The alarm clock rang out long and loud. Jess reached out and beat it with his hand. After turning it off he drifted back to sleep. Only to be awakened by an angry Luke. He stormed in and pulled the blankets off, which made Jess leap to his feet.
"What are you doing?" he said grabbing the blankets out of Luke's hand.
"You went to see her." Luke answered, "You went to see her and I get a call from one Mrs. Emily Gilmore stating that my HOODLUM nephew was in her granddaughters apartment last night."
"I went to see her so what, nothing happened. Why are you freaking out on me?" Jess said walking to the bathroom.
"Why am I freaking out? Oh, well let me see. It could be because I hear from Emily today telling me of how you snuck over to Rory's like Romeo last night. How you didn't mention such a plan to me before you ventured off, and when Lorelai hears about this she will flip." Luke said pacing the floor.
Jess stood in the bathroom fixing his hair and putting clothes on, "Look, Rory and I just talked, nothing happened. I was just checking on her. It was a spur of the moment thing. As for Lorelai, how will she know?" Jess said walking out of the apartment into an angry Lorelai.
Both men paused and Jess turned back in to the apartment. Lorelai slammed the door and Luke and Jess braced themselves for what was to come.
"I got a very pleasant phone call from my mother today," she said circling the table where Jess now sat.
"I'm glad your family is getting a long." Jess smirked.
"Note the sarcasm when I say PLEASANT. When this awful woman called this morning I thought, no this is a dream. She did not just tell me she saw Jess Mariano leaving my daughters apartment last night. I am not being screamed at about something once again, that I didn't do." She sat down beside him inching the chair closer. "So you talked to Rory?"
"Yes. I did. Geez. How come every time something happens with us it is everyone's business?" Jess said jumping up from the table, "We talked, I was concerned. She called here and sounded upset. She hung up when I went to get Luke."
"Rory called here and you didn't mention it?" she said to Luke as he was trying to sneak out the door.
"Well we didn't talk so I didn't think it was important." He shrugged
"Look Rory and I don't need any bigger problems. Just stay out of it. Both of you!" she walked to the door and kissed Luke. "We're fine."
The men watched as she stormed down the stairs. Luke turned around and glared at Jess. Then followed Lorelai. Knowing he just made a big mistake Jess decided to make extra effort in the diner. He also hoped Rory wouldn't call him. He felt bad for causing such a scene. He didn't want to be drug into the drama. As much as he wanted Rory back in his life, he didn't want to loose all he had accomplished for her.
Rory got home from community service and wondered into the pool house. She was shocked to see her grandmother standing in the kitchen. She put her stuff down and walked over to her.
"Grandma what are you doing here?" she said confused.
" I live here Rory. I want to talk to you about something I saw last night." She sat on the couch.
"Umm. Okay." Rory said biting her lip.
"I saw that Jess boy leaving last night. What was he doing here?"
"He stopped by to check on me." Rory said nervously.
"Were you sick?" Emily asked.
"No, he was just curious with all of the stuff going on. He wanted to make sure I was okay." She smiled as she told her.
"He isn't allowed here. He is a awful boy." Emily demanded.
"I am 21 grandma and he is my friend. He is not an awful boy." She spit back.
"Rory, What about Logan? Does Logan know about his late night visit?" Emily said concerned.
"No it was unexpected. I will tell him when I see him." Rory hurried her grandmother away, " I need to get ready for our date anyway. So if you would please leave and let me get to Logan's"
"Rory, that hoodlum is not allowed back here. It is for your own good."
"Yes, grandma." She said trying to get rid of her.
Rory hurried to get ready and then looked at her phone. She wanted to call Jess, but she wouldn't do it now. First she had to tell Logan about last night. She felt a little guilty although there was nothing to feel guilty for. As Rory stared at her phone it began to ring. Looking at who was calling she smiled.
"Hey Ace." His voice sang.
"Hey, so what are the plans for tonight?" she asked.
"Some old friends are in town." He said over the noise in the background, "So I am having dinner with them. We can meet up at the bar later. Okay?"
