I Can't Read Your Mind

"Try again," Rory said to me.

We were at the bridge and I was trying to hover in the air. Just hover a few inches off the ground. There was no jumping off anything today. I tried again, but I couldn't even get off the ground.

"This is useless," I said to Rory. "I think there needs to be some apparent danger for it to work."

"Well I could just push you in the lake again," Rory suggested, laughing.

"I'd like to see how well you'd do if you were in my shoes," I said to Rory as I tried again, but nothing happen.

"If I had your ability," Rory said. "I'd probably just ignore it and tip it off as me going crazy."

"That's not a bad idea," I said to Rory. "Maybe I can just forget all about this, it's not like I need it to get by in life."

"But," Rory protested. "You're special… different… unique."

"A freak… weirdo… not normal," I shot back as I sat down next to Rory on the bridge. I'd unofficially given up. "They're the exact same words, you just tried to make it seems as though I was one of a kind… special."

"Well for all we know," Rory said. "You are. You don't see Miss Patty using her super powers do you?"

"She may have the ability to pinch others," I defended.

"What about Luke then?" Rory asked me.

"The ability to change moods really quickly," I said. "He can go from angry one minute to over protective the next, in just a few seconds."

"Okay," Rory replied. "And are butt pinching and changing moods part of Superman's superpowers?"

"He's still discovering his powers," I said jokingly to Rory. "We're only on the second season of Smallville, he can't even fly yet."

"Funny," Rory replied sarcastically.

"I thought so," I said as I grabbed Rory's hand and laced our fingers together.

"So…" Rory started nervously. "You said that we'd discuss us more today?" Rory asked hopefully.

"That I did," I replied. "Well what do you want?" I asked Rory as I rubbed my thumb gently across her knuckles.

"I want… I want to kiss you," Rory said nervously, yet completely sure.

"As in kissing friends?" I asked her jokingly.

"No," Rory blushed, "as in my boyfriend's a freak and I want him to kiss me."

"Freak," I mused out loud. "I think I like Dodger better."

"Just kiss me already," Rory said impatiently.

"Wait," I said stopping her. "You're not just with me because of my abilities are you?"

"No." Rory was starting to get annoyed.

"Because what if I can never fly again?" I asked her dramatically. "I would be so… normal."

"Shut up," Rory said as she crashed her lips down on top of mine. Even if I did want to say something Rory was effectively stopping me from doing so. I gave in almost immediately and deepened the kiss. Rory grabbed hold of my shirt tightly and wouldn't let me go. I put one of my hands on the small of her back and the other one lost itself in her hair. I shifted her slightly, so she was now sitting on my lap. I ran my tongue across her bottom lip and she granted me entrance right away.

I couldn't believe that I was kissing Rory, well I could, but now she was my girlfriend. Girlfriend, now that sounded weird to me. I'd never had a girlfriend before, never needed one until Rory came into my life. I got so lost in the kiss that I was shocked when Rory pulled away.

"Jess," she whispered to me.

"What?" I asked not opening my eyes yet, I was trying to remember this moment forever. "What is it?" I asked again as I opened my eyes.

I was shocked, after all morning trying to hover, I was now two inches above the bridge.

"You weren't thinking of Nathan Petrelli while you were kissing me were you?" Rory asked disappointed.

"No," I replied. "You and only you."

"So why are you hovering then?" Rory asked me confused. "I thought we put it all down to that Petrelli guy."

"No idea," I replied starting to freak out, usually by now I'd fallen, but I was still hovering… weird.

"Why are you still hovering?" Rory asked. "You've usually lost your concentration by now."

"No idea," I replied once again. I was completely in shock none of this made any sense. I was only thinking of Rory, Nathan never even crossed my mind. Now there was the problem of me still hovering above the bridge, I liked that I could keep it up for more than a few seconds, but this was starting to freak me out.

"What's wrong?" Rory asked concerned.

"What if I can't stop hovering?" I said nervously. "Am I just supposed to hover into the diner?"

"Maybe you could think of something?" Rory suggested. "Maybe… pooh, oooh, think of Luke and Kirk as a couple."

"Oh god," I said, trying to get that image out of my head. "Ow," I added as I hit the bridge. "That was an image I didn't need to see," I said to Rory slightly annoyed.

"It worked though didn't it," Rory said. "You're grounded."

"Sure," I replied. "But now I'll be forever haunted by that thought."

"You'd be related to Kirk too," Rory added.

"Do you mind," I said, pinching the bridge of my nose.

"Fine," Rory relented. "Freak."

"Girlfriend," I retorted.

"What…" Rory said flustered. "You called me your girlfriend."

"So," I replied failing to see the problem. "You are aren't you? We did just have this conversation didn't we?"

"Yeah," Rory replied. "I was just shocked when you said it."

"So you don't want me call you my girlfriend?" I asked Rory still confused.

"No," Rory replied quickly. "I like it, it sounds good when you said it… boyfriend."

"What no more freak?" I asked her in mock sadness.

"Nah," Rory said. "Calling you a freak might rouse some suspicion."

