Chapter 10- Our Song
Luke frowned when he saw Jess pulling his jacket over his head as he entered the diner. He caught a glimpse of his bruised face, and threw the rag on the counter, sighing.
"Jess," he called. "Who did you get into a fight with?"
Jess raised his head, pursing his lips together. "No one," he replied, curtly.
Luke rolled his eyes. "Was it Dean? 'Cos if it was Dean, Rory's gonna be pissed."
Jess shook his head on his way to the curtain, leading to the apartment. "I didn't get into a fight."
"Then how the hell did you get that?" He pointed to the black eye and followed Jess up the stairs.
Luke marched up to Jess when he didn't answer. "C'mon, Jess. How bad can it be?"
Jess walked into the bathroom, Luke still on his heels. "Jess."
He turned, jaw clenched. "Luke."
Luke threw his hands in the air and groaned. "Jess, if you don't tell me right his second where the hell you got that black eye, I'm going to-"
"A swan!"
Luke dropped his hands and cocked his head. "Excuse me?"
"I was attacked by a swan. Okay, you happy? A stupid swan!"
Luke stifled a laugh. "Now, how 'bout the real story?"
"That is the real story. It hangs out by Larson's Dock. I was just walking by and the thing came out of nowhere and bam – beaked me right in the eye," Jess said angrily.
Luke attempted to make his face neutral. "It beaked you?"
Jess sighed. "You still don't believe me."
"I just never heard anyone use the word beaked as a verb before," he chuckled.
"No, no, this isn't funny. That stupid bird attacked me. He could've blinded me. It's a vicious, vicious bird, and...fine." He scowled. "Forget it."
Jess marched down the stairs of the diner and behind the counter. Bending down, he reached for a ladle, just as Luke was coming up behind him. "What are you doing? Where are you going?" He threw his arms up in exasperation.
Jess gave him a look. "I'm gonna do a little beaking of my own."
"Jess, not the ladle," Luke called out. "That's a brand new ladle. Take the baster!" He sighed, resigned, and followed him out the door.
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Luke and Jess were on a rowboat out in the middle of the lake, Luke holding the oars, and Jess cradling the ladle in his hands threateningly.
"I don't see a swan."
"Put your oars down," Jess ordered.
Luke grinned. "They don't like oars?"
Jess let his gaze travel across the water. "Just lay low, it'll come," he promised.
"Does it act all peaceful and Bambi-like and then suddenly attack like the rabbit in Monty Python?"
"Your voice is probably scaring it away."
Luke attempted to make small talk as Jess raked the lake with his eyes one more time. "So…how's Rory doing?"
Jess shot him a confused frown. "You see her every morning. Ask her yourself."
Luke rolled his eyes. "No…I mean…with you. How are you and Rory doing? Together?"
Jess smirked. "Fine."
"Good, good. That's good, I guess." He wrung his hands awkwardly. "And the dinner last week?"
Jess raised his eyebrows. "Fine." He stretched the word out into two syllables.
"Good," Luke nodded. "How are you gonna explain the black eye?"
Jess frowned. "I dunno. Maybe I won't have to."
Luke shrugged. "You could tell her the truth."
Jess glared and pursed his lips, turning away from his uncle.
Luke rolled his eyes, and then squinted out into the distance. "Hey! I see a swan!"
"Where?"
Luke pointed towards the bird. "Right there."
Jess set him face into an intimidating scowl. "That's it. Watch it."
"I'm watching it. It's pretty."
Jess shushed him, turning his head towards the currently retreating swan angrily.
Luke chuckled. "Is it gonna double back?"
"Maybe."
"So it's lulling us into complacency," Luke said, biting back a grin.
Jess huffed. "He's vicious, I'm telling you."
"Yeah, his butt's terrifying."
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"So, no packing crisis?" Rory asked.
Lorelai frowned and frantically waved her arms in the air. "No! Which is precisely the crisis! How can I not be panicking?"
Rory shrugged and sat on her mother's bed. "I dunno. Maybe you and Alex are so good together…that there's not a problem. I don't know why you'd freak out anyway…it's a weekend trip to New York. Not that big a deal."
