A/N: The old warnings still apply. I don't own it. Jess's friend's need to go on a soap diet. Let's except and move on, shall we?

x x x Chapter Two: To Lose Yourself In This Life x x x

He was trying to decide. Should he tell her? Give her time to ingest his reoccurrence in her life? Should he just walk in tomorrow like nothing was wrong?

That was the typical Jess thing to do. Leave and then appear randomly without a care in the world. But how was he supposed to explain this to her?

He hadn’t even wanted this job in the first place. It was handed to him and he couldn’t say no.

x Flashback: Three years in the past x

There he stood, staring at the wall. He had been in this building a lot as a child, but never in this room. I reminded him of high school, with all the locker’s lining the walls. He leaned back on one as a group of guys entered the room.

He wasn’t looking forward to this.

“You the rookie?” One asked him.

“No.” He replied simply. Honestly, he had no idea why he was here. He just didn’t feel like talking.

“Guys, this is Jess Mariano. He’s working here now, taking over for Derek.”

“Great, I’m Scott Everson. This is Ian Stiles.” He offered his hand, Jess ignored it.

“The guys will show you your locker, and I’ll give you your stuff later.” He slapped Jess on the back and he glared at the man. This wasn’t what he wanted, wasn’t what he expected.

“I need to talk to you.”

“I’m sure it can wait, Jess.” His tone had a marked superiority. It unnerved Jess to no end.

“No, now.” He replied as he pulled Ben into the hall and shut the door quickly behind him.

“You can’t keep doing that Jess.” He sighed and smoothed out the wrinkles on his shirt.

Jess ignored him. “What the hell is this?”

“What do you mean?”

“You said job, you never said I’d be a cop.”

“This is a police station. What else did you think you’d be doing?”

“I thought I’d be cleaning or something.” He paused. “I can’t do this.”

“You can and you will.” Again with the condescending tone. He fought the urge to punch the guy, remembering the reason he was there in the first place.

“Ben, I’ve spent the majority of my life running from the cops.”

“Well, this job will probably make that a bit more difficult. But you’re creative, you’ll figure something out.”

Jess stared at him blankly. The urge was getting much harder to fight.

“Now get out there and meet the boys.”

If Ben had given him the time he would have informed him that he’d rather be pushed out of a moving train. But Ben didn’t give him the time. He was sent straight back into a room full of complete strangers.

The man he remembered as Scott, pointed towards his locker. “So this is yours. If you have any questions just ask. I’m here to help.”

“And no, he’s not gay he’s just really in touch with his feminine side.” Interjected Ian from the back. “Oh, a little advice?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t die. Everyone always dies. Gets fucking annoying after awhile.” Scott looked at him, bewildered. “This is what, the forth guy to fill the position this year?”

Scott laughed, as if finally getting the non-existent joke. “He’s just fooling around. No one really dies.”

“No shit Sherlock.” He scowled. “I think he got it the first time.”

“He’s just in a bad mood. His girlfriend dumped him.”

“She didn’t fucking dump me. We’re taking a break.”

“Face it dude, you’ve been dumped.” He replied, as he draped his arm around the other guy’s shoulder.

“It’s just, she wants me to tell her what I’m thinking. Like, I’m actually thinking all the time.”

Scott sighed. “You just gotta make up some feelings and tell her you have ‘em.”

“Is desire to have sex a feeling?” Ian offered hopefully. Jess groaned.

This was insane.

x End Flashback x

He had worked for three years and he was used to it. In a way the idea had grown on him, a lot like Stars Hollow had.

“Hey Jess.” He looked up, Alison. She was a no one who obviously thought she was a someone. She was Curley’s wife. Ian didn’t have a prayer.

“You never called me.”

He took another swig of his drink, listening to the laughing of the guys in the bar behind him. “I was busy.”

“You said you would call.”

He shrugged. “I lied.”

“Lying is wrong. It’s a sin.” She looked at him innocently, her hand falling to his leg.

“Yeah well, so is dressing like a whore but that never stopped you.” It was a cold remark but she didn’t care, her hand continued to travel.

“Hey Ian! Your girl’s getting horny, I think it’s time to take her home.” She glared at him as Ian returned to the table.

He smirked. “Is she now?”

“I’m not going anywhere with you, bastard.”

“A little too feisty for my taste. You need another beer.”

“Whatever.” She got up and left the table, making eye contact briefly with Jess on her way out.

“I keep asking her to sleep with me.” He paused to take a drink. “She’s gotta give in one of these times.”

“You’re hopeless.”

“I know.” He took another drink and Jess looked around the bar aimlessly. “So what’s with you?”

He snapped out if it. “Huh?”

“Are you really still hung up on Sarah? Cuz if you are, that’s kinda pathetic man.”

“I don’t even remember who Sarah is. I recognize the name but the mental image just isn’t clicking.” He continued to search the room. He had no idea what he was looking for but he searched anyway.

“So, if it’s not Sarah, who is it?”

“No one, I’m just tired.” He replied, lamely.

“That’s complete shit and you know it.”

Jess just shrugged and took another sip of beer. Ian did the same.

x x x

“I know it’s late and you all have lives but I called this meeting for a reason.” The principal shouted.

They had all fallen into a deep discussion on what take out would need to be ordered for that evening. Everyone had to have a say.

Rory just pulled out a book and began reading, it was the best way to drown out the noise. They were worse then her students.

“Listen up!” If he couldn’t get them to shut up, he would just talk over them. “We’re here for a reason. The Terra Nova scores for the high school came in-”

“How is this news? You’re here to tell us we all suck and our kids flunked the test.” Came a voice from the end of the table.

“No, that’s not it at all. It’s the exact opposite actually. The English and Math scores have improved by over 50 percent-”

“You mean…” Travis gave an exaggerated sigh.

“Yes, the kid’s might have actually learned something from this new curriculum.” Gasps of ‘It’s a miracle’ and ‘So, there is a God.’ Were heard throughout the room as he continued. “And the thanks all goes to Dave and Rory.”

He rolled his eyes. “Great, great. Can we go now?”

“No, not yet.” He continued. “I want to give my congratulations to the pair. They obviously know what they are doing…unlike some people.”

“Congratulations.” He replied sarcastically. “Look, I’ve got to get home. I promised my wife I wouldn’t be late for dinner.”

“You’ve still got a wife?” asked the shocked man next to him.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing, I’m just surprised is all…”

“Yeah, sure you are.”

The principal sighed, defeated. “You know, we’ll finish this tomorrow.”

“Hallelujah.”

Rory sighed and got up, another pointless meeting. Personally, she would like nothing more then to have Travis fired. He was a complete jack ass.

“What’re you thinking?” Interjected a voice from behind her. She smiled, Dave.

“I’m thinking about how satisfying it would be for Travis to finally get what’s coming to him.”

The man chuckled. “You’re evil.”

“I know, I get it from my mother.”

He looked at her meaningfully, and she felt a warm glow spread throughout her body. She cherished the feeling.

“So you still up for tonight?”

“Definitely.” I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

“Okay, well I’ll see you then.” He winked at her as he headed down the opposite hallway. She shook her head.

“Oh, make sure to tell Mercy I said hi.”

“I'll do that.” She smiled again.

That feeling, it just might be love.

Edited by: EncartaQueen at: 22/4/05 2:07 pm