This Crazy World

Part 2

Jess stared at his uncle who was slumped on the couch. "Wow, don't you look just peachy," he finally said.

Luke raised his head enough to peer up at the intruder, but let it fall again. "Shut up," he said, but without much conviction.

"Any particular reason for this fantastic mood?"

"What are you doing here?" Luke asked, avoiding the question.

"Oh, come on, don't play dumb," Jess glared. "It really doesn't suit you."

Luke just glared at him, not answering.

"Fine," Jess scoffed and walked further into the apartment. "You talked to Lorelai yet?"

Luke's head shot up. "I…"

"Yeah, I know something happened," Jess scoffed. "I have no idea what, but I'm guessing you haven't talked to her since whatever it is happened."

"Yeah."

"So, what happened?"

Luke glared at him again, but then leaned forward, resting his head in his hands.

"Not gonna tell me?"

"I went and talked to her," Luke said quietly.

Jess raised an eyebrow at him when he didn't continue. "And…"

"I said hi, she said hi, we stared at each other, I ran out."

"Wow, you really suck at talking."

"Look who's talking."

"Hey, don't start this on me. This isn't my thing to fix, it's yours, and so far you're obviously doing a really crappy job."

"I'm not the one who should…"

"Ok, don't play the blame game here," Jess snapped. "Unless you tell me what happened, I don't give a damn who's to blame, just fix it."

"What's with you?"

"Look, I came here to try to get some sense into you 'cause Liz's phone calls are getting really annoying. But if you really want to stay miserable, then I guess I'll just go home again and let you get on with it."

Luke sighed, but stayed silent.

"Great," Jess scoffed and started for the door. "I don't have time for this."

"I don't know what to say," Luke sighed.

Jess stopped, his hand on the door. "Well, something more than hi would be a good start," he suggested.

"I know that," Luke snapped.

"Well, you're not gonna get any further by sitting here, now are you?"

"When did you become the expert?"

"Ok, do I have to drag you out of here?" Jess asked. "'Cause let me tell you, this is getting pathetic."

"You don't understand."

"Damn straight I don't! But how the hell am I supposed to understand when you won't tell me what happened?"

"Just leave."

"OK, that's it!" Jess exclaimed, walking up right in front of Luke. "You get the hell out of that couch, now!"

"What are you doing?"

"I'm getting you out of this damn apartment. I don't give a damn where we go, but there's no way in hell I'm just gonna let you sit there like a fucking zombie. Now get up!"

"Hey, watch your mouth!"

"Whatever, just get up."

Luke frowned at him, but eventually stood up. "What are you so angry about?"

Jess shook his head. "I was just here, ok. I got back home yesterday and almost as soon as I stepped inside Liz started calling. She kept calling constantly. She threatened to come down to Philly and get me herself. Now I just spent two days with her, listening to her going on and on about her new life philosophy and how she's gonna do everything right and that this is the best thing that's ever happened to her. I'm tired, in a crappy mood, and definitely not up for this. Ok? So just move."

Luke stared at him for a second. "I'm…"

"Gonna shut up and get a move on."

"Fine."

"I'm just gonna get my things from my car," Jess said and walked over to the door again. "Don't get any ideas," he added as he walked out.

When he got back Luke was standing in the middle of the room with two backpacks in front of him.

"Pack whatever you think you'd need for one night in there," Luke said and pointed to one of the backpacks. "I'm gonna get the rest to the car."

Jess stared at him and then at the backpack and when he turned around Luke was out of the apartment. When Luke came back Jess was standing in front of the kitchen table with the half full backpack on a chair and a pile of books in front of him.

"Come on, hurry up," Luke said from the doorway.

Jess turned around, eyeing him suspiciously. "You seem strangely chipper."

"We don't have all day," was all Luke said before walking out of the apartment again.

Jess shook his head, stuffed a couple books in the backpack and followed him.