OMG I'm so sorry this took like a week to put up. A lot of you wanted a conversation between Rory and Jess, and I stopped and I thought about what an idiot I am for not including it before but it's in this chapter. I tried to steer for the usual as far as how the conversation is laid out. If it's a tad out of character, that's why. I tried to keep it in character, and at the same time make the conversation unique. Anywho, classes have started again so updates may be once a week now. Don't panic, I have every intention of finishing this story. OK, on with what you actually want to read. 

"Can I have some more cheese please?" Rory asked, swinging her legs at the counter. Jess lifted an eyebrow.

"Rory, those fries can't handle any more cheese." She pouted.

"Look, this one has barely any," she pointed to a lone fry that had a smudge of cheese sauce on it.

"I'm not having this conversation with you, want some pie?" He asked, quickly changing the subject. She pushed back her fries and clasped her hands together.

"I would like a slice of cherry, and a slice of chocolate surprise," she exclaimed, counting them off on her fingers.

"I seriously think that in ten years you'll be ten thousand pounds." He went into the back and brought out two heaping slices of pie.

"Well as long as you still love me, I can deal with it," she replied, already picking up her fork.

"Huh. Well if by some miracle you're still alive when you reach that weight, then yes I'll still love you." She smiled and looked back down at her plate.

"Got any ice cream?"

"Sorry, but I want you to live as long as me," he teased.

"Aw that's sweet. When we get back to my house, I'm eating ice cream," she stated.

"No, when we get back to your house, you'll be too busy to eat ice cream," he snickered. She reached across the counter so she could hit him in the chest.

"I personally find ice cream more satisfying," she said distractedly. He leaned in towards her.

"That's not what you said last night," he growled, placing a kiss on her lips. She let a blush rise in her cheeks.

"You're right, I suppose. So when can we leave?"

"You could've left anytime. I'm here until Lane comes at seven." Rory bit her lip.

"That's still thirty minutes away," she whined.

"Like I said, you can leave if you want." She waved off his suggestion.

"What would I do? I would much rather watch you work then sit in my house alone," she countered.

"True. Well, I'm off in twenty minutes, think you can hang in there until then?" She smiled.

"Only if I get ice cream." He gave her a smirk, and went to the freezer.

Later that night, Rory's eyes fluttered open to the sound of rustling papers. She snuggled into the pillows, and pulled his dark sheets up to her nose. He turned towards her and gave her an apologetic smile.

"Sorry, didn't mean to wake you," he said quietly. She waved him off and let out a yawn.

"No problem, what are you up to?" She questioned, reaching for her shirt on the carpet next to her.

"Nothing much, just got off the phone with Liz actually," he answered.

"How's the convention?"

"Oh you know, there's jewelry everywhere so she loves it. However the time difference hasn't set in for her so she called at midnight." Rory laughed.

"Come back to bed now," she requested, already scooting over. He glanced back towards the papers in his hands.

"Listen, today I got a letter from a friend of mine, back in New York." Rory sat up.

"Really? Well what did it say," she questioned.

"Oh mostly just about what's been going on, how some people want me to come back, that sort of thing." Rory nodded.

"So you had a few friends on New York."

"It was a close unit I suppose. I don't know, I guess this letter just kind of brought me back a little." Rory bit her lip, unsure of what to say.

"Jess? I know we've never really talked about it but why did you move here?" Jess sighed before lying next to her on his bed.

"I should've known that you'd ask me this one day, and yet I really don't know how to give you the right answer," he finally replied. She placed her head on his chest.

"Is it really that bad?" She asked quietly. He ran his hands along her arms, sending a shiver down her spine.

"Why don't you ask exactly what you want to know, and I'll try and answer it."

"Okay. I guess just tell me about your friends," she whispered.

"Well Troy, the guy I got the letter from, he's pretty much my Lane," he explained. Rory laughed. "I mean I was always at his house, or he was always at my house, we always went to parties together, and were pretty much inseparable."

"I can't really picture you with a lane," she teased.

"Well everyone has one best friend, right?"

"I guess. So it doesn't sound like you got into too much trouble, why did Liz want to leave?" Jess shifted a little.

"Okay, I hate to tell you this but in our group, we have these rules. No one is allowed to date anyone else in the group. I kinda broke that rule." He felt her shoulders stiffen. "We were getting trashed at a bar a year ago, and me and this girl got kind of carried away."

