A/N: Wow, you guys are really, really mad at Rory. Not that I don't see why, but still. If you actually don't want Jess to forgive her at this point, just a suggestion, but you might want to stop reading sometime soon. I'm a sucker for a happy ending, so Literati will prevail - sorry to those who don't approve, but that's just the way I roll. Now, on we go...
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)
Chapter 25
"These was not the circumstances under which I wanted to see you next, hon," said Lorelai sadly, hugging Rory close the moment she came in the front door.
"I know," she agreed with a sigh. "How's grandpa?"
"Last I heard, holding it together, just. You doing okay?"
"Yeah, I'm okay." Rory nodded. "Honestly? As sad as I am for grandpa and even for you, I barely knew Gran. I don't really have much to miss, you know?"
"I know, sweets, but you should know she was gosh darn proud of her great grand-daughter, I know that much."
"I don't hate knowing that." Rory smiled, looking up at Lorelai. "I wish I was as proud of me," she said then, sighing some. "I still didn't tell Jess about Logan."
"Rory!" Lorelai gasped, releasing her daughter and meeting her eyes. "How could you not tell him, it's been days?"
"Five in fact," Rory agreed. "I don't know, Mom, I just... there never seems to be a good time. I thought maybe I should talk to Logan first, you know, start with the somewhat awkward conversation that was less likely to turn into a fight and then build up to the more awkward, more fighty conversation after?"
"And?"
"And Logan was fine. I apologised for my behaviour, he said it wasn't a big deal. I asked that he not mention it happened to anyone and he promised he wouldn't. That was pretty much it."
It really had been that simple and Rory could hardly believe she got so lucky. She half-expected Logan to be an ass about the whole thing in one way or another, like telling all his friends that she was his latest conquest or worse, delighting in telling Jess some version of the truth. He never did either, as far as Rory knew.
"Sweets, you cannot keep something like this from Jess," Lorelai reminded her as they sat down on the couch together. "It's not fair on him and frankly, it's not fair on me."
"On you?"
"Yes, on me," Lorelai insisted. "I'm engaged to Jess' uncle in case you forgot. I have this juicy piece of information about something significant that could affect the relationship between you and Jess and I can't say a word about it to Luke. I also can't say anything to Jess, so thank God I haven't seen him for a while."
"He is coming home tomorrow," she admitted, moving her car keys from one hand to the other and watching them go back and forth. "I left him giving his manuscript a final once over."
Lorelai let out a sigh and ran a hand over her forehead. Rory was priority one, always had been and always would be, but honestly, Lorelai was kind of at a loss right now. She had loyalty to Luke too and she actually really liked Jess. They were good people and it was Rory who had done wrong this time. There was no wiggle room, no way out, not this time.
"Honey, you're a big girl now," she said after a while. "You're also a good person, I know that best of anyone, but you made a mistake. Now, it's not the end of the world, you don't deserve a public flogging for one lousy kiss, but you do need to talk to Jess about this, for everybody's sake, including your own," she said, her hand on Rory's arm.
"I know" Rory sighed. "I know I do, and I will, tomorrow."
"Sounds like a positive plan," Lorelai agreed. "You can bring Jess here to break the news if you want. I have stuff going on at the inn, a meeting with Sookie, and I'll probably swing by your grandparent's place too. I know we're headed there tonight, but I'm guessing they might need some extra support right now."
Rory nodded but she was only half listening. She really was not looking forward to the conversation that lie ahead, but she had already put it off for far too long.
"I guess now I just have to hope Jess doesn't bring Paris home with him, though I'm pretty sure he will. She's been talking about making a visit soon."
"Well, if she does, I'll sic her on Luke or something," said Lorelai, waving away her daughter's concern. "Those two get along weirdly well since last summer."
That almost raised a smile with Rory but she couldn't quite manage it. Her fingers were twisting a loose thread in her lap and her teeth were worrying her lip as she thought about facing Jess tomorrow. If she could just find the right words, she was sure it would be fine, but was there really a good way to tell your boyfriend you cheated on him?
Luke wasn't sure what to think when Lorelai told him that Paris would be working in the diner on Saturday. Before he had a chance to question her too much, she told him that Jess would be too busy with Rory but that Paris was completely available and more than willing to help out. Luke couldn't exactly say the extra pair of hands wouldn't come in handy and he did like Paris. He had actually kind of missed her sometimes since spending so much time with her last summer. She had really grown on him, as crazy as that seemed, and had become like a part of the family, not just for Jess but for Luke too.
Of course, it was when she started dealing with Taylor on his behalf that Luke remembered exactly why he liked Paris so much.
"Of course the children are laughing at you. My God, be glad they're not running away in fear in case that thing leaps off your head and chases them, gnashing its teeth."
