Author: Silver Blood
A/N: Okay, I gotta answer some questions and say some thank yous. Just Hidden: Yes, Logan will be in this fic. He won't be a huge character but I think you'll be happy. I have things all planned out as to why Finn is there and everything. Pam Halliwell: PDLD stands for Punch Drunk Love Duo, which basically means a Rory/Finn fic. Quite clever, really. Thank you EVERYONE for your amazing response. You should be proud, your reviews pushed me to write this so fast.
Chapter Three: Who's Buying the Condoms?
Lorelai decided to let Rory sleep in the next morning, and headed to Luke's without her.
The diner owner himself came out and gave Lorelai her usual morning peck, but his eyes were distracted. And Lorelai only had ten minutes to figure out what it was and make it better before she left for work.
"Uh-oh, diner man. What's with the weird look on your face?"
Luke rolled his eyes at his girlfriend.
"What weird look?"
Lorelai looked closer, appearing to inspect every inch of his skin.
"I don't know. You're all... paranoid. And your eyes are glazed. Did you have a doughnut? Because when you go long periods of time without consuming sugar, such as doughnuts, it can make you do funny things. The glaze from the doughnuts must have attacked your eyes and made them all glowy. What are the sprinkles going to do! I won't date a man with multicolored hair, Luke. I have my pride."
He wasn't in the mood to be teased.
After serving coffee to an old couple he walked back behind the counter and leaned forward, towards her, as if he was about to uncover a huge secret.
He still looked disturbed.
"I called Jess today. I wanted to see if he'd come to Stars Hollow and see his mom and I, you know, family Christmas and all."
At this point Luke looked around, as if he didn't want any townsfolk to overhear.
"He said he's already coming. That he spoke to Rory last night and she talked him into it."
The brunette across the counter from him was still trying to figure out what he was so upset about.
"And..?"
Luke looked dumbfounded.
"Since when does Jess talk to Rory? How long has this been going on?"
Lorelai just grinned and leaned across the counter to kiss her fiancee once again.
"They just started talking, and I don't even think she's interested in him. It's so adorable that you're worried about Rory, but she can take care of herself. I don't think she'll let Jess break her heart again."
Lorelai failed to notice that he was refusing to meet her eyes. She just pecked him on the cheek and stood, collecting her things.
"I have to get to work. I'll stop by tonight."
Luke watched her go silently.
He wasn't worried that Jess was going to hurt Rory.
He'd never known it was possible to be completely enamored with someone the way his nephew was with Rory Gilmore. It was an amazing thing to watch.
Every time he called, Jess would ask about Rory.
Who was she dating?
How was she doing at Yale?
Did she have a job yet?
He'd been incredibly disappointed to hear about the rift between the Gilmore girls. Luke had heard the pain and worry in his voice the one time they'd brought the subject up.
So this time, Luke wasn't at all afraid that Rory would be hurt; he knew she wouldn't...
But he was terrified for Jess.
The kid just got his life together.
Jess was trying to talk himself out of packing early as he threw another pair of clean socks into the open suitcase on his bed.
He ran his hands through his hair, frustrated. He really needed to get it cut. It was getting hard to keep tame again. He'd have to fit that in sometime before the next Tuesday when he left for Connecticut.
A big part of him had been hoping he'd magically grown Rory-resisting powers since he'd been away; but he had to admit defeat. He would still do anything for her.
But Jess had made a promise to himself; he would not chase Rory Gilmore.
If she wanted something other than friendship, she'd have to let him know, because no matter what he still felt for her he had no idea where they stood. He didn't even know if she'd invited him to spend Christmas with her as a friend, or as something else.
He had a sneaking suspicion she didn't know either.
Sighing, Jess picked up the phone and dialed.
It wasn't technically breaking his self-imposed rule.
Rory was lying in bed, staring at her ceiling, lost again in her bubble of misery. At least this time she wasn't crying. She hadn't had enough energy to get out of bed to pull back the curtains, so light was just barely shifting in through the checkered fabric and creating mysterious patterns on her light carpeting.
When her cell phone rang, Rory simply reached out without looking and flipped it open.
"Yeah?"
"What are we doing?"
The previously immobile girl was now fully energized as she shot straight up in her bed. She hadn't been expecting to hear his voice. It was a bit of a shock to get used to again.
"Um... what do you mean?"
She could hear him sigh; his voice clearly strained. She could practically hear as he ran his hands through his hair.
"I mean... You invited me to spend Christmas with you, and I said yes."
Rory furrowed her brow and spoke slowly.
"Jess, are you okay? What's going on?"
He growled in frustration. He didn't know why he was getting so uptight, but he just needed to stop wondering. So he decided to be blunt.
"Do you want me to come as a friend, or something else?"
Rory swallowed thickly. She hadn't been expecting that.
"Huh?"
Playing dumb never had worked with Jess, and it still wouldn't. He just got more straightforward the harder she tried to avoid the question.
"What I'm asking is, do I need to bring condoms or not?"
Rory swallowed a startled laugh.
"Oh my God Jess, what the hell? No!"
She didn't know if she was incredibly offended or incredibly flattered by his brashness.
But she was more than a little turned on.
"Well you were doing that avoidance thing you're oh so good at and... Aw geez, I'm sorry."
They were quiet for a moment. Rory blinked at his apology.
"I just want to know where we stand, Ror. We weren't exactly clear in our conversation last night."
She had no idea what to say.
"Jess... I don't know if I want a relationship. I don't know if I just want friendship. I just..."
Rory bit back strangled words.
"I just want to spend some time with you. I barely know you anymore, but I know you're different. I think we should just see how things go over Christmas and then talk about this, okay? But... I have thought about it. About us."
Jess couldn't hold back his grin.
"Yeah?"
Rory's smile was a little more reluctant. She couldn't believe she was telling him this.
"So, that's supposed to make me not want to bring condoms? 'Cause you might want to think of a better strategy if that's your goal."
Rory laughed. He could still surprise her.
"No, Jess. I don't want you to bring condoms. Okay?"
He wasn't sure if he was disappointed or relieved.
"Yep. Glad we got that cleared up. I'll call you later?"
Rory bit her lip and grinned.
"Yeah, do that. And Jess?"
"Yeah?"
She waited a few beats, knowing she was going to surprise him and enjoying the anticipation.
"We can always buy them after you get here."
She imagined his eyes were the size of saucers.
"Bye."
As the line went dead, Jess still couldn't grasp the concept.
Rory Gilmore had just flung an innuendo at him.
And my God did it turn him on.
A/N: Moving too fast? I hope not. Review me.