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Chapter five - Presents and Future

"I love New York." April Danes smiled, stirring sugar into her coffee. "Though do you think dad would freak if I transferred to NYU?"

"Yes." Rory rolled her eyes, slipping on a pair of sunglasses to cut the glare from the early autumn sun as they sat outside a small cafe.

"But the village is so much cooler."

"Columbia has been your dream for... well forever."

"Yeah, and wasn't your dream Harvard, Miss Eli Yale?" April smirked.

"Whatever. You're ten minutes away. If you still love the the village this much next year, you can get an apartment."

"Rory! Hey." A male voice called out behind April, making her turn in her seat to see who was calling her sister. She turned back, her eyebrows raised in amusement "He's cute!" she whispered.

"Sssh." Rory swatted her arm, before smiling up at the approaching male. "Hey Jess."

"Hey, long time no see." Jess smiled as he reached their table.

"Well, I've been busy. Work's been...crazy." Rory gave him an apologetic smile. Work had been crazy, but only because she'd requested the extra workload. Ever since Beth's four year old wisdom, nearly two months ago, Rory kept her distance from Jess. Falling for a man who's not your boyfriend simply didn't happen in her world.

Despite protests from Katie that being friends wasn't cheating, Rory couldn't trust herself around him. She was with Adam, and Rory intended to be faithful.

"Right. You said on the phone." Jess nodded.

April coughed, and when both Jess and Rory looked at her, she waved giving them a bright smile. "Hi."

"Oh, right. Jess this is my sister April. April is this Jess. A friend."

"Hi." Jess extended his hand, which April accepted.

"Is this the Jess the twins are obsessed with?"

"Obsessed?" Jess quirked an eyebrow.

"Yeah, kinda." Rory nodded. "You know how we were aware of Beth's giant crush? Well apparently you made quite the impression on Will too. Neither have shut up talking about you. You're their hero."

"Really?"

"Oh yeah. I was just there this weekend. They're still mentioning you." April smiled. "You want to join us?"

Rory's eyes widened in shock and she shook her head. "April, I'm sure Jess has somewhere else to be. Work or-"

"I'm free." Jess interrupted her, pulling out the chair beside her and sitting down. "So," He turned to April, "I hear you're a fan of Hemingway?"

"Yeah." April grinned. "I can't believe Rory doesn't like him."

"I do. He is an awesome alternative to counting sheep." Rory smirked.

"Listen, I have to run, work, but it was great meeting you April." Jess stood and putting the strap of his messenger bag over his shoulder. The three had talked for over an hour. Well Rory and Jess talked, quickly falling back into their easier banter, and April had sat back and listened.

"You too Jess."

"Hey, Jess?" Rory grabbed his elbow to stop him from walking off. "Listen, it's my birthday on Thursday, we're going for dinner if you want to join us? You could bring Bee?"

"Sure. When and where?"

"We're going to Darcy's. Seven okay?"

"Yeah. I'll see you then." Jess rubbed her arm, before turning to leave.

"Did I just invite him to my birthday?" Rory looked down at the younger girl.

"Yeah." She nodded.

"Oh God." Rory fell back onto her chair, her head falling into her hands. "Why did I do that?"

"He's your friend." April shrugged, "What's the big deal?"

"Jess isn't exactly Adam's favourite person." Rory sighed. "I just can't seem to control myself around him."

"That's 'cause he's gorgeous. And funny and smart. Everything Adam isn't."

"Okay, so does everyone hate Adam?"

"I don't hate, Rory. I mean he's ... nice."

"God, that's a horrible way to describe someone." Rory grimaced.

"I know." April agreed, "but it's true. Adam is beige. You are your own rainbow." She smiled, making an arch with her hands.

"Thanks, Mary Katherine Gallagher, but what's your point?"

"Can you picture your future with Adam?"

"Adam loves me."

"That's all very good, but that's not what I asked." April reached across and put her hand on top of her sisters. "But maybe it leads to a better question; do you love him?"

