and she felt it was her duty to point out the fact to her more oblivious friends.
Hey Dodger. She sauntered over to where he was standing, and the other two followed. Atticus rolled his eyes at the nickname that nearly everyone he knew had coined him with. His mother had called him it since he was little, and somehow it had not only stuck, but spread as well.
It was probably when he was about 14 and had realized how anti-himself he really was. The name Atticus was synonomous with the good-doer, and he tried to be anything but. The only thing he ever put any effort into at all was school, and even then most of the time it was pretty half-assed considering what he could actually do.
And he read. He read with such a great voracity that sometimes everything else was forgotten. He had the concentration of both of his parents combined, and unbeknownst to him his favourite place to read was the same very place where his parents often lingered together.
he said curtly, and Dominique pretended to look away with disinterest.
So books, back for another year? I'd heard from Sofie that you were back but I thought maybe she'd mistaken you with someone else again. Oliver said
Books' he nearly snorted, but held it to himself. It was yet another nickname he'd picked up. This one Oliver had culled himself, and although he was the only one who used it, it still bothered Atticus every time he heard it.
Yeah, well as much as I hate to leave yet another rousing conversation with you I'm late for class. he pushed past the first two but was stopped in his tracks by the intoxicating atmosphere that was Dominique. He raised his averted eyes and they locked with dazzling blue- everyone said that she had her brother's eyes.
For someone who's so bad, you sure care a lot about making it to class on time. she said with a seductive glow.
It's the least I can do for my mother, manifesting all the strength he held inside of him, he tore away his eyes, and headed down the hall.
Goodbye, Atticus. as the words left her lips they burned through him. He remembered the time he had opened up to her, and ever since that night while everything else between them had changed, she had refused to call him dodger'.
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He opened the trunk of the jeep and threw his backpack, and laptop in, then slammed the door shut. Walking around to the driver's side door he saw out of the corner of his eye a football flying in his direction. He turned around and just in time caught it with what appeared to be a practised ease, although Atticus would be more likely to be found wearing a pink skirt before out on a football field.
He looked around the parking lot for the sign of who had thrown the ball, but after observing no one he turned back to his car. A moment later he sensed someone behind him and turned around. When he saw who it was his face broke into a genuine smile, something not often seen sustained on Atticus' face.
The only person he'd ever gotten along with outside his family, and the only person Atticus had ever felt understood him - Tobey Hart. Not only was Tobey not a rich prick like the other 99% of the student body, he also was the only person able to outwit Lorelai and name more punk bands than Lane. The kid was a walking encyclopedia when it came to pop culture and the ecclectic, and to top it all off, he was down to earth and mellow enough that Atticus didn't phase him one bit.
I was beginning to wonder if they shipped you off to military school again. Atticus said with a laugh
Yeah, well the rumour mill said you were back but I didn't want to get my hopes up by believing them, I had to see it for myself.
Atticus smiled, took a step back and gestured to himself, And here I am.
Here you are. Tobey smiled and then grabbed him in a headlock. Although Atticus was tough, unprepared he was no match for his friend, who stood 61, and had an extra 40 pounds on him. So what are ya doin' tonight?
Well, Rory's out of town, and I'm supposed to make the rounds, other than that I'm free...you up for a visit to the Hollow?
Tobey cringed, Normally, I would take you up on your fine offer, but mother has a dinner party tonight where my presence is compulsatory. Sorry dude.
Atticus just shrugged, It's okay, I was sort of hoping I could talk to Luke about something anyway.
Yeah...so how long are you here for anyway?
Indefinitely, it seems that mom has worked it out that she can live in Stars Hollow, and still keep her job...just cut back on some of the field work and increase the commuting time.
Well that's good right, I mean at least you won't have to get yourself aquainted with another big city, right?
Yeah, I guess. his thoughts drifted back to what he was going to ask his uncle, and suddenly he became anxious to get out of the school. Listen, I'll see you tomorrow ok?
Okay, bye.
He climbed into the jeep, and glancing over his shoulder pulled out of his parking spot. Once he was out of the Student Lot he pulled onto the highway and began the familiar route back to Stars Hollow.
