Sweet Hallelujah

"Jess… can I help you?" asks a cautious Sophie Bloom to an uncharacteristically interested Jess Mariano as he stares at an instrument. "Do you play?"

He makes no indication that he heard her as he continues to stare at the guitar in the display case in front of him. Just as Sophie turns around to call Luke to come fetch his nephew, a solemn voice stops her.

"I used to… " She turns to face him and what she sees is enough to make her freeze up in shock. He has a smile on his face. Not the kind of smile that speaks of happiness. The smile on his face is one that only someone who is heartbroken and lost could ever have. "Back in New York, it was the only way for me to get a meal. It was the only friend I ever truly had."

Her maternal instincts kicking in, Sophie makes her way over and stands at his side. Both stare at the beautifully made guitar displayed in front of them.

"Tell me about it." she says just as quietly.

"Not much to tell, really." He says with a shrug. "I've had a shitty life for as long as I can remember. Spent my days and night fighting anything and everything that life threw at me. Was too small to ever win any of them. On one of the nights my amazing mother locked me out the house again so she could party away our money I managed to find a old guitar in a dumpster. It was pretty beat up but I managed to fix it up after reading up on how to."

"What happened then?" Asks a stunned Sophie, unable to believe that she was seeing a complete new side to the 'town hooligan'.

"I found a new way to fight back." He says with a nostalgic smile on his face. "I taught myself how to play my favourite songs. After that, I started writing my own music. That guitar was what helped me survive for so long. Even when Liz lost all our money; even the nights and weeks I had to starve cause there was just no food, that guitar was the one thing I would not part with."

"What happened to it?" she can sense the turn that is about to come.

"I came home one day to find it smashed to pieces. Apparently, Liz's latest fling didn't like music all that much. I snapped." Sophie can see how tense his body is with anger, eyes burning with memories that should never belong to one so young. "I beat him until I couldn't raise my arms anymore. In the end, I got shipped here because I was the cause of the latest in a long line of failed relationships for my mother."

Silence descends upon the duo; one thinking of everything she just heard while the other continues to stare at the guitar.

"Thanks for not kicking me out, Ms Bloom." Jess states while turning to walk out the store.

"I'll give you this guitar on one condition." She suddenly says just as his hand lands on the handle of the door. "You sing one of the songs you wrote. Not just anyone either. I want the first one you ever wrote."

Sophie waits for him to reply. She knew she was taking a gamble on the kid but she saw something in him that struck a cord with her.

"When and where?"

"Luke! Have you seen Jess anywhere?"

"Sohpie? You are looking for Jess. What did the kid do this time?" Luke asks with a growl in his voice.

"Nothing, you idiot." She replies with an eye roll. "He owes me a favour and I'm cashing it in right now."

"Okay… last time I checked, he was holed up in the diner. Really smart of him. I have no idea why anyone would come to one of these messed up Town fairs."

"Luke, just go get the boy and bring him to the town square."

Sophie briskly walks away from a flabbergasted Luke. She makes her way to the raised stage in the middle of the town and makes sure that everything is set-up as it should be.

"Okay listen up everyone!" she shouts to the entire crowd through the mic. "In a moment, a special guest of mine is going to get up here and sing us all a song. I want no one to interrupt him." She sends her death glare at the crowd, causing many to shiver in fear as she is known as one of the scariest people in town. "Whoever should decide to speak against him will have to deal with me. AM. I. UNDERSTOOD?"

The crowd nod their heads in acknowledgement of the threat.

"Huh… someone other than me can actually scare the people in this town." A familiar voice most of the town has come to loath speaks up from the back. "Glad to know I'm not alone."

"Jess, please just shut up and get up here." Sophie says with a smile.

He nonchalantly makes his way through the crowd, smirking as they step out of his way. He jumps on the stage and takes notice of the equipment set-up already.

"What's all this for?"

"This." Sophie answers as she hands him the guitar that he was staring at a few days ago.

"You're joking right?" he asks with anger in his voice. "You honestly expect me to sing in front of all these idiots."

"This is the when and where. I want to hear you. I couldn't care less about what thee think but I really believe you need to be heard."

"You don't even know whether I'm any good or not." he says in astonishment.

"I trust that you are. I need you to trust me on this, Jess." She sees his hesitation and decides to reveal more to him than she initially planned. "There are more than just the people here listening tonight. I called in all the contacts I made in the industry. Some of them are here, some of them are watching through the cameras."

Jess looks around and sees all the unfamiliar faces as well as the numerous cameras set-up all around the square.

"You've been fighting alone all of your life." Sophie says as she holds out the guitar for Jess to take. "Please, let me help you fight."

He hesitates for just a second before slowly stretching out his hand to grasp the guitar. Jess holds the instrument with such care that everyone who knows him is left in shock. Even Lorolai can not find a single thing to say.

"Thank you."

He makes his way to the middle of the stage where an amp and a chair are patiently waiting for him. He plugs the cord into the guitar and plays a few strings to listen to the pitch. After tuning it until he is satisfied, he looks at Sophie and sends her the most heart-warming smile anyone has ever seen on his face.

(I strongly suggest that you play Tom Grennan – Sweet HallelujahLive Session as you read this next part)

Jess takes a deep breath to compose himself. He closes his eyes as his fingers begin to strum the tune of his very first song.

My eyes are delusional
And I'm not thinking the same
But I've been wondering
Is it me you're looking for

Well you'll find me standing on these cold streets
Hoping that you're looking for a little bit more
Will you catch me, save me when I'm falling?
Tell me have you ever been here before?

The way he loses himself in th song is enough to make everyone watching give him all their attention. The way his body sways along to the melody captures them all.

So take my hand and lead the way
Find your courage, find your lion
And take your pride and leave the past
Set sail for new horizons

So take my hand and lead the way
Find your courage, find your lion
And if you hear the angel sings
Sweet Hallelujah
Hallelujah

His vocals astound those that Sophie called in. The raw emotion he puts his voice through forces them t pay attention to the lyrics.

So many faces telling the story
Like once upon a time
Blinded by the force of falling in love or
Leaving it all behin but
The fear of the unknown, and who to follow
Leaves me howling at the skies

Is there a purpose in what we believe?
Well I will continue to wear my heart upon my sleeves

A sad smile can be seen on his face. Jess loses himself, fogetting about eveyone watching him.

So take my hand and lead the way
Find your courage, find your lion
And take your pride and leave the past
Set sail for new horizons

So take my hand and lead the way
Find your courage, find your lion
And if you hear the angel sings
Sweet Hallelujah

He takes a deep breath as he gets to the final part of his song, fingers flying across the strings. Finally, he has a chance to fight back. He was not about to let it go.

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
So if you hear the angel singing
Sweet Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Jess opens his eyes and takes in the sight before. The inhabitants of Stars Hollow are still as statues as they try to comprehend what they just witnessed. The people who came for the fair or invited by Sophie are all clapping and cheering for him.

"I told you," he turns his head to see Sophie walking towards him with a mad dressed in what has to be an expensive suit, "you deserve to be heard Jess."

Tears appear in the corner of his eyes as he walks right up to Sophie and gives her one of his rare hugs.

"Thank you, Sophie."

so theres my latest idea. if you have any songs you would like me to write about then just let me know in the review section or send a PM