AN: Thanks for the reviews guys. I love them, especially the long ones. So, this may be the last update for a while, I don't know. I've almost finished the next chapter, but my sister has practically used up all our internet time, and I don't know if it will reset at the begining of the month or whatever. But as soon as it's back to normal, you will have another update, unless of course I'm too busy with birthday stuff, but I will definitley try to make time for this, I promise. Enjoy.
Rory paused in her walk through Stars Hollow to listen.
Silence. An absolute absence of noise. There was rarely ever a sound out on the streets after dark. Everyone was safely tucked away in their beds, but she was feeling restless again, so she had to get out of the apartment and take a walk around.
Unlike home, there were no sirens or shouts to distract her from the racket in her mind.
That was the only thing she really missed about the city. Her friends hadn't been all that important; evidenced by the fact that not one of them had even bothered trying to contact her in all the time she had been gone. School there had sucked, although she sometimes missed her mom, the din out on the streets was the big one, as it had a calming effect on her.
And after three hours in her grandparent's company she really, really needed something to calm herself. It had been the same as always; drinks in the living room, uncomfortable, stilted conversation; her grandfather spoke about his rich clients, her grandmother chattered away about all her friends at the DAR, and Rory offered up a comment or two about school, followed by a meal of something she had never heard of, truffled something or a pickled what have you. It wasn't terribly disgusting, just didn't sound all that appealing. After dessert Luke had arrived to take her home and they left.
It wouldn't be long till she had her license and would no longer have to have Luke drive with her everywhere she went, but for now she still needed him in his law-abiding capacity.
Listening to the too-quiet, Rory looked around. She was back at the bridge. His bridge.
But Jess was not there, which she assumed meant that he wasn't in the mood to share his space with her tonight. Either that or he just didn't have a problem getting to sleep this week.
Lucky him, she thought, sitting down. Once again she was overcome with jealousy at the thought of Jess. She'd been trying not to think about it, but that was pretty hard, when all the things he'd been given and she was denied kept staring her in the face.
The happy family home, the friends, the townspeople that to her looked completely psychotic, but she could also see that, in their own way were just very caring individuals.
She knew that her mom hadn't taken her from all of it on purpose, but still, sometimes it stung.
"Just shut up already!" she growled surprising herself. "Get over it. What's done is done, and now you need to move on. Your life isn't perfect, so what?" she continued, letting her gaze sweep out over the trees. "Lots of people have problems and they don't let them control their entire existence, so now it's time to just grow the hell up."
Done chastising herself, Rory stood up and started the walk back to the diner. She hadn't bothered climbing out the window this time because Luke had busted her climbing back in one night and told her that she shouldn't use the fire escape unless it was an absolute necessity, "Use the door next time alright? I don't want to have to find you sprawled on the pavement with a broken back."
"Well, maybe you should get the ladder up to code then, and it won't come to that."
"Just go out the door. I won't even try to stop you."
So she had done as he'd asked, a little relieved too, because the times she had used the fire escape she hadn't been feeling all that confident; heights weren't exactly on her top ten favourites list, but as long as she was secure, there usually wasn't a problem. Luke's proved to be a problem.
Reaching above the front door, Rory found the spare key that was stashed there before moving around to the back of the building to use the delivery entrance. If she was going to be sneaking in and out at all hours, she didn't want to wake anyone up with the jingling of the bells above the door.
Creeping up the stairs, she let herself into the apartment as silently as the night outside and tiptoed to her room.
"Enjoy your walk?" a voice asked from the darkness and Rory screamed, spinning around and bringing her hands up in a defensive manner. Luke turned on a lamp by the sofa and put down his cup of tea.
"God! Why do you have to keep doing that?" she asked, relaxing a little.
"Payback." He replied simply, "if I'm going to wake up in the middle of the night to find you not in your room, then after I freak out, I get to scare you back."
"You actually check on me?" Rory moved towards the piece of furniture he sat on and joined him.
"It's out of habit." He shrugged. "I always checked on Jess when he was in that room, I guess there's just a part of my brain that still reminds me there's someone I'm supposed to be keeping safe."
"Thanks," Rory smiled at him as she thought back over what she had been telling herself off about earlier. It may have been a little late, and not quite the norm, but in a way, she was a part of a family home. Granted, a pretty strange one, but nonetheless, there was someone who cared.
"Well, now you're home, I guess I can go back to sleep for two hours before the bread guy gets here."
"The bread guy comes on Saturday?"
"Yeah. I'm not surprised you don't already know that. You're usually dead to the world until at least nine on weekends. You ever think that's because you stay out so late at night?"
"No, I'm usually faking it. I don't need a whole lot of sleep, that's why the walking around at all hours. But, if you want, I could help you put away the shipment when it arrives."
"You don't have to. I have a system, and Jess is sometimes here to help, so,"
"Well, will he be here this time?"
"No. He's not coming in at all tomorrow, some school thing. That place takes up a lot of his time."
"In that case, I don't mind. I'll even follow your system."
