Ok so I know I've not been great on here recently. I've not had much inspiration and have been struggling with writer's block. But I got an idea today having looked through my earlier stories. I've done a lot of stories with Jess getting with someone other than Rory and I've really enjoyed writing them but I feel like doing a literati one now. :)

So this is set just after Dean dumps Rory the first time when she can't say she loves him. Anything before this in the show has happened in this story but anything after is down to me so I hope you like some of the changes. In this story, Jess has been living with Luke since he was a kid so he and Rory are really good friends and he also gets on with Lorelai as well. This will follow Rory and Jess realising that they actually do have feelings for each other. I'm hoping to make this a javajunkie as well. So I hope you enjoy! :)

Chapter 1

Rory stood in the driveway of her home as she watched Dean drive away from her. She couldn't believe what had just happened. The evening was going so well. Her and Dean were having such a lovely time together and then he dropped that bombshell on her. She didn't mean to hurt him by not saying it back to him but she was so caught on the spot, she didn't know what to say. She hadn't expected him to tell her he loved her. And she definitely didn't expect him to break up with her for not saying it back. She didn't understand. She thought they were good, she thought they were happy. She blinked back some tears and glanced at her house. She wasn't ready to face her mom yet. There was only one person she wanted to see right now so she started walking away from the house and headed to the one place she knew this person would be.

Jess was engrossed in a book that Rory had lent to him. He'd helped Luke close the diner and then wandered out to the bridge to do his reading. This was his favourite time of the day. He loved just sitting outside in the peace and quiet, looking across the water, reading. He looked up when he heard footsteps behind him and was surprised to see Rory walking towards him. Sometimes Rory would join him out here but he knew she had a special evening planned with Dean today so figured he wouldn't see her. "Hey.." He said.

"Hey.." She said quietly.

Jess frowned as she came closer and he saw her red eyes. "What's happened?" He asked. He was shocked when Rory suddenly broke down. "Hey!" He said getting up quickly and pulling her into a hug. "Hey, it's ok." He said softly. "It's ok."

"Dean and I broke up." She sniffed.

"What?" He said surprised. He wasn't the biggest fan of Dean but he thought the two of them were happy. They always seemed happy whenever he saw them together. "Rory, what happened?"

Rory sniffed and sat down on the edge of the bridge with Jess. "He told me he loved me." She admitted.

"What?" Jess said, not expecting that answer.

Rory blinked back more tears. "He told me he loved me and I just sat there not knowing what to say. I mean, who does that? We've been together for 3 months and I can't tell him I love him? What sort of person does that make me?" She exclaimed.

"Rory..."

"He looked so hurt..." She said quietly. "It felt like time stood still. And then he finally said he'd give me a lift home. When we got there, he told me he didn't think it would work out between us because I obviously don't feel the same about him as he does about me."

"He's a jerk." Jess said.

"Jess..."

"No, I'm sorry, Rory, but he is!" Jess said. "So what if you can't tell him you love him yet? It doesn't mean you wouldn't in the future. He's an idiot for putting you on the spot like that and for breaking up with you for that just makes him a jerk. You're better off without him."

Rory felt tears falling down her face. "I really cared about him, Jess. I thought...I thought..." She sniffed.

Jess sighed and put his arm round her, pulling her in for a hug. "I know." He said softly. "I'm sorry, Ror. I know you really liked him."

She sat there for a moment, letting Jess comfort her. She then sat up straight and wiped the tears away. "I guess I'm just going to have to move on. If he doesn't want to be with me, then fine." She said.

"Hey, you want to hear some gossip?" He said.

"Always!"

"Rachel turned up today."

"Rachel who?" Rory said confused before her eyes widened. "Wait, the Rachel?" She asked.

"The one and only." He nodded.

"Wow! How did Luke react?" Rory said shocked.

"Like Luke. Had to rely on your mom to talk for him." Jess smirked.

"Mom was there when she turned up?"

"Yup! She kind of got freaked as well."

"What do you mean?"

"Well she started talking about the coffee machines that they were installing at the inn." Jess chuckled.

"What?" Rory laughed. "So what's happening? Why is she back? Is she staying?"

"I don't know." He shrugged. "Think she wants to but I'm thinking it won't work out."

"Why?"

"Just my prediction." Jess said. "I just think Luke's over her now."

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see." She said. She sighed. "I better get home."

"Sure." He nodded, glancing at her. "You ok?"

Rory gave him a small smile. "You always know how to cheer me up."

"Hey, that's what I'm here for." He smirked.

Rory smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Most likely."

