A/N: I know I haven't updated this in forever. But I am going to finish it!

Chapter 7: Bookstore Blues

Rory's face lit up at Jess casually led them to his date destination. Dean looked disappointed.

"Andrew's bookstore is the date?" he asked sceptically. "That's not really rising to the innovative challenge, now is it Jess?"

"Seems good enough for Rory," Jess retorted.

They both looked at her expectantly. She gulped.

"It's great," she reassured Jess.

"Great?" Dean questioned with a frown.

"I mean, it's fine."

"Fine?" Jess raised an eyebrow.

"I mean, uh…let's start the date shall we?"

With that she marched forward and pushed open the door to the bookstore.

A lanky teen with a nametag that read 'Ed' stood awkwardly behind the counter. "I'm here to make sure you don't steal anything," he mumbled. Apart from Ed, there was nothing different about the bookstore to make it that much more 'special'. No candles, no flowers, no romantic jazz playing softly in the background. There was, however, a from table with a few books scattered on it, a small hand-written note beside each one. Rory was drawn to it immediately.

"Remains of the Day, Naked Lunch, To The Lighthouse…Jess – are these book recommendations? Did you write them yourself?"

"Just thought I'd introduce you to some books you've never read before"

"I've read To The Lighthouse twice."

"My mistake."

"This is amazing though. Look at all these – such a variety of genres."

"I've put some more recommendations around the store. Well go on, browse."

Needing no further encouragement she happily made her way to the classics sections of the shop. He turned on the cd player – the Offspring to start with – and followed her further into the store, smiling to himself as he heard her soft exclamations of delight. Neither was aware of Dean as he hovered in the doorway sadly.

"Rory – catch!"

Jess tossed Rory the packet of double-stuffed Oreos, waking her out of her reverie. She looked up from her book as the Oreos sailed through the air and proceed to land by her feet.

"Hey Gilmore, which part of catch is difficult to understand?" he called teasingly.

"Like I see you on the Varsity team" she retorted, sticking out her tongue.

"Dean's a jock, maybe he can teach us all about it."

"Dean!" Rory snapped back to attention, finally remembering about her boyfriend. He was sitting on the counter, arms folded. "There are some great books here, why don't you have a look around?"

"No thanks."

"Here's the Hunter Thompson section, you love him."

"You do?" Jess turned to Dean in astonishment.

"Yes" he said, a little smugly.

"Which is your favourite?" Jess asked in an accusatory tone.

"Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" Dean replied coolly.

"Typical" Jess snorted, "Choose the most obvious one."

"I also like Prince Jellyfish. But I think his Gonzo stuff is the best."

"Huh" Jess was, for once, at a loss for words.

"You know what Rory, maybe I will come and have a look." Dean jumped off the counter, giving Jess a significant look as he passed him. "Jess, could you put on some U2? Rory loves them and she's not that big of an Offspring fan."

Jess glanced at Rory, aghast, as she shrugged helplessly.

"I just think they're a bit overrated" she murmured.

Dean gave Rory a peck on the lips. "Do want to look at the Austen section with me? I enjoyed Pride and Prejudice."

"Oooh, then you should totally check out Persuasion. I think you'd like it too!" she smiled happily, leading him over.

"Oh and Jess? This." Dean triumphantly held out his Time-Out card.

Jess' shoulders sagged. He had been doing so well, he had been winning. Well, not anymore. There was some serious sabotage to be done, and some serious impressing on his part if he was going to win this thing. He had to pull out all the stops.

"Fine." he muttered. "I'll be back in twenty."

"No less remember" Dean baited.

Jess clenched his fists. Rory, Rory, he had to think about Rory. She would not be impressed if he punched Dean's lights out, not that the jerk didn't deserve it.

"I can't decide between Victorian Realist fiction or the gothic genre. On the one hand, you have the amazing detail of George Eliot and the bleak reality of Dickens, but then with the gothic…they're just exciting and fun. The Woman in White, Dracula, Lady Audley's Secret, heck, go crazy and throw some Oscar Wilde in there too!"

