Disclaimer: I still don't own Gilmore Girls.
This chapter is a little longer than the last ones.
______________________________________________________________________________Logan knew Rory said she had a lot to do but he felt like he hadn't really seen her in awhile. So, he decided to grab some of her favorite Chinese take-out to surprise her. He figured her 'stuff to do' was studying. He also knew how Rory got when she buried herself in her schoolwork. She would forget to eat. That is until her stomach was collapsing in from hunger and the loud growls interrupted her concentration. Logan thought that if he showed up with food, he would not only get her attention but also make him her knight in shinning amour.
With all that in mind, Logan was genuinely shocked when Paris answered the door rather than Rory.
"What do you want?" Paris never did do too well with pleasantries or small talk. She made the proverbial 'bull in a china shop' seem calm and polite.
"Just looking for Rory. Figured she'd be hungry about now." Logan said indicating the take out bag he was carrying.
"She's not here. Maybe one of your other brainless bimbos would be interested in your pathetic attempts at wooing."
Logan chose to ignore Paris' bimbo comment. It was safer that way. And he wasn't about to discuss his personal life with her. So he just asked, "You don't happen to know when she'll be back, do you?"
Paris sighed, "Considering who she is with, if Rory's not back in the morning I'm going to assume she isn't coming back and I'll call the police. Besides, why do you care? It's not like she's your main squeeze anyway."
Paris didn't want to consider Jess talking Rory into 'running away' with him but she couldn't completely rule it out either. Knowing the two of them.
"What are you talking about, Paris?"
"I'm talking about the fact that you don't seem to think Rory's good enough for you. She isn't your usual type, I guess. Seeing as how she actually has most of her brain cells left-"
"No, Paris. I meant, what do you mean by 'if she's not back by morning I'm assuming she isn't coming back'?" Rory not coming back? Who was she with that would stop her from coming back? Rory would never willingly leave school. Never.
Paris sighed, "Look, Huntzburger, if you don't care enough about Rory to give her your full attention then I see no reason why I should be forced to waste my time spelling everything out for you."
"Come on, Paris, who is she with that would make you think that she might not come back?" It had to be that 'friend' that she was with last night.
"Why do you care?"
"Paris, come on. Just tell me."
Paris sighed. Two times in as many days there was a guy at the door annoying her for information about Rory. "If I tell you, will you go away?"
"If you tell me, I won't bother you for the rest of the night. Deal?"
"Fine. She's out with her ex-boyfriend, Jess. He's the Heathcliff to her Catherine. The Romeo to her Juliet. And before you ask, no, I don't know where they are. Even if I did I wouldn't tell you."
Logan was still catching up when the door slammed in his face. He was completely lost. A normal place to be after talking to Paris, true, but knowing something was possibly wrong with Rory put him on edge.
He decided the easiest way to get some answers and make sure Rory was ok was to go to the source and talk to Rory. Logan pulled out his cell phone and dialed her number.
When Jess parked his car in front of an empty store front, not far from Yale, Rory looked ay him in confusion, "I thought we were going to lunch?"
"We are. I know better than to promise you food and then not deliver. Come on." Jess got out of the door and walked up to the door.
"Jess, this place is obviously empty. There's nothing in there." Rory said through the open car window. Rory thought he'd fixed his troubled ways. But breaking into an empty store was making her begin to question that assumption.
"Haven't they taught you to look past the surface in that fancy school of yours?" Jess motioned for her to get out of the car.
"I'm not breaking into an empty store, Jess. That's something that my fancy school taught me was wrong."
"It's not breaking in if you have a key, Gilmore." Jess said, twirling a key around his pointer finger. "Now, Come on, I want to show you something."
Rory was even more confused. Why would Jess have the key to this place.
Jess unlocked the door and held it open for Rory. "You know, you're curious, just trust me."
He didn't want this conversation to turn too serious, too fast, but he needed to do this right.
The Gilmore stubbornness shinning through and Jess was close to actually begging. 'Where did my dignity go?' Jess thought. 'Oh yea, I lost that when I decided Rory Gilmore was worth just about anything.'
Finally, Rory relented. When she walked in. She lost all ability to speak.
Rory was standing in a store lined with floor to ceiling bookshelves with more medium height bookcases erratically set about the room. In the center there was a large blanket on the floor with what looked to be, and smelled like, Indian take out.
"Jess, what is this place?"
"Let's just sit for a minute." Jess led her to the blanket he has laid out.