Lorelai collapsed next to Rory. "I think I'm stressed."
"Why?"
She turned to look at her daughter. "Mainly you," she admitted.
Rory furrowed her brow. "Why are you worried about me? I'll be fine by myself."
"It's the 'by yourself' part I'm worried about," Lorelai muttered.
Rory bit her lip. "What you mean?"
Lorelai motioned around the room. "It's just…you and Jess are gonna be here…all alone, in this big, empty house."
"It's not that big," Rory interrupted.
Lorelai rolled her eyes. "Not the point. As I was saying; you two have been getting more serious lately, have you not?" At Rory's slow nod, she continued. "Add that to the fact that a month ago you told me you were thinking about having sex, and we've already got you all…'Pill-ed'…I'm concerned that something might happen when I'm gone." She frowned for a moment. "And I think I might have to break-up with Alex soon…he's just…not it, you know?"
She smiled at the thought. "Hey, maybe," she started brightly, "I can break up with Alex now, and I won't have to deal with the trip, and you…kills two birds with one stone."
Rory shook her head. "Mom," she warned. "You don't want to disappoint Sookie and Jackson, right? And you have a good time with Alex, even if he isn't the 'one'…just go on your trip, have lots of fun, and trust me."
Lorelai grinned. "Does that mean you aren't going to have sex?"
Rory didn't say anything, but lowered her eyes to the floor.
Lorelai groaned. "This isn't helping the whole, 'Leave now, Mom…trust me' situation you got going here."
"I can't promise we won't…because we might," she began, "but I can promise you that if we do, and that's a big if, we'll be safe. Extremely safe. Like…sliding into home plate safe," she promised. "And…I told you beforehand, right? Isn't that a good thing?"
Lorelai nodded, resigned. "I guess. There's nothing really I can do to stop you…you're eighteen, mature, you've thought it over, you're prepared…" She shrugged. "All that's left is for it to actually happen."
Rory impulsively hugged her mom. "I love you," she murmured against her neck.
Lorelai squeezed back, just as tightly. "I love you, too, Kiddo. I love you, too."
They stayed in the embrace for a moment, before the sound of the doorbell forced them to break apart. "Must be Alex," Lorelai said, getting up off the bed. She shouldered her bag and started heading out the door. She turned around. "I'd tell you to have fun, a kegger, bikers, the works…but I think the reality will be even worse, so I'll refrain."
Rory glared good-naturedly. "Have a good time…and bring me back a souvenir or something!"
Lorelai grinned. "See ya on Sunday. Bye, babe."
"Bye, mom."
They shared a smile before Lorelai made her way to the door.
Rory heard her mom talking to Alex form her position on the bed, and laid back, a content expression gracing her features. She'd missed those talks…and she was glad they could still have them; no matter how awkward the subject matter was. It was nice.
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Rory set down her AP Psychology book with a heavy sigh. She risked a glance at her clock, and realized that she'd been studying for almost fours hours straight. She needed a break.
As if on cue, her stomach growled. She stood up and decided that a trip to Luke's would quell her need both for food and some downtime.
After a short ten minute walk to the diner, she opened the door, the bell signaling her entrance.
Luke waved a quick hello before heading into the kitchen. Rory sat down on a stool, and noticed that the diner was pretty empty; Kirk, an older couple, and a family who looked like they could be tourists having a quick dinner.
Her eyes snapped back to attention as someone went ahead pouring a mug of coffee in front of her. She looked up and frowned. "What happened to your eye?"
He shrugged, but otherwise gave no answer. She sighed. "Jess," she prodded. "Are you okay?"
He scowled. "I'm fine," he answered.
She glared. "What happened?"
"Look, Ror…it's no big deal. It wasn't a fight, if that's what you were wondering."
She frowned. "I wasn't gonna say that. I just wanted to know if you were alright. Is that wrong?"
He sighed. "No. Sorry, just hasn't been the best day."
"I get it." She gave him a sympathetic smile. "Hey…I have an idea…you wanna come over for a little while? Maybe watch a movie…or something?"
