TRUNCHEON 2
"What would you like me to do about it dad?" Lorelai exclaims in exasperation. "Its really not my decision to make. Besides, mom is smitten with him and has pushed for this relationship since the very beginning. I have already told him that he doesn't have my blessing. I have already told her that this is a bad idea. What more do you want me to do?"
"There must be something, Lorelai!" Richards shouts back with clear frustration. "I admit to having a part in this being born but I have come to realise my mistake! The young woman strutting around on that boy's arm is not my granddaughter!"
"Then go and speak to her! She listened to you last time, did she not? I'm sure if you went and spoke with her then things will be right again."
Richard towards his daughter in confusion, attempting and failing to understand what she is speaking.
"I'm afraid you have me at a loss, Lorelai. I have no idea what you are speaking about."
"What? Dad this is no time to joke around."
"Yet, I am being complete serious. What are you referring to?"
"Was it not you that got her to come home?" Lorelai questions in astonishment. "I thought that it was you who managed to convince her to go back to Yale."
"It was not I." Richard responds with a shake of his head, staring her dead in the eye. Lorelai leans back into her chair, shock written all over her face. "What makes you think that was me? I, myself, believed you to have been the catalyst of that event."
"It wasn't me, dad. We were still fighting at the time. I know it wasn't Lane either."
"Well then, who would be able to talk sense into her? It must have been someone with a fair amount of significance to her. Who is capable of forcing her to acknowledge reality? Who's opinion does she care about most if not those of her family?"
Silence reigns in the office as both father and daughter attempt to solve the mystery presented by their revelation.
Lorelai finally lets out a heavy sigh and bows her head in resignation. She reaches for her bag and takes out her phone before searching for a number she never thought she would call again.
"I have a good idea." She says as she waits for the phone on the other end of the line pick up.
"Luke's." answers a gruff voice. "Kirk, if this is another one of your crazy ideas I'll let-"
"Its not Kirk." Lorelai interrupts. She begins a nervous ramble. "I know I'm one of the last people in the world that you want to be talking to but I didn't know who else to call. I need a favour and I know that its possibly the worst thing for me to ask right now but I can't think of anyone else to turn to who will be able to help. The favour isn't for me though! Its for Rory. I know things will never be the same between us but I really need your help to stop my daughter from making a terrible mistake she'll regret for the rest of her life." Lorelai finishes with a sob. "Please, Luke. I don't know what else to do."
Richard watches with as his daughter practically begs the man whose heart she broke.
"What do you need me to do?"
"Yo, James Dean, you got some visitors wanting to see you."
"Fuck off, Chris." A figure says as he moves around chairs in front of the stage. "Tell them I'm not seeing anyone today. I'm too busy setting up for the opening tonight."
"I tried that, my most valuable colleague, but they insist and one even went so far as to say he would ring your neck if you didn't go out there in the next minute"
"Luke's here?" Jess perks his head up. "Tell him I'll be there right after I'm done with this sound check."
Chris quickly makes his way back into the bustling lobby of the building towards the group of people waiting for Jess.
"You guys need to come see this." He ushers them to the windows looking out into the massive backyard of the building. "What Truncheon 2 has that Truncheon 1 never had was a big enough space for bands and singers to showcase their work. Its one of the main reasons why we bought this building and put Jess in charge here in Hartford will we stay in Philly. Due to him being a singer/songwriter he is able to connect better with a lot of our potential clients."
"Wait, are you telling me that Jess, bad boy hoodlum gnome stealing Jess, can sing?" asks a scandalous Lorelai.
"Has he never sung for you guys?" Chris questions, now knowing the full history of everyone involved. "Then you are in for a treat. Whenever we have sound check he sings one of his more up-tempo songs. That's why this place is so packed even before tonight. All these people have come to see as much as possible."
They all watch as Jess makes his way on stage, greeting all the band members up there with him.
"Matthew! Do you have the camera ready?" Chris calls out to another young man sitting up a stand-up camera pointing towards the stage. "Don't tell Jess but we plan on posting this on our official website. Hopefully it will bring in more bands and artists."
