❝JESS AND DEAN SHOWDOWN❞
▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹ chapter sixty-four,
Gilmore Girls — Season Three

𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏𝟔𝐭𝐡, 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟑
―୨୧⋆ ˚ LUCY'S POV

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐁𝐎𝐃𝐘 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐊𝐘𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐘, 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐈 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐆𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐎 𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐌𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐘. I'm not usually the party goer── having only gone to one party in my eighteen years── but I decided to come along and see what all the fuss was about.

So far it's not too bad.

I'm standing with Addy, Nathan, Dean and Lindsay, leaning back against Tristan while Lane's band plays in the living room. What I didn't know is that Lane Kim has done the unspeakable. She's started a band, and she's... good. Like, really good at the drums.

Dad is staying at the Independence Inn with Nicole for the night, but I promised him that I'd be home before midnight, and I was strictly told to keep an eye on Jess because since we finished school, he's been... iffy. It might have something to do with his car missing that Dad claims he didn't steal, but I know my dad better than anybody. He stole Jess' car because he wasn't going to school and until Jess graduates, Dad will be keeping the trashy car.

Regardless, Jess has been in a funk since we finished school, and I'm determined to figure out why.

I don't know where Jess is at the moment, but I know he's somewhere with Rory. He seems happy with her most days, but today he just looks moody, and I really can't figure out why. He seemed fine before school, so his mood can't have anything to do with his car.

I look up at Tristan, smiling. His arm wraps around my torso, his palm resting on my stomach, and I place my hand over his, settling into his touch. This party is crowded, but I feel just a tad bit safer here with him.

Since Tristan and I last had our talk, we haven't discussed Oxford or Yale. All I know is that he's going to Oxford because, well, after our talk, I assume that's where he'll end up, and that's okay. We'll talk when he needs to leave, but for now, we're going to enjoy every second we have together.

  His chin rests on my head, and I hear him say something to Dean and Nathan, but I'm more focused on the band playing in front of me. According to Rory, they're Stars Hollow's rockingest band, and I have to agree.

  "Aren't they amazing?" Addy says to me, stepping away from Nathan to lean next to me. She's sipping something from a red-solo cup and I snatch it from her. "W-What are you──" I look at the orange liquid, shaking my head as I dump the contents into the plant pot behind me. "Lucy!"

  I push the cup into her hands. "You're underage, Ad. What are you doing?"

  "Having fun. You ever heard of it?"

  I glare at her. "I just don't like you..." I shrug. "...drinking, that's all. You have no idea what's in that."

  "It's from the keg. It's just beer, Luce."

  "Yeah, right."

  I know you're only young once, but I don't see the point of drinking at these kinds of parties. I mean, beer stinks and it looks gross, so why would anyone want to drink it? Sure, she's allowed to drink whatever she wants, but I'd rather her just not do it front of me.

  Tristan moves his arm, now resting it around my shoulders as I push off him, now leaning against the wall behind him. Addy and Lindsay have struck up a conversation on one side of me, and Tristan is talking with Dean and Nathan on the other side of me.

  I stand in the middle, staring into the crowd of people. Some make out with each other in the corner, some dance to the band music, and some drink their weight in cheap, watered down beer from the dodgy keg in the kitchen.

  I free myself from Tristan, whispering a quick, "I'm gonna go to the bathroom," when I'm actually going to grab some air, I just don't want him to think there's something wrong when they're definitely isn't.

  I'm okay, I just don't like parties, and I really need a breather.

  I move outside, stepping past one person who is currently throwing up in a bush. I've been here for an hour, and have already seen my fair share of people vomiting. Clearly people cannot handle their alcohol which is another reason I don't fancy drinking. What if I throw up? I hate being sick, and haven't been sick in years, so I don't really fancy it.

I decide to sit on the kerb outside the house, and I pull my knees up to wrap my arms around my legs. I stare straight ahead at the dark, empty road, something of a smile on my face, and my eyes come to a close.

It's quiet out here. A party is happening ten meters away, but it's deathly quiet out here in the cold, brisk air.

Well, it's quiet for about five seconds until I hear somebody say, "Hey, Lucy."

