Authors Note: I own nothing. I'm a hermit.
So here's the next chapter of Trial Run. Things are discussed and ideas are thrashed out. Don't be discouraged that it's going slow. With all the history between Rory and Jess their not exactly going to be leaping into each others arms. Oh and I fixed the grammer.
For G. My Rory.
Happy Reading.
Conversations in the Dead of Night.
Rory's eyes snapped open and she rolled over onto her side. For a few seconds she wandered where she was. Then she remembered. She had runway with Jess. Her mother had no idea where she was and she was sharing an apartment with someone she wasn't sure she loved anymore.
Slowly sitting up she tried to figure out what had woken her. Straining her ears she recognised the faint sound of the Clash filtering through the thin walls of the apartment. Clearly Jess couldn't sleep.
Climbing out of bed she crept silently out into the corridor and moved to the door of Jess' bedroom. Pushing the door open a crack she watched Jess as he lay on the bed his hands behind his head feet tapping in time to the music. It was times like this that she wondered why she had ever given him up.
After a few minutes of standing and watching him she made to leave and return to bed when a voice stayed her step "What is this Rory?"
She turned back "What do you mean Jess."
He got up and turning off the CD player, moved to stand by the door so he was facing her "This," he said waving his hands around the apartment "us. What is it?"
Rory looked away "I don't know Jess."
He laid a gentle hand on her arm. A touch so different from Dean's so few hours before "You said you wanted a trial run. What did you mean?"
Rory sighed "It's us Jess. So much has happened to make me doubt that we can ever have a good relationship. You think we're meant to be together. You think you've changed. Then prove it. Show me that I can trust you again and at the end of the holiday I'll tell you whether I agree with you."
Jess looked up "But until then, are we just friends, lovers, what?"
"We're Rory and Jess," Rory replied cryptically.
"And that means?"
Rory reached across and ran a hand through his knotted hair "We're undecided."
Jess pulled away "What if I don't agree?"
"Then I leave," Rory replied simply.
Jess ran a hand through his hair "Rory."
"It's that or nothing Jess," Rory said.
He sighed and turned back into the room "Fine."
Rory followed him, her feet moving on their own, "So what do we do now?"
Jess snorted as he fell back onto the bed "Well normally I'd offer you a drink but as we haven't got anything I'm going to go back to sleep." Reaching over he turned the player back on so the Clash once again filled the room.
Wordlessly Rory walked over and joined her ex on the bed silently snuggling against his side.
"What are you doing?" Jess asked rolling over to look at her.
"I'm not going to be able to sleep for a while." Rory replied "especially not with that playing so I thought we could talk."
"About what?"
"About anything," Rory continued "We never used to have trouble."
"I guess," Jess said slowly "Okay. Where shall we start?"
"What you been doing since I saw you last."
Jess smirked "well since that was all of ten seconds ago."
Rory hit him on the arm "you know what I mean."
He smiled "Well I went to California and met up with Jimmy and Sasha. I hung out there for a bit. Got my GED."
Rory grinned "You did. Well done."
Jess shrugged than started talking again "Thanks. After a bit I came back to the city found a job a place to live and that's about it."
"I'll go where I go, I'll work when I need money," Rory said quietly.
Jess cocked an eyebrow "You remember that?"
Rory nodded "Of course I do."
Jess wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close "So what about you?"
"You know," Rory said "Yale, the paper, spending time with Mom. Not much."
"Any boyfriends?"
She shook her head "No. No time."
"What about Dean," Jess said suddenly.
"What about Dean," Rory replied.
"Well he was there tonight and things seemed pretty heated between you too. What's going on?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing," Jess repeated "Come on. I thought Bag boy would be gagging to get back with you."
"I think he wants to," Rory continued "but he shouldn't. Not when there's Lindsay to think about."
"Who's Lindsay?"
Rory rolled over "His wife."
Jess's eyes widened "Dean's married. Who would have thought it?"
Rory nodded "But I don't think he's happy. We've been spending a lot of time together and I think something might happen."
"Then why did you come away with me?"
Rory shook her head "Cause I don't won't something to happy. He's married and even if he isn't happy I'm not going to be the one to end it. I don't want to be the other woman."
Jess tightened his grip "You're doing the right thing."
"I hope so," Rory said then suddenly she started crying.
"Rory," Jess whispered "What's the matter?"
"I'm making such a mess of things. Everything goes crazy and the first person I go to is Dean. What would make me do that? Am I the one to blame for him and Lindsay not working?"
"Because he's supposed to be your friend. If his marriage isn't working it's probably his fault for getting married so young. It's nothing to do with you."
"You sure?"
Jess kissed her cheek "One hundred percent."
She snuggled even further into his side "Thanks Jess."
"Anytime Rory."
Then silently the pair fell into a contented sleep secure in their tight embrace.
