Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who has left me a review! I really appreciate it. This chapter is the longest one I've posted. I hope you all like the direction I chose to go. Let me know what you think by leaving a review and anything you might want to possibly see in the next chapter...if y'all want one, of course.
Disclaimer: There are scenes from the show that you will recognize, dialogue as well (I do not own) and some change to events.
4
7:00am
The morning sun broke through the parted curtains. Rory felt the bright sun pressing against her eyelids. She furrowed her brows in annoyance. She turned her head to shield her eyes and couldn't help but notice her pillow was stiffer than usual. She turned towards it more to find a comfortable spot, moving her head from side to side when she noticed the scent. It was a familiar delicious smelling cologne she associated with one person...Jess. Rory let her mind wander. She smiled as she inhaled his scent. There was no way this wasn't a dream. She wouldn't let this moment go and she got more comfortable tightening her hold around his waist. The warmth from his body felt too real to her but she passed it off as a vivid dream.
"Hmm," moaned Jess furrowing his brows with her sudden movement. Rory's eyes shot open. "What's with vigorous movement? You do this to your pillow every morning?" Jess snaked his arm around her waist.
"JESS?!" Rory half screamed as she pelted from his side trying to put as much distance from herself to Jess. He was real afterall.
"The one and only." He said, masking the sudden confusion he felt at her running from his side. To remain nonchalant, he did a full body stretch from his seat on the couch. He raised his hand to rub the back of his neck. "Ouch, my neck is so stiff."
"What are you..How did..uhhh?"
"Relax. You fell asleep last night and I dozed off soon after. I didn't mean to stay but The Fountainhead knocked me out."
"You-" Rory began but then she heard a car door slam outside.
"My mom! She's here! Jess you need to leave right now!"
"I-"
"Jess, please. Can you just go? My mom is going to freak if she sees you." Jess was left speechless but he picked up his coat.
"Alright, alright, I'm going." Jess said as Rory shoved him unceremoniously towards the back door. I'll see you later Rory?" He questioned, raising his eyebrow but all he got as a response was the click of the back door closing. Rory was too panicked to reply to Jess, she barely even heard his words. She was almost out of the kitchen when the front door opened and she was greeted by her mom.
"Rory?" Lorelai said in surprise. She expected her daughter to be sleeping.
"Mom! Hi! What are you doing here? How was the Spa?"
"You're jumpy this morning." she replied, narrowing her eyes at her daughter. "Oh you know, it was a disaster but we had our good moments. Why are you dressed so early?"
"Oh, uh, Paris came over yesterday to study and I was so tired after she left that I just fell asleep in my jeans. Yeah that's what happened. My brain was fried and my bed was the pan to doze off in."
"Okay." Lorelai said smiling but eyeing Rory with a bit of suspicion. "Is that all that happened?"
"Well…" Rory began, "Dean came over and we had a fight of sorts because Paris was here but he thought Jess was here too..."
"Was he?" she asked. Rory stayed silent. "Rory?"
"He came by because he was dropping off a care package from Luke and then he just kinda stayed for dinner and I didn't want to have any major problems with Dean so I may have told a half-truth."
"So you lied to him." Rory gave a half apologetic expression but didn't say anything. "Well, I guess you did live up to my request to "throw a party" even though it was only a party of three and you had no hand in the planning."
"Yeah, I'm a real rebel mom."
"You have to tell Dean the truth."
"I know, it's just he's not going to understand that we're just friends."
"Are you just friends?" Lorelai questioned. She knew her daughter and she knew there was something more going on even if Rory was slow to admit it.
"Yes."
"Then why did you lie?"
"Dean would've reacted worse than he did."
"Honey, I know you. Jess is more than a friend. You wouldn't have lied if what you felt for him was platonic."
"I…" Rory closed her eyes and shook her head. "No. I love Dean." Her eyes began to water, "but…"
"It's okay Rory. It's okay to be confused."
"It's just that...Jess he's so...we connect on a different level and it's something I've never felt with anyone before." Lorelai looked at her daughter and pulled her into a hug. She didn't like Jess for Rory but she trusted her kid and knew now was not the time to bring up her concerns.
When Jess made it to the diner, it was already bustling with life. He walked in the front door and felt a pair of eyes glaring at him from behind the counter. Luke.
"Where have you been?!" Luke bellowed angrily and Jess made his way upstairs. "Hey! I'm talking to you."
"I was out and now I'm back." He said trying to climb the steps up to the apartment.
"Where did you spend the night?" Luke demanded grabbing hold of Jess' arm.
"I gotta go take a shower, can I have my arm back?" He gave him a bored expression. He did not want to talk to Luke right now. Luke looked at him with angry concern. Jess pulled his arm free and walked up the stairs with Luke on his tail.
"You live under my roof, answer me." Luke grabbed Jess again but this time by the shirt and sat him down at their kitchen table. "Talk."
Jess let out an exasperated sigh. "Rory."
"What about Rory? What did you do Rory?"
"I didn't do anything to her. Geez." Jess' anger rose.
"What about Rory?" Luke repeated.
"I spent the night at her house. Now before you get all judge and executioner on me, nothing happened. I fell asleep reading."
