A/N- Hope you all enjoy this chapter! It's a bit longer, even though it's a tiny bit late (sorry, again, real life in crisis, but hey, this is way cheaper than therapy, whether real or retail). Lots of amazing reviews for the last chapter- so glad you liked it! I'm dying to get into the Lit myself but I hope you're enjoying the buildup as much as I am. And on that note I present Chapter 44. As always, please read and review, and recommend to others (hi again new readers!) if you're so inclined. I do not own Gilmore Girls or any of its characters or concepts, though I feel strongly compelled to support the notion that their stories are not yet over.
Chapter 44
When Rory woke up, Jess was already gone. Disappointed without really knowing why, she forced herself out of bed and to go check the time. 10 AM! No wonder he was gone. He was probably downstairs working. Where the coffee was. She needed coffee.
Remembering Lorelai's cautionary tale, she changed out of his Metallica tee shirt and into one of her own tops and a pair of jeans before heading downstairs, surreptitiously looking around the corners on her way out of the stairwell to make sure none of the customers saw her. Jess however caught her eye and smirked, gesturing to an empty stool. She hurried over to it, where he was already in the process of pouring coffee.
"Not bad for an amateur," Jess said casually, "But the shoes were a giveaway. You should really leave questionable behavior to the pros."
Rory grinned. "No one saw me."
"Yes, but…"
"Rory! When did you get here? I didn't see you come in," Miss Patty bellowed, approaching her with an enormous hug. Smirking and turning quickly away, Jess went to go to refill another customer's cup.
"Oh, um, well, you know me. Coffee, need it, only time I'll actually run," Rory stuttered, "Other than for food. Food! Luke?"
"Luke isn't here," Jess replied, casually walking over to her, "But I can take your order." Jess' expression was completely blank, giving away nothing, whereas Rory had turned tomato-red. Miss Patty watched them curiously.
"Um…okay. Yeah, sure," Rory said, "Bacon. And…eggs…and pancakes."
"Coming up," Jess nodded curtly, still keeping a straight face as he went to go call the order. Miss Patty turned to Rory curiously.
"Sweetie, are you alright?" she asked, before lowering her voice, "Did you know he was in town? I can only imagine how surprising that must be for you…devastating, I'm sure. My third husband…"
"Oh, no, I knew he was here," Rory cut her off quickly, "And it's fine. We're fine. Everything's fine. I'm just...late. To meet Lane. So I'm hoping that food comes quickly." Rory shot a glare at Jess. She could see the glint in his eyes even though he appeared to ignore her.
"Oh, well, of course, dear," Miss Patty put her hand on Rory's shoulder and leaned in to whisper, "If you need anything at all, just let me know."
"Thanks Miss Patty," Rory nodded quickly as Jess returned, dropping the plate in front of her, "Oh, thanks Jess."
"Yep," Jess deadpanned, in his signature teenage monosyllabic monotone. It was all Rory could do to keep from grinning. As Miss Patty walked away and Jess went to go get the coffee pot, Rory sighed, beginning to cut into her pancakes. At which point the temptation to smile became overwhelming.
"You put chocolate chips in my pancakes," Rory said softly as Jess approached, pouring more coffee into her mug.
"Technically, Cesar put chocolate chips in your pancakes," Jess responded, before meeting her eyes. For a moment they were frozen in a way that was both new and completely familiar. A feeling crept over her entire self, completely uncertain but intuitively familiar, making it impossible for her to think, or breathe. Suddenly Rory snapped out of the trance.
"Oh, crap!" Rory exclaimed, causing Jess to raise his eyebrows, "Now I'm actually late to meet Lane. Would you mind…"
"Right here," he nodded, pulling a paper bag out from under the counter and packaging her food. He handed her a to-go cup and she quickly poured her elixir of life into it. She smiled at him gratefully.
"You are a god," she purred, grabbing everything, "I should be back in a couple hours for more sustenance."
"I'd like that first part on my tombstone," Jess called after her, smirking, "And I look forward to it."
"The engraving?"
"The providing."
