A/N: Thank you for all your reviews, keep them coming.
Disclaimer: Sadly I do not own the characters.
Summary: Set a little while after Rory returns from Washington. Jess is leaving stars hollow for good but he can't leave without saying goodbye to Rory, so he goes to see her at Chilton with unexpected results.
On The Road
Chapter Three: Liz's arrival and College Students.
Rory and Jess sat at a table of a diner in Richmond, Rory had taken up nearly all the space with her map, planning the rest of their journey towards California, which they'd both agreed would be their ending point.
'Right so I think I have it, we'll go from here to; Duke, Vanderbilt, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Texas, UCLA, Stanford and then finally finish up at Berkeley. What do you think?' Rory asked pushing over the notebook that she'd written the journey out on.
'I think that's a lot of college campus' to look around.' Jess said looking over the list.
'Well we don't only have to see the campus' while we're in town, I figure that driving the route straight takes around 2 days and 18 hours, so if we spend a few hours in each place and then time to sleep then it will work out fine.' Rory smiled.
'Ok then we'll stick to this map' Jess said finishing up his dinner as the clock on the diner wall ticked over to 5pm.
'Shall we head off towards Duke?' Rory said gathering her things together and leaving the diner.
'Sure, I think you've used an entire camera here so we'd best move on.' Jess joked opening the car door to let Rory climb inside, she once again felt butterflies as he held the door open for her, but then reasoned that he was only doing it because she had her hands full with her maps, lists and coffee.
'So I've been thinking Jess,' Rory said quietly, putting her feet up on the dashboard of his car.
'Hmm?'
'Well when we get to California and I get a bus or something back home, what will you do?' Rory asked sadly.
'I don't know, find a job and a place to stay I guess.' Jess shrugged his shoulders.
'I never imagined you living on the west coast.' Rory smiled over at him. 'You'll have to learn to surf.'
'Not likely.' Jess scoffed.
'Then why don't you come back east with me, that way we could extend the road trip and we could look round Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Penn state, and all those ones we missed, and I'm not saying come back and live in stars hollow but just closer.' Rory said twisting in her seat so she was facing him. 'You could live in New York again, or Boston, or somewhere that isn't thousands of miles away.'
'Rory I don't know, when I left the diner the other day I just had to get as far away as possible and heading west seemed the best option since I've never been west before.' Jess shrugged.
'You look so sad.' Rory said reaching out and holding his hand. 'What's wrong?'
'I was just thinking.' Jess said evasively.
'About what?' Rory prompted. 'You can tell me you know, I may be able to help.'
'It's just that when I went back to New York after I crashed your car and don't say it wasn't my fault because I blame myself, but when I got back Liz was back with one of her old boyfriends and he's just…' Jess was cut off by Rory's phone ringing, she sighed heavily and fished around in her bag for it eventually pulling it out and taking the call without looking at the caller ID.
'Yeah?' Rory snapped a little more than she meant to because she could see that Jess was retreating again and she wouldn't be able to get him to talk about it for a while.
'That's a nice way to say hello to your boyfriend, especially after running away on some trip with another guy!' Dean's anger was clear in his voice and Rory rolled her eyes, she'd known she would have to talk to Dean at some point but she'd hoped it wouldn't be where Jess was right alongside her in the car.
'Sorry it's just a bad time.' Rory said turning the music down so she could hear him properly.
'Where are you?' Dean asked, though it came out as more of a demand that she tell her.
'Not sure really, we're driving and there aren't any signs around.' Rory said seeing Jess smirk at her as they drove past the sign for 'Now leaving Richmond', Rory swatted his arm as he began to chuckle.
'He's with you now isn't he.' Dean said angrily.
'Of course he is, did you think I was driving through the middle of nowhere and had left Jess behind at the last place we stopped?' Rory said trying to joke but her agitation at Jess not getting to finish what he was saying had grown and it came out more sarcastic than joking.
'You need to come home Rory.' Dean said angrily.
'Not yet, we're not even half way through our trip yet. I can't talk right now…the reception…can't…' Rory spoke only a few words while rustling a piece of paper over the phone.
'Rory? Can you hear me?' Dean's voice came through the speaker as Rory disconnected the call.
'I never thought I'd see the day where Rory Gilmore lied to her boyfriend to end a call.' Jess smirked.
'Shut up.' Rory said leaning back in her chair after switching her phone off.
'You know I'm surprised you hadn't called him already.' Jess pushed a little further.
'Yeah well you haven't called Barbie, sorry I mean Shane, you haven't called her.' Rory snapped back.
'Ah yes but see I'm not in love with Shane.' Jess said glancing sideways at Rory.
'Yeah well I'm not in love with Dean.' She shot back suddenly realising what she'd said. It had been something she'd known for a while but had tried to convince herself that it wasn't true, lie to herself that she did love him but now it had been spoken she couldn't pretend anymore. Jess looked over at her but could tell she was having a debate with herself so her kept quiet, a small smile on his face.
