Jess had replaced his smoking with reading. With an hour left until closing and not a single customer in the dinner Jess hunched over the counter and buried his nose in yet another book. He was holding a new record when it came to a summer reading list, his English teacher would be proud. The bell to the door jingled signaling a customer was joining him in the small space. He looked up and long enough to notice the girl and went back to his book.
"You can sit anywhere." He said, just trying to finish the paragraph he had started. He closed the book sliding it across the counter and jumping to his feet. "Coffee?" He asked, noticing how she sat with a menu in her hand.
"Yes." Short simple answer. Jess liked this girl already. He had to admit she was good looking. Her short blonde hair, her dark eyes. The way her lips shimmered in the dim light. He placed a mug in front of her and poured the fresh cup of coffee for her slowly, taking the time to really notice the girl in front of him. Shane tapped her fingers nervously on the table as he hovered over her.
He had been growing so anxious and angry over Rory that he hadn't allowed himself to look around, smell the roses, as they say. And he was going to start smelling the roses. "Anything else?" He asked, hoping that she was here to stay. Her low tank top and tight jeans left nothing to Jess' imagination and only peaked his interest more.
"Nope." She popped the "p" in her nope. "Names Shane." Her legs bounced up and down under the table as she held her hand out for him to shake. She wasn't normally so nervous, but how could you not be when all alone with Jess?
Jess set to coffee pot down on the counter and slipped into the seat next to her, "Jess." He said simply, gripping her hand in his and shaking it. He'd met plenty of girls before, but never one that came off so strong like this. Never one that introduced herself to him. it was always the other way around. His interest had spiked.
"Look, I came in here because I think you're cute." Shane watched his reaction, and when he scoffed and turned his head away for a moment she had begun to think her forwardness was too much. All she needed to do now was lean over and kiss him and she would be crowned for her bluntness.
He ran his hand over his chin, letting her words sink in. Since he moved here he had inadvertently only kept his eyes on Rory. Only let his attention be for her, how could he not? She had stolen his heart the second he saw her and there was no going back. He had never, what did he think earlier? Stopped and smelt the roses around him. But now was his perfect chance to do so. Rory was making it painfully obvious that she wasn't about to drop everything and be with him. And quite frankly he was growing tired of sitting around and waiting for her.
"I can go; I mean I don't know what I expected." Shane raised her coffee mug to her lips and let the bitter dark coffee coat her mouth. She'd never really been a fan of the stuff, but she wasn't sure what she should have ordered. She didn't want food, and when he offered coffee she couldn't say no.
He rested his hand on her thigh, soothing the bouncing limb. "No, don't." He smiled, and felt her suddenly calm at his touch. Jess wasn't Dean. Jess could only be the nice guy for so long before he needed to pull out his typical bad boy card. And Shane here, was perfect for such a task. A perfect distraction to his current predicament.
It didn't take long for them to discover that the sexual chemistry between them was stronger than they had anticipated. And that didn't bother Jess in the slightest. He would get lost in Shane, finally finding a distraction that took his mind off of Rory. Something cigarettes, or books couldn't do. And that was good enough for him.
Jess wasn't surprised at how fast his relationship with Shane had progressed. Sure, he didn't mind the chapped lips and sloppy drool from the hardcore make out sessions that happened between them. And he didn't mind her always wanting to be around, no matter where or what he was doing. But it never seemed to be enough. He still knew the day Rory was coming back, thanks to a chatty Lorelai who sat in the Diner and mouthed it off to Luke. Even Shane's kisses couldn't drown out the sound of that woman's voice. Specially not after the mention of her daughter's name.
Every time the phone would ring his heart would still stop until Luke would confirm it wasn't for him. He would still force himself not to rush to the table when Luke would slam down the mail in a heap and walk away mumbling something about bills. Jess never really wanted to give up hope that she would reach out to him in some way. That maybe she was finally going to explain what it was that she wanted. Because as of right now her sign was pretty clear, and all he bothered to take from it was that she didn't want him.
Working at the diner was always a nice distraction and when down time came and Shane would be there it made time fly. Before he knew it day after day went by and he had completely forgotten about Rory or the infamous kiss. That was of course until he fell asleep to the Ramones blasting into his ears.
Jess sat outside, the sun beating on his dark clothes and warming him to his core. He turned the page of his book, a pen hanging loosely from his lips. He found a section of the text he wanted to elaborate on, have conversations later on about. Something he knew he could bring to her attention and spend hours discussing the meaning behind the authors words.
Rory walked in, a book under in one hand and a large cup of coffee in the other. She took her seat next to him, curling her feet under herself as she set her mug down. She glanced over at Jess, wishing she had a camera to capture the image of him so calm, so serene, and writing yet another quick note into the margins of her books.