Rory lifted her gaze to look April. Did she love Adam? She thought she did, was almost sure she loved him, but she knew she wasn't in love with him. She had loved Dean and been in love with Logan, and had since realised that you needed both. She thought that when she met Adam he might have been the perfect combination of the two, but she was aware now, that he wasn't. He was sweet and dependable, but she couldn't be in love with that, could she?

"Listen, Rory, I gotta go. But, please, don't stay with Adam because he's steady. That would be very Emily Gilmore of you. Live up to the woman you were named after and take a risk."

"Risks break you heart."

"Or they do the opposite." April smiled.

"They mend my heart?"

"Haha, very funny." April rolled her eyes. "But ask yourself, would we be sisters if Lorelai hadn't have taken a risk and proposed? And look how happy she is."

"Fine." Rory groaned, "Now get outta here. I'll see you later."

"See you." April leaned over and kissed Rory's cheek before heading to the nearest subway entrance, and Rory sighed before heading the opposite direction, towards home.

"Hey, how was April?" Katie looked up from her canvas when Rory entered the apartment.

"She's good, she's the Dalai freaking Lama, but she's good." Rory stood behind her friend, tilting her head to the side, taking in the charcoal drawing of a rose.

"She's the Dalai Lama?" Katie laughed.

"Imparting her wisdom. She, you'll be glad to know, is on Team Rory and Jess." Rory sank down onto the couch.

"Really? How'd that happen?"

"We were having coffee, he showed up, April invited him stay. Now she thinks he's awesome and that Adam is beige."

"Adam is beige. And you are-"

"Don't say rainbow." Rory cut her friend off, putting out her hand.

"I was gonna say 'not beige'." Katie laughed, wiping her hands on a rag and sitting down beside Rory. "You know rainbows aren't my thing."

"He's coming to my birthday dinner."

"You invited him?"

"Yeah. It just kinda happened. I dunno, when I'm around him, I just can't help it. I need to spend more time with him." She frustrated groan, rubbing her temples. "Listen I'm gonna go to bed. I'll see you later."

"It's five." Katie informed Rory.

"Yeah, but I'm beat, and I think I need to lie in the dark for a while."

"Okay. Sleep well." Katie smiled, squeezing Rory's arm as she walked past her.

"Remind me why I'm doing this again?" Bee asked, checking her makeup in a small compact mirror.

"Rory's birthday." Jess replied, staring out the window of the cab.

"I know that, but why are we going to Rory's birthday. You hadn't seen her in two months. You were moving on."

Jess didn't take his gaze away from the window. "No, she was avoiding me."

"Wait, you mean, you were still pursuing her. Oh man, you owe me a lot of cupcakes."

Jess snapped his head round to look at his friend. "That's what all those cakes were for?"

"Yes! When you are moving on from a failed relationship, or a relationship that failed to start, you get cupcakes."

"Says who?"

"I don't know!" Bee shrugged. "I don't make up the rules, I simply carry them out."

"You're crazy, you know that?"

"Yes." Bee said quietly. "You still owe me cupcakes."

"You'll get them." Jess laughed. "We're here." He paid the cab driver and held out his hand to help Bee out.

"Fancy." Bee looked up at the brightly lit restaurant. She made a face. "My parents would love it here."

"Come on, we're late." Jess grabbed her by the wrist and led her in the door.

"Sorry we're late." Jess apologised as they reached the table.

"It's okay, we've only been seated a few minutes." Rory smiled as she stood to greet them.

"Happy birthday." Jess kissed her cheek.

"Thank you." Rory felt her cheeks blush pink. "Hey Bee."

"Hi, happy birthday." Bee smiled as she took her seat, and Jess sat down beside her.

"Introductions!" Rory smiled, introducing the two to Katie's date Ryan and to April's boyfriend Tom, as well as introducing Bee to April herself and to Adam.

"So, that's the boyfriend?" Bee whispered to Jess when their starters arrived.

"Yeah." Jess nodded, giving her a small smile.

"Well, you're way hotter. And more interesting."

