Author's Note: Well, folks, this is the epilogue, in a sense. It could be considered a independent chapter, but it's doesn't have much Gilmore Girls orientation, except for Jess, of course. I think I've fallen in love with the character I've created, regarding Jess. But anyways, that's how it should be! Hope you enjoy it! Please read/review!!

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School started much to everyone's regret. The classes were fairly easy for Kris, but juggling working at the diner, homework, college applications, and her relationship with Jess did get stressful at times. She really wished her parents were there to help her. Though Mrs. Kim did act like a real aunt to her now, she could never replace the void that Kris felt from the loss of her parents, nothing ever would.

Jess walked in the diner around four o'clock on a November day. He went behind the counter where Kris was serving some coffee and a ham sandwich to a customer.

"Hey," he said, kissing her lightly on the cheek.

"Hi, how was school?" she asked. She got out of school at twelve o'clock since she only had four classes and worked while Jess took his afternoon classes. Jess had actually been attending class on a frequent basis.

"Boring as always. How was it for you?" Jess said, kissing Kris' neck and trying to cajole her upstairs for more privacy.

"Same," she said, taking his hint and calling out to Luke that she was taking her break. She and Jess quickly went upstairs.

"School is the most pointless thing in the world. I don't care about the crap they attempt to teach me," Jess said when they reached his room.

"I know how you feel, but if you don't go, you won't graduate. You already worked during summer school and it would suck if that work was wasted. Besides, I doubt you actually need to study to pass your classes," Kris said, collapsing on his bed.

"That's not the point though," Jess said, falling on the bed besides her. "I don't want to go. It's a waste of time. I don't care if I don't graduate," Jess said defiantly.

Kris turned over to her side to face him. "If you didn't care if you graduated, then why'd you bother going to summer school? I mean, you could have just repeated junior year and whatever," she said simply.

"I only went to summer school cause I had just come back from New York and Luke said that things had to change. So I acted as the good nephew would and passed junior year."

"I see. So there was no satisfaction when you got your report card back with your good grades?" Kris nudged him, smiling.

"Only the incentive that I got from you," Jess said mischievously, leaning in to kiss her.

Kris blushed but didn't let him kiss her. "Look, Jess, seriously, please don't go ditching school. I can't be holding your hand and trying to pull you into school everyday, it has to be something that you do cause you think it needs to be done. Yeah, school is a bunch of busy work, but I don't want you living with regrets. I don't want you in ten years to regret never bothering to get your diploma when you knew it was easy to do. You're so much better than that," she said, taking her hand in his while they faced each other on the bed.

Jess sighed. She just had a way of getting to him, of making him feel that he was worth something. "Alright, fine," he said.

Kris' eyes lit up and she smiled. She stuck her right pinky finger out and Jess wrapped his around hers in promise.

"Thank you," she said, kissing him gratefully.

He was annoyed that Kris had so much control over him simply because she inspired him to be a better person. No, he meant, he was annoyed that he let Kris have so much control over him. He didn't let himself admit that in the deepest crevices of his heart, he had fallen hard for her, fallen very hard. His ego and fear drove those thoughts out of his head, but they were creeping up on him all the time.

What if he told her how he felt and she ran because she didn't feel that way? She had gone through so much these past months and maybe she wasn't ready. Was he even ready? No, he wouldn't let himself be ready. He swore a long time ago that he would never let anyone that close to him, close enough to severely hurt him. But what if there was something to gain?....No, not worth it.

"Jess?" Kris asked in a concerned voice.

Jess tore from his thoughts and looked at her. She was so cute when she looked worried. He could wipe that worried expression away if he told her...No, not going to tell her anything, he thought to himself.

"Jess, is something wrong?"

"No, I'm fine. I'm just, I, I need to take a walk," he said, getting off the bed.

"Want me to come with?"

"No," he said, a little too quickly than he should have.

Kris hid her disappointment well though. "Okay, see you later then," Kris said.

"Yeah, later," Jess said, leaving the room and walking out the diner.

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For the next week Jess remained distant. Kris didn't know what she had done to cause such a change in attitude. He had barely conversed with her at all since the time they discussed school. Whenever Kris tried to talk to him he gave monosyllabic answers and quickly walked away. She thought that maybe he needed space, or perhaps he was getting tired of her; she couldn't tell.

