I would've waited to post this chapter, but I really like it, so here it is.
The next morning, Rory and Lorelai walked to Luke's for breakfast. "Are you sure you want to be with Jess, sweets?" Lorelai asked for the hundredth time that morning.
Rory let out an exasperated sigh. "Yes, Mom. I want to be with Jess. I like him."
"Okay." Lorelai sighed in defeat. "I just don't want to see you get hurt."
"I can take care of myself." Rory reminded her mother. She pulled the door to Luke's open.
They sat at a table. "Oh Luke!" Lorelai called. "Coffee please!"
Luke strode over to their table with a coffee pot. He poured them each a cup, and said, "Rory, Lorelai. What do you want to eat?"
"Ummm… pancakes, with a side of bacon and hash browns, and a donut." Lorelai said.
"Got it." Luke wrote it down. "Death on a plate. Rory?"
"Scrambled eggs, extra cheese, ummm…" She lost her train of thought as Jess stomped down the stairs. His eyes found hers, and the corners of his mouth turned slightly up. He took one step towards her, but before he could get any closer, the door flew open.
"Jess! Why didn't you call me last night?" It was Shane. Her hands were on her hips, and she was staring at Jess expectantly.
"I was busy! And Shane, we're over." Jess stated.
"What? No, we aren't." Shane insisted.
"Yeah, we are."
"Fine." She gave him one last glare, and stomped out of the diner.
"Jeez," Jess rolled his eyes. "Morning Rory." His eyes returned to hers, and she smiled at him.
"Rory? Breakfast?" Luke reminded her. "I have other customers."
"Oh, right! Hash browns and a donut."
"Eggs, hash browns and a donut?"
"Yes," Rory said.
"So, Rory, I have that book, upstairs. Do you want to see it?" Jess asked carefully.
Rory looked confused, but then her face cleared. "Oh! That book. Yeah, I remember." She stood up.
"Let's go." Jess led Rory upstairs.
Luke came over to refill coffee. "Where'd Rory go?"
"Upstairs." Lorelai answered, distracted by the arrival of new coffee.
"With Jess?" Luke was confused. "Why?"
Lorelai smiled. "Oh, you don't know. Rory and Jess are together."
"What!? And you let them go upstairs alone? You must be out of your mind!" He started upstairs.
"Wait, Luke. I have a question. It's important." Lorelai said.
Luke turned back. "What?"
"Did Jess get a letter from Rory all summer?" She asked.
"Well, Kirk delivered it late, but yeah."
"When did it come?"
"Yesterday. Why?" Luke was confused. "He rushed right out of the apartment when I gave it to him, and now they're together, so I'm assuming it was important?"
"Yeah. Rory didn't tell me what was in it, but she broke up with Dean."
"Good. I never liked that kid." Luke scowled.
"He was a good boyfriend. Better than Jess will be." She said the last part under her breath.
Meanwhile, Rory and Jess are upstairs. They walked into the apartment. "So… what should we do now?" Rory asked nervously.
"Maybe, get a little closer?" Jess suggested, trying to sound normal, but his heart was beating like crazy. The two of them were practically on the far side of the apartment. They took a couple of steps towards each other, until they were a few feet from each other. Jess reached out, and took one of her hands. He pulled her towards him, and Rory smiled.
"Hi."
"Hi." They leaned in, and their lips came together. Rory sighed into the kiss, and Jess's hand moved from her hands to her hips. She pressed her body into Jess's, and wound her arms around his neck. He smelled like leather and old books, with a hint of cigarettes. It was absolutely intoxicating. Rory felt like she was melting, as Jess's tongue flicked against her bottom lip. Jess was very good at kissing, oh yes indeed.
Jess felt like he was walking on air. He was kissing the girl of his dreams, and she was kissing him back enthusiastically. He had enjoyed when Rory kissed him at Sookie's wedding, and he thought it would never happen again. This was ten times better. Scratch that. A thousand times better. Her taste, her scent, everything was so overwhelming, he felt like he was drowning.
Suddenly, the door flew open, and Rory and Jess jumped apart. Luke and Lorelai burst into the room. "Rory? Our food is ready." Lorelai said pointedly.
"Um, I'll see you later." She said to Jess. Her and her mother disappeared down the stairs.
Luke rounded on Jess. "What the hell were you doing up here?"
"Nothing." Jess pushed past Luke. "I have to get to school." As Jess passed Rory, he squeezed her shoulder, and then he was out the door. He made up his mind to start doing better, and going to school. No more smoking either. He would communicate, and be nice to Lorelai. He would even open up to Luke if he asked. He let a smile creep onto his face. Suddenly, he felt a shove from behind. He stumbled forwards, and regained his balance. "What the he-" he stopped talking when he saw who it was. Dean. Surrounded by his buddies from basketball. The ones who he swaggered around the school with, coupled with cheerleaders, who ate lunch in a giant circle, talking loudly and having competitions to see who could eat the fastest.
