A/N: Look at all the great reviews - thank you, lovely people :) Rory didn't treat Jess too well, huh? Well, she can probably make it up to him ;)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 4

Rory felt guilty. It wasn't a feeling she liked much but she, unlike many of her friends, was not a stranger to it. It seemed to be easy for people like Paris, Madeline and Louise, Logan, Colin and Finn to just do what they wanted and damn the consequences. Rory had never really been that way. She wished she were. It would make life a whole lot easier, but Rory was a rarity, as were her family. Though she was raised to be the Gilmore heir, a socialite, and a lady by her grandparents, her mom always kept her grounded, helped her be a more 'normal' and better person, and then there was Rory's own general tendency to be overly honest and such without any real prompting whatsoever. All this was why she suspected she felt so bad about Jess.

It was so stupid. When they met at Logan's party, she had been so attracted to him, not just his looks, though that was a part of it, but his personality, his knowledge, his sense of humour, everything. They had a great time talking and doing things that weren't talking too. It hadn't really occurred to Rory that she could or would see Jess again, but a part of her hoped it might happen. Then there he was, right in front of her, and she had treated him terribly.

Rory could try to blame Paris for what happened in Hartford a couple of days ago, but that wouldn't really be fair. Sure, she was abrupt and kind of rude, which was Paris' forte, but Rory had a brain and a mouth. She was able to tell Paris to stop or go away if she wanted to. She had stood up to her before, it was possible, but when it came to Jess, Rory was just so embarrassed.

It wasn't because she had a one-night stand, as such. That had happened before, only once, but still. She told her girl friends about what happened with Logan and she wasn't ashamed of it. It was a little embarrassing but, in the end, they talked about it and moved on, no muss, no fuss. This seemed different. Rory had been a snob and she knew it, acting like she was too good to talk to Jess in the street. She felt sick just thinking about it and apparently it showed.

"Rory, whatever's the matter?" asked Emily in a low voice. "You're not sick, are you? If you are, I think we'd better get you away from prying eyes. We don't want the other ladies to start suspecting the food or something, not when your mother runs the inn."

"I'm not sick, Grandma," Rory promised. "I just... Actually, I think I have a headache coming on. Maybe I studied too hard this week."

"Oh, you poor dear," said Emily, patting her arm. "Well, I suppose you should go home and rest. It's not as if anybody can blame you for working too hard, that is an admirable thing after all, but what a shame to waste your lovely dress," she added with a sigh.

"I'm sure I can wear it again for some other event. Not the DAR, obviously," she added quickly, "but something else, a family occasion maybe."

"Perhaps," Emily nodded, though she didn't look entirely convinced. "I'll call your grandfather, ask him to come pick you up."

"Oh no, Grandma, I'm fine. I drove myself here and can drive myself back too."

"But with your head feeling so bad, Rory, it's not safe."

"It's not so bad," she insisted. "It just feels like it could get worse and I'm sure I just need some fresh air or some rest or something."

"Very well, if you're sure," Emily agreed. "You say goodbye to your mother before you leave so she doesn't worry and we'll see you at home for dinner."

"Okay. Thanks, Grandma." Rory smiled, getting up from her seat and excusing herself to the other ladies at the table.

It was no shock to Rory to realise that her mom was nowhere near the dining room where the DAR ladies were congregating. She had to come to these things, wherever they were, but her presence was required more particularly because this event was being held at the inn she ran. Of course, working for the place also allowed Lorelai the excuse to escape. Rory found her, as expected, in the kitchen with a large coffee in her hands.

"Hey."

"Hey, sweets. You okay?"

"I'm fine, but if Grandma asks, I didn't look so good when you saw me," said Rory in a low voice as she wandered over to her mom. "I actually do have a little headache so I used it as an excuse to escape."

"Ooh, you're getting more and more like me every day kid." Lorelai grinned. "I couldn't be prouder."

Rory giggled. "I don't like to lie to Grandma, but sometimes these things are too much. Besides, I was hoping to meet up with someone today..."

