A/N- I broke my own rule, updating this story when the other one's not done. But this one had potential and I didn't want to just let it sit, so enjoy and review!

"Hm, you don't feel warm," Lorelai said, feeling Rory's forehead.

"Oh but I'm so sick. I feel like I felt that one time when I was 8, when I ate that octopus," Rory said, squirming.

"Yeah, I told you not to eat that. But you insisted you had to try the finer things in life."

"I threw up for like 6 hours straight. I just might beat my record today," Rory said, groaning.

Lorelai patted Rory. "Honey, you're a very bad liar."

Rory sighed.

"Why don't you tell me what's really going on here. You finally blow of studying for a test or something?"

Rory just looked down.

"Don't lie to me again. I'll know."

"Not exactly."

"Spill it."

"It was just, a terrible night last night. I went with Jess to the diner, and Dean punched him."

"Oh my. Lions, tigers, bears! Tell me the rest please."

"Jess and I….."

Lorelai sat up a little. "Come on."

"We kinda sorta…….,"Rory sighed. "We kissed."

"Oh," was all Lorelai could manage to get out.

"It was more quarter kiss."

"A quarter kiss?"

"Yeah, our lips barely touched."

Lorelai stood, nodding. "Kid, if there's anything I've learned from situation like this, it's that the longer you wait to confront it, the worse it gets."

Rory pulled the covers over her head.

"And before you get to school, you really need to make up your mind on what that 'quarter kiss' meant to you. What Jess means to you."

"That would be the advantage of staying home, more time to think!" Rory said, pulling the covers down.

"Well, if your kissing him, it's not really that hard to figure out. Now come on. You've got until your done with you doughnut and coffee from Luke's to decide," Lorelai said, ripping the covers off.

Rory smiled and ran after her.

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Rory walked to her locker, feeling more dread than she ever had before for the class she had next. She was even considering skipping, hiding in the bathroom. But her mom's voice kept playing over and over in her head, like a broken record.

She grabbed her books and went to class early, watching her shoes the whole time. She sat down, staring at the table. That wasn't so hard.

She glimpsed up, seeing the kid with bright red hair and freckles. Again she glanced up, the blonde bimbo. Again, Tristan. Maybe he wasn't here.

She glimpsed up and caught his eyes for a split second as he walked in before staring at the table intensely.

'Drat,' she thought as she peered at him out of the corner of her eye sitting down next to her.

She heard him take a breath in like he was going to say something, but he never did.

"Okay class," the teacher said, walking in.

"Today will be a day to review your projects and practice presentations. Get to work!"

Jess leaned up next to her. "Am I missing something, or is there really something fascinating on the table?"

"I'm admiring the wood," Rory said.

"Interesting."

"Oh, it's very interesting."

"Oh no, I'm sure it is. So, how's whatshisname?"

"If your referring to Dean, I wouldn't know."

She jumped when she felt his hand on her chin, lifting her face and turning her head to face him. She held her breath.

"Hi," she said, giving a goofy grin.

"Hi," Jess said. "Look Rory, we should talk."

"About what?" Rory asked. She was out of it.

"Yeah, about what?" Tristan said, standing in front of their table.

Rory was speechless as she looked up at Tristan and back at Jess, feeling the tension.

"What you doing with my girl Rory?" Tristan said.

"I just wanted to talk about our," Jess stuttered.

"Your what? Are you making things up in your head again?" Tristan said.

"Look man I don't even know you, back off."

Jess stood up.

"What if I don't want to?"

"Tristan," Rory said, standing up.

"Yes love?" Tristan said.

"I need some fresh air," Jess said, leaving the room after getting a pass.

Rory watched him leave and began to follow him.

"Where you goin Mary?" Tristan said, stopping her.

"Don't follow me," Rory said.

"Why you gotta be like that?" Tristan said. "After all those nights we spent together."

People started staring. Rory pushed her way to the teacher. "I'm dehydrated."

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Rory went outside to find Jess leaning against a wall, lighting a cigarette.

"You know you aren't allowed to smoke on school grounds. You could get suspended."

"In that case could you go get someone, preferably a teacher?" Jess said.

Rory took the cigarette from his hand and put it to her lips. He watched her with a grin.

She immediately started coughing and threw the cigarette to the ground.

Jess laughed.

"About last night," Rory began.

"What about it?" Jess asked.

"I just, I'm not sure I can do this. I barely know you, I have a boyfriend, and I'm comfortable with that."

"Life isn't about being comfortable Rory. It should be exciting."

"Jess, I don't know what's going on with me, or how I feel."

"Well, give it a chance."

"What?"

Jess moved closer. "I don't really talk about feelings and stuff. I'm more into action."

"How very athletic of you."

"Tell me you don't feel anything, tell me it's not real, tell me Dean's the only one for you, and I'll back off."

"Oh," Rory started as Jess cupped her face in his hands and gently kissed her.

Jess pulled away, looking in her eyes for answers. And even though she knew the answer, it was the one she was afraid of.

"That was so at least $1.00," Rory said, before running to the nurse's office.

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Rory watched the building get farther and farther away as she and Lorelai drove away from the Chilton. She opened the box of licorice her mom had gotten her.

"It'll be okay hun," Lorelai said, setting her hand on Rory's arm.

Rory looked down, on the verge of tears.

Lorelai looked over, squeezing her tighter.

"So, what'd you tell the nurse?" Lorelai asked.

Rory looked over and gave the faintest grin. "Bad octopus."