#marginwrote

          “hey, jess.” his voice was tired, heavy, even if it was shrouded in an attempt to seem upbeat and, plainly, okay. jack cleared his throat a bit, shedding his jacket and placing his keys by the door. it wasn’t unusual to find jess home before he’d gotten there himself, especially since randall was staying in a lot more. but he found jess by himself, and though he didn’t think anything of it, he was still not used to the fact that someone wasn’t going to be there all the time for him. jack worked, and though he wished he could be, he wasn’t able to be there to receive him and check on him and offer him something to eat or drink right away. not like she did.           “you, uh... everything okay?” jack looked at him, concern visible in his tired eyes. he was always tired. he couldn’t sleep, he hadn’t been able to even after time. everyone always said it would get better with time. some even had the nerve to say that things would feel normal after some time. so far, he couldn’t believe them. he still slept on one side of the bed. he still struggled to find any sort of peace when he was alone in the dark in a room he shared for over twenty years. he couldn’t shake the feeling of emptiness, of a missing piece. and he couldn’t stop spending hours talking to her when his eyes would close but his mind wouldn’t shut up.

          “i’ve gotten used to it by now           i think he just does it ‘cause i’m new, and... who doesn’t like messing with the new kid?” rory scowled in the direction of her tormentor, that blonde little brat, striding away from her locker after having taken her books and called her a name or two. she clutched them to her chest now, as if he’d turn around and swoop right in again, looking to the boy with a curious little look on her face. “i don’t           ... sorry, i’m still meeting everyone here and all           i’m rory.”

                "   NO   NO   NO,          YOU   GOT   IT   ALL   WRONG,           JESS,          i told you i fell...           honestly i’m fine   ——   everything’s fine.   “           her smile is different,            fake,           tone is far too steady.           subconsciously her hands go to her thick hair,           in order   TO   HIDE   her neck.         there was no use, jess could tell that she was lying,           in fact he was far from the first time someone had noticed her bruises she could always tell with their gaze   ——   but it was   THE   FIRST   TIME   her excuses hadn’t gone ignored.          padmé didn’t know how to feel about that.          padmé had no choice but to relent.          “   it was the dining room table actually   ——   but it was my fault,           I   ANGERED   HIM.   “

          “so, randall mentioned something about a girl.”

❛   I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW I’M HERE FOR YOU,  OKAY?   ❜   she’s got her own kid....  and a half to worry about,  and everything with jess has happened so FAST  ----  the last thing lorelai wants is for him to feel like a burden.  he’s here because luke’s his uncle,  and her fiancé,  so they’ll all be an OFFICIAL family soon enough,  right?   ❛   anything you need,  just let me know.  no worries at all.  even if i seem busy,  or tired,  you’re just as welcome to come to me at any time as rory is,  got it?   ❜   a small smile sits on her lips as she crouches down to his level,  wanting to be sure her next words come across as clearly and gently as possible.   ❛   if you need space,  i’ll give you that,  too,  okay?  i’m never,  ever gonna try and replace your mom,  jess.  i know no one can do that  ----  but i’ll do whatever i can to help,   ❜

“i know things aren’t always           ... comfortable, and i get it, and i’m not gonna make you come, but i’d really like to add your name to the guest list           if you wanna be there.”