"Good," I replied. I didn't want to be called a freak anyway.

"Let's go to the diner," Rory suggested as she got up and grabbed my hand.

"Do we have to?" I whined as Rory pulled me towards the diner. "As soon as I look at Luke I'm going to immediately think of Kirk."

"At least you won't hover in the diner," Rory replied. "It's a good trade off if you ask me."

"This whole Kirk/Luke thing doesn't bother you?" I asked Rory in disbelief.

"No," she shrugged, "I know Luke would never go for Kirk, Taylor maybe, but not Kirk."

"Jeez," I said, putting my arm around Rory. "You're lucky I like you because if I didn't you'd be so dead," I said jokingly as I pulled her close.

"Hey," Rory said getting my attention. "Pretty fancy car for Stars Hollow."

I glanced over at the car, it was a black BMW.

"Yeah," I agreed. "They must be lost."

"Probably," Rory replied as we headed into the diner and sat down at a table. "BMW guy at three o'clock," Rory said to me and I looked over at the counter. There was a guy in a suit talking to Luke.

I turned my full attention to the guy, trying to pick up the conversation.

"Are you sure you haven't seen him?" the guy asked Luke.

"Positive," Luke replied.

"Here's my card," he said, handing Luke a business card.

"Matt Parkman," Luke read out loud. "Who do you work for?"

"I'm independent," Parkman replied. "I want you to call me if this guy ever comes through."

"Who is he?" Luke asked confused.

"Sylar," Parkman said. "He's… dangerous."

"And you think he'll come here?" Luke asked concerned.

"I'm not sure," Parkman said. "We lost track of him in New York, there were some potential sightings in Hartford and I'm just taking some precautions, the quicker we catch him the better."

"Okay," Luke said, "I'll keep an eye out."

Sylar… the serial killer. -Rory

"What?" I asked Rory confused.

"I didn't say anything," Rory replied.

"What do you know about Sylar?" Parkman confronted Rory as he came over to Rory. "Tell me."

Rory froze in shock.

Nothing… It was just what I read in the paper. –Rory

"Leave her alone," I said to the guy. "She doesn't know anything."

"What about you?" Parkman asked me as he stared at me intently, like he was trying to get inside my head. "What do you know?" He concentrated harder.

"Nothing," I replied. "I don't even know who this Sylar is."

"How do you know that name," he demanded, concentrating harder.

Jess, be careful… please don't overreact. -Rory

"Stay out of this," Parkman said to Rory.

"She didn't say anything," I responded angrily. Sure I'd heard her, but it was a softer voice and her lips weren't moving… I must be going crazy again. "I heard you say his name..." I started to explain to the guy, but I was suddenly overcome by a static noise in my head. "Argh," I said in pain as I grabbed my head reflexively.

"Jess?" Rory asked me. "Are you alright?"

What's wrong, he was fine a minute ago -Rory

Who's the suit in Luke's, he looks fine -Miss Patty

Not again, what's wrong with him. That kid is more trouble than I expected. What did Liz do to him? -Luke

What the hell was happening to me? There was a static noise in my head, yet I could hear snippets of people thoughts… No, that can't be right.

"Argh," Parkman said as he too grabbed his head in pain.

"What is going on?" Luke asked as he made his way over to us.

Are they alright? Why does everything have to happen in my diner? –Luke

It's not just Jess, the same thing is happening to that guy. What's going on? Is Jess going to be alright? Is he in pain? –Rory

"My head feels like it's going to split open," I managed to say through gritted teeth. "What are you doing to me?" I asked the guy frantically, but he didn't answer.

Are you okay, Jess? Please I need to know. –Rory

"I'm fine," I reassured Rory as I grabbed her hand.

Did he just read her mind? –Parkman

I looked at him confused. Reading minds is that what I'm doing? I had no idea. I'm was so confused and my head feels like it's going to explode any minute now.

Is he one of them? –Parkman

What, one of who? Is there more people like me out there… people with abilities.

"I think you should leave," Luke said to Parkman as he literally pushed him out the door.

Who is this guy? FBI? CIA? -Luke

Parkman left and I could feel the pressure release slowly from my head, the static noise was also lessening. I put my head in my hands. I had to catch my breath too. Whatever he did to me… it exhausted me.

"Are you alright?" Rory asked concerned.

I hope he's alright, he has to be alright, he's my Jess. –Rory

I smile at her… thoughts, I guess that's what I'm doing, reading her thoughts. The guy mentioned it and he seemed pretty sure of it.

"I'm alright," I replied.

"Visions?" Rory asked me.

"No," I said. "Just a headache."

He's fine, you can stop overreacting now, he's alright he can still form sentences… well a couple of words, but he's still the same Jess. It looked like that guy did something to him… caused him the pain, I'll have to ask him later. I have to make sure he's alright. He likes to put on a face to cover up his pain. –Rory

"Are you sure you're alright?" Rory asked me concerned.

"Yeah," I said. "Stop worrying."

"I wasn't worrying," Rory defended. I looked at her knowingly. "Fine but only a little," Rory said defeated.

