*disclaimer – I do not own Gilmore Girls. Sigh... I wish I did :(

You, Me

Chapter 1

Rory's head was swimming with thoughts and she felt almost dizzy.

What have I done? She thought to herself.

She unlocked the apartment she and Logan shared with shaking hands and let herself in.

"Logan?" she called out. "Logan are you home?"

No answer.

Then she remembered. He was on that stupid Life and Death Brigade trip with Colin, Finn, and Robert. And who knows who else. It was the last of their trips. Finn thought it wasn't the ultimate last trip, but the boys opposed him, assuring him it was. They were going cliff diving with parachutes and something about a blowup raft. Rory had a sinking feeling about that blowup raft but Logan was smart and so was Robert. She was pretty certain that Colin was smart and even more certain that Finn got by with pure luck.

Rory walked over to the couch and sat down, almost falling backwards into it. Wringing her hands, she lay back in the couch cushions and replayed the events inside her head. First being the discovery that Logan had cheated on her during their break with his sister Honor's friends. But he hadn't cheated on her. He swore he didn't. He thought they were broken up and needed companionship.

I thought we were broken up. I thought that's what the fight was. I thought that's what the separation was. Do you believe me? Do you believe that I honestly thought we weren't together?

Rory remembered saying she guessed she believed him. He had sounded so upset and so genuine and so frightened and desperate for her to believe him.

So then, if you believe that, that I thought we weren't together, then do you believe that, in my mind, I was not cheating on you?

Rory had said she guessed. Again.

So then if you believe that, in my mind, I was not cheating on you, do you think you can forget what those vipers said today, put it behind you, and just come home with me?

Logan had pleaded with her, begging her to come home.

Come on, Rory. Just come home with me. Let's forget this crappy day ever happened, just go home. You want to make a pro/con list?

Rory remembered that his comment had melted her heart a very tiny bit because she had told him playfully not to mock her pro/con list habit.

Then she had lied. She had lied and told him that she believed him and that she was okay and everything was okay and could go back to their happy normalcy that Logan so desired. Rory had desired it too, especially after such a romantic Valentine's weekend in Martha's Vineyard. Everything had been so fluid, so connected, so together. She had really felt like they were one, they were a couple. Like You-Jump-I-Jump-Jack moments and small, everyday thoughtful gestures, everything in sync. They had been happy. Truly happy. But now Rory felt all that drain away, wash away. Not completely, but...

She had given him a second chance. She had fallen for the coffee cart and the gifts and the dinner and the words. His words. Could she believe his words?

She hadn't thought they were broken up. He did. He must have honestly did, but you don't do that! You come to an agreement, not just assume. There's two people in a relationship. Not one.

Rory took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. She looked down at the coffee table for something to read, anything to read to get her mind off of the head-hurting crazy events. But her thoughts just were swept right back to the events of today.

Jess.

She had gone to see Jess in Philadelphia for the open house at his Truncheon Books publishing company. She remembered getting his letter in the mail and smiling ear to ear. Jess had finally done something with that smart brain of his. And not just anything. He really put his smart brain to work and published a book. He had published a book and opened a publishing company and Rory was so proud of him. She really was. And she had loved his open house. Just walking into it, with the independent artists' paintings on the walls, shelves crowded with books against every dark wooden wall, even an open mic poetry corner. It was a space that really encouraged your creativity to let loose and start flowing.

Which is exactly what Jess had done.

And Rory had kissed him. Like a selfish idiot, she had kissed him. Her reasoning was if Logan could kiss – no not kiss – have sex with and fool around (whatever that meant) with Honor's friends because he was upset about them 'breaking up', Rory could too. Rory wasn't even sure what she was thinking. And she hadn't been thinking clearly. And now she hurt not only her boyfriend Logan who was off on a dangerous stunt and out of cell phone service, but also her old friend and ex boyfriend Jess.

Jess. Who had come to show her his published book recently. Jess, who had told her he couldn't have done any of it without Rory. Jess, who lit a fire in her heart again to get back to Yale and believe in herself and her abilities again.

Jess. Amazing Jess. Wonderful Jess.

He was the only one who had been able to talk some sense into her. Not Paris, not Logan, not her grandparents, and not even her Mother. Jess had told her to screw everyone else and what they think or want, and focus on herself, focus on what she wants and being her smart, savvy, ambitious self again. And not only did he inspire her and kick her butt into going back to Yale, he had even remember after all these years that it had recently been her birthday.

And instead of completely and fully going to Jess's open house with congratulations and praise for his well-deserved hard work, she thought of herself first.

I don't deserve this, Rory.

Rory shut her eyes tightly remembering Jess's words.

It is what it is, you, me...

Rory thought of his brown eyes that had glints of sadness that he had tried not to show. Rory's heart hurt and she opened her eyes. Maybe she could make this right. Maybe she could make everything right with Logan...and with Jess.

Rory stood up and walked over to her purse. Taking her cell out, she checked to see if there were any texts or even a call from Logan. There were none. This somewhat angered her. She knew she was cold and distant to him before the trip, but really? He couldn't have at least called or texted when he found a spot with service? It had already been a few days. Didn't Logan say that within a few days he would have cell service again? And did he do this out of spite from her behavior? If she wasn't speaking to him and hadn't forgiven him, then he was going to just go off with his friends in not only a stupid stunt but a very dangerous one?

In Omnia Paratus. Screw that! Rory hoped they really were ready for anything. Especially cliff diving. He couldn't have just held out a little longer? She was going to come around eventually...right? She was planning on saying goodbye and giving him a kiss before he left, but she felt her stubbornness creep up and she froze and stood there. He hadn't even looked at her and instead kept his back facing her, announced he was leaving...and left. Remembering the slight hurt in his voice, Rory felt her heart strings pull and wished she had kissed him goodbye.

Rory began to text Logan...

Hey, its me Ace. Thinking of you and hoping everything is okay. Be safe.

Rory hesitated and then added I love you. She clicked send and hoped Logan could get it.

"Okay. Enough sitting around analyzing and overthinking and worrying. This isn't productive," Rory stood up and paced. She spoke out loud to herself (or to an invisible assistant). "I'm gonna take a shower and head over to the newsroom to check how everything is going. I'm sure there'll be some people in there who need help. Definitely Paris and I could sure use a distraction..."

Rory walked towards the bathroom, but then slowed her pace, abruptly stopped, and turned around to come back to her phone. Picking it up and looking at it for a few quiet, pensive moments, she quickly typed a message and hit send.

I just wanted to say I am truly sorry. And truly proud, Dodger. – Rory

She put her phone down and walked away.

She hoped Jess would respond...

*Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading! I would love to hear constructive criticism or any comments. I am an AVID Gilmore Girl and Literati fan [Jess and Rory forever!] and an aspiring writer and thought it would be a fun and fresh change of pace to write a story based on Gilmore Girls, my absolute favorite TV Show of all time. And with the Revival in the works [I screamed, dropped my phone, and cried when I found out...my fiancé thought I was having a conniption] and with the approaching ending of my fiancé watching the entire series with me [we just finished The Real Paul Anka episode, season 6... this is my fiance's first time watching the series and he loves it...and my 100003495887573rd time watching it :) ] and just seeing the episode where this well-known scene took place, I thought I'd grab my laptop and start writing the "What if..." scenario that was always in my head :)

I have the second and third chapters in the works, so they will be posted very, very soon!

Thank you for reading, it means the world!

xx Kat