That's the second time FFN went all crazy after I posted a chapter…sorry to the gobs of people who had nothing better to do than send me reviews, but couldn't!
Oh my, I'm having so much fun writing this Jersey Girls script… it's a whole new plot and new characters and new personalities and everything, and it's so entertaining…
Everyone: This is important. There is an infant site called Words Unspoken, which is a Rory Romance listing. Rory's relationships with Logan, Dean, Marty, Tristan, other, and Jess are chronicled there, and though it's got potential, it's not taking off very well. My fears are that it will die off, so here is my desperate plea, as one of the thirty-some members of this site, to check it out. The URL is supposedly in my profile, but you never know with this site. You want to go there, by the way.
Rory smiled as she flipped through the pages.
"You're happy this morning," Lorelai commented as she walked into the kitchen and headed straight for their coffee pot.
"I just got my first Season Three script in the mail, and I'm so excited!" Lorelai grinned as she sat down opposite her daughter.
"You're like a little kid on the first day of school."
"I know! As much as I like vegging out with you for a month, I love going back to work!"
"So? What's your first line?" Rory cleared her throat, and skipped back to the fifth page.
"Sorry."
"That's your first line?"
"Yep. Madison just bumped into Kayla, who gives her a look and walks away.
"What's your second line?"
"Hey, Barbie and Ken. This is my locker- go :kiss: elsewhere."
"Speaking to?"
"Ian and Haley."
"The dream couple got back together?"
"Yea, but Madison is still on the outs with all of them."
"What happens then?"
"She goes to lab class, and Kris and Kayla are already sitting together, and Haley walks in with Ian. So none of her friends will sit with her."
"Mee-row."
"And she picks a table in the back, the only empty one left."
"Then?"
"Then no one sits with her, because she doesn't have any other friends, and she ignores the girls and starts carving her name into the desk."
"I feel sorry for the girl, don't you?"
"Sooner or later, there'll be a reconciliation. It's TV, after all."
"True. So, anyway, I think you should be a snobby rich-bitch, and stay away from all the extras."
"Believe me, I will. I have no inclination to see Luke's prick of a nephew ever again." Lorelai got up again, and grabbed a poptart from the counter.
"I'm meeting Luke in a few, so just fast forward through all the drama, and tell me how the premiere ends."
"Madison ends up sitting alone in the cafeteria, with all her peers staring at her."
"Why?"
"Because Haley and Madison got into a shouting-match in the hallway, and everyone thinks she's a man-stealer!"
"Of course. Why didn't I guess that?"
"I can't wait for the second script to come, I think I'm almost done memorizing these pages just from reading them over and over."
"That's my little freak."
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
The bustle of eager bodies around him made Jess feel claustrophobic as he showed his newly laminated pass to the security guards, and made his way through the set. Filming would commence in ten days, and he was finally setting foot onto the stage that might occupy the next year-or more- of his life.
Today was simply about meeting people, and trying on clothes for hours. Neither were favorite pastimes of Jess, but they came with the territory. He nodded to passersby as he continued walking, not quite aware of his destination yet. He was headed towards the wardrobe trailer, but where that was, he had no clue.
Five minutes later, walking around in search had not amounted to anything. Sighing, Jess turned towards the nearest person.
"Wardrobe?"
"Next to Paris's trailer." The guy hurried off before Jess could ask where Paris's trailer happened to be. Groaning, he flagged down a woman.
"Wardrobe?" The look she gave him suggested her doubt in his pass's authenticity.
"I don't recognize you."
"I'm new," he explained, though in his opinion, unnecessarily.
"Next to Paris's trailer."
"Great. Now where's that?"
"Next to Madeline's trailer."
"You gotta help me out here." She let her breath out slowly, making it clear she viewed him as a waste of her time.
"That way." She directed him away from her with a pointed index finger, and he headed towards it without a thank you.
The trailers were blue-ish grey, and labeled simply by black Times New Roman font, bold, on white paper. He walked past a number of them, before seeing one with a star on the door. "Rory Gilmore" it read, and he had to raise his eyebrows. Lorelai's artistic streak had provided the glittery star, but he didn't know either Gilmore well enough to expect their unique flair yet.
Beyond that particular trailer was Madeline's, then Paris's, and finally the sought-out wardrobe trailer. He entered, feeling like he was already in the wrong place. He didn't see a single piece of men's clothing in here, and he sure as hell wasn't going to wear that skirt.
