Previously in our story...
There was the sound of a throat clearing behind them and they all snapped their attention to the still open doorway.
"Am I interrupting anything?" Logan asked snidely.
"Oh! Logan..." Rory was thinking of something clever to say, something to alleviate the thick tension of the moment. "You remember Jess, don't you?"
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"Yeah, I remember you. You're the-" Logan lifted his hands up and mimicked air quotes with his fingers, " ' writer '. Finished another great American novel yet?"
Jess just smirked at him. "Actually I was thinking of writing a biography next – 'Day in the Life of a Spoiled Dick' – you interested?"
"Please, just stop. This doesn't help anything." Rory said quickly.
"Oh, come on, Ace. Let us have our fun." Logan smiled venomously toward Jess. He looked down at the pair's entwined hands. "So – this a new development?"
"Yep," Jess replied shortly.
"Logan -" Rory began but Logan cut her off, still focusing on Jess.
"It always warms the heart to see high school sweethearts reunited. Gets me right here," he splayed his hand across his heart and shook his head mockingly.
"Glad to be able to help raise the touchy feely quotient." Jess stared at him coldly.
"Should we bring out the boxing gloves?" Lorelai asked. "Please?" she added hopefully.
"Mom..." Rory chastised. "Do you think that you could leave us alone to talk for a bit?"
Lorelai whined. "But it's so fun watching Neanderthals duking it out..." She relented at Rory's glare. "Alright, I did promise Sookie that I would head over there and help her with things. She's getting really stressed over her promise to cater the Spring Fever events..." she grabbed her coat and purse, and leaned in to whisper – but making sure she 'whispered' loud enough for the boys to hear. "Can I make whoever loses my cleaning slave?" After seeing her daughter's continued withering stare she left.
Logan turned to Rory. "So, this is the real reason why you didn't want me to come out here."
"Logan, this wasn't planned..."
"Please don't say 'it just happened'. That's the biggest crock and you know it."
Jess laughed.
"You think this is funny, Phily boy?" Logan asked annoyed.
"Oh, NO, NO," Jess mocked great concern. "How could I think your pain was funny?"
Logan's blood boiled. "Yeah? You want me show you pain, Novel-boy?"
Jess released the hold on Rory's hand and stepped up to Logan threateningly. "I'd like to see you try, yuppie ass."
"STOP! That's enough!" She shouted, but neither boy payed attention to her. They were both still glaring at each other, each wordlessly challenging the other.
"Outside?" Logan asked.
"Sure, just let me grab my pistol first...or are you sissy Yale boys into the old sword dueling still?" Jess tilted his head, sarcasm lacing every word.
"You won't be such a smart ass with my fist in your face -"
Jess scoffed. "Wow, Blaine, do you get all of your lines from a book? Cuz this whole 'rebel without a cause' thing you got goin' on is really impressive."
"You just couldn't stand it, could you?" Logan baited.
Jess just stared at him menacingly.
"You couldn't stand seeing her happy. Seeing her doing well. Seeing her making something of herself..." Logan continued.
"Oh, yeah. You've been doing such a great job of helping her succeed, huh? Helping her to drop out last year – helping to rip that rift between her and Lorelai – or helping her drink herself into a stupor at moronic hoohaw parties; is that the help that you've given?" His voice was rising as he progressed.
"This has to stop!" Rory repeated, feeling helpless at the worsening situation.
"Seriously, what are you going to offer her? The life of a struggling writer? Oh, yeah, that's going to work. She's going to be a huge journalistic success and you're gonna be a hard on your luck pathetic 'writer' trying to get something else published..." Logan taunted. "Oh, just a little more time, sweetheart, I know that you've been supporting me these last five years but I'll make it soon!"
"Logan, shut up! You don't know what you're talking about!" Rory yelled. She could see that he was starting to get to Jess's insecurities.
"I can provide for her, man. I can give her what she wants, what she needs. I can take her anywhere she ever wants to go. We were planning a trip to Asia, man. Could you ever give her that?"
Jess's deep frown instantly quirked up into a smug smile. "I must have you pretty scared, pretty boy."
Logan plastered the biggest faux smile on his face that he could muster. "Not scared, just annoyed. She may be in a temporary insanity at the moment, but she'll come around."
Rory finally stepped forward. "Logan, I'm sorry."
"Let's go..." he put his arm around her but she threw it back off instantly.
"I'm staying here – with Jess."
He laughed incredulously. "You can't be serious, Ace. I think this ho-dunk town is getting to you."
"No, you are. I'm really sorry that this all had to turn out like this. I didn't want to hurt you; but this is what I want. This is what I need."
"HIM? You're honestly standing there telling me that you want to be back with him? He's got nothing to offer you, Rory. He just wants to bed you a few times and then he'll throw you away -"
That's when Jess's fist connected with Logan's annoying jaw.
"JESS!"
Logan peered at him through slitted eyes, rubbing his jaw tenderly. "You really do want to be James Dean, don't you?"
"You're an asshole," was Jess's answer.
"Lucky shot. I'll kick your ass if you want to continue this."
Jess laughed at him. "You keep telling yourself that, Lugie. We can take this outside right now..."
"You need to leave, Logan. Now." Rory stepped up to him.
"Fine. Just don't come running to me when he comes home one night covered in some groupie's lipstick," he finished lamely.
"I really don't like you." Jess announced and pushed him out of the door, shutting it behind him.
He turned back to Rory. "How could you stand that guy for so long?"
"I – I – " she began, tears welling in her eyes. Jess took her in his arms.
"Sssh, it's alright. I'm sorry that it had to happen that way. It's over now. Let it go," he said quietly, trying to comfort her.
"He hates me now. It's gonna be so awful to get all my stuff later..."
"I'll go with you."
"Great idea since you two are such close buddies..." Rory sniffed jokingly.
"We'll worry about all that later. I think you should get some rest before crazy monkey festivities begin later." She nodded into his chest, starting to feel a bit better.
"Will you lye down with me?" she asked timidly.
Jess smiled cockily. "You're not gonna buy me dinner first?"
"Oh, shut up," she punched him lightly in the arm and led him to her bedroom. She pulled down the covers and got in, patting the bed beside her signaling him to join her. He did, pulling her close to him as they both settled in. The two fell into a contented sleep in less than five minutes.
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Hey, hopefully you guys liked this! Can you tell that Logan irritates the crap outta me? And I'm not even going to begin to grumble about how much the latest episode really ticked me off! Bullocks! Grrr. Did you guys like his (Jess) new hairstyle? Hmm. Enough of all that...Anyway, reviews would be most splendid!