"You spent the night? Are you two.."
"No."
Luke looked at Jess up and down. He loved his nephew and he loved Rory like a daughter but he couldn't help but think how this would blow up in Jess' face.
"Are we done here?" Jess replied clearly not wanting to hear what Luke would say next.
"Yeah." Luke nodded. "Meet me downstairs when you're done up here." Luke walked out of the apartment and down to the diner.
Jess let out an agitated breath. He grabbed his favorite long sleeve and a pair of jeans before hopping into the shower. He let his mind wander to last night as the cool droplets washed over his hair. He couldn't help but reminisce on how comfortable and at home he felt on that couch with Rory. Sure, he'd awoken with a stiff neck but before he had said a word, he felt how Rory held him tighter and breathed him in. But the smile on his face faded as he thought how she had run from his side. Maybe she had thought she was holding Dean. He shook the thought away and concentrated on the day ahead. Surely, Luke would have him help out at the diner for the rest of the day.
Rory and Lorelai walked into the diner. Rory wanted to have breakfast with her mom before she was to spend the day with Dean. She knew she would have to tell Dean the truth but after she had lied to his face, she did not know if she would be able to repair the damage. She loved him, he had to know that but he also needed to know that she was confused. Rory was nervous. She hoped she wouldn't run into Jess just yet but deep down she hoped to catch a glimpse of his dark brown eyes. Lorelai chose a table in the center of the diner. She was about to sit down when her phone began ringing.
"Outside." Luke said as he made his way to their table.
"Yeah, yeah." Lorelai replied with a wave of her hand. She turned to Rory, "Order me coffee."
Rory sat down her back towards the window so her eyes were directed at the counter where she knew Jess might be. Not a second later, he came into view. Their eyes met. Luke was watching them from the corner of his eye. Before Jess could say a word he called to him, "Jess, go refill some coffee cups." Jess moved his eyes to Luke.
"Go." Luke said.
"Rory, what can I get you?" Luke asked, turning his attention to her.
"Coffee for mom."
"Of course, making two cups."
"Pancakes, fruit bowl, side of breakfast potatoes, and scrambled eggs please. Mom will order more when she comes back in."
"Yeah, don't I know it."
Jess walked over to Rory's table with coffee in his hand.
"Hi."
"Hi."
"Jess?"
"Yeah?"
"Can we...talk?"
Jess raised his eyebrows as he poured two cups of coffee. He made a move to sit down at her table.
"I meant later. Can we talk later?"
Jess narrowed his eyes at her and nodded his head. "Sure." He left the table and continued to serve the people at the diner. Lorelai walked back in and took her seat.
"Ooooh, yes, coffee!" She said excitedly as she took a sip. "That spa had no caffeine. This liquid drink is pure delicious beauty." She inhaled the smell. Rory shook her head smiling; she could always count on her mom to make her laugh at the most mundane of things. Luke returned to their table with Rory's order.
"Lorelai."
"Luke."
"What can I get ya?"
"Hmmmm, I'll start with some toast, grilled veggies, and everything Rory ordered. That looks and smells great."
"Okay, coming up."
Rory's eyes followed Luke as she took a forkful of pancakes but her eyes changed directions when she caught hold of Jess. He was pouring a cup of coffee and heading back to the counter to refill the pot. He looked up and caught her eye. She should have been embarrassed that he caught her staring but she didn't care. She liked sharing stolen glances with him. Lorelai followed Rory's gaze to Jess. She turned her head and looked at Rory. Her expression was coy. She took another sip of her coffee before she called Rory's attention back to her. Not long after, Luke brought her food and they spent the rest of their time talking to one another.
"Mom, mind if I pay? I want to thank Luke for the food."
"Okay, I'll meet you outside." Lorelai walked outside and to her surprise she saw Dean.
"Dean!"
"Hi." he said in a dreary tone.
"How are you doing? Rory told me everything that happened. Given the chance she would have had you over but they just landed at her door."
"Yeah. Wait…"
Rory walked to the counter. "Hey Luke."
"Was something wrong with the food?" he asked.
"No, it was great."
"I just wanted to thank you for the care package."
"Huh? What care package?" he questioned. He turned back to Jess who was reading a book. Jess' eye shot up. Luke understood and he turned back to Rory.
"Ahhh yes. You know, I have coffee to serve. Jess attend Rory." Luke left to go fill coffee cups.
Jess took a deep breath and took the receipt from Rory's hand. "So you wanna pay?"
Rory looked at him. "Luke didn't send me a care package, you did. You wanted to come over."
"I don't know what you're talking about. That'll be 12.50"
"Why didn't you just tell me you wanted to come over?"
"I don't have any quarters, I'm going to have to give you nickels."
"You're squirming. I've never seen you squirm before. I like it." She smiled.
"Oh yea" he said coolly returning her smile.
"Look," she said regaining her composure, "I'll find you later. I still need to talk to you."
"Yeah, okay. I'll be here at the diner until closing." He gave her the change and she left stealing one more glance before she walked out the door. As she walked out the door she saw Dean and her mom. He caught him asking her a question but couldn't understand what he was referring to: "Wait, what do you mean they?"