Jo's POV
Eventually Jess got what he wanted. Not only did he get to see Rory, but also have dinner with her. Of course Paris and I are here, but he seems to be enjoying himself nonetheless.
Before getting to work we all sat down to eat. Jess and Paris are having a debate on authors and their writing.
"A tragic waste of paper," Paris says.
"I can't believe you just said that," Jess replies.
"Well, it's true. The Beats' Writing was completely self-indulgent. I have one word for Jack Kerouac. Edit," she says.
"It was not self-indulgent. The Beats believed in shocking people, stirring things up," Jess says.
"They believed in drugs, booze, and petty crime," Paris replies.
"Well, then you can say they exposed you to a world you wouldn't have otherwise known. Isn't that what great writing's all about?" Rory asks.
"Ooh, agreed," I throw in.
"That was not great writing. That was the national enquirer of the 50's," Paris replies.
"You're cracked," Jess tells her.
"Typical guy response. Worship Kerouac and Bukowski. God forbid you'd pick up anything by Jane Austen," she says.
"Hey, I've read Jane Austen," Jess replies.
"You have?" she asks.
"Yeah, and I think she would have liked Bukowski," Jess tells her.
"What are you doing?" she asks.
"Salt and pepper dip. Only way to eat a fry," he says.
"Really?" she asks.
"It's fast-food gospel," Rory replies.
"It's okay," I add.
"Mmm. That's good. That's really really good," Paris says.
"You like hot sauce?" Jess asks her.
Rory leaves to go answer the phone.
"I don't know. Should I?" Paris asks.
"I think it's wise," he tells her.
He gives her some. She tries it and her eyes light up.
"This is good," she says again.
They get back into talking about more books.
"Can't get into poetry. It's kinda like, Jezz, just say it already. We're dying here," he says.
Rory comes back in.
"Wow, I just noticed the time, and it's getting really late," she says.
"It's 7:00," Jess replies.
"I know, but Paris and I still have a lot more studying to do, and we have to help Jo," she says.
She walks over and gets his coat, handing it to him.
"Jess, please thank Luke for me. It was really nice of him," Rory says.
"Who was that on the phone?" Jess asks.
"No one," she replies.
"No one wouldn't happen to be heading over here right now, would he?" Jess asks.
"Jess."
"What's going on?" Paris asks.
"Nothing," Rory replies
"Dean's on his way over, and Rory doesn't want him to find me here," Jess tells her.
"Why?" Paris asks.
"Yeah, why?" Jess asks.
"You know why," Rory replies.
"I'm just eating dinner," he defends.
"Jess, I'm asking you as a friend. Just please leave now," she says.
"You really want me to go?" he asks.
"I really want to avoid a fight with Dean," she tells him.
"Okay, I'm going," he replies.
"Thank you," Rory says.
"Ow! Ooh!" Jess cries.
"What?" Rory asks.
"I just twisted my ankle. I better go lie down," he fakes.
"Jess," Rory and I both say.
I get up as well, and help her push him to the door.
"God, you're no fun when you're tense. Are you sure you want me to go? Cause maybe this whole thing can be solved between me and Dean if we just sat down, had a little heart-to-heart. He could tell me his issues. I'll tell him mine," Jess says.
"Jess," I say.
"I promise I'll speak slowly," he adds.
"Bye," she says opening the door and pushing him out.
"Okay, well, give him my best, would you?" Jess asks.
We all spot Dean as we step out.
"Actually, I guess I could do that myself," he says.
"Dean, Jess just came by to bring me some food," Rory says.
"From Luke's," Jess adds.
He actually tried to help her instead of making things worse.
"I see you brought a little something too. Is that ice cream? That's so nice!" Jess says.
I stand corrected.
"A tiny little ice cream package just big enough for two. Hey, are you guys gonna feed each other?" Jess asks.
"You can go home now," I tell him.
"Oops. you're doing that towering-over-me thing. Huh, I tell you you've really got that down. It helps that you're 12 feet tall, but this Frankenstein scowl really adds to the whole-"
"Jess," Rory and I say.
"Okay. I'm going."
He goes to talk again.
"No more. Home. Now."
He walks off.
"Thank you. I'll be home soon."
"So do you want to-" he cuts Rory off by walking into the house.
"What the hell is going on?" he asks.
"Hi," Paris says, getting caught with her mouth full.
"Dean, you remember Paris, right?"
"Yeah, hi."
"So, Jess just dropped this off, huh?" he asks.
"Oh, well-"
"I know you eat fast, but this is a lot of food to put away that quickly, even on your best day."
"Okay, so he didn't just drop it off."
"You told me you were doing laundry tonight."
"I was."
"And now you're here with Jess."
"And Paris, and Jo."
"Jess, Rory!"
"Well, I swear, I didn't-"
They yell back and forth a bit.
"I bought him with me," I say.
He looks across that table at me.
"What?" he asks.
"I'm sorry. I know how things are between the two of you, but I really needed help on some homework. You know, that really difficult history thing we have?" I ramble out.
He gave me a small nod, and I paused to breath.
"Luke heard I was coming and sent me over food and Jess had to help me bring it over. I knew even with the three of us it was too much food, so I asked him to stay."
I pause again.
"You know we are doing the renovation, so everything is crazy. I thought Jess would be better off with me instead of bugging Luke. I'm sorry, I didn't think about it as her and him being together."
"I'm sorry," I repeat, giving him big eyes.
"Anyway, I should probably get going. I'm probably going to break out in some sort of rash any second," Paris says, finding her escape.
"You know what? I should leave too. I will just figure this out on my own. I'm sorry again, Dean," I say, getting my stuff and not looking at him.
\\ AN // -- All grammar, punctuation, and spelling corrections are helpful, encouraged, and greatly appreciated.
Thank you
-- Izzy