April 19th

"So, this is a good thing, right?" Lorelai questioned as she lay in bed staring at the ceiling.

"It's a very good thing," Luke nodded from where he laid beside her.

Both parents were happy, thrilled for Rory even. When the kids had gotten home and announced the news to them, the family had celebrated wholeheartedly. Take-out for dinner, ice-cream and pie for dessert, happy chatter about the coming year filling the house.

Now though, alone in the darkened room, just the two of them, reality had set in.

"Are we any closer to figuring out how we are going to pay for two tuitions for the next three years?" the woman voiced the concern that was weighing heavy in the room.

Luke sighed, "You know I talked to the bank last month, my dad's money will really help."

Lorelai turned to her husband with a sad smile, "It will help for the first year Babe... for one of the kids."

His face dropped knowingly, "It's a start."

"Yeah..."

"Are we doing the right thing here?" he suddenly spoke up causing his wife to turn her head to him, "Should we not be forcing Jess to go? I mean we haven't even told him yet, so it's not like we would be giving him mixed messages. He doesn't want to go Lorelai, and this is Rory's dream. I mean what if we just got Jess a tutor and..."

"He needs this, Hun, just as much as Rory. Neither of their educations is more important than the other and honestly, right now I think it's more important that Jess goes, even if he will fight us on that."

The man sighed, "I know, it's just..."

"We know what we have to do," Lorelai addressed the elephant in the room, but Luke shook his head determinedly.

"No Lorelai, we can make this work! I can cut back the help at the diner, take on more shifts and maybe if you-"

"Babe, we both already have massive workloads, we'd never see the kids. It's the only other option."

"I can't put you through that, I can't put the kids through that," he shook his head.

"It needs to be done. I'll get over it and the kids will be fine. We've discussed the fact that their education is top priority and I'm willing to suffer a little if it gets them where they need to be."

She paused for a moment taking a deep breath in, "Even if making a deal with the devil may seem like a better option."

They laid in silence for a few minutes, mulling over pretty much their sole option.

"They may be willing to help Rory, but they don't even acknowledge that they know Jess," Luke pointed out to the silence.

"It won't matter," Lorelai shook her head slowly, "I know my parents. They'll have me right where they want me."

"How should we do this?" he asked, accepting their fate.

She groaned, "My birthday's next week. I'm sure they'd be thrilled to see me for that. I'll set up the dinner. We'll send Jess and Rory out of the room and ask them then. I don't want the kids to know if they don't have to."

"They'll know something if we are willingly taking them back for a dinner there. It's been years since the last catastrophe."

"We'll think of something. They don't need that guilt over their heads."

Luke sighed tiredly, rolling onto his side and gazing at his wife, "I love you, you know that?"

"I'd say the feelings are pretty fifty-fifty," she smiled, leaning in for a lazy kiss. "I guess we have to have the discussion with Jess soon."

"Yeah, I want to do that like a hole in my head," he muttered sarcastically, already imagining how the talk would go, "he's going to resent us for not letting him make the decision."

"I know, babe, but we'll deal with it. Sometimes we have to decide what we think is best for him and this is one of those times. Eventually he'll come around. He has to, we feed him," she attempted to make light.

"I hope so," the man mumbled tiredly.

The couple lay together in the dark for a long time. Both knowing that their brains would not be allowing sleep to overtake them anytime soon.

April 20th

4512. That was the answer that Ms. Harper was looking for as she stared down the class. It took Jess all of thirty seconds to figure it out, but there was no way he was going to raise his hand to bring the woman out of her misery.

She had asked three times now for someone to give her the correct response with the request that she hear from someone new. He knew she wouldn't call on him. That she had learned long ago would only end in suffering on both parts, but Jess still got irked every time any of his teachers used the age-old phrase, 'I want to hear from someone new!' Why were teachers always so happy to make their student's lives miserable any chance they got? Of course, he knew that Ms. Harper got joy out of everyone's misery no matter what, but still, if he was a teacher he would never subject his students to that kind of torture.

Rory nudged him from his right and he raised his eyebrow at her. She flicked her head towards the teacher and raised her eyebrow right back at him. Jess had to stop himself from laughing out loud at her suggestion, as if he would willingly participate in class. Rory, always trying to convince him to push himself. He gave his sister a long look before turning back towards the teacher without a word.

She looked like she was just about to lecture the students once more about the importance of participating in class when out of the corner of his eye Jess noticed a hand hesitantly rise from two rows over.