"Ok, if you're sure I'll see you at five."
"Five it is." Rory nodded, standing up and stretching before walking to her room.
She picked up a book from the nightstand and settled into the covers, reading in the dull light of the lamp. After a chapter she put the book down and crawled to the end of the bed to pick up her backpack she had tossed on the floor. Upending it on the bed she found the book she was looking for and got comfortable once more. "If I'm going to spend the whole night reading, I might as well read something I'm being graded on." She decided, flipping through the book assigned for her next book report.
"So this is what work at five am looks like," Rory observed, as Luke came back in with another crate of bread products. "Funny, I don't know what mom's always complaining about; it's not so bad."
"You know, if you were just going to sit and drink coffee, you needn't have bothered getting up." Luke grunted.
"Relax, I'm helping now; just had to wait for the caffeine to kick in." She explained jumping up from the crate she'd been sitting on. "Where do you want me?"
They both paused for a moment, thinking back over the first time Rory said something like that then each shook their heads, dismissing the memory.
"You can start by putting out the donuts and Danishes."
"Sure thing boss," Rory headed out to the main room, poured herself another coffee and then began the task she'd been given. After another forty minutes everything was in its rightful place and Rory was slumped over the counter, a fourth coffee in her hand.
"No wonder I've been avoiding hard work; that was torture! You do this every week?"
"Yep,"
"Why? What mental defect do you have that would make you willingly subject yourself to that?"
"It's called, 'I have to, or my business will fail.'"
"Pick another business."
The bell above the door sounded and Rory groaned, dropping her head to the counter. "Morning Kirk. What can I get you?" Luke asked the newcomer. Kirk however wasn't listening. When Rory noticed his lack of reply, she looked up and found him standing beside her.
"What Kirk?"
"I wanted to sit there."
"Are you serious? Every single other seat in here is empty, but you want the one that I've got?"
"Why do you think I'm here so early?"
"Screw you."
"Rory!"
"Luke, come on. He's a lunatic!"
"She's got a point there, just take a seat Kirk, and I'll bring you some toast. Do you want it cut into triangles or squares today?"
"Actually, I think I'd like an omelette this morning." He replied looking up at the chalk board on the wall.
"Really? Trying something new?"
"Yes, your special omelette has me intrigued. I think I'll have one of those. With a coffee, but remember-"
"One fourth caffeinated, three fourths decaf, I know." Luke turned back to the kitchen while Rory sat with her head propped up on her hand, watching the entire exchange. Most of the time people drove Luke crazy, and more often than not, Kirk was at the top of that list. But surprisingly, first thing in the morning, his tolerance levels for crazy were a lot higher, whereas hers were just about as low as they could get.
"Curious-er and curious-er," she muttered, reaching for the donut stand.
"Use the tongs!" Rory looked up to see if Luke was standing at the door of the kitchen, but he was nowhere to be seen.
"How did you..?"
"Get a napkin too." Rolling her eyes, Rory stretched until she reached the napkin dispenser, and then, using the tongs picked up a chocolate iced donut.
"Breakfast of champions, that is." Luke commented as he returned with Kirk's eggs
"Oh, don't I know it." She replied, grinning. If this was the closest thing she was ever going to get to a family, then, maybe that would be ok. It really wasn't all bad.
Jess stepped off the bus and started walking towards Chilton, as Tristan came over to walk beside him. "So, do we have to do that thing?"
"What thing?" Jess asked, looking at him confused.
"You know, the thing where I apologize, and promise I'll never do anything that stupid again, while we both know I'm lying through my teeth, because, who can really see that far into the future, and I'm only human, so mistakes are bound to-"
"Stop! We don't have to do the thing, alright? Just forget about it."
"But, are we ok, though? Because I was really only trying to help."
"Yeah, I know you were, but can you see, from my point of view how mortifying that was?"
"Kind of." Tristan nodded as they continued to walk inside the school. "So, do we have an update?"
"No, it's been very quiet on that front."
"Ok, well she told me she didn't have the time for anything outside of school or work. So what are we going to do about that?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing? Do I have to remind you of-"
"Good, you're finally here, now we can get started." Paris announced as the two boys entered a classroom where she was waiting with a bored Madeline and Louise, and Brad Langford, looking terrified to be alone with the three girls.
"Excuse us Paris, but Jess and I are talking at the moment." Tristan told her before turning back to his friend. He seemed to be the only person not at all intimidated by her. "Everyone in this room was there when-"
"Not everyone, and please, just stop now, ok? We have an assignment to do and Paris is waiting for our contribution, isn't that right, Paris?"
"Waiting for our contribution?" Louise asked, reaching for one of the coffees in the middle of the table. "I think not."
"Now that everyone has arrived, we can get down to business. As you all know we need to design a product and come up with a way to mass-produce, market and distribute it. And we'll present it all at the business fair. But first, what we need is an advisor; someone who knows business, any ideas?"
"My mom's a curator at the Hartford Natural museum." Brad supplied, and Paris glared at him.
