Disclaimer: I think by now it would be a fair assumption that whomever may stumble upon this has assumed that I neither own nor legally am affiliated with Gilmore Girls. I know it may not be wise to assume that other people have made assumptions, but I'm giving the public the benefit of the doubt. Please don't screw me over here, kids.
A/N: My intention was to base this story on the song "On Your Porch" by the Format (great song), but I realized how AU it would have to be, so I decided to use my own rendition of the song to create my own rendition of Gilmore Girls. Crazy, right? I know, I need medication, and, perhaps, a straight jacket. Oh well.
On Your Porch
Chapter 1: On Your Porch
I was on your porch,
The smoke sank into my skin.
Jess took a step masterly onto their back porch with a beer in his hand and her copy of Howl in his back pocket. Forget the fact that he was in Stars Hollow—population two—or that he was currently sleeping on an inflatable blue raft in his uncle's makeshift apartment, Jess now found himself being introduced to Luke's pals at some goddamned Longaberger basket party where all anyone cares about is if he eats grilled cheese or not. Grilled cheese!
In an effort to escape, Jess had asked Lorelai's daughter to bail with him, but even she found it odd that he didn't want to be there. As a final attempt to clear his mind, Jess found a bottle of beer in the fridge and an oh-so-inviting door that led him to his current spot. If only he had not forgotten his pack of cigarettes at "home," he might actually be enjoying himself.
As Jess was removing the cap ever so gracefully from the glass bottle and preparing himself to (at last!) indulge in two to three minutes of blissful intoxication, Rory was offering to get the garlic bread from the oven. As she began unloading the bread into its basket, she realized that Jess was not in the kitchen where he ought to have been, and, after both checking her room and the bathroom, she ventured out onto the porch.
It was as he took his first swig that she found him, perched casually on the railing, eyes closed. He had a way of holding the bottle and leaning on the balustrade that was so serene. Rory almost felt guilty for disturbing him, except that he was supposed to be inside drinking coke and not outside drinking alcohol. Jess was, after all, only 17.
"I'm not exactly sure this is the parent-approved fun you're supposed to be having."
"An interesting observation you've made, Miss Gilmore. I'm not exactly sure this is the appropriate place for a young lady such as yourself to be gallivanting after dark."
"Gallivanting?"
"Damn, too much?"
"I'd say so."
"I was feeling ambitious."
"I see."
And we talked all night
About everything we could imagine.
Jess had turned to face her as they conversed, and he now leaned his elbows on the railing so that he appeared even more tranquil than he had before; this tranquil, however, was accompanied by minor hints of annoyance and a casual smirk on his face. His glance held curiosity, admitting Rory to take a few steps closer. She approached him cautiously and, not wanting to make the situation awkward with their close proximity, took a seat on the newly installed porch swing.
Lorelai had said that it gave them a sense of belonging in their home. Rory had thought it a silly addition, though secretly she couldn't help but agree with her oft-rash mother. She began to rock peacefully, and Jess, his free hand in his pocket, slumped his tired figure on the other side of the swing
They swung comfortably for a moment while Rory contemplated their situation.
"You know," she began, but paused, letting the air clear.
He let her gather her thoughts, appreciating the fact that she was not verbally bombarding him. He had always had a firm grasp on the English language. He would even venture to say that his knowledge of his native language was remarkable, above average. Yet somehow, Jess always preferred not to talk unless necessary. He figured he had better things to do than gossip mindlessly or make small talk. "The verbal thing comes and goes," he would say to those who had a problem with his tacit tendency.
"Stars Hollow isn't as bad as it's cracked up to be."
"Huh."
"I mean, it's not everyone's cup of tea, but, as far a tea is concerned… it's very good tea."
He gave her a questioning glance, and she couldn't help but be amused at her own analogy.
"I guess what I'm trying to say is that… Stars Hollow may not be as diverse or as exciting as New York, I'll give you that. But something about this place makes it feel like home. We have a giant yarn ball and amazing cakes and Luke's Diner and this awesome bridge where almost no one ever goes-"
"Bridge?"
"Yeah. It's this really quaint place, I guess. I go there to read or to clear my mind when everything else is too chaotic." She reveled on her past experiences at the bridge. It was a place that everyone knew about but only she ever dared go. It was old and worn and perfect and Rory was absolutely in love with it. Suddenly Rory realized that she had never actually told anyone about her use of the bridge as a sanctuary. It belonged to her like an abandoned tree house to a child, and now a stranger named Jess who drank beer and didn't read much knew about it. Rory couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious.
"Hey, we should get back to the party before someone comes looking for us. We wouldn't want to worry anyone."
A little confused by the sudden change of pace, Jess just nodded and gave a simple "Okay," and the pair hopped off the porch swing to go inside.
"Oh, and Jess," she began, and he looked up at her questioningly. "You might want to dispose of the uh," and she motioned to the beer in his hand.
"Right," and with that he tossed it into the giant green trash bin.
He couldn't help but be somewhat captivated by the simple way that she dismissed his flaws.
Rory was stuffed to capacity. Sookie's meals had a way of sneaking up on you long after you had finished eating. It was not a bad feeling necessarily, but it was a feeling of fullness and of satisfaction. Rory, who was known for her ability to put away large portions of food in single sittings, felt as if she would never need to eat again.
She had said goodbye to all the guests, though Luke and Jess had yet to leave, and retired to her room to read. Her mom and Luke were probably flirting unabashedly in the kitchen, and Jess… who knew?
"Knock knock," he called good-humoredly from her doorframe.
"Come in," she obliged as she looked up from her place on her bed. She was reading The Catcher in the Rye, a book that Jess had read no less than 20 times.
"Huh."
"Yes?"
"Nothing, I just didn't really peg you as the type to read Salinger."
"Fair enough, I didn't really peg you as the type to read."
"Touché."
"Someone's been practicing their French."
"You know, sarcasm does not become you."
"Yes, but it does sustain me." Rory remembered Lane saying exactly those words on numerous occasions, after which the girls usually broke into a fit of giggles and were silenced my Mrs. Kim.
"Have a seat," she added, motioning to the chair by her desk.
"Actually, I just came to say goodbye."
She looked minimally upset, but she quickly recovered at the realization that he had at least thought to say goodbye.
"Oh."
"So goodnight, Rory."
"Night, Jess."
And with that he slid out of view, closing the door behind him.
Rory couldn't suppress her smile any longer.
A/N: What do you guys think? And no—that was not a rhetorical question. You see that button that says "go" right next to the drop down list that says "submit review"? I want you to click it and see what happens. It might be magical. Hasta luego!