Ok, I could give you a long list of excuses as to why this chapter took so long and sucked so much, (Chris Halliwell, sniffles, family dinners, Chris, hospital visits, Andy Trudau, Patsy Cline, Christopher Perry Halliwell, more health issues and too many demons) but that would just be silly and a waste of time, so I will just say, sorry, and I'll be attempting to get my mind back to the east coast as soon as my stupid cold leaves me alone, k? Good.
"Hey, what's shakin'?" Jess turned around to where Amy stood, grinning at him.
"Amy, hi," he replied, returning to his locker.
"Something wrong?"
"No, no. Everything's… what's up?"
"Oh nothing, I was just wanted to see how you were doing."
"I'm fine," Jess replied as they started walking.
"You sure?"
"Course,"
"Good, coz I was thinking we could catch a movie or something this weekend,"
"I can't."
"You working?"
"No."
"So…?"
"I just can't. Why don't you see what Tristan's up to?"
"Are you sure I haven't done something?"
"Why would you think that?"
"Because you look like you're about to chew your foot off to get away from me, not that that would help, because you're not shackled to anything and it'd probably just slow you down,"
"I'm fine." Jess repeated. "I just think that we probably shouldn't do this right now."
"Talk?"
"Be alone together," he clarified.
"In a crowded hallway, my God, you're right! What was I thinking? Relax, what do you think I'm going to jump you or something?"
"Amy,"
"Am I making you uncomfortable?"
"Well, to be honest-"
"It's Ronnie, isn't it? She doesn't like me, so you have to keep your distances to keep her happy, right?"
"Rory. And, kind of, yeah. I mean she- we… I don't want to upset her, so I need for you to stop, alright?" Jess tried to explain. He'd never been in this situation before, and it looked as if Amy hadn't either; she was probably used to getting her own way.
"Look, all I wanted was to make a few friends here. But if you and your girlfriend are too insecure to understand that, fine." Amy turned on her heel and walked away.
Jess watched her go for a moment, considered following her to try and explain again what he was trying to get at, but then he shrugged and continued on to his class.
That night Jess sat beside Rory and angled himself so he could see what she was seeing. And then it became glaringly obvious what she was watching and most likely thinking.
"I want to try again," she announced and Jess groaned as Liz and Lorelai laughed at something Luke said at the counter. "What? It's not crazy; there is obviously still something there, why shouldn't we help them along?"
"As cute as I'm sure you would look dressed as cupid, I really think you should hang up your bow and arrow for now." Jess replied, and Rory rolled her eyes. "I'm serious! Luke only just started speaking in full sentences again-"
"But he didn't stop talking because of that whole kiss thing, it was a separate issue." Rory argued. "Mom was the one who was pissed about Christmas. And besides, Valentines Day is coming up, what better time to reunite two old lovers than at Taylor's Valentine's bonanza, hmm?"
"Do you really want to enrage either of them? I mean, look at that," he pointed across the room and she turned to face the adults once more.
"This is what I'm saying. Look at them and tell me they don't-"
"Need any meddling. They don't."
"Don't you want your uncle to be happy?"
"Not if your idea of making him happy ends up with him in jail."
"Eww!"
"I meant for killing you, gutter brain."
"I can't help it," Rory defended. "It's just that half the things I hear can be turned into something dirty."
"And the other half?"
"Secretly coded messages of longing." Rory replied simply.
"Uh huh."
"You want me,"
"Wow, you weren't kidding, that's really amazing."
"Told you," she smiled smugly, "which means that I'm right about that too,"
"Right about what?" Lorelai asked, appearing beside the table.
"Oh, jus... um, nothing. What's up?"
"Well, I know it's Tuesday, but Luke was just saying that he has a super early delivery coming in tomorrow and we were thinking, maybe you'd like to come spend the night at my place? Get a little sleep in."
"Ok,"
"Really? I don't have to bribe you?"
"Well, I am still waiting for a pony…"
"Join the club, and talk to your grandmother."
"But seriously, I wouldn't mind. I don't know if you know this, but Luke snores. Loudly; I can hear him all the way across the apartment."
"Oh, I know, he- I mean, great. That's great, so I'm going now, but you can come whenever, k?"
"I'll come with you," Rory grabbed her back pack and stood up before leaning towards Jess for a kiss
"Wait here a sec, ok?" he requested. "I've got something for you."
"Oh presents!" Lorelai clapped eagerly before she realized he'd been talking to Rory. "Right, never mind,"
"What have you done?" Rory asked, following him.
"Just a bit of scribbling, no big deal. Here," he handed her his note book and her eyes lit up in excitement.
"Really? There's more?"
"Not a lot, but yeah, more."
"Awesome!" Rory threw her arms around Jess, clutching the book tightly in one hand. "Ok, now I have to go; got to start reading." She informed him before they kissed again and she walked out the door with her mom. Walking along beside Lorelai, she looked over and saw her smiling. "What?"
"What?" The older woman repeated.
"What's up with that look?"
"I don't have a look." Lorelai denied.
"You do so, come on, spill it." Rory sighed.
"Fine," Lorelai sighed. "I was just thinking how happy you seem these days."
"Right,"
"No, really. I like it. I'm actually a tiny bit jealous,"
"You can be happy too you know. I don't think it's written that only one of us can have what we want."
"Nah, it's alright. Really, I don't mind. You enjoy your cute Eyetalian, I'll just… sit on the sidelines."