"Louise?" she asked, completely disregarding his comment.
"My dad's in court for the next six weeks."
"Lawyer?" Jess asked.
"Defendant. I have no idea what he's up against." She shrugged, and began to examine her nails.
"My dad's travelling," Madeline added.
"Tristan?"
"Scheduling conflicts."
"Well, my dad said he could video-conference in from Hong Kong if need be." Paris explained.
"What about you?" Louise pointed her pen at Jess and he narrowed his eyes at her.
"Me? As in, what about my dad?"
"Yeah."
"Well at the moment he's... Vermont I think was the last check-in point, but, if I can get into contact with him, maybe I can ask."
"Maybe the earth will rotate backwards and my mother's fading youth will return to her." Paris spat at him, removing her cell phone from her bag. "We don't have time for maybes. I'll just call-"
"What about Luke?" Tristan suggested and Jess turned in his seat, giving him an odd look. "He runs his own business; he'd know a thing or two."
"Luke? My uncle Luke?
"What business does he run?" Paris demanded, pausing in her dialling.
"A diner."
"Is it successful?"
"Somewhat."
"Well call him, get him over here. We don't have time to sit around and twiddle our thumbs." She instructed, thrusting her phone at Jess. Slowly taking it into his hand, he began to dial and then stood up to speak in private.
"Luke's," Rory answered and Jess bit his lip. She wasn't exactly making the whole avoiding her thing very easy, answering the phone like that.
"I need to talk to Luke." He replied shortly.
In Stars Hollow, Rory looked at the phone in her hand, curiously. "Jess?"
"Yeah. Is he there?"
"Um, yeah. Hey did you-"
"I kind of don't have a lot of time, can you just put Luke on?"
"Sure, just... hang on a second." He tapped his foot impatiently as he waited for Luke to come onto the line and then began to explain himself.
"We're doing this business project, and we need someone who knows business. Tristan suggested you, since you run your own diner, so I was wondering if you'd have a little time to sit with us and talk us through a few things. It's alright if you don't though."
"Tristan suggested me?" Luke asked, trying to keep up.
"Yeah. But Paris said her dad could help out, if no one else had the time,"
"Do they know I've never created a product before? I mean, I make burgers, but I didn't come up with the concept."
"That's ok we've never created anything before either."
"Well, I don't know... Could you get them to come here? Discuss your stuff in the diner and when you need me I'll be around? That way I won't have to leave and come back to find Rory's choked half the customer's and Caesar's having a melt-down in the corner."
"I guess I could ask, hang on for a bit." Putting a hand over the mouth-piece Jess turned back to the group; Louise and Madeline were discussing something happening in Marie Claire magazine as Paris scowled at them, while Brad, in what Jess assumed could only be an attempt to get on Paris' good side was reading through his booklet. "Do you guys think that we could reconvene to the diner? That way Luke can help out, but he can still work at the same time. You'll get to see a real business owner in action." The group all looked to Paris, who sighed.
"Fine. But he had better know what he's talking about." She warned, packing up her things.
"We'll be there in about half an hour. Thanks Uncle Luke."
"Sure, see you then."
By the time the six teens entered the diner, Brad was practically in tears after having driven with Paris. Luke greeted them at the door and said to take a seat and he'd be with them soon. Once everyone was settled, Jess moved to the counter and grabbed a pot of coffee and a couple of mugs.
"What do you think you're doing?" Rory asked.
"Getting coffee, what does it look like?"
"You're behind the counter. Only employees are allowed back here."
"Good thing I'm an employee then."
"Not today. Today you are just a customer who has come in with a group of friends, commandeered a bunch of tables and plans to monopolise the time of my boss. So get back on the other side and I will bring you your coffee." Rory replied, grinning. She was only joking, but Jess didn't even crack a smile, he just turned and walked off to his table while she followed.
"Good morning, who wants coffee?" she asked, trying very hard to be nice to the customers like Luke had been telling her to do. Four hands went up and after pouring the drinks, Rory looked quizzically at the two boys who were yet to respond. "Jess, would you or your friend like something to drink?"
"No thanks." Brad shook his head, still looking a little traumatized. Paris was busy flipping through her book; Tristan was the only one really paying attention to the conversation.
"Could I talk to you for a second?" Rory asked and Jess stood up.
"We have to get started!" Paris yelled after him.
"I'll just be a minute." He replied, following Rory. "What?"
"You're pissed." She observed.
"Not pissed, just busy. Did you need something?"
"Have I annoyed you in someway?"
"You don't want any distractions; I'm staying away so you can concentrate. I would have thought that would be obvious."
"I never said-"
"Tristan filled me in. So, if you'll excuse me, I've got some of my own school work to do."
"Fine, see if I care." Rory muttered turning and going up to the apartment.
AN2: Ok, hopefully that means Rory's pty-party is over. I got really annoyed with her, and I'm the one controling the way she thinks, (some of the time, other times, she's controlling me, it's interesting, actually) But anyways, I'd like to think that things will be moving along now. And I hope that you still like it.