It was hot. Unbearably hot. No one had ever told her spring break was hot. Summer break, obviously, but spring break was supposed to be pleasant. She guessed Californians liked to rock to a beat of their own. Maybe Hannah Montana, judging from the too-peppy teen voice coming from the tent. Whatever.

It also didn't help that this was California. Where a certain someone lived. A certain someone who had told her he loved her then drove off.

"He's not here." Paris sighed, eyebrows raised.

"Who?" Rory asked innocently.

"Ex-Jess."

"Huh?"

"Ex-boyfriend Jess..."

"That still makes him Jess, so there can't be an ex- Jess."

"Technicalities. I've told you a million times. The chance that he's in California, in the city that we're in, in the place we're in, is, like, 1 in 3 billion."

"He used to live here."

"So, 1 in 2.5 billion. Big deal. You won't see him."

But Rory didn't care about probability, trigonometry, or however Paris has pulled those figures from her head. Because there, across the beach, getting a soda, was the exact person in question.

"Rory? What are you- oh my god. But it's almost statistically impossible!"

But Jess never really cared about following statistics.

After 15 minutes he saw her in mid-Dr. Pepper sip. It shot out of his mouth, and got all over his black Strokes shirt. Ha. It wasn't very often that Rory caught him off guard. I win, Rory though happily to herself, and continued to stare at him from her lounge chair. Would he walk away, or would he approach her? Rory vowed to herself that he would make to first move.

Jess never really cared what Rory promised herself either. After the initial shock, Jess decided to challenge Rory. She could tell he was playing his mind games again. He wasn't moving. He was just staring. I will NOT make the first move.

But, once again, body overruled mind.

"I call turf here." Rory stated calmly to him.

"Funny," Jess said in his sarcastic voice. God how she hated that voice. She just wanted to squeeze it out of him. But sometime- no she wouldn't. She would not let her thoughts go there.

"Funny," Jess said. "I didn't realize you had taken up football. Soccer. Or even badminton. I think all of those sports involve turf. So which one is it? My money's on badminton, but Jack over there is sure that it's jump rope."

"Hilarious," Rory spat. "I was here first, so you leave. Maybe that's your sport- professional leaving." Rory knew she sounded stupid, but she had to say something.

Jess gave her one of those sad smiles. Rory blushed, but then turned away. Hold yourself together.

"What are you doing here anyway? Spring break's not really your thing." Rory decided to go for the uncomfortable approach. Maybe then he would leave.

No such luck. "Well, what can I say. I needed some sunnin' and funnin'. Wanted to get rid of my farmer's tan. What about you? I would think you would be reading in The Hollow." Jess said the last two words with disdain.

"Paris and I though we could use a break from our regular lives." Rory said coolly.

"Oh, the cold treatment. The ice queen has made her appearance in California. So tell me, has LA thawed your icy ways?"

Rory rolled her eyes. "Always a comedian. Hey, you could be the next Rush Limbaugh."

"Ouch, that was cold. But hey, we are by nature what we are."

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Who's the hot guy Rory's talking to?" Louise asked Paris. Paris was annoyed. Couldn't Louise leave one guy for anyone?

"Her ex-boyfriend from Stars Hollow, who came back about a month ago, but then left." Maybe if she knew he still liked Rory...

No such luck. "So, ex-boyfriend?"

"He's cute!" Madeline piped in. "Rory has good taste."

"Never would've thought she'd go for a bad boy," Louise said. "Let's go meet him." She and Madeline rushed off. Paris sighed, then got up. She owed Rory, she knew it. Maybe if she acted quick enough, Louise would only have time to make-out for a couple of minutes, then she could cut her off at the closet...

Rory saw Louise staring to approach. She was in no mood for introductions. "Well, I have to go..."

"Aw, leaving so soon? And we were just starting to get to know each other." Jess could never be serious. That's why she could never try again.

"Yeah," Rory said sadly. "I might just have to say 'I love you' before I go."

Jess' smile dropped. "Rory-"

Too late, Louise intruded. "Rory, darling, introduce me to your friend!"

Rory didn't answer. Jess didn't say anything. Rory pleaded with Paris purely trough telekinesis.

Paris caught the message. "This is Jess, Rory's, uh, friend from Stars Hollow."

Silence.

"So." Small talk really wasn't Paris' thing. Rory silently thanked her. "Still stuck on Bukowski?"

"Yeah," Jess wasn't to big on small talk either.

"He still sucks."

Jess laughed a little. "I guess everyone's wrong about college making you a 'whole new person.'"

Paris started to answer with a snappy comeback, but Rory beat her to it.

"No. Some things never change. Come on Paris."

As Rory turned to leave, she heard Jess behind her.

"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"

Rory spun around. "Lewis Carroll. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."

Jess looked down at his feat, and Rory could tell he was embarrassed. Rory couldn't contain her smile. "I guess I was wrong. Some people do change. Who knew Jess Mariano has read a made-for-Disney movie!"

And with that, she turned and left.