Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls but I wouldn't mind owning Milo Ventimiglia, who plays Jess (unfortunately, he's about 13 years older than me, damn…).

Chapter 7: Late night

"Hey, Rory," Jess said, coming into the bookstore.

She popped her head above one of the shelves to see him. "Oh hi! I didn't expect you in here, you haven't been around that much," she replied.

"Yeah, well, I'm working at the diner these days, earning some cash, so I don't really have that much time to lurk around the bookstore."

"Oh that sucks." She went back to filing books onto the shelves. "Andrew's out today but if you need help with anything, just let me know."

He worked his way around the corner so that he was in the same aisle as Rory. "When's your next break?"

"Um…" She though about it for a minute while finishing a box of books. "I don't get one today since, like I said, Andrew's gone. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, I just wanted to talk to you privately."

"Well, can it wait until I get off of work at six?"

He thought about it for a moment. "I guess…"

"Sorry, but I got to get back to work."

"Right…" He walked down another aisle and watched her through the gaps in the shelf. Can it wait? I don't know… Six is a little late… Maybe I should just ask her now… He browsed through the different books, not paying attention to the titles. He watched as she finished with the books and walked behind the counter, burying her face in a book she was currently reading. Just go and talk to her… She's just Rory, and you're not asking her on a date. She made it very clear the other night that she doesn't want to date. But I'm just asking her to hang out at the diner after work, just as friends. Okay, go up and talk to her. He looked around the corner at her and then pulled away. What the hell man? You're Jess Mariano! You don't get nervous around girls! But then again Rory isn't just a normal girl… Get your head in the game, damn it! He walked around the corner back over to the counter.

"Hey, Jess," Rory said, "find anything?"

"No, not really. But I really want to ask you something and it can't wait until six."

"Um, okay, shoot." Please, don't let him ask me out, I thought I made it clear that I didn't want to date. But then again, he made it clear that he really cares about me and I guess I care for him too, but it's just been too soon.

"Do you want to hang out after work? Not a date, just two friends hanging out. After you get done with work, you could swing by the diner and hang out there until I'm done with work, then we could just hang out."

She thought for a second. "And it's not a date?"

He smiled. "Most definitely not a date."

She gave a real smile for the first time in weeks. "That'd be great."

"Great… I'll see you at six." He left the bookstore and went back over to the diner.

After closing the bookstore, Rory made her way over to the diner. Okay, he said it was just two friends hanging out but is that really what he's thinking? Just relax, as far as you know, this is just hanging out. "Hey, Luke!" She called.

"Oh, Rory, what are you doing here?" Luke replied.

She sat down at one of the tables. "Can't I eat at my favorite place?"

"Anymore you and your mom just call and demand that I bring something home," he said as he poured her a cup of coffee.

"Well, tonight I felt like actually sitting here."

He smirked. "Okay, but you need to hurry, busy tonight."

"Alright, so I'm hanging out here with Jess for a while. That's okay, isn't it?"

"He has to work until eight."

"I know, I'm hanging here until he's done working and then we're going to hang out together. That's okay, isn't it?"

"Yeah, just don't be out too late." He left the table and walked behind the counter at the same time as Jess was coming out from behind the counter. He caught onto his arm and said, "You have a visitor."

Jess looked over at Rory and then back at Luke. "Thanks."

"Don't hurt her, Jess. I mean it. You may be my nephew but she's my step-daughter and I will hurt you if you hurt her."

"God, Luke, you've become a little protective."

"Well, it is Rory."

"That's true. I promise, okay? We're just hanging out as friends."

"Okay. Now get back to work." He walked off into the back of the diner.

Shaking his head, Jess dropped an order off at a near-by table and sat down across from Rory. "So can I take your order?"

"Cute, so how are you?" She replied.

"I'm doing good, are you doing better?"

She smiled at him. "I'm doing okay."

"That's a good thing. I don't think you've really been all that happy since you've moved here."

"I think you're right."

Luke came out from the back room and paused when he saw Jess sitting with Rory. He walked over to Jess and said, "Jess, get to work or I'm going to make Rory leave. Sorry, Rory, but I need him to work."

"It's cool, Luke." She looked over to Jess. "Get to work."

"Miss Bossy," he quipped, getting up and getting back to work.

Jess locked the front door and turned the sign over to the closed side. He walked over to the counter and jumped onto it, sitting next to Rory.

She let out a laugh. "So why this sudden inspiration for a hang out session?"

"Just wanted to hang out like the old days, like that time you were home by yourself and Paris came over for a cram session. Then I showed up with a bunch of food. And Paris and I spent the whole time arguing over books. Speaking of Paris, have you seen her lately?"

"We kept in touch every once in a while. And then later that night, Dean called to say he was on his way. When I tried to get you out of there, he found us, so we were totally busted."

"I never found out what happened after I left. What did happen?"

"Well, Dean was totally pissed off."

"Obviously."

"And at that point it seemed like we were going to have a major fight. Thank god Paris stepped in. She told Dean that she wanted you to stay because she had a crush on you and wanted to get to know you better." She glanced up to Jess who was smiling. "Which was all a huge lie to save my ass."

"So it all worked out in the end."

"Sort of, I mean, it ended anyways."

"That's true."

"Oh remember that time we…"

After hours of reminiscing, they were starting to become tired.

"What time is it?" Rory mumbled.

"About 11," Jess replied.

She climbed off the counter slowly. "I should go."

"You sure? You are like falling asleep."

"What do you suggest? Sleeping upstairs?"

Jess stayed quiet.

"Oh you really meant that, didn't you?"

"Yeah, you can take Luke's old bed, it's still up there. So there isn't really anything that is making you go home."

"Okay, cool." They both climbed up the stairs into the apartment and fell asleep.

AN: Lorelai and Luke are going to kill her and possibly Jess, or are they? Only I know! Ha ha ha! Please review and be brutally honest! Thanks!