A/N: I'm dedicating this story to Kurt Vonnegut. It's in no way worthy of him, but the only thing I can offer as a tribute. R.I.P.
A/N: I tried to update on Friday but couldn't upload the file, so sorry for the delay.
The dinner party was just as boring as Rory had assumed it would be, and Jess was having trouble adjusting to everyone calling her Leigh.
"Why does everyone call you that?" he whispered to her when they had a moment away from the others.
"It's my middle name." She whispered back.
"I know, but why do they call you that?" he asked again.
"Something Logan started. Or maybe his parents did, I don't remember. To be honest I hate it." she said. He looked at her in disbelief.
"None of this is like you Rory. Why do you do so many things you hate?" he told her, then sat by himself in the corner.
Rory didn't have time to be too concerned about him because her friends were rapidly converging on her.
"Leigh!" they exclaimed as a group. "You have been MIA lately, where have you been?"
"I'm glad you guys could make it." Rory said, trying hard to sound genuine. "I wanted you to meet an old friend from high school."
She gave Jess a significant look so he reluctantly stood up and approached her and her friends.
"Jess, this is Juliet, Rosemary, Walker and Logan's sister, Honor. You guys this is Jess Mariano." Jess gave them a half-hearted smile, then returned to the corner where he had been reading.
"So cute!" said Rosemary and Rory felt a quick stab of jealousy. She knew her friends were all attractive people and didn't want any of them making a move on Jess.
And she also wanted to throw them off the track. "Yeah." she agreed absently. "But I've known him so long I can't see him that way."
"Is he seeing anyone?" Walker asked in a confidential whisper. "Not that it matters." she added with a smile.
"Uh.. I don't know. I think he has a girlfriend." Rory replied, actually worried now. Walker was used to getting what, and who she wanted.
"Oh, a challenge." Walker said. "I'm making my move."
"Isn't your husband here?" asked Juliet.
"Yeah, but that just adds to the challenge." she said and the group cackled. Rory wanted to roll her eyes at the insipid and inane conversations that always followed after this group. She couldn't stop Walker though, so she watched anxiously as her friend walked toward Jess with two drinks in her hand and trying a slinky walk.
Jess looked up with mild amusement, giving Rory a quick wink to assure her that he was in no way persuaded by what was being offered him. He did take the drink and Walker sat down next to him, legs crossed, leaning backwards, playing with her hair, talking in a breathy voice, trying every trick in the book, while darting her eyes around to watch for her husband at the same time. Rory didn't get to see how the scene played out because she was obligated to talk to the rest of the guests.
When she was finally able to get away and check on Jess she found him trying to extricate himself from the group of his friends. Rosemary came up to talk to her. "Is he poor?" she asked quietly.
Rory nodded slightly.
"Then what the hell am I doing? They can have him." she turned back to get another drink. Rory smiled slightly. It was true, Rosemary only did go after rich men. And she was the only one of her friends who wasn't yet married. Rory knew that all her friends had affairs here and there but hadn't even considered it herself until Jess came back into her life. She'd never identified with her friends but now she could understand the appeal. But not just any man, not just companionship. She and Jess were in love!
She felt Jess come to her side. She gave him a smile. "They seem to like you." she said.
He flopped onto a nearby chair with mock exhaustion. "I finally got away from the black holes. Hide me."
"Black holes?" she said, giggling.
"Yeah, they just absorb conversation without giving anything back. You say something to them and that's the last you will hear of that topic. They are impossible to talk to."
Rory laughed again. "Yeah, they aren't really into deep conversations."
More seriously he asked "So why are they your friends?"
Rory shook her head. "I don't know. I guess because Logan didn't like Lane and I was lonely and they were there. Like marrying Logan came with a built in social network."
"I don't like seeing you here Rory. It's so fake, I can't believe you live like this."
"Maybe I shouldn't have brought you here. I just really wanted to see you." She gave his hand a brief squeeze. "I have to go back and try to get everyone to leave."
He nodded. "I'll be right here." And he pulled out a book as she left the room.
Her friends approached her soon afterward. "What did he say about me?" Walker asked.
"He's poor." interjected Rosemary.
"I don't care, he's cute." Juliet said.
"Hey I claimed him first!" Walker argued.
Rory forced a smile, more like a grimace. They were talking about Jess, her Jess, like a possession. Like they had him already, like he would ever be with someone like them. But they were so sure of themselves, they didn't have any doubt that one of them would go home with him tonight.
"He didn't say much. He's actually pretty drunk. I sent him to bed." She said to fend them off.
"Party pooper!" said Honor.
"Well then I'm going home." Juliet said.
"Yeah we should go to." said Honor, looking around. "It's kind of late."
Rory gave each of them a quick hug. "Call me tomorrow." she said as she said her goodbyes to the rest of the dinner party. She was somewhat surprised that it had all gone so well. She had known Jess would hate it but he handled it well and that whole awful evening was behind them now.
She turned to say goodbye to the last guest, a lawyer.
When Jess entered the room Rory was there by herself on the couch, mouthing words to herself.
"What's wrong Franny?" Jess asked.
"Just trying to remember a number." she explained, smiling at the reference. "One of the guests was a really good divorce lawyer and he gave me the number of his firm. I didn't tell him what it was for, but it might come in handy."
Jess smiled and sat next to her, giving her a kiss. "That just might make up for making me talk to your friends all night." he said.