FIGURE 8 | Gilmore Girls

[CHAPTER 3]

Later that night, Luke walks into the living area, where Jess is shuffling cards on his bed with a lit cigarette in his mouth, while I'm sitting on the couch tuning my old guitar. I haven't played since Jimmy - our dad - left two years ago, mainly because he bought me it. Surprisingly, I haven't destroyed it to a million pieces.

"So, you got unpacked?" Luke asks, more directed at Jess, who answers with a 'Yup'. "Got enough space in the closet?" Luke asks again, opening a window. "Don't worry, there's plenty, Luke." I assure him, smiling slightly at his concern.

"You hungry?" Luke asks again. I go to answer but Jess beats me. "18!" he randomly blurts out, confusing Luke and I. "What?"

"Just counting how many questions 'til we hit 20." Jess clarifies, making me smirk, amused. "Okay, never mind." Luke sighs, annoyed.

Just then, the phone rings, and Luke heads over to answer it. "Yeah. Yeah, Liz, they got here fine." Luke tells Liz - our mother - over the phone. "Got here at 10:00 this morning." I state, annoyed, while Jess smirks at me, offering me a cigarette, which I decline.

You see, sometimes when I'm extremely stressed or annoyed, I have a cigarette. Luckily, I haven't needed one in about six months.

"Okay, hang on a sec. Guys?" Luke offers us the phone, as mom wants to talk to us. "Pass." we decline in unison, making Luke cover the phone so he can talk to us.

"Guys, come on."

"Nope."

"What am I suppose to tell her?"

"Tell her I gotta take another crack at that closet. You know, I think I hung my 'Tool' t-shirt next to my 'Metallica' t-shirt, and they don't really get along." I tell him, amusing Jess.

"You really want me to tell her all that?"

"You think a different band combo would sell it more?" Jess argues with our uncle, making Luke give up.

"Yeah, Liz, Jess and Jade are gonna have to call you back. Yeah, they're helping me out with a shelf thing, and their hands are full. Yeah, I'll tell them. Okay. Bye." Luke ends the call, before turning to us.

"She said to tell you that your stuff will be here on Friday." Luke explains, as I feel a wave of relief that I didn't have to talk to my mother.

"Great. We'll have a party." Jess sarcastically comments, making me chuckle.

"You know, your mom thinks this is..." Luke sighs, "... you know, the best for your own good, Jess. And she sent you, Jade, to help keep an eye on him. Anyhow, I guess you'll just call her when you feel like it."

"Want to play some poker? 5 bucks a hand?" Jess offers.

"No."

"10?"

"No."

"I can't go higher than 10."

"Jess..."

"Okay, 15."

"Yeah, I don't wanna play."

"What about you, Jade?"

"Nah, I'm good, Jess."

"You sure?"

"I'm sure. You sure, Luke?"

"I'm sure."

"Okey-dokey."

"So, listen, Lorelai - you met her today, remember? Anyhow, um..." Luke awkwardly trails off, so I jump in.

"She invited us to her house tomorrow night for dinner." Luke gives me a nod of appreciation.

"Right, her son, Chris, and her daughter Rory - who you didn't meet, but you'll like 'cause they're a lot like Lorelai, but they've got a slightly tighter grasp on reality." I chuckle at Luke's description, making Luke crack a small smile.

"Anyhow, they'll - they'll be there, and... you know... I don't know. It'd be a chance for you two to meet more people, and so I... I said yes." Luke explains, finally concluding.

"We said yes." I correct him, earning a playful glare from Luke, so I childishly stick my tongue out at him.

As expected - from me at least - Jess puts down his cards and gets up, grabbing his jacket and leaving, annoying Luke.

"And that, ladies and gentlemen, is Jess Mariano."

A/N: What do you think so far? What do you think about Jade and Jess' interactions? They always joke with each other - which I like. However, Jade is obviously the more mature one, and Jess sometimes annoys her because of it. Also, Jade will meet Christian in the next chapter (I think). Comment what you think!