𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍. . . 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘈 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘦
❝ If we were on a date, you would know. ❞

  "YOU CAN'T WRITE that."

  "And why not?"

  "Because it's stupid."

  Jess and Charlie had taken up residence on the ground of his and Luke's apartment. It was the first time they'd worked on their English project together since getting it, Charlie was trying her hardest but anything she wrote was 'stupid' and Jess refused to tell her what he was writing.

  "It just says you write in the margins of books! What am I supposed to write?" Charlie complained, dropping her notebook onto the floor before shoving her fingers into her hair.

  "Write something about my sparkling brown eyes."

  Charlie glanced up to find Jess's deadpan expression matched the bland words. 

  So she threw her notebook at him.

  As hard as she possibly could.

  "Ow!"

  "I need a good grade on this and you keep trashing whatever I write!" The girl cried out, "And you won't even tell me what you're writing!"

  "Because it's not done yet."

  "Fine, then you can't know what I'm writing until it's done either!" Charlie yanked her notebook back from Jess, slamming it shut.

  "Fine!"

  "Fine!"

  Charlie stood, pulling her bag onto her shoulder and walking out of the apartment. Her strides were strong and purposeful as she turned back around at the stairs, flinging the door open to find Jess already standing in the doorway.

  "I'm hungry."

  "Let's go."

⌁

  Jess leaned his head against the window as Charlie tapped the steering wheel to the beat of a song he had requested. Lucky for him, Charlie owned an AC/DC CD.

  "Where are we going?"

  "Shh," Charlie waved him off yet again, "We have to make one stop, then I'm taking you for the best Gyros in Connecticut."

  Jess seemed fine now, knowing where they were headed. Until they arrived at a record shop. Charlie was still humming, happily heading into the store without worrying about Jess.

  He hurried from the car, catching up to Charlie just before the door closed behind her.

  "You are aware you don't own a record player, right?" Jess questioned Charlie.

  "Oh no, not until you brought it up actually," Charlie rolled her eyes.

  "Hey, I'm just tryna help."

  "Hey, Ray," The girl grinned, leaning on the counter, "Do you have it?"

  "When have I ever failed you?" The boy, who looked barely 20, pulled a slightly weathered album from under the counter, "Led Zeppelin, Houses of the Holy. Original 1973, in mint condition."

  "You're the best," Charlie tugged her wallet from the bag hanging off her shoulder, "How much do I owe you?"

  "For you? Only 20."

  "Ray, that is a major discount."

  "Is it? I thought that's what the sticker said." 

  Charlie shook her head as he scribbled the real price into a messy '20' before ringing it up.

  "Thanks, Ray."

  "Anytime, Angel!"

  Jess furrowed his brows, following the girl outside and back to the Jeep. Only once they were back on the road did he speak.

  "Angel?" The girl let out a hum at his voice, too focused on merging, "No, I mean he called you Angel?"

  "Oh, yeah." Charlie thanked the dim lighting as her cheeks were hot with embarrassment. "It's kind of a thing. Emma and Liam dragged me there when we were like thirteen, and I saw the Zeppelin Icarus."

  "You didn't."

  "I did," Charlie laughed, "Asked very loudly why there was an angel, and the guys that own the shop haven't let it go-- Ray has decided to carry on the tradition."

  "I like that." Jess leaned back in his seat, "Angel suits you."

  "I thought I was Connecticut?"

  "That was before I knew you," Jess shrugged.

  "You think you know me, Mariano?"

  "I dunno, you keep surprising me," Jess smirked lightly at the girl. "You were pretty, laughing it up with another girl, but I didn't know anything about you."

  "Are you saying I'm not pretty anymore?"

  "Of course not," Jess grinned, "But there's more to you-- you seem like more of an Angel at heart."

  "Are you flirting with me?"

  "You wish."

  The gyros were better than Charlie had promised. Jess laughed at the sauce that dribbled down her chin, and of course, she had to point out he was eating it wrong by attempting to use silverware.

