MassaHJ

NOTICE

Hey guys, I need your opinion: (spoiler here alert)

I read some thoughts on Webnovel, and I do agree that Jake is too young, but I don't want to rewrite some of the future chapters.

I'm thinking of changing Jake's initial age (a time skip would be messier):

10 → 12 years

4th grade → 6th grade

Tori, Missy, and Sheldon → 12 years

Rory is still 15

He will go to 9th grade at age 13, while everyone else is 15 (I’ve already written ...

Chapter 41: Music Under the Stars

The crowd grew as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting golden light across the waves. Tiki torches flickered to life, and the beachside restaurant buzzed with chatter and anticipation. A local MC stepped up to the mic and welcomed everyone with a bright smile.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our Music Under the Stars competition! We’ve got an exciting lineup tonight—so sit back, relax, and enjoy the talent!”

The first few performers were adults—most strummed guita...

Chapter 40: Broken Hearts

There was a long pause after Joey’s words. Even Uncle Charlie, who usually had something witty to say, stayed quiet for a moment.

Rachel reached out and patted Joey on the arm. “I’m sorry, Joey. That sucks.”

Joey let out a slow sigh. “The worst part? She’s with Ross now.”

Rachel’s eyes widened. “Wait—what?”

“Yeah,” Joey said, bitterness creeping into his voice. “I guess they got close again. Some kind of academic bond. I don’t know. But I ...

Chapter 39: A Stormy Detour

We all stood frozen by the door, watching the rain slam against the windows like an angry tide. Rachel let out an exasperated sigh and threw her hands up.

“I swear, this island has a personal vendetta against fun,” she muttered.

Charlie stepped back from the door, shaking his head. “We were this close to a perfect beach day.”

Monica mumbled something under her breath as she headed toward the mini-fridge. “If we’re stuck inside, we might as well hydrate and snack ...

Chapter 38: The Speech Disaster

Just then, Rachel and Charlie strolled into the pool area, each with a drink in hand. Rachel immediately stopped when she saw the group in various states of laughter—Chandler wiping tears, Phoebe still giggling uncontrollably, Monica leaning into Chandler to stay upright.

Rachel blinked, setting her sunglasses on top of her head. “Okay... what on earth is so funny?”

Charlie glanced over at me with an amused smile. “That was you, wasn’t it?”

Rachel gave me a suspi...

Chapter 37: Island Complications

The rain finally slowed down the next morning—not stopped, just downgraded from apocalyptic to mildly miserable. I took it as a win.

Breakfast was served in the resort’s ocean-view dining hall, though the “ocean view” looked more like a gray smudge today. Alan, Grandma Evelyn, and my mom were already seated. Charlie, of course, stumbled in last wearing sunglasses indoors, like that helped anyone forget he wasn’t exactly drinking juice last night.

“Rough night?” I ask...

Chapter 36: Rain

My eyes were twisting. It was already the third day—and it hadn’t stopped raining.

Not once.

Tropical storm? Bad luck? Friends? Or maybe the universe was just mocking me for ever thinking this would be a smooth, relaxing vacation.

Through the foggy balcony doors, I could barely make out the ocean beyond the curtain of gray. Waves crashed somewhere in the distance, muffled by the relentless downpour.

I lay back in bed and sighed.

———

Later that aft...

Chapter 35: First Class

The boarding announcement echoed over the speakers, and our group began to move forward. We were among the first to board, thanks to Evelyn’s insistence on flying first class. No complaints from me. The seats were wide, the legroom endless, and the cabin looked like something out of a luxury catalog.

As we settled into our seats, I noticed Charlie casually sliding on his sleep mask and reclining like he owned the plane. Alan kept adjusting his neck pillow like it was a Rubik’s Cube....

Chapter 34: The City That Never Judges (Hopefully)

After the chaos on the plane and whatever emotional tornado Rory was currently riding back to Stars Hollow, things felt a bit calmer on our end. We were back to enjoying our final days in New York City.

The next morning, we all headed out to explore more of Manhattan. Evelyn had taken the liberty of booking a private city tour—one of those open-top buses. She insisted we see “the important stuff” before heading off to Barbados.

Charlie sat beside me on the top deck, sunglass...

Chapter 33: Bold Moves

After the applause finally died down, Charlie paid the bill and turned to us with a grin. “Lorelai and I are going to take a little walk,” he said casually. “This place stays open late, and the night’s still young.”

I gave him a knowing nod. “Have fun.”

Rory and I found a quiet couch near the back of the restaurant, away from the crowd. We sat down, side by side, the buzz of the dining room fading into background noise. The soft hum of conversation and clinking glass...

Chapter 32: Dinner with the Gilmore Girls

Later that evening, the four of us sat around a candlelit table at a cozy bistro not far from the hotel (Uncle Charlie wants us to eat somewhere else—apparently, he knows a better place). Conversation flowed easily. Lorelai and Charlie were practically trading punchlines, their energy bouncing off each other like a sitcom script.