So I could hear people's thoughts, this might actually be a welcomed ability. But should I tell Rory? If I did would she be more self-conscious then she is now? But if I didn't tell her then I'd have to work through it on my own and she'd know I was hiding something. I decided to play it by ear. I'd only tell her when it was completely necessary.

"Are you alright?" Luke asked me as he came back into the diner.

If anything happened to that kid… If he got hurt on my watch… -Luke

"I'm fine," I replied. "Just a bit of a headache."

"Good," Luke said visibly relieved. "I'll get you some Tylenol."

Thank god for that. This kid's going to be the death of me. –Luke

"Thanks," I said as he walked away. "So you were thinking about my safety?" I asked Rory knowing I'd be able to hear her thoughts. It was a cheap shot, but I really wanted to know what she thought.

"Yeah," Rory said as she blushed.

How could I not? You're my boyfriend and you looked like you were in so much pain, there was nothing I could do to help you. –Rory

"I don't want my boyfriend of less than a day to get sick… or die."

No, Jess couldn't die… never. I don't want to be left alone without him. He's the first thing I think of when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I think of before I go to sleep. –Rory

I laughed at her thoughts.

"What?" Rory asked me confused.

"Nothing," I replied. "Just something I heard."

"Okay," Rory gave in.

"Hey daughter of mine," Lorelai said as she sat down at our table. "Lukey," Lorelai said, "get me coffee."

What was happening in Lorelai's world, I thought as I concentrated on her.

Oh, Butch Danes you can pour my coffee any day, if you know what I mean. –Lorelai

Oh no, that definitely crossed a line. Maybe this ability wouldn't be as good as I thought it'd be.

Butch… -Lorelai

"No," I said out loud as I covered my ears, which was stupid because I'm guessing that you can't physically hear other people's thoughts.

"Jess?" Rory asked concerned.

"What's going on?" Lorelai said, equally concerned, at least my actions had changed the course of her thoughts.

"I… I need…" I said trying to get Rory to understand without saying anything to alert Lorelai.

What? What do you want Jess? I don't understand… Kirk and Luke, so funny and Jess' face classic. –Rory

And that did it, thankfully. I concentrated back on Lorelai, but I couldn't hear a thing.

"Thanks," I said to Rory as I grabbed her hand once again.

"What?" Rory asked confused. I nodded my head at her. "Umm, no problem?"

"What's going on?" Lorelai asked us, motioning towards our joined hands.

"Jess and I," Rory said nervously, "are… dating."

Damn, I wish I could hear their thoughts now. Looks like I'll have to work on controlling this ability too, as if I didn't have enough on my plate already.

"What?" Lorelai asked confused. "Aren't you with Dean?"

"We broke up the other day," Rory replied. "I've been busy with Jess… I must've forgotten to tell you."

"Busy with Jess," Lorelai said knowingly and I was glad I couldn't read her mind as Lorelai's mind seemed like a really dirty place.

"Not like that," Rory said quickly. "He just needed my help on… some extracurricular activities."

"You know that doesn't sound much better," Lorelai said. "But I believe you… I guess." Lorelai looked at me.

"Don't worry," I said in my defense. "I won't do anything that she doesn't want to do."

"If you hurt her," Lorelai said warningly.

"I won't," I replied truthfully.

"But if you do," Lorelai continued. "You better prepare yourself for the wrath of Lorelai Gilmore."

"Fine," I replied, if things got that bad I could always fly away, well as long as I could control my abilities by then.

"I'll be watching you Jess," Lorelai said to me.

I took this as a conversation end and turned my attention to Rory.

"Pick a number between 1 and 100," I said to Rory. There was no time like the present to work on my new ability.

"Okay," Rory replied. "I've got it."

I concentrated hard, but I couldn't hear anything.

"What are you doing?" Lorelai asked confused. "You can't read minds, you know."

"I know," I replied sarcastically. "I just wanted to see if Rory and I were connected on some higher level."

"Like twins?" Lorelai said confused.

"Yeah," I replied. "Something like that."

"So what number am I thinking of?" Rory asked me excitedly.

"Hang on," I said as I concentrated again, but once again nothing. "Eight," I said out loud, better to take a guess then nothing at all, it was her birthday so there was a chance I was right.

"How'd you know?" Rory asked surprised.

'It's your birthday," Lorelai said. "I used to play that game with you when you were a kid and you always answered with the number eight."

"No fair," Rory mumbled as she pouted.

I laughed at her. "Next time we play," I said to Rory. "You're going to have to think of a different number."

"Fine," Rory huffed. "I'll start thinking now and you'll never be able to guess it."

"We'll see," I replied smugly as I smirked at her.

So now I could potentially fly, have visions, and read minds, this was definitely beyond normal. And what did that guy mean? Did he just read her mind? Is he one of them? One of who, there were others? I wasn't alone. I had no idea, but then again I didn't feel the need to go out and seek the answer either. I was happy… happy that Rory was the only one that knew, it was our own little secret, the more people who knew would just ruin it. We had something in common, something that we could only get from the other and no one else. It was a good feeling, and I needed her now more than she could ever imagine.