In The Forgotten Gilmore, Alessia Gilmore grapples with adolescence in Stars Hollow, a town where gossip flows as freely as coffee at Luke's Diner. Overshadowed by her mother Lorelai's bond with twin sister Rory, Alessia finds solace in her irrevere...
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The weekend came quickly, and Alessia found herself still avoiding Jess. The unresolved tension gnawed at her, and she couldn't shake the hurt she felt from his words. She had agreed to meet Isabella at the town square, hoping a day out with her best friend would clear her mind.
As she approached the gazebo, she saw Jess standing nearby, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. He spotted her and walked over, his usual confident stride faltering slightly.
"Hey," he said, trying to catch her eye.
"Hey," Alessia replied, keeping her tone cool.
"I wanted to talk to you about the other day," Jess started, scratching the back of his head.
Alessia crossed her arms. "Oh? About how you're just hanging out with Rory to annoy Dean?"
Jess winced. "It's not like that. It's complicated."
Jess sighed, frustration creeping into his voice. "Look, I like hanging out with Rory. She's smart and fun, but it's not just about Dean. And you... you're different. I actually care about what you think."
"Do you?" Alessia challenged. "Because it didn't seem like it when you were laughing about it."
Before Jess could respond, Isabella arrived, sensing the tension. "Hey, what's going on?"
"Nothing," Alessia said quickly. "Just a misunderstanding."
Isabella gave them both a curious look but didn't press further. "Alright, well, let's get some coffee. I need caffeine."
They headed to Luke's Diner, the air between Alessia and Jess still thick with unresolved emotions. When they arrived, they found a table in the corner, and Isabella quickly dove into a story about her latest debate team victory.
As she talked, Jess leaned over to Alessia. "Can we talk more about this later? Please?"
Alessia hesitated but nodded. "Fine. Later."
Later that afternoon, Alessia found herself at the new bookshop in Hartford with Jess, just as they had planned. Despite the lingering tension, they both needed the distraction.
Jess picked up a copy of "On the Road" and handed it to her. "Here. I think you'll like this one."
Alessia took the book, their fingers brushing slightly. "Thanks."
They wandered through the aisles, talking about their favorite books and authors. Jess's usual sarcasm was still there, but he seemed more earnest, more focused on making things right.
"So, any good stories from your wild adventures with Isabella?" Jess asked, trying to lighten the mood.
Alessia smiled, remembering a particularly funny incident. "Oh, there was this one time we decided to sneak into the school's kitchen after hours. Isabella swore she could make the perfect crème brûlée. Long story short, we set off the fire alarm, and Principal Reynolds was not happy."
Jess laughed, the tension between them easing a bit. "Sounds like a typical Gilmore adventure."
As they left the bookshop, Jess looked at her. "So, we good?"
Alessia took a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah, we're good. Just... no more using Rory to get at Dean, okay?"
"Deal," Jess agreed, a small smile tugging at his lips.
