A/N- this takes place during the second season when the tension is just starting to pick up between rory, jess, and dean. a story of rory and jess getting together another way. Although I absolutely loved the second and third season; it's fun to imagine what could have happened!

Disclaimer- one more time…I don't own Gilmore girls.

(Starts at the episode a-tisket-a-tasket)

rory stood with her mother in the crowd, waiting for her basket to be brought up. Taylor seemed searching for it. and then he picked it up.

she looked over at Dean, who smiled at her. he knew it was hers. she smiled back, but for some reason she couldn't explain, it wasn't a very happy smile.

"Now who will start with lovely little basket?" Taylor asked, holding it up for all to see.

"Ten dollars," Dean said, holding up a ten dollar bill. everyone else was silent.

"20 dollars," a voice cried in the back. rory and dean turned to see jess. dean glared at him.

"30 dollars."

"50."

Taylor was amazed. no one had bid that much on a such a small basket before.

Dean knew he didn't have much money left, but decided to try one last time.

"90 dollars."

everyone turned towards jess. he looked around and his eyes caught Rory's. she looked almost frightened, but her eyes seemed to soften when she looked at him.

"110 dollars," he bid at last to the horror of dean, and amazement of the rest.

now people turned to look at dean. he bowed his head and didn't bid higher.

"Going once, going twice…sold! to the hoodlum in the back!" cried Taylor.

jess smirked and went to pick up his basket.

"Shall we go eat?" he asked rory who stood frozen.

"I suppose so," she said after a long while.

they walked to the bridge with dean glaring at Jess's back. he hadn't expected rory to go with him, even if he had won the basket.

"There's barely anything in this thing," jess complained as they sat down to eat.

"You were the one who wanted it so badly."

Jess sat quiet.

"Serious question?" Rory suddenly asked, looking into Jess's chocolate brown eyes.

"Yeah?"

"how come you're only nice to me? just now you were torturing dean, and we come here and you're all of a sudden nice?"

jess shrugged.

"come on jess, tell me."

"I don't know," he said not meeting her eyes.

she looked down at the water.

"look jess I'd better go; dean's really mad."

"so let him be."

"I can't just do that, he's my boyfriend, I love him."

"do you?"

they sat silent for a moment, letting the last words sink in.

"I'm going jess," she said in a haughty tone. she was about to stand up. but jess caught hold of her arm.

"Don't go rory we haven't eaten yet."

"there's nothing to eat."

she got up, and with a last look at him left the bridge

jess watched her walk away, and suddenly his eyes fell on an object on the ground beside him. he looked at it and realized it was Rory's bracelet. he picked it up, and slowly placed it in his back pocket.

A/N- I know this is kind of a repeat of the actual episode, but it does get better, trust me!

now all you have to do is review!

I expect at least ten on this chapter!

thanks!