Rory continued looking around trying to guess what was going on. Jess let Rory stare and wonder for a few more moments, while he set out the food. As much as he disliked the smell of Indian food he remembered Rory ordering it when her mother was out of town. He had interrupted that night and she had to cancel the order. This was his way of making up for that part at least. He wasn't the least bit sorry about how the rest of the evening panned out.
"I called the Indian place in Stars Hollow and asked what you usually ordered from there. So I knew what to get."
"You hate Indian food." Rory said in a daze. He'd gone through a lot of trouble to do this. Just for her.
"But you don't. I got myself a cheeseburger." Jess explained off handedly.
Rory's curiosity was growing to monumental proportions. She felt like if she didn't get answers soon her head was likely to explode.
Jess looked around casually, then asked, "So what do you think of this place?"
"You mean besides being empty?"
"Yes, besides it being empty. With a little more work, this place could be great."
"As what? What could this place be great for?" Rory was just becoming more and more confused. All she was getting from Jess were more questions, rather than answers.
"People can display their artwork on the walls in the space between the shelves. There can be a few chairs over there." Jess went on pointing to an open area in the back corner. Jess was enjoying the confused look on Rory's face. "There's even enough room for a small coffee bar."
"So, this is what? A new bookstore?" Rory was starting to catch on. She could imagine everything Jess was saying. Even if she didn't completely know where it was leading.
"And it's close enough to Yale to draw in the students. Off campus but within walking distance. Right?" Jess was getting excited picturing it in his head. This was really going to work. He could feel it.
"All very true." Rory nodded. "As much as I love the hypothetical thing we have going on here, I would greatly appreciate a small dose of reality."
'it's now or never.' Jess thought. Taking a deep breath, he dove in. "So you like the place."
"Yes, I can see its potential. Why? What is this about?"
"I'm glad you like it." Jess smiled.
"Why does me liking it matter?"
" 'Cuz I just bought it." There he finally said it.
Rory didn't know what to say. Jess bought this place? This was going to be a store… owned by Jess? The entire hypothetical conversation wasn't actually hypothetical? While all these thoughts swirled around her mind, Jess continued.
"Well, Truncheon Books just bought it. We're a small publishing house, bookstore, and art patron in Philly. We pinched some pennies, got a good deal on a loan and now were opening three new locations in New England.
"We?" Rory asked, still reeling from the fact that Jess said he bought this building.
"Matt, Chris, James and… well… me." Jess was starting to feel extremely vulnerable. He knew Rory would demand explanations but he didn't realize that he was going to feel like this when he told her.
"You work for a publishing house?"
Rory knew he worked but she'd never actually pictured what kind of work he did. As she asked, she realized it wasn't too much of a stretch. In fact, it made perfect sense. Jess surrounded by manuscripts, reading, editing, forming his own opinions. Jess was perfect for that kind of job.
"Technically, I'm partial owner now."
After a few moments the weight of everything Jess just told her hit Rory like a semi-truck speeding downhill.
"Oh! You own it? You're a publisher? Are you moving back here? Where are the other places going to be?"
Cutting to, what he believed, was the heart of the matter. Jess looked into Rory's eyes and asked, "Do you want me to move here?"
It was a question with massive implications. Rory stared at Jess, utterly frozen.
Jess took advantage of her silence and said, "You don't have to answer now. Take you time. Think it over. Make one of your pro/con lists. So what you need to do. Just let me know when you have an answer. Ok?"
All Rory could do was nod, silently. Jess leaned over and pressed a kiss to Rory's forehead. "Ok then, let's eat."
Lorelai walked into the kitchen of the Dragonfly to grab another cup of coffee and talk to Sookie. She desperately needed to vent without being judged.
"Hey, Lorelai! I'm sorry I changed the dinner menu at the last minute again today. I just… Oh no!" Sookie stooped when she looked up from her mixing bowl and saw her best friends face. ""What happened?"
"Luke and I got in a fight, In the middle of the diner. In front of everyone, I'm sure Taylor is busting out the ribbons again, as we speak." Lorelai groaned remembering the town being divided. Thinking about that still hurt.
"Why? What happened? I thought you two fixed the Emily/Christopher issue.
Lorelai sat on the stool and put her head on the table top. "It wasn't about that. Although, it wasn't an entirely new argument either."
"I'm lost, Hun."
"Jess." Was all Lorelai said.
"I'm going to need more than that if you want some kind of feedback."
Lorelai looked up and said, "Jess is back."
"Ahh! And you're worried about Rory?" Sookie asked, catching on.
"Of course, I am. Do you remember what happened the last time Mr. Coffield blew through town?"
Sookie got a dreamy look in her eyes. "He wanted her to run away with him. It sounded so romantic, like it was from one of those old movies. The boy from the bad side of town wins the heart of the most beautiful girl."