'Luke! Aw my big brother!' Liz weaved her way through the tabled and behind the counter, swaying slightly as she walked followed by a scruffy looking guy who smelt of alcohol and sweat. Lorelai who was sat at the counter subconsciously moved away from him.
'Jeez why's it so quiet in here, who died?' Liz said loudly wrapping her brother in a hug, Luke didn't reply he just moved her away from him and took in her drunken appearance.
'Oh my goodness did someone die?' Liz pressed a hand to her mouth trying to look sullen but suppressing laughter.
'Nope nobody died but people have run away.' Luke said crossing his arms over his chest.
'Oh well that's no big deal I used to run away all the time when I was a teenager and it never did me any harm.' Liz said losing balance in her heeled boots and toppling over, Luke grabbed her arm and steered her to a chair.
'No of course it didn't.' Luke shook his head, eyeing Liz's boyfriend suspiciously.
'So who ran away?' Liz slurred her words and laughed while she spoke.
'Your son.' Luke said folding his arms over his chest. Liz's boyfriend snorted and said he was going to look round the town, leaving the diner.
'Jess? My boy ran away?' Liz looked up at Luke, 'That's not a surprise.'
'My daughter ran away with him, and believe me she is not the type to run away.' Lorelai spoke up for the first time.
'Oh believe me sweetheart they're all the type at that age, everyone has something they'll run away from or to, or because of. Sometimes it don't get triggered off and they stay around but even the good ones always have something they'll run for.' Liz said. 'So what is it, are they star crossed lovers?'
'No!' Lorelai crossed her arms over her chest angrily. 'They're friends and Rory thinks there's something wrong with your son and she's trying to help him.'
'Oh he's not still banging on about what happened when he came back to New York is he?' Liz said shaking her head. 'He needs to learn to forget.'
'What happened in New York?' Luke asked his face turning pale wishing he'd listened to Jess' reasons for not wanting his mother to come.
'Nothing, forget I said anything. I'm going to find Rick, he's such a good guy.' Liz stood up and stumbled out of the diner in search of her boyfriend.
'So that is the prize that is my sister.' Luke sighed heavily to Lorelai.
'Well she's certainly different.' Lorelai said trying not to offend Luke.
'She's a complete mess, I can see now why Jess asked to move back here.' Luke shook his head again.
'What do you think happened in New York?' Lorelai asked.
'I have no idea but I'm pretty sure I won't hear it from Liz or that Rick guy, but I also know that if anyone can get Jess to talk about personal things then it's Rory.' Luke said calming down a little.
'Yeah you're probably right.' Lorelai nodded her head in agreement.
Jess pulled up to the side of the street a few streets away from Duke, Rory looked up from the book she'd been realised and was shocked to find they'd made it to their next destination. Marking the page in the book she slipped it into her school bag which she'd emptied of her school books so she could carry around a camera, her phone, money and the book she was reading without having to lug around her text books.
'Ok so it's 8.30 so do you think we should go to Duke tonight or just look round the town, find somewhere to sleep and then check it out in the morning?' Jess asked as they got out of the car and walked towards Duke.
'I reckon we've still got a good amount of daylight left, so we should check out the campus and then get dinner and then I'll take over driving and we'll make our way to the next stop.' Rory replied coming out with the plan quickly.
'As you wish.' Jess said as they stood in front of the main building of Duke, Rory smiled widely and ran up to a passing student.
'Hi, excuse me I was just wondering if you could get a picture of us in front of the building.' Rory said to the girl, holding out the cheap camera.
'Sure, are you guys here on vacation?' The girl asked.
'Not exactly, we're passing through on a road trip.' Rory answered. 'We're visiting a bunch of campus' on our way towards California, this is our third one today.'
'Wow someone loved college, are you a student?' The girl asked wondering why she wasn't at her own school or college if she was, the beginning of a new semester wasn't usually the time to take a road trip.
'No, I mean I'm still in high school but I'm going to college next year, I'm just doing courses online for a week or so while we're on this trip.' Rory replied indication Jess who was waiting a few feet away.
'Oh, interesting. So is that your boyfriend?' The girl asked. Rory blushed and looked at the floor.
'No he's just a friend, my boyfriend is back at home, that's Jess he's a really close friend oh and I'm Rory.'
'I'm Tasha, you know my boyfriend would never be happy with me going on a road trip with some other guy, how'd you get him to agree?' Tasha asked.
'I didn't, it was kind of a spur of the moment trip. I didn't tell anyone I was leaving.'
'You ran away from home?' Tasha was shocked, this girl had seemed so sweet and innocent but the more of the story she heard the more confused she was getting.
'No! I'm going back there really soon and I talk to my mom everyday, it's just that Jess was leaving and I didn't want to say goodbye, that's weird isn't it, that I would just travel all the way across America because a friend was leaving.' Rory looked over at Jess who was now talking to a guy who looked like another student.
'I wouldn't say weird, a little odd maybe but if it makes sense for you then who am I to judge? Shall we take that picture.' Tasha smiled kindly.