Lorelai leaned toward Charlie with a smirk. “We were originally here with my parents,” she said. “But they decided to do the old couple routine tonight...

Chapter 31: Off to Barbados (Eventually)

The day of the trip finally arrived. The house buzzed with a kind of chaotic energy as everyone scrambled to get ready. Suitcases were being zipped shut, passports double-checked.

I was the first one fully packed and dressed, sitting on the couch with my backpack already slung over my shoulder. “Let’s go already,” I said, watching Alan shuffle between the living room and kitchen for the third time.

“Jake, we can’t leave until your mother gets here,” Alan said, trying t...

Chapter 30: After the Applause

As the applause settled, a small group of girls from my class came rushing over.

“That was so cool, Jake!” one of them said, eyes wide with admiration.

“Yeah, you sang like a real pop star,” added another, practically glowing.

I gave a small nod and a polite smile, but under my breath, I muttered, “Do I have some kind of aura that attracts lolis?”

Just then, Uncle Charlie walked up with his signature smirk.

“So,” he said playfully, “are you plan...

Chapter 29: The singing

Charlie stepped into the room with the energy of a man pretending he was anywhere else. The moment he saw the crowd of kids packed into the music room, his grin faltered into a tight, nervous smile.

“Wow,” he muttered. “So many small humans in one place. This is... fine.”

He clapped his hands together weakly. “Alright, um... Jake? Where’s Jake?”

Three different boys raised their hands eagerly.

I sighed, stepped forward from the back of the room, and mutte...

Chapter 28: Rehearsal

The next day, Charlie sat at the piano, singing with all the enthusiasm he could muster—which, frankly, wasn’t much.

♪ Manpower, horsepower, coal and steam Moving forward the American dream Electric, atomic, solar too All this energy for me and you. ♪

I frowned. What the hell was this song?

Judith stood nearby, arms crossed and one eyebrow raised. “Oh gosh, I want to like it.”

“Yeah, want to like it,” Alan echoed, not sounding remotely convinced.

...

Chapter 27 class musical

After the impromptu demolition of the old TV, the smoke still lingering in the air, we stood in awkward silence for a beat. George looked way too pleased with himself. Erica was pretending like she hadn’t just been caught kissing him, and Missy? She looked like she was trying to decide whether she was impressed or just mildly traumatized.

“Okay,” I finally said. “That was fun”

Missy grinned. “Totally worth it.”

Sheldon came storming out of the house just then, ...

Chapter 26: Geniuses

Sheldon froze at my words, blinking rapidly.

“Excuse me,” he said, genuinely offended. “There is a fundamental contradiction in the phrase ‘most intelligent dumbass.’ It’s a paradox. You cannot logically be both simultaneously.”

I turned toward Paige and shrugged. “See? Most intelligent dumbass.”

Paige burst into laughter, nearly tipping over from where she sat on the floor.

Sheldon folded his arms. “Mockery is the lowest form of argument. I expecte...

Chapter 25 Stepping Up

After everything with Dr. Linda, I knew it was time. So, I made it official: I was skipping to ninth grade, the start of high school. No more fourth grade, no more noisy brats.

To celebrate, we had dinner out—someplace fancy enough that Alan needed to put on an actual blazer. He kept fidgeting with the sleeves like they were attacking him.

“You know,” he said between bites of overcooked salmon, “Dr. Freeman said you were intellectually ready to go straight to college if yo...

Chapter 24 therapist III

I leaned back slightly. “What I really love is economics—especially finance and investment. Not the theoretical stuff. I love studying markets. I love investing. And, ironically... I’m already the best in the world.”

Dr. Freeman raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.

I gave a slight shrug, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. “I know it sounds arrogant. Maybe it is. But I understand how the system works. I see patterns. I can predict behavior—not because I’m spe...

Chapter 23 therapist II

I shifted slightly in my seat, letting her words settle in the silence. Then I said, “I'm not so sure I can agree with you. I don’t think I’m an empathetic person.”

Dr. Freeman tilted her head, letting me continue without interruption.

“Most of the time, I despise weakness. I look at people struggling—people who can't seem to get it together—and I feel... disgust more than sympathy. And sometimes, I know it’s not even their fault.”

She leaned back slightly,...

Chapter 22 therapist I

We were finally back in Malibu.

As great as London had been—bridal escapes, awkward dinners, Friends episodes, and luxury hotel suites—nothing beat the comfort of being home. The ocean breeze was familiar again, and so was the sight of Charlie passed out on the patio chair with sunglasses still on.

School was wrapping up for the year, and it was smooth sailing for me. Final grades were coming in, and I'd aced everything. Straight A’s. Not that it was surprising, considering ...