It was nearly midnight and Rory suddenly had the munchies for the leftover pizza in the fridge. She had spent well over an hour and a half explaining the entire date to Lorelai. Which she didn't mind. She found every moment with Dean to be absolutely perfect right down to the necklace he gave her. As she stepped into the kitchen she could hear Jess play his guitar. He was definitely getting better.
Rory walked over to the basement door and opened it. The music immediately stopped.
"It's me." Rory replied in a whisper.
Jess sat down his guitar. "I didn't mean to wake you." He replied.
"You didn't. I've been awake all night. Can I come down?" This was the first time Rory had ever asked to enter into the basement.
"Sure." Jess turned on a couple of lamps so Rory could see the steps.
Rory walked into the lighted area. "You're music is really getting better."
"Thanks." Jess sat down on his bed and leaned up against the wall. "So how come you're still up?"
"I guess I just don't feel much like sleeping. Plus there's some leftover pizza in the fridge calling my name."
"How'd your date with Dean go?" Jess asked casually.
Impressed that Jess used his actual name instead of "Geek" or "Nerd" or "Loser", she took a seat on the bed. "It went well." She smiled. "He's a perfect gentleman, just as I suspected."
A tiny, but fake, smirk crossed Jess' face. "Good for him."
Rory put her hand on her neck. "He even gave me this necklace." She held it up for Jess to see.
Jess scowled. "So when's the wedding?"
"Jess." Rory's tone immediately changed.
"Get eat your talking pizza." Jess stood up from the bed.
Rory stood up as well. "Please don't…. not again."
"I'm not." Jess replied.
"You are… you're acting all jealous and… and…"
"And?"
"I don't know… protective, I guess." Rory frowned.
"Yeah, well, I'm not jealous… and I don't care who you date anymore."
"Then why are you kicking me out of your room?"
Jess groaned. "I'm not kicking you out. It's late… I just don't wanna talk."
"You don't want to talk about Dean?"
"Yes, I don't want to talk about Dean."
"Then why'd you bring him up?" Rory folded her arms.
"Oh, come on. Like I don't know the reason you came down here. You wanted to throw it up in my face and show off the cheap necklace he gave you." Jess turned off the lamps making the room excessively dim. "If you want to stand here in the dark, be my guest, but I'm going to bed."
Rory's anger immediately rose. "It's not a cheap necklace! Eww! Just what makes you think you're so much freaking better than Dean?!" she yelled.
Jess turned around quickly. "Because, I actually love you!"
The room fell eerily silent. Jess' mouth had opened way before he had time to think. He'd never planned on telling Rory that, at least not anytime soon.
"You don't mean that." Rory's soft voice replied.
Jess walked closer to the girl. "I do mean it." He answered. "But I didn't mean to tell you…"
Rory slowly backed away. "I'm sorry, Jess. I don't love you."
Jess nodded. "I know." He paused. "But things change… people change… and maybe one day…"
"No." Rory interrupted. "No… it'll never change." Rory turned and walked up the stairway closing the door behind her.
Jess had never been so embarrassed in his life. He never felt this way about a girl before and it killed him that she wouldn't even show the slightest interest back. He walked over and grabbed his guitar and violently threw it across the room smashing it into several pieces. He'd never let himself fall victim to Rory again. From now own, the ball would be in his court.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Luke and Lorelai were having an awkward, but needed, discussion about their current family position.
"I'm not saying that I want her to call me dad."
"And I'm not saying that I don't want her to call you dad." Lorelai replied. "In fact, this is something that has to be decided by Rory and personally, you and I have no control or input in it."
"Then why are we arguing?" Luke asked as he sat down beside his wife. "I don't want to argue with you."
"I don't want to argue with you either." Lorelai agreed. "It's just this family thing…. It's really hard."
"Yeah." Luke nodded. "It is."
"I'm sorry."
Luke smiled. "I'm the one who should be saying that. This whole family thing is my idea."
"It was a good idea, Luke. Remember, I want this too. And the preacher said for better or worse, right?" Lorelai asked.
"Absolutely." Luke leaned in and kissed Lorelai. "As long as we make up after every fight, I'm good."
"You know, I've always heard the best part of breaking up is the making up." Lorelai grinned sheepishly.