The Forgotten Gilmore

Chapter Twenty-Five: Rooftop Revelations

Later that night, Jess and Alessia found themselves on the rooftop of Luke's Diner, a favorite spot for both of them. The stars were out in full force, twinkling brightly against the dark sky. Jess pulled out a small, tightly rolled joint from his pocket.

"Care for a little extracurricular activity?" he asked, holding it up.

Alessia raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at her lips. "Jess Mariano, are you trying to corrupt me?"

He chuckled, lighting the joint and taking a drag before passing it to her. "Consider it part of your education."

She took it, inhaling tentatively, and then coughed, waving a hand in front of her face. Jess laughed, the sound warm and infectious.

"Not exactly a seasoned pro, are you?" he teased.

She stuck her tongue out at him, passing the joint back. "Shut up. I'll get the hang of it."

They passed it back and forth, the smoke curling up into the night air. As the buzz settled over them, they leaned back against the rooftop, the tension of the day melting away.

"You know," Jess said after a while, "this town might be small and a little crazy, but it's got its moments."

Alessia turned her head to look at him, her eyes half-lidded and relaxed. "Yeah, it does. And it's got its people."

He smirked. "Like me, you mean?"

She laughed softly. "Yeah, like you. And Isabella. And Luke. Even Taylor, with all his annoying rules."

Jess shook his head, a fond smile on his lips. "You know, you and Rory have this way of seeing the good in people. It's kind of impressive."

Alessia shrugged. "I guess we just choose to see the best. Even when it's hard."

There was a lull in the conversation as they both stared up at the stars. The quiet night air felt heavier, softer, like it was cocooning them in their own little world. The high made everything seem a bit more vibrant, a bit more profound.

"Hey," Jess said suddenly, breaking the silence. "Do you think pigeons have any clue about what's going on? Like, do they understand they're flying around pooping on everything, or do they just do it without thinking?"

Alessia burst out laughing, the sound echoing across the rooftop. "What? Pigeons? Where did that come from?"

Jess grinned, taking another drag and passing the joint back to her. "I don't know, I was just thinking about it. Like, do they have pigeon meetings where they discuss the best places to poop?"

Alessia giggled, wiping tears from her eyes. "I doubt it, but now I can't stop imagining it. Like a secret pigeon council."

Jess laughed, shaking his head. "Yeah, and there's probably a grand pigeon leader who assigns the best pooping spots."

"Oh my god," Alessia said, trying to catch her breath. "I can't believe we're talking about pigeon poop. What has this night become?"

Jess leaned back, his laughter subsiding into a content smile. "A good night, that's what."

Alessia took another hit, feeling the marijuana take hold, making her feel even lighter and more relaxed. "Do you ever think about how weird bananas are?"

Jess raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Bananas? Now I'm curious. What about them?"

"Like, they're so...yellow. And smooth. And they come in their own little protective case," Alessia said, her voice dreamy. "And monkeys eat them. It's just...weird."

Jess nodded sagely. "You're right. Bananas are pretty weird when you think about it. But they're also kind of genius."

Alessia giggled. "Genius bananas. That's gonna be my new band name."

Jess chuckled, the sound low and warm. "I'd go to that concert."

As the night grew colder, they huddled closer together, sharing warmth and laughter. The marijuana had relaxed them, making everything seem funnier and more profound.

"You know," Alessia said, her voice a little dreamy, "this town may be small and crazy, but it's ours. And we're making our own stories."

Jess nodded, his head resting against the brick wall behind them. "Yeah, we are. And you know what? I think our stories are pretty awesome."

Alessia smiled, feeling a warm glow in her chest. The night air, the shared joint, and the comfortable companionship all combined to create a perfect moment. "You ever think about the fact that we're just tiny specks in the universe, but we're still important? Like, even the smallest story matters?"

Jess looked at her, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah, I do. It's kind of mind-blowing, isn't it? How everything we do, even the small stuff, can have a ripple effect."

Alessia nodded. "Like, what if one of us decided not to come to Stars Hollow? Our lives would be completely different."

"Yeah," Jess agreed, "or what if we never met? I can't imagine not having you around."

She felt a warmth spread through her, a mix of the weed and Jess's words. "Same here. You're like... my partner in crime."

Jess chuckled. "We do make a pretty good team."

They sat in silence for a while, their heads tilted back as they gazed up at the stars. The world felt far away, their worries and cares dissolving into the night.

"Do you think stars ever get tired of shining?" Alessia mused, her voice soft and drowsy.

Jess looked over at her, a smile playing on his lips. "Nah, I think they love it. It's what they do best."

Alessia's eyes grew heavy, the combination of the marijuana and the soothing night air making her feel incredibly sleepy. "You're probably right. They just keep on shining, no matter what."

Jess yawned, his own eyelids drooping. "Kind of like us, huh? We just keep going, no matter what."

She nodded, her head resting on his shoulder. "Yeah, we do. But right now, I think I just want to sleep."

Jess wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer. "Good idea. Let's just rest here for a bit."

They settled into a comfortable silence, their bodies relaxed and warm against each other. The stars above seemed to twinkle in approval, casting a gentle glow over the two friends as they drifted off to sleep, the peacefulness of the night wrapping them in a cocoon of tranquility.

As they slept, the town of Stars Hollow carried on around them, the quiet hum of life continuing as always. But for Jess and Alessia, this moment was theirs alone, a perfect snapshot of friendship and contentment under the endless sky.