Lorelai couldn't see the romantic side of it because she just remembered the aftermath. "Do you remember what happened next?"
"Dean."
"Exactly, Dean. Rory slept with Dean. Who was married."
Sookie sighed. "Well, to be fair, It wasn't just Rory who messed up there. Dean was just as much at fault there."
Sookie tried reasoning. In her mind, yes, Rory made a terrible mistake. But She wasn't the one who cheated on their spouse with an ex.
"I know Dean screwed up there, too. But then I, stupidly, sent her off to Europe with my mother. Thinking it would give her time to think and understand what she was doing."
It nearly killed her to remember those two months. The stilted, awkward phone calls. The emotionless emails. Seeing all the post cards Rory had sent to Lane hanging all over the diner.
Sookie winced, "Oh yea, that was the worst and longest fight you two have had. Even though what you did was right. She needed to be out of the situation to think about it."
"Exactly, Our worst fights always start with Jess! The basket festival when Dean complained to me. After she came home from Washington. The time she missed my graduation because she went to New York to see Jess. Oh and the screaming match at my father's launch party after Jess crashed her car."
"Oh! I had almost forgot about that accident." In truth, Sookie really had almost forgotten about it. From what she'd heard it was an accident. Somehow she knew that Jess had been more upset about it than anybody. She had just kept silent when Lorelai went into a rage about it.
"Yea, well, when I found out he is back … I went to Luke's and…" Lorelai trailed off remembering the yelling.
Sookie could see where this was going and it didn't sound good.
"I went to Luke's and told him to keep Jess away from Rory." Lorelai said a little sheepishly.
"I'm guessing Luke didn't take that to well." Sookie said, while getting a piece of chocolate cake for Lorelai. Talking about boyfriend troubles was always easier when there was chocolate involved.
"No, he started yelling about Rory and Jess being adults and how Jess was doing so much better."
Sookie tried to her opinions to herself on this subject. Because she knew where Lorelai stood, and it was her job as Lorelai's best friend to be supportive.
But Lorelai knew Sookie and she could see when Sookie was holding back. "Come on, Sookie. Spit it out."
"It's just… well…"
"What, Sookie?"
"I'm sorry, Hun, but if Jess always effects Rory this deeply then…"
Lorelai knew what Sookie was getting at.
"You think Rory still has feelings for Jess?" As much as Lorelai hated the thought, she could admit, silently and to herself only, that it just might be true.
Sookie nodded and took the stool next to Lorelai and said, "I don't think Rory and Jess' story ever really ended."
"What do you mean 'didn't end'? They broke up, isn't that an ending? Or how about him running off with out a word? That seems like an ending to me?"
"Except for him always popping back up. And Rory always having an internal meltdown afterwards…"
After several moments Lorelai said," Maybe you're right. I just hate the fact that he can still hurt her."
"Rory will handle it. In her own way, of course. You should just try to be supportive. Listen. Try not to jump to conclusions."
Lorelai nodded, seeing the wisdom in what Sookie was saying. That girl may come off as a flake when it came to planning a menu but she was always on the spot with her observations.
"You're right, you're right. Rory's a big girl. I know she can handle it herself. And on the upside, this time we actually have some warning."
"Yes, now you go fix things with Luke."
Lorelai would still worry but she would do her best to take Sookie's advice and be supportive.
"Going!" Lorelai got up and left to head back to Luke's to talk things out.
Rory's cell phone interrupted Jess talking about his different ideas for the store. "Give me one sec." Rory dug through her bag and sighed when she saw 'LOGAN' on her caller ID. She shook her head as she pressed ignore.
"You don't want to answer that?"
"Nope. If it's important he'll leave a voicemail." Rory didn't want to spoil this time with Jess. She had told Logan she was going to be busy today. Why did he only want to call her, be around her when he knew she had plans?
"Ok." Jess smiled as an idea came to him. He just wondered how long it would take Rory to catch on. ""We should go get ice-cream."
Rory looked up at him confused. "Ice-cream?"
"Yea, ice-cream."
Realization dawned in Rory's mind. "In cones?" She beamed at him.
Jess held out his hand and asked, "Is there any other way to eat ice-cream?"
"Not that I know of."
After they each had an ice-cream cone in hand they sat in a bench and began discussing anything that came to mind. Books. Movies. Music. Rory's cell phone rang again.
"Well, aren't you popular tonight?" Jess joked.
"Be quiet, you. Just because you don't have a cell phone doesn't make them useless."
Jess shook his head and reached into his coat pocket to show Rory that he had given up his anti-cell phone stance.