"Can he really sing that well?" asks Lane as she watches a number of people make their way to the front of the stage.
"Oh, you have no idea."
The sound of a piano playing draws everyone's attention to the stage. They watch as Jess sits on a chair grabs a hold of the mic stand, bobbing his head along to the beat.
I can do what I want,
I'm in complete control
That's what I tell myself
I got a mind of my own,
I'll be alright alone
Don't need anybody else!
I give myself a good talking to
No more being a fool for you
I remember how you made wanna surrender
The audience listens to him sing with rapt attention, losing themselves in the emotions being invoked by his voice. The visiting group stares in awe at the young man who seldom showed any kind of emotion.
Damn your eyes
They're taking my breath away
For making me wanna stay
Damn your eyes
For getting my hopes up high
Making fall in love again
Damn your eyes
Jess looks out over the crowd in front of him, eyes distant as they envision someone who isn't there. Its plain for everyone that he is lost in his own world.
Always the same,
You said that you'll change
Somehow you never do
I believe all your lies
The look in your eyes
You make it all seem true
I guess I see what I wanna see,
Or is my heart just deceiving me
With that look I know so well,
I fall completely under your spell
The pain in his voice is almost unbearable to hear for everyone watching him. Tears start flowing down a few cheeks as no one dares to tear their eyes away from him.
Damn your eyes
They're taking my breath away
For making me wanna stay
Damn your eyes
For getting my hopes up high
Making fall in love again
Damn your eyes
He gets up from the chair and walks to the edge of the stage. He pours everything into the words he's singing. The heartache he feels being sent to everyone listening. The anger he feels igniting those listening with emotion. The love he feels being shown for all to see.
Fall completely under your spell
Damn your eyes
Taking my breath away
For making me wanna stay
Damn your eyes
For getting my hopes up high
Making fall in love again
Damn your eyes
Jess bows his head as the crowd breaks out into applause; a few members wiping away stray tears they hadn't realised had fallen. He gives an awkward wave to the crowd before making his way back inside the building while taking out a pack of cigarettes. He sticks one in his mouth and lights it just as he gets to the front lobby.
"I know for a fact that I told you the show is only tonight. Don't tell me you forgot how to read, Uncle Luke." Jess says as he blows out a puff of smoke, finally looking up.
He freezes mid-step as he gazes at the people standing behind his uncle. All three looking on with interest as they swivel their heads to get a better view of the new store.
"You have got to be shitting me." He says before being slapped upside the head by Luke.
"Language." Luke says sternly.
"Yes sir!" Jess responds with a mock salute before taking another drag.
"I thought you quit."
"Setting all this up has been stressful. Besides," Jess points the cig at the others standing around, "its clearly needed. What the hell are they doing here?"
The others make their way over to the uncle and nephew, tow of them fidgeting nervously while the third looks at him with intrigue.
"Lane. Lorelai." Jess greets with a nod of his head. He then looks towards the last member of the party and sticks out his hand. "Mr Gilmore, nice to finally meet you. Surprised we haven't met before. Jess Mariano."
Richard shakes the offered hand as he looks at the young man before him in shock and realisation.
"Jess Mariano? The author of The Subsect?" Richards questions, much to the shock of all present.
"You have read my book?" Jess asks, a raised eyebrow the only sign of his surprise.
"I had the great pleasure." Richard responds with a pleased nod of the head. "I was surprised to find such a well written book being published in this day and age. I saw many influences of other great authors n your work."
"Jess, you wrote a book?"
"Dad, you read Jess' book?"
Lane and Lorelai switch their gazes between the two in disbelief.
"It's only a small novel really." Jess replies with a nonchalant shrug of the shoudlers.
"You are much too modest young man!" Richard exclaims. "It is wonderfully written. The way you use beauty to highlight the tragedy of a lost love of a man travelling the country is something I was amazed to read. I was captivated from the very first sentence."
Jess responds with a small smile before taking another drag and turning his head to release the smoke.
"I'm guessing this isn't just a social visit. What can I do for you all?"
