Disclaimer: I don't own the series Gilmore Girls or the original characters. All I own is my imagination and the plot.
A/N: I'm sure it's been months since I've even so much as glanced at this story, but realizing that I do have to finish it at some point, I went through the chapters and picked up where I left off, literally. No diary entry will be added to this chapter because it'll revolve mostly around Jess's character and his confusion when it comes to his relationship with both Leah and Rory.
Untied
Leah didn't look back at the brunette as she increased her pace, ending up at the bridge after Jess had already gotten up. ''Hey,'' she said, doing a quick scan of his appearance before coming to a halt directly in front of him, purposely being in his way. ''What was that about?'' She slid her hands into the pockets of her jeans, the ones that were of a loose fit, but were snug and low on her hips, and black, his and hers favorite color.
''Nothing.'' He copied her by also pocketing his hands, having no other use for them at the moment. He was eye to eye with her and still he lied.
''Are you sure because I think she was crying.''
''She'll be fine,'' he said, his tone indifferent, though Leah saw how much he struggled with the words by the way he avoided to really look at her. ''Jess.'' She took her hands from her pockets and moved closer to him. ''What happened?''
''I told you, nothing.'' He sighed. ''Come one, let's head back.'' He reached for her hand, but she pulled away. ''I'm not going,'' she hardheadedly told him.
He nodded. ''Suit yourself.'' He intentionally bumped her shoulder when passing her.
''What's wrong with you! Leah cried out, causing for him to turn and look at her. ''I know you like her.'' She waited for the guilt to reach his eyes.
''Leah-''
''I know you do, Jess! I'm not blind or as naive as you think I am. I'm not her, you know?''
''I know that, don't you think I know that, Lee?''
She crossed her arms in front of her chest. ''I don't know what you've been thinking these last couple of days,'' she revealed to him in a toned down voice.
''Look,'' he commenced while taking a step forwards, ''Rory and I are friends.''
''Liar,'' she replied immaturely. ''You've been lying to me all this time, and if you deny it, then it shows how naive you were to buy your own lies.'' Tears were close to springing to her eyes as he did what she hadn't expected from him, he didn't fight her on it. ''Jess, I like you and I've known from the beginning that you weren't perfect, but no one is so-''
''Leah, please.''
She nodded. ''Fine, it's not my business anymore anyway.''
''You're breaking up with me?'' Jess asked, managing to hold his voice calm and steady, even though he was taken aback by her suddenness and determination. She was coming back strong as her lines hardened and angles sharpened. ''Yes, I'm breaking up with you, and there's nothing you can say.''
''I wasn't going to say anything.''
''Figured that much.''
He immediately tapped into her disappointment, giving up his chance to just walk away. ''What's that supposed to mean?''
''You know what it means. I mean, did you even see something in me or was I just a substitute for her since day one?''
''Of course I saw something in you, Lee, of course I did!'' he yelled, his patience running thin as her defenses crumbled right in front of him. She looked at him with a set of teary eyes. ''Then why did you have to drag it on?''
''No.'' Jess vigorously shook his head. ''I'm not letting you do this to me; I'm not letting you put all of the blame on me! If you knew what was going on, knew I was lying, then you sure took your time putting and end to it. You did this to yourself!''
She nodded and wrapped her arms around herself. ''Do you have anything more to say?''
He shook his head and stepped aside, giving her room to pass.
She looked him in the eyes once more on her way. ''I just hope she was worth cheating for.''
He didn't stop her.
x-x-x
Upon storming into the diner, Jess answered Luke's question before he could even ask it, ''Leah broke up with me.''
''What?'' Luke instantly followed him up the stairs. ''I thought things were going good between you guys?''
Jess pulled a book from his back pocket and lay down on his bed. ''They were.''
''So, what did you do?''
He threw an annoyed look over at his uncle. ''Why do you assume that I did something?''
''Didn't you?''
''Nothing a few apologies won't fix.''
''That bad, huh?''
Jess sighed. ''Don't you have some fries to fry or something?''
''Call her.''
Luke left and Jess opened his book, having the intention to read, but ended up exchanging the novel for the phone on his bedside table.
x-x-x
Rory lay sprawled out on the couch when the phone rang. ''Mom!''
''What!''
''You get it!''
''Lazy,'' Lorelai said while picking up the phone on her way into the living room. ''Hello?'' She handed the phone over to Rory within seconds. ''It's your former best friend.''
Rory caught the phone as her mom threw it at her and sighed while getting up, seeking out the privacy of her room. As soon as the door was closed behind her, she brought the phone up to her ear. ''What do you want?''
''I'm sorry,'' he took her by surprise.
''You're apologizing to me?''
''Yeah, isn't that what you wanted?''
''Well, yeah,'' Rory started and sat down on her bed, ''but only if you mean it.''
''I mean it,'' he promised. ''I was out of line with my remarks.''
''That seems to be happening a lot.''
''I know, and-''
''You're sorry, yeah, I get that.'' Rory leaned back against the wall while switching the phone from one hand to another. ''Is something going on with you?''
There was a silence on the other end.
''You haven't exactly been yourself lately.''
She heard him sigh. ''It's complicated.''
''Of course it is,'' she whispered.
''Leah broke up with me,'' he said, letting Rory in a little more.
''Oh, I'm... Wow, I-''
''Save it.''
''Excuse me?''
''You never liked her,'' Jess spoke up.
''Maybe.'' Rory pulled her knees up to her chest. ''I just wanted you to be happy, though.'' She pulled at the hem of her shirt. ''And it seemed like you were happy with her.''
''I was.''
''So, you really liked her, huh?''
''I don't know; there was something, but I knew it wouldn't last forever.''
''Sorry,'' Rory sympathized.
''It wasn't your fault.''
''It was, in a way.''
''It's over and done, Ror.''
''So, what now?'' she asked after giving him a moment of silence.
''We go back.''
''Back?''
''Back to being friends,'' Jess clarified, though his heart wasn't entirely in it.
''Friends?''
''Yeah.''
''Okay,'' Rory agreed.
On the other side of the line, Jess nodded. ''Okay.''
They were fooling each other.
Please review? (: The chapter is on the really short side, but it's more of a part of the last chapter than it is a stand alone chapter, so that's the reason behind it. I wanted Leah's frustration to shimmer through as well as Jess's confusion, and I'm sure that all of you can see that he obviously has more of a weak for Rory than he does for his now ex-girlfriend by the way he lost his temper with Leah, but patched things up with Rory. Don't worry, though, they won't go back to being just friends, they'll be anything but that, trust me. Thanks for your incredible patience and I hope people are still following this. Sorry for the wait.