"Now, listen to me, young lady-,"
"No, Doose, you listen to me," Paris cut in without pause. "If you're going to walk around with something resembling a dead animal on your head, you're only going to get what you deserve from me, the local kids, and anybody else you run across. Now either sit down and drink your coffee or leave!"
Luke couldn't keep the grin off his face as Paris swept back over to the counter, triumphant, waving the empty coffee pot in her hand.
"We need a more coffee," she told Luke.
"I think Taylor needs a little more than that," he said, smirking terribly as he took the pot from Paris' hand. "Nice work."
"Some people just need a firm hard is all. That guy has issues. Seriously, a psychiatrist would have a field day with the way his mind works," she said, shaking her head.
"We usually say that about Kirk," said Luke as he put the on a fresh pot of coffee.
"I'm not sure even the greatest minds of psychiatry and medicine combined could help that poor deluded soul. You know Jess and I saw him walking seven dogs on our way into town, seven! All different breeds and sizes. If that's not just asking for blood to be drawn."
"With a little luck," said Luke, coming back over to the counter and lowering his voice, "it'll be Taylor's blood."
"In the words of your fiancée, amen to that." Paris rolled her eyes. "Speaking of, how go the wedding plans? You guys actually set a date yet?"
"No, we haven't, but we've been talking about it, at least, when we can. We're both pretty busy," Luke explained. "Still, after the big blow out a couple of weeks ago, we're definitely back on track, talking more and everything."
"That's good."
"How about you and, er... Doyle, right?"
"Yeah, that is his name," she confirmed, smiling in spite of herself. "It's going well. I like him, he likes me. We have some pretty good talks and the sex isn't half bad, so I plan on keeping him around for a while."
The moment she was done talking, she picked up a cloth from behind the counter and went to bus some tables. Honestly, by that point, Luke was glad to see her go. He like Paris a lot but he really, really did not need to know anything about her sex life!
Jess had been over at the Crap Shack for an hour and still Rory hadn't told him about Logan and what happened the other day. She meant to, she really did, but when he arrived he was being so sweet and sympathetic about Trix's passing and then he and Rory got talking about Paris and how she and Luke would be getting along. Rory made coffee and Jess told her about his book and where he planned on pitching it for publishing. Sixty minutes just flew by and still she had not said a word about why she wanted to be alone with him.
Of course, Jess had made the assumption that he knew exactly why, which was how it came to be that the moment they were sat down on the couch together, without mugs in their hands or anything else left to say, he started kissing her, and then more than kissing her.
Rory so would've liked to just give in and go with what he had planned, but the guilty, gnawing feeling in her stomach wouldn't let her. It was spoiling the good feelings she should be getting from being close to Jess and she just couldn't stand it.
"Jess," she said, pulling away. "Jess, please, I need to talk to you."
"Can't we talk some more later?" he asked, lips attacking her neck. "It's been a while, Ror."
"I know," she agreed, her brain getting foggier all the time. "I just..." she forgot what she just when his lips found hers again.
Of course, it was wrong to let this happen right now, she knew it was, but it was also really tough to resist Jess' advances sometimes. Thinking that reminded Rory too much of Logan's words to her the other day when she apologised for coming onto him. He had told her that if she had tried to do more than kiss him he might've given in because she would be tough to resist. It sobered Rory up very quickly to recall that conversation.
"Jess, we can't," she said, extracting herself from his grip by physically getting up.
He almost tipped over from sitting to lying on the couch the moment she was gone, then looked up at her with wide eyes and bruised lips, so confused at being rejected that way.
"Rory, what is going on?" he asked then, sure there had to be something.
This was the second time in two weeks that they had a conversation like this, where she looked all cut up about something and Jess felt the need to worry about what it was. The last time it had been about Logan Huntzberger. Jess really hoped this wasn't take two.
"I have to tell you something," said Rory, hugging herself, "and I really hope when I do you'll understand. I know you're not going to like it but I'd appreciate if you let me just say the whole thing and then react after that, okay?"
"Okay," said Jess, sitting himself up straight on the couch and nodding once.
He had to tell Rory about leaving Yale at the end of the year, knowing she wouldn't be thrilled. She was upset but she took it pretty well considering and had been entirely supportive since. He had tried to be the same when she had to drop a class, knowing what a huge deal that was for her. Whatever she was about to tell him, Jess would attempt to be reasonable about it. Of course, if she was about to mention Huntzberger, he wasn't so sure he was going to manage it.
"Okay," said Rory then, taking a deep breath. "Well, you remember when I told you about my weekend with The Life and Death Brigade? Well, I left one part out. It was a really small part, not really a big deal, but I feel like I should've told you about it, because you're my boyfriend and we should be completely honest with each other.
