Sony31- once more, the characters are as follows:
Rory Gilmore- Madison Armstrong
Jess Mariano– Tony Diarcci
Paris Gellar – Kris Moore
Madeline Lynn- Kayla Ashwitz
Louise Grant- Haley Jackson
Tristin Dugrey- Ian Cavalier
Lonnie- Wow, thanks for the professional opinion. I didn't go into that much detail during that scene, but I will remember that for future reference.
music4mysoul- I hardly think Rory lost her mind. I'm writing her the way she's portrayed in the show: when she lived in Star's Hollow, she was oh so sweet and nice. When she went to Chilton, she learned to compete with people, even leveling with a few (ex- Francie. Which is why I think she'd have no problem threatening Jess). And when she went to Yale, she was around such a new group of people and experiences that she turned into a person so very unlike her former self. So if Rory lives in New York, and works in the high-stress 'business', I think she's entitled to demand people apologize at the very least.
Warning: Long chapter ahead. I was thinking of making this two. But for reasons which I can't remember, I didn't.
Rory awoke the next morning feeling extremely well-rested. This didn't make sense, because they hadn't gotten home until late the previous night, and a quick glance at her exercising-pig clock told her that it was only 8:37.
8:37 AM.
On her day off.
Before she had time to puzzle over this strange turn of events, she became aware of something very soft next to her. Reluctant to open her eyes again so soon, she tried to discern what it was with her waking mind. It was soft…malleable…warm…and it smelled pretty. Not alert enough to question WHY one would be in her bed, Rory decided it was a stuffed animal, and tried to clear her mind and return to dreamland.
It worked briefly, for when Rory opened her eyes again, the pig read 9:03. Sighing, she began to move around, freeing herself from some of the sheets that had wrapped themselves around her during the night.
By the time she sat up and yawned, she'd remembered the stuffed animal. Looking around for it, she saw nothing until she noticed something peeking out from under her white sheets. The item itself was also white, and as she picked it up, she looked skeptically at it.
What in the world was a sweater doing in her bed?
That's exactly what she yelled down the hall, not lively enough yet to venture from her bed.
Lorelai groaned and turned over, not wanting to wake up at her daughter's voice. 'Rory…speaking…trouble?...' her brain choked out, but was soon silenced as sleep overtook her once more. Lorelai's motherly instincts did not function at 9:04. Perhaps in an hour, she'd make sure Rory was alright.
Realizing that her mother was not going to respond, Rory reluctantly slipped from under her covers, taking the sweater with her, and trudged to her mother's room.
The apartment technically belonged to Rory, but she couldn't imagine ever monopolizing it. Everything in the place belonged to BOTH of them, and with the small exception of Rory occupying the master bedroom, each had an equal share of the house. Lorelai's bedroom was far from small, however, and Sleeping Beauty herself sprawled out under her pink canopy.
"Mom!" Rory yanked the girly curtains back and secured them to the bedposts. Lorelai murmured something that sounded like 'I like plumbers' before Rory tossed the sweater onto her body. It landed on her head, and she groped at the soft object drunkenly, still under the influence of the Sandman.
"What's this?" she asked sleepily, yanking it off finally and staring accusingly at her daughter. Rory returned the look.
"That's what I was hoping you could tell me."
"I dunno what it is."
"Well then, how did it find it's way into me bed?"
"It flew?"
"Try again."
"Rory, leave me alone, I'm not even supposed to be UP at this hour, much less undergoing a full interrogation."
Rory sat heavily on the edge of the bed, bouncing slightly until Lorelai sat up.
"You're annoying today."
"Where did this come from?"
"I told you, I don't- Oh." The look the crossed Lorelai's face showed that she'd just remembered.
"Um, don't be mad."
"Should I be mad?"
"Possibly. Um, do you recognize this lovely sweater here?"
"No."
"Well, bunny, this is the sweater Jess was wearing yesterday." Rory looked down at the item, momentarily disgusted. Then she realized that Jess's sweater should not have been in her bed to begin with.
"'Splain."
"Weeeeeell, you see, Max was concerned that you and Jess weren't comfortable around each other, and that it was going to interfere with your work…"
"I'm guessing this is where you come in."
"Right, so um I take the sweater, and I put it in with you …so you'd smell him while you were sleeping…9:05, Rory." She pleaded to be allowed to lay her head down again, as Rory looked at her incredulously.
"Why?"
"I used to sleep with your dad's shirts all the time after he left."
"Mom!" she stuttered, "This is completely different! You hate Jess as much as I do!" The way she said his name alone made Lorelai flinch.
"Okay, okay, let me sleep! Max cornered me and yelled at me to do something, so I just went with the first thing that popped into my head. I can see now that it wasn't a very good idea."
"No shit, Sherlock." Lorelai lowered her head. Rory only resorted to obscenities when she was beyond pissed.