"Shut up and eat your duck." Jess glared, "And, thanks." He added, his tone a lot softer.

"Any time."

April looked at Jess and Bee quietly laughing and then to her sister how was gazing at Jess and she cleared her throat. "So are you two dating?" She pointed at Jess and Bee.

"God no!" Bee answered immeditatly, and then bit on her lip. "I didn't mean to make it sound like dating you would be so so terrible, but never again my friend."

"Again?" Rory looked up. "You have dated?"

"A million years ago." Bee smiled. "Or, oh God, ten years ago. Are we really that old?" She asked Jess.

"'Fraid so Madden."

"That's depressing. But yeah, we dated freshman year of college."

"And you're still friends? I can't imagine being friends with my first college boyfriend." Katie laughed.

"Well, it started of as a fake relationship. By the time the summer came around, we realised we were just friends."

"A fake relationship?" Adam asked.

"Yeah. She pretended I was her boyfriend." Jess smirked. "Don't blame her, she just couldn't help herself."

"Or," Bee slapped his shoulder, "I was saving you from a fate worse than death. Or would you have rathered that I left you to be attacked by Annie?"

"Annie?" April laughed.

"My socially awkward roommate. Our floor was having a party, and Annie had declared she was finding a mate at it. I invited a lod of people, including Jess from my Lit. class. The he showed up and was targeted by Annie. I felt an obligation to save him."

Jess smirked and continued the story. "And she did so by saying she was my girlfriend. But because Annie was her roommate-"

"We had to keep up the pretence." Bee interrupted. "But it wasn't terrible. I mean he was a very good fake boyfriend."

"I wasn't a fake boyfriend." Jess rolled his eyes. "We actually dated, or else you owe me a lot of money for all those fake dates I took you on."

"We'll call it even for all those cupcakes I bought you." Bee winked.

"Cupcakes?" Rory looked at Jess.

"Ignore her, she's just being crazy, so nothing unusual."

"Okay." Rory laughed.

"Rory, why is he here?" Adam asked in an undertone.

"He's my friend, Adam. Just let it go. I want them here."

"Your apartment is really nice." Bee told Katie later that night. Katie had thought it would be a good idea to head back to their apartment for a night cap.

"I'm sure your place isn't a rat hole." Katie laughed.

"No." Bee agreed. "But that artwork." Bee nodded to the painting on the far wall.

"Mine." Katie blushed. "I'll paint you something if you want."

"Yes please."

"Hey, where's Jess?" Rory asked, coming out of the kitchen carrying her martini and the whiskey Jess had asked for.

"Balcony." Katie pointed. "Said he needed air."

"I'll bring this out to him." Rory smiled heading to the side window.

"Tell him if he's smoking, I'll cut his throat." Bee called after her.

"Hey." Rory smiled as she joined Jess, who was leaning over the balcony wall, staring down at a lit cigarette in his hand. "Bee said she's cutting your throat. Sorry."

"I haven't actually smoked it. I just like the feel of it in my hand. The smell. It's weird I know." Jess shrugged, stubbing the cigarette out on the ledge.

"It's fine, you okay?"

"Yeah. I have a present for you. Here." He pulled a box from his inside pocket.

"'The Fountainhead'. On DVD." She smiled.

"I thought you could force me to watch it."

"No, you have to read it. The movie is nothing to the book." She nudged him.

"Whatever." He rolled his eyes. "Here. Second part of your present." He handed her a larger package.

"You didn't need to get me anything, never mind a two part present." Rory told him.

"Just open it."

Rory pulled the lid of the box and let out a small laugh. "I do own a copy of this, you know." She took the copy of 'The Fountainhead' out of the box.

"Yeah," Jess nodded and flipped the book open, "but is yours signed already?"

"What? Jess, this is too much."

"It's not. One of my regular customers, Bob, died a few weeks ago. He left all his books to the store, with a stipulation that we take any that we want. This was among them. I figured you would like it."

"This is amazing, thank you." Rory smiled, running her finger over the signature.

"You're welcome. You're still a freak for liking the damn book, but you're welcome."