"Name?" asked a blonde woman with glasses, stepping out from behind a rack of jeans, and sizing him up.
"Jess Mariano…Tony."
"OH, you're the guy! I've been wanting to meet you! I've got some great ideas for your character- walk with me." Bewildered, he followed her out of the trailer he'd spent ten minutes looking for, and towards another. Looking at the sheet of paper taped to the door as he entered, he was stunned to see that it read "Tristin Dugrey/Jess Mariano".
"Here's how it works. We'll bring stuff to you to try on and hopefully wear- you stay out of our trailer. We have a very specific system of organization, and we don't like actors messing it up. Capiche?"
"Think I got it."
"Now, Tristin isn't here today, so we took over his half of your guys's trailer in hopes of creating the world's biggest dressing room, and I think we succeeded."
"I'd definitely agree." Still shocked that he had a whole half of a trailer, he looked around at the shirts and pants covering every piece of furniture, floor, and wall hook.
"I have to run out for a minute- we had a tie-dying experiment go awry this morning, and I'm still on damage control. But I'll be back in ten, and then you get to try on more clothes than you ever knew existed." He raised both eyebrows in mock-excitement as she bustled out the door.
He pulled his script out of his back pocket, and sat on the floor (atop many pairs of jeans). He'd eagerly skimmed over the first script when it had arrived on his doorstep, all sealed and in an official-looking box. When he learned that he wasn't in the first episode, he'd been momentarily angry, but the second script arrived not soon after. And he was in the second episode.
Madison: You need something? (Her head is on the desk, and she turns it sideways to look up at him)
Tony: Not really.
Madison: Okay then. (A pause) You're still standing there.
Tony: I was just wondering if this seat was taken.
Madison: It is.
Tony: Okay then. (He remains standing there)
Madison: Dude, like what's your issue?
Tony: The teacher told me this was the only empty seat in the classroom.
Madison: Then…WHY did you ask?
Tony: Because I didn't want to seem presumptuous. (She studies him)
Madison: What's your name, kid?
Tony: Tony Diarcci.
Madison: Well, Tony, sit down and shut up.
Tony: I almost feel like I should say 'yes ma'am'. (He sits as he talks)
Madison: Tony, not only do you NOT want to be seen talking to me, I really don't want to talk at all.
Tony: Why don't I want to be seen talking to you?
Madison: Long story. Now stop trying to engage me in conversation.
Tony: But we're lab partners, we're going to have to talk eventually.
Madison: Stop.
Tony: You're not very nice.
Madison: Thanks for the info, Bambi.
Tony: Did you just compare me to a two-dimensional, fictional deer?
Madison: You're annoying, innocent, and about to go boom.
Tony: Bambi wasn't shot, Bambi's mother was shot.
Madison: So you want me to call you Mama Bambi?
Tony: I'm just helping you get your story straight.
Madison: You think too much. It's just a…common name I sometimes call people. (She shrugs)
Tony: So you call everyone Bambi?
Madison: Listen, the reason I was sitting alone was because I did not want to talk to anyone. About anything.
Tony: I guess most people wouldn't care if you called them that. It's kind of a knife to the chest for me though, so I'd appreciate if you could find another semi-derogatory name to call me. (Silence for a moment)
Madison: I'll bite, why don't you like being referred to as a cute, little, romping, frolicking deer?
Tony: My mother actually did pass away by similar means as Bambi's. (She stares at him, shocked)
Madison: You mean…?
Tony: She was grocery shopping, and got caught in gang crossfire when she came outside. It's why we moved here. (He gulps, and closes his mouth tightly)
Madison: Oh, God, I'm so sorry. I didn't know, well obviously I didn't know because I don't know you, but I wouldn't have said anything if I had known. (He faces forward grimly as she stutters her apology, feeling horrible. She turns to face to board, and he grins)
Tony: Got you. (She turns quickly back to him, he's now laughing)
Madison: What?
Tony: I got you.
Madison: That was a lie?
Tony: It was a good lie.
Madison: Your mom's not dead?
Tony: She was alive this morning. (She groans good-naturedly, and pinches his bicep)
Tony: Ow!
Madison: Serves you right, Pinocchio.
Tony: What is it with you and the Disney characters?
Madison: I'm very in touch with my inner child.