"Look, I'm sorry, but I've still got cobwebs in my brain. Can we discuss this in a few hours?" Rory silently nodded and retreated, taking the dammed sweater with her. She gave serious thought to burning it in the bathtub, but after all the morning's commotion, she just felt like curling up for a few more hours, like her mother. She sloppily folded the sweater over her arm, and stuck it on the top shelve in her walk-in closet. She never wore anything she kept up there, so it wouldn't be rubbing off its evilness on any of her precious clothing.
The topic of the sweater was not revisited that day.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Rory glared at Jess's back as he rummaged around in her vanity table.
"What do you think you're doing?" He turned and smirked at her.
"Do you know how much you can learn about a person by going through their drawers?"
"So if I went through your personal belongings I'd find a flask, a half used box of condoms, and The Idiot's Guide to Being an Asshole?"
"Touchy…from the girl who has a Hello, Kitty change purse."
"That's it, now you go."
"Hey, I showed up at your trailer, on time. The least you could do is be a good hostess."
"I let you in, didn't I?" Max poked his head into the room right then.
"How's it going?" Two matching scowls answered him. "Okey…dokey. I'll be back later." He closed the door slowly, shaking his head.
"Let's just get this over with." Rory slammed her script down on the vanity, pulling up a chair. "This is Tony's desk. That's Tony's chair. AIS, please."
"What's AIS?" he asked as he sat, scooting his chair up so the entire lengths of their legs touched. He grinned as she glared at him, and moved his chair back.
"Ass in seat, smarty."
"I can't believe people actually think you're the sweet one in the cast."
"Well, I used to be before you stole my title." Jess sighed, and rubbed his temples with his index fingers.
"Hey, Gilmore, it's early. We weren't even supposed to be here today, but Medina made us come in because he didn't like the way we did this scene, so here we are. You're PMSing, I'm hung-over, and this job isn't getting any easier. Can you just stop it with the biting remarks and do this for a minute?"
"I am NOT PMSing!" she retorted defensively, angrily.
"My head was fine when I walked in here, but your voice is doing something, and my headache is getting worse and worse." Rory looked like she was about to slap him, but instead visibly considered her next plan of action.
"It's a world of laughter, a world of tears, it's a world of hopes and a world of fears! There's so much that we share that it's time we were aware it's a small world after all!" Grinding his teeth in frustration, he tried to block out her 'singing', which was more like screeching just to get on his nerves, and focus on their scripts. She smirked at him, having turned the tables- normally he smirks while she fumes.
"Peace zone. For an hour. Deal?" She looked at his outstretched hand, seemingly checking to make sure it was unarmed, and then reluctantly placed her hand in his and shook. In effort to make each other nervous, neither let go, holding a stubborn gaze between them until they were interrupted by Lorelai.
"Hey kiddies," she drawled as she entered the small building, but stopped and looked on in confusion at the scene in front of her. Jess was the one to smirk this time while Rory grudgingly took her hand back.
"Did they change the scene or something?"
"No, that was a peace handshake."
"Okay, Ulysses, I'll leave you and Robert to continue your…peace handshake." She winked at Rory, who fought the urge to growl. As soon as Lorelai had left, Jess moved towards the door.
"What are you doing?"
"Locking the door."
"What?" Rory jumped up, panicking. When he noticed the freaked-out look on her face, even big-kid-on-the-playground Jess had to soothingly explain.
"So no one else interrupts us, because it's becoming counterproductive. I'm not going to turn into some crazyass evil psycho rapist on you."
"Good to know." She slowly took her seat again, wishing her heart would return to normal soon. In truth, Jess's justification hadn't been what she was worrying about. After weeks of acting opposite him in a room filled with other actors, cameramen, directors, extras, and her mother, it was unnerving being alone with him. Max and Lorelai had been welcome interruptions, but no one else could come through the door now until they had this scene nailed.
In recent weeks, the two had continued their frosty avoidance of each other at all times except when on the set, and then they had taken to sniping at each other and attempting to hurt the other's feelings. Instead, they just ended up so furious that every interaction between Tony and Madison, which were intended to be geekisly romantic, ended up looking cold and extremely forced. Max had firmly suggested they spend some time one-on-one working on this particular scene, Tony and Madison's first kiss. And when Max firmly suggested, you did it or got fired.
Hangover or no hangover, female problems or not, this had to be taken care of. Whether they liked each other or not, this feud which started over nothing really had turned into something big enough that it was affecting their artistic integrity. They arranged their chairs they same way they'd be during the scene, and began.
Madison: Thanks for helping me study again, Tony. I know you had a date and all, so this means a lot to me.
Tony: It wasn't a date! We were just going to go to the arcade!
Madison: You mentioned pizza.
Tony: As the arcade is located in the pizza parlor, I think it's implied. Is it implied?