"Did you…um…you know…sleep with her?" Rory asked timidly. His hands stopped moving on her arms as he took in a deep breath.

"Yea…I did. And I hate that it happened, I mean not with her, but just the situation couldn't have been worse. After that, everyone shunned me saying that I forced her and I was basically banned from the group. Troy was the only one who still spoke to me, but it had to be in secret so no one found out. After several months of being looked down upon, and being threatened, I asked if we could move."

"Wait, it was your decision?" He shrugged.

"For the most part. I didn't want anyone to know about my past, I wanted to start over. I'm not exactly proud of the things I've done. This town was her choice though." Rory sat up and finally looked him in the eye.

"Is she the only one you slept with?" she barely whispered it out, and she almost though she was going to have to repeat herself.

"Yes, it was just Wendy, that's her name. We had been best friends, almost as close as Troy and I. Even she won't speak to me." Rory nodded. She didn't really know what else to say. Jess gave her a questioning look. "Ror, are you okay?"

"I…I don't really know. It's just that it's a lot to wrap my mind around." He gave her a small smile.

"Rory, you know that having sex with you means something. When I said that I hated what happened with her, it didn't mean that I think of sex as nothing."

"I know it's just…I can't really picture you as the guy that you say you were," she explained.

"Well that's your fault," he teased. "I've changed a lot since I've been here, but I'm not complaining." She gave him a slight smirk.

"I'm just thinking that if I had met you in New York, and saw the kind of person you were, I wouldn't even give you a second glance.

"I wouldn't have wanted you to. Look even when we first came here, I wasn't so sure I wanted you to be friends with me. Why do you think I was a jerk to you?"

"Well, I wasn't exactly a princess to you so I figured you were just mad at me all the time."

"Well sometimes I was, I mean you were evil," he joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"I would've been missing something great if I didn't get to know you. This is gonna sound completely odd, but I'm glad you got yourself in trouble. I wouldn't have been able to meet you." He smirked.

"You're glad I slept with Wendy?'

"No I didn't say that. I hate her. But I guess if you hadn't slept with her, you wouldn't be here."

"Does it bother you? I mean I didn't like go out and have sex every night, but I don't want it to be on your mind." She smiled a real smile.

"I'm not upset. I'm really happy that you talked to me. I was expecting you to close off. I know it's a touchy subject."

"Well once again," he whispered. "That's your fault." She kissed him gently on the corner of his jaw. "However, I wouldn't get used to it. This will probably be the last time it happens," he murmured into her hair. She laughed.

"I guess that makes sense, I mean you do have a reputation to maintain."

"That's right; wouldn't want the boys to know I had a deep meaningful conversation."

"So, about that letter. Do you think you'll go…to New York?"

"I'm not really sure. I mean I want to, but things were just so screwed up when Liz and I left."

"I can go with you, if you want. I've never been to the city." He chuckled.

"You want to go to New York with me?" She nodded.

"I guess if you come it won't be so bad," he joked. "But it's not gonna be like flashy New York City, just a warning."

"Got it," she replied, snuggling into his side and falling asleep.

The next few days flew by, and before she knew it, Rory found herself throwing her arms around her mother as the two entered Luke's diner.

Sweets! How is my little girl," Lorelai shrieked, ignoring the mumbling by Luke who had bags in his hands.

"I'm fine, but I missed you guys so much! Was it fabulous?"

"Oh I will have to tell you all about it, but first I need some coffee," she exclaimed, already moving towards the counter where Jess placed a new mug.

"So, how was running this place for four days," she asked him as he filled her cup to the brim.

"Well it's not gonna be my career, but it was okay. Lane and Cesar helped a lot."

"Rory, tonight you and I need to have a massive girls night! Do we need food?" Rory shot Jess a glance, warning him to keep his mouth shut. He let one chuckle escape before leaving them to serve other customers.

"Actually, I think Jess and I had a lot of leftovers so we have plenty at the house," she said quickly. Lorelai gave her a questioning gaze before simply waving it off as nothing.

"I'll just leave my bags with Luke; he'll bring them back eventually." Rory laughed and the two walked out arm in arm. Jess watched the two leave, but not before catching a wink sent in his direction. He smiled before returning to work.

As always, Reviews are greatly appreciated. Thanks to those of you who always review, you are my heroes 

Litfan1824