AN: Thanks to everyone for all the great reviews. This chapter isn't as angst-y as the last one, sorry in advance. Remember, the "review" button is your friend. =D

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I probably didn't blend in very well driving through Stars Hollow in my 1969 Chevy Z/28 Camaro. I couldn't exactly leave it behind. That was my dream car. Jimmy bought it for me when he heard I graduated from college. I don't know how he could've afford it, but I wasn't about to ask.

I can't say I was surprised by what I saw. In fact, I expected it. Six years later and that giant gossip column of a town hadn't changed a bit. It was like all of Stars Hollow went through a time warp. I chuckled at the thought and headed for Luke's. I had a debt to repay to him.

When I got there he was out buying supplies, and most likely fighting with Taylor. I decided to take that opportunity to sit down and finish typing my story on my laptop.

I was a staff writer for the New York Times. That's right, I didn't fail in life like everyone predicted. I got my life together and graduated from high school. I went to the University of New York, Albany. I majored in creative writing and minored in journalism. My current job was just a means to an end. I wanted to write a book, like the great Ernest Hemingway or Charles Dickens.

I was so focused on my writing that I didn't even notice when Luke came in.

"This isn't an internet café. Put the laptop away," he said in his signature grumpy voice.

I couldn't hide a smirk from appearing on my face. Luke hadn't changed at all.

"Luke, you should really join everyone in the 21st century." I watched him turn around and stare at me in disbelief.

"Jess? What do you want?" He assumed I wanted something, that I couldn't just come for a visit. I can't really blame him. It must've been tough dealing with the bullshit that was my late teens.

I fingered an envelope in my hands nervously. "Actually, I wanted to give you this."

He looked at it warily, not saying a word or making any move to take it.

"It's not going to bite you. Take it." Outside, I kept up a calm, nonchalant expression. Inside, I was growing worried. What if he didn't take it? What if he really couldn't forgive me? I wanted him to forgive me more than I realized. After all, he was one of the only people who believed in me at a time when I didn't even believe in myself.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, he took the white envelope from my hands.

"What is it?"

"Open it." I watched him open the envelope and pull out the stack of money. I saw his forehead wrinkle in confusion. "It's the money you lent me the day I left. I know it's a little late, but I wanted to pay it back."

His look of confusion changed into a look of more confusion. I could tell when the lightbulb went on in his head as he remembered the incident.

"Jess, you don't have to do that. I gave you the money, I didn't lend it to you." He had the look that I had named "Modest Luke" on his face. The one where he scrunches up his face, tilts his head, squirms a little bit, and fights a smile.

"Take it. It's all payed back. All $250 are in there." He took it and put in under the counter.

He turned to me with a serious look on his face. "You didn't come here just to pay me back. Tell me the truth, why did you really come back?"

He didn't know just how complicated that question was. I too was still trying to find the answer. This town was just so full of memories, happy and sad. The truth is I had no idea why I came back, but I remained silent, knowing that was not the answer Luke wanted to hear.

When I remained quiet, he assumed what anyone would have. "She's engaged." His eyes were full of...pity? He honestly thought I came back for someone I had been with six years ago.

"Who?" I played dumb out of habit. But my act didn't fool Luke, he knew me too well.

"Don't play games, Jess. You know who I'm talking about."

"It was six years ago, Luke. I've gotten over it."

He shrugged his shoulders. "If you say so."

Not only did I say so, I believed so. I fully believed that I was over her and vise versa.

I decided to change the subject. "Listen, is the Independence Inn still around? I need a place to stay."

He looked as if he was about to say something, but decided against it. I already knew what he was going to say. He was going to suggest that I stay with him, but he didn't. He knew as well as I did that the two of us living together, for any amount of time, was a bad idea.

"No, it's not. There's a new place, it's called the Dragonfly." He hesitated for a moment. "Lorelai owns it."

She couldn't still be nursing a grudge for me after six years, could she? Unless I wanted to sleep in my car, I had to take my chances with her.

"Where is it?" Luke nodded and wrote down the directions. As if I needed directions in a town like Stars Hollow. I'm sure if I circled the town long enough I would find the inn. I took the directions from him anyway. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it." He waved me off.

Ah. Awkward silences. "So, I guess I'll see you later."

"Yeah. You know where to find me."

With that I headed out the door. When I was out of Luke's hearing range, I let out a huge sigh of relief. That wasn't so hard. I got into my car and drove off to the Dragonfly Inn. As strange as the comparison may seem, coming back to this town was like playing a game. The fist level is easy, but the difficulty rises with every new development.

I arrived at the inn and parked my car. I stood in front of the house-like building and tried to summon the courage to enter.

Level two was about to begin.

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Ok you've finished reading chapter two! What are you going to do now? (This is the part where you review.) Tell me what you think and if I should continue. =) BTW I thought the car seemed like something Jess would drive.