Luke, Lane, and Lorelai looks towards each other, none of them knowing how to bring up the reason for their visit.
"Its about Rory." Jess freezes as Richard says this. An act not lost of the elder gentleman. "We need your fault making her see reason. She is about to make a big mistake and no matter what anyone has said on the matter, she refuses to listen to anyone of us."
"Not my problem." Jess responds coldly. "Its her life to live, whatever she has gotten herself into, she'll get herself out of eventually." He turns around to make his way back through the store. "If she hasn't listened to anyone of you then I doubt I could make much of a difference."
"Wait!" lane runs in front of Jess and blocks his path. "You are the only person she'll listen to. You have always been the only person to make her see reason! Please Jess!"
"She went back to Yale for you." Luke says quietly. Jess tilts his head to indicate that he's listening. "Even after everyone told her she's making a mistake, even after everyone spoke to her, tried to convince her… one visit from you was all it took for her to snap back to reality."
"Don't know what you are talking about, Uncle Luke." Jess says with a fake smile. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have an opening to get ready for."
"Please Jess." The clear sadness and heartbreak in the voice causes him to falter. "There is no one else we can turn to. I'm sorry." The tension in the room rises as Jess' body becomes rigid. "I never gave you a chance because I knew that you were the only one who could ever take my baby away from me. It was easier to hate you than see my daughter share in a happiness I could never be a part of. I'm sorry for judging you. Sorry for the awful things I have said to and about you. I'm sorry I made you dating my daughter so difficult. I forced myself to believe I was protecting her when all I wanted was to selfishly hold on to her." Lorelai falls to the floor as she breaks down into sobs. "Please, I'm begging you, save Rory from making the biggest mistake she will ever make. Please save my daughter from herself."
Chris, standing in the doorway of the lobby watches the wide array of emotions play across the face of one of his best friends. He knew enough about Rory to know that Jess would never be able to forgive himself if he walked away from this.
"Don't walk away, Jess. You have a chance to get the girl. Don't let it slip through your fingers just because you have been hurt before. What is love if it is not accompanied by a little heartache?"
Jess lets loose a deep sigh as the tension leaves his shoulders. He takes one last deep drag and tilts his head up. He gazes intently at the smoke as it makes its way towards the ceiling.
"Opening is at six. Make sure whoever you want to be here is here by 7."
Jess walks away from them all. The echoing of his eerily footsteps sending hope through the visitors.
"Rory, so good to see you." Emily says as she hugs her granddaughter before moving on to Logan. "Logan, so happy to almost have you in the family."
"Always a pleasure, Emily." Logan says before whisking Rory away in search of a drink. "Remind me again why we came here tonight?"
"Grandma is currently the only one supporting me decision. I didn't want to have to fight her as well." Rory says in a tired voice. "Logan you really shouldn't be drinking again tonight. You spent the whole of last night out partying."
"Oh,come on babe, you were there partying along with me." Logan responds with a cheeky grin.
"No, I was not!" Rory hisses out quietly. "I was busy taking care of you three idiots the whole night. I told you we had to leave early cause I had class today!"
"Class doesn't matter anymore, Ace. You are going to be marrying me, remember? You don't have to work at all. Just stay at home and have fun."
A snort snaps the couple out of their little argument. Rory and Logan look towards the bar to see the back a young man leaning on his elbows, nursing a glass of whiskey with the bottle right next to it.
"Something funny?" Logan asks in an arrogant tone.
Rory continues to look at the young man feeling a familiar air around him that she cant quite put her finger on. Rory would be the first to admit that the low riding jeans his wearing shapes his bum in the most spectacular fashion. The long white t-shirt his wearing clung to him like a second skin, allowing Rory to see the twitch of his back muscles as he swirled the whiskey in the glass. The sleeves rolled up to his elbows showed off his muscular for arms with hints of a tattoo.
"Surprising, I do." Answers a velvet smooth voice sending chills down Rory's spine. A feeling of dread came over her. Just before she could confirm her suspicion she was pulled into a conversation with her grandfather.