"I'm shocked. That's so…"
"Responsible?" Jess tried to supply a word to describe his new way of life.
Rory smiled and pulled out her cell phone, thinking it was Logan again she almost pressed ignore again without glancing at the screen. Luckily she saw 'MOM' just before she did. "It's my mom, sorry, I have to take this."
"Tell her I said Hi." Jess joked knowing that if Lorelai knew he was near her daughter she would come after him like he was the world's largest cup of coffee.
Rory walked a few feet away from the bench before she answered. "Hello?"
'Hey, Sweets.' Rory could hear that her mom was upset but trying to hide it by sounding up beat.
"Mom, what's wrong?"
'I've got to tell you something and I really don't want to…' Lorelai sighed.
"Oook, Is it bad?" Rory asked feeling nervous.
'I'm not sure. It's about…well… it's some town news.'
"Town news. Did someone get hurt?"
'No, no one's been hurt…yet.'
"What do you mean 'yet', mom? Who's going to get hurt?" Rory raised her voice trying to get her mom to focus. Rory looked over at Jess, he'd evidently heard the last part because he mouthed, 'Everything ok?'
Rory just shrugged and turned her attention back to her mother's voice.
'Jess is back. I haven't seen him but Luke confirmed it earlier.'
Lorelai waited for Rory to pretend everything was fine, when it really wasn't. So she was floored when Rory quietly responded, "I knew that. I'm actually out with him right now…"
Rory knew she should have called her mom last night, after dinner, but she just couldn't make herself dial the numbers. Telling her mom would have made it a big deal It would have somehow made the whole evening more real. Rory just wanted to enjoy Jess' presence for a little while without all the messy complications and questions.
'WHAT?! You're with him right now? Like a date? Catching up? Did he just show up at Yale? Why didn't you tell me?' Lorelai was hurt. Why hadn't Rory called her and told her what was going on. One day with Jess back and Rory was already keeping secrets.
"Mom, I had a lot of studying to do. I promise I'll give you all the details this weekend." Rory almost whispered. She knew her mom was upset but she didn't want Jess to know that she was going to tell her mom everything he'd said.
Jess sat watching Rory turn, at least, ten different shades of red. He didn't have to hear the conversation to know what was going on. He knew it would take a couple days, at most, for Lorelai to know everything he has just told Rory. 'Package deal.' Jess thought. 'They come as a package deal.'
'This weekend?' Lorelai was confused. Why did she have to wait? Usually, she and Rory at least mentioned important happenings to each other.
"Yes, this weekend. I was thinking I would swing by the Hollow for the weekend after Friday Night Dinner. That ok?"
"Really? A whole weekend?'
"Yes, and I swear I was going to tell you, mom." Rory wanted her mother to be sure of that.
Lorelai sighed ,'I know sweets. Mommy just goes a little crazy sometimes. Details later though?'
"Yes, details are definitely forthcoming."
'See you Friday. I'll grab movies.'
"Friday. I'll bring junk food."
When Rory joined Jess on the bench again he asked, "Everything good?"
"Stars Hollow is just reeling from the return of its hoodlum." Rory joked.
"Called to warn the town princess, did they?" Jess put his arm around her and gently pulled her closer to his side.
"Of course, the personal body guard should be here any minute." Rory leaned into his chest, enjoying his closeness.
"So I should steal you away now, before Kirk shows up?"
"Well, if you wanted a chance to get away with it, yea."
Rory looked at Jess to see him smiling at her. The smile that always made her heart skip a beat. With out thinking, acting totally on instinct, Rory closed the distance and pressed her lips to his.
After half a heart beat Jess responded. He moved his hand to cup her cheek and deepen the kiss. In that moment everything was right in his world.
When Rory finally pulled away all Jess could think to say was, "Wow."
Rory though she'd done something wrong. "I'm sorry. I know you said you didn't want to rush and then I-"
Jess did the only thing he could think of to stop a Gilmore mid-rant. He leaned over and kissed her again.
It was Rory's turn to say, "Wow."
Jess decided new words should be used, "So you're visiting your mom tomorrow?"
"You heard that?" Rory blushed again. Knowing that if he heard that then he more than likely heard the rest of the conversation.
"I've got incredibly good ears."
"Yea. I haven't been home in a while and the laundry is piling up."
"Since we're both going to be there, maybe we should get together, catch a movie, shock the town." Jess could just see the heads turning.
Rory laughed. "I can hear it now! Can Zach and Lane joined us?"
"Like a double date kind of thing?"
"Well… I mean… only if that's what you want it to be. Or it could be friends getting together?" Rory realized that might be taking it too far. She knew Jess wasn't good with groups. Also, he and Lane always had some issues with each other.