"What are you smiling about Jess? I thought Rory hated you?" Dean asked with fake sincerity.
"Leave me alone, Dean." Jess said, trying to control his anger for Rory's sake.
"Touched a nerve, have we?" Dean said with a smirk. His buddies guffawed, and high-fived each other.
"No, but I expect you won't listen to me. I'm surprised to see you so happy, considering she just broke up with you." Jess retorted. He started to walk towards the doors.
Dean's smirk faded, and replaced by a look of loathing.
Rory was just leaving the diner, and she saw a commotion over by Stars Hollow High. She saw two basketball players push someone back. Rory's eyes widened, when she saw it was Jess. As she started to run over, she saw Dean there too. Rory saw Dean punch Jess in the face. "Stop!" She cried.
Dean's head whipped around when he heard her voice. "Yeah, Jess. Why'd you punch me?"
"I didn't do anything." Jess scoffed. He started to get up, but winced and pressed his hand against his jaw. A bruise was starting to form. Rory knelt next to him, not caring if her uniform got dirty.
"Dean, I saw you punch him. Why did you do it?" Rory asked angrily.
Dean's pals left, patting him on the shoulder. "You hate him Rory! Why do you care? He broke your arm, totaled your car, and then left." Dean said, agitated.
"I don't hate him Dean. I like him very much! If I didn't like him, then explain why I'm dating him."
Dean's face dropped into pure shock. "You- him- you-" He stormed away.
"Are you okay?" Rory asked, concerned.
"Yeah." Jess stood, brushing off his jeans. "You should probably go. Don't want to miss the bus."
"Oh, yeah. You're sure you're okay?" He nodded. "Bye Jess." She gave him a peck on the cheek, then ran towards the bus stop, reaching it as the bus pulled in. He watched her board, then he turned towards the school.
Paris was chattering away during the Franklin meeting, but Rory wasn't listening. All she could think about was Jess's lips, Jess's hands, and-
"Rory? Are you listening?" Paris asked, crossing her arms.
Rory's face reddened. "Sorry Paris." Rory said meekly.
Paris rolled her eyes. "I said I want five hundred words welcoming everybody back to school. I know, it's ridiculous, but that's what Headmaster Charleston wants."
"I'll have it done by Friday." Rory replied.
"Good. Dismissed." Paris stood.
Rory bolted out of there before Paris could catch her and demand an explanation. Rory caught the bus to Stars Hollow. She opened her book, Anna Karenina, an old favourite. She settled in.
The bus pulled away, leaving Rory at the bus stop. She headed over to Luke's. "Hi Luke!" Rory called as she sat herself at the counter.
Luke poked his head out from the kitchen. "Rory. Coffee?"
"Sure. Is Jess upstairs?"
Luke poured her a cup of coffee, and she took a grateful gulp. "Yeah."
"Can I-" Rory started. Luke just pointed upstairs. "Thanks." She took her coffee upstairs. She knocked on the door, and opened it. "Jess?" She called.
"Yeah." He looked up from a notebook in which he was writing in.
"Are you doing schoolwork?"
"Yeah. I figured I'd try this year." Jess said, almost bashfully.
"I'm so proud of you!" She sat next to him, and he kissed her hello.
"I can put it away if you wanted to do something else." Jess said with a playful smile.
"Hmmm…" Rory played along. "I can't think of anything."
Jess pulled her onto his lap. "Maybe I can jog your memory?" He kissed her. Rory smiled into the kiss, and responded happily.
Lorelai rushed to work after she left Luke's after breakfast. "Sookie!" She called as she burst into the kitchen.
"What is it, sweetie?" Sookie asked as she wiped her hands on her apron.
"They're together! They started dating!" Lorelai cried.
"Who?" Sookie asked, confused. "You're gonna have to help me out here."
"Rory and Jess." Lorelai poured herself another cup of coffee.
"Oh. Oh! Are you going to be okay?" Sookie asked.
"Yeah, I don't want them together, Jess is going to ruin her. He already broke her wrist! What else is he going to do to her?" Lorelai was extremely distressed. She had already finished half of her cup.
"Calm down, sweetie. I'm sure it'll be okay. Does Rory know how you feel?" Sookie pulled brownies out of the oven.
"Well, I haven't told her, but she knows that I don't like Jess."
"I don't know how to tell you sweetie, but I think you're just gonna have to ride this out."
"I know." Lorelai groaned. She grabbed one of the brownies that Sookie had put out on a plate, and went to the front desk.
After her day was over, she went to Luke's. She wanted to talk to him about keeping Jess and Rory under supervision. She went to the counter, but only Caesar was in. Maybe he's upstairs? Lorelai thought. She went upstairs, and she heard someone in there, so she opened the door.
"Ahhh!" Lorelai screamed. Rory and Jess were on the couch, her on his lap, making out.
"Mom!" Rory cried, wiping her mouth. "What are you doing up here?"
"I was looking for Luke!" Lorelai said, a bit too loudly.