Tony: Apparently. I mean, the last time I met someone who was mature enough to pinch me, gosh, I can't remember even remember when.
Madison: (Chuckles) You know, I do believe this is the first real conversation I've had in months.
Tony: Why's that?
Madison: Don't push it.
He replaced the script as the woman reentered the room, rolled her sleeves up, and picked up a blue sweater.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
"Lorelai, we need your help." Lorelai looked up from her magazine at her daughter as she stood in front of a paneled mirror.
"This skirt…" asked Terri the wardrobe dictator. In an instant that would have made Britney Spears proud, Rory yanked the brown skirt down to her ankles, and slipped into the red skirt handed to her.
"Or this one?" Bringing her fingers to her chin in an Einstein-esque manner, Lorelai studied her offspring.
"Which shirt?"
"Blue halter-top."
"I'd say brown." Terri obviously already had an idea in mind when she asked Lorelai, because her brow furrowed, and she bit her lip. Then came the words she said whenever Lorelai- fashion plate of the common woman- disagreed with her choice.
"We need Max in here, pronto."
"Uh, no you don't need to get him. I changed my mind- the red will look best inside."
"Are you sure? This is the season premiere, Madison needs to look good."
"Positive. Red accents her legs, which is important for the school whore, and it doesn't make the outfit look so JC Penny's." Reassured, Terri whisked the offending brown skirt away, and Rory sat down next to her mother.
"You really don't want to see Max?"
"It's actually not that bad when he's around. I just- whenever someone mentions his name, I get this freakish pull in my stomach, and it's like 'avoid Max at all costs!'"
"Mom, we cannot avoid Max. Besides being our friend and the guy who gives us our paycheck, it'd be rude."
"I know. I promise it'll get better."
"You keep saying that."
"And someday, I'll mean it." Someone knocked at the door just as Rory rolled her eyes, and Lorelai called out to them to come on in.
"Lorelai, Rory, I hope I'm not disturbing you."
"Speak of the devil," Rory greeted, earning a light kick from her mother. "Hey Max."
"Good, Terri's not hounding you. I finally catch the two of you here at the same time- it's been crazy this past week, with everyone on and off and AWOL and busy…"
"You mean me and Mom? Because if I'm here, she's here."
"No, your Tony. You're not going to be doing any scenes together for a few weeks, but I thought you two might like to meet, talk, maybe make out a little."
"What was that last one?"
"Well, this is going to be a guy Madison really falls for. That's a first- so the passion needs to look more real."
"Well, I'll talk to him, but I don't think whoever he is would be up for kissing in front of my mother."
"No no, Momma will leave you kids alone." Lorelai smirked at Rory, causing Max to grin.
"Well, whatever happens, I just want you to meet him. He's not very talkative, as I've discovered of late, but I think the two of you will get along. I saw some books in his bag earlier, and I bet you've read them."
"Which books?"
"Crime and Punishment, The Great Gatsby, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and some others I didn't get a good look at."
"Interesting range. Russian suffering and redemption, twenties drama, and dark human nature."
"I'm sure you two will have a lot to talk about."
"Oh, Max, you forgot the air quotes around "talk"."
"Mom…"
"I'm sorry, I'll be quiet."
"Ladies, how about this decision rest on if Rory likes the guy or not?"
"Sure, bring him over whenever." Max nodded, and then left the trailer to go take care of yet another minor detail with his show. Rory poked her mother sharply in the side, frowning.
"Mean."
"That's what you get for using the last of the I-can't-believe-it's-not-butter! on your toast this morning."
"Mom, there was barely enough left for one piece of toast, and I had to scrape the container. You definitely used up the last noticeable amount of it yesterday."
"Butter stealer."
"It's not butter, thus the name."
"What name?"
"I can't believe it's not butter!"
"Is that really the name?"
"Why else would it be on the container?"
"I thought it was like their slogan, or something."
"You used it a minute ago when this insane conversation started!"
"Did I?"
"Yes, you did."
"What was I referring to?"
"The butter."
"I thought you said it wasn't butter."
This conversation would have continued for many more minutes, growing in pointlessness with each passing second, if Max hadn't reentered the trailer at that moment, flanked by a scowling dark-haired boy.
"Rory, this is Jess Mariano." She turned to look at him, and her jaw dropped.
"I'm not kissing him."