I turn my head, peering over my shoulder at── "Rory," I say, a little surprised that she's talking to me. We haven't shared many words lately despite her dating my cousin. The last time we talked it was Thanksgiving, and we barely shared a word there.

But I discovered that she's also going to Yale because my dad told me after he told everybody── the entire freaking town── that I was going to Yale. Now the town's beloved daughters are going to the same school, and it's the most exciting news ever.

"I was wondering if you've seen Jess?"

I shake my head, turning away from her. "No, sorry."

I expect her to walk away── to leave me here, but she doesn't. I hear her footsteps behind me, and then she's sitting down next to me on the kerb. I don't question her. I don't move away. I just sit here, staring at the road while Rory sits down.

She looks over at me. "Do you know what's up with him? He's..." She pauses, looking away. "I don't know, he's acting strange."

"Yeah, I know," I reply, resting my chin on my knees. "I don't know what's going on with him, but I'm sure he'll... sort it out, whatever the problem is."

"Yeah." Rory pauses, tapping her foot against the road. I know I should say something to break this awkward silence, but I can't say a damn word. I won't say a damn word. "Well, I should──"

"Well done on getting into Yale," I say quickly, finally speaking my mind.

She smiles, surprised. "Thanks. Y-You too. Your dad, he──"

"He told everybody. Yeah, I know," I laugh, not feeling embarrassed because I'm lucky to be this loved by him. Seriously, Dad is so proud of me, and that prideful look on his face has made this entire journey worth it. All I've wanted is to make him proud, and even know he says I've been making him proud my entire life, I'm still happy I did this right. I'm still glad I made it to Yale.

"Well, I think it's great," Rory says. "I didn't think I'd be going to Yale, but..." I look over at her, and she shrugs. "Anyway, congrats."

"Yeah, you too."

I look away from her, and Rory peers over at me, a strange look on her face. "Are you... Are you okay?" she asks, and I nod. "It's just, you're outside, and I don't mean to pry, I just──"

"I'm okay," I interrupt. "Just needed a breather, parties aren't really my thing, you know?"

She chuckles. "Yeah, I know."

Right, she does know. At the first and only party I ever went to, we talked and she reassured me that I was the best thing to happen to Tristan, and that I really shouldn't worry about us. Two years later, Rory Gilmore was right. I didn't have to worry about the previous girls or him because we're better than ever.

Except for the fact that he'll be going to a school three-thousand miles away, but I'm determined to make it work.

"Well, you were right that day. I-I didn't need to worry about anything with Tristan. We're──"

"Very much in love?" I nod, blushing like an idiot in love which I am. "You two are good together. You..." She shrugs. "...suit each other."

"Thanks." I like that. We suit each other, and in every way, I think we do. "I think you've really had an impact on Jess," I admit, but I don't shut up. "I think you're good for him."

She nods, looking away from me. "Yeah." She hits her hands on her knees. "Speaking of him, I should, uh, go find him."

"Yeah." She stands up, and I stand up with her. "Uh, let me know if you still can't find him."

"Yeah, I will."

She begins to walk back towards the house, and I don't know what possesses me, but I call out, "Hey, Rory."

She spins around, facing me. "Yeah?"

"At Yale, if you..." I suck in a sharp breath. "If you need anyone or anything, you can always speak to me."

She cracks a smile. "Yeah. That'd be nice." I nod, feeling a little silly for being so awkward. "And if you need anybody, you can talk to me."

"Thanks." I give her an embarrassing, slightly stupid wave, and Rory laughs, turning back towards the house.

I'd like to think I've got a friend in Rory Gilmore, but I'll have to see how that one pans out once we're in Yale together.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

𝐈 𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐘 𝐓𝐎 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐘 𝐁𝐄𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐊𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐌. Thankfully, I was able to integrate with my other, non-kissing friends who stand on the stairs, talking together.

Tristan immediately envelopes me in his arms, and asks if I'm okay which I definitely am.

He turns back to Dean, resuming his conversation, and I look to Lindsay who is already beaming at me either from being annoyingly in love with Dean or from seeing me. I'm going to go with the latter── seeing me.

"You okay?" she asks, and I nod, freeing my hand from Tristan's grip to talk to her. "I know you weren't in the bathroom, but it seemed like you wanted to be alone."