"Sure what time?" she asked.
"Logan come tell us more stories." A woman's voice sang.
"Not right now." She heard a muffled Logan say. "How bout 11pm. Is that good?"
"Who is that?" she asked.
"Just some friends. See you then." He said as he hung up.
The last few months Logan and her had there fair share of ups and downs. Logan was not happy with Rory and her life away from college. He missed hearing Rory talk about school. She had stopped reading also, which bothered him. He couldn't quite understand why she was changing so rapidly but he blamed himself. Every dinner ended with a fight about college or her mother. After the phone call, all she could do was wonder who he was with. She couldn't get over the background noises. Where was he, why didn't he say? She drove to the pub and started drinking as she waited for Logan. An hour passed and he still hadn't shown. She called him back and he didn't answer. Rory regretted drinking so early; she had drunk to many cherry vodka sours. She sat alone at the bar until Finn approached her.
"Where is your King my sweet?" he said as he sat beside her.
"I don't know. He is late and he won't answer." She sighed.
"He might still be with Sandra and Kitten." Finn replied.
"Who are they?" she angrily asked.
"Dump the slob and come home with me." Finn said laughing.
"Your not going to tell me are you?" she pouted.
"Old friends. I am sure he will call." Finn gets up and heads away.
It was now 1am and Rory was to drunk to drive. Logan had never called or showed up, until now. She stood up and stumbled over to him. She gathered her words in her head and threw them out.
"Where have you been? And who are Sandra and Kitten?" she slurred.
"Wow Ace. You have had too much. Lets get you home. Sorry I got caught up with some old friends." He said grabbing her arm and walking her to the door.
"No," she said shaking loose "I will not leave with you. Kitten? What kind of name is that? Sandra and Kitten must have been quite a bit of fun. I will see you later." She said stumbling out the door.
"No, you can't drive. I will drive you home and we can discuss this when your sober." He said grabbing her arm once again.
"Kitten? That is so typical of you snobby rich people. With your nice cars and your perfect clothes. Do you remember how you treated my friend Marty? Awful. Jess would have never done that. He would have never eaten in a place that expensive either. Hot Dog stands. That is where it is at." She started walking towards her car with Logan following.
"Rory, I don't know what your talking about. You're drunk and spouting off. Just calm down. Who knew I was going to have to take a drunk Rory Gilmore home tonight." He laughed.
"I will find my own way home Logan. Go away." She glared.
"I am sorry Rory, but right now we need to make sure you get home safe." He said grabbing her hand.
She pulled out her phone and dialed Jess's number. When a very asleep Jess answered she paused and leaned against her car. Smiling at Logan who was very much in the dark she started to speak.
"Jess love, will you come get me?" she purred into the phone.
"Rory? What time is it?" he said looking for the clock.
"It is almost 2am. I will give you directions just please come get me." She started to slur.
"Who is Jess?" Logan hissed.
"Who is that? Give me the directions." Jess said as he hoped out of bed.
"Logan, he is just some guy I know." She smiled and gave him the directions.
"I'll be there as soon as I can." Jess said hanging up.
Rory got in her car to wait for Jess. Logan grabbed her arm and pulled her to him. He didn't know what was going on, he realized he was late, but he didn't know how she knew about the girls. That was until Finn stepped out of the pub, with Sandra and Kitten on his arms.
"Logan I thought you were meeting your girl? The one you left us for." The girl giggled.
Rory stepped out of the car and looked at the blonde girl with perfect breasts and teeth, "You must be Kitten." She snarled.
"Yea this is her. She had a little to much to drink." Logan said embarrassed.
"You were late, Logan!" Rory cried.
"You are drunk Rory!" he spit back.
The 3 friends walked away and left them screaming. Logan finally had enough when he heard her last words.
"I lost myself in your world. I lost everything." She said it and quickly regretted it as she saw his face.
"I hope your friend comes soon. Goodbye Rory. Be safe." He walked away.
"Logan I'm sorry." She said.