"You know you ruin them when you do that." She said, eyeing him playfully. He didn't look up, finishing his train of thought before putting the pen back between his lips and giving her a quick smile.
He took the pen back out of his mouth, tapping it against the spine of his book. "You have never complained about my notes before." He closed his book and shifted so he could see Rory clearly now. "In fact, I think I can quote you saying something along the lines of it being inquisitive." He poked her arm, egging her on and knowing he was pushing all the right buttons. "Or how about the time you said you loved that we could stay up all night talking about the little notes I left in the books you read."
"Don't quote me to me!" Rory hit him playfully on the shoulder. She couldn't help but laugh, knowing that they were comfortable in their relationship to poke jokes at one another.
Jess wrapped her in his arms and hugged her to his chest. The smell of her freshly washed hair wafted up his nose and made him feel at home, finally a place he could call home. Sure their apartment had been small, but it held all the things they needed. Jess had to get over the fact that her family was so involved, that they offered to help furnish and supply them with the practically everything.
Jess had learned a long time ago it would never simply be her and him. Sure they had tried, but it didn't last long after she called her mother and told her the good news. But Jess didn't mind. He had actually gotten used to Lorelai and her quirky ways.
Rory's laugh echoed in his mind as he started to wake. The images of her sitting with him in a few years sipping on coffee and working on articles for some newspaper he could name. He rubbed at his chin as he sat up. The sun wasn't up yet, which made him only more upset that he was forced to lay in agony and think about the dream.
He was doing so good, not thinking about her, not counting down the days until she was going to show up and be back here. He was doing good at ignoring the missed phone calls, and the lack of letters she had sent him; up until now. And laying in this bed wasn't going to do anything to help him.
He grabbed his boots quietly and his jacket before slipping through the door and down the stairs to the diner. It was empty, and dark, but over the years he had learned the room like the back of his hand. Now that he could make a little more noise, he slipped his feet into his books and slung the jacket over his shoulders.
He found a pack of cigarettes in his pocket and hit the brand new pack on the palm of his hand a few times. He bit down on the small plastic tab and pulled. The smell of fresh cloves made him remember only a few short years ago when he had taken the habit on. He slipped one of the long white sticks between his lips and fished in his pockets for his lighter.
He paused, overlooking the small town square he had grown accustomed to. Taylor had already started to hang up decorations for some Summer Madness festival. Something the town participated in every month or so. Another thing Jess had grown accustomed to. Stars Hollow wasn't so bad; it was just different. In New York you didn't know your neighbors, you didn't participate in festivities and you sure as hell didn't dress up in costumes and parade around town like any other day. Well, some people might of.
He pulled the cigarette from his lips and thought about lighting it. He leaned his head against the wall letting his it hit the wood. He didn't mind the pain, in fact he wanted to do it again, wanted to keep hitting his head until the memory of Rory could be banged out.
He knew that was silly, and impossible. He lit the cigarette and took a long drag, filling his lungs with it. He closed his eyes, welcoming the familiar calm feeling that took over him as he exhaled and a plume of smoke distorted his vision temporarily.
Jess knew that his relationship with Shane was only temporary, and as much as he could have done without it he knew that being in it wasn't as terrible. Shane had made it perfectly clear she too wasn't trying to read too much into their relationship. Or if she was she didn't make it clear. And that was okay. Not knowing was okay. Not having a plan was okay. Jess could barely tell what he wanted to do tomorrow and Shane helped fill the void he was feeling.
They had both known that they weren't made for one another. Shane and Jess knew they were never going to get married, or have a house together. It was just something fun to kill time when Jess and Shane needed it. Shane was a sweet girl though; Jess could picture her eventually making someone happy. But he knew well enough that it wasn't him. She was simple, he never had much to tantalize his senses with her.
Before he knew it he was lighting another cigarette and hugging his arms close to him. The sun was peaking its head over the horizon and Jess knew Luke's alarm would be sounding soon. Which meant that he would notice he was gone and Jess would have to try and ignore the questions Luke would fire rapidly at him.
He threw his cigarette butt on the ground and smashed it out with the toe of his shoe. His hand lingered on the door handle before he ever so slowly opened it. The little bell not even getting a chance to ring. Not that it mattered, the moment he finally got the door closed and locked he turned around and there stood Luke. Luke's arms were crossed over his chest and his hair a disgruntled mess. Sweats hung from his hips and a t-shirt exposed his normally plaid covered arms.
"You're smoking again?" Luke asked and Jess didn't answer. "Jess what's going on? Why are you already awake?" Luke had a few more questions, questions he knew wouldn't get answers. Instead Jess slipped past him and ran up the stairs two at a time until he could throw himself on his bed once more.