I shrug, looking to the boys who are still talking about sports or motorcycles or... well, something stupid, I don't know. I look back at Lindsay, leaning a little closer so the boys don't overhear me because the band has stopped playing.

"I'm okay, I promise. Just needed a breather."

"And it has nothing to do with you and Tristan?" I scoff, looking away from her, and she nudges me. "I'm sorry, it's just... I can understand if you're still upset about him leaving."

I shake my head. "I'm not..." I look to her. "...I'm not upset, Lindsay. We haven't talked since that day, and there's nothing else to say. He's going to go to Oxford, and I'm going to go to Yale, and we're going to do long-distance."

"And that's what you want?"

"Yes," I insist, hoping I sound convincing enough because I really, really do want Tristan to do whatever he's gotta do.

We're going to make our relationship work, I just know it.

"Okay," Lindsay whistles. "Well, if anyone can make it work, you two can. You're Luce and Tristan. You have what the whole world looks for, and I'm damn jealous."

Exactly. We're Luce and Tristan.

I quirk a brow. "You're jealous?" I laugh. "I've seen you and Dean, Linds. You don't need to be jealous. You two are..." I peer over my shoulder, and my words die on my tongue when I see Rory standing in front of Dean, tears in her eyes, and her head hung low. "Rory?"

I step away from Lindsay, rejoining Tristan and Dean who are looking down at a tearful Rory. "Rory, are you okay?"

"Yes," she cries, shaking her head. "No. I don't know."

"What happened?" Dean asks.

Jess walks down the stairs, walking after her, and he stops when he sees she's talking to Dean. "Figures," he mutters under his breath, barging past everybody to walk down the stairs, away from us.

What the hell happened?

I'm about to follow after Jess when a hand clasps my shoulder, yanking me back. I turn abruptly, finding Dean to be the one to pull me back before he barges down the stairs.

After my cousin.

"Dean, no," Rory calls out, watching as her ex-boyfriend steps up behind Jess, grabbing his shoulder. "Dean!"

"Dean, don't!" Lindsay calls out, and I begin to rush down the stairs as Dean spins Jess around, lifting his fist to send it straight into the side of his face. "Dean!"

I feel Tristan grasping my arm, trying to pull me away as I barge down the stairs. Jess falls into a classmate, knocking the drink right out of his hand, but he stands up, regaining his balance as he charges forward at Dean.

I stand at the bottom of the stairs, realising I can't get involved without getting a fist thrown in my face. Lindsay stands behind me, calling for Dean, but it's no use.

He's fighting over a girl that isn't his girlfriend, and while I need to question that, I can't because he's fighting my freaking cousin who could do without a black eye for the foreseeable future.

Tristan pushes forward, moving to grab ahold of Dean who shoves Jess against the sofa. "Stop!" Tristan is pushed back against the wall, and I rush forward, grasping his arm to pull him back. While I appreciate trying to get involved and stop this nonsense, I don't need him injured in this stupid, childish squabble.

Dean grabs ahold of Jess again, dragging him through to the kitchen and I rush after them, following Rory who is trying to call out for them to stop. There's no use though, the boys continue to fight with each other── sending half-assed punches and kicks at one another.

Dean's back hits the floor, the keg gets pushed over, and Jess gets kicked back into the counter. "Stop it!" I yell, trying to help, but they really won't listen to reason. "Stop it!"

Tristan pulls me back when I try to step in and yank the boys apart, and I understand why he wants to pull me back, but I really need to stop this fighting. I know something is bothering Jess, and now he's fighting with Dean, and Dean shouldn't have even started this ridiculous fight, and I'm just... pissed.

Jess pushes Dean forward, shoving him through the kitchen door where they crash into two innocent bystanders── one being Dave from Lane's band. I rush after them, following headfirst into this mess, and I mutter a quick apology to the boys caught in the mess.

They come crashing into the band equipment and another party goer tries to grab ahold of Jess, but he doesn't budge. Dean shoves the poor, innocent boy trying to stop them out of the way, and he grabs ahold of Jess again, throwing him against the nearest wall forcefully.

Jess retaliates by punching Dean across the face, sending him into the stair bannister.