She felt like an idiot for the last few hours. Maybe he had a reason for being late. She had never even let him explain. She cared so much for Logan, but as she sat in her car and waited on Jess she realized where her heart was. Jess was scrambling her brain worse than usual. She hated him for leaving. She hated him for making her choose. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock.
"Rory. Are you drunk?" Jess said as she opened the door.
"Yes." She looked down ashamed.
"Lets get you home." He said jumping in her car.
"We are taking mine? What about yours?" she asked.
"Yours is nicer if it sets out here something might happen to it." He smiled.
"Take me to Stars Hollow." She whispered.
"Rory, people will kill me." He whispered back.
"Please." She pouted.
"No can do. Now buckle up." He sighed.
Rory stuck her head to the window as they pulled away. She saw Logan sitting in his car watching. She felt bad for how she acted. There was nothing she could do about it now, maybe in the morning. She hummed along to the music on the radio till she fell asleep. When she awoke she was in her bed. She felt like she had the craziest dream. As she stretched she walked to the kitchen. Coffee was already brewing and she grabbed a cup. Then she noticed a note on the fridge.
You were wasted. Your cars outside, I got a cab back to mine. –JessThen it hit her. All of the things she had done. She quickly picked up the phone and dialed Logan. When he answered he sounded very much asleep. She sighed and paused.
"Logan, sorry." She said softly.
"Rory? Oh, all of us get drunk and act like asses." He said even though her words still stung.
"I know, but wow. I was a complete idiot. How can I make it up to you?" she purred in to the phone.
Logan sighed and went straight to the questions. "Who was he?"
Rory had forgotten about Jess picking her up, "An old friend named Jess."
"He seemed to be more than a friend. I was worried about you so I drove to your place, when I got there he was on the lawn arguing with your grandmother waiting on a cab. I rescued him from Emily and drove him to his car. Emily said this was not the first time he was there. He said he came to check on you the other night after our date. He also made remarks about snobby rich kids and their fancy cars. Which sounded an awful lot like you last night." Logan rambled on as Rory sat in silence.
After a moment Rory finally spoke, "He is an ex, from Stars Hollow. It is really complicated."
"He said you were just friends, yet he seemed to be shocked when I said I was your boyfriend. Like you had never mentioned it. It was nice of him to drive you home, I thanked him, but I don't like you hiding him. For whatever reason." Logan fumed.
"I am not hiding him, he just showed up the other day, we have hardly spoken to each other." She said.
"Are you sure there is nothing?" he says waiting for answer.
"Sure." She answered as she bit her lip.
"I have class so I will talk to you later. Don't scare me like that again Ace. Oh and I was late cause I had a flat, the girls were my childhood friend and cousin Kitten." He said.
"Oh, okay." She said feeling dumb.
"Goodbye Rory." He said hanging up.
That night when Rory came home from community service she decided to take a trip to Stars Hollow. She couldn't face her grandmother. She hoped she wouldn't bring it up but knew better. When she drove up to the house she realized Emily was standing at her door. She walked over and braced herself for what was to come. Emily looked like she was ready to burst.
"Hi grandma." Rory shyly said.
"Rory, lets have another talk." She said leading the way to the living room.
Rory walked in and put her stuff down on the floor, "So what do you want to talk about?"
"He was here again without a car, Logan said he drove you home cause you were feeling a little under the weather?" Emily asked.
"Yes" she replied.
"No more will I have you sneaking that boy in here. You understand?" she asked firmly.
"Yes grandma." Rory rolled her eyes.
"I have already spoken to that hoodlums uncle and your mother about this. They should keep him locked up." She said.
Rory had to bite her tongue not to yell at her grandmother. As soon as Emily left Rory realized what she had said about calling Luke and her mom. She sighed and decided it was time to make a trip to Stars Hollow for sure. So she gathered her things and left. It was 10 o'clock at night when she arrived. She walked up to the diner door and reached for the spare key. Opening the door she went in and climbed the stairway. She opened the door and there was no one there. The place was empty. She decided to stay and wait. She fell asleep on Jess's bed as she waited.