"Rory dear, do you have any idea how many important members in publishing there are here tonight?" Richard whispers in her ear.
Rory takes a proper look around the lobby of the shop to see that her grandpa is correct. She could see smartly dressed people mixed in with the youngsters, all conversing together in this unique environment filled with the smell of coffee and books.
"Logan, what are you doing here?" calls out a voice tinged with a hint of anger. Both Rory and Logan turn around to find the last person they expected to see.
"Dad? Why are you at this dump?" questions Logan, unaware of the angered looks he's receiving. "I'm trying to get a drinking from this cheap bar but this asshole right here won't share the bloody bottle."
"Watch you mouth!" hisses Mitchum. "Do you have any idea where you are right now?"
"Some new café?" answers Logan with a uncaring shrug of the shoulders.
"No, you idiot! Not some café." By now, the father and so duo have gathered most of the attention in the building. "You are currently at the opening of the newest up and coming publishing company with the hottest writer of since the turn of the century!"
"Okay, and your point? Just sign him up and then we can go to a proper place without assholes like this guy around." Logan says as he indicates the young man who hasn't moved from his spot at the bar.
"So, MItchum this is your son?" a new voice speaks up.
"Oh my god." Rory exclaims, bringing attention back to her. "Mr Sulzberger, its an honour to meet you."
"Rory Gilmore, right?" questions Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr with a smirk.
"You know her, Arthur?" interrupts a surprised Mitchum.
"Of course I do." Arthur answers back with a raised eyebrow. "I was informed about her from the young author we are trying to connect with. I'm surprised you let her go, Mitchum. Normally you have an amazing eye for talent such as hers."
"Excuse me sir," Rory calls out timidly, "but who exactly you pointed me out to you?"
"Jess Mariano, of course."
The world stops for Rory as she finally connects all the dots.
"And that right there is why I find the idea of you being a housewife utterly ridiculous." Says the young man at the bar as he turns around, brown eyes meeting blue. "You cando infinitely better than that, Ror."
"Jess." calls out Rory in disbelief.
"Mr Mariano," Mitchum interjects himself as he holds out his hand, "I'd like to discuss the merging of Truncheon with Huntzberger Co." he says with utter confidence.
Jess stares Mitchum dead in the eye for a few seconds before tunring to face the bar again.
"No. Arthur, have you given thought the the proposed deal." Jess says with all the nochalance of an alpha male.
"Yes, I have." Replies Arthur with a chuckle at the expense of Mitchum. "It would be my honour to manage the promoting of any Truncheon products. I have also sent in that that stack of articles you me to some of my top editors. They were quite impressed and are willing to offer and internship/job opportunity as soon a degree is secured."
"Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?" exclaims an irritated Logan.
"Its quite simple Porsche Boy. I didn't like the fact that your family tore down Rory's dream or you incessent need to hold her back from her full potential. She deserves better than that." Jess replies before gulping down the lasy of his drink and turning to Rory. "I'm irritated with you at the moment. Stay quiet, sit down, and listen."
Jess gets up and walks to the stage. The entire building quietens downs as all attention is placed upon him.
"Quite intense, isn't he?" Arthur says as he guides Rory over to a chair. "After The Subsect exploded onto the scene, I just had to have such a talent. My first meeting with him ended in disaster as he refused to leave his current job and practically pushed me out the door. However, after keeping tabs on him for a few months I just knew that I couldn't let him escape. The way he is able to find unheard of talent in the underground scene is just the thing I believe will help my company find a new, younger target market."
"What does this have to do with me?" Rory questions quietly.
"He dropped off a stack of articles at my office one day. Told my secretary that he would only nogotiate after I have read through them all. The utter audacity of thatyoung man is quite refreshing." Arthur lets out a laugh. "Your writing is exactly the kind of writing I see attracting the younger generation. Ms Gilmore, I'll be frank with you. You have still got a lot to learn and understand about life and the media business. However, it would be one of my biggest mistakes to let talent like your go to waste. I would like for you to, after you graduate of course, come intern at the New York Times. After your internship is done, we can discuss you working as a journalist and the stories I would like you to cover."
