Dean walked over and asked Rory to dance. Instead, she asked if he would walk with her. They walked across the grounds of the Inn in silence, Dean trying the whole time to get Rory to hold his hand, let him put his arm around her, or something. He wanted to comfort her, because she looked scared. They came to the tree by the creek where she had kissed Jess that afternoon, and Rory stopped and turned so that she was facing Dean. "What's wrong, Rory? You wouldn't let me come near you on the way over here. What's going on?"
"I'm sorry." She said simply. "I am so sorry. After everything that you've done for me. You've been amazing to me. I don't deserve it."
"Of course you do! You are a great person. You deserve everything I have done for you." Dean tried to grab Rory's hands. She pulled away, hugging herself.
"I don't deserve you, and you don't deserve what I have done to you." Rory's voice was almost a whisper, but that didn't keep it from breaking as she told him what she had done. "I kissed Jess. Right before I walked down the aisle."
"I am gonna beat that little punk!" Dean almost yelled. "How could he do that to you?"
"No, Dean. I kissed him, I initiated it. I am so sorry."
"Did you like it? Do you like him?" Dean asked, these questions much quieter than his previous statement. He looked afraid of what her answer would be.
"Yes. I did, and I do. I'm sorry. I never meant for anything to happen. I thought that it would just go away, so I kept it all inside. But the feelings didn't go away. I handled this whole situation wrong. I am so sorry."
"Yeah, well, sorry doesn't cut it for something like this. Damn it Rory!" Dean exploded. After a moment, he calmed down a little. "I'm gonna go walk. I need to think. I'll talk to you about this later."
"Ok." Rory whispered, her eyes tearing. She turned around and went back to the reception.
Dean whirled and punched the tree. He didn't do it very hard, but it still did its purpose. He felt less like killing Jess. Dean stood there for a moment watching Rory walk away, then wandered to the edge of the river. As he walked he thought about them, himself and Rory. He thought about when they had started dating, about the car that he had built for her, and about the suspicions he had already had about Rory and Jess. He finally came to the conclusion that he just wanted her happy. If she wanted Jess, he wasn't going to get in her way.
Back at the reception, Rory filled Lorelai in on the situation. "Mom, I don't know what to do. I feel like… I don't know how I feel- if I should break up with Dean… or what…"
"Rory, Dean was amazing to you. You can't just do something like this to him without consequences."
"I know." Rory said, sounding defeated, "I just feel bad for being so selfish. For not thinking of him, and for stringing him along through this. I am just not attracted to him anymore. I don't feel the same way about him as I used to.'
"So you're attracted to Jess then?" Lorelai asked, half laughing, but it was nervous laughter.
"Yes, I am." Rory felt like she had to defend this fact to everyone, and probably would for a long time.
"Well then, you have to tell Dean that."
"I know. I already told him most of it. He said he had to think. I have to break up with him though. I can't keep stringing him along. That wouldn't be fair to him or Jess." Rory broke off as she noticed Dean approaching them. Lorelai followed her daughters gaze, and said quietly to Rory "I am going to go get something to drink. Good luck."
Rory smiled weakly at her, and watched her walk away, nervous for what she knew was coming. Dean stopped in front of her, and Rory stood up. "I think we should break up." He said, and Rory just nodded, then said "I know I can't expect anything after doing this to you, but I hope that you don't hate me, because you really were my friend, not just my boyfriend."
"But Jess is a better friend, right?" Dean's voice was harsh, his shoulders slumped.
"Dean…" Rory stopped, seeing that there was nothing that she could say at that moment to make him feel better. Then she decided that she should keep talking anyway, because her words might give him solace eventually. "I am so sorry Dean, you were so amazing."
"Not really what I wanted to hear right now, Rory. I'll see you around, I guess. You'll be with him right?"
"Probably" Rory admitted. "I am so sorry, Dean, I really am. Eventually, do you think that you might not hate me?"
"Maybe, eventually I won't anymore, right now, however, I can't look at you. I can't think about you with him. Good bye, Rory.' Dean walked away, dragging his feet, not looking at anyone. Rory felt her eyes fill, and walked into the Inn to find a secluded place to think about all the events of the day.
Lorelai found her in about half an hour later, as she was wiping her eyes of the last of her tears. "Oh, honey. You broke up, didn't you." Rory just nodded in response. "Alright, come on. let's dance. It's Sookie's wedding. You have to be happy!" Rory nodded again, stood up, and followed her mom outside, where they stayed for the next several hours. In the those hours Rory felt freer than she had since she started dating Dean.