Life and Death
By blackbirdfree
Chapter Nine
"You spent all weekend there?" questioned Francie that Monday morning at Chilton.
"Yes," said Rory. She sighed. "I was miserable… except for that date that I told you about on the telephone."
"So, you and Jess Mariano," interrupted Paris. Paris was listening with Francie, Madeline, and Louise as Rory told the four of them about her weekend. "I wouldn't have thought of it. He's so…"
"Holden Caulfield?" asked Madeline.
"I would say James Dean," added Louise.
Rory shrugged. Jess did have a bad-boy thing going on. He was no where to be seen that day in homeroom or else Rory would have saved her discussion of the date for later on in the day.
"Whatever," said Rory. "I like him. We had fun."
"So, you'll go out with him again?" questioned Madeline.
"Yes," said Rory. "Definitely."
Rory was eager for lunch. She looked around at the cafeteria before she sat down while she stood in the lunch line. She noticed that Logan wasn't there. Rory decided something in that second.
Rory walked over to her usual mahogany table in the center of the cafeteria. "Hi, guys," said Rory. "I think I'm going to sit with Jess today."
"Jess who?" asked Finn.
"Who's Jess?" asked Colin.
Rory laughed. "He's the brunette guy over there," said Rory. She nodded toward the direction where Jess was sitting by himself. The boy had his headphones on again. He had another thick tome on his lunch tray.
"But we won't have our banter-buddy then," said Colin.
"Logan's not in today," said Finn. "Now who's gonna help to bring in the fun?"
"I did notice that Logan wasn't here. Is something wrong?" questioned Rory.
"Nothing's wrong with him but something is wrong. His dad's sick. He has pneumonia. Mr. Huntzberger has a serious case of it. He's in the hospital," confided Madeline.
"Why does it seem like you always know everything about everyone?" said Paris in an annoyed tone-of-voice.
"My hair's so big it's filled with secrets," answered Madeline with a smirk.
Rory laughed. "Well, I'm sorry that I have to go and take the party with me but I think another seat is calling my name."
Finn and Colin began to grumble in a joking fashion. Rory smiled at the two's antics and left.
Rory walked over to Jess' empty table and sat down. Jess removed his headphones.
"Looks like you're slummin' it today," said Jess.
Rory rolled-her-eyes. "Looks like it," she said.
"Did your usual band of baboons not keep your attention?" he questioned.
"Oh, shut-up," said Rory. "They're not that bad."
"So, why'd you decide to visit me in my secluded little corner then?"
"I figured you could use an actual human-being to talk to."
"So you volunteered?"
"I love to feed the needy."
"I'm one of the needy now?"
"No. You're one of my friends."
"That's almost as foreign to me as the phrase, 'feed the needy.'"
Rory rolled-her-eyes. "Don't look a gift-horse in the mouth, Jess," she said plainly.
"Touché."
Rory smiled.