Rory is struck speechless. Her dream, the dream she worked her whole life towrads, the dream she had to gave up on, is now being presented to her on a silver platter, she couldn't believe. She didn't know hwta to think or what to say.
"Wow." A very familiar voice interrupts her thoughts. "Who knew that the townhoodlum would be able to pull off something like this? All we asked him was to talk some sense into him and he goes ahead and does all this."
"Mom… what are you talking about?" asked a very confused Rory.
"Oh baby." Lorelai gives her daughter a sad smile. "We couldn't sit back and watch you make what would have been the biggest mistake of your life." Luke, Richard, Paris, and Lane step up behind Lorelai. "Since you wouldn't listen to anyone of us, we were forced to bring out the big guns."
"I do not believe you would be happy marrying into that family, my dear." Says Richard. "You have your hopes and dreams to accomplish. While staying at home and planning events all day fits your grandmother quite well, I believe that you were meant to explore the world and report back to everyone wanting to read agood story."
"You deserve to be with someone that will put you first. That will support you in whatever you choose to do, not tear you down." Speaks up Lane as she hugs Rory.
"I just want what's best for you, Rory." Luke says and he akwardly grips his baseball cap. " I miss having you around the diner and when ever you are there I don't see you as happy as you used to be. I see you just as much of a daughter as I do April. You will always be be special to me."
Rory tears up at hearing all this. She hugs her mom tightly before doing the same to Luke and Richard.
"I'm just here to make sure you actually choose the right guy for once." Says Paris in a haughty tone before she smiles and hugs Rory as well.
The cheering of a crowd brings all their attention back towards the stage. They all see Jess make his way over toa piano. He sits down and patiently waits for the crowd to calm down.
"You are in for a treat, fruit of my loins. That boy can sing like its no ones business."
"Before I begin, I'd like to thank all of you for coming through to support Truncheon. Special thanks to Mr Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr." Jess starts off before locking eyes with Rory. "I'd like to dedicate this next song to someone very special to me. She lost her way for a bit but I know that shes now on the right track to getting everything she deserves in life."
He sends a warm smile to Rory before facing the piano to compose himself. His hands ghost across the keys for a few seconds before he begins the melody. The sounds of the piano connect with evryone listening as all attention is focused on Jess as he leans towards the mic.
Did someone give you something
To help you ease the pain?
Like the liquor in the bottle,
We watched you slip away
And I feel as if I know you
Through the bars of a song
Always surrounded but alone
Rory feels each lyric of the song hit her. The shame and guilt of her actions, which she buried over the past few years, finally being forced to be brought to the surface.
But no goodbyes
You'll always be Miss America.
We watched you fly,
But nothing's free Miss America.
And as you fall apart
We just call it art.
Was it so hard to breathe?
She feels the gaze of her friends and family on her. Tears starting flowing down her cheeks because she knows that even through all of it they still love her.
Was the picture in the paper
Not the face you recognize?
Did the makeup never make up
For the pain behind your eyes?
'Cause I feel as if I know you
When you're on my silver screen
But I don't know the dark places that you've been.
Jess turns his head towards her and their eyes lock onto each other. Brown meeting blue, sending so many thoughts and emotions. She knows without a doubt that he's singing to no one else but her.
But no goodbyes
You'll always be Miss America.
We watched you fly,
But nothing's free Miss America.
And as you fall apart
We just call it art.
Was it so hard to breathe?
Does another voice sing in Heaven's choir tonight,
To fill the silence left behind?
And I don't know what goes on in your mind
I'm sure it's enough to make my cry.
Someday we'll find you lived forever.
He slows down the melody of the keys for the final verse, focusing more on getting his message across to Rory. He smiles as he sees her family surround her. Her eyes never leave him as the tears continue to stream down her face.
But no goodbyes
You'll always be Miss America.
We watched you fly,
But nothing's free Miss America.
And as you fall apart
We just call it art.
Was it so hard to breathe?
so as always review and let me know what you think. if there are any songs you or scenes you'd like me to write out just let me know in the reviews or PM me