Inspired by the song "Call 'n' Return (Say That You're Into Me)" by hellogoodbye. Lyrics can be found at http:// www. lyrics/ hellogoodbye/ callnreturnsaythayourintome.html (without the spaces).

Call 'n' Return (Say That You're Into Me)

She wanted to bang her head against something hard. Repeatedly.

She stared at the paper, with two words written neatly across the top. She had written those words many times since she started the letter, used up many pieces of paper.

Dear Jess

She chewed her pencil, staring at the words, trying to find a witty and Rory-like way to say what she needed to say.

She was coming up blank.

She stared at the words for a few more minutes, agonizing over what she had said, and what needed to be said.

She groaned and banged her head on the desk. She stared at the pile of envelopes from Dean, and groaned again. She put all the starts of her letters into a single envelope, addressed to Jess, and placed it on the table. She stared at it for another couple of minutes, then took another piece of paper and, after writing a few sparse words on it, stuffed it in the envelope as well.

She sealed the envelope and grabbed her coat, heading for the post office.

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He smirked at the blonde behind the counter while he was filling up the coffee pot. She smiled back at him.

"Jess, you've got mail." Luke announced. His heart jumped in his chest, hoping, against his better judgment, that it was from her.

"Why thanks, Uncle Luke." he smirked sarcastically. Luke rolled his eyes and handed him an envelope. He saw the name on the return address. "I'm taking my ten." he yelled.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever!" Luke yelled from the back.

Without sparing a glance for the blonde trying to catch his attention, Jess pulled back the curtain and took the stairs to the apartment two at a time. He flung himself down on his bed, ripping open the envelope. It was filled with paper, the first and foremost being a simple note.

Jess—

By the time you get this, I'll probably be back in Star's Hollow, but I can't say this stuff to your face, so maybe this collection of unfinished letters can explain better.

I'm sorry I waited so long to write. I just couldn't get the words to come out.

He smirked at the thought of a Gilmore Girl not having the words to say something.

Also, I'm breaking up with Dean. It's not fair to him to be with me, since I'm in love with someone else. Not that that's a hint, or anything.

He smiled at the piece of paper, one of the real smiles that only comes to his face when he's thinking about her.

Actually it was.

And if I'm wasting ink here, then I guess I was wrong about some things. Which really puts things into perspective for me, 'cause if I'm wrong about this, there is so, SO much I might be wrong about. But I can understand if you don't feel the same way about me.

Actually I can't.

But, I digress.

Love,

Lorelai Leigh Gilmore

aka Rory

He folded that page, almost reverently, and placed it on the bed next to him. He ruffled through the separate pages, some never getting past the Dear Jess stage. He found the one with the most writing on it (still not very much) and read that one first.

Dear Jess—

I want you to know that I don't blame you. I never blamed you. I couldn't do that. Because, then I would have to blame myself too. For going to New York to visit you. For kissing you at Sookie's wedding. For falling in love with you. And I don't want to blame myself for those things, because I'm glad they happened.

Ugh, I sound so cheesy, but today, Paris had a date. Remember the Bukowski-phobic girl? SHE had a date, and she asked how someone knew they were in love. And I started describing characteristics of who she probably thought was Dean. But later, I realized it wasn't him. It was you.

You probably forgot me, but I didn't forget you. I couldn't forget you. And I kept wishing you were there and oh my God I'm going to stop writing before I make myself puke.

There was no signature.

He looked through the others, all of which were variations of that long one. He finished, and realized that his ten minutes were up, and headed back down. He was stopped short by the sight of her, sitting by herself, on the same stool the blonde had occupied before, talking to Luke. Her head was turned away from him, and she laughed at something Luke said. Luke gave her a brief hug, before turning away to the kitchen. She began a sweep of the room, eyes landing on him.

He could see a river of emotions cross her face, before she blushed and ducked her head, smiling like an idiot. She was a novice at hiding what she felt, and he could see right through her. He smirked, making his way behind the counter. He touched her arm, and she lifted her head as though a shot had gone through her. Brown eyes met blue and a flash of understanding passed between them. She nodded, and was gone.

"Uncle Luke, I've got to go." He heard an inaudible grumble, and, shrugging, ventured outside. He instinctively followed the path to the bridge—their bridge, he amended.

She was waiting there, sitting in the middle of the bridge, feet dangling as she bit her lip, turning a page in the book she was reading. He grinned, making no noise, and sneaked around behind her. He plucked the book from her fingers, watching as her face relaxed and her lips curved into a smile.

"Let's see what you're reading." He put on a face of mock horror. "Oh, no! Not The Fountainhead again!"

She got to her feet, grabbing for the book. "Just because you don't have the mind power to fully grasp the concepts in this book doesn't mean anyone else can't, Mariano." She made more futile grabs for it. "Give it back, please!"

"Please?" He stared at her. "Did you seriously just say 'please'?"

She rolled her eyes. "Habit."

She realized just how close they were, with just inches separating them. "Huh." was all she could say before his lips came crashing down on hers.

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Heh. Okay, next up: "When You Were Young" by the Killers!