Thank you for all the lovely feedback people 3 I am so happy that you are enjoying the story, I hope that you enjoy the next chapter. I already had it written up but havent been able to update for a couple of days due to computer issues. Again, thanks for the amazing feedback, I was sooo happy :D.. On with the fic then..
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Rory fiddled with the keys to open the door to her house. It wasnt strange at all coming back to Stars Hollow after her long abscence, nothing had changed really. It was still the same place it was four years ago. When he was here. She quickly pushed the thought out of her mind. She walked into the house cautiously, as if to ward off any other thing that would trigger her memory. The house was a lot different from four years ago. Not only had it been redecorated and remodeled, it had a different vibe about it. She pondered for a minute onto what could have changed it and then the answer hit her. Luke. It was no longer the Gilmore residence, it was the Gilmore-Danes residence or it was about to become that anyway.
Rory made her way to her room. She was dreading walking in there, last weekend she had made excuses for the whole night which then finally resulted in her and her mother pulling an all nighter. She knew what she was afraid of, all the memories which would pour out of the walls, the bed, the floor and into her the minute she set foot in there. She slowly reached for the handle and opened the door. She walked in and stood taking it all in. Her feet took her in the direction of her bed where she sat still trying to cope with the intensity of this room. The bed still felt the same as all those long hours she had used to talk to him about nothing in general. Comfortable conversation. That was something Jess and her had always shared. Rory knew that she was the only person that Jess tried to show himself fully too. He could be vunerable with her and she too with him. It wasnt something that was always apparent but they both knew that they were each others support.
A tear rolled down Rory's cheek. She had tried with all her might to stop this room becoming yet another assiociation with Jess and had almost succeded. She couldn't do it anymore, she couldnt pretend that what he did to her didnt hurt her, she just couldnt push it aside like she had for the past four years. Rory knew deep in her heart she had to face her past so she shifted herself to the floor and pulled out a cardboard box from under her bed. The "Jess" box which she had refused to touch for almost four years.
Her hands were shaking as she lifted the lid off. She nervously reached into the box and pulled out a book, Howl. Looking at the cover gave her shivers through her spine. The first time they ever met, the first part of her he had ever touched. She opened up the book to the first page, a note scribbled inside. It didnt say anything romantic but it was his handwriting. Jess' handwriting. His voice echoed through her head and into her heart. "I knew we were supposed to be together the first time I saw you.. and you know it too". She quickly closed the book and put it back into its hiding place. With her head in her hands, she silently sobbed until she exhausted herself to sleep.
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Rory rallied around the kitchen the next morning. Keep busy to stop thinking had become her motto, not that it ever worked but keeping busy was a productive thing to do. She picked up a few of her mothers folders, when she noticed a pink glittery one with the words "Wedding Planning" across the front. She walked over and sat at the table. Sure, she could look but would this plunge her thoughts into even more Chaos? So she sat and stared. She was almost so swept away with her thoughts that her mother went totally unnoticed when she swept into the kitchen and announced herself.
"Morning Hun.."
Rory almost jumped halfway out of her skin. "Don't do that, god, do you want me to die at a young age?"
"So you want me to stop walking into my own Kitchen now? Should I wear a bell so you can hear me at all times?... Hey, what is with the quietness?"
Rory ignored the question
"Do you happen to have the list of people that have RSVP'd to the wedding?"
"Uh.. Yeah, why?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well why are you so interested?"
"Why shouldn't I be interested hey? I mean I am the cheif bridesmaid right? I mean I have a right to know who is coming, seeming as I'm supposed to be organising this thing and hey.. have I actually organised everything? Nope. I just thought it was my time to pitch in you know.."
Rory looked down at the floor and back up to meet her mothers eyes. She felt the tears forming for some reason she couldn't quite place her finger on. And then Rory felt her mothers hand on her shoulder. She stood up, desperate to get away from any comfort zone.
"It's.. uh.. nothing, I was just wondering if Grandma had got back to you?"
Lorelai gave Rory a questioning look and Rory turned around to the coffee pot, longing to shield herself from her mothers pounding eyes.
"Yes.. My mother may act like the wicked witch of the east but all it takes is a little confetti to melt her.. Are you sure thats all you wanted to know?"
A split-second revelation that honesty may indeed be the best policy overwhelmed Rory and she felt his name tumble out of her mouth.
"Jess.."
Lorelai fiddled with her hair nervously. She had no idea why the subject of Jess made her nervous, it should be Rory who should of been nervous, maybe even a little horrified.
"Well, as much as I hate to say this, he is Luke's nephew babe. It would be kind of rude not to invite him, not that I would usually care about being rude to Jess but Luke cares, so I have to care"
Rory span around, slightly shocked.
"No, he should be there. Infact I want him to be there. It would be good to see him again.. Catch up a little"
Lorelai felt her eyes growing wider. Rory returned to her seat at the table, her confidence growing with every word.
"Uh.. are you sure? I mean because the last time you two spoke, the way you left it. I mean you didnt exactly part on the best terms, not ever good terms.. Hell I dont think the worst terms in the world could cover the way you left things"
"Maybe things have.. I don't know.. changed"
"He asked you to throw your future away Rory.. To drop everything because he felt that he was more important.."
"No.. I mean yes he did and it was stupid. What he said was silly and impossible, a little selfish even but he only said it because he wanted to be with me"
Lorelai felt the irritation bubbling inside of her. Not towards Rory but towards the situation that Jess had put her in and the way he always had some kind of control over her daughter.
"No Kid, he didnt care for anyone but himself. He left with no word to his uncle who had taken him in, No word to his girlfriend who had stuck by him through a lot and given up a lot to be with him"
"You never liked him Mum. No scrap that, you never wanted to like him. You didnt know him! You looked at him the same way everyone else did around here.. and you lot all wonder why he left? Maybe it was because he was sick of people like you looking down on him, or maybe he was sick of his girlfriend who never ever put him first. Or maybe he got sick of the lot of us, Stars Hollow. Maybe just maybe, we were in the wrong for once and not him!"
Rory had been unable to stop the words from flowing out her mouth. She looked up at a clearly shocked Lorelai who was still trying to process what her daughter had just accused her of.
Rory stormed into her bedroom and slammed the door behind her. She fell to the floor and pulled out "the box". She grabbed Howl, clutching at it and collapsed on her bed shaking violently with tears. She found it ironic that the Room that she had feared was going to turn into her prison less than 12 hours ago, had now turned into her sanctuary.
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Please review hehe, Your comments always help me along 3Next chapter should be up tomorrow, thank you for readingxx