'Oh yeah.' She handed over the camera and made her way back to Jess' side, he stopped talking to the guy who he had been in conversation with and smiled at Rory.
'You were wrong I am not the only guy in the world who likes Hemmingway, this is Paul and he also likes Hemmingway.' Jess said smugly.
'Hi, it's nice to meet you even if your literary tastes are a little off base.' Paul held his hand out to shake hers, reluctantly she shook it.
'Hemmingway is boring, and in comparison with other writers of the same time was far less talented.' Rory said unfazed by his opinions. 'I'm Rory.'
They took the photo quickly before joining back up to talk again.
'Jess this is Tasha.' Rory introduced them.
'Nice to meet you Jess, I have to say Rory was telling me a little about what you guys are up to and it sounds amazing.' Tasha smiled. 'And don't listen to Paul, he doesn't know what he's talking about.'
'You guys know each other?' Jess asked.
'Yeah, Paul's my brothers mate from back home, we grew up together.' Tasha replied.
'And then she followed me to Duke.' Paul said poking her in the ribs.
'Shut up, I did no such thing. I weighed my options and got turned down from Yale and Harvard, Duke was my third choice.' Tasha said sounding a little annoyed, she noticed the colour drain from Rory's face.
'You've applied to Harvard and Yale haven't you?' Tasha asked, Rory nodded her head.
'Harvard is my top choice.' Rory replied.
'Well I wouldn't worry I had really bad grades until my junior year and I turned up to my Harvard interview and hour late because my brothers car broke down, I'm sure you'll get in.' Tasha reassured her. 'Listen are you guys in town for a while?'
'We're leaving tonight.' Jess replied.
'Oh well then let us take you out to dinner, I've only just started here but Paul's been here a year and he knows all the best places to eat.' Tasha said.
'It's true I have it down to a fine art.' Paul nodded his head.
'Which is the only reason I let him hang around me.' Tasha joked. 'So come on what do you say?'
Rory turned to Jess hopefully.
'Sure why not, we do have to eat at some point.' Jess shrugged his shoulders.
'Excellent, we can continue the literature debate.' Paul replied gaining a smirk from Jess as they all walked through the campus together and found a small restaurant on the outskirts of the campus.
'So what are your majors?' Rory asked as they finished up their debate on books and music.
'I'm pre-med.' Tasha replied.
'And I'm doing a double major in engineering and literature.' Paul answered.
'Random mix.' Jess commented.
'Yeah well the engineering is to keep my parents happy and the literature is just something I've always loved, and the opportunity to learn so much about it in this environment was too much to pass up.' Paul replied.
'That's what I keep telling Jess.' Rory said happy that someone else had put her point across.
'What do you mean?' Tasha asked.
'I'm not going to college.' Jess answered for Rory, preparing for the outbursts from these two college students, though he had to admit that he was finding it fun to talk to a group of people about intellectual things, it was far more than he'd ever got in New York, and way more than he had with Shane.
'I was the same for years I told everyone that I wasn't going to college because the education system was simply a waste of time, and I didn't want to be caged into academics for another 4 years' Paul nodded his head.
'What changed your mind?' Rory asked interested in where this was going, she kept glancing at Jess to see his reaction but he remained neutral.
'I figured out that I was being an idiot, skipping classes all the time wasn't going to help me get a good job which is what I wanted, so I started going to school and applying myself to get good grades, so that when I graduated I wouldn't need college because I could get a job, but as it turned out I enjoyed learning and so when it came round to applying to college, I filled out some applications and here I am.'
'Is that why you don't want to go to college Jess, because it's a waste of time and you'd rather be working?' Tasha asked.
'No.' He looked over at Rory and her look was pressing him to say more. 'I just don't like being forced to learn about things I don't care about or will never need, and the way the teachers talk at you is condescending, at my school all the teachers label everyone in the same box as decidedly average and wouldn't even give anyone a shot to get into a good college because they don't challenge you enough, so I figure why bother?' Jess replied.
'But college is different, you have freedom to choose all your courses and speak up in class and make your views known, the professors respect that. Besides Rory's aiming for some of the top schools in the country, so the school can't be that bad at challenging you.' Tasha replied.
'I go to a different school, I transferred from stars hollow high to go to a private school, because truthfully they weren't doing enough to get me into the school I wanted to be in, because in a way Jess is right, they have one set way of teaching every student.' Rory replied. 'And I like to be challenged.' Her gaze rests on Jess as she says this and her heart flips in her chest as he smiles at her.
'So maybe you should transfer to Rory's school.' Tasha suggests.
'Oh yeah because I'm sure my uncle would be willing to pay out for that after I run away from home.' Jess said sarcastically.
'You never know until you ask.' Paul says.
'It would be a shame if you didn't attend college because I can see you fitting right into a literature major.' Tasha said leaning back in her chair.
'Yeah just make sure you come to our college because whoever is in a study group with you has it good, because you seem to know more about literature than my professor does.' Paul laughs as they pay the bill and head outside, swapping contact details and saying their goodbyes as Rory and Jess make their way back to the car, both thinking over their night.
