Things could be different.

Disclaimer: Don't own

Background: This is set just as Rory is about to have her first summer break from Yale. Her mum and Luke are engaged, and Jess is back in the picture.

Chapter Two: Keeping in touch

Rory finished her final and sighed in relief as she walked out, she was exhausted, after getting home really late last night, she'd walked into her room to find Paris still up, freaking out about her first final, which was at the same time as Rory's. So she'd stayed up for another hour and a half to help calm Paris down. When her alarm had gone off, she'd thrown it across the room angrily, but the smell of coffee woke her, Paris' way of apologising for keeping her up. Reluctantly Rory had gotten out of bed, dressed and eaten, drinking three cups of coffee to try and keep herself awake. Then made her way to her final, feeling more awake and able to focus. Now that it was finished she walked back to her dorm, finding Paris the only one there, she took a seat on the couch and grabbed a bag of chips that were lying on the table in front of them.

'How'd it go?' Rory asked her friend.

'I think it would be fair to say I aced it.' Paris said proudly. 'How about you?'

'I did ok, I managed to stay awake which is good.' Rory smiled.

'You know I've been thinking, you can't blame me for keeping you up so late, not really. Because you're the one who didn't show up at the dorm until nearly one in the morning, what held you up?' Paris asked.

'Oh, I went to Stars Hollow to study and I called an old friend, lost track of time and ended up falling asleep.' Rory replied. 'Speaking of which I need to check my emails.' She got up and walked from the common room to her bedroom which she shared with Paris, pleased that Paris hadn't followed her, she sat cross legged on the bed and opened her laptop. Her face lighting up as she saw the email from Jess, she clicked to open it.

Dear Rory,

As promised I have attached photo's, they aren't great but I hope you like them. I'll be able to show you more when we meet in person.

I'm in Denver at the moment, after the seven hour bus ride last night, I managed to find myself a motel which had internet connection, so after getting some sleep I decided to write to you. I'm not really sure what to say, we covered so much last night that I don't know what else there is. Except to apologise again for leaving, I never should have done that.

It's nine thirty in the morning at the moment, and it's already boiling hot. Jeez listen to me, this is me talking to you, it shouldn't be about the weather.

How was your finale? I know you would of done well, there's no way you couldn't do well.

We'll speak soon,

Jess.

Rory smiled at his words, then looked through the pictures, they were great, all different places and landmarks, she was a little jealous, sure she'd been to Europe, but she would also love to travel America. Pushing the thought aside she clicked to reply.

Dear Jess,

The photo's are amazing, I cannot believe you travelled to all those places. You're hair is longer, still messy though, I'm glad some things never change. I would like to see more, so when do you think we'll see each other in person? Because I know of this great party, a week from today. It should be great, and I happen to know it's only 1854 miles from Denver to Connecticut, so it should only take you, about 1 day and 5 hours. Longer perhaps if you're still using buses, but still that isn't much is it. Let me know.

Stop apologising for leaving, I think we thoroughly buried that last night, we talked about everything, so now we need to both move past it, ok?

To respond to you, no we shouldn't talk about the weather, but hey why not? I want to know what it's like where you are, how you are. So in the name of full disclosure, it is 11.13 here at Yale, it's scorching hot and Paris is complaining loudly about it from the other room. I just finished my Final, and I have another one starting in two hours, so I'm going to grab something to eat and some coffee.

If you get a chance, call me before 1 this afternoon, if not then my final finishes at three, so call after that. If I don't hear from you I will call you this evening, either way one of us will call the other. Man have you ever seen call in a sentence so much, sorry.

Talk soon,

Rory.

She sent the email then closing the laptop walked back into the common room.

'I'm heading out to get something to eat, you want to come along?' Rory asked, picking up her handbag.

'No thanks, I need to get in some more studying after this segment on the news has finished, I'll grab something on my way to my next finale.' Paris answered.

'When is your next one?' Rory asked, hooking her bag onto her shoulder, as her phone started ringing she rummaged through it, trying to find the phone before the caller rang off.

'3.30.' Paris replied, lifting her hand in goodbye as Rory nodded and left the dorm, finding her phone she pressed answer before looking at the caller ID.

'It's too hot, Michel is bugging me, the party plans are insane, Taylor keeps going on about needing a permit to have it in the town square, Luke tried to switch my coffee to decaf and my mother called me to say she and my dad would be at the party. How's your day so far? How'd the final go?' Rory grinned at her mothers insane rambling, laughing a little.

'I could barely wake up this morning, but I've had five cups of coffee and am purchasing a sixth as we speak, the final went really well and I have another in just under two hours, but I'm prepared so I am heading off campus to grab some food. I'm also too hot, but I'm feeling really good today, and I can't tell you the reason yet, but hopefully you'll find out at your party. As for Michel he's always bugging you, just bug him back, the party is going to be insane so of course the plans will be, but I promise it will be worth it, Taylor will come round, after Luke yells at him enough, Luke always tries to switch your coffee, it never works, and of course Grandma and Grandpa are coming, it's your engagement party.' Rory said talking in her usual quick voice, walking along the pathways of Yale as she did so, heading to a café she loved to get some food.