Somehow, these lunatics have done a full circle of the house, now right back at the staircase where this madness happened.

Thankfully, two boys grab ahold of them and shove them outside the front door where they topple onto the grass outside. I follow hopelessly, one hand in Tristan's and the other in Lindsay's. Just as I step outside, Dean punches Jess across the face, and I flinch.

"Stop!" I yell, along with a few others who obviously don't need a fight on their hands.

Jess and Dean are freed, and they stop in front of one another, breathing heavily. They don't start up a fight again, so I run forward, moving towards Jess immediately.

"You freaking idiot!" I smack the back of his head, beyond angry that he'd fight with Dean of all people. Sure, he started the fight, but he could've been the bigger person here. He could've not fought with him.

Jess looks to me, his face hard and annoyed. He then looks past me, glancing at Rory who looks upset and confused.

I grab Jess' arm. "What's wrong with you?"

He yanks his arm free, taking a few steps back. "Just leave me alone."

Sirens sound, and those around me begin to panic.

Jess walks away, and Tristan steps up behind me, sliding a hand onto my shoulder. "There's something going on with him," I say, shaking my head as I stare straight ahead at Jess who is crossing the street.

"Come on, Blue."

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

          ❝𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐄𝐒𝐍'𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄?❞ I ask for the fifth time tonight after calling Jess sixteen times only to receive his voicemail every damn time. It's three in the morning, and Jess is nowhere to be seen.

I swear I've checked every part of town, and because I know his car is missing, he can't have drove anywhere, so he has to be here. He just has to be in town somewhere, and I can't freaking find him. God, he's annoying.

Dad told us to stay safe, and now one of us is missing. He's not in the diner, he's not at the movies, the lake, the school, the bookshop, the gazebo, the market── he's freaking nowhere to be seen, and it's bothering me. He's likely going to have some nasty bruising on his face due to the fight, and I'd like to talk at him or yell at him.

Dad will be home in the morning, and while I've considered calling him, I really don't want to ruin his night with Nicole thanks to Jess.

I need to figure out what's going on with him, and I need to figure it out now.

"He'll come home," Tristan assures, sitting on one of the many stools at the counter. I told him to go home hours ago but he refused, and now he's going to be staying over. He'll be gone before my dad comes home because if he's not, Dad will definitely, definitely kill him.

  I'm pacing up and down, cellphone in hand, and Tristan has been watching me with concerned eyes, but I can't seem to rest. I know I overthink── that's just the kind of person I am── but how can I not panic? Sure, this town is the safest town in the damn world, but I still can't find Jess in this godforsaken place and that bothers me.

  I've lived here my entire life and I can't find him. How can I not find him?

  "He'll come home, Blue. He'll talk to you or Luke. He'll be fine," Tristan reassures, holding his hands out to me. "Now can you please stop pacing. You're stressing me out, baby."

  I stop pacing, and I cross the room to take his hands, still holding the cellphone just in case he calls. "Something's going on with him, I just know something has happened, and it must've happened at school because he was──"

"Luce," Tristan interrupts.

"Yeah?"

"You need to calm down, Blue."

"I know. It's just..." I shrug, looking down at our hands. "...I know it's silly, but he's family, Tristan. He's been so strange lately, and I don't know why, but I thought he could talk to me if he ever needed something, and now..."

"He will talk to you, Luce. He's just..." Tristan exhales. "...handling his crap alone, alright?"

I nod my head, feeling a little silly for being all panicky about something so minor. "Yeah, I'm just being silly, I guess."

"If Logan was missing, Lucy, I'd be doing the same thing." A smile touches my lips because I know he'd do anything for his cousin, similar to how I'd do anything for Jess. He's family, and I know he needs somebody, but he's also a stubborn bastard and he won't talk unless he really, really needs to.

"How is Logan anyway?" I ask, changing the subject to something a little funner.

"Oh, he's living large like always." Logan is at Yale, and I imagine he's having the greatest time. "He's thrilled that you got into Yale and I'll be──" He clamps his mouth shut, and I stare at him strangely, but I don't question him, I just nod. Logan wanted Tristan to go to Yale, but I'm sure he's pleased that Tristan will be going to a university as great as Oxford. "Anyway, he's doing really well. He said he'd help you, uh, settle in if you need anything."

