CHAPTER 8

The Gilmore girls were glad to escape the Crap Shack unnoticed. Tired, they made a beeline to Luke's Diner. As soon as they got there, Lorelai moaned softly as she collapsed on a chair, slumping her upper torso on the table. Rory followed her mother's suit, opting to hang her head as far back as the chair's backrest would allow her to go. Both were tired from the avalanche of people that came to their abode to offer suggestions, recommendations and services for their upcoming nuptials. It didn't help that Rory had to send her fiancée off to New York.

"You have to promise me to call me every night," Rory ordered as she kissed him.

"Noted," Tristin replied as he kissed her back.

"And that you'd tell me the moment you've found a place for us to stay," Rory added.

"Of course," he agreed.

"And that you and Graham would stay away from any strip joints," she said, smiling.

"Now you're taking away our fun!" he growled, hugging her closer to him.

She buried her nose on his chest and snuggled. She just had to hear the steady beating of his heart to give her the confidence that things will be all right.

Giving her another kiss, he said, "Promise me that you'll stay away from Dean no matter what."

"I promise," she said, exhaling.

"Hey, I'm not kidding here," Tristin pointed out seriously. He tapped her nose lightly with his forefinger. "I have eyes and ears around here. I'll eventually find out if he's been stalking you."

"He's not going to do anything stupid," Rory looked away from his eyes.

"That's where you're wrong," he warned her. "Please. Just do it for me?"

Rory gave him her promise with a kiss.

"It can't be that bad," Luke teased as he poured fresh mugs of coffee for the brides to be.

"Oh no. It can't be that bad," Lorelai groaned. "It has transcended to worse."

"How's that?" Luke asked.

"Kirk is convinced that he can make our bouquets, the town troubadour wants to serenade us with his version of "Are You Experienced" and Taylor is wondering if we would like a band to send us off to our honeymoon," Lorelai listed.

"Ouch," Luke sympathized. "I thought I had it bad!"

"Someone actually harassed you?" Rory asked.

He fished out a few cards from his breast pocket. "I have been told that I would get a discount in these places if we advertised their business in the wedding invitations."

Rory looked at Lorelai in blind panic. "What?"

"Not if we could help it," Lorelai snorted.

"The usual?" Luke asked.

"With an extra helping of fries, please?" Rory requested.

"Coming up," he said before walking away.

Rory and Lorelai basked in the momentary lapse of silence.

"I will be glad when the wedding's over," Lorelai sighed.

"Me too," Rory grumbled. "How could you have kept your cool when you were planning the wedding to Max?"

"Huh," Lorelai let out a short laugh. "I have no clue… Oh yeah, you did a large part of the planning and running around."

"Oh yeah," Rory remembered. "Remind me again why I thought weddings are romantic?"

Lorelai flashed her daughter a tired smile. "It is romantic. You are getting married to a very sweet and dreamy man."

Rory blushed thinking about Tristin. "I am, aren't I?"

Lorelai rubbed her daughter's hand in comfort. "You're gonna love it, kid. And then, when the ruckus subsides, you'd realize that you're not playing house any more. You're doing it for keeps."

"I'm looking forward to that," Rory sighed. "Are you?"

"Living with Tristin? Babe, I know we're close but I didn't know you were open to sharing your husband with me," Lorelai teased her daughter.

"I meant Luke, crazy," Rory blushed at her mother's teasing.

Lorelai looked at her fiancée who was currently arguing with Kirk. "Yeah. Can't wait to finally be something else other than a Gilmore."

Rory sighed at her mother's words. Did her mom really want out of the Gilmore clan that badly?

"So, has he called you yet?" Lorelai asked, breaking into her thoughts.

"Tristin said he's going to ring me after he and Graham get settled. Apparently, Graham's parents are having another party this weekend and they were volunteered to be arm candies to some of their friends' daughters."

"What?" Lorelai asked in shock. "I thought his parents were decent people?"

"They are," Rory chuckled. "They've been doing this since they were sixteen. I'm not going to worry about it."

Lorelai smiled at how her daughter had matured in situations like this. "Promise me that when this wedding planning stuff doesn't become fun anymore, you're going to tell me?"

"I promise," Rory said.

"Here's your food," Luke set the burgers in front of them.

Both attacked the plates with voracity, a mere mumble of thanks escaped their lips.

"You're welcome," Luke snickered.

oooo0----0oooo--------

Jess stood in an alley close to the arcade Joe ran. He looked at the half-smoked cigarette between his fingers. Then, he smirked. What am I doing here?

He should've not gotten involved. He was a sucker when it came to Rory. Even without Tristin's plea, he would've made sure that Dean kept his distance.

Jess really didn't know what happened all those years ago but he knew something had to have happened for Luke to be weary of the one man the whole town once held to a pedestal when he came into the god-forsaken town.

He took another puff when he saw Dean come from Peach Street, staring at the Diner's bay window where Rory and Lorelai were at plain sight.

Was he still in love with her?

Jess looked on as he watched Dean stare for about a minute, clenching and unclenching his fists. Dean took a deep breath before he shoved his hands in his pockets and headed into the arcade looking defeated.