"So, when I was on the scaffold with my umbrella waiting to jump, the truth is, I was with Logan. He was actually holding my hand when we jumped, which I personally don't think is a big deal, and I'm sure even you realise that it's not. The thing is before the jump, like two seconds before, I was rambling about being nervous. I mean, me rambling, what are the odds, right?
"Anyway, I was, and as a kind of way to calm my nerves, I think, or something, Logan kissed me. It was not a serious kiss, it was practically a peck, but it happened and I really should've told you sooner."
She paused there, daring to look at Jess after five minutes of keeping her eyes on everything but her boyfriend. He didn't look thrilled, but he also didn't look like he was ready to commit Logan-o-cide, so that was something.
"He kissed you?" he asked, fairly calmly considering.
"Yes," Rory confirmed, "but I'm actually not done yet," she admitted, wincing even as she said the words. "The next week, after my advisor talked to me about dropping a class," she began, sitting down on the coffee table opposite Jess and making herself look at him. "I was so upset, beyond upset. I tried calling mom, I tried calling you. Anyway, I ran out of the building and... and right into Logan. He was really nice to me, he took me back to his dorm and he got me a drink and told me everything would be fine. He was a real friend when I needed someone."
"A real friend," Jess echoed, unsure if Rory was done with her story yet.
"He was," she confirmed, nodding her head, "and he didn't try anything, Jess, I swear. No moves were made by Logan. All I can think is that I had this moment of temporary insanity..."
Jess' eyes narrowed at the sound of those words, just when Rory thought she might've got away with this. She knew she was wrong now.
"You can get mad, Jess, because you have every right to, but you have to know that it was just a stupid mistake and I am so sorry."
He was on his feet in a second, pacing the floor and Rory leapt up a moment later, desperately pleading for him to just listen.
"Did you sleep with him?" he asked her, too loudly.
"No! I would never do that!" Rory yelled back at him. "It was just a kiss. One stupid kiss, which I regretted the second it happened."
"Just a kiss? Just a second kiss with the same guy? A guy that I already got into a fist fight with for being an absolute ass about you?" asked Jess, waving one arm in emphatic gestures. "What the hell, Rory?"
"Please, stop yelling at me!" she urged him, tears filling her eyes. "I'm sorry, Jess. I just told you I was sorry. I didn't mean for it to happen."
"No, you never mean for it to happen, do you, Rory?" said Jess coldly, moving away when she reached for him.
"What does that mean?" she asked, looking hurt.
In this moment, Jess couldn't care about that.
"It means exactly what you think it means," he told her. "Funny how when you kissed me the first time you were still dating Dean. Did you tell him you were sorry? That you didn't mean for it to happen? Geez, I must be stupid!"
"Jess!" Rory yelled behind him, even as he made for the door. "Jess, please!"
"Leave me alone, Rory!" he told her, pushing forward out of the house and slamming the door behind him.
Jess didn't care if she followed him, though he would prefer that she didn't. He needed to get away for a while, anywhere that wasn't here. God, he couldn't believe she had done this. Sure, it was just a kiss. Some people would say he was crazy to throw away a relationship like he and Rory had for something so insignificant, but it wasn't so small and paltry a thing. It was two kisses, with a guy that Jess already had a run-in with, that he already hated, and Rory had tried to hide it from him too. Jess really couldn't handle this.
Slamming into the diner, he walked straight up to Paris without a moment's pause.
"Take me back to Yale," he told her, "please," he added as an afterthought.
After all, none of this was her fault. It was highly likely she had no idea what just happened. Rory wouldn't risk telling Paris anything because Jess' sister at least had loyalty to him.
"What happened?" she asked, frowning hard.
Paris was stunned by the sight of him, looking as close to angry tears as she had ever seen him. As far as she knew, Jess had been having a date-like occasion with Rory. She really could not understand what had gone so wrong.
"Paris, please. Don't ask questions, just drive me back, or I can get a bus-"
"No," she insisted, grabbing his arm when he turned to storm out again. "I should tell Luke I'm leaving," she said, glancing towards the curtain.
"I'll wait in the car."
Paris nodded, handing over the keys before rushing off to find Luke, taking her apron off on the way. By the time she got out to the car, she found Jess sat in the passenger seat, foot tapping with pent up energy and face red and pained. She hardly dare ask what was going on again, but she supposed she was going to have to.
"I told Luke there was an emergency and I had to go back to Yale. I didn't mention you and he didn't ask," she said, sliding into the driver's side and starting the engine. "Are you going to tell me what happened?"
"Not now," said Jess, shaking his head. "Just drive, Paris, please."
He didn't even look at her, just kept his eyes focused straight ahead. Paris was almost certain he was trying not to cry where anyone could see him. Clearly, he and Rory had some kind of fight, presumably a major one. Paris had no idea what was going on, but she was sure on one thing. If Rory was the reason that Jess had gotten this upset, then Gilmore was going down.
To Be Continued...
