AN: Sorry it took me so long, I'll have another chapter up soon though, and it'll be Java Junkie! Because Luke said say yes! Oh, by the way, Jess did not return in S4 in this universe, everything else happened.
Disclaimer: Don't own Gilmore Girls, and I don't own Vienna either, but I am however fortunate enough to have come across it.
Chapter 2- Dream on but Don't Imagine They'll All Come True
Jess Mariano walked into his friend, Grady Carver's bar and sat down on his usual stool in front of him.
"Pass me a Sam Adams," He ordered.
"You really think I'm gonna give you beer after how shitty you acted?" Grady glared at him.
"I was drunk," Was his excuse.
"You really think I'm gonna give you beer after how you acted?" He repeated.
"I can't even remember how I acted," Jess moaned.
"Remember Kathy?"
"Online dating service Kathy?"
"Yeah," Grady nodded. "You told her about how in high school I used to sit at the bottom of the staircase looking up girl's skirts."
"You can't be mad at me for that; I didn't even mention that you were smoking crack while you were doing it." Jess persisted.
"Well, thank you so much for leaving out that little detail," He snapped.
"Come on, I'll pay for it," Jess reasoned.
"Before you drink it."
"Put it on my tab," He shrugged.
"You don't have a tab, Mariano." Grady stated.
"Alright, then put it on Cam's tab."
"Fine," He sighed turning to get him a bottle. "You got a girl coming tonight?" He quizzed turning back around.
"Nope," He answered coldly taking a long swig.
"What's with you?" He inquired. "You've nailed like two girls since you got back from California, you used to have enough ladies to pass 'em around."
"People change," He muttered starring at the liquid in front of him.
"So, was it that Shayna chic you brought here one night?"
"Shane," He corrected. "And no."
"Did you meet some surfer chic in Cali?"
"Not one."
"Why not?"
"People tend to think you're just a little nuts if you refuse to take off a leather jacket there."
"Come on, man, give me something or else I'm taking the beer back."
"She was perfect."
"In bed?"
"Probably."
"Come on, you must have nailed her."
"Not once, came close but never nailed her."
"That's the problem then man, nail her and stop thinking about her."
"I don't think that's it, Grady." He looked up sadly.
"That's the alcohol talking Jesse boy." His friend laughed.
"Maybe, or maybe it's the romantic in me." Jess smirked.
"Hello, ladies." Grady raised an eyebrow at two leggy blondes that passed and Jess went back to staring sadly at his beer.
- - - - - - - - - -
"Jess, honey bun, there's a beautiful young lady downstairs waiting for you to drive her to the prom!" Liz squealed.
"Did you really have to come here to see me off," He growled as she fixed his tie.
"Oh no, I came to take pictures so you never live it down." She grinned.
"Next time, you drop dead before unlocking the door for her," Jess said to Luke.
"Jess!" Lorelai's voice screeched. "You are keeping half the town waiting."
"Too many people!" He yelled in reply.
"Now!" She warned.
"Coming Miss Gilmore," He mocked trotting downstairs and through the curtain. He didn't even get a chance to look at his date before camera flashes blinded him. "Jesus Christ!"
"I can't say I didn't warn you," Suddenly he was being steered out the door, still blind.
"Help I'm being kidnapped!" He remarked half tripping on the steps. Rory's head was slowly coming into focus.
"Aren't you going to tell me how nice I look?" Rory teased.
"I'm still waiting for a percentage of you to come into focus." He answered rubbing his eyes.
"Well?" He stopped and looked at her. Her hair was curled loosely and she had on a dark blue dress that had a semi low V-neck, he didn't even get a chance to grab the white rose corsage on his way out he realized.
"Shit," He cursed and she looked pained. "I mean you look great…I just left your corsage in the dinner."
"That's alright; I'm not going back in there." She blushed.
"Alright then, if anyone asks why you don't have a corsage don't blame your low life thug boyfriend." He warned.
"Are you kidding? It'll be all the rage!" She mused.
"Yeah?" He smirked.
"Of course, I'll have Lane take hers off or maybe put hers on Dave…that's it! We'll start a gay rights movement! Did you see the episode of Dawson's creek where they won't let Jack bring a guy to the prom and they start an anti-prom?"
"I typically steer clear of it actually."
"Well, Jack made this big deal of being all blushy and stuff and asking his boyfriend to the prom, and then they wouldn't let him bring a guy!"
"I don't think Dave's gay, and if he is I don't think Lane will want to draw attention to that." He pointed out.
"Oh, right," Rory smiled.
"But if you want to turn Dean gay I'm perfectly fine with that." He grinned.
"I love you," She blurted out.
"W-Wh-What?" He stuttered.
"Never mind," She muttered. "I should have said anything…it's stupid it doesn't matter."
"Rory-"
"I know, you don't do well with things like that…I'm sorry…I shouldn't have said anything." She apologized and started walking.
"Rory!" He grabbed her arm, spun her around and kissed her.
"So…" She mumbled after she pulled away, his arms still holding her arms. "Was that an 'I'm sorry, it's over' kiss or an 'It's alright as long as you don't slip up again' kiss?"
"Neither, it was an 'I love you too' kiss." She looked at him in disbelief then threw her arms around his neck.
"That so makes up for you forgetting the corsage!"
"Gee thanks," He rolled his eyes hugging her back.
"8:00," Rory suddenly said.
"What?" His eyebrows furrowed.
- - - - - - - - - -
"Well we've got some beautiful weather today, sunny in the big apple today," The radio alarm clock chimed. "Don't expect it tomorrow, we've got the leftovers of a tropical storm moving up the eastern coast, don't expect building blowing down but it'll be pretty rough, now time for another 60 minutes of commercial free music on NY's fav-o-rite radio station…"
"Pixie 101.1," The automated voice sang.
"I hate this station," Jess grumbled.
AN: Yes, this chapter is GASP more than a thousand words, not by much but still. After next chapter expect it to get a lot longer though.