Jess gently kissed Rory. She couldn't imagine how cute her rambling was to him. She was utterly enthralling to him. "If that's what you want, then I'll be there. But you have to promise me one thing…"
"What's that?"
"Protect me from Lane. She's perfecting her version of the Mrs. Kim glare by practicing on me."
Rory laughed. "That I can do."
As Jess walked Rory home they talked more about his business. How he started working there, how he worked his way up to partial owner.
It was fascinating to Rory. She could almost see all the things Jess was telling her about. She was so happy for Jess. She always knew he could do great things one he set his mind to it.
When they reached her door the same awkward feeling from the last time they stood there last night came rushing back.
To break the silence Jess asked, "So you still do those Friday Night Dinners?"
"Yea, my grandparents are paying for Yale so that means I have to. Unfortunately."
"Huh, you used to like those dinners, what changed?"
"Grandma broke my mom and Luke up. Then the whole town did this ribbon thing. Until mom and Luke fixed things." Rory remembered having to yell at Taylor in the middle of his store. Jess would appreciate that.
"Long story kind of thing?"
"Yea, involving my drunken dad and Luke screaming at each other over who is more of a father to me. And a whole bunch of other things." Rory omitted the part where she was in a state of undress with Logan, she wasn't sure that Jess would want to hear about that.
"Ok, well stop by Luke's on your way home and fill me in. And I've got one more thing to show you."
"What is it?" Rory asked, feeling excited.
" You'll see." He smiled at Rory. She never had done well with surprises.
"No chance I could convince you to change your mind and tell me now?"
"Nope. Anticipation is half the fun." He stepped a little closer.
"No it's not. It's distracting. I'll be thinking about it all day tomorrow." Rory wrapped her arms around Jess' neck. Thinking she could always try flirting it out of him.
Jess moved his hands to her waist and leaned into whisper in her ear. "I like you thinking about me."
"Really?"
"Yea, really." This time when Jess kissed her he was slow and gentle. He wanted to show Rory that he was serious. That this time everything was different.
Jess pulled away and pressed his forehead to hers. "Luke's tomorrow?"
"Ok, Luke's tomorrow. Can you at least give me a hint-?" Rory's pouting was interrupted by Logan almost magically appearing behind Jess.
"Ace!"
'Oh no!' Rory thought. The only way this could end was badly. "Logan, what are you doing here?"
Jess watched all the color drain from Rory's complexion before he turned around to see who this 'Logan' guy was. From the way Blondie was glaring Jess was left to assume he wsnt happy about what he was seeing. Without taking his eyes off Logan, Jess asked, "New guy?"
It suddenly struck Jess that this was almost exactly like his first encounter with 'Farmer John". It was amusing how things worked out like that. Like life really was handing him a do -over.
"No. We've just been on a few dates. We're just sort of … casual, is the best way to describe it." Rory muttered hating the way that sounded. She hated how saying it made her feel.
Rory was also worried that Jess would get upset and disappear again. From the way Logan was trying to stare Jess down she didn't need to guess how he was feeling about it.
Jess surprised Rory by chuckling and looking at her with laughter in his eyes, "Casual, huh? What, he can't handle you and your wild ways?"
Logan had heard enough. He didn't like what seeing Rory with someone else made him feel like. "I can handle her just fine. We're just not that serious, yet. Right, Ace?"
Jess never thought of Rory as a 'casual dating' kind of girl. To be honest, he couldn't understand someone wanting to be 'not that serious' with Rory. But Jess could see this Logan guy wasn't enjoying the thought of Rory spending time with another guy. Which meant that he wanted Rory to be serious with him. While this dumbass got to be 'casual' with her. It was a serious Marie Antoinette complex. "Ace? What you can't remember her actual name?"
"Jess!" Rory had to stop this before it turned ugly.
Jess held up his hands in a mock surrender and said, "Just a joke."
Jess smiled at Rory then kissed her gently on the cheek, "I'll see you tomorrow at Luke's."
As Jess walked by Logan he just couldn't help himself. "Oh and I guess I'll see you around 'casual Yale guy.'
Rory stood there amazed. Jess didn't storm off. He didn't get angry. Jess seemed to find this whole encounter amusing.
It was Logan, the guy who wanted no strings, who seemed to be really upset.
Before Rory could think of anything to say, Logan said, "We need to talk."
A/N: Sorry it took a couple days. I should actually be able to update a little faster since I got a netbook! Love it!
I think Emily and Richard will be making an appearance next chapter. Maybe even a little Dean. Any suggestions?