"Someone?" asked Lorelai, trying to meet her daughter's eyes but Rory kept on ducking her head. "Rory, honey?"

"I want to go and see Jess," she admitted shyly. "I know it's crazy. Believe me, I am aware that I must be full-on nuts right now but I can't help it. I just feel like I need to apologise for the other day. I mean, he went to all that trouble to return my bracelet, which he did not have to do, and I really wasn't the nicest person. I feel bad."

"I get that," said Lorelai, nodding her head. "You always were the guilty type. I swear, you should've been Jewish... or Catholic... or whatever other religion is real big on guilt and confessions," she considered. "Still, I have to ask, hon, is it only that making you want to see this guy again? I mean, he must be pretty special for you to have danced the horizonal rhumba that first night."

"He was special. He is. I wish I could explain it, Mom, but I really can't."

"You don't have to, sweets," Lorelai assured her, a hand on her shoulder. "Sometimes people just take you by surprise and you don't even know why. We've all read the books, seen the movies, and heard the songs. Love at first sight and all of that jazz. It's not so common in real life, but it can happen."

"Love might be a little strong," said Rory, glancing away. "I just really like him."

"Then go see him, kid," said Lorelai definitely. "What do you have to lose?"

"Thanks, Mom." Rory grinned, moving in to hug her tight. "You're the best."

The next moment she was practically running out of the door, leaving a smiling Lorelai in her wake.

"Oh, to be young and in love," she said to herself with a sigh.

It had been a good long while since she felt that way about anyone. Lorelai had known before she ever married Christopher that they were doomed. He was great as a high school boyfriend but there was no way they could really last. They married because they had to, because Lorelai was pregnant and that was just what people were supposed to do. It had all fallen apart by the time Rory was five and Lorelai had taken her little girl and moved back in with her parents, the place they had remained ever since. Chris came around sometimes to see Rory but as far as Lorelai was concerned she wasn't a part of his visits, not really. There was no guy in Lorelai's life, not that way. Someday maybe she would find 'the one' but up to now it just hadn't happened.

"Lorelai?" a familiar voice called from the next room.

"Coming, Mom!" she yelled back, drinking down the rest of her coffee in one hit. "It's gonna be a long day."

Rory felt stupidly nervous as she pulled her car up the kerb outside of Luke's diner. She had no idea where in Stars Hollow to go looking for Jess, but she knew she was hungry and figured maybe an eatery was a good place to start. Besides, it was only a small town, so it was likely some friendly neighbour type would know where Jess lived and be willing to tell her. If she could just stop shaking, Rory would be fine, but now she was here she just felt so ridiculous, not knowing what she was going to say beyond 'sorry' or even if Jess would care to listen when she tried to apologise.

Stepping out of the car, she felt even more self-conscious in the dress she had worn specifically for the DAR Russian Tea. It seemed pointless to go home before coming here, 1) because it would take so long to go from Stars Hollow back to Hartford and then back again to Stars Hollow once again, and 2) because Grandpa would ask questions that she didn't much want to answer right now.

Pulling her jacket around her body and fastening one button to keep it there, Rory hoped nobody paid too much mind to what she was wearing as she stepped into the diner at last, pushing her sunglasses to the top of her head.

The ringing of the bell over the door seemed to get the attention of every person in the place and Rory shifted awkwardly under their gaze. It wasn't as if she was a stranger to being centre of attention. Between debutante balls and being crowned queen of Homecoming and Prom and all, she was well used to attention, but this was different. All these strangers who probably thought she came from another plant, at least they were looking at her as if they might think that.

Steeling herself, Rory marched forward to the counter, since she could already see there were no tables free. Pulling herself up onto a stool, she reached for a menu and began scanning the list of food on offer. She didn't notice someone come to take her order until he spoke, then got a real shock when she glanced up and met his eyes.

"Hi," she said, blinking at Jess.

"Hi," he replied. "Er, what are you doing here?"