With one final irrepressible grin Rory rushed out the door, leaving Jess unable to tear his eyes away from her until she was completely out of view. Miss Patty shook her head, smiling into her cup of coffee. She'd known for a long time now that she didn't need to keep a picture of Rory in her purse.
"Lane!" Rory exclaimed, hugging her friend tightly as soon as the apartment door opened. The two girls squealed, squeezing the oxygen out of one another for a few moments before finally pulling apart.
"How are you? How's the job? And the travel? And how can you be in town? I'm so happy you're in town! I miss you! And so do Steve and Kwan. Oh, wait, hold on a sec." Lane turned around as she and Rory walked into the house. "Steve! Kwan! Come say hi to Aunt Rory!"
"Hi Aunt Rory!" the two boys shouted, running over. Rory laughed as they immediately hugged her legs. She patted them on the heads. "Hi boys!" Rory smiled brightly, crouching down to hug them both, "How are you two? You look so big! I haven't seen you in such a long time."
"I have a new toy!" Kwan announced. "No, it's my toy! You just stole it!" Steve accused. Rory laughed.
"Well maybe you two can show Rory in a little bit. Right now we're going to go have some adult time, so you can have your hour of TV."
After settling the kids in, Rory and Lane returned to the kitchen. Rory pulled out her food and started eating while Lane folded clothing.
"So…fill me in. What's going on?" Lane smiled at her friend, "It seems like ages since we've even talked."
"Well, it kind of has been," Rory admitted, lowering her eyes, "Lane…I know I've been kind of distant. But it's not just from you. From this town, from my friends, from my family. From everyone."
"Don't worry. Everyone knows that your work keeps you really busy," Lane reassured her, unaware of the growing sadness in Rory's eyes, "And everyone is so…"
"Happy for me? Proud of me?" Rory cut her off, sighing before taking a huge gulp of coffee, "Look, I know that. And I really don't want to be ungrateful. You know me, Lane. I hate people who are selfish and don't appreciate what they have and I have so much."
"But…" Lane urged, beginning to see the real reason Rory was there.
"Do you remember the talk we had the night before I left Stars Hollow to go follow the campaign trail?" Rory asked. Lane nodded. "Well…it's just…things, work, life, everything really…it's not what I thought it would be. And so I'm kind of not sure what I'm doing."
"Alright," Lane replied slowly, "Well…why don't we start with why you're in Stars Hollow?"
"That seems like the right place to start, but it might make more sense to start in Philadelphia," Rory admitted, looking down. Lane's eyes widened.
"Philadelphia?" Lane repeated, disbelieving, "So that means…"
"Jess." Rory nodded.
"Are you two…"
"No," Rory answered, feeling a small twinge as she did, "But I am staying with him there. I'm working at his bookstore-publishing company and filing stories for my normal job via distance. For now. I don't know what's happening long term. I'm here because he thought it was time I came back here. Spent some time with the people who know me and let them know what's going on. Mom, specifically. But I need you too."
"You have me," Lane promised, "For anything, everything you need. I'm here. Even if it involves Madonna."
"Not quite that dire," Rory grinned in spite of herself.
"Wait, did you say Jess wanted you to see your Mom? Don't they hate each other?" Lane asked, confused.
"Not anymore," Rory answered, "A lot has changed. It's funny, it should be weird but it all feels completely normal. Do you know what I mean?"
"I think so," Lane nodded, "Like when I started dating Zack. I thought it would be weird and awkward and feel strange, but it kind of just felt like it had been like that forever."
"Exactly," Rory affirmed, "Except Jess and I aren't involved." Lane looked at her doubtfully. "Really, we're not. Honestly right now he's just been an incredible friend."
"So…you're going to have to take me through the whole story," Lane announced, walking toward the CD shelf, "Which will call for the Elvis Costello."
"Why Elvis Costello?"
Lane just smirked. Rory rolled her eyes before nodding in assent and smiling to herself. She'd missed Lane's prescriptive music selections and the fact that she heard the answers that Rory meant rather than the ones she gave.
