Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls

Rory and Jess meet post Yale. They haven't seen each other since Jess left town after Say Goodnight, Gracie. Rory is working for a small paper in New York living a single flat. Jess is working at a coffee bar in Manhattan and living with his girlfriend in Brooklyn.


Jess sat on the counter of coffee shop, legs dangling, with his back to the door. "She's not your type." Mark leaned against the wall, arms crossed,"What's my type? I don't have a type."
Jess shook his head, "You have a type my friend, and she's not it."
"So what? Since when do I have a type?"
Jess and Mark had argued about Rory's availability all morning. They were both unrelenting in their resolves, Mark to get a date with Rory, Jess to discourage this idea. Jess was very uncomfortable with the thought of Mark getting anywhere near Rory.
"Speak of the devil."Mark said to Jess, then grinned and waved at Rory entering the cafe. "I know you'll do the right thing buddy." He said.
Jess turned around and nodded casually in greeting.
"Delivery!" She held up a stack of the latest Voice with her completed article on the exhibit and set them down on the counter, "And I expect a tip."
"Okay paperboy," Jess teased, "get a bike, cuts your time in half."
"Not that kind of tip..." sulked Rory.
"Maybe if you got a bike you'd earn one."
"I quit." She sat down.
Mark hastened to get Rory a cup of coffee. "So what're you writing about this week?" He asked.
"I'll find out Tuesday."
"If you need any help with research this week I'm your man."
She smiled aimably, "Thanks. I usually do it on my own. This past week was an isolated event. I assure you."
"Your call..." Mark punched Jess playfully on the arm and looked at him meaningfully, "I'm just going over there-to go do something-over there." he said before leaving them on their own.
Rory stared after Mark, "What was that about?"
"Nothing." Jess mumbled. He remained seated on the counter and turned sideways to look at her. "Hey Rory, there is something I've been meaning to ask you. Do you have a phone number?"
Her lips curled into a smile, "Yeah I got one of those." She answered his question literally.
As they spoke a slim blond approached the pair brazenly. Stepping up to the counter beside Rory she slid her arms around Jess's waist from behind. He straightened up quickly and turned to her to return the kiss she planted on his lips. Relinquishing her grip she took a seat on a stool. "Hey babe." She smiled.
Rory watched this display of affection and blinked with disbelief.
"Jess, you never mentioned you had a girlfriend." Rory said, pushing her hair behind ears.
Jolene raised her eyebrows and looked from Rory to Jess. "Jess, you never mentioned you had a mistress." Jolene countered
"Ha ha. Very funny Jolene, meet Rory. Rory, my girlfriend." Jess made minimal introductions.
Jolene nodded in Rory's direction and smiled coolly. "How is that you two know each other?"
Jess stumbled, "We were kind of...friends...childhood friends."
"Uh huh." Jolene said slowly, skeptically. "Did I interrupt a nursery school reunion?"
Rory's surprise wore off and crossing her arms she glared at Jess, "Where were we?"
Jess hopped off the counter and stood behind putting it between him and the two women. He glanced over at Mark who was busying himself wiping down tables. "I was about to ask you for your number, for Mark."
"Couldn't he have asked me himself?" Rory said doubtfully.
"He wanted me to kind of run it by you first." He looked at Mark and added, "He's had to deal with a lot of rejection. He's delicate."
Jolene cut in, "Leave it to you to put in a good word for a friend. I bet this girl is just dying to go out with poor rejection scarred Mark."
Rory hesitated and tried to conceal her disappointment. "When you put it that way-"
"I know he's not really your type." Jess interrupted Rory a little too soon.
Jolene piped up, "Honey," she cooed, "I had no idea you were the resident cupid."
"How can I refuse?" Rory finished, shooting a spiteful little smile in Jess's direction.
Jess clapped his hands together, "Grreat." he said smiling insincerely. "What's the number to pass on?"
Rory downed her last dregs of coffee and stood up, "I think I can give it to him myself." she said feigning cheeriness.
Jess's displeasure with the turn of events were thinly veiled as he replied, "Fine. Dandy."
Jolene maintained her cool disposition, "See you again, Rory."
Rory started for the exit. Passing Mark she paused. "Mark, maybe I'll take you up on your offer. I still won't know what topic I'm researching until Tuesday."
Mark's eyes lit up, "Tuesday sounds good. It's wings night at Mickeys. Five dollars a pound. Maybe you want to get an early start, discuss it there?"
Rory nodded indifferently, "Alright. Wings night at Mickey's." She smiled absently and left the coffee bar.
Mark returned to the counter beaming and put him arm around Jess. "Thatta boy." Jess stared at the door distantly.
Walking down the crowded street Rory remained unaware of the people around her. She replayed the scene from the coffee bar in her head and a lump rose in her throat. She felt foolish and betrayed. She regretted impulsively involving herself with Mark. Tears sprang into her eyes but she swallowed and willed them away. She ran her fingers through her hair and pulled herself together as she hurried up the stairs of her building and into her apartment.