Missing The Bus

A long time before Jess was sent to live with Luke in S2/3, him and his mother moved in with Luke for a few months when Jess was 10, as she had just divorced yet another husband and wasn't coping. In this 'lil fic, Jess and Rory end up missing the bus together, causing Lorelai and Luke a lot of panic, and inadvertently landing the kids in New York. Rory/Lorelai, Rory/Jess, Lorelai/Luke.

Note: 7th Heaven fans may recognise the similarities to an old Ruthie/Peter storyline :)

I don't own Gilmore Girls, or anything even remotely valuable. I don't even own this computer.

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Following a rather inappropriate joke at the otter enclosure, Jess had been sent to walk at the front with the teacher. So Rory had found herself straggling at the end of the group for the past couple of hours. She was bored, and she was tired. And being bored and tired made her grumpy. She gazed at each enclosure without much interest and wished that her mom was with her. Or that Jess didn't have such a big mouth.

Suddenly the group came to an abrupt halt, and the teacher began a final roll check. Rory realized that they were nearing the parking lot. Finally, the trip was over. The smell of hot dogs wafted over from a stand, and Rory's stomach rumbled. She glanced at her watch. It had been hours since lunch.

'Rory Gilmore'

She raised her hand. 'Here.'

She tuned out the rest of the names as she remembered it was Friday. Movie Night. So there would be pizza and various other junk waiting at home for her. She just had to last through the bus trip back, and the the whole stupid day would be over.

Suddenly she felt a poking in her ribs.

'Hungry?'

She looked over. Jess had a cheeky grin on his face, one she couldn't help but smile at in return.

'Starved. Those cheap concession hot dogs are smelling pretty good to me right now.'

'Well, how much money have you got? I've got still got some left over from lunch.'

Rory dug in her pocket and came up with a couple of notes.

'But Jess, we can't. The class is leaving.'

Jess shrugged. 'They're having a toilet stop first, we've got plenty of time. They won't miss us.'

Rory looked longingly at the hot dog stand, no more than 30 meters away.

Jess followed her gaze. 'Besides, it's not like they'd leave without us.'

Rory gave in. 'Alright, but we'd better make it quick.'

Triumphant, Jess led her quickly over to the stand. The counted out their money, waiting impatiently behind a father with two whiny preschoolers, trying to juggle three hot dogs and a handful of coins. Finally able to order, the pair paid the man, and bit into the hot snack, relishing the taste of true fast food. Wiping mustard off her chin, Rory looked over to the exit.

'Jess, they've gone!'

Jess started towards the gates. 'Relax, Rory, they'll be just getting on the bus now. Just say we had to wait ages for the loo. You better get that thing down you fast, though.'

Rory hurried after him, trying to wolf down her hot dog at the same time.

They reached the gates, and looked around. The school bus was no where in sight. Suddenly Jess grabbed her arm.

'Oh, no way.'

Rory turned to see where he was looking, and was greeted by the sight of a yellow bus retreating into the distance.

'I can't believe it. They left without us.'

Rory opened and closed her mouth but couldn't speak.

'Unbelievable.'

Rory let out a shaky breath.

'Lets go back in and ask someone if we can use their phone or something.'

Her voice came out in a strangled, raspy way, and she took a couple more breaths, trying not to let Jess see how scared she was.

'Aw, c'mon Rory. We're not babies. Lets prove those dumb teachers we don't need them. There's a bus stop just down the road. We'll just bus back to Stars Hollow. You've got money, right?'

Rory nodded stiffly. 'Go and ask for help' said her mother's voice, urgently, inside her head.

'Jess, I don't know. Lets just go see if we can find a phone.'

'C'mon, Gilmore. It's just a bus, We get on here, get off in the Hollow. We'll probably beat those losers back anyhow.' He started towards the bus stop.

Rory paused, glancing back towards the Zoo.

'You coming?' Jess had stopped and turned, waiting for her.

Faced with the prospect of looking like a baby in front of Jess, and having to go back in there by herself and talk to complete strangers, Rory sighed and reluctantly followed behind him.

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Jess' bus timetable reading skills aren't quite up to scratch it would seem, Next chapter up soon!