"If you insist." Rory conceded as they reached the apartment and each headed inside. Splitting up, they retreated to their respective rooms. Once she was changed and ready for bed, Rory pulled back the covers and climbed into bed, flipping passed the parts she'd already read, she found Jess' latest entry into his notebook and began to read.
"I know you think I'm being stupid, trying to get the two of them together," Rory began as she and Jess walked towards Kim's Antiques later that week.
"Not stupid, no. I mean, I see your point, but I guess I'm still struggling with the idea of you trying to control your mother's love life. I mean, it wasn't all that long ago that you couldn't stand the idea of her being here, and now-"
"Now we're getting along." Rory interrupted. They'd just left Sookie and Luke at the diner where Sookie was listing all of the foods she had to give up while pregnant. Lorelai was busy at the inn, and Rory was going to join her in a few hours to help prepare for the convention that would be descending on them the next day. "And every time I see them together… they look sort of happy, don't they?"
"Yeah, maybe. Except when she's making him crazy in that special way she does,"
"I think he enjoys that sometimes."
"You could be right about that," Jess agreed. "But I still think… I was only young when he and Rachel broke up; and even younger still with Anna, because I barely remember her. But I do remember that Luke didn't seem nearly as affected by either of those break-ups as he did when all the stuff with you and your mom came up. I just want… I need you to think long and hard about this before you move any further, ok?"
Rory fixed Jess with a look as they passed through the gate to the antique store. "Ok, I'll continue to think, plot, plan and manipulate a way to fix their happiness. How does that sound?"
"Well, aside from the plotting, planning and manipulation, it sounds good. Lane!" he called out as they entered the store and weaved between furniture displays. "But just for now," he continued to Rory, "please, leave it."
"Hey," Lane appeared holding a box and some bubble wrap. "I'll be five minutes."
"Alright, I give. I'll back off." Rory surrendered.
"What do you want with Lane?" Mrs. Kim demanded, appearing as if out of nowhere.
"We were going to catch a bus into Hartford, have a look around the Connecticut Historical Society museum." Jess explained in a tone Rory noticed he only adopted around that woman.
"What do you need a museum for? Don't you learn in school?"
"Of course we do. We just thought it would be beneficial to go and learn more without bothering our teachers."
"Hmm, alright then. We have bible study here tonight, so I would like Lane home before dinner."
"Yes ma'am, we'll pay close attention to the time." Jess promised and in the blink of an eye she was gone.
"How does she do that?" Rory hissed. "Is it magic?"
"Don't say the M word, she'll hear you."
"Which M word, matricide? Mexico? Macaroni? Magnesium oxi-"
"Ok, I'm ready," Lane announced, cutting off Rory's guessing and shouldering her back pack. "Let's go. Bye Mama."
"Have an educational time!"
As soon as they were at the bus stop, Lane handed her bag to Jess, shrugged off her jacket which she gave to Rory and then removed a Velvet Underground shirt, before pulling it up over her head.
"Has anyone ever told you you're amazing?" Rory asked as they sat, waiting for the bus.
"No. not recently. My best friend has been too busy lavishing compliments onto his girlfriend to pay any attention to me."
"Actually, he hasn't." Rory informed her and Lane turned to look at Jess.
"Really? And what, pray tell have you been doing instead?"
"I've been… you- just the other day, you made a pot of coffee that was really good and I said-"
"That doesn't count." Lane informed him and Rory nodded in agreement.
"Well what am I supposed to say then?"
"Jess that should be easy. Just look at her and it'll come to you, I'm sure."
"What, a bunch of clichés?" he checked, standing to hail the bus. "Your eyes look so sparkly in that top, I love your hair that way? You don't really want to hear that do you?" he asked Rory before turning to the bus driver and asking for three tickets to Hartford. The three of them headed to the back of the bus, each holding a small slip of paper.
"Not if you're just saying it. But if it's true, then… sure. Tell me how amazing I look every once in a while."
"I can do that." Jess nodded and the two girls looked at him expectantly. "Oh, you want me to do it right now? But I thought you just said-"
"I'm ignoring you." Rory told him flatly, turning to look out the window.
"I like it when you have your hair pulled back," Jess told her, brushing the hair away from her neck. "So I can see you more clearly. You make really good coffee, and-"
"Do these windows open?" Lane asked, pushing against the glass as she stood up from her seat in front of them. "Because I think I'm about to hurl."
"Don't listen to her," Rory instructed. "Continue."
"Maybe later, when the peanut gallery is a little further away,"
"Fair enough. So, are we really going to a museum? Because I think I'd rather be stuck at work than out learning about the rich history of the nutmeg state."
"No, we're going to Record Breaker Incorporated." Lane replied excitedly. "The museum thing was merely to placate my mother."
"Oh excellent! I actually have money now, so this will be a lot less depressing than the last time I walked in there."
"I thought you'd enjoy it." Jess replied, grinning.
"This was your idea?"
"Kind of,"
"You're the best!" Rory squealed and Lane rolled her eyes.
"Yep, definitely going to hurl," she muttered, turning to stare out the window as they neared their stop.
So, like I said, I'm really wanting to get back to concentrating on the Gilmores instead of the Halliwells and the Scooby gang, because, well, it's fun and this story isn't over. And I just worked out where I want to go next with this, so hopefully that will help me concentrate. Please review.