"Hey! You can't call the birthday girl a freak! And besides you said I could force you to watch the film. How about Tuesday?" She grinned. She knew that Adam was at a conference in Philadelphia and Katie was at an auction in Boston until Thursday.

"Tuesday sounds good."

"Hey Jess! I'm beat, we're leaving!" Bee stuck her head through the window and smiled up at him. "Happy birthday again Rory."

"Thanks. And thank you for coming." Rory climbed back through the window, followed by Jess.

"No problem. Ready to head?" She asked Jess.

"Yeah. See you later Rory."

"Yeah, bye." Rory waved, and sat down beside Katie, putting her head on the blonde's shoulder.

"What he get you?"

"Signed copy of 'The Fountainhead'."

"Wow."

"Where's Adam?"

"Bed. He turned in a while ago." Katie yawned. "You have a good birthday girlie?"

"Yeah I did." Rory smiled. "I'm gonna head to bed as well. See you in the morning." She reached up and kissed her friend's cheek. When she got to her room, she walked to her bookcase and removed the copy of 'The Fountainhead', replacing it with her new copy. Putting her old copy on a pile under her bed, she smiled to herself as she got ready for bed.

Rory's front door knocked at five thirty on Tuesday. "Ready torture me to death?" Jess asked when she opened the door for him.

"It's not that bad!" She rolled her eyes. "And this was your idea, so stop complaining."

"Will that TV work?" Jess pointed the TV, which had a large crack down the screen.

"No." Rory shook her head. "We've to watch it in my room."

"What happened?"

"Katie threw a shoe at the TV when her favourite team were kicked off 'The Amazing Race'."

"Are you serious?" Jess laughed.

"As a heart attack." Rory nodded, as there was another knock on the door. "That's the pizza. I didn't know what you liked, so I just got everything."

"Sounds good." Jess nodded.

"Great. Can you grab a couple of beers from the fridge. I'll meet you in my room."

"Sure." Jess nodded and headed to the kitchen.

"God, this is so bad." Jess complained. He and Rory were sitting up on her bed, Rory propped up against his arm.

"Shut up and watch!" She nudged him, trying to stifle a yawn. She had felt very tired after consuming a large amount of pizza.

"Feeling sleepy?" Jess smirked.

"I'm fine. Just watch. You're missing it."

Half an hour later, Jess felt Rory's breathing even out, and glancing down, he saw she had fallen asleep. He tried to concentrate on the film, but soon found himself drifting off too.

"Rory!"

Rory jerked away at the sound of her own name, rubbing her neck, which was stiff from the angle she had slept at, propped up by Jess.

"Rory, you here? I got home early and they're paintin my build-" Adam stopping suddenly at the sight of Rory and Jess.

"Adam!" Rory jumped up, waking Jess as she did. Adam turned and walked out, heading for the front door. "Adam, wait! This isn't what it looks like!" Rory ran after him.

"Well it looks like my girlfriend waking up with another man in her bed!"

"On my bed! We fell asleep watching a movie. That's it, nothing happened!" Rory explained, but Adam waved her off and walked out the door. Rory followed him, barefoot into the hallway. "Will you just listen to me. Please. He's just a friend. Am I not allowed to have friends?" She asked.

"Not when you're so obviously into them."

"That's so far from the truth. Adam come on."

"No, Rory. I thought I could deal with this, but I know I can't. I shouldn't have to fight for your attention."

"You don't. God, listen to yourself. You are always jealous of any male friends I have."

"This is different. You know it is Rory." Adam sighed.

Jess slipped on his shoes and left Rory's room, but he could hear the muffled voices from the hallway, and decided to keep put, sitting on the sofa. Ten minutes later, Rory returned and closed the door behind her. He stood up, and hovered at one end of the couch. "You okay?"

Rory glanced up and walked towards him, sinking down onto the sofa. "He broke up with me."

"Oh."

Duh duh duh! Finally they've broke up! And Adam won't be returning! I don't think.

Reviews are love! ^_^