This Crazy World

A/N: If you want to get some insight into what was said between Rory and Jess in between part 19 and this one, read my story Still Counting. And, there's a conversation between Rory and Lorelai as well, in my story Filling in the Blanks

Part 20

Jess had soon found his rhythm in the diner again, working alongside Luke and Lane. Strictly speaking, they didn't need an extra hand, but he didn't know what he'd be doing otherwise, so here he was.

He supposed he could just do what he used to when he was younger; stand behind the counter and read. But he just couldn't justify it anymore. It wouldn't feel right for some reason. Then again, neither did competing with Lane for the customers, even though he actually saved any tips he got for her. Not that she knew about that. But still, he could live with that.

Maybe that was part of growing up, he reasoned. At least for him.

And besides, he would've had trouble concentrating on reading anyway. He would never admit it out loud, but he was nervous about tonight. There was a whole lot of anticipation as well, and that he was ok with. But the nerves, that was a new thing. And it wasn't even so much about what would happen tonight, but about what it would lead to, what would happen if they ended up actually having that well needed talk.

So that was why he offered to cover for Lane for a few hours when she started looking tired. She was after all pregnant, despite how weird that sounded, and he figured it'd earn him a few brownie points in her book. He was pretty sure he'd need as many as possible once news of him and Rory got out.

Although, to be fair, he and Lane had gotten along pretty well during the day. They had started out safely in the lull before the lunch rush, sharing opinions on music, but once they felt more comfortable the topics had strayed, and he remembered why he'd always thought Lane was cool.

He figured Rory would want to tell the news about them herself though, but found it harder than expected to not let it slip. A few times he could feel Lane watching him curiously, but she'd never outright asked what he was doing here. He supposed she had her suspicions, but if so, she never said anything.

And now he was filling in her shoes for a few hours, still collecting the tips in a jar behind the counter.

As he first picked up the order pad and coffee pot he had received a lot of strange looks, and a couple not so subtle questions from the more nosy residents about why he was in town, but those had died down. Kirk had just come in for an early diner and kept eyeing him warily, and he had seen Taylor not so candidly glare at him through the window a few times, but other than that things had calmed down quickly.

In a strange way, it was almost disappointing.

He checked his watch and saw it was after four. If he were gonna ask, he needed to do it soon, he had put it off for too long already. Mind made up, he took a deep breath, heading for the kitchen.

"So…you wouldn't mind spending the night at Lorelai's tonight, right?" Jess asked casually as he entered, falling back on the attitude of his younger self as a reflex.

"Why would I…" Luke started, then he cut himself off abruptly. "Oh."

"I mean, it's a win, win situation, right?" Jess continued.

"I don't know," Luke hesitated, suddenly all kinds of uncomfortable.

"What's there not to know?" Jess checked, watching him with a smirk. "I know what I plan to be doing tonight, and so should you."

"Jess!" Luke hissed, looking anywhere but his nephew. "I don't need to hear this."

"And you definitely don't have to see it, so…how about it?"

"Well, I mean..." Luke muttered. "Lorelai and I haven't, you know… Not since…"

"So, no time like the present," Jess shrugged.

"It's not that easy," Luke protested, then shook his head. "God, I can't believe I'm having this conversation, and in my diner of all places."

"Great, that's settled," Jess smiled, taking the plates with burgers and fries that had been standing on the bench all along. "Oh, and I'm borrowing your truck tonight as well," he said as he left to go deliver the food.

Luke just stood there, staring after him, until the beef on the stove started sizzling too much. Then he quickly turned it over, trying to save it from going in the trash.

"Damn that kid," Luke muttered to himself, shaking his head. Still, he couldn't keep the smile at bay. And he had to admit that a night with Lorelai did sound nice.

Things had started to feel more normal between them again, not exactly back to the way they had been before the break up, but getting there. That said, he hadn't been lying before. Truth be told, he hadn't spent the night at her place yet, and neither had she at his.

In fact, the only time they had been in the same room the whole night had been on the trip earlier in the summer, but even then they had separate beds.

This would be a first. And he was suddenly nervous about how to ask Lorelai about it. But ask he had to. The only other option was sleeping in his car, because he was definitely not going to be staying at the diner tonight.

He shuddered thinking about that, but then caught sight of Jess smiling at Kirk out in the diner and just stood for a moment, watching. Kirk looked a little freaked out, truth be told, but Luke couldn't help smiling himself. Jess looked genuinely happy, and Luke couldn't be happier for him.

Just then Jess looked up and raised a questioning eyebrow at Luke, but he just shook his head, smiling, and went back to flipping burgers.

"So," Jess began when he appeared in the kitchen a moment later. "It's ok if I borrow the truck?"

"I'm assuming there's some plan to pick up Rory involved in this?" Luke asked, quite deliberately not answering the question.

"Yes," Jess confirmed, rolling his eyes. "I was also wondering if, by any chance, you happened to have Paris's number."

"Rory's friend Paris?" Luke asked, frowning.

"No, the city," Jess muttered, rolling his eyes.

"Well, I just wasn't expecting you to ask for her number," Luke shot back. "What do you need it for anyway?"

"I just thought I'd see if she could help me narrow down what time the meeting at the paper ends," Jess shrugged.

"Ah," Luke nodded, smiling knowingly at his nephew.

"What?" Jess frowned.

Luke shook his head, still smiling. "Nothing."

"So…do you have it or not?" Jess sighed, starting to definitely regret asking in the first place, but he had remembered Rory mentioning, back in the early days, that she always kept her closest friend's numbers with various people, just in case. Maybe she still did.

"I do, actually," Luke confirmed. "Dreading the day I'd have to use it. It's in the drawer by the phone. And yes, you can borrow the truck."

"Great. Thanks."

"So…things are pretty slow out there, now?"

"Yeah, the calm before the storm," Jess confirmed. "Why?"

"Yeah, so…" Luke started awkwardly. "I thought you could check the diner while I call Lorelai?"

"Sure," Jess agreed. "Caesar's coming any minute now, right?"

"Yeah, and Lane's coming back for the dinner rush, so you're free to go once I've made my call. Not that you wouldn't be anyway, considering you don't actually work here, but... You know."

"I know," Jess smiled back. "Now go make plans with Lorelai."

Luke shot him a look, but then disappeared out in the diner, presumably going up in the apartment.

Jess kept smiling, following him out and taking up station behind the counter. It really was strangely comforting to be back. Not that he'd ever admit that out loud either.

Luke reappeared a few minutes later, smiling almost guiltily, and reached out a paper to Jess, who chose not to comment on it. Instead he slipped away, preparing to make an extremely awkward phone call.

Hopefully it would be worth it.