1.8. "The right man is the one who seizes the moment."
Johann Wolfgang Van Goethe

[Kicks off a new verse for Rory to be played out in

twentytwopoint8. This Jess is

iwroteabook and used with permission. Takes a detour during 6.08 'Let Me Hear Your Balalaikas Ringing Out'.]

“This isn’t you, Rory. You know it isn’t. What’s going on?”

Rory took it. She took everything Jess said, and all she could give was: ‘I don’t know’. And she didn’t. She didn’t know how she’d gone from Yale, to the DAR. How she’d gone from her mother’s house, and her dorm to her grandmother’s house, and her grandmother’s rules. Her grandmother’s life.

She’d done everything people had never expected of her, and none of it good. Maybe she’d been tired of being predictable, but she wasn’t happy. She wasn’t happy until she’d seen Jess, and that was messing with her head more than anything.

So was the fact that he was right. He knew her better than anyone, and she couldn’t dispute that. Even Logan didn’t know her that well. Sometimes she thought he didn’t want to. It was always about him. Her entire function as his girlfriend seemed to have become babysitting him and his friends while they got drunk, and plotted extreme stunts for the Life and Death Brigade.

And she didn’t approve of any of it, but she took. Only not for the same reason she took Jess’ angry words. He watched him go, confused more than ever. It was like he’d slapped her into consciousness and now she had to work out what to do with this thing that was now her life.

And he still wished her happy birthday.

Rory turned to go back into the bar, her mind whirling with possibilities. It would be so easy just to go after Jess, and forget everything here. Only she couldn’t. She couldn’t just up and go because things needed to be resolved. Something needed to change.

And it started with Logan. The moment she was back in the bar, and looking at him, her skin crawled. She wanted nothing more than to get away, but she needed to make sure he didn’t follow. She didn’t want him to follow. And the truth was, she didn’t expect him to. She wasn’t giving him what he wanted anymore, and he would probably let her go without argument.

Rory grabbed up her bag, and shook off his hand as he tried to get her to stay. Rory’s blue eyes met his, and she glared at him. “This isn’t me. This isn’t who I want to be. You’re not who I need, Logan. You never were. I’m sorry, but it’s over. Let me go.”

“This is about him!” Logan shouted at her, and he snorted when she didn’t give any immediate denial.

“So what if it is?” Rory threw back, not concerned at the scene they were causing. “He knows me, you don’t. He cares about my future. He cares—he loves me. And I’m stupid to think that you will ever love anyone but yourself.” She pulled out of another attempt at him embracing her, and stormed out of the bar. When she reached the mouth of the alley Jess had gone down, she stopped.

Logan hadn’t followed.

Rory turned her head, trying to spot Jess in the crowd. She only hoped he hadn’t jumped into a cab. She turned her head left, and saw him taking his time as he walked. Rory let out a rush of air, feeling for the first time like a weight had been lifted. “Jess!” she called, her steps quickening as she tried to get closer. “Jess, wait!”

He stopped, and turned around, that all too familiar smirk on his lips. He didn’t say anything, and just looked at her.

“I...” For the first time in a while words failed her, and Rory couldn’t think of anything to say. She could feel a smile blossom on her lips for the first time in months, and wondered if that was enough for now.

Jess reached out to take her hand, and pulled her with him as he turned back around. She had no idea where they were going, only that she would follow him anywhere.

Rory Gilmore
Gilmore Girls
Words: 662

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