Thank you so much for all your support for the last chapter! I'm glad you're keeping with me! :) Here's the next chapter! :)

Chapter 10

Jess and Lane were kissing as Jess started pushing her towards his bed. Lane felt her legs hit the side of the bed and suddenly realised what was happening and pulled away.

"Oh god, what are we doing?" She exclaimed. "What just happened?"

"Well...you kissed me." Jess said with a slight smirk.

"Hey, you kissed me first!" Lane protested. "You're the one who started all these mixed up feelings!"

"You've got feelings for me?" Jess said.

"Urgh, I don't know! I don't know what just happened and I don't know what to do! I just don't know!" Lane groaned, going over to the couch and collapsing down into it, putting her head in her hands. "I don't know..." She said quietly.

Jess slowly went over and sat down next to her. "I get it. I don't exactly know what to think about this either." He admitted.

Lane glanced at him slowly. "You don't?" She asked quietly.

"Well I certainly never thought I'd be kissing my ex's best friend. I never thought we'd be friends, let alone this." Jess said. "Remember when you hated me? At least we knew where we stood then." He joked slightly.

Lane smiled slightly. "I never hated you." She said.

"You didn't like me though." Jess said.

"Only because you'd treated Rory badly in the past. Urgh, Rory! We tell her that kiss meant nothing and now...urgh, what are we going to do?" She exclaimed.

"I don't know." He admitted. He glanced at her. "I guess...I guess we need to figure out how we really feel." He said slowly.

"I guess..." Lane said quietly. She glanced at him. "So how do you really feel?"

"Geez I have no idea!" Jess said smirking slightly.

Lane smiled at that. "Yeah, me too." She admitted.

"Well we obviously feel something considering what just happened." Jess said slowly. "But..."

"It's complicated, yeah." Lane sighed. "I think I should go..."

"Yeah maybe that's best." Jess nodded.

"See you tomorrow?" Lane checked.

"I'll be the one winding up Taylor and Kirk." He smirked.

Lane smirked. "Night Jess."

"Night." He said, letting out a breath after she left. He put his head on his hands. What the hell just happened?

Luke couldn't help watching Jess and Lane all morning, the following day. They weren't joking around like they usually did and when they brushed past each other or bumped into each other, they would jump apart like shrapnel and act all awkward. He was wondering whether it was something to do with Rory's impromptu visit. When Lane went on her break, he pulled Jess to one side. "Ok, what's going on?" He asked.

"What do you mean?" Jess said.

"You and Lane. One day, you're thick as thieves and today you're jumping apart even when you just slightly brush past each other. Is this to do with Rory?" He said.

"Not everything's to do with Rory." Jess grumbled.

"Then what is it? Did you two have a fight or something?" Luke said confused.

Jess glanced at everyone in the diner and back at Luke. "Can we talk about this later?"

"No, we can't. Because it's affecting your work and my business." Luke said.

Jess groaned but grabbed Luke's arm and dragged him behind the curtain to the stairs so they didn't have an audience. "We kissed." He told him.

"Yeah...everyone already knows that." Luke said.

"No, we kissed again. Last night." Jess told him.

"What?" Luke said surprised.

"It wasn't exactly planned but suddenly Lane was at my door telling me not to leave and suddenly...well, we were kissing again." Jess mumbled.

"Leaving? Since when were you leaving?" Luke frowned.

"It's a long story." Jess sighed. "But we kissed again and neither of us know what to think about it or what to do about it."

"Wow...uh..ok...Well...do you like her?" Luke said awkwardly.

"Can we not talk about this?" Jess said.

"Jess, you're going to have to deal with it at some point. It happened, you can't change that." Luke pointed out.

"Geez, don't you think I know that?!" Jess exclaimed. "But it's Lane! It's...complicated."

"Because of Rory." Luke guessed.

"Yeah. Because of Rory." Jess said quietly. "But not just her. Wouldn't it be weird, me and Lane?"

Luke thought for a moment. "Not if it's something you and Lane really want." He shrugged.

"But she's Rory's best friend..."

"You told me you and Rory were ancient history." Luke said.

"We are." He said quickly.

"Well then...it shouldn't really matter."

"Lorelai would kill me." Jess said.

"Jess..."

"Plus Mrs Kim..."

"Jess..."

"Plus the whole town would probably arrange a lynch mob for betraying Rory." Jess continued.

"Jess!" Luke exclaimed.

"What?" Jess exclaimed.

"Do you like Lane? Do you think you might have feelings for her?" Luke asked softly.

