"Okay, we have to get off this subject now. I refuse to argue with you over this yet again!"

"Okay, okay. What do you want to talk about?" Jess and I had been arguing over Ayn Rand's The Fountain Head.

It had been two days since the wedding. I had convinced Paris and the headmaster to allow me to stay home from D.C. I wasn't quite ready to leave Jess just yet. I hadn't been able to tell Dean because he had to work right after the wedding and the past couple of days. Although, if things worked the way I was hoping to in the next five minutes, I wouldn't have to tell him for a while longer.

I started, but I didn't get to finish. "So, I've been thinking-"

"Oh, no."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, trying to swat his arm playfully.

"Nothing, nothing. Go on, please." Jess gave me that infamous smirk of his. I could have melted right then and there, but I had to do this first.

"Well, what do you say we make this – us – more interesting?" I extended the same smirk he did to me.

"What, like a bet?" Jess gave me a confused look.

"Ha-ha, no. I was thinking more like we keep…us…a secret." I couldn't even hear myself. I couldn't believe I had just asked him to let me cheat on Dean – keep cheating on Dean is more like it.

I hadn't even realized I had turned my face from his until he pulled my chin back so I had to look him directly in the eye. I could also get lost in those chocolate depths, but I kept my cool. I expected him to blow up. I expected him to storm off the bridge we were sitting on. I expected him to say that he hated me and never wanted to see me again. I prayed to a God I wasn't positive existed that he wouldn't.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean," deep breath, "I don't think I can break up with Dean. I've never broken up with anyone before. I love you too much to end this, but I don't think I have the guts to break Dean's heart." Please God…

"I'll do it. Let me break up with Dean for you." I shot him a look that clearly stated that I would never let him do that. Unsuccessfully trying to hide a smile, he sarcastically added, "I'll be gentle. Promise." I shot him that same look. "Scout's honor." I still had not said anything. Now he was chuckling, "C'mon, you'd believe Dean if he said it."

"Jess, please, I'm being serious."

"I am, too."

We sat in silence for a few moments. It seemed like a forever, but I'm sure it wasn't so long. Finally, he spoke, "I'll do it on one condition."

Oh, no. "What is it?" I worried it would be something horrific, or nerve-wracking.

"You can't tell Lorelai, either." I stared at him. He couldn't be serious!

"What, no! Jess, she's my best friend! I tell her everything! It'd be torture for me to keep this from her!"

"Rory, I know all that. I know everything about you, but if you are seriously asking me to keep us a secret, I'm seriously asking you not to tell your mother."

"I'll want to tell her every time you say or do something awesome, or every time she asks why I have a dreamy look on my face, or just whenever she says, 'Hey, kid.'" I was near tears. I could feel them brimming my lower lids.

"And I'm going to want to shout it to the world every time I walk down the street, or every time I see you kiss Dean, or just whenever I open my mouth to breathe." A single tear slipped passed the barriers to my cheek. He brushed it away with the pad of his thumb. "It's going to be okay, Rory. I promise. This is only temporary, right?" I nodded. "Right. Once you get up the courage, this will all end, and then we'll be able to shout it from Luke's diner. You'll be able to tell your mom everything. You can even blame it on me as to why you didn't tell her in the first place." I nodded again, although he hadn't asked a question.

He wrapped his arms around me as I laid my head on the pillow that was his shoulder. I cried a few more tears, but soon they subsided. He looked at his watch and found he was late for work. He said he was sorry, but he had to go. I nodded again and told him I loved him. He returned it and we shared a lingering kiss once more before going our separate ways.


Once home, I found Mom to still be at work. Good, I thought. It'll give me time to clean up and prepare my lie. That thought stopped me in my tracks. I couldn't lie! Especially not to Mom! I practiced for about a half hour before I heard Mom come through the door. God, please help me lie to her without being caught, I prayed. It seemed ironic to be asking God to help me lie. Isn't He, like, against that?

"Rory? Are you home?" I came out of my room. "There you are, kid! What do you want to do for tonight, huh? Al's, Luke's, pizza?"

I took a deep breath. "Anything's good. I'm not extremely hungry, anyway." Damn, there's a sign I'm lying!

She took a step toward me. "Everything okay, sweets?"

"Yeah, everything's great. I just had a huge lunch at Luke's and then I had a sandwich, not too long ago, so I'm almost full."

She eyed me a bit more. "Mmk. You sure everything's okay, though? 'Cause you know, if there was something bothering you, you could always tell me." She gave me that look she gives Michel when she knows he's hiding something.

I smiled a genuine smile. Or at least I hope that's what it looked like. "Yeah, Mom, I know. And I'm fine. I promise if there's anything big going on, you'll be the first to know. You always are." Liar!

She bit. "Mmk. So, pizza good with you?" She was already dialing.

"Yup, sounds good." I went back into my room and read until the pizza arrived. Then I ate my pizza in my room, as well. I couldn't face her. I called Jess after dinner.

"This is going to be harder than I thought." I hoped he could hear me. I was trying not to wake Mom, who had crashed early.

"Yeah, I know. I was walking home and wanted to shout it to everyone in town. Then Dean passed me and I just wanted to-"

"Jess, I know you hate him and I'm not saying I still love him, but he is technically still my boyfriend." I heard him sigh heavily on the other end. "I know, I don't like it any more than you do, but that's how it is. Just keep your hatred for him to yourself for just a little while. Please?"

"Okay, I will for you."

"Thank you. I've got to go. I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay? Dean works from three to eight, so I'll be at the bridge then."

"I'll be there even if I have to sneak out." I smiled.

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

We hung up and I went to bed. As I lay there awake, all I could think of was how hard this was going to be. I knew from the beginning it wouldn't be easy, but tomorrow I would have to face Dean.


A/N: Yay, I got chapter three up! I won't be able to post anything new until the 27th at the earliest. My family & I are going on vacation, but I'll be writing on this while I'm gone. Anyway, I dedicate this chapter to JessLovesRF. She's a good friend who inspired me to write this chapter. However, I love the rest of you reviewers just as much!

In case anyone cares, Ayn Rand is the author Rory loves & Jess doesn't understand. At least I think that's who it is. I couldn't find the author's name in any quotes from the show, so if it's not right, please review me & tell me so I can change it. I know the characters in this chapter are a bit OOC (out of character), but I had to tweak them to make it work. I also tried to mention more people than just Rory & Jess.

Please review! Everlasting love to whoever reviews! That's the only way I'm going to know to continue this story, people! As always, flames will be sent to the Bermuda Triangle to be lost forever! Wow, this has been an extremely long author's note!