The butterflies in her stomach increases tenfold as she bit her lip shyly. He raised an eyebrow at her nervousness. "Sure. Let me go tell Luke I'm leaving."
She nodded and polished off the last of her coffee as he headed into the backroom. A minute later he returned.
She jumped off the stool and met him on her side of the counter. She grabbed his hand, and started defiantly started walking to the door. (And possibly, to something more...)
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"So? Any suggestions for a movie tonight?" Rory began, tapping her hands anxiously against the back of the chair.
Jess shook his head slowly. "Not really. It doesn't matter to me." He frowned. "Are you sure you're alright?"
Rory nodded a bit too enthusiastically. "I'm fine, really," she assured him. She grinned nervously.
"Ror, what's up with you tonight?"
She bit her lip. "Nothing, nothing at all," she assured him. "It's just that it's a little weird with my mom being with Alex in New York…and Sookie and Jackson, too…and me being here all alone tonight…I'm not used to having the house to myself like this…the last time I did, actually was that night you came over with the food Luke sent over, and then Dean came over, and now you probably think I'm insane because I'm rambling on about my ex-boyfriend.." she trailed off with a frown as she noticed his amused smirk.
"What?" she pouted.
Jess shook his head, a smile still tugging at his lips. "Luke never sent the food over that night."
"What?" she repeated, bemused.
"Luke didn't send me to give you the food."
Rory's eyes widened. "It was you?"
At his nod, she laughed.
He raised a questioning eyebrow.
"I can't believe after that entire rant, all you have to say is, 'Luke never sent the food.' " She snorted, not able to believe it.
Jess shrugged. "Was there anything I was specifically supposed to hear?" he baited.
She faltered. "Well, no…not really, I guess. But I assumed, or…figured that…you know what? Never mind. I just gonna stop before I can embarrass myself any worse than I already have."
She giggled nervously as he held back a grin. "Don't worry about it. I think…"
"I'm on the Pill!" she blurted suddenly. She buried her head in her hands after the abrupt declaration.
His jaw dropped at her admission. "Uh," he began intelligently. "I…um, that's good?" It came out more like a question than a statement.
Jess shifted awkwardly on his feet as he noticed her entire face and neck turning bright crimson.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, almost inaudibly. "I…I think I'm going crazy or something. I totally wouldn't blame you if left and never came back."
He chuckled quietly. "No, I'm not going anywhere…if you don't want me to."
She shook her head at what could be two different meanings. She slowly brought her face back up, but couldn't make eye contact with Jess.
Jess sighed. "Rory, look at me."
She stayed in the same position. "Rory, c'mon. It's not a big deal."
"Sorry," she mumbled.
He rolled his eyes. "Don't apologize. You didn't do anything. Just please, Ror, let me see you."
He cupped her chin gently, but firmly and gazed intently into her nervous eyes. "I love you, you know that, right?"
She nodded. "Me, too," she said.
All of a sudden, she turned on her heel and started walking.
He followed her as she started making her way into another room. "Where're you going?" he asked, bewildered.
She reached the door to the bedroom and went straight in. The room was pretty dark, the only light coming in though the window.
He hesitated for only a second before going in, as well. "What are we doing in here?"
Rory looked at him defiantly. "C'mere," she beckoned.
He walked over to where she was standing next to the bed. "Rory?"
She nodded resolutely and pulled his head down for a kiss. It was hard and there teeth clashed almost painfully, but Jess understood her intentions.
He ducked away after a moment, hearing her whimper at the loss of contact.
Jess paused.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked. He released his hold on her a bit as he looked into her eyes.
She shook her head vehemently. "I'm sure," she said, breathlessly.
She pulled him closer and leaned forward for a kiss. Instead of his mouth, she let her lips linger on his bruised eye. "I'm sorry," she murmured.
He brought his hands up to her face and cupped her cheeks. "Don't be," he whispered, and finally caught her lips in a heated kiss.
He gently lowered her backwards onto her bed. Careful not to scare or intimidate her, he began slowly, only kissing the area around her neck, and not letting his hands wander into any uncharted territory.
