Is There More?

Author: Knowhere

Chapter 1: Daily Gripe

Rating: Pg-13

AN:  Hope you enjoy this. Feedback is greatly appreciated.

Summary: AU. College life is a journey of ups and downs; are Rory and Jess ready to take on what life is about to throw at them including a prospect of a new relationship, or will they choose the path of friendship like they did years ago?  Literati.

            I'm sitting here in my journalism class thinking about how I should really call Mom; she had left billions of messages on my machine saying that she's lonely all by herself in her old age.  Sometimes she cracks me up, my Mom isn't lonely, she has Luke and she isn't old, she's only sixteen years older than me and I'm still a junior in college.  Oh well, I'll call her as soon as I get home.  As my professor drones on about the importance of developing a thesis my mind wanders as I begin to think about random things in my life.  My thoughts wander to my best friend, Jess Mariano; sometimes I regret that I didn't pursue a relationship that included something more than just platonic friends years ago when we were seventeen, but then at the same time I chide myself thinking about how I wouldn't have such an amazing best friend if we broke up.  Shaking out of my reverie I remind myself that I enjoy what I have with Jess and the relationship that we have that is only defined as 'best-friends.'  I like it that way and I wouldn't ever change that, I just don't know what I'd do without him being there for me.  Snapping out of it I hear the professor dismiss the class as he reminds us that our papers on the economies of third-world countries and how they effect society are due the following Friday.  Gathering up my stuff I grab my backpack and proceed to head off campus and onto the subway.

            Walking down the street towards the apartment I fish out my keys from the bottom of my backpack and I whistle aimlessly as I nod to the passing neighbors.  Climbing the stairs I briefly remember that I hate the stairs and wish that I lived on the bottom floor or at least a better place with an elevator that actually functions.  However, I remember that I don't actually have an income since I'm still a full-time student that this is not such a bad apartment building as compared to some others that I've seen while studying with various classmates.  Finally reaching the front door, I slip in the key as I hear the familiar harsh tones of The Clash bouncing off the walls.  Unlocking the door I see Jess sitting at the dining table that has been transformed into a makeshift studying area bobbing his head as he sings along to his well-worn cd.  Careful to not let him know that I've come home, I gently lay down my backpack as I try to sneak up on him.  With his back turned towards the front door, I stealthily tip-toe across the wood floor; I can already imagine him with his eyes closed as he sings along, and him jumping out of his skin as I yell in his ear.  However when I come just close enough to scare him, he suddenly says, "Hey Rory."

            Defeated I throw my hands up in surrender as I ask, "How did you know that I was home? The music is up so loud that I can barely even hear myself think."

            Grabbing the remote, Jess turns down the music and turns around with that trademark smirk in place and says, "You can't scare me Gilmore, I know all your tricks."

            Sighing I wander into the kitchen and look through the fridge and see that we don't have anything to eat.  Doing some quick calculations in my head I arrive to the conclusion that it was Jess's turn to do the grocery shopping this week and I'm becoming increasingly cranky that there isn't any food to eat.  Spinning around I bellow, "Jess!  There's no food, you were suppose to do the shopping this week, I'm gonna starve!"

            "Oh geez, stop with the drama Ror; don't worry pizza is on the way and I'm going to go out as soon as I finish my paper.  I knew I could always count on you for a world-class flip out when food is involved."  He stalks over to the kitchen as the flips on the coffee maker to try to calm me down.

            Smiling softly at him I realize how close we've become over the years; he definitely knows me better than anyone else, well, besides my mom that is.  Happily, I grab a mug out of the cabinet and fill it up with the wonderful ambrosia; I pat him on the head as I head towards my bedroom and say, "Good boy.  Your experiences at the diner did you good.  Call me when the pizza arrives."

            "Rory!  Food's here!"  His voice echoes throughout the walls and I'm sure that our neighbor, Mr. 'I'm the definition of grumpy' has also heard that food is ready.  Flinging open my door, I waltz into the room with my hamburger slippers and my sheep adorned pajama bottoms and I grab a slice as I clear a spot for us to eat.  Biting into the food that has become the staple of every college kid I'm absorbed in the wonderful taste and I begin to wolf down the rest of my pizza as I proceed to grab another.

            With amusement evident in his eyes, he warns me with his sarcastic comment, "Careful, you're going to choke.  You're acting like you've never going to eat again."

            Shooting him a look I reply haughtily, "Well since it's your turn to do the grocery shopping, I never know when I will eat again."

            "Ha ha." 

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            I can hear the shower running in the background as I impatiently wait for Mom to pick up the phone.  "Hello?  If you're calling to sell something, I'm deaf so I can't listen to you, if this is my Mother, I'm currently busy, for all other people leave a message when you hear the dial tone after I hang up."

            "Hey Mom."

            "Ahhh! My offspring, how come you haven't called to check up on your poor mother?"

            "Sorry Mom, I've just been so busy, you know with school and stuff."

            I can almost see her eyebrow raising as she asks me, "And stuff, huh?  What kinda stuff are we talking about?"

            "Mom, you're impossible sometimes."  I laugh as I settle into my bed trying to get comfortable for another phone call that will last for an hour at least.

            "Oh you know what they call me, Rory.  My middle name has pretty much become 'Kimpossible,' ha ha, do you get it Rory? Kimpossible…"

            Laughing we talk for another hour and a half about school, Luke, and other various news that is going on in both out lives.  As nine o'clock rolls around, we hang up the phone as I vowed to her that I'll call her within the next couple of days again.  Yawning I lie back on my pillows and I turn on my little thirteen-inch tv that sits in my room as Jess appears at my front door. 

            Bracing his arms on my door frame, his shirt hangs open with all the buttons still undone and his hair is still a little bit damp.  Cocking his head to one side he says, "I'm going out, I have a date.  Don't wait up for me, kiddo."

            Grabbing a pillow I throw it to him as I make a face at the nickname, "I'm not a kid, and besides you're only a couple of months older than me.  You know I hate that name, Jess."

            Grinning he confesses, "I know, why do you think I still use it after all these years?"

            Pouting I say, "Just get out of here will you?"

            As I hear the lock click on the door, I turn back to the tv and sigh thinking about another night spent alone.  I briefly think about how I should get out more often and I decide that tomorrow I'll ask Jess to set me up with one of his friends.  Hoping that it won't end up disastrously, I scold myself for sitting here at nine like a lump on a log with nothing to do; I'm still a young woman and I should go out and have some fun.  Okay, that's it, tomorrow I'll get Jess to set me up with a nice guy, I'm not going to just waste my life away at just school.  I need a life.

AN: Tell me what you think, drop a line.