"Night Jess." She said softly.

"Night." He smiled and then he watched her go. He felt bad for her, of course he did. He hated seeing her upset but he couldn't help being slightly happy that she was no longer with Dean. He sighed and slowly turned back to his book and continued reading.

"Who are all these people?" Lorelai said as they entered Luke's the following morning.

"It's the 6:00 am crowd." Rory said.

"I officially recognise nobody in this place." She said looking round.

"Hey!" Rachel said suddenly appearing beside them.

"Oh hi!" Lorelai said slightly surprised to see her.

"Coffee while you wait?" She asked.

"Oh bless you!" Lorelai said taking the coffee. "So Luke put you to work huh?" She said casually.

"Yeah well I figured if I'm going to be hanging around here for a while the least I could do is help out." Rachel smiled.

"So you're going to be hanging around for a while...here?" Lorelai asked.

"Yeah I think so." She nodded.

"Oh well that's nice."

"Yeah."

"Hey, I'm Rory by the way." Rory smiled at her.

"Oh yeah, sorry! Rachel, Rory. Rory, Rachel." She introduced them.

"It's nice to meet you." Rachel said pleasantly.

"So where is Luke?" Rory asked.

"Well we were kind of up late last night so I let him sleep in."

"Sleep in? Luke?" Lorelai said surprised.

"Oh believe me it wasn't easy to get him to agree to it, but in the end, a little sweet talk, a couple of Excedrin PM he finally caved." She laughed.

"Hey there's a seat over there." Rory suddenly said.

"Great."

"Oh go, go! I'll be over in a sec." Rachel said.

The two of them went and sat down at the free table. "So that was Rachel huh?" Rory said.

"Yep."

"She seems nice."

"Yeah I guess she is." Lorelai said.

Rory smirked slightly. "Jealous?"

"What? Jealous? Me? Of what?" She said quickly.

"Nothing. Just forget I said anything." Rory said hiding her smile. She then sighed as she glanced round. "I feel like everyone is staring at me."

"Nobody's staring at you." Lorelai assured her.

"They know."

"They don't know."

"It's probably all around town by now." Rory said.

"Honey it just happened last night, it's like 6:00 in the morning."

"Everyone knows that I've been dumped." She said.

"Do you want to go home?" Lorelai said sympathetically.

"No...I just...oh hey!" She said her face lighting up suddenly as Jess appeared.

"Uh hey!" Jess said surprised to see them. "What are you two doing up at this time?"

"Could say the same about you!" Lorelai grinned.

"The only way to get Luke to have a lie in was to promise I'd help Rachel out down here." He rolled his eyes.

"Ah, poor you." She smirked.

"Definitely pulled the short straw." Jess said. He glanced at Rory. "So how are you doing?" He asked.

"Who, Rory? She's fine. Why wouldn't she be fine?" Lorelai said.

"It's ok, mom. He knows." Rory said.

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Lorelai said. "I'm going to go order. Any preference?" She asked Rory.

"No, I'll have what you have." She said.

"Ok, I'll be right back." She said. "Hey you, you better protect her from everyone. She's paranoid that everyone knows." She told Jess, smirking slightly.

"Sure." He chuckled.

"I'm so glad my misery is causing you both amusement." Rory said.

Jess smirked. "Sorry." He said. "So how are you really?" He asked sitting down with her.

"I'm ok." She sighed.

"Yeah?"

She shrugged. "I don't really know how to feel to be honest." She admitted.

"Fair enough." Jess said.

"But thanks for the chat last night. I appreciated it." She smiled at him.

"Hey I'm here whenever you need me. You know that right?" He said.

"Yeah. I know." She said softly. "Thanks."

"I better get back to work or else Luke will have something to say." Jess said spotting Luke appear. "Don't think too much of it ok? No one's talking about you. And if they are, I'll make sure they stop." He said.

"Thanks Jess." She smiled.

Meanwhile, Lorelai got up to the counter just as Luke appeared. "Oh well, good morning sleeping beauty." She teased.

"Yeah, well you know Rachel thought I looked a little tired." Luke said.

"No, it's good. You need a little break."

"I guess."

"You do. So she seems pretty comfortable here huh?" She said.

"Yeah well she always could just fit in places you know. It's a talent of hers." Luke said smiling slightly as Rachel walked past.

"She looks good in your apron."

"Yeah well, can I get you anything?" He said changing the subject.

"Oh...uh...do you think you could make those really crazy chocolate chip pancakes and go extra heavy on the chocolate?" She asked him.

"Yeah sure, any special occasion?" He asked.