I nod, smiling gratefully. "That's nice of him."

"Yeah, I've visited him a few times, he's doing really great. Loves being away from his parents," Tristan tells me, and I crack a smile, amused that both he and Logan are similar in that sense. They both need to get away from my parents, but being away from my father is the one thing I'm most scared about.

  "I can't wait to go," I admit, moving my hands up his arms. "I mean, I hate to leave my dad, but I'm excited, you know?"

  He nods, a tight-lipped smile on his face. "Yeah, I get you." His hands encircle my waist, pulling me a little closer. "Well, not the leaving your dad part, but I understand why you're excited. You've wanted this for so long and now you're going to have it, Blue."

  "The principal named me valedictorian," I tell him, and his eyes widen, a smile on his face.

"Well, that's amazing, Luce. Nice one."

"And they put my picture on the Wall of Fame," I cringe, recalling the exact photo they used. "It was so embarrassing, but now I'm number thirteen on the wall."

"I need to see the photo."

"No," I insist. "You'll never see that photo."

"Oh, come on." Tristan's hands slide into the back pockets of my jeans, pulling me even closer, and I wrap my arms around his neck, a laugh erupting in my throat. "I bet you look beautiful."

"No, I look constipated," I snort. "It's my photo from ninth grade, and I'm not even looking at the camera."

Tristan grins, pushing his mouth against mine briefly. "I'm so proud of you, pretty girl."

"And I'm so proud of you..." I slide my hands into his hair. "...pretty boy," I tease.

"Now I could get used to that."

"Well, can my pretty boy kiss me now?"

He hums, tilting his head to one side. "Hmm." I glare at him. "I will if you invite me to prom."

I rear my head back. "What?"

Stars Hollow High prom is next week, and I'm a strong believer of not going. I know I have a hot boyfriend and I look good in a dress, but I'd rather sit at home with a tub of ice cream and chocolate cake.

"Your prom is next week, right?" I hum, nodding my head. "And you haven't invited me── your insanely attractive boyfriend." I roll my eyes, not wishing to boost his ego. "Why?"

I scoff. "I was planning on boycotting prom."

"Why?"

I shrug. "I don't know, I just never cared for it."

"Well, I'd love to go with you," he says softly, and I glare at him. "Just for, like, an hour. Please?"

"Don't you have a prom?"

"I am not going to a Chilton prom. Are you crazy?" He flashes me a grin. "Come on, it'll be fun, and if you really hate it, we can go and eat a tub of ice cream and a giant chocolate cake, okay? I'll even buy you the damn ice cream and cake."

He read my freaking mind.

"Fine. I want a huge chocolate cake, like ten layers, not a small one, alright?"

"Of course. I wouldn't dream of giving you anything small." He wiggles his brow, and my mouth gapes in amusement. "Now I will kiss you, my little valedictorian."

I dip my face, and my lips hover over Tristan's for a few seconds before──

The bell rings and the door opens. I spin around, and I find Jess standing at the door. "Jess." He skulks past me, moving away from me and Tristan to the stairs, and I don't stop him.

I sigh, looking back to Tristan. "At least he's home, right?" I nod, moving to lean against Tristan's lap. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I just..." I shrug. "...wanna know what's going on with him, I guess."

"He's okay, Luce." He slides a hand against my back, rubbing soothing circles. "He'll talk to you when he's ready, I promise, but I think I need to drive home, alright?"

"It's late, Tristan."

"I know, but I'll be okay."

"You stayed here till three in the morning." A smile forms on my face, and I slide my hand into his. "You're very──" I look to him. "I love you."

He pushes his mouth to mine briefly. "I love you more, Blue."

"Impossible."

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

authors note:

long long LONG chapter but i really love writing longer chapters especially when i can WRITE

to clarify dean and tristan don't hate each other bcos in this story tristan never liked rory and yeah :)

also i have a question for those reading . . .

when lucy goes to yale, do you want me to create a new group of friends who she lives with
OR do you want her to a suitemate of rory and paris' at yale?

let me know!

and i hope u enjoyed this longer chapter!!