'I'm glad your back, I need to talk to you. So last night, I had the weirdest dream. I was cooking all these fabulous little treats, things I have never made before in my life. I was just cooking and cooking. These things I made looked amazing. So, this morning I decided to try to re-created what I saw in my dream,"
Lorelai looked puzzled, "Whoa slow down there, you tried to cook something you saw in your dream?"
"Yeah I did, I got here nice and early and just starting cooking. The crazy thing is I did it! I literally re-created the food of my dreams!"
"Wow impressive!"
"I know! I have over 15 new dishes but I don't know how everybody else will respond to them. So, I have decided to throw a testing party so everybody can tell me if my food sucks or not."
"A testing party? That's sounds fun Sookie but when do you plan on having this little party?"
"Tomorrow at lunch time."
Lorelai felt her eyes grow wide, "Tomorrow? Sookie, you need time to plan for this thing you can't just, jump right into it."
"Why not? I won't have it here so there will be no more stress on you. I'm having it at a hall so all I have to do is show up with the food."
Lorelai sighed, "Are you sure you want to do this tomorrow already?"
Sookie shook her head with a smile, "Very sure! Now, I need you to invite everybody and anybody. Luke, Rory, Patty, anyone you can find. Tell them noon tomorrow at a little building called Markers Hall and they can call me for directions anytime before then"
Lorelai nodded, "Alright but are sure about tomorrow?"
Sookie rolled her eyes, "I'm refusing to answer that question again. I gotta get back to work and remember to invite everybody!
Jess and Tessa walked up to the Inn's door when Tessa grabbed Jess's arm to stop him, "Oh my god Jess, I don't feel too good." Jess looked over at Tessa and her eyes were shut and she was holding her stomach in pain.
"What's the matter?" Jess said but Tessa didn't answer, she just held her stomach.
After a few moments she opened her eyes, "Okay, I think it's gone now." Tessa kept her hand on her stomach as she let go of his arm.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Jess said with fear creeping into his voice.
Tessa nodded slowly, "Yeah, I have been getting those a lot lately. They're these really sharp stomach pains but, they only last a few seconds."
Jess sighed, "Wait so you have been getting these recently? Why didn't you tell me?"
'I didn't think it was a big deal. I'm bet I'm just coming down with the stomach flu."
He nodded, "Yeah but we shouldn't be here if you're sick Tess."
"Oh no! Were staying here because I came here to see your old town and write my article. I'm not backing down over the silly flu."
"Are you sure? We can leave right now if you want to."
"Oh get real Jess! People get sick all time, were staying."
Jess shrugged, "If that's what you want to do."
"It's what I want to do"
Rory sighed as she flipped through the channels. She had gotten there ten minutes ago and Rory was already bored out of her mind. Suddenly, the phone rang. Rory jumped up to answer it, "Hello?"
"Hey kiddo, I wanted to run something by you. Sookie is having this weird taste testing party for all this dream food she created. She wants everybody there and so can you go? It's tomorrow at around lunch time."
'Uh I guess so."
"Good news! I don't know how you're going to feel about the next thing that comes out of my mouth."
"Nothing new."
"Well, I was thinking about asking Luke to invite Jess and Tessa."
"Oh yeah, that's a good idea."
"Huh? This is Rory Gilmore right? "
"Well, I ran into Jess at the bookstore on my way home and we worked it all out."
"Oh well that's great honey! So I should invite them?"
"Yeah go for it. Oh and one more thing, what's dream food?"
"Long story, tell ya later."
"Please do, well you should get back to work." Rory said
"Yeah I should and honey if you could..." Lorelai let her words hang in the air.
Rory sighed, "Mom! Do I have to?"
"You don't have to ask Jess to go to the party! Make Luke do it."
"How do I do that?"
"You're a Gilmore! Work your magic."
Rory shook her head, "Fine! I'll do it but you owe me."
"Always! Bye Honey."
"Bye." Rory said rolling her eyes. She wondered if Jess would actually come to the party. If he wasn't busy then there was no reason for him not to but of course there was Tessa also. Rory wanted him there. She hadn't seen or talked to Jess in over a year and there first encounter wasn't very pleasant. She wanted to sit down with him and just talk. Rory bit down on her lip as she picked up the phone again to call Luke.
