Summary: What would happen if Jess told Rory where he was going during 'Say Goodnight, Gracie.'

A/N: Hey guys! I decided to try a new venue, a new topic. Gilmore Girls is my favorite show, and I decided to try out my favorite pairing, Rory and Jess. I hope you enjoy this chapter, its my first story for Gilmore Girls, so be nice! Review!

Trust Me

Chapter 1

Rory was sitting towards the front of the bus. The bus pulled to a stop, several people getting off. She took a look behind her and noticed Jess. She moved to the back of the bus, standing in front of him.

"Hey," She greeted him shyly.

"Hey," He replied in a quiet, monotone voice.

"Can I sit?" She asked softly, peering down at her shoes.

"Uh, sure, sit." He answered. "I thought you took an earlier bus?"

"My first class got cancelled today," She explained.

"Oh," He looked down at his hands. "So what's been going on?" He asked awkwardly.

"Nothing much," She replied indifferently, "Fran died."

"I heard," He took his sight from his hands, looking up at Rory.

"I went to her funeral yesterday," She mentioned, hoping to start conversation.

"Luke went, too."

"I saw him there," She stated quietly, reminiscing on the funeral.

"Yeah?"

"He was in the back," She explained.

There was an awkward silence, tension running high from the other night.

"I can't go to the prom," He stated suddenly, slicing the silence. "I couldn't get tickets."

"Oh."

"Sorry," Jess apologized, staring at his feet.

The bus came to a halt, and Rory peered out the window, noticing it was her stop.

"This is my stop," She mentioned, grabbing her backpack.

"Okay," Jess replied, getting along with her. This brought his small, duffel bag into view.

"So you'll call me?" Rory asked, pleading with her blue eyes.

"Yeah, I'll call you," Jess sat back down.

Rory walked down the aisle, and turned around once more to take a look at Jess. That's when she noticed a rough, earth-worn duffel bag beneath Jess's seat. Her brows furrowed in confusion, thinking Jess was on his way to work. She turned to the bus driver, asking him for a few seconds. She retreated down the aisle, stopping in front of Jess.

"What's that bag for?" Rory asked curiously, gesturing underneath his seat.

"What bag?"

Rory sighed tiredly, "Don't play dumb, Jess," Rory told him. "The bag underneath your seat."

Jess shook his head. "Huh? I had no idea there was a bag underneath my seat," He answered, reaching down to retrieve the bag.

Rory rolled her eyes. "Why do you have that bag with you?"

Jess shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe I need a change of clothes at work?"

Rory shook her head in disbelief. "I highly doubt Wal Mart needs you to change your clothes throughout the day."

Jess smirked. "Maybe I'm the new mascot. Mascots wouldn't be mascots without their costumes, would they? I'd be a pretty scared kid if Barney didn't wear his headpiece."

"Don't give me lip, Jess," Rory snapped. "Will you just tell me why you have a duffel bag with you? Are you Luke's new apprentice?"

"Why do you want to know about this particular bag?" Jess asked.

"Maybe because it's yours. Any other bag, I wouldn't mind so much," Rory explained. "I'm a curious girl Jess. Feed me my knowledge."

"I don't think you want this knowledge."

Rory folded her arms across her chest. "Try me."

"Hey kid!" The bus driver yelled from the front of the bus. "Are you getting off or not?"

Rory sighed. "Would you mind giving me one minute?"

The bus driver shook his head. "I can't do that. I have a schedule to keep up!"

Rory bit her lip, wondering what to do. She didn't want to leave without finding out what Jess was doing and where he was going. She contemplated skipping her first class to be able to find out what Jess was planning on doing, but her better judgment told her not to.

She looked up at Jess, her blue eyes pleading. "Can you do me this favor and just tell me where you're going?"

Jess covered his face with his hands, shaking his head. He looked up at Rory and answered, "I'm heading out to California."

"W-What?" Rory gaped at him, unable to grasp the concept of him leaving Stars Hollow.

"I'm heading to the airport. I'm leaving for California in about…" He looked down at his watch, "Two hours."

Rory looked up at Jess, her eyes brimming with tears. "Why didn't you bother telling me?"

Jess looked down at his feet, ashamed he hadn't even told Rory. "I wasn't sure how you would react."

"Well, I'm reacting now Jess. Is this the way you pictured it?"

"Not really," He stated awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. "Do we have to do this here?"

"Of course we do!" Rory snapped. "Why didn't you bother telling me?"

Jess shrugged, not really sure why. He didn't want to see the look on her face when he told her that he would be leaving her for good. "I just didn't know how to tell you. I was afraid of the way you would look at me if I told you."

"Is my Bambi face that threatening?" Rory choked back tears.

"Depends on when you use it."

"Hey ma'am!" The bus driver yelled. "We either need to get a move on, or stay on the bus!"

Rory sighed, and motioned for the bus driver to continue on his route.

"You aren't going to school?" Jess asked.

Rory shook her head, sitting down next to him. She looked out the window, staring into space. Why would just even bother to tell her now, when he was leaving in two hours? She felt ignored, not knowing this major movement of his life. She usually knew when most things happened concerning him, either from him or from her mom, mostly from her mom, though. What was she going to do now that Jess was going to California? The whole town would want to know why he left. They wouldn't believe her if she told them she didn't know. They would think they broke up and the whole town would gang up on poor Luke for letting Jess stay there. She turned to Jess, contemplating the next move that was on the edge of her tongue. This would be life altering, but would be worth it in the long shot. This would cost her everything she had worked for, and she would be tarred and feathered if she ever showed her face in Stars Hallow. But if she never saw that smirk again, she knew she would shatter.

"Um, Jess," She stated quietly, tugging at his sleeve for attention. "Would you mind having some company on your flight?"