'Huh, well let me start by saying it's your own fault that you could hardly wake up this morning, because you travelled back so late last night, besides you did have a nap on Jess' bed so you shouldn't have been that tired. Next I am very proud that you're onto your sixth cup of coffee, however you have yet to beat me because I have reached the dizzying heights of nine, almost ten once I'm done with the one in my hand. I'm glad you're final went well, I'm proud of you babe, and don't worry about your next one because you'll be fantastic, in fact you should buy the tutor and other students sunglasses, so you don't blind them with your brilliance. You're incredibly mean for not telling me why you're feeling so good today, but you've made me even more impatient for Friday to find out why. I am already working on bugging Michel, he's about five seconds away from storming off in a huff because I'm messing with his post it note system, ha! There he goes. The party will be worth it, and you're right about Luke, but it can't be helped right, still I bet once we're married he'll stop trying to get me to drink decaf because I'll have the power to subject him to dinner with the Gilmore's and he'll have to take up drinking regular coffee to deal with it.' Lorelai said while sorting through some papers.

'Or whiskey, either one would work.' Rory said, quickly ordering her lunch while her mum was talking.

'True, but I can't really see Luke getting drunk can you?' Lorelai replied.

'No but I don't see him drinking coffee anytime soon.' Rory answered, waiting at the counter to get her food.

'I swear one day I will make him drink coffee. I have almost got him to agree to a coffee cake for the wedding.' Lorelai said smiling, feeling very pleased with herself.

'I feel sorry for any man that tries to come between a Gilmore Girl and anything with coffee in the title.' Rory said taking her lunch and sitting at a table by the window.

'So do I…Oh! Oh no, hun I have to go Sookie just burnt her arm on a frying pan.' Lorelai said, ending with a panicked voice.

'Oh no. Give her my love.' Rory said before ringing off. She sat down and ate for ten minutes before her phone rang again, she picked up on the second ring.

'So I get the feeling you wanted me to call.' Jess' voice said, she could imagine him smirking at that comment, which made her smile.

'I didn't mention it that much.' Rory defended, sipping her seventh cup of coffee.

'Sure, only you wrote it so much that the computer I was using actually sighed by the end of it.' Jess joked.

'Don't tease me. So…have you decided about the party yet?' Rory asked, playing with her napkin.

'Not yet, I'm thinking about it.' Jess said while he was walking through the streets of Denver. Trying to see as much as possible before he got another bus somewhere else tonight, he'd made no definite plans as to where he was headed, but he never did.

'Ok but don't think I won't be asking you again tomorrow.' Rory said stubbornly. 'And the next day, and the…'

'Ok point taken. So are you nervous about your next final?' Jess asked, walking across the street.

'A little, I always get nervous, but it's an English Lit class so I should be ok doing it.' Rory replied. 'I've been thinking Jess, have you done anything…education wise I mean, classes or anything?' She approached the subject carefully, not wanting to spoil the friendship they were working on.

'Actually…' Jess paused for a second before continuing. 'I got my GED.'

'Really! Jess I'm so proud of you, I knew you could do it.' Rory cried out excitedly, getting odd looks from the other customers, she looked round sheepishly, getting up and paying, then walking back towards the campus.

'Don't go all cheerleader on me now Gilmore. It's no big deal.' Jess shrugged his shoulders.

'It is a big deal, I always knew if you just put your mind to something you could do it.' Rory smiled to herself. 'You're so smart. So any ideas what you're next move is?'

'No, I'm not even sure where I'll be tomorrow, I know I'll be sleeping on a bus tonight but that's as far as my plans go.' Jess replied, knowing it wasn't the answer she was looking for.

'No plans to settle anywhere yet then?' Rory asked, a hint of hopefulness in her otherwise neutral voice. It didn't go unnoticed by Jess.

'Not yet, but maybe…soon. It depends.' Jess said once again shrugging his shoulders, despite Rory not being able to see the gesture.

'On what?'

'If I find somewhere I want to settle, if I decide I've seen enough stuff, it just…depends.' Jess said ending slightly evasively, typical Jess style.

'You'll let me know if you settle?' Rory asked, walking back into the dorm and raising a hand in greeting to Paris.

'I will, but don't get your hopes up. I'm not sure I'm ready to get a place, get a job. Way to much stability. I'm not used to it you know.' Jess joked.

'You'll never get used to it if you don't try.' Rory reasoned, grabbing a soda from the fridge.

'You make a good point. Listen as much as I would love to carry on this conversation, there is this great bookstore I've found and you're not allowed cell phones inside for some reason. So I'll call you tonight ok?' Jess asked, wanting to know if she wanted to talk to him again so soon.

'Sounds good, and buy me something in that store, you can give it to me at the party.' Rory smiled.

'I haven't said I'll go yet.'

'Goodbye Jess.' Rory laughed.

'Bye Rory.'

A/N- I was going to put in a conversation with Paris as well but this is getting pretty long so that'll be in the next part. Please review, and thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far.