This Crazy World

Part 4

Jess pressed the on button on his phone and sank back down in the couch. "You talk to her yet?"

"How…?" came Luke's confused voice over the phone.

"Oh, the wonders of technology," Jess said with a small chuckle. "You talk to her yet?"

"Well…"

"What? You're not sure if you talked?"

"There was a conversation," Luke said, still sounding uncertain.

"And…" Jess prodded, reaching for the stereo remote and turning down the music.

"Well, we talked for about ten minutes about salmon," Luke stated.

"Huh?" Jess sat up again, frowning.

"Yeah, I never knew there was so much to say about salmon."

"So you talked about salmon?" Jess asked puzzled. "Then what?"

Luke sighed on the phone. "Then she got this weird expression on her face and ran out."

"Huh?"

"Yeah, I'm not sure what to make of that," Luke said, sounding tired.

"Don't ask me what's going on in her head. Most of the time it's a complete mystery."

"As to everyone else," Luke said with a humorless chuckle.

"You ok?" Jess asked.

"Well, no," Luke admitted. "But that's not why I called."

Jess tensed, an annoyed look on his face. "Oh, it's not?"

"No, it's not," Luke confirmed. "And you know very well why I'm calling."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Jess."

"Luke."

Luke scoffed. "Liz told me you're not coming here on Saturday."

"Yeah well, I don't see the point," Jess said, toying with the stereo remote.

"It's your birthday Jess."

"Yes," Jess agreed, "keyword being mine."

"Liz just wants to celebrate."

"I know, and I don't."

"But…"

Jess stilled and took a deep breath. "Look, I'm really not that fond of driving three hours to spend a day in Stars Hollow and then drive back home again."

"You could always stay for a couple days," Luke suggested, almost hopefully.

"I do have a job you know."

"Well, we could come to you."

"No."

"But..."

"I said no."

"Why not?"

"Because it will just be Liz trying to make up for all the times she forgot it while I was growing up and I can think of far better ways to spend the day."

"I'm sure..."

Jess sighed. "Look, it's a stupid tradition anyway."

"It's not stupid."

"Yeah, and that's why you do everything you can to avoid yours?"

"I don't avoid it," Luke protested.

"Oh yeah?" Jess said amused. "So last year you just happened to have to personally visit a supplier in New York, a town which everyone knows you hate?"

"Well, I um…needed to go over some stuff with him."

"Oh, right," Jess chuckled, "stuff."

"Yeah, it was really important."

"Ok, what was this stuff about?"

"It was…about the…um…" Luke trailed off.

Jess shook his head and smirked. "Oh, that stuff."

"Hey, this isn't about me."

Jess shook his head again. "I don't want a birthday party Luke. End of story."

"Not even…"

"No."

"Fine," Luke sighed. "What am I supposed to tell Liz?"

"You'll figure something out."

"You can't just leave me with this."

"Look, I'll call her, ok," Jess said, squeezing his eyes together. "I'll even talk to her on Saturday and let her congratulate me."

"Yeah, ok," Luke gave in.

Jess glanced at his watch and got up from the couch. "I've got to go. Work calls."

"Oh, ok. Yeah, I won't keep you."

"Yeah," Jess nodded. "Hey Luke, you should go talk to her again. Just make sure you pick another subject this time."

"Yeah, I will."

"Good luck," Jess said sincerely.

"Thanks."

"I'll talk to you later, ok?"

"Yeah." And then Luke hung up.