IDLE TOWN, jess mariano

¹⁴detention gods

「 chapter fourteen 」
❝ I know daddy jesus is looking out for me „

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"EXCUSE ME," ARIES MUTTERED TO NO ONE in particular as she shoved past customers to get inside the diner.

A few people got annoyed with her disregard for manners, but she didn't really care—she was late and these people were in her way.

There are other places to eat, she thought to herself, rolling her eyes and making her way behind the counter.

"You're late," said Luke, walking past her to grab food and serve it to customers.

"I know, sorry," she said, "the traffic was a state."

She dropped her backpack where it normally sat and tightened her low ponytail.

"It's Stars Hollow; there is no traffic," said Luke, "and you don't even drive."

Aries shrugged and Luke sighed in exasperation, brushing it off. He already had enough to deal with and arguing with Aries about imaginary traffic wasn't going to get anything done.

"Who pissed in his organic, all-natural granola?" she muttered, passing by Jess to make herself toast. Jess, however, was too absorbed in his book to even notice her presence among the pre-existing bustle of the diner. "Morning to you, too."

"Hmm?" he hummed, not looking up from his book. "D'you say something?"

She shook her head before remembering that he wasn't even looking. As soon as her toast popped out from the toaster, she reached to grab it but Luke came over, grabbed it, and put it on a plate before going off to deliver it.

Aries threw her hands up in exasperation but didn't bother. It was his restaurant that she was supposed to be working in. Jess, finally looking up from his book, noticed the interaction and reached over, grabbing a bagel and holding it out to her.

"Bagel for your troubles?" he offered, still clutching his book open.

"Thanks," she muttered, taking and biting into the cold bagel.

Luke returned back behind the counter, Jess went back to reading, and Aries took the coffee pot to refill customers' mugs and collect plates.

"I swear to God, Tom, you are dead!" she heard Luke yelling from where he was standing behind the counter. She looked at the commotion with raised eyebrows as she made her way back behind the counter, returning the coffee pot and making more. "You hear me? Dead!"

"There's nothing wrong with the food, Luke," said Rory, who was standing on the other side of the counter, presumably to pay the check.

"Oh," Luke said, "sorry Tom."

Rory said, "I just wanted to thank you."

"Yeah, for what?"

"For the care package," said Rory. "It was really sweet of you."

"What care package?" Luke asked.

Jess, who had been listening in, pried his eyes away from the book and intervened. "Hey Luke, I think they hit the water line again."

"Oh, wait?" said Luke, walking away to where Tom was working. "Tom, you are dead! You hear me? Dead!"

Aries looked with raised eyebrows between Luke, Jess, and Rory, none of whom had noticed her eavesdropping. Besides her cold bagel, there was nothing too interesting going on so their conversation would have to do for entertainment.