The door to the diner tinkled open merrily. Luke looked up hopefully, but it wasn't her. The boy storming past his customers was anything but happy.

"What are you doing back here?" Luke asked gruffly, surprised. "Hey, you can't just barge in there." He ran after his nephew who was headed up the stairs to the apartment. "Jess. Aren't you supposed to be in New York by now?"

"Not going there anymore. Here. You can take your stupid book back," he growled as he threw the book on the kitchen table with a loud bang.

"What-? Why aren't you going back? Where are you going?"

"None of your business."

"I'm making it my business." He squared off in front of the younger man, waiting for an explanation. "What is it, Jess? Got tired of living the high life? Going to settle down with a picket fence overlooking the nice street-corner sewer rats?"

Jess rolled his eyes. "I'm leaving." He pushed past his Uncle, but the older man blocked his way. Jess looked up, pursing his lips with a glare.

"Did something happen?"

"Nothing happened."

"Did you see Rory? Is that what this is about?"

"I'm leaving."

"So it is. Did you hurt her? Tell me you didn't run off again without saying anything."

Jess looked down, eyes very dark, before looking up with a mocking grimace.

"No, and no. This time it definitely wasn't me. Thanks for the support though." He points over his shoulder to the table. "You should throw that book away. Makes you think you've got all the answers. Load of shit. What the hell are you doing buying books like that anyway? They're for old ladies that live with cats. Geez, Luke, you've really gone downhill." Jess finally pushed past his stunned Uncle and headed for the stairs.

Luke followed close behind, "Jess!" he shouted.

"I'll send you a post-card," he threw over his shoulder as he rushed through the maze of customers in the diner. He stopped at the door as someone came through. It was Lorelai. She was alone.

She smiled brightly at him, "Hey there sailor! Headed back off to the Big Apple?" Jess adjusted his duffle bag on his shoulder and walked out without a word. "Okay, well, great talking to you again." She awkwardly waved, then headed over to the counter where Luke looked torn. "Well someone looks like he just got his sugar crisp taken away. Wasn't he leaving last night?"

"Ya, well, he was just returning something," Luke said, staring off at the door absently.

"Right." Lorelai waved her hand in front of his face, "hello in there? Can I order something, or do you want me to call Cranky Joe back in here so you two can go at it one more time?"

"Sorry. What'll it be?" Luke mentally shook himself.

"Oh- really? Well that was easy. I wanted a show. You know: you make a smart comment, he says something snarky back, you tell him he's a punk, he runs off. It's cute. You could go on tour with it. I bet a lot of people would pay good money."

"Lorelai," he glared at her.

"You could call it 'Grumpy and the Lone Ranger!' You could wear suits, or, y'know, just plaid, since you've already got that scheme working for you quite nicely."

"Lorelai!" He growled, his patience gone.

"Two coffees and pancakes, please," she dropped her hands in her lap like a scolded child.

He gave her a measured gaze. "There's a table free back there, when Rory gets here," he nodded in the direction of the table.

"Oh, saving seats now are we? You're like my own knight in shining armour! You know, the proprietor of this establishment usually frowns at things like this. If you act cool he might not notice and we can run out with candy and not pay for coffee!"

"Just get over there before someone else takes it."

"Thank you, Sir Lucas!" She grinned and started to turn.

"Wait, uh," Luke took a breath and held it for a moment when she looked at him expectantly. "I like your, uh," he motioned around his head awkwardly. Lorelai stopped, not sure what he was doing.

"I'm sorry?" She touched her head to feel if there was anything wrong.

"Your – well, you know. It's nice. It looks nice today."

"Oh! My hair?"

Luke gave her a small, satisfied grin and went to help another customer. Lorelai turned toward her table slowly, not sure what to make of that last exchange. She can't help but smile a little to herself. There is definitely something fishy with him lately.

The door jingled open again, and Lorelai waved down her daughter. "Hey kid, over here. I got this seat saved specially for us."

"You lie, Luke never does that," Rory sat.

"I know. But he did today. I tell you, I think we're in the twilight zone... So you got my note?"

"Ya I did. Sorry I didn't call earlier. I didn't know how late I'd be, what with all the last minute packing and everything."

"No sweat. Late night?"

Rory looked down and nodded. "Something like that."

"Your grandmother told me about running into you and that boy with the diapers. I've got to say, I was thoroughly aghast she would still pull stuff like that. Who plays match-maker with diapers? There's just a lack of taste there that I thought even Emily Gilmore would never stoop to." Noticing the look on her daughter's face, she added, "so was it that awful?"

"It... was definitely not what I was expecting." Rory looked down again.