"29?"

Jess did let out a snort at that and a few heads turned in his direction including a warning glare from the teacher. Of course Dean would be the good little boy who participated in class. Of course he would also be the one to get the answer so completely wrong that it was embarrassing.

"Not quite Dean, but thank you for at least trying. The answer's 4512."

Jess continued to smirk as the teacher went back to the board to show the class just how she had gotten the answer. He turned to Rory once more, hoping that she saw just how smart her crush really was.

Unfortunately, as he turned his amusement was deflated instantly. To his surprise, Rory was staring at the new kid with a proud smile on her face and when Dean caught her gaze he smiled with a small shrug. Jess whipped his head forward hotly, the entire scene too disgusting to watch for another second.

He and Rory were on good terms again and he really didn't want to fight with her anymore, but watching the girl act completely foolish in front of this guy was ridiculous. Maybe Lorelai was right, maybe no guy would ever be good enough for his sister, but surely there was someone better than a moose-sized airhead out there for her. He was glad that Rory would be moving schools next year. Hopefully she would find a more complex guy at her new school. Although Chilton might not be any better for her, he supposed. Next thing he knew she would be bringing home some rich snob, who cared more about blowing his daddy's money than actually trying to connect with Rory. Then, he would be begging to have simpleton Dean back. Jess shook his head, deciding that the topic of his sister's love life was not a good topic for his wandering brain right now. He would have a panic attack before the end of class if he continued worrying himself over the subject.

Still, he paid no attention to the rest of the class, certain that he already had a much better grasp on the concept than the rest of the class and knowing that his homework that night would be no issue at all. Instead, he let his mind wander to some safer topics. He began to wonder what school would be like next year without Rory there. He had pretty much made up his mind that he would not be going to Chilton. All that was left was to tell Luke and Lorelai. He was sure if he worded it right they would see his side. It was just easier this way, he had a routine and he would argue that he hadn't skipped in weeks now. As long as he was trying harder, they shouldn't care where he went to school. Plus, Jess was sure there was a major issue of money. He wasn't exactly sure of the family's financial standing, but he did know how much Chilton cost, and somehow he couldn't see any way that the family would be able to pay for two tuitions in the first place. Really, Jess was doing everyone a favour by not going. He only hoped his parents would see it the same way...

It was Tuesday which meant after school, Jess worked at the diner from three until six-thirty. Jess had argued with Luke at the start about the pointlessness of him ending his shift right in the middle of the dinner rush, but Luke had been adamant that those were the hours he was allowing in order to make sure the teen still had ample time for his studies and his own supper in the evening. Jess still didn't feel like it was necessary, but he'd learned to keep his mouth shut if he didn't want to lose the hours altogether.

He headed in the direction of the diner as soon as the bell rang. Luke wasn't too concerned if he got there a few minutes late considering school only got out at three, but Jess liked to get there as soon as possible in order to get a decent amount of tips in his short three and a half hour duty. On good days, if he turned his charm up, his tips could make up for the skimpy hours he got each week, which meant that he was that much closer to purchasing himself a car once he reached sixteen. It was a dream he hadn't mentioned to his parents in fear that they would not approve of the idea, so instead, he worked on the small fund wordlessly and hoped the adults wouldn't question where all his money was going.

He rounded the corner and crashed into a frazzled looking Kirk, mildly frustrated at the stall in his quickened pace.

"Jeez!"

"Oh, sorry Jess! Hey, you haven't seen a parakeet flying around the square have you?"

"No? Look I gotta get going so-"

"It's just, I'm bird-sitting this lady's parakeet for the week and it was looking a little restless so I thought I should maybe take the cage outside, so the bird could get some fresh air. Only I didn't realize that I had left the side door open when I had refilled his water container and he flew out and before I could blink he was gone!"

"Well, I'm sure you'll find him, check the trees," Jess suggested with a deep sigh, knowing full well that the bird was long gone, if not dead already. Somehow in the boy's anxious state, Jess didn't have the heart to be overly cruel towards him. On the plus, if he gave the guy a little hope perhaps he would stay out looking for the feathered animal instead of camping out in the diner like usual, holding up a table and annoying the life out of Jess.

"I hope so, let me know if you hear anyone mention seeing him, okay?"

"Sure thing," he agreed nodding once as he pushed passed the boy.

