Chapter 7

"I liked that place," Luke said as they started walking back towards Truncheon, "Is it new?"

"Found it last month," Jess nodded, "Only 8 blocks from work. Worked out nicely."

"Yeah," Luke agreed, "You still happy with the apartment? Living at work?"

"It's convenient," Jess affirmed, "And I don't need much space. As long as I can play my music as I fall asleep. I think as long as I'm living alone I'm good."

"So you are still living alone? No girls in closets?" Luke chuckled. Jess sighed.

"First Matt and Chris, now you, what is with everyone's interest in my personal life?" Jess complained, "No, no girls in closets or under beds or behind bookshelves."

"Behind…"Luke looked confused.

"New York," Jess replied, "Either way, the answer's no. I'm happy living alone. Though I do wish I had more space for my books. They take up more room than Matt and Chris did combined. Plus their female visitors."

"Must've driven them crazy when they lived here."

"No idea."

"Well, since I'm here anyway," Luke started awkwardly, "We could find some shelves."

"What?" Jess questioned, facing his uncle. Luke looked at him, a bit of nervousness apparent in his eyes.

"I mean, we don't have to, but I'm good with figuring out if something has a good structure and quality in how it's built, and I'm sure you have exacting standards about what you like in them, so it might work out well," Luke rambled, shutting his mouth quickly when done. Jess tried to hold back his laugher. Luke was really picking up some of Lorelai's habits.

Jess paused. "Sure you don't mind?"

"Not at all."

They continued walking back in silence, as they had been earlier. Jess was slightly thrown. Was Luke offering to do this in order to somehow match his gesture with the bed? He didn't need to. With the bed it was just time. Luke had always done enough. But it occurred to Jess that maybe they didn't have to stick to bare minimums and limit interactions or any of that shit and maybe he should stop overthinking it. Luke was here, Luke was sticking around, and Luke wanted to help him with something. There was no logical reason to say no. Jess smiled to himself. Bookshelves. Common ground between the two of them. Who would've thought?

Later that evening, the two men started carrying the boxes back upstairs.

"God, Matt and Chris are gonna die of shock when they aren't tripping over my stacks of books anymore," Jess grimaced, "They'll think I've gone soft."

"I'll know you've gone soft when you get a Kindle. You still have hundreds and hundreds of these damn things around here."

"Luke, advocating for technology? Who are you and what have you done with the hermit who lives above the diner?" Jess laughed.

"I'm not a fan of most of that crap but really? You probably have an actual ton of books," Luke exclaimed, "And April reads like crazy too, but I never have to install extra furnishings for her to stay the night."

"But that kid's a science nerd. As smart as she is I'm betting she doesn't live and breathe Tolstoy."

"What difference does the type of book make?"

"Exactly. If you have to ask, you'll never know."

"Nuts," Luke mumbled, "Hey, I gotta call Lorelai. You mind?"

"Not at all, I'll switch to headphones. Unless her punk tolerance has improved at all?"

"Music, yes. Not sure about the personality," Luke grinned. Jess rolled his eyes and went to grab his headphones.

"Hey Lorelai. Yeah, everything's good here," Luke smiled in spite of himself, "Wow, seven cups? Couldn't tell. Oh, not much. Lunch and, well, shelves. Bought some bookshelves. Yeah. So tell me about Sookie's panic today…"

The next morning, Luke awoke to find an empty bed across the room from his.

"Dear God, it's like living with him at seventeen all over again," Luke grumbled, looking for his cell phone. He dialed Jess's number.

"Jess," the voice on the other end answered.

"Jess? Where are you?" Luke asked.

"Relax," Jess said. Luke could tell he was smirking. "I'm just out for a coffee run."

"It's 5. Where the hell are you getting coffee at 5 AM? Speaking of which, why are you up at 5 AM?"

"Strange hours lately," Jess said, his voice louder, "Been writing a lot and gotta be there when inspiration strikes."

"You? He who must not be awoken until at least 10?" Luke responded disbelieving, "Seriously Jess…"

The door opened.

"I told you to relax," Jess sighed, holding out a coffee to Luke, who grabbed it, "And yes, I've overcome some of my biological weaknesses. Also, awakened."

"What?"

"It's awakened, not awoken. Common mistake," Jess grinned, "Where did you think I was, anyway?"

"No clue. All night bookstore? I'd say a strip joint but I know how you feel about them," Luke retorted, making Jess' cheeks flush red.

"Hey, I got into a fight in a strip joint. It's not like I was doing everything wrong," Jess replied, earning a hearty laugh from Luke.

"By that logic, I really took advantage of the situation as well," Luke nodded, "So when did you get this?" Luke gestured to the bed.

"The mattress was still here from when Matt and Chris lived here, since Chris had two," Jess explained, "The bedding is from Target. Bed frame I just picked up from storage."

"Lot of effort," Luke said quietly.

"Not really. Manual labor is good for my image," Jess stated, "Anyway, what did I say about asking questions?"

Jess smirked and opened a drawer, scrounging through the many lumped up balls of fabric.

"Good to know some things haven't changed," Luke mumbled as shirts went flying across the room, "There's no way you still have that thing. Jess, you aren't seriously going to…"

"Be back in a sec," Jess called as he walked into the restroom. Ten seconds later he emerged in the terrifying spectacle.

"You're seriously willing to look that way and risk the way you present yourself in front of your business just to spite me?" Luke wondered, looking disdainfully at the creature emblazoning the fabric.

"Not entirely. I'm not a teenager anymore," Jess smiled, grabbing a black blazer and pulling it over his shoulders, "See? Completely presentable."

"Why do I even ask," Luke sighed, following his nephew out the door.

"Mr. Danes! So nice to see you again,' Chris walked up and shook Luke's hand.

"For the last time, call me Luke. And I'm good, how are you Chris?"

"Great, especially when we have customers. As long as Jess doesn't scare them away."

"His shirt?"

"His face."

"Funny, funny," Jess rolled his eyes, "Can you please try to actually get something done today? I should be in for a while later."

"I will try but I cannot guarantee my success. Enjoy your tourism," Chris smiled, walking over to an attractive young woman browsing the graphic novels.

"His next victim?" "Could be. Let's go."

"So, I was talking to Lorelai last night. Well, you were there," Luke started nervously as they walked back to Truncheon later that day.

"I know, sorry about that. Lacking a wall tends to lend itself to a lack privacy," Jess nodded.

"No, it's fine, it's not like we were talking about anything that…"

"Would make you turn more red than you are now? You look like a schoolgirl," Jess mocked.

"Well then the holding hands and skipping might be slightly less concerning."

"Me skipping with a little schoolgirl? Still pretty disturbing,"

"Anyway," Luke ignored him, "Lorelai and I were just talking, and I think you were plugged into your punk crap or something, but she mentioned that you haven't come out to Star's Hollow in a while. And that...well…if you wanted to…there's a couple stupid town things next weekend and she'd probably usually drag me along but she thought maybe you'd want to come into town. 'Save me from the crazies', I think was how she put it. Either way she made it seem like she wouldn't driven absolutely insane by you coming to town for a couple days, but if you're busy…"

"Luke, you're rambling," Jess smiled, "You want me to come?"

Luke met his eyes. "Yeah, I want you to come."

"Then I'll be there."