"I don't know." He said honestly, glancing at the ground. "It's all happened so quickly. I mean, of course we knew each other before when I lived here with you but we never really talked. And now...it's only been a week and we've become friends. Good friends. And we have a lot in common."

"And you've kissed twice." Luke pointed out.

"Gee thanks for pointing out the obvious, Uncle Luke." Jess said dryly.

"I'm just saying, it must mean something. You don't just go round kissing someone for the hell of it." He said.

Jess sighed and glanced at him. "I don't know what to do." He admitted.

"Well...I think you need to talk to Lane. Like properly talk to her. Sort this out." Luke said. "Otherwise it's going to drive you crazy."

"Yeah..." Jess sighed. "I'll..uh...I'll talk to her after our shift."

"Good." Luke nodded.

Jess glanced at him. "Why are you so bothered about this? I would have thought you'd be against me and Lane."

Luke shrugged. "I just want you to be happy." He said. "If Lane makes you happy, then nothing else should matter."

Jess nodded and watched as Luke started to turn to head back to the diner. "Luke?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks." He said quietly.

"Oh god, oh god, oh god!" Lane exclaimed as she got back to hers to grab something for lunch before heading back to the diner.

"What's wrong?" Brian asked.

"Oh...sorry, I didn't notice you guys there." She said embarrassed, when she saw Brian and Zach sat on the bean bags playing a video game.

"Is everything ok?" Brian asked.

"Oh yeah, everything's fine." She lied.

"Ok." Brian said focusing back on the tv.

Lane sighed. "Actually...uh...can I talk to you bout something?"

"Sure. Just after I thrash Brian on this." Zach said distracted.

"No, now please. I don't have long for my break. Please?" Lane said desperately.

Brian and Zach exchanged a glance when they heard the desperation in her voice. Brian paused the game. "Sure." He said.

Lane took a deep breath and sat down on the couch. "Jess and I kissed." She said.

Zach looked at her for a moment. "Yeah...we know that." He said.

"No, I mean, we kissed again." Lane admitted. "Last night."

"Oh." Zach said.

"Did you kiss him or did he kiss you?" Brian asked.

"Why does that matter?" Lane said.

"I don't know. Just seemed like something I should ask." Brian shrugged.

"I kissed him." She said quietly.

"What, so are you two like a couple now then?" Zach said.

"No!" She said quickly. "I mean...well...I don't know. I don't think either of us really know what to think. That's why I'm talking to you guys to see what you think."

"You're asking for our advice?" Zach asked.

"Yeah..."

"Seriously?" He said surprised.

"Zach!" Lane exclaimed.

"Lane, just calm down." Brian said. "So you and Jess kissed again?"

"Yeah..."

"Well...do you like him that way?" He asked.

"I don't know..." She said.

"You must know. How can you not know whether you like him or not?" Zach said confused.

"So you know whether you have feelings for all those girls you hook up with?" She retorted.

"Good point." Zach said.

Lane sighed. "I need your advice. Please. I don't know what to do."

"I think you need to figure out whether you like him or not." Brian said.

"But even if I do, it's complicated!" Lane said.

"Because of Rory?" Brian guessed.

"Yeah..." She said quietly.

"Well if she can't be happy for you, she's not a very good friend." Zach commented.

"Zach!" Lane frowned.

"No Lane, he's actually right about this. If you and Jess have...developed feelings for each other, why should it matter what Rory thinks about it?" Brian said.

"Because it's a rule! You don't date your friend's exes!" Lane exclaimed.

"That's a stupid rule." Zach said.

"But I thought Rory's moved on. She's with that Logan guy right?" Brian said.

"Well...yeah..."

"Then why would she care who Jess dates?"

"Because...well...she just would." Lane sighed.

"Then I stand by my comment that she's not a very good friend then." Zach shrugged. "If she can't be happy for you, then she doesn't deserve you."

"Zach's right." Brian said hesitantly. "I know Rory's stood by you through a lot and you've been there for her as well but if you and Jess make each other happy, she shouldn't stand in your way. She shouldn't be the reason you throw your happiness away."

"You really think so?" She asked quietly.

"We like Jess. If he makes you happy, then we think it's cool. And hey, if you get any backlash from anyone, you've got two friends here who will have your back." Brian smiled.

Lane smiled tremulously. "Thanks guys." She said softly.

"No problem." Zach said restarting the game and focusing on the tv again.

"So...got any plans for today?" Lorelai asked Rory who was sat on the couch in the living room.

"Not really." She shrugged.

