Sunlight broke through the blinds in Rory's room. She rolled over under her soft blanket, but the light persisted, making the inside of her eyelids red. She stretched, sitting up slowly. It took her a few moments to get over the confusion of waking up in her own room. She had been used to waking up in her room in Luke's apartment for so long. She assumed Jess would take over her room now that she was gone. At the thought of Jess the image of him staring across the street at her from last night flashed through her mind. She shrugged off the uneasy feeling and went to her dresser. Looking in the mirror, she brushed through her hair. Then she donned her uniform and went out into the kitchen. Her parents were sitting at the table, sipping coffee.

"Good morning," she said.

"Morning sweetheart," her dad greeted her.

"Morning," her mom said, taking another sip of her coffee.

"So since we have no food in the house," Chris pitched, "why don't we head out to Lukes?" The other too consented to this idea, and so, five minutes later, the bell tinkled as the three of them made their way into Luke's diner.

Rory led Lorelei to the counter, where Luke was pouring coffee.

"Mom, this is Luke," she introduced. Luke wiped his hands on his shirt.

"Hi Lorelai," he said kindly, smiling at the women he used to love. But he couldn't find her behind the confused look in her eyes.

"So you're the man who took care of my daughter for the past two years?" she asked. Luke nodded, adjusting his baseball cap. "We must have been really good friends then," she concluded. Luke nodded, smiling.

"I had the coffee," he told her. "It didn't take much more than that to be your friend." Lorelai laughed. "Well, it's nice to meet you… again." Luke poured her a cup of coffee. Sliding it across the counter at her he told her, "It always has been." The three of them grabbed a table, but before to long Rory had to run to catch her bus. She made her way to the bus stop, the sun shining in her eyes. She heard footsteps behind her. Turning, she saw Jess, knapsack on his back.

"So you're actually going to school today?" she asked skeptically.

"So you're actually back together with Dean?" Jess responded. Rory stared at her shoes, hiding a smile.

"Yeah," she said, blushing. "We worked it out."

"Did you actually work it out or just make out?" Jess teased. Rory looked up, her cheeks burning. "I'm going to miss my bus," she told him.

"Whatever," Jess said. He turned the corner, and Rory continued straight. When she got to the bus stop she found Dean waiting there for her. His whole face lit up wit a smile when he saw her.

"Hey you," he said.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, giving him a quick kiss.

"Come on," he said, threading his fingers through hers. "After last night, that's all I get?" Rory smiled, and they kissed again, this time softer and slower. "Much better," Dean whispered in her ear. "I missed you." Rory heard the bus pull up, and giving him one last lingering kiss, got onto the bus. She took a window seat, smiling as he waved to the departing bus.

He was there waiting for her when the bus brought her back that afternoon.

"Wow, you certainly seem to have a lot of time on your hands," she observed.

"Just trying to make up for lost time," he told her, kissing her lip softly. "Let's not fight again."

"Sounds good to me," Rory approved. "But I have to get home."

"No," Dean whined, stroking her hair. "Stay here, with me."

"Tempting," Rory murmured, "but I've got to help my dad. He's been with my mom all day, and could probably use some help."

"Can I come?" Dean asked. "Keep you company… meet your mom?"

Rory hesitated.

"I'm not sure that's the best idea," she confessed. She looked up at him. "I mean, my mom still thinks she sixteen, and you're just sooo good looking," she joked.

"Come on Rory," he pressed. Rory bit her lip.

"Okay fine," she conceded. Dean smiled, and he took Rory's books from her hands, placed his free arm around her waist, and together they set of towards her house.

"I'm ho-ome!" Rory called out as she entered the foyer.

"Hey kiddo," Chris called from the kitchen.

Rory threw her bag on the floor and made her way to her parents, Dean following closely behind her.

"Hey Mom, Dad." They smiled, and then they seemed to notice Dean. Chris looked nervously at Lorelai, as if nervous to see how she would react, but her expression of passive interest didn't change. She just kept smiling at them.

"Everyone, this is Dean," Rory introduced. She hesitated. "My boyfriend," she added. Lorelai registered mild surprise. Chris nodded, shaking Dean's hand.

"Nice to meet you finally," he said. "I've heard a lot about you."

"Same here," Dean responded, smiling.

"Boy friend, huh?" Lorelai questioned. She eyed Dean up and down playfully. "Well, I forgot how fun it was to be sixteen. All this grownup stuff is getting boring and mundane."

"So, Mexican food tonight?" Chris suggested.

"I'll go pick it up," Dean volunteered.

"Wow, what a gentlemen," Lorelai commented.

"Your daughter has very good taste," Chris assured her. Dean laughed, grabbed the twenty Chris handed to him, kissed Rory on the cheek, and headed out the door.

"Well that was the most awkward kiss I've ever seen," Lorelai declared as the door slammed shut. "No offense."

"He just feels uncomfortable in front of you guys," Rory defended him.

"I hope that's the case. Otherwise I feel bad for you," Lorelai snorted. Rory rolled her eyes.

"I'm going into my room to do some homework until he comes back," she announced, and then barricaded herself in her sanctuary. She plopped onto her bed, pulling a book and pen towards her. Soon she was lost in the world of American History. It took a few minutes for her to register the consistent tapping on her window. First she paused, looking up from her book to make sure it was coming from her window. Then she pushed herself up from the bed and sauntered over to her window. Pulling up the shades, she saw Jess, his thin jacket wrapped tightly around his body, his cheeks red from the cold.

"Jess!" she pushed her window up, and leaned over the sill. "What are you doing here?"

He held out a book.

"I never gave this back to you," he said.

"You couldn't give it to me via the front door?" she asked taking it.

"What fun would that be?" he shrugged. Rory sighed. They stood on opposite sides of the window for aa few long moments, with no reason to linger but no desire to leave. The cold air blew into Rory's room, making her shiver.

"So how are things at Luke's?" Rory asked, wrapping her arms around herself for warmth.

"Quiet," Jess told her. Rory nodded.

"Jess?"

"Yeah?"

Rory hesitated.

"Why did you really come?" Jess was silent.

"I don't see you anymore," he admitted finally.

"I moved into a different house, not a different State…or even town," she pointed out.

"Yeah but still, you're one of the only people I can actually stand," he said.

"And I'll continue to stand you," she promised. "You've got the coffee, remember?"

Jess smiled.

"Come on," he said. Rory looked around, confused.

"What do you mean?"

"Sneak out," he pressed, gesturing towards her window. "It's still early."

"I can't," Rory protested.

"Why not Rory?" Jess whined.

"Because Dean is coming over and we're eating dinner in like a minute." Jess rolled his eyes.

"Come on, what would you rather, a fake Mexican dinner, or a night out on the town?" he tempted her. Rory gestured helplessly.

"My hands are tied," she apologized. Jess started backing away from the window.

"One of these day's you're going to have to learn to break free," he told her, before turning and stealing away into the night.

The more you reviews, the fasted the next chapter goes up! Sorry this took a while... i had to finish an article for my school newspaper before i let myself write this... ;-)