"Dean broke up with Rory." She sighed.

"What?" Luke exclaimed.

"Keep it down, she doesn't want anybody to know about it!" Lorelai said quickly.

"Oh I knew it, I just knew that kid was trouble." Luke grumbled.

"Yes you did, you knew it. Pancakes please." She said.

"Oh god, he's got a nerve. I mean what does he think, he's going to do better than Rory? Is he crazy?" He said.

"Luke..."

He sighed. "I'm sorry. I just...how is she?" He asked concerned.

Lorelai smiled softly at his concern for her daughter. "She's just been dumped by her first boyfriend. She's...coping." She said.

"Ok, well I'm going to put some whipped cream on the pancakes too." He said.

"Thanks, Luke." She said softly.

"Yeah."

"Not a word ok?"

"Of course." He nodded. He watched her head back towards Rory before turning to Jess. "You've got the day off today ok?" He said.

"What? Why?" Jess said confused.

"Here." Luke said pulling out his wallet and giving him some money. "I don't care what you do ok, just make sure you cheer up Rory. She deserves to have a fun day." He said.

"Uh..yeah..ok..." Jess said.

Luke nodded and disappeared off the the kitchen, leaving Jess stood there holding the money.

"What was all that about?" Rachel asked.

"Apparently Luke wants me to take Rory out for the day." Jess said.

"That's Lorelai's daughter?" She asked.

"Yeah." He nodded.

"Why?"

"She..uh..well she's had a tough time and I guess he just wants to cheer her up." Jess shrugged. "Rory and I have been friends for years so I guess he thought I could cheer her up."

"Oh." She said.

Jess glanced at her before heading back over to Rory's table just as Luke appeared from the kitchen as well.

"More coffee?" He asked them. "Pancakes are coming right up, anything else I can get you?"

"No thanks." Rory said.

"Hey I've got some strawberries back there, you like strawberries don't you?"

"Yeah I like strawberries but..." Rory said.

"I'm getting you strawberries." Luke smiled before walking off.

"You told him didn't you?" Rory raised her eyebrows at her mom.

"No. Miss Patty did." Lorelai said.

"No, your mom did." Jess smirked appearing beside them.

"Grass." Lorelai pouted.

"Come on, you can't keep anything from Luke. Everyone knows that." Jess smirked.

"He's right." Rory smiled slightly.

Lorelai sighed. "I'm sorry. I know you didn't want anyone knowing..."

"No it's fine. I don't mind Luke knowing. Luke's different." Rory said.

"Anyway, finish your breakfast because we're going out." Jess told her.

"Going out where?" She said confused.

"You'll see." He said.

"Air of mystery. Intriguing!" Lorelai laughed.

Rory sighed. "Fine. I need the toilet. I'll be right back." She said getting up and disappearing to the toilet.

Lorelai glanced at Jess. "So where are you taking her?"

"Luke reckons she needs cheering me up. So I thought I'd take her to her favourite bookstore in Hartford and then for some food." Jess said.

"That's sweet." Lorelai smiled.

"Yeah, well, she means a lot to me. I don't like seeing her upset." Jess shrugged, ducking his head slightly.

"You're a good friend to her. She's lucky to have you." Lorelai smiled softly.

"Well, thank Luke. He gave me the money for it." He said.

"He did?" She said surprised.

"Yup. Was pretty adamant about it." Jess said as Rory reappeared. "I'm just going to run up to get ready. See you in a bit."

"Yeah, see you." Rory said. She glanced at her mom who was watching Luke. "What?" She said.

Lorelai snapped back to reality. "Oh nothing. I was just daydreaming." She said.

"Same old then." She said smirking slightly.

"Hey!" Lorelai said indignantly but was glad to see a bit of the old Rory back. Luke came and brought them their food. "Thanks Luke." She smiled.

"Enjoy." He nodded at them.

"Come on, let's eat up! We've got the whole day ahead of us." Lorelai said.

"Mom..."

"What, you did get me up at 6:00!" She said.

"It's good to get up early for a change."

"Uh huh."

Rory smiled slightly. "Ok, I'm sorry. I just...I guess I needed to keep my mind occupied, that's all."

Lorelai smiled sympathetically at her. "I get that." She said. "Well, hopefully you can keep your mind off everything when you go out with Jess."

"Yeah." She smiled softly.

"Come on then, let's eat up. Luke's pancakes really are the best." She grinned.

Rory laughed. "Yeah, they really are." She agreed.

So I hope you liked it! :) Please let me know what you think by leaving me a review! Would you like me to continue? Thank you for all your support! :)