Chapter 4- A Proposition

Eruva

A/N: So my conversation writing really needs to improve, hope you don't hold it against me too much. I'm sorry if anything and everything I'm saying about Jess getting a GED sounds really unreasonable. I don't know how long it would take or what it's like. I don't know anything and I'm winging it for this story. Forgive me.

Enjoy.

Jess thought about it many times. In the beginning he was mad at Luke and he thought of just running into town and taking the car without any sort of warning. Then, he realized that that wasn't really the way to go. As strange and unforeseen as it was, Jess wanted to move back to Stars Hollow. So he did the next best thing he could think of.

Remembering that Luke closed the diner up at around 10 p.m. Jess decided to drop in around 10:30 and offer Luke a proposal, he knew it could go anyway, and he was hoping against all hope it would go in his favor. He ran over the numbers in his head and then decided to hell with it. The words that came out of his mouth only worked when he winged it anyways.

At ten thirty he opened the door to the diner with the spare key and walked silently up the stairs. He stood by the door and held his hand up to knock but then took two steps back and looked at the stair way that was calling him to run out of the building. He just stood there for a moment, wondering what life would hold if he ran.

He had a decent handle on life right now. The book he was writing was half way finished. Not that he would let anyone know, he had just lost most of his inspiration. But, he was miserable. Sure, he was miserable when he was in Stars Hollow, but at least he knew he had someone there to help him out if he needed it.

Dropping his bag on the floor he turned around and knocked on the door quickly, before he had the chance to cop out. He heard Luke curse on the other side of the door before walking over to open it. When Jess heard the doorknob begin to turn he took a big breath, hoping things would work out.

"Jess?" Luke asked in surprise.

"Hey." Jess asked with uncertainty in his voice, something Luke only remembered hearing when Jess was around Rory.

"What are you doing here? Are you in trouble?" Luke asked and Jess knew it wouldn't do to get angry over something like this.

"Can we sit? I have something I wanna discuss with you." When Luke looked uncertain Jess quickly added, "No I'm not in trouble."

With that Luke opened the door and the two walked in silently. There was so much hanging in the air that Jess was starting to wonder why he had come.

"Alright Jess, what do you need?" Luke asked, knowing this uncomfortable feeling hanging in the air wouldn't end till they had sorted everything out.

"I'm planning on studying for my GED," Jess started.

"That's good."

"But, I can't study with the amount of hours I have to work if I live in Cali and my father kicked me out."

"Okay"

"So I was wondering…" Jess just let the question sit in the air for a while, until Luke was able to connect all the dots.

"Why should I believe that you're actually going to stick to your word and not just stay here and mess around, like the last time I let you move back?"

Jess squirmed in his chair. He knew this point would be drought up eventually and he honestly didn't have an answer for Luke. "Look, I can't stand to take another year of full time school. So I thought maybe we could make a deal."

"Alright Jess, I'm listening."

"I'll work part time at the diner and spend the rest of the time studying for a GED, if I don't slack off, I should be able to get the test done in around six months. I'll then spend the remainder of the year here working and paying you back for all the trouble I've caused and how much I owe you for letting me stay. And if it's not long enough I'll stay longer." Jess explained hoping his plan would work because he couldn't think of anything better.

"If you even start to stray and fall back into your old habits, I am going to kick you out." Luke said giving in.

"I promise." Jess said in all sincerity. "Thank you."

"You're welcoming. Throw your stuff down in your room." Luke said pointing to the other side and smirked before adding. "Oh, and you don't get to have your car back until I see that GED."

"Not a problem."

"Good to have you back Jess."

Jess just smiled. "Hey, I know you don't like to read much, but I've started writing a book and I was wondering if you wouldn't mind skimming through it. I need some opinions."

"Sure." Luke replied and with that the two walked to their separate side of the apartment and crashed into their beds. When Jess was about to fall asleep Luke muttered across the room, "You know she hasn't been the same since you left…" knowing that Jess had heard his every word.

tbc