She sighed into his mouth as she shakily moved her arms around his back, and as she gained more confidence, let the roam up and down his chest.
Jess started lifting the hem of her tee as he trailed hot, open-mouth kisses on her shoulder and her collarbone. She lifted her arms up, and helped him remove it.
He sucked in a breath as he took in the sight of her. Smooth, porcelain skin, untouched, perfect, and almost glowing in the low light. Her bra was simple light blue cotton, and his mind wandered unabated towards the image of her in matching underwear; he had to bite back a smile at the thought.
She groaned as he lowered her head to her chest, but deciding that fair was fair, she went for the bottom of his shirt. She tugged it off him hurriedly, and threw it off into some corner of the room. After a quick admiring of his toned torso, she let her head fall forward onto his shoulder as he returned his attentions to her.
She nibbled lightly on his neck before trailing her mouth lips down his chest and stomach. She paused at the band of his jeans, when she noticed the top of his boxers peaking out. When she gasped, as he raked his nails against her flat belly, the only thought going through her head was, "Here goes nothing."
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Rory's breathing slowed down as she laid back down on the bed. Jess mirrored her position on the opposite side.
She let the stars clear as she let her gaze linger on a crack in her ceiling.
He kept sneaking glances at her, worried about...how it was.
She sighed contentedly, but blushed as she turned her head to see him looking at her. "Hi," she said, chewing in her bottom lip nervously.
"Hi," he repeated, a smiling curling at the corners of his lips. "So…"
"Yeah…" She looked away, before blurting out, "We need a song!"
"What?"
"Like…a song. Me and you…I'll turn the radio on, and the first song we hear, will be our song, the one that'll remind me of us…and this," she explained, trying to break the ice.
Jess nodded warily. "You sure that's a good idea? What if it's 'Ice Ice Baby'? Do you really want Vanilla Ice to be associated with this moment?"
Rory shook her head. "It won't be. The world wouldn't do that, would it?"
He laughed. "Try it, and see what happens."
She bent over his body to reach the stereo. After pressing a few buttons, a song came on.
They both froze for a second, trying to figure out what it was. Jess got it first.
"No way."
Rory frowned. "What is it? I don't think I know it."
"It's Killing an Arab by The Cure."
Rory's eyes widened. "Uh…do you think we should try again?" She reached back over towards the knob.
Jess frowned for a second. "Wait. Isn't this song based Albert Camus' book, The Stranger?"
"The one about the really philosophical guy...who ends up shooting the…Arab, because the sun's too bright or something?"
Jess nodded. "Yeah…Essence of Chair, or something like that…Huxley, I think…"
Rory smiled. "So this song does work. It's a bit unconventional…"
He interrupted, "…Understatement of the year..."
She glared and continued. "But it fits us, right? The Cure, Huxley and philosophy all rolled into one?"
He shook his head in amusement. "If that's what you want, fine."
She grinned. "Good."
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Jess woke up the next morning, not entirely sure where he was. He felt something wriggle next to him, and his eyes popped open in realization. Taking a quick look at the clock on the nightstand, he rushed out of bed, careful not to wake Rory. He saw his boxers half-way under the dresser, and threw them on as he searched for the rest of his clothes. He snatched up his shirt and pants, both in the same corner and hurriedly put them on, as well.
Running a hand through his hair, his gaze moved back to a sleeping Rory. She was lying on her stomach, covers half-way up her back and snoring softly.
He bent down and brushed a lock of hair off her cheek. She sighed faintly and her eyes slowly and reluctantly opened.
She blinked, confused for a few seconds before it hit her. She looked up and Jess, still standing above her and smiled. "Morning," she greeted quietly. Her voice was still scratchy from bed.
"Morning," Jess returned. Rory frowned when she noticed he was dressed.
"Where are you going?"
Jess pointed to the clock. "It's already seven-thirty."
Rory shrugged, pulling the sheets higher up against her. "So?"
"Luke..."
Rory interrupted. "...Can wait a little longer." She patted the space next to her on the bed. "Stay a little later," she pouted.