Jess had ditched school that Friday. Kris didn't know until the principal called Luke around one o'clock, notifying him that Jess wasn't in second period when the official roll was taken. Frustration, disappointment, and anger flowed through Kris because Jess had said that he wouldn't ditch. He had promised.

Jess strolled into the diner at three o'clock acting as though nothing was wrong. Luke was furious.

"Where the hell have you been?" Luke asked angrily. Kris watched from behind the counter.

"School," Jess replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"The principal just called, he said you never checked into second period! So, try again! Where have you been?" Luke yelled.

Jess sighed and smirked cockily. "Around," he replied.

Luke was furious now. "Jess, you promised that this would change and you really had me fooled. I mean, for the past five months you've been great, almost too great, I should have guessed that it wouldn't last. I should have guessed that it was only an act and you'd go back to the way you were after a while. Yeah, in a way it's my naivety that makes me so pissed, but really, I really had faith in you! But then again, it's you!" Luke yelled.

"Yeah, whatever," Jess replied, shrugging past him and going up to his room.

Kris was shocked that Luke had said all that. Sure, she was pissed at Jess for lying, but Luke took that too far. Luke paced around the diner, customers eventually stopped staring.

"Shit," he whispered, frustrated and shaking his head.

Kris went up the stairs to talk to Jess. The door to his room was closed, and she knocked gently before going in. Jess was sitting at the edge of the bed, his head in his hands.

"I really don't wanna hear another lecture," Jess said, not bothering to look at her.

"Why'd you do it?" Kris asked gently.

"Why do I hafta explain myself to you? Huh?" Jess asked coldly, finally looking up at her.

"It's just that you promised that you would ditch," Kris stated.

"Yeah, well it's not of your business, so back off." Jess looked straight into her eyes and she felt the desire to step away from him, but she stood her ground.

"Look, what Luke said was out of line, but don't take it out on me," Kris said, annoyed.

Jess laughed wryly. "This isn't about Luke, it's about you," he said. Now he was going on the attack and Kris had no idea why. This had been the most he had said to her in over a week..

"What about me?" she asked, completely confused.

"Why do you get into other people's business?" he asked rudely.

Kris was pissed now. "Last time I checked, people who l...care about each other show concern for each other. That's part of what a relationship is." She could believe that she almost let 'love' slip from her mouth. Sure, she had known for a while now how deep her feelings for Jess were, but Jess' feelings for her were still a mystery. And it seemed just now that Jess' feeling for her didn't run very deep.

"Yeah, well maybe we shouldn't be in a relationship anymore," Jess replied angrily.

It felt like Kris was hit in the gut...hard. "What? Why? Where are you coming from? What have I done?" she said on the verge of desperateness.

"You haven't done anything," Jess replied. He smirked at the irony of his statement. The only thing she ever did was turn his insides to goo. The only thing she ever did was make him want to be a better person. The only thing she ever did was completely change his perspective on life and that other L-word that Jess refused to say.

The truth was that Jess was scared. He had spent the entire week trying to convince himself that he didn't love Kris. But it didn't work. And now he was very scared. It was better to break it off with her now and not wonder about how she felt about him, not have to look at her scared and disappointed face if he told her, not have to be completely naked in front of her.

He had ditched school simply to try and get back into the old groove of things, before Kris and his insane desire to be a good person overtook him. But he wasn't the same person anymore. The events of the past five months had changed him, for the better, and going back to the old way was now impossible. That frustrated him to no end. He was disgusted that he let a girl get to him like that.

"I've done nothing? Then I don't understand, Jess..." Kris said, confused and scared.

"Why do you hafta understand everything, huh? Why do you hafta always control everything?" Jess said, rising and yelling at her. He wanted to hurt her. Maybe then she'd hate him, it would be easier that way.

"Jess, stop that! Why are you doing this? We've gone through way too much shit to get to this point. And a reason why you're throwing all of it away isn't much to ask and you know it!" Kris yelled back. She was on the verge of tears.

Jess was so frustrated now, he wasn't even thinking clearly.

"BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!" he shouted at her angrily.

Kris flinched back because of the anger in his voice, but then shock set in when she finally realized what he had said. She blinked frequently and looked around her, unable to fully grasp what he had just said.

