Jess

First thing in the morning, bad, evil idea.

He slammed his hand down on the alarm clock next to his bed. He groaned and slowly opened his eyes.

He slunked out of the comfort of the blankets to the closet. He picked out a pair of jeans and two of something that looked okay enough in groggy vision.

After pulling on his shoes and socks he went to work on getting his hair just perfect enough to live.

He couldn't really care enough to do more, what kind of good impression would he really need anyways.

He stretched, shoved a book in his back pocket and headed downstairs. Luke was already up working.

"Hey, you got some time. I'll pay you double for 15 minutes, we're swamped."

"Oh goody. Coffee I assume?"

"Yeah, just refills for now."

He looked around and grabbed the pot and went around to each table questioning the coffee they needed.

Soon enough Rory and Lorelei walked in and sat at the counter. He decided about then was the time to get out.

"School time, pay me when I'm home," he called, walking out and heading for the school.

He stopped by the front office where two women sat with papers scattered and plenty of teachers hovering.

"Hey, uh, I'm new I need my schedule or whatever."

"Oh, you're Jess Mariano, right?"

"Yes, I am."

"Ah, I see. Welcome to Stars Hollow High, I'm Ms. Lindy and this is Mrs. Habers. You can come talk to us about anything you need. Now, as far as classes go here's a printed version. You can find the map of the school on the back there, too. We also want to see you in the counseling office at lunch where we can get you accustomed to our counseling staff. We know moving can be hard."

"Shocker. I guess I'll see you then," he said, tucking it in his other pocket.

The first class was painful, he'd been out too long. He managed to remember the genius that was examining others. Next to him there was a girl with really dark hair, almost black. She was wearing glasses and a Sonic Youth shirt. Maybe she's be at least bearable if it came to needing a source for this classes work. She seemed bored and a little focused on something else. He was pretty sure her name was Lane from the roll call, or that was someone else. But he was pretty sure.

The guy in front of him was tall, way too tall. It was annoying. At least he had the tact to stay under seven feet unlike this ghoul. He had light brown hair and a simple coat over a plain shirt and jeans. Totally reliable if he needed something, but probably boring in regard to everything else.

Everyone else was pretty average or too far away to be noticed. What he really wished was there was a way to sneak just a ton of music through his pocket so he wouldn't get so burnt tired all the time. A little buzz would make it so much more interesting.

Maybe Lane knew Rory. They seemed pretty similar to each other at least in age, both smart and not total duds. Rory was a goody but she was at least smart with good taste in books. Lane was pretty quiet but she was smart with a good taste in music. Surely they'd know each other in a tiny place like this.

Maybe Rory had already told Lane about the whirlwind of disaster he had caused at dinner. Well whats one less person.

To him that was a little more sad because in the end one less put him back at one, Luke. Oh boy.

Finally the bell rung and he jetted out of his seat to get out. There was nothing he could want more than to leave about now. Thank God he could at least go and find a spot to sit or think or something without that bright fluorescent lights blinding him.

He ended up back on the Gilmore's road. Maybe he was curious, maybe just bored. It didn't look like anybody was home, at the Gilmore's or the house next to theirs.

That house was home to a nutjob of a couple. They collected dumb garden gnomes, who the fuck collects them. They were like a whole army, freaky. He could bet they had like conversations with them. The idea suddenly struck him to start acting. Something small and little to start just for a little drama. He saw one dumb one and began the walk back to Luke's.

When he did he decided to stuff the damn thing in the closet under his junk, lay down, and listen to music until he developed a ringing in his ear.