Lorelai sighed. "Hon, is this really worth losing Lane over?" She said.

"They kissed!" Rory exclaimed.

"Yeah I know. But they said it didn't mean anything. We all do stupid things in the moment, don't we? Rational thought isn't always there for us." Lorelai pointed out.

"Why does everyone always have to bring up Dean? And why are you suddenly taking Jess' side over this?" She demanded.

"I'm not." Lorelai said calmly. "I just don't understand why you're so upset about this..."

"Because he kissed Lane! I don't want him to screw up her life like he did to me! I don't want her getting hurt!" Rory exclaimed.

"Is it the fact that Jess kissed Lane or is it the fact that he's kissing someone who isn't you?" Lorelai said cautiously.

"What? No!" Rory exclaimed. "How could you even think that? I'm with Logan! I love Logan!"

"Ok." Lorelai said. "I just had to ask." She sighed. "Look, I have to get to work, sorry hon. But it was just a stupid kiss. Is it worth losing your friendship with Lane over? They say it didn't mean anything so why not give them the benefit of the doubt?"

Rory just shrugged.

"Well...it's your choice. But I'd hate to see you and Lane fall out over this." She said softly. "I'll see you later."

Rory just nodded and listened to her mom leaving, letting out a big breath when she did.

"Are you two ok closing up?" Luke asked Jess and Lane later that evening.

"Yeah." Jess said.

"Sure." Lane nodded.

"Thanks. I'll go check on Doula." He said.

"Thanks." Jess said watching him head upstairs. He then glanced over at Lane. "I'm guessing that's his way of getting us to talk..." He said.

"He knows?" Lane said surprised.

"He cornered me." Jess said. "He wanted to know why we were acting so weird earlier." He told her.

"Oh." Lane said quietly.

"It's ok I told him right?" He checked.

"Yeah it's fine. I told Zach and Brian." She admitted.

"You did?" He said.

"I kind of needed some advice." She said.

"From Zach and Brian?" Jess said smirking slightly.

"I was desperate." Lane laughed slightly. "They actually helped a bit though." She admitted.

"Yeah?" Jess said glancing at him.

"Yeah." She said focusing on the counter she was wiping. "I know everything's happened so quickly but I know I've enjoyed hanging out with you and we have quite a bit in common. I don't know exactly how to feel about all that has happened but I think..maybe..I might want something to happen between us..." She said nervously, still avoiding his gaze.

"I feel the same." Jess said awkwardly.

"You do?" Lane said quietly, finally glancing over at him.

"I enjoy hanging out with you as well." He said. "I know it's a weird situation but...I think it could be good too..."

Lane smiled slightly. "Yeah, I think it could be too..." She said quietly. "But...maybe we should take it slow? See how things go?"

"Sounds good." He nodded. He glanced at her. "What about...?"

"We'll have to deal with that later." Lane said knowing he was thinking about Rory. Zach and Brian were right. Why should she throw away potential happiness just for Rory? It wasn't fair.

"Ok." Jess said. "So...I guess we should finish closing up?"

"Yeah we should. And then maybe I should head back to mine. And then we can talk more tomorrow?" She said.

"Ok." He nodded.

"Ok." She said, finishing wiping the counter and then putting the chairs up onto the tables.

Jess finished with the mopping, glancing at Lane every so often. He glanced back at the mop and suddenly smirked. He flicked the mop upwards covering Lane with soapy water.

"Jess!" She exclaimed.

"Sorry, I slipped." He smirked.

"I can't believe you did that!" She exclaimed. "I'm soaked!"

"Well maybe you should come up and dry off then.." He smirked.

"But we said..." Lane said.

"I know, take it slow. But Luke's up there remember? I doubt anything's going to happen with him there, is it?" He smirked.

"Oh...yeah..." She said blushing slightly.

"Let's go then." He said.

"Wait a minute, I've just got to do something first." Lane said.

"What?"

"This." She grinned, picking up the bucket of soapy water and throwing it over Jess.

"Hey!" He exclaimed.

"Payback." She grinned. "Guess we'll both need to dry off now."

"Guess so." Jess chuckled. "Come on." He said grabbing Lane's hand. "I don't know how we're going to explain this to Luke though."

Lane laughed. "How about your excuse of we slipped?" She grinned.

"Could work." He smirked as they disappeared off the stairs.

Little did they know that they were being watched from outside. Rory stood there for a moment before slowly turning around and walking away form the diner.

So I hope you liked it! :) Please keep the reviews coming as I really do love reading what you all think! :) Thanks again for your continued support! :)