Jess was cursing furiously out loud now at himself. He completely screwed this whole thing up. He saw Kris look around, probably for an exit.

"You know what, get out, really, screw what I said and go," Jess said, firmly grabbing her elbow and pushing her towards the door.

Kris could feel pressure on her elbow, but that was about it. Then everything clicked in her mind. Why Jess was being such a jerk, why he skipped school, why he had been ignoring her, everything. She quickly turned around, grabbed the back of Jess' neck and kissed him passionately.

She hoped he didn't think that she didn't reciprocate his feelings, but her voice didn't seem to be working just then. She poured all her desire, hope, passion, and love into that kiss. She couldn't lose him, she refused. All the anger, frustration, and fear melted away when she felt him kissing her back. Through the haziness in her mind, she could feel Jess' arms wrap around her waist and she held him tighter.

When they finally parted, both were panting slightly. Kris looked straight in his eyes and saw that for the first time, all walls were gone. She was seeing all of Jess. He looked so vulnerable, lacking all that confidence he usually possessed, but completely beautiful at the same time.

"I love you," Kris whispered hoarsely. She wished that she had one of those sultry voices to confess her love with, but no such luck. It didn't seem to matter to Jess though. His eyes widened and he stared straight into her eyes, trying to find any trace of deceit in them, but he didn't find anything. She smiled at him, knowing exactly what he was doing.

Jess hugged her tightly, sighing away all his worries. She loved him. Of all the people she could choose, she chose him. Gratitude and pride filled him.

"So," she whispered to him, "do you still want me to get out?"

Jess chuckled. "Never," he replied, leading her over to his bed. He sat behind her, unwilling to let go of her waist, but Kris didn't mind.

A warm silence surrounded them as the basked in the knowledge and comfort they shared. Jess kissed her exposed shoulder gently, but quickly stiffened.

Kris could feel Jess tense behind her. "Jess? What's wrong?"

"What now? I dunno what to do now," he said, shocked at his own inexperience.

Kris smiled confidently. "Don't worry, you're not obligated to do anything more than you were doing before because you said what you said. It's just extremely comforting to know how you feel about me, extremely comforting." She leaned back into him and squeezed his hands that were around her waist still.

"Sorry, about all that stuff I said earlier, I was being such a selfish asshole," Jess said.

Kris smirked. "Yeah, you were. So, let me just get this straight. You ditched cause you were pissed that I had control over you?"

"Well, yeah," Jess said.

"Jess, I don't want you to do something just cause I say you should do it. I don't wanna control you, ever," she said.

"No, it's not like you crack a whip over my back or anything like that. But, you...you make me wanna do all these things that I didn't want to do before," Jess confessed.

Kris blushed at the indirect compliment. "And you wanted to break up with me cause you didn't think I loved you?" she asked incredulously.

"Well, partly, yeah."

"That's so stupid," she blurted out.

"Well, do you blame me?" Jess asked.

"No. What were the other reasons you wanted to call it quits?"

"All of these things, they're brand new to me. I mean, I've never said that to anyone before. And I had no clue how you'd react and what would happen if I said it. I was scared..."

"Of getting hurt. Of exposing yourself," Kris said, finishing his sentence.

"Exactly."

"Does it scare you still?"

"Well, not as much, now that I know how you feel. It'll take some getting used to, though, this 'show you all of me' thing. Just cause it's new and unknown. But it's nothing some good make-out sessions can't cure," he teased, kissing her neck.

"And since when have our make-out sessions not been good, hmm?" Kris asked feigning shock.

"Never," he said assertively, turning her around and kissing her. Kris smiled wide. Jess saw that Kris was glowing and she looked absolutely spectacular, well, no, she was absolutely spectacular.

Yeah, this girl had definitely changed him, but in all honesty, he didn't mind at all.

THE END

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Author's Note : OKAY, this is it, all done. Thank you to all my readers, especially those who have been reading since Chapter One. You've inspired me so much to improve my writing and make sure that I try to put chapters out to the best of my ability. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I hope that you've enjoyed my story. Please let me know what you think by reviewing, I've put a lot of time into this story. Feel free to let me know when you're working on a story and I'll be sure that I read and review for you! Thanks for all your support!!!!