Jess opened his mouth to protest before suddenly closing it. His naked girlfriend wanted him back in bed…so be it for him to deprive her of that. He sat down next to her, letting his back rest against the headboard as Rory curled up into his chest. "Much better," she said, wrapping her arms around his waist, eyes shutting sleepily. "Much, much better."
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Rory smiled at the sight of a sleeping Jess against her bed. He dozed off a little after she did, and didn't wake when she got up to shower and get dressed. A quick look at the clock told her it was almost ten o'clock. Her mom would be getting back from New York in a few hours, and Luke was probably pissed as hell.
Oh, well. It was definitely worth it.
She grinned at the thought and slowly walked over to the bed. Brushing his messy hair out of his eyes, she kissed him slowly. "Wake up, Jess."
He groaned and swatted her hand away. She giggled and rolled her eyes. "Jess," she tried again, "Time to really get up."
He frowned as his eyes opened slowly. "Morning, again," he croaked hoarsely.
Rory smiled. "Morning to you, too. But, it's ten o'clock and you were probably right when you said Luke was gonna get upset." She smiled sheepishly. "Sorry."
He smirked. "You were right…Luke can deal. What's three hours in the long run?"
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Luke scowled when he noticed Jess trying to come into the diner unnoticed fifteen minutes later. After some not-so-innocent goodbyes, Jess made his way quickly from Rory's house, attempting to attract as little attention as possible.
As he arrived at the diner, the first sight greeting him was Luke pointing upstairs harshly; jaw clenched, and blue eyes piercing. "Up, now."
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"Rory...Rory!"
Rory took a deep breath and made her way out of her room. She forced a smile. "Mom, hey! You're back!"
Lorelai grinned nervously. "Yup...I'm back...and...you are..."
"Yes," Rory interrupted quickly, head bowed.
Lorelai sucked in a breath and sat down on the couch, roping her bags to the floor. "Well, then. Um...congratulations?"
Rory sat down in a chair and frowned? "Congratulations?"
Lorelai threw her arms up in the air. "I don't know what I'm supposed to say! I can't really get mad at you, and I'm actually, surprisingly not, so that's out. I can't be like a girlfriend and ask for all the details..." She visibly shuddered. "...not that I would want them, anyway. So I'm left with trying to say something that doesn't sound lecture-y or stupid...and it ends up sounding wrong and awkward, which is just as bad."
Lorelai noticed Rory's mouth hanging open in shock. She gave her daughter a hesitant smile. "So...since I'm pretty sure we both want to end this conversation and totally forget it ever happened, I am going to ask one question before the topic is officially closed."
Rory nodded weakly. "Okay."
"So...on a scale from one to ten...how was it?" She grinned.
"Mom!"
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"Hey, hun; what's wrong?"
Lorelai smiled at Sookie as she went to get herself a cup of coffee. Sookie, in the process of making up some type of fruit sauce was chopping up some strawberries.
"Rory."
Sookie stopped knife. "Is she alright? Hurt? Sick? Lorelai..."
"...Physically, she's fine," Lorelai interrupted. "Me, on the other hand...not so much."
Sookie resumed cutting. "What is it?"
Lorelai sighed. "You know how I was out of town this weekend, and Rory stayed home this weeked?"
Sookie nodded. "Yeah...but she does that a lot, right? What happened?"
"She's never done if when she was dating Jess."
Sookie frowned. "What does Jess have to do with..." She threw her arms up, slinging the knife in the process. It clattered harmlessly to the floor a few feet from the door. "Oh, my," she cried. "Our little popcorn's been popped!"
Lorelai glared. "Thank you."
Sookie shrugged. "Sorry."
"Right," Lorelai pouted, sipping her coffee. "That's just what I needed to heat right now. Never going to be able to eat popcorn again."
A/N: Sorry it took so long! Lots of stuff...school, friends, vacation...laziness. p
Anyway...here it is. :D And it's be great if you'd review. I'm really nervous about this chapter...and any reassurances would be awesome. :)
Thanks!