Jo's POV
Jess is gone. Luke took him to the bus station, so he could go back to Liz. It was Jess' idea, but that doesn't make it hurt any less.
Luke wanted to go away for a little while, so I went with him. I just packed a bag, lots of cd's, and a few books. While Luke spent his time fishing I sat in the tent reading, listening to music, and crying.
Luke and I didn't really talk, and I was okay with that. Neither of us are mad, just coping in our own way.
My brother, my twin, my best friend is gone. We've never been apart and I have no idea what to do with myself. My security blanket had been ripped from me... and I didn't pack my meds.
--
We just got home from our get away and run up to drop my bag while Luke gets his stuff from the truck. I hear Luke open the door on my way down the stairs.
"Where's you mom tonight?" I hear him ask
"At a party for my grandpa," a voice replies.
"Oh, sounds nice."
I freeze for a second.
"Grab yourself a donut," he tells her.
"So, have you heard from him?" she asked.
"Oh, no, I talked to his mom, though. He got home okay."
"Good, that's good."
"Jo's not doing so well though."
"Oh, I'm sorry. What about his stuff?"
"Oh, I'm gonna send it."
"Right, that makes sense."
"Luke?"
"Yeah?"
"I wasn't his fault."
"I know it wasn't."
This makes me come out of my hiding spot. She looks up at me. Before either of us can say anything I walk up to her and catch her in a tight hug.
"Thank you," I whisper after a minute.
"For what?" Rory whispers back.
"For believing him. For not blaming him."
--
The next night I stayed with the Gilmores. Lorelai is graduating and is having her own little party of three. We jam out to music while she gets drunk off a pitcher of margaritas.
"I'm feeling so good, sister, because it's over. No more finals, no more studying, no more school. The pressure's off. Do you know how much pressure I felt? Do you? All last week, I felt like a giant man and his brother were sitting on my chest."
"A giant man?" Rory questions.
"And his giant brother."
"Did they have names?" I ask.
"Clem and Clem. Huh, same names. Which did not reflect well on the imagination or their mothers."
"Mother," we both reply.
"Mothers. There were two clem."
"Yeah, 'cause they were brothers," Rory tells her.
"Yes, so they had mothers."
"You're drawing me into your drunken world."
"It's not a bad place to be my friend. Tanks empty," she gets up to refill her cup.
"Hey, what is this?" Rory asks, holding up the book we were looking at.
"What?"
"This 'Life Plan' book thing."
"A little gift for the grads from the happy people at Hartford Community College."
"Hey, how many margaritas is too many margaritas?" she asks.
"Um, if you can't remember where the living room is," Rory replies.
"Ha, I'm still good," she says.
"Also if you leave your kids on a curb you've gone too far," I add.
"We'll see in the morning."
"Here's an interesting question for you, "have you given any thought to how children will work into your future plans?'" Rory reads.
"Oh, well, they're not gonna stand in my way, that's for sure. I mean, I plan to have some of course, but I'm just gonna knock 'em out and have nanny catch 'em and care for 'em, make sure Mick Jagger doesn't come anywhere near them, and then return them to me when they're 21," she replies.
"Well, what about me?" Rory asks.
"You are my favorite eldest child. You get to stay by my side."
"My life is privileged."
The phone rings.
"I'll get it," Rory says.
"Hey, now, if that's Mick Jagger, hang up and blow that whistle I gave you," Drunk Lorelai tells her.
Lorelai takes Rory's spot and puts her legs over my lap.
"Hello," there is a pause.
"Hi," she pauses again.
"Um, no. Just hold on a sec. Um, the music- I'll be right back," she says.
I smile at Lorelai and listen to the music. After a few seconds it registers in my brain. I lift her legs off me.
"I'm gonna get something from the kitchen," I tell Lorelai.
I crack open Rory's door and she sees me.
"No, it's just me, mom and Jo," she tells him.
"Is it him?" I whisper, and she nods.
"Yeah, she's okay," she says and then pulls the phone away.
"He said he's been spending a lot of time at Washington Square Park," she informs me.
"Yeah, we used to have a lot of fun there," I say, sitting next to her.
She listens to him for a second.
"Yeah, it is long distance."
She frowns.
"Yeah, see ya," and then he hangs up.
"Really? That's it?" I ask.
She falls back on her bed.
"Yeah."
"Wow," I replied before laying next to her.
Typical Jess.
--
I get ready for school, help in the diner a little, and then head out. I stand outside of the high school. I look back at the diner and then at the bus stop.
I take off running across the square. I hope onto the bus. Once seated I take a breath. I'm skipping school. I'm on a bus and I'm skipping school.
I get off in Hartford and have to buy a ticket for a bus to New York. Of all people, standing in line in front of me is Ms. Rory Gilmore. I walk up to her.
"I guess it's true. Great minds do think alike," I tell her.
"Jo! What are you doing here?" she asks.
"I think I'm doing the same thing you are. The call gave us nothing, all we know is he's alive. I need more than that," I tell her.
"Me too."
We're next in line. We buy two tickets, each handing over cash to pay for our own, then we're sitting on a bus to New York.
\\ AN // -- All grammar, punctuation, and spelling corrections are helpful, encouraged, and greatly appreciated.
Thank you
-- Izzy