  By the end of the meal, they'd used up most of the napkins in the holder and collectively devoured four (and a half) gyros.

  On the drive back, Jess fell asleep to the quiet melody of Queen's 'Love of My Life' accompanied by the vocals of Charlie Gilmore.

  "Jess," The girl gently poked his shoulder. They'd arrived at the diner five minutes ago, but she couldn't bring herself to wake him. Of course, she had to, neither one of them could sleep in her mother's car, "Jess, wake up."

 "Mmhh."

  "Jess," Charlie groaned, falling back in her seat, "Please?"

  Nothing.

  "Mariano," The girl tried again, leaning back towards him, "Wake up."

  "No."

  "Are you kidding?" Charlie hopped out of the Jeep, walking around and yanking Jess' door open, "Out."

  "This is not how to end a date." Jess peeked an eye open, thanks to Lukes' string lights he could see Charlie's pink cheeks.

  "This wasn't a date."

  "We went out for dinner," Jess unclipped his seatbelt, turning towards Charlie, "Talked about ourselves and argued over who'd pay. Sounds like a date to me."

  "If we were on a date, you would know." Charlie grinned, stepping aside so Jess could exit the Jeep, "See ya!"

  "Night, Gilmore." Jess stood on the sidewalk as Charlie drove away, his smile lingered for a moment before he walked inside and drifted off to a night of real sleep.

⌁

  Charlie could hear her mother trying to persuade Rory to spend the day at home because their grandpa was spending the day in Star's Hollow. The teen was already heading towards the front door, not wanting to be tempted to skip school today.

  She'd been on a roll, thanks to Luke-- or, perhaps, Jess deserved the credit, despite his own absences in Stars Hollow High, he never missed the chance to walk her to school.

  "Want a coffee, Charlie?"

  "I'll grab Luke's on the way to school," Charlie declined her sister, speeding towards the door.

  "Get back here!" Lorelai chased her daughter, "Charlie—"

  "I love you, Mom, but I have already missed a lot of school this year so please don't do this to me."

  Lorelai faltered, it had been a long time since Charlie wanted to go to school and she wasn't going to ruin that. "Fine, but after school—"

  "I have a shift at Luke's."

  "Stop being responsible!"

  "If I'm not, who else will be?"

  Luke Danes would be lying if he said seeing Jess hurry downstairs to meet Charlie didn't make him smile. The both of them seemed far happier together than when they were fighting, maybe it was just because Jess was already tough enough and something about Charlie seemed to snap him back to reality.

  "Good morning Danes'!" The girl grinned, entering the empty diner.

  "Not a Danes."

  "That's a technicality," Charlie waved Jess off, grabbing the pre-bagged donut before watching Luke pour her coffee, "Because you are, kind of."

  "My mom is," Jess sighed, walking behind Charlie as she waited by the counter. He carelessly tossed his chin on her shoulder, supporting himself by the counter on either side of the girl.

  "Which makes you half Danes," The girl pointed, "Thanks."

  "No problem, Pea," Luke sighed, "You're working today?"

  "After school," Charlie confirmed.

  "Ooh, no can do, Uncle Luke." Both parties Jess an odd look as he grabbed his half-full backpack, "Well, Charlie took me on a date last night and I just wanted to repay the favor."

  "You two—"

  "It was not a date!" Charlie crossed her arms, glaring at a smug Jess. "We ate dinner at a cheap little Greek place and he thinks it was a date."

  "Sounds like a date."

  "I hate you both." Charlie exited the diner swiftly, Jess was following until Luke called out to him.

  "Uh, I know we aren't. . . whatever," Luke sighed, "But I've known Charlie since she was three, so just don't do anything stupid again alright?"

  "Worst mistake of my life," Jess shrugged as if he were saying something lighter than air itself, before hurrying out of the diner and after his Gilmore.

( AUTHOR'S NOTE. )
I forgot to double update yesterday
so I'm doing it today-- HOPE YOU
GUYS ARE ENJOYING THE CHESS
CONTENT!