Against Instinct

Summary: Going against your instincts, is not human nature. But it could change your life forever.

Dedicated to: Every single person who has, does and will post in the Lit threads across the world. You're what keeps the Lit love going.

Disclaimer: I wish it was, but it isn't.

"Dance with me?" Rory looked up at Dave Rygalski. She wasn't really in the mood to dance, especially given the fact that she had gone stag to a prom, that wasn't even her own. However, not really the type to turn away a nice guy, Rory graciously took his hand, and allowed him to lead her into the crowd of Stars Hollow High prom-goers.

As the rhythm slowed and the song changed, Dave placed his hand gently on Rory's waist, she, placing her hand on his shoulder. Dave held out his free hand, in anticipation of Rory taking it, finishing off the we're-just-friends-slow dance position. Rory and Dave both looked miserable, as they shuffled in time to the music.

"Lane still outside?" Rory whispered, afraid that someone would yell at her to shut her mouth, as if they were in a library.

"Yeah. Young Chou's refusing to leave. He insists that he is in love with Lane and that she's much better off with someone who can speak her mother-tongue. I mean who says that? 'Dave doesn't speak Korean, so he's not right for you.'" Rory smiled slightly.

"Yeah, I mean, I don't even think Lane speaks Korean." This brought a smile to Dave's face that didn't quite reach his eyes. Dave had worked so hard to keep what relationship he had with Lane, it seemed a shame to Rory, that Dave now had D-O-U-B-T written across his forehead, in thick, black lettering.

"She likes you Dave. I know she does. And she can be a little indecisive sometimes, but she's worth it." Rory gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.

"I know she is." He replied, gazing over Rory's shoulder, to Lane, who was re-entering the auditorium. "Do you mind?"

"Not at all." Rory released Dave's hand and watched him as Lane appeared to be explaining the events of the last ten minutes. The muted conversation ended with a kiss, and Lane and Dave retreating to the dance floor, wrapped tightly in each others arms, obviously having resolved the Young Chou issue.

Rory sighed, and headed back to her table.

Having been sitting alone for only ten minutes, Rory pulled her phone out of her bag and checked the time. She'd promised Lane she'd stay until at least nine. Only half an hour to go. As she slid her phone back into her bag, she resisted the urge to pull out her worn copy of 'Anna Karenina'. She refused to become the epitome of all girls alone at their prom. Each second passed as minutes, and Rory knew that Lane would probably never notice, if she slipped out twenty minutes early, but something kept her sitting by her lonesome, in a hall filled with future memories.

Rory headed to the punch bowl. It served the purpose of both, soothing the burning sensation that had started to dwell at the base of her throat, and killed a few more minutes. She downed the first glass with ease, then re-filled and proceeded to take the glass back to her table.

A foot away from the table, a tuxedo-clad, male took the glass from Rory's hand and set it on the table Rory had been heading to. Then without giving her a chance to protest, he led her onto the dance floor and placed his hand at her waist, anxiously. So as not to cause a scene, Rory accepted the unspoken request to dance and stared into Jess's forlorn eyes.

"They told me you left." The words sounded alien to him. Like he had hurt and disappointed her beyond repair.

"I did." Was his only reply.

"So? What are you doing back? I mean, you told me you'd call, never actually intending to call. I hear nothing from you for a week, and now what? You're back? Just like that?" Rory demanded, careful to keep her voice no higher than a loud whisper.

"I don't know. I don't know why I came back." He informed her, instinctively going into defence mode. As her expression changed from one of confusion, to one of pain, he realised his mistake. "I mean, I know why I came back, but I don't know what made me come back. I can't explain it. It's like… It's like something told me that if I didn't come back, things would never be the same between us. I saw you a year down the track getting back with Dean, or a few years on marrying some rich, Yale guy. And I… I don't know. I just…" Jess trailed off, not really knowing how to form the words to his thoughts. Rory took a moment to really look at Jess before replying. She examined his facial features, his unruly hair, and then she looked. The emotion he wasn't expressing through words, were hidden in his eyes. It had to be searched for, and you had to know how to find it, but it was there in its rawest form.

For the first time, Rory felt 'let in'. Like the door that Jess had kept closed all this time, had slowly drifted open, and Rory took the chance to step through. Without even realising it, Jess had finally shown Rory what went on inside of him.

"I… I don't know that things ever will be the same."

"But at least we have the chance to find out." Jess pulled Rory close to him, and wrapped both arms around her waist. Against her instincts Rory nestled her head on his shoulder and continued to sway in time to the music.