"Idiot," Jess mumbled under his breath as he stubbed the cigarette butt against the concrete wall.

Who he was referring the title to was still to be determined.

oooo0-----0oooo-------

Rory and Lorelai were halfway through their strawberry shortcake when Rory's phone jangled in her pocket.

"Ooh! It's Tristin!" Lorelai squealed for Rory.

Simultaneously, Luke's hand pointed out to the door.

Grinning, Rory kissed her mother and whispered to her ear, "I'll leave the back door open. Don't tire Luke out."

"I won't babe," Lorelai promised. "Don't keep Tristin waiting."

Rory ran out the door and flipped her cell phone open. "Hello?"

"How's my Mary doing?" Tristin's rich voice filled the earpiece.

"Missing you," she smiled, thinking of him like he was standing next to her at that exact moment.

"I wish I was there with you right now," he confessed. "This party is for the dogs."

"Can't be that bad," Rory sympathized.

"Oh yes, it can. You should see the bevy of women in front of me!" he teased.

"Tristin!" she playfully whined over the mouthpiece, oblivious to Dean who emerged from the arcade and Jess materializing from the shadows.

"I would stay away if I were you," Jess threatened Dean softly, flipping the cigarette butt onto a stagnant road pond. They were at least ten paces behind the brunette.

Surprised, Dean looked at Jess. "Well look at what hell had sprung."

"Ooh, was that meant as a burn? Because I've heard better insults hurled by a fifth grader," Jess sarcastically remarked.

"Get away from me, Mariano," he threatened.

"Or else what, huh?" Jess egged him on. "This isn't the school playground, you know."

"What is your problem?" Dean asked heatedly. His eyes vacillated between Jess and Rory's disappearing figure.

"You," was Jess' curt response.

Dean just flashed him a look of bewilderment.

"Look, let Rory go," Jess tried to rationalize with Dean.

"What are you talking about?" Dean asked, wide eyed and innocent.

"I saw the way you were looking at her when you were headed to Joe's," Jess confessed.

Dean snorted. "So?"

"She's happy. Don't be a dick about it," Jess stated.

"What are you now, her protector?" he sneered. "I knew the punk she's engaged to. He's an ass."

"An ass Rory is happy to be with," Jess pointed out.

"I don't get you," a confused Dean replied. "You and I should be capitalizing this moment, you know."

"We?" Jess pointed at himself. "Man, you're off your rocker."

"Don't tell me you've developed a conscience," Dean accused.

"It's called 'getting over it'," Jess stated. "Try it. You just might like it."

"You're serious, aren't you?" Dean snorted.

"Like a heart attack," Jess admitted, lighting up another stick.

Dean huffed and angrily marched away opposite of the direction Rory wandered off to while she was on the phone. Contented with what he witnessed, Jess took long, hurried strides to catch up with Rory.

O-

Rory heard the steps echoing behind her. She turned around and saw Jess.

"Hey, Tristin. I hate to do this, but I have to go," Rory sadly admitted.

"Yeah. Me, too," Tristin replied. "I can't leave Graham to the vultures."

"Are you sure that's what they are?" Rory teased even though a hint of jealousy permeated through her words.

Chuckling, Tristin said, "You have nothing to worry about. However…"

"However, what?" Rory asked.

"I'm still unsure about you being by yourself in Stars Hollow knowing Dean's around," he harrumphed.

"I'm not alone," Rory answered as Jess walked silently next to her. "Jess just magically appeared next to me."

"Put him on," Tristin ordered.

Rory peeled the phone from her ear and handed the device to Jess. "Tristin just asked to speak to you."

Acting like it was normal, Jess took the cell from Rory. "Yeah?"

"How goes it?" Tristin asked, his voice filled with worried tension.

"Took care of the problem for now," he replied. Curling smoke emerged from his thin lips as he exhaled.

"Thanks," Tristin replied.

Jess grunted and handed the phone back to Rory.

"What was that all about?" she asked.

"Man talk," Tristin evaded her question.

"I guess I should take out my caveman dictionary to decipher the little conversation you and Jess had?" Rory pushed.

A jovial laugh emerged from Tristin's lips. "Don't worry about it. Anyway, have a good night and I will call you in the morning."

"Promise?" Rory asked.

"Promise," he replied before hanging up.

Rory let out a big sigh before acknowledging Jess. "So how are you this pleasant evening?"

"Better if I had something to do other than circle this town a million times," Jess said.

"Wanna watch a movie with me? Mom and I are trying to evade anyone coming to the house," Rory admitted.

"Sure," Jess replied, discarding his cigarette. "As long as it isn't a chick flick."

"Now, do you take me for a fool?" Rory teased.

"Well, the Rory Gilmore of Stars Hollow has changed a lot. Maybe I need a refresher course," he defended himself playfully. God, I love that smile.

"There's this Chinese subtitled movie playing at the dollar theater," Rory suggested.

"Is it too late to ask you to marry me?" he replied in half tease.

"Come on, Dodger. If we make it on time, I'll buy the popcorn," Rory promised, hooking her arm in his.

"If it were only that easy," Jess muttered to himself in silence.