"He went to Doose's." Jess said, trying to calm his breathing.
"I didn't ask you." Lorelai said harshly. The shock had given way to anger, and she let her face show it. "Rory, we're going home."
"But Mo-"
"No arguments." Lorelai turned, and left the apartment.
"Jess, I'm sorry." Rory said, and she ran after her mother.
Jess ran his hand through his hair as his girlfriend ran after her mother. I guess I'll never be alone with Rory again. Jess thought bitterly.
"Mom!" Rory admonished, when they were out of the diner. "What the hell was that?"
"You don't get to ask questions Rory." Her mother was very mad. "You two haven't even been dating for a day, and you're up there doing that?" Lorelai exclaimed.
"You didn't have a problem with it when it was Dean!" Rory said angrily.
"You guys didn't move that fast!" Lorelai said.
"He was my first boyfriend. I was moving slower because I wasn't used to it."
"Then take a little while to get used to Jess, sweetie. He is definitely way more experienced than you. He's going to take advantage of you!"
"No he isn't! Mom, I thought you'd give him a chance!"
"I have! I have, okay? He took your bracelet that Dean made you, did he tell you that? He made you run all around town looking for it, and only gave it back after you had a heart attack looking for it! He's trouble Rory!" Lorelai snapped. People were blatantly staring now, and Dean was among them. "He broke your wrist and totaled your car. I'm not going to let my only child be broken by some punk from New York!"
"I'm sorry you feel that way." Rory blinked back tears. "Thank you for your input." She stormed the other way. She heard her mother call after her, but she pretended not to hear. Rory wiped her eyes. She wasn't really paying attention to where she was going, and she ended up at the bridge. She sat in the middle, and just cried.
"Rory?" A tentative voice asked. Her head whipped around, furiously wiping the tears out of her eyes and saw Dean.
"Go away!" She snapped. "I don't want to talk to you."
"I'm sorry about your mother." Dean said, his voice dripping with sympathy. He kept walking towards her slowly.
"I said I don't want to talk to you, Dean." Rory repeated.
He sat a few feet away from her. "You know in your heart Lorelai's right. Jess is just going to end up hurting you."
Rory's eyes snapped up to Dean's face. "You don't know anything. And I asked you not to talk to me." Rory got up, and strode off the bridge.
Why does she keep defending him? He's worthless! Dean thought.
Rory was running out of private places to be. She made the decision to go home. Maybe Lorelai had cooled off a little bit, and she would apologize. She climbed up the porch, and opened the door. "Mom!" She called.
"Rory?" Lorelai was upstairs. She rushed down, and they met in the kitchen. "I'm sorry for freaking out. I'm just worried about you. Jess is so much more experienced than you."
"I know, but I can take care of myself. I know you think Jess is just some jerk who's going to break my heart, but he's not. He's different around me." Rory explained.
"Just be careful, please?" Lorelai pleaded.
"Of course. You have to trust me Mom. I'm getting older."
"I do trust you. It's him I'm worried about." She saw Rory's expression and hastily continued, "I know, I trust you. And I'm going to have to learn to trust him, and I promise I'll give him a chance."
"Fight over?" Rory asked.
"Fight over." Lorelai agreed. They hugged.
"Do you want to do Luke's for dinner?" Rory asked hopefully.
Lorelai frowned. "You just want to see Jess again."
"No, I want you to apologize to Jess." Rory stated matter of factly.
"But Rory…" Lorelai whined.
"No buts. He's probably terrified of you now. If you give him a chance like you said, then you have to apologize." Rory said sternly.
"Fine." Lorelai pouted. "Let's go, I'm hungry."
"Oh Luke!" Lorelai called, when they had sat down. "Coffee please!"
Jess was hovering by the counter, but he was reluctant to go near Lorelai because he valued his life. Rory got up, and walked up to the counter. "Hey," she said.
"How bad is Lorelai going to mess me up?" Jess asked worriedly.
"Not at all. I convinced her not to."
Jess blinked. "She's not?"
"Nope. She said she was going to give you a chance. She's even gonna apologize."
"Wow. That's- wow." He said. "I don't think I've ever heard Lorelai apologize before."
"Be nice," Rory swatted Jess' arm.
"Hey, Jess?" Lorelai said tentatively, slowly moving towards the counter. "About my little freak out before? I'm sorry." She said. To Lorelai's eyes it looked like Jess was fighting a smile.
"Coffee?" He asked, holding up the pot. He gave her a little nod and a small smile, and Lorelai returned it. She held out her mug, and Jess filled it up.
"Coffee too please?" Rory asked Jess. Jess wordlessly filled up a cup, and pushed it towards her.
"Call me over when you're ready to order." He gave Rory a little kiss, disappeared upstairs, presumably to get Luke.
The two Gilmore Girls enjoyed their peace and quiet. Well, as quiet as it can be when Lorelai's around.
This story isn't over, but this chapter was so long, I had to finish it somehow. Review!