A.N Yaaay chapter 3 so exciting! I know that not a lot of this makes sense but the point of this is that it vaguely follows the story line and some of the script. Hope that's not too weird this is very much a A.U of sorts. I just figured that since Chrystal doesn't have a boyfriend breathing down her neck and she's actually going through a lot of the same emotions that maybe Jess actually opens up to her more and a lot earlier. Anyway I hope you enjoy, and also I do not own these amazing G.G characters.

Polyvore Link for this chapter: chapter/set?id=204872857

Chapter 3: Moderately Scandalous

It was between Midnight and Sunrise that I thought about Jess. I thought of how he was more interesting than a lot of the guys that had come in and out of my life would ever have been in the sense that he challenged me and made me think.

I thought of the way he looked when he thought no one else was watching him. I had caught my first glimpse of this Jess when he snuck out of the dinner party to relax on my back porch. It was the very first time I had seen him like that at all.

Much to my dismay I couldn't help but think of what it would be like for him to hold me in his arms. I didn't think about us kissing or making love, just the simple thoughts of us curled by a fire, or, perhaps on a bridge, reading, talking, whatever. Just being.

I wanted that with someone-the ability to just be with someone for hours on end, not necessarily feeling the need to say something to clear the air. Comfortable silence was what I longed for more than anything.

It had been a week since our conversation on the bridge, we normally walked to school together, mostly silent sometimes debating music and books but the last couple of days he'd been M.I.A.

When 5:45 hit this morning and the sound of cheery chickens woke me up, I pushed aside all the thoughts of Jess to the back of my mind to be revisited at a different time.

"Pineapples?" Mom questioned in disbelief.

"For the last time, yes! Pineapples!" Rory cried in exasperation.

"That's so random. And ironic. Who is deathly allergic to pineapples?"

"Well, apparently Alec the fruit guy" I offered as we walked through the front door of Luke's.

Mom and Rory had been having this conversation since we left the house.

"But why would you become a fruit guy if you know that you go into anaphylactic shock if you eat a pineapple. I mean honestly. 'What do you want to be when you grow up, Al'. 'Oh, I don't know, maybe a fruit guy, so I can die of something more interesting than old age" My mom mocked.

"Ahem" Luke articulated to get our attention.

"I'll have the usual" Mom dismissed.

"Me too, me too" Rory and I said at the same time, before looking at each other in horror.

Mom made a face at us, "Jeez I told you guys none of that weird twin stuff, it was cute when you were 3 now it's just plain creepy"

Luke rolled his eyes at us, "What do you mean, 'the usual', you get something different every time you come in here!"

"I beg to differ! Come on! Tell him girls" Mom argued.

I shrugged, "Well, he's got a point there"

"Oho, what? Don't make me disinherit you" Mom threatened.

"Or you could just order so I don't have to give the table to someone who will" Luke said in irritation.

"We're the only three people in here!" Mom protested.

"Hey!" Kirk cried from the counter.

"Fine" Luke began, "but could you make up your damn mind already"

"4 star services here I tell ya, umm I want pancakes with a side of pancakes" My mom beamed.

"Ooh, me too, me too!" Rory and I said again at the same time.

We glared at each other, "You stop. No, you!" we managed to mimic perfectly.

"oooh and those little sausage thingies. And lots of maple syrup" Mom answered ignoring the second creepy twin moment.

Rory and I both nodded in agreement this time, still scowling at each other.

"You three disgust me" He scoffed as he made his way back to the counter.

"He loves us" Mom said loud enough so Luke could hear her.

I chuckled and nodded.

Jess walked up to the table coffee pot in hand, "Coffee?"

"Oh, yeah thanks. How are you Jess?" Mom asked politely.

"Well, I'm not bleeding or anything" He replied with a shrug as he filled up our cups.

"Well then it's going to be a good day" Rory joked.

Jess nodded and walked back over to Luke who had our food in hand, "it's 7:45"

Luke frowned, "So?"

"So do you want me to go to school or do you want to openly defy child labor laws?"

Luke grunted and set our food down in front of us, "Fine go. Stay out of trouble"

Jess smirked, "Guess that means calling off the chickie run down at the salt flax" he snorted.

Luke rolled his eyes, "Out!" He demanded. Jess gave him one last smirk and walked out the door.

"Wow, so much love" Mom teased.

I nodded as I shoveled food in my mouth, "Okay I gotta go I'm going to be late" I said drinking the last of my coffee.

"Bye Sweets! Have a good day. Learn stuff" Mom called out to me as I walked to school.

Lane, Rory and I were walking down the street as Lane ranted about her day.

"So, Janie Fertman's trying to be my friend again" Lane explained.

"Yikes. What kind of vibe are you giving her?" Rory asked sympathetically

"Oh, my patented Keith Richards circa 1969 'don't mess with me' vibe, with a thousand-yard Asian stare thrown in." Lane replied simply.

I made a face, "That should do it" I encouraged.

I looked across the street and stopped when I saw the police car in front of Doose's Market I frowned and noted the groups of people standing around something.

"What's happening over there?" I asked Rory and Lane before crossing the street.

We all walk towards Rory's boyfriend Dean who's standing just outside the crowd.

"What's going on?" Rory asked him.

"I don't know. I got here and this is what I found. I mean, I told him it looked fake, but he didn't believe me" Dean shrugged after gesturing to the outlined body and police tape.

Rory shook her head, "And you have such an honest face" She sighed.

Dean grinned, "Well, he must not love me as much as you do"

I made a face and Lane commented, "Okay you two are officially sickening" before walking away.

I moved away from the happy couple and chuckled as Taylor continued to freak out about the 'Crime' in front of his store.

"Everyone's accounted for Taylor. It looks like this is just an elaborate prank" The police woman explains.

