Thank you for all your lovely reviews! Here's the next chapter! :)

Chapter 17

"Why did I agree to do this again?" Rory groaned as she read what was expected of her at this debutante ball she was attending yesterday.

"Because you wanted me to be able to watch you look like a cotton ball." Jess smirked from the armchair across from her.

Rory scowled at him. "Not funny!"

"It will be for me." Jess smirked.

Rory rolled her eyes.

"You did it because you wanted to make your grandmother happy." Luke said trying to put an end to the conversation.

Rory sighed. "I just...this so isn't me." She said.

"You can pull out, you know." Lorelai said. "I'll back you up."

"Lorelai..." Luke said.

"Do you want me to pull out?" Rory asked quietly. "I know you ran away from all this society stuff and I know you would have stopped me from having to go through it too."

Lorelai sighed. "Hon, you do what you like. I'll support you either way. Debutante balls weren't for me because I wouldn't have had fun at them. We're different though. You've got your dad there giving away and you've actually got an escort you love. It's completely different." She said. "Plus, your dad's right. When you said yes, your Grandma was ecstatic."

Rory sighed. "I just...I've only got one Grandma left. I want to make her happy."

"Then do it." Lorelai said. "But no one's forcing you. It's totally your choice."

"I'll do it." Rory said quietly. She glanced at Luke though. "Just one favour, don't let me fall down the stairs." She said.

Luke chuckled. "Right back at you."

Rory smiled and went back to her brochure of information.

"I have to walk down those stairs?" Rory asked nervously as they entered the grand hall.

"Yep but I'd recommend sliding down the banister." Lorelai grinned.

"I think I'll stick to walking." Rory rolled her eyes.

"I'd love to see you slide down it. It would be much more exciting." Jess joked.

"I still don't know why you came. You could have babysat Katie and LJ with Sookie." Rory scowled at him.

"This is much more fun. I'm here to support you, cuz. Isn't that what families are supposed to do?"

Rory rolled her eyes. She then spotted Tristan and her heart skipped a beat when he saw him in a tux. "I'm going to say hi to Tristan then I better go get ready. I'll see you later."

"I'll meet you up there." Luke called after her.

Rory nodded and went off over to Tristan.

"So anyone seen the bar?" Lorelai asked.

"Yep over there." Jess said nodding over to the other side.

"Great, let's go!" Lorelai grinned.

"I'm with you." Jess said.

"Not so fast. You're not drinking." Luke narrowed his eyes at Jess. "And you, stop being a bad influence on him." He said to Lorelai.

"Isn't that what aunts are for?" Lorelai grinned.

Luke rolled his eyes and was about to say something when they were interrupted by a panicked Paris.

"Jess! You have to be my escort!" Paris demanded.

"What? No way!" Jess snorted.

"You have to be! I need an escort and you're the only person I know here!" Paris exclaimed desperately.

"Have you just realised you need an escort? Because you're kind of leaving it a bit late to find one." Jess smirked.

"I'm not in the mood for your jokes! The guy who was going to be my escort just rang and said he couldn't make it and my mother's going to kill me! Please!" Paris exclaimed.

Jess groaned. "Can't you just ask a stranger? I don't even have a tux on." He said.

"They have spare ones here. And no, I don't want to have to dance with a stranger!"

"Paris!" A shrill voice suddenly said.

Jess saw Paris cringe before turning round to face a women who wasn't looking best pleased. "Mom.." She said.

"What are you doing down here? You're supposed to be getting ready! Are you deliberately trying to humiliate me?" She exclaimed. "Where's Andrew?"

"He's not coming." Paris mumbled.

"What? What do you mean he's not coming?" Her mother exclaimed aghast.

"Exactly that. He just rang and said he couldn't make it." Paris retorted.

"Seriously Paris, are you really that socially inept that you can't even keep an escort for a ball? God I'm going to be the laugh of the ceremony. Do you know what everyone's going to be saying?" She exclaimed angrily.

"I'm sorting it." Paris mumbled quietly, noticing everyone starting to stare at them. She wanted the ground to swallow her up.

"Oh you're sorting it are you? Well that reassures me!" Her mother said condescendingly. "No. Once again, I'm going to have to sort out your mess. I'll have to pull you out of the ceremony."

"Excuse me...uh...Mrs Geller?" Jess found himself speaking up.

Paris's mother glared at him. "What?" She said rudely.

"Paris does have an escort. I know for a fact she does. So maybe you should stop shouting at her in public? It's hardly her fault this Andrew guy bailed." Jess said.

"No one will want to be her escort now. I would appreciate you keeping out of our business." She retorted.

"She does have an escort." Jess said. "Me."

Both Paris and her mother stared at him in shock.

"Excuse me?" Mrs Geller found her voice.

"Paris explained her situation and I'm happy to step in." He said. "We wouldn't want Paris humiliated in public now, would we?" He said sarcastically.

Paris hid a smirk as she watched her mother just stare at Jess in shock and then just storm off. She turned to Jess. "You'll be my escort?" She asked.