Jess was coming home from a long day at his mothers. He walked in the door to find Rory passed out on his bed. He leaned over and woke her up. She looked at him and smiled and asked him to set down beside her. She took his arms and placed them around her. Then she laid back and he followed. He gripped on to her and kissed her head. She glowed all over as she felt his arms get tighter. She sat in silence until he broke it.
"I am so dead." He sighed.
"You'll be fine, I am here to explain everything to everyone." She said.
"No not that." He sighed, "You're the one killing me." He whispered into her ear.
She lay with her back towards him and he held on and kissed her neck and head. She swooned every time she felt his lips. Finally she slipped back into reality remembering Logan. She pulled away and turned to face him. Jess turned to lie on his back. Rory raised her head and looked down at him. His eyes were so amazing. She sighed then caressed his cheek. As she played with his hair and they looked into each other's eyes she realized just what Jess meant. She was killing him and she had to stop. She started to pull away and Jess pulled her closer with a kiss. She returned the kiss and ran her fingers through his hair. Then once again she snapped out of it.
"You know I can't do this." She said softly looking at him.
He sat up and sighed, "I know."
"I know about last night, Logan told me." She said.
Jess's face began to tighten, "Logan saved me from Emily and then drove me to my car. Saved me on cab fair. He is a nice guy, I guess."
"Don't do that." She said moving closer to him.
"Shit Rory, you're the one doing it, you're killing me. I told you." He began to shout, "I can't do this, not again. I am always the other guy with you."
"The other guy? You were my guy, the guy, and then you left with out word. Jess don't make this all my fault." She jumped up and walked towards the door.
"Maybe you should leave." He said looking at the ground.
"Bye Jess." She said slamming the door and running down the stairs.
Jess sat on the bed for a second then decided to run after her. He really didn't know why, but it felt like something he should do. He found her walking down the sidewalk to her car and he screamed her name in the silent street. She turned around and he began running to her. He felt like an idiot. He hated that she made him do these things.
"Stay. Tonight." Jess said.
"Jess I can't do this, I have to figure this stuff out in my head. You show up and throw me for a loop, and then you expect me to know what I want?" She cried.
"I didn't ask anything of you, just stay. Talk. You need to talk Rory." He pleaded.
They entered the apartment once again. Rory sat at the kitchen table and so did Jess. She began to tell him in her own words everything that had happened. She told him how she felt trapped, like she had never really lived. Then she started taking risks with Logan. She told him about her dreams being shot down and how she stole the yacht to be rebellious. How her mother was so disappointed and after Rory told her about not returning to Yale her mother dropped her. She told him about how foolish she felt, how there was no turning back and she was trapped. Logan hated what she had become just as much as everyone else. She hated what she had become.
"Rory, what do you want? If you could have anything what would it be?" Jess asked as the laid on the bed.
"I want my mom back." She said as tears filled her eyes.
"What else? What would be your perfect life right now?" he said staring at her.
"Going to school, working on the paper, going to get coffee and laughing with mom, and not living with my grandparents." She closed her eyes as she spoke
"Rory, go back to school, you want to. You said so." Jess smiled at her.
"It is to late, I am to far behind. What have I done?" she cried.
Jess made her set up and he held her as she cried. "It is never to late."
Suddenly all of the anger and sadness that Rory had held in flooded out. She wept into Jess's shoulder. When she was all through he kissed her forehead. He smiled at her and said something that shocked her.
"Go to your mom's" he said. "You want to."
"I can't, the wounds are to deep. She will send me away." She said as tears fell from her eyes.
"No she won't, she wants you to come home Rory. Trust me." He said looking into her eyes.
Rory walked down the road to her mother's house. She knew this was the right thing to do. She had felt like a load was lifted after talking to Jess. After crying as hard as she could. It was going to be hard, but it must be done. She marched up to the door and remembered it was 2am. She knocked and waited. She saw a light come on and her mother running down the stairs. As Lorelai opened the door she let out a gasp. She stood staring at Rory and Rory at her.
"Mommy?" She said tears in her eyes.