Madison: Why are you asking me, I wouldn't know if pizza was included in a night at the arcade.
Tony: Yea, but you've dated before.
Madison: (laughs) So have you.
Tony: No I haven't.
Madison: Tony, you're 17…if you haven't dated, you're really weird. (He shrugs) You've never been on a date? Not even for pizza?
Tony: Not really.
Madison: What about that girl you told me about? Abby?
Tony: I met her at Space Camp. We were together for half the summer, but we were out in the middle of nowhere pretending it was space- there really wasn't anywhere you could go on a date.
Madison: Wow…wow. Wow. (surprised)
Tony: You sound so surprised.
Madison: Wow. I'm just processing this. Wow.
Tony: Should I be worried by your constant repetition of that word?
Madison: Well then, tonight would have been your first real date. Now I feel doubly crappy that I made you cancel it.
Tony: Nah, don't worry about it. I don't even know if she thought it was a date.
Madison: Uh, she DEFINITELY did.
Tony: Why do you think that?
Madison: Girls locker room, honey.
Tony: I got talked about in the locker room? (In childish awe)
Rory almost laughed as he said that, having trouble picturing him so naive in real life.
Madison: I used to change with the 'popular girls', back when they still liked me, but after that whole Ian thing we kinda went our separate ways. I normally dress out in the drama freaks section. Not that Stacy's a freak or anything.
Tony: The drama freaks were talking about me?
Madison: She was with her friends.
Tony: What'd she say?
Madison: Whoa there buddy, I can't let you in on that. It's a sacred Girls-Locker-Room thing, that no one with testosterone shall hear of what we talk about in there.
Tony: I'll tell you what the guys say about you in our locker room. (Persistent)
Madison: Are any of them positive? (Snorting)
Tony: Depends what you considered positive.
Madison: What?
Tony: You tell me, I'll tell you.
Madison: You're pretty mean for a guy who'd date a drama freak.
Tony: Deal?
Madison: Fine, deal. And your stuff had better be good. (Crossly)
Tony: Stacy…? (Trying to get her on course)
Madison: Yea, she was just talking about how hawt you were, and how much she wanted you.
Tony: She didn't. (Disbelief)
Madison: Antonio Francis Diarcci, get a mirror. You, my friend, while not the most outgoing person, are not the most homely either. (Boldly, looks carefully at him for reaction)
Tony: How do you know my middle name? (Confused)
Madison: (Shrugging) When I was here the other day to do Trig homework, you mom was yelling at you to do something, and she used the full name.
Tony: Wow.
Madison: That's my word.
Tony: (Laughs) I just hadn't realized how much time we've been spending together lately. Ever since I met you and we did that stupid Lab project, you've been over here every other day.
Madison: Is that a bad thing?
Tony: No, it's just kinda funny. I'm the kid who eats lunch alone in the corner of the cafeteria, and you're the most talked-about girl in the entire school.
Madison: You have first lunch, right?
Tony: Yea. I take it you have second.
Madison: I have first, I just choose to eat alone and outside nowadays. But I'll drop by someday, keep you company, and then neither of us will be alone. (They grin at each other)
Tony: (Breaks moment, suddenly nervous) So, I guess you wanna know what they were saying about you now. (Gets more nervous)
Jess, for someone who carried himself with such confidence, was still surprised at how well he'd nailed this shy character. Avoiding eyes and stuttering came like second nature, making him wonder exactly what he'd been like in past lives.
Madison: Hit me.
Tony: You know…typical guy stuff…how much they wanna bang you, those of them who say they have sharing stupid explicit details, stuff like that… (Voice fades)
Madison: You're squirmy.
Tony: It's strange to tell someone people are talking about her like that behind her back.
Madison: Don't sweat it, I've always had people talking behind my back. It's what makes me so interesting.
Tony: Isn't it the other way around?
Madison: Nah, I don't think so. People make up crap, it gets around and everyone believes it, and then they keep talking.
Tony: So it isn't true?
Madison: What is?
Tony: The stuff…about you. (Avoids eyes)
Madison: Tony, you gotta stop looking all around when you talk to people, even if you're nervous. It makes you look dorky, not to mention drugged up.
Tony: Sorry.
Madison: Are you asking me if I'm as promiscuous as they say?
Tony: I guess.
'Yea, that's me', Rory thought sarcastically, the Catholic school girl slut.
Madison: The eyes, Tony. And yes.
Tony: Oh.
Madison: I'm the bad seed in the family, the school whore, the popular outcast, the future stripper-if-nothing-else. I don't even know why I'm with someone like you, who is so completely sweet and innocent it'd make me sick if I didn't like you. (Rage builds as she talks)
Tony: Madison, calm down. (Soothingly)
Madison: (Not calming down) And now I'm hogging all your time. One of the only good guys out there, and you could be on your first date right now with Stacy from the Drama Club…I can't even do the guy-as-a-friend-thing right.