"I just said I would, didn't I?" He said.

"I know, but I didn't know if you were just saying it." Paris shrugged.

Jess sighed. "I'll be there at the bottom of the stairs, don't worry. Shouldn't you be upstairs getting ready?" He said.

Paris gave him a small smile. "Thanks." She said quietly before turning and rushing back upstairs.

Jess groaned realising what he had just gotten himself into. It didn't help when he turned round to see Lorelai and Luke stifling a smirk. "Don't say a word." He grumbled. "I've got to find Tristan." He said walking off.

"I can't believe you're doing this. Why did you agree?" Tristan smirked as him and Jess waited at the bottom of the stairs.

"Paris isn't really that good with no." Jess said.

Tristan chuckled. "I guess not but you're good at saying no and meaning it."

Jess shrugged. "Her mother was giving her a hard time and everyone was staring. It was the first time I'd seen Paris, I don't know, embarrassed and well desperate. I just heard myself say I'd be her escort."

"I think it's good of you to do this for her." Tristan said.

Jess gave Tristan a look.

"I'm serious. I'm not joking around. I know Paris' parents. They wouldn't have let her forget this if she didn't have an escort. I mean we both know it isn't her fault but they always blame her." Tristan shrugged. "So I think it's good of you to do this for her. She'll appreciate it."

"Yeah well she owes me big time." Jess said.

Tristan laughed. "Oh I'm sure."

The ceremony then soon started and both Tristan and Jess couldn't help but smile as they saw Luke walk Rory down the stairs. Jess watched as Luke kissed her hand at the bottom of the stairs and then gave her over to Tristan who did the same thing and then led her off. Jess took a deep breath knowing Paris was next. He looked up as she was announced and was surprised at how good she looked. He reluctantly did the same he saw Tristan do and then led her off, relieved, glad the worst part was over.

"I can't believe Jess agreed to escort Paris." Rory said as she danced with Tristan.

Tristan looked over at Jess and Paris who were also dancing their compulsory dance. "I think it was sweet of him to do it."

"Oh yeah, I'm not saying it wasn't. I just can't believe he agreed to do it. He's spent like a week mocking me for taking part." Rory said.

"Well I guess he just saw her needing a friend to help out and that's what he did." Tristan said.

"Yeah but they're hardly friends..." Rory said.

Tristan laughed. "Are you kidding me? Ever since they bailed on Madeline's party, you can't pull them apart at school. Don't tell me you hadn't noticed?" He said.

Rory frowned and started thinking and sure enough she realised that he was right. Whenever he talked to them at school, Paris was always there. She looked over at them again. "Do you think something's going on between them?" She asked interested.

"No." Tristan shook his head. "But I think it could do."

"Really?"

"They have a lot in common. It's quite funny seeing them in debates actually. Neither of them back down." Tristan smirked.

Rory laughed. "Paris definitely's found her match in Jess, I guess. He's just never mentioned her that much. But I guess I never really asked."

"Honestly, I think they're just friends at the moment. It's nice. Paris has always preferred being by herself but I think she enjoys talking about books and school with Jess."

"Yeah.." Rory said glancing over at them again. She smiled when she saw Jess say something, obviously about when the dance was going to stop, and Paris trying to hide her smirk. "You're right. It's nice to see them getting on." She then turned back to him and smiled. She leant up and kissed him. "And thank you. For agreeing to be my escort."

"I wouldn't be anywhere else." Tristan said honestly.

"And that's why you're the best boyfriend ever." Rory grinned.

"Now that I like to hear." Tristan smirked, leaning down to kiss her again.

Luke, Lorelai, Rory, Jess and Tristan were about to leave after a long day having said goodbye to Emily and Richard when they heard a voice behind them.

"Jess!" Paris said.

They turned round to see her coming towards them. "Hey." Jess said.

"I just..uh..wanted to say thanks again." Paris said quietly, conscious of everyone else watching them.

"It's no big deal." Jess shrugged.

"No. It was a big deal." Paris stopped him, surprising him. "I just...No one's ever done anything like that for me before and you didn't have to...so thanks."

"It's ok." Jess said. He glanced to see everyone still watching them. "We're just going to grab something to eat. Want to join us?" He asked.

"Really?" Paris asked surprised.

Jess looked at Luke and Lorelai. "That's ok, right?" He asked.

"Sure." Luke nodded.

"Of course. You're always welcome Paris." Lorelai smiled at her.

"Thanks." Paris gave her a small smile.

"There's only one condition though." Jess said.

"What?" Paris asked nervously.

"You pay for mine." Jess smirked. "You owe me big Geller."

Paris smirked. "I think I can agree to that."

"Great, then let me lead the way." He smirked turning round and following everyone out again.

Paris stood for a moment and then smiled, quickly rushing to catch up with them joining Jess, Rory and Tristan who were already chatting.

I know it's a big shorter but I promise the next one will be longer! :) I hope you liked it! and don't worry, there will be more Luke/Lorelai action! :) Please keep reviewing as I love reading what you think! Thanks! :)