Dean's eyes began to glaze as Rory babbled on and on, continuously flicking through a pile of books that were spread around them.

"…don't you think Dean? Dean?"

He jolted to attention as he heard his name. "What?"

"I'm sorry, I'm boring you, aren't I?

"No. I love hearing you talk about books," he assured her.

"Really?"

"I love that you're so passionate about them."

She smiled happily as he laced his fingers through hers. He leaned in closer to her.

"Don't get me wrong, I could listen to you talk all day, but we only have ten minutes left and I thought we could…"

"Oh, right." She met his lips in a soft, warm kiss.

She broke it off". "Wait, where's Ed?"

"He's in the back. I know him from school, he trusts us."

"Ok." They began to kiss again but Rory pulled away a moment later. "I just remembered, I've been wanting to read Into the Wild for ages but I always walk right pas the biography section. I'll be back in a minute" She jumped up and raced over to the biography shelf, eyes quickly scanning for the book.

Dean closed his eyes and let out a deep breath in frustration. "Ok Ror. I'll be here."

"Won't be long," she called, distractedly.

Ten minutes later Jess banged open the door loudly, bags in hands. "I've got food!" he called loudly. He set the bags down and smirked as he took in the scene. Rory was sitting on the floor in the corner of the room, nose buried in a book. Dean was lying down in the middle of the room, eyes closed. Maybe sabotage wouldn't be necessary after all.

"Great, I'm starving!" Rory enthused, setting down the book and bouncing over to where Jess was opening the burger and fries. "Luke's?" she questioned.

"Where else?" he replied. "And, because you're a Gilmore I knew you'd want this." He produced a large take-away coffee.

"You know me too well," Rory grinned, taking the coffee.

"Yes I do," Jess said quietly. He turned to Dean and addressed him in a louder, more sarcastic tone. "Oh Dean, I'm sorry, I didn't know if you drank coffee so I didn't get you one. I would suggest sharing Rory's but we both know how cranky she gets if she's separated from her coffee"

"Hey! Right here!" Rory responded indignantly. "And of course Dean can share mine. Here." She offered it to him but he shook his head.

"I'm ok thanks."

"Want some fries?"

"Not hungry,"

"Dean, you have to eat something. What about a burger? You love the burgers from Luke's."

"Ok," he relented, "the burgers do look good."

They munched in silence for a while until Jess felt compelled to break the silence with a smartass remark.

"So what did you two talk about on your little time out?" he asked jovially.

"Actually, we didn't do much talking," Dean replied, levelly meeting Jess' stare.

"Huh. Sure, because when I came in you two look sure looked close. What with Rory all the way over the other side of the room."

"Stop it guys. Jess, it's none of your business." Rory told him firmly.

"Have you got all the books you wanted?" Jess asked her, quickly changing tack.

"Yup. I've got way too many, I'll have to put some back."

"Watcha got? I'm getting Mr. Nice too, so can just borrow it from me if you want. Definitely put A Passage to India back."

"Not great?"

"It makes Finnegan's Wake look inspired."

"Duly noted." She put the book down. "Ok, I'm ready. Dean, are you buying anything?"

"No," he muttered.

"Uh, ok. Well, I'll just get these and uh, Jess, you can get yours and then we can go."

"I've got them," Jess replied, taking the pile of books out of her hands.

"Uh, what?" she asked, not really comprehending what had just happened.

He had already placed them on the counter where Ed was ringing them up. "It's cool, it's part of the date."

"No Jess, I can't let you."

"Relax. I'm planning on stealing them all from you anyway."

Jess Rory her books nonchalantly, picked up his own and strode out of the store, Rory on his heels. Dean followed them, a thunderous look in his face. It was time for the dismissal, and the choice was harder than Rory had previously thought.