Title: The Mariano Agenda
Author: Bent137
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Characters of Gilmore Girls(as well as anything else associated with it) aren't mine, the title is a spin of the Dark Angel episode "The Berrisford Agenda".
Spoilers: Up to the Season 2 Finale
Music References: All lyrics can be found on MxPx - "Today is in My Way", "Foolish", and "Late Last Night"
Authors Note: I've had this bouncing around for a little while. I finally got the chance to sit and write it out. This is the first time I've done script format. Thanks to Rea for beta reading for me.

Couldn't Sleep

Previously

Rory: What are you doing here?

Luke: Um, coming to find you. Something's wrong Rory. Something bad. I know you're leaving soon, but you're the only other person who actually cares and I didn't know who else to turn to but something is seriously wrong.

Rory: (murmuring to herself) Jess. (whispering to Luke) What's happened now?

Luke: When we were cleaning up he spaced out then all of a sudden he started cursing and he threw a mug against the wall and went upstairs. When I finished cleaning I went up and he was asleep. I went to sleep but an hour later I was woken up by him talking in his sleep, loud.

Rory: Well what did he say?

Luke: The most I could make out was him saying 'You're going to get yourself killed,' him yelling 'Mary!' and then he screamed out 'No!'

(The music fades, as does the scene.)

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(The camera pans across Luke's diner, it's dark, we see Rory and Luke run up to the door, Luke unlocks it and they walk in. They're quiet as they walk across the floor to the stairs. They enter the apartment and find "My Mom Still Cleans My Room" by MxPx is blaring and a light is pouring out from Jess' room. A lot of his belongings are out in the middle of the floor in front of his room. Luke and Rory slowly approach Jess' doorway and peek in. Inside the room is nearly empty and Jess is taping a cloth to the hard wood floor. The song fades into the background.)

Luke: What are you doing Jess?

Jess: Getting ready to paint my room.

Luke: I see that, but at one am?

Jess: Well I couldn't sleep and I checked but you weren't here so I figured there was no time like the present. (notices Rory) What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be getting ready to, I don't know, leave.

Rory: (frowning) I couldn't sleep.

Jess: Yeah, and why are you here, in the doorway to my room?

Rory: (stumbling over her words) Well I went out and I saw Luke and I followed Luke and I.. Well... um. (looks at Luke) He said he'd make me some special thing to help me sleep.

Luke: Huh? Oh yeah. You're right. Well I'll go make that, special, thing. Stay here.

(Luke goes downstairs and Rory stands there watching Jess.)

Rory: Need a hand?

Jess: No.

Rory: Okay

(Rory watches him some more.)

Jess: Do you mind?

Rory: Huh?

Jess: Stop staring at me.

Rory: Oh, yeah, okay.

(Rory turns and looks around then spies his CD collection sitting in a carton nearby. She walks over to them and begins looking at them.)

Jess: You always like to play with other people's things?

Rory: Just wanted to see if you had anything good.

Jess: Yeah well, I didn't say you could look did I?

Rory: God Jess! What is your problem? Is this still about earlier? I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions okay? Will you just accept my apology?

Jess: (looks up at her sideways) Fine, sure, whatever.

Rory: (mocking) Fine, sure, whatever. (yelling) You're so infuriating. (She walks into his room and he stands up about to protest) Shut up! Just shut up. I don't want to hear it. I'm sick of every word that comes out of your mouth. I'm sick of being your scapegoat, of being hurt for something I didn't do. I'm sick of worrying so much over you when it's obvious you want nothing to do with me.

(Jess cuts her off with a kiss, slowly she responds and the kiss deepens. Suddenly she pulls away. "Self Serving With A Purpose" by MxPx begins to play softly, slowly getting louder as their voices do.)

Rory: What was that Jess? Why did you do that? That wasn't fair.

Jess: Life isn't fair.

Rory: (ranting) I don't understand you. I really don't. One minute we're screaming at each other, the next we're kissing, and you're all messed up in your head and you've long ago messed up mine and it isn't good. Because I know what I want. For the first time since you came here, I know what I want. I'm willing to go for what I want, that's you. I broke up with Dean at the bus stop this afternoon because of it. I was willing to sacrifice my friends and my family for us, but you don't care. So tomorrow morning I'm going to board that plane to Washington, and I'm going to have a miserable time all summer because when I'm not thinking about my breakup with Dean or this thing that is and isn't between us I'm going to be with Paris. You're going to be here, and you're going to have Luke, and your project with your room, and nothing is going to change for you. So when you're ready to grow up let me know.

(The song crescendos. Rory turns and walks out. She goes past Luke in the hall, grabbing the steaming coffee mug out of his hand and chugging it then handing it back to him before leaving the building. Jess is back in his room still staring at the empty space in the doorway. The song fades out.)

Jess: (whispering, not quite believing.) She broke up with bag boy, for me.