"I actually came to see you," she admitted, dropping the menu down on the counter. "I had no idea you would be here exactly. I mean, you said you lived in Stars Hollow and I was in town, on the edge of town anyway, you know the Independence Inn? That's where I was, so I figured I'd come see if you were around and then I got hungry, so that's why I'm here," she rattled out too fast.

Jess smirked at the speed with which she delivered all the information. That and the fact that she had come to find him at all. After meeting her again in Hartford a couple of days ago only to have her treat him like dirt, he really never thought he would see Rory again and had half-decided that he never wanted to. Now she was in front of him again, he could very easily be persuaded to change his mind.

"Mostly, I wanted to apologise," she said then, taking away any more doubts Jess had about Rory in an instant. "The other day... I was just so shocked to see you there and Paris... well, I can't blame her entirely. Like I said, you surprised me."

"I didn't mean to, at least, not like that," Jess insisted. "I never thought I was just going to run into you the way I did."

"I know, I get that," Rory agreed. "I was just so thrown, plus trying to explain to Paris... she's known me a long time and I'm not exactly the type to... to do what we did last weekend," she said in a much lower voice, leaning closer to him over the counter. "Why do I get the feeling that every person in here is trying to hear what I'm saying?" she asked in virtually a whisper.

Jess put forearms down on the counter and leaned in closer to her too, speaking almost as quietly.

"Probably because you have good instincts," he said, unable to keep from smiling. "This town is the nosiest place for miles. Good people, don't get me wrong, but they do love other people's business."

Rory nodded that she understood, suddenly unable to speak as she became very aware of how close Jess was right now. Close enough to kiss, and last time this had happened it was exactly what they had done, and then some. The memory of it brought a warmth to her whole body and a redness to her cheeks, she was certain on that. How this guy could have such an effect on her, she had no idea, but he could and she didn't hate it.

"So, you work here?" she asked, hoping to deflect a little attention.

"Sometimes." Jess nodded. "My uncle owns the place, so I work some shifts here and more regularly at the book store down the street, all while trying to get my own writing career off the ground."

"Yes, the book. You mentioned that," she recalled with a grin.

"It's not really a book unless it gets published," Jess considered, looking past Rory at the chattering neighbours he knew too well.

Miss Patty and Babette were about to pounce and start asking awkward questions, he just knew it, and now so wasn't the time. Rory thought she had been embarrassed by her friend the other day but Jess knew it would be equally as bad if not worse for him if the town gossips started making comments the way they often did.

"Any chance you want to get out of here?" he asked Rory hopefully. "Whatever you want to eat, we can take it with us, but if we stay here... well, we're gonna have a big audience."

Rory dared to glance behind her and then wished she hadn't.

"Yeah, elsewhere would probably be good, but don't you have to work?"

"Only for another... fifteen minutes," he said, checking his watch, "if you can wait that long?"

"I can wait," she agreed, nodding her head. "So long as I can have a coffee while I'm waiting."

Jess turned quickly to grab the coffee pot, filling up an oversized cup and placing it in front of her on the counter.

"On the house," he told her easily.

"Thanks." Rory smiled widely then picked up the cup to take a sip.

The sound she made the moment the coffee entered her mouth was practically a moan, one that Jess had heard before, though there had been no coffee around that night.

"That is so good," she enthused. "Seriously, I am practically a coffee connoisseur and this is the best I ever tasted."

"I'll tell Luke you said so." Jess smiled. "So, if you decide what you want to eat, I'll get Caesar to wrap it up to go and we'll head out in ten minutes or so."

"And go where?" asked Rory curiously. "Your place?"

"Technically, this is my place," said Jess, looking somewhat embarrassed. "I live upstairs. Luke - the boss here - he's my uncle. But I have somewhere we can go. I think you'll like it."

How he knew that, even Jess wasn't sure. He barely knew Rory and she hardly seemed like she ought to be the type to appreciate anything Stars Hollow had to offer, and yet he was pretty sure this afternoon was going to go well. He hoped so anyway and when Rory smiled at him one more time, he really believed it.

To Be Continued...