He entered the diner to see it already filled up with after school teens and a group of older ladies who Jess pinned as most likely antiquers. Not the best batch of customers to start his shift, but at least antiquers usually tipped well.

Luke approached his nephew's side when he saw him enter.

"It took you nearly ten minutes to get here, did you get kept after class?" the uncle accused out of habit.

Jess furrowed his brow, "I ran into Kirk, but thanks for the confidence in me."

"Ah not that stupid parakeet search? I mean, come on, the bird's dead right?"

"I expect to see Mrs. Martin's cat coughing out feathers next time we see it," he spoke dryly.

"Poor kid."

"Who's dumb enough to leave a living thing in the care of Kirk anyway?"

"An eighty year-old woman. Anyway listen," Luke changed the subject, "Don't bother starting because I need you to come home with me."

"What? It's Tuesday, you promised I get every Tuesday and Thursday and it's packed in here!"

"Calm down, Jess. I'll let you work tomorrow okay? Lorelai and I wanted to discuss something with you and she managed to get an hour off this afternoon. The guys are perfectly capable of holding down the fort here."

"Discuss what?" The boy huffed, curiosity outweighing his anger for a moment, but Luke simply shook his head.

"We'll talk at home, go hop in the truck, I'll be right there."

With one last long stare at the man, the teen rolled his eyes, but proceeded in the direction that was ordered. He shouldn't have really been mad, his uncle had promised him the hours the next day anyway, but somehow the idea of a discussion with his uncle and aunt didn't sit right with him. If Luke's nervous energy was anything to go by, this discussion was probably going to be one Jess would not enjoy one bit. He suddenly found himself wishing that Rory hadn't gone to the library after school to work on her history project with Lane. Two against one in any situation never ended well and he could have used the back-up.

"You don't have to look like you're headed to your execution, Bud," Luke chuckled as he pulled up to the house a few minutes later.

"Well, you won't tell me what is going on, so what am I supposed to think?" Jess replied in an annoyed tone.

The man sighed, worried that his nephew was already in a bad mood, which didn't seem like the best way to start a conversation that would surly only make him more mad. He knew that they should have waited until the three were at home alone one day and not make such a big deal out of it, but Lorelai had insisted that they do it sooner rather than later. They did need to get an answer back to the school after all, and the longer they waited the harder it was going to be for them to do it at all.

He lead the way into the house and Lorelai smiled at the pair as she greeted them, cookies on the table and a soda waiting for Jess at his place. Luke noted his wife's efforts, a little buttering up never hurt anyone.

"Hey Jess, how was school?" she questioned in a chipper voice.

"Fine," he replied, looking from the woman to the man with narrowed eyes, "What's this about?"

"Look, Jess... sit down, okay?" Luke requested.

The boy obeyed, still looking expectantly at the adults.

"We wanted to talk about Chilton," Luke looked tiredly at the boy when he rolled his eyes in response, "Come on Jess, you know we have to get back to them about a decision soon-"

"Okay, I've decided not to go," the boy stated simply, shrugging with ease, "I decided a while ago that it's just not for me. I'm doing better, I'm not skipping anymore-"

"Jess, it's not just about the skipping," Luke cut in.

"Bud, we're concerned about you being fulfilled, not just about you skipping or getting good grades," Lorelai added with a frown.

"I'm fine, okay!" he huffed in annoyance.

Luke sighed long and hard before turning his attention back to the boy, "How about this, tell me exactly what it is that makes you not want to try the new school?"

"I just don't, jeez it's my life I shouldn't need to explain."

"Jess, we are responsible for you, so yes, you do need to explain because I asked you to. If there's a real reason that you don't want to go to Chilton than I want to know," Luke pressed, trying his hardest to keep the teen as well as himself calm.

He huffed, refraining from looking either adult in the eye, "I just... it's not my kind of place. I don't need six hours of homework a night and I definitely don't need a bunch of rich kids judging me all day! I'm not going to college so why waste the time in high school anyway!"

"What do you mean you're not going to college!?" Luke nearly shouted.

"Just what it sounds like," Jess spoke boldly.

"JESS."

"Okay, we'll save the college discussion for another day... Hun," Lorelai rested a hand on her husband's arm after she saw the look on his face at his nephew's words, "stay focused."

The man sighed, "We're not through with this," he pointed to the boy's chest, "You are bright enough and you shouldn't throw that away, but let's forget that for now. Jess, I'm sorry, but if this is just out of sheer laziness-"

"Babe," Lorelai gave him a look.