Just then, Luke came by with their coffee cups.

"Welcome back, Rory."

"Hey Luke!"

"All moved back in for the summer?"

"Ya, getting there. But you tend to forget how much stuff you have before it's all in boxes again. It will probably be a while till I'm settled."

"You look really tired, can I get you something?"

Lorelai leaned in, "I got us some pancakes!"

"A sundae. You like sundaes, right? I'll get you one of those on the house. I'll be right back."

"Hey! You're upstaging my pancakes! Get your own kid to spoil," but Luke was already gone. Lorelai stared after him, considering something.

"What?" Rory asked about the strange look on her mother's face.

"Nothing," Lorelai shook her head, returning to the present situation. "Oh! So, funny thing at the wedding!"

"What wedding?"

"Liz and TJ's wedding, what other wedding? They got married, he wore tights." Rory's mouth dropped open, "It was renaissance themed, to erase that look of horror on your face ever so slightly. But, that's not the important part."

"I'm sorry, that's not the funny part of this story? Tell me more about the tights! Wait, mental image. Don't tell me. Carry on with what you were saying."

"So I was helping fix Liz's dress because it got ripped and was stalling the wedding, and when I was in there, I saw this book."

"A book?"

"A book! In Jess' bag. It was just lying out there for all to see. And it wasn't just any book! You know what book it was?"

Rory looked uncomfortable and opened her mouth to say something, but her mother kept going.

"A self-help book! All about love and communication and – why are you looking like that? Is this still a touchy subject?"

"It's nothing. Just, it's not that weird to see a book in Jess' bag is all. He reads."

"Ya, but that book? Isn't it at least a little funny? I mean, it's Jess with the eternal chip on his shoulder, reading about rainbows, little hearts and mushy stuff."

"He reads anything. He probably wasn't paying much attention. Bored or something, I wouldn't read too much into it." Rory got up abruptly.

"Hey, hun, where are you going? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"No, no, it's nothing. I just – I just remembered I was supposed to meet Lane today. So I'd better go before she realizes how late I am. Tell Luke thanks for the sundae, but I'm full. You eat it."

"Oh-okay."

Rory left. Lorelai sat bewildered for a moment and stared into her coffee cup.

"Am I the only one that finds this book funny?" she said to herself. She took a sip and nodded to the salt-shaker, "It's the twilight zone, I tell you."


"You did WHAT?"

"Shh, Lane, you don't have to yell it!"

"But you – did – With... Jess? What was he even doing there? In your dorm?" She stopped, "was it on the boxes?"

"No! It was not on the boxes, it was in the bed like normal people!"

"Hm. A shame. I always thought he would go for something more daring. But go on. Details!"

"I don't know. He just kind of showed up. I think he was here for his mom's wedding or something. He asked me to 'come away with him'."

"As in, run away with him?"

"Yeah. Just like that, out of the blue. Run away with him."

"How romantic! So why didn't you?"

"Well obviously, I couldn't, I mean there are so many reasons. My mom for one, and Yale, and-"

"Ya, ya, ya, we get the Miss Responsible list. Skip to the juicy part. How did you end up... you know?"

"I- " She thought for a moment, "I don't really know. It just sort of happened. One minute we were yelling at each other, the next minute he tried to leave again, and I just – I didn't want him to. So we..."

"Wow. I mean – wow. If I could just take a smidgen of the magic romance juice you bathed in as a child, I would be one lucky woman."

"Well don't get too excited. He still left."

"What do you mean he left?"

"Well, I woke up, and... he was gone. No note, no explanation. Just – I can't believe I fell for it again. I do this every time. I always get sucked in by him only to be more disappointed and hurt in the end."

"So there was no sign of the man? Nothing? How do you know he was gone, gone?"

"Lane, his car was gone. His... clothes were gone," she winced. "He just – he was gone, okay? It's not that hard to imagine, he's a regular Houdini, remember?"

"But why would he go to all the trouble of showing up again after all this time if he would just – leave?"

Rory shrugged. "How am I supposed to know? Maybe he got the closure he wanted and it's all he needed," she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Hey, don't think like that. Jess is many things, but a pig is not one of them." She corrected herself, "at least, not where you're concerned anyways. I don't know, Rory, I just don't buy it. He was always so different with you, so... you know?"

"All I know is that he's left me twice before, and now again after what should have been something really special. The track record speaks for itself."

"Hmm. I guess. Have you told Lorelai?"

"No, not yet. I feel kind of weird about it. She never really ... well, anyways. I will. Soon. Now let's talk about something else. This is just making me more confused. How's the band?"

Lane sighed.