-Friday Night- The Dragonfly Inn-
Jess knocked on the bathroom door. "Are you sure your okay in there Tess?"
There was a quiet voice from behind the door, "Oh just dandy!"
Jess took a deep breath, "Like I said earlier, we can go back."
'Like I said earlier Jess, were staying."
Jess shrugged, "Your call." he heard his cell phone go off and ran over to pick it up. "Hello?"
"Jess hey! Its Luke, how are you doing?"
"Oh hi! I'm doing well. What's up?"
"Well, you remember Sookie right?"
"I think so."
"She's created all these new food dishes that she wants everybody to try and is inviting everybody to a taste testing party. If you ignore the bizarre reasoning behind the party, it's easier to consider going."
"Oh you see I probably would but Tessa's getting sick and I don't know if her stomach is really in a party mood."
"I see but if she doesn't mind you could come solo."
"Uh, I kind of would feel like crap just leaving her." The bathroom door opened and Tessa slowly walked over to Jess.
"Jess, I heard your conversation. You should go to the party. I'll be fine."
"Can you hold on a minute Luke?" Jess removed the phone from his ear, "Tessa its fine, I don't have to go. It will probably be stupid anyways."
"Jess, if you stay with me you will be bored to death listening to nothing but the sound of me puking my guts out. Now, I want you to go to that party and have some fun."
Jess hesitated for a moment but finally agreed. Jess put the phone back up to his ear, "I'm in."
"Really? Great! It's pretty far away so were going to car pool with Lorelai and Rory. I will call you back with car arrangements and directions as soon as I work it out for myself."
"I guess that's it then." Jess nodded, "I will talk to you soon Luke"
- The Gilmore House-
Rory grabbed another slice of Pizza and stuck it onto her plate, "So mom, what are the arrangements for tomorrow?"
Lorelai chewed her bite slowly, "Uh the thing is, I have to go early and I don't know if you want to come early so I'm thinking Luke and I in one car and will head off around 9.Which of course would leave you and Jess and you guys can leave at about 10 or so. Is that okay?"
"Me and Jess?"
"I know it's weird. You can come early with me if you want. You could also could drive separately altogether."
"That would defeat the purpose of car pooling."
"Yes but it would save you a weird car drive."
"I think I will be fine. I mean, we cleared everything up this morning at the bookstore. I'll just ride with Jess."
Lorelai smiled, "Good girl! Now, I gotta call Luke and then I'm off to bed. Have a good nights sleep."
"I'll try. Goodnight mom." As Lorelai left the kitchen Rory started to feel a little nervous. A 2 hour car ride with Jess? The same kid who told her he loved her and bolted? The same kid she blew off a year ago? Rory stood up and groggily made her way to her bed even though Rory knew she wasn't going to be able to sleep much.
-Saturday morning: Gilmore House-
Rory quickly got dressed and grabbed her overly stuffed purse. She heard Jess pull up and was out the door just as he parked. Rory opened the passenger door and stepped in. "Hey," she smiled over at him before putting on her seatbelt.
Jess smiled back, "Hey yourself. You all set?"
"Yeah, let's go." Jess pulled out of her driveway and onto the road. "So, you know where the hall is?"
Jess shrugged, "How hard can it be to find? Luke told me what direction to go."
"You're kidding me right? You don't know where it is?"
"Don't worry! I know what I'm doing"
Rory laughed, "We'll see about that."
Jess smirked, "Just you watch Rory Gilmore! We will be there before you know it."
"If you say so."
Jess looked over at her still wearing his smile, "I do." he said holding his gaze on her for a second. Rory turned away shyly but found it hard to hide her smile. She leaned her head against the car window. Maybe this ride won't be so bad after all.
A/N: Next chapter we will continue are lovely car ride :) Before anybody ask's : Tessa is NOT Pregnant, she really just has the flu. I needed a way to get her out of the picture for the party :p For all of those asking about when Rory and Jess are going to get together, it just takes time. They both need time and good things take time. Wow, that was a lot of usage of the word time. Anywho, thank you all who review! You guys rock more then you know! Now, keep them coming. Please review, I will be forever happy!