Tony: Madison…I don't care. I'd rather be here, helping you study, than making small-talk with Stacy.
Madison: Oh. Thanks, I think.
Tony: It's okay. Now, what part of this problem don't you get?
Madison: Uh, the that thing, and then this.
Tony: Madison.
Madison: I wasn't in Trig today, sue me. (Guilty)
Tony: And why not?(Parenting tone)
Madison: I went for a drive.
Tony: I'm going to explain this to you now, and if you ask me for help tomorrow, I'm taking your keys.
Madison: Evil child.
Tony: It's for your own good, young lady. (Both laugh)
Madison: So are you going to date Stacy? (Nonchalant)
Tony: That was out of the blue.
Madison: It's been bugging me since that locker room thing.
Tony: I don't know…why?
Madison: It just has.
Tony: (Quiet for a moment) So anyway, you take the cotangent of 45, which is 1/1. I'd suggest writing this down.
Madison: Do you want to date her?
Tony: I'm getting in the Trig zone; please don't say anything not applying to this triangle here.
Madison: Cause I mean, it's coming from her. If you wanted to date her, it'd be cool. I totally think you should do it. Be with her, or if not her, someone else.
Tony: Thus if the cotangent of 45 is 1/1, what is the tangent?
Madison: Bottom to top, top to bottom. I could find out more in the locker room if you want.
Tony: And the reverse of 1/1 is?
Madison: Same. Your call, I'm just here if you need help. Wardrobe, pep talks, moral support, you name it.
Tony: And if it's a right triangle with one angle of 45, what's the other angle?
Jess had no idea what any of this mathy stuff was. Math class had always doubled as nap time for him.
Madison: Also 45, so both functions are 1/1.
Tony: And you're done. Why are you suddenly so interested?
Madison: Just am.
Tony: Right. Well, if you're there for pep talks, I don't see why not. (Sarcastic)
Madison: Oh, cool. I'm sure you and Stacy the drama freak will be very happy. (Gets up to leave)
Tony: Where are you going?
Madison: You taught me how to do the problem, so I guess we're done here. (Distracted)
Tony: Madison, what's wrong? (Stands up)
(She pauses, spins, takes his face in her hands, and slowly and deliberately kisses him. The kiss is long and splits off into smaller kisses)
Tony: What was that? (Breathy)
Madison: I, um, have to go. Thanks- for the tutoring, I mean. (She departs quickly, and he goes to lean against the door frame)
Tony: Bye Madison.
He stopped leaning up against the imaginary frame, and Rory came back from the imaginary hall.
"That went much better than normal, don't you agree?"
"Wholeheartedly."
"The dialogue?"
"Snappy, light."
"The emotion?"
"Think we hit it."
"The kiss?"
"That we have problems with." She blinked.
"How so?"
"You kiss weird." Rory reddened. Sure, the first few times they'd kissed in front of the cameras and Max had contained absolutely no passion. But away from the audience here, she'd allowed herself to slip into Madison's world, and temporarily fall for this guy, so she thought they'd dominated the kiss part.
In her world he was a jerk, but in Madison's world, he was a sweetheart. This wasn't the first time she'd seriously envied her alter-ego.
"I do not kiss weird." Jess smirked, returning them to their bitter banter. The entire scene had been so much better away from Medina and others including her mother, but she was still hesitant about the whole making-out aspect. He was almost positive he had it down. Nah, he definitely had making out down to a science.
"You make the guy do all the work. No wonder you're single."
"Hey…" She tried to fire back something witty, but couldn't with the sudden sting of his words. He noticed her sudden discomfort, and got hit with another wave of shit-I-make-Rory-upset. This had happened a few times. Normally he ignored it, but no one else was here to console her and tell her Jess was just a jackass, don't listen to him.
He approached her slowly, and lowered his mouth to hers. She looked up at him quizzically before closing her eyes against the warmth, the pressure, the sensation. Forgetting the way Tony and Madison's kiss was supposed to play out, she found her fingers in his hair, and his arms around her waist, before she could protest. Just as unexpectedly, she found her back against the wall, still stuck on why he was kissing her.
Jess was jolted out of whatever trance-like state he had fallen into when his arms touched the walls of the trailer. This was definitely not the semi-chaste, hesitant kiss of the two characters they represented. This was going too far for him and the girl he had come to despise with a passion. He hastily unwove himself from her, and she did the same at the first sign of his pulling away.
"That was good," he tried to professionally coach, knowing he looked somewhat flushed. She sure did.
"Yea. Well, I guess we can go now."
"Bye Rory."
"Bye Jess." He left first, fumbling with the lock, and she sat down heavily in the chair he'd occupied just a few minutes ago.
Breathe, Gilmore.
Whoa.