The next day Lorelai was frantic. Rory should have been home hours ago yet she still hadn't arrived. She paced around the room trying to focus on picking out paint samples for the Dragonfly but every few minutes she found herself staring up at the telephone.
Eventually she got up and left the house. Once she was outside she almost ran to Luke's and hurrying though the doors grabbed a seat at the counter.
"Hey," Luke said appearing from the storeroom "Where's Rory?"
"I don't know" Lorelai replied "I was hoping you might."
"Isn't she supposed to come back from Yale today?"
Lorelai nodded "About three hours ago in fact. I thought that maybe she had come here first."
Luke shook his head "I haven't seen her. But if I do I'll let you know."
Lorelai nodded and stood up "Thanks Luke. Can you tell her I'll be at the Dragonfly?"
"Sure thing," Luke replied.
Two hours later Lorelai walked back into the house to find a message on the answering machine. Pushing the button she smiled as Rory's voice filled the room
"Mom," it said "You might want to sit down."
Lorelai collapsed into a chair as the voice continued "I'm with Jess in New York. Now before you come storming up here to get me I want to be here. I'll come back home soon but we have some stuff to sort out first. I'll speak to you soon. Love you."
Lorelai pulled her phone from her pocket and immediately hit speed dial. "Rory," she said a minute later "It's Mom."
Earlier that morning Rory had been woken by the sound of the radio playing. Walking out into the kitchen she found Jess at the stove.
"Morning," he said without turning around "You sleep well?"
"Yeah," she said suddenly noticing what he was doing "Where did this food come from?"
He shrugged "I went out shopping before you woke up. You want eggs?"
Rory nodded "So what," she began but before she could say any more Jess held up a hand.
"I like this song," he said answering her silent question.
I found God
On the corner of First and Amistad
Where the west
Was all but won
All alone
Smoking his last cigarette
I said, "Where you been?"
He said, "Ask anything".
Where were you
When everything was falling apart?
All my days
Were spent by the telephone
It never rang
And all I needed was a call
It never came
To the corner of First and Amistad
Lost and insecure
You found me, you found me
Lyin' on the floor
Surrounded, surrounded
Why'd you have to wait?
Where were you? Where were you?
Just a little late
You found me, you found me
In the end
Everyone ends up alone
Losing her
The only one who's ever known
Who I am
Who I'm not, who I wanna be
No way to know
How long she will be next to me
Lost and insecure
You found me, you found me
Lyin' on the floor
Surrounded, surrounded
Why'd you have to wait?
Where were you? Where were you?
Just a little late
You found me, you found me
Early morning
The city breaks
I've been callin'
For years and years and years and years
And you never left me no messages
Ya never send me no letters
You got some kinda nerve
Taking all my world
Lost and insecure
You found me, you found me
Lyin' on the floor
Where were you? Where were you?
Lost and insecure
You found me, you found me
Lyin' on the floor
Surrounded, surrounded
Why'd you have to wait?
Where were you? Where were you?
Just a little late
You found me, you found me
Why'd you have to wait?
To find me, to find me
"Why do you like it?" Rory said "It's not your usually type of music."
"It reminds me of you," Jess said sitting down opposite her.
"How?"
"Just does. It reminds me of us as well."
Rory decided not to pursue the point instead focusing on her breakfast. Eventually she looked up "What do you want to do today?"
Jess shrugged "You choose."
"How about a museum?"
"I could live with that."
Rory smiled "We'll do that then."
As Jess showed Rory washed up and then phoned home to let her Mom know she was okay. Lorelai apparently wasn't there so Rory left a message.
"So why did you decided to come with me?" Jess asked as they walked back from the museum "You seemed pretty determined not to when I asked the first time."
"I don't know" Rory replied honestly "I think I knew if I let you go we would never get back together. Not properly. I mean I'm still not sure if your right about us being meant for each other but I do know I didn't really mean what I said.
Jess smiled "I hope I can prove you right."
"I hope you can too."
As they got back to the apartment Rory's phone rang. Pulling it out she was surprised to hear Lorelai's voice.
"Rory."
"Mom. Why are you calling?"
"To make sure my favourite daughter hasn't gone crazy. What's this about you being in New York with Jess? Are you teasing Mommy?"
Rory sighed "No Mom. Jess is with me now."
"Why? Don't you remember what that little punk did last time?"
"Please Mom trust me. I'll come home soon I just need a little time."
Lorelai was silent for a little while "Okay," she said eventually "keep in contact okay."
"Will do Mom. Love you."
"Love you too sweetie."
As Rory rang off Jess looked at her "What was that about?"
"Mom making sure I hadn't lost my mind."
"And what did you tell her?"
"That she has to start trusting me."
"Do you think she'll be okay?"
Rory nodded "So what do you want to do now."
"How about a movie" Jess suggested.
"Okay," Rory replied "But I get to pick this time."
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