He met her gaze and sighed, "If you're worried about the workload then we can deal with that, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a chance. We have had issues with school since you got here and if this could change things I really think we need to give it a go."

"I just don't want to," the boy shrugged again, "And in the end it's my decision."

"No, it's not just your decision. I'm sorry, but we have discussed it, and whether you like it or not we've decided that you have to at least try Chilton for one semester-"

"THAT'S NOT-"

"Jess listen! If you don't like it after one semester then-"

"I won't!"

"If you don't, then we'll reevaluate, but-"

"This is SO unfair! So basically you lied about it being my choice!"

"Hun, we didn't lie," Lorelai attempted to stop the screaming match.

"We just want to do what's best for you and sometimes you can't make that decision on your own!" Luke cute her off.

"I'm fifteen! I think I know what is best for me!"

"You're still a kid, Jess!"

"This is unbelievable," the teen fumed, "Un-fuckin-believable!"

"Hey, watch your language young man!"

"Oh sorry, I forgot I'm two, I can't be saying naughty words!"

"You need to lower your voice right now, kid," Luke warned in an equally loud tone.

"Why should I!?" The boy shook his head, fire in his eyes. Lorelai couldn't remember a single time she had seen him quite so angry and the uneasiness in the room reflected that.

"Ok, Jess, you need to calm down," Lorelai spoke softly, shooting a worried look to her husband who was red faced, "and so do you. I think we all need a cool off."

Both boys stood in silence gazing angrily at the floor and the woman sighed, "Jess, why don't you head to your room for a little bit and we'll talk some more once we're all calm."

"Like that's going to change anything," he mumbled as he turned on his heel and left the room hotly.

The woman let him go, bringing her hand to her temple and messaging before turning to her husband, "Way to just drop it on him! What happened to remaining calm?"

Luke looked up, frustration leaking from his face. He sighed long and hard, pulling out a kitchen chair and depositing himself into it, "He's just so difficult sometimes. Why can't he just accept that we know what's best for him?"

Lorelai smiled sadly, "Because he's fifteen. Did you think your parents knew anything at fifteen?"

"I know that I would have never talked to them like that," the man replied firmly, "Did you hear how disrespectful he just was?"

"He's upset, Babe. He'll come around once he has time to think. We knew this would be his reaction and he has every right to not be happy. He just has to accept that we are only doing this because we love him. I know one day, maybe not soon, but someday, he will realize that. Until then we just help him the best we can."

"Is this the right choice? I mean, maybe we are being unreasonable."

"Luke. We're doing the right thing. You know that, we've talked it through multiple times. You're only second guessing yourself because of his reaction."

"I know," he nodded sadly, "The famous Gilmore pro-con list never fails."

"Darn right!" Lorelai beamed back.

A loud crush sounded from the direction of Jess' room and Luke made a move to go check it out, but he was stopped by his wife's hand gently pressing on his chest.

"Let him be alone in there. Give him time to think. If he destroys his room, he'll clean it up later and once he's calm, I'm sure he'll be more willing to listen."

Luke nodded once, "You know for having a kid as levelheaded as Rory, you're pretty good at this."

She smiled in return, "Oh, but you're forgetting that I was not a kid as levelheaded as Rory. Believe me, I know exactly how our young man in there is feeling."

"Well it's a good thing I have you then," he smiled back.

He was worried. He was worried about Jess, about how this would effect their relationship. He didn't want him to feel as though his voice wasn't heard or that he had no control over his own life. On the same note, though, he couldn't sit and watch the boy not push himself just because he was too comfortable. Luke knew all too well what being afraid of change was like, but he also knew just how harmful it could be to avoid it all the time. Sometimes it was a necessity in life, and both Lorelai and Luke felt strongly that this was one of those times. As he heard another crash come from the other room, Luke winced. He hoped that it wouldn't take too long for Jess to see it that way too.

A/N- Do you think L&L are doing the right thing? Or does Jess have a reason to be upset? Thanks for all the comments on the last chapter! It's really great to hear from some new names and all you regulars too! I'd love to hear your thoughts on this one as well!

(Also the overwhelming positive response to the literati relationship status in this story was really reassuring! I was really scared you guys would be mad at me for not putting them together, but I'm glad that every one of you seems to be on the same page with me about that choice!)