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Rory takes the bus back to get her car. Jess thought it might get stolen and he's probably right, but Rory can't be without her car all summer, and she doesn't want to leave it at Yale anyway. She can hardly ask Lorelai if she can keep it in the garge either. Rory stares out of the grimy window. Taking the bus out of New York reminds her of that day two years ago where she skipped school and went to see Jess. It was so unlike her to do things on a whim like that, but it felt like something she had to do, and here she is again. The journey back to Connectiut makes her think of all the stops on the way back and Rory feels an ache, both at missing her mother's graduation and for fighting with her now. Well, that's her choice, Rory thinks defensively. She didn't have to be so mad at her.

The bus stops a little way out of campus. Rory walks past a ring of shops, hesitates and then ducks into one to buy some condoms. Thinking of her fight with Lorelai reminds Rory of her mother asking so what if you get pregnant? Whatever happens, Rory thinks, she's not going to get pregnant. She and Lorelai have never had a real talk about it but the Trojan jokes stuck, along with a few reminders not to leave it up to the guy. Not that Rory thinks Lorelai would be thrilled with this transaction. Blushing slightly, she pulls a bill out of her wallet to pay for them and buries the packet deep in her purse. She feels slightly pathetic for being embarrassed and, shaking herself, Rory walks purposefully the rest of the way. Her car is still safely outside her dorm and Rory hesitates before getting inside it. Part of her wants to go back in her old room, though she has no reason to. It's empty, waiting for the next nervous freshman to move in. Rory can hardly believe it's been a whole year since that was her, but at the same time, it feels longer. It already feels crazy that only yesterday she was packing up her dorm and everyone was saying goodbye and Paris was remarking on her dry spell. Rory can't imagine what she'd say to this. She guesses she'll find out after summer when they room together. Suddenly, a shiver passes all through Rory for no reason. She turns away from the building and focuses on getting into the car.

Rory was just going to drive back to New York but she decides to go through Stars Hollow. She's a little afraid of running into Lorelai but maybe Rory could catch Lane. She's sure Lane already knows from the speed gossip spreads through Stars Hollow, but Rory wants to tell her anyway. Driving slowly through town, Rory peers out of the window and is rewarded as she sees Lane walk out of Doose's.

"Lane!" Rory calls, stopping the car. "Hey!"

"Rory?!" Lane runs over the road to her and Rory gets out, hugging her. Lane hugs her tightly back and exclaims, "Is it true you ran away to New York with Jess?"

"You know already?"

"Are you kidding? It's all over town!"

"Of course." Rory rolls her eyes but tries to smile and Lane asks, "Is it true you and Lorelai aren't speaking?"

"We had a fight, but..." Rory frowns and says, "I don't know."

"Was she really mad?" Lane asks, lowering her voice and Rory nods. "She thinks it's a big mistake."

"But Jess loves you, right? That's so romantic, to have a guy ask you to leave with him like that! Is it amazing?"

"It's only been one night," Rory says, laughing. "But it's good."

"What's New York like?"

"It's great." Rory doesn't describe the rundown apartment.

"When are you coming back?" Lane asks and Rory shrugs, feeling more serious. "After summer, I think."

"I wish something that romantic would happen to me."

"It will," Rory says firmly. "Listen, call me over summer, okay? I want to keep with Hep Alien."

"I don't think there'll be much to keep up with."

"Well, I want to keep up with you."

"That's a given." The girls hug and Lane says ruefully, "I've got to go. I'm helping out at the store."

"I'll call you soon."

Lane looks around, hesitates and asks quietly, "Have you slept with him?"

Rory simply shakes her head. She's too aware of Miss Patty's range of hearing, plus she feels shy. "I'll tell you," she promises. Lane hugs her goodbye again and Rory waves as she walks down the street. She's just about to get back in her car when Rory sees Dean on the other side of the road. Rory considers just driving away but she waits until Dean reaches her, a taut expression on his face.

"Hey," Rory says and Dean demands, "Is is true? You left with Jess?"

It's a polar opposite to Lane's reaction. Rory says, "Yes, it is," and Dean exclaims, "Why?"

"Because I wanted to."

"That guy treated you like dirt!" Dean says furiously. "He treated you like dirt, left town and now you're going off with him?"

"It's not like that."

"It looks that way to me," Dean snaps and Rory retorts, "What do you care anyway? You're married!"

Dean pauses, running his palm across his mouth, and then says, "Look, last night - I thought maybe..."

"But you're married," Rory says again. "Where did Lindsay think you were? What's going on?"

"It's over between us."

"Dean..."

"You shouldn't be with Jess," Dean says and Rory snaps, "That's my call. You shouldn't have gotten married. I've got to go."

"That's what I'm saying!" Dean shouts as Rory gets back in her car. "That's my point!"

She shouldn't have stopped there, Rory thinks as she drives away. She should've just called Lane. She feels weird and shaky all over and that was without even running into Lorelai. Rory should've factored running into Dean. She wonders what he was getting at, and then Rory grips the wheel. She thinks she knows. But he married Lindsay and she's with Jess.

Rory makes a couple of false turns before seeing the store for the turning. She calls Jess and he comes down to let her in. "How was the drive?"

"Okay." Rory decides not to tell him about Stars Hollow and gives him a kiss instead. As he makes some coffee he bought for them, Rory decides not to tell him she bought condoms either. It doesn't feel like the right moment. Jess gives her a kiss as the coffee brews and runs a hand through her hair. The sky is clouding outside but as the coffee brews Rory brightens inside. This is the right time for them. This is where she's meant to be.