"But it looks so real. Where'd they get the police tape?" Taylor argued.

"Kids have their ways" The policewoman shrugs.

"Who'd be depraved enough, to pull a stupid prank like this?" Taylor demanded.

"It's hard to say."

My eyes roamed the crowd and landed on a smirking Jess who stood across the street watching the commotion in amusement. He caught my eyes and his smirk grew, I couldn't help but smile back and shake my head at him before watching him turn and walk away from the crowds.

Later that night we went to the town meeting with Luke, It went well until they spent the majority of it attacking Luke, and saying that he needs to send Jess back home. I'd never seen Luke so angry as he defended his nephew, I myself was angry that the town was taking his pranks way too seriously.

"Boys, please. The bottom line here is that there is a consensus among townspeople who are in agreement that Stars Hollow was a better place before Jess got here" Taylor interjected as Luke and Bootsy got into a one on one argument.

This time I stood up and everyone went silent and looked at me including Luke.

"Hey, I haven't lived here as long as my mom and my sister, and I didn't get to know Luke as long as them but what you're all doing right now is really terrible. Luke is trying his best and I just want you all to know that you don't even know Jess. I know he doesn't talk that much and he has a surly attitude sometimes but did you ever stop to think that maybe there's a reason for all that? So instead of sharpening your pitchforks ready to storm the diner how about you all just lay off!" I yelled.

"Honey" my mom coaxed quietly pulling at my sleeve.

I shook my head at her, "No mom. I know exactly how he feels and I'm not just going to stand by and let you people attack my friend, Or Luke" I added before turning on my heel and storming out of the dance hall.

I walked quickly down the street, not sure where I was going, I found myself standing outside of Doose's market staring down at the chalk outline of a body on the sidewalk.

"Should you be standing here all alone? I hear this is a pretty dangerous corner"

I turned to see Jess walking up to me, I frowned and turned back to look at anything but him.

"I'm fine" I grunted, crossing my arms.

"Feeling succinct today?"

I shrugged, "Pretty much"

"Hmm. Did I do something to offend you?" He asked bluntly.

I shot him a look, "Me?"

"Yeah"

"No"

"Good"

I sighed, "You might want to ask Luke that same question though"

"Meaning?"

I turned to him angrily, "You've got this whole town down on him"

"Really? How did I do that?"

I rolled my eyes, "You know how you did that"

"I'm not really familiar with the blue book laws in this town, so you can be talking about a lot of things. Dropping a gum wrapper, strolling arm in arm with a member of the opposite sex on a Sunday" Jess starts.

I gesture down to the chalk outline and he pauses.

"Ah. What about it?"

"You did it. The whole town knows you did and now they want you gone. They had a meeting about it"

Jess frowned, "You actually went to that bizarro meeting? Those things are so To Kill a Mockingbird"

"Yes, I went. And Luke went. And when he got there the whole town ganged up on him. They all want you gone" I explained.

"Wow, bummer" Jess muttered mockingly.

I shook my head, "He's standing there yelling at everyone and defending you and paying back Taylor for his lettuce losses…"

"Wait, his what?"

"Now Luke's a pariah and it's all because of you. But what a shock you don't really care" I mumbled.

Jess shrugged, "I didn't say that"

I frowned, "Go away I'm tired of talking to you" I grumbled.

"Okay" Jess said, turning to walk down the sidewalk.

"You don't care about Luke or anyone's feelings" I call after him angrily.

He stops and turns to face me, "You got a second wind, huh?"

"All he does is stick up for you and all you do is make his life harder, I stuck up for you tonight. But I guess that's what you have to do when you're trying to be Holden Caulfield but I think it sucks. Luke has done a lot for my mom and a lot for Rory, Okay, second wind over" I ended.

"You stuck up for me? I didn't know they were coming down so hard on him"

I scoffed, "funny I never pegged you as clueless, my mistake"

"Okay. I get it. No, no, I do, I get it. So did you at least think it was funny?"

I shook my head and tried to hide my smile, "That is so not the point"

Jess smirked, "Come on you stuck up for me in that lunatic town meeting you thought it was funny"

I glanced over at him, "I stuck up for you because you're my friend and I don't like seeing my friends attacked" I answered honestly.

Jess didn't say anything back; I fiddled with the ends of my sleeves and looked at him nervously.

"Um I have go I'm sure my mom is wondering where I am, I'll see you around" I added lamely.

Jess nodded before turning to walk away; "Seems to turn out that way, doesn't it" he called back.

"Oh man, it's such a relief to have that Sookie thing fixed." Mom sighs as we sit at one of the tables in the diner the next day.

"I know. I hate fighting with friends" Rory offers.

I nod in agreement, "That's what enemies are for"

"And God knows we have our share of those" Rory added.

"People who eat crunchy food with their mouths open" Mom started.

"People who dog ear library books" I mused.

Mom snorted "People who spit when they talk"

"Oh gross, you got me in the eye!" Rory exclaimed.

"I did not" Mom defended.

"You totally did!" Rory argued.

Mom narrowed her eyes, "You're full of it"

"Luke, where's my toast?" I called across the diner.

Luke looks over at me awkwardly, "Ah, it's gonna take a while. My big toaster's broken so I got stuck with just this dinky one."

Jess walks up and pushes down the handle on the big toaster, showing Luke that it works.

"How did that happen?" Luke asked, pressing the handle up and down.

"You're gonna break that." Jess grunted.

"It was broken before" Luke stated.

"Well it must've got better" Jess offered sarcastically.

"Inanimate objects don't usually get better. Did you fix this?"

"Please." Jess rolled his eyes.

"Jess..."

"I have no idea what you're babbling about. I don't fix things" Jess snapped.

"But yesterday…"

"I got school." Jess cut him off

I smile as I watch Jess leave the diner.