Everything was going so well here in Stars Hollow, but it seemed like it all came crashing down, making me a sobbing mess. The whole reason why I left New Jersey was to get away from him and guys like him.

I tried to convince myself that becoming friends with a guy whose temper is known for spiking was a good idea. I really liked being around Jess. It was like he made all of my other problems wash away with witty banter.

But I had seen the rage in his eyes earlier, and it reminded me of the person I was trying to forget.

After finishing my shower, whose thermal power would have been enough to sustain three suns, I locked myself in my room and collapsed onto my bed. Partly from the fatigue of running all the way here and partly from pure mental exhaustion.

I fell asleep moments later, but I would have never guessed what would happen at 3:03 am.


I woke up from a deep sleep, my head pounding and my eyes dry. I'm not usually a light sleeper, so I was quite skeptical. That was, until I saw my bedroom window open. That was enough to get me out of bed.

Amidst my freaking out, I seemed to have missed the low chuckle of someone in the corner. Watching me as a predator stalks its prey.

I backed up slowly, while scanning my room the best I could through the dark until I hit my wall.

Wait, why is my wall warm?

I whipped my head around quickly, only to be met with steely green eyes I thought I'd never have to see again. I tried to scream, but a quick hand stifled it back into my throat.

Terror, pure terror. That's what I felt.

He turned me around so that I was pinned to the wall, "Cassie, I'm gonna take my hand off your mouth as long as you promise not to scream. I'm not going to hurt you."

I would have believed him a month ago, but now his calming eucalyptus scent only made my stomach twist and turn. But I digress, and nod slightly despite my heart pounding in my chest urging me to try to escape.

He let go of my mouth, but kept a strong grip on my shoulders, not fully trusting me. I tried to think of something to say, but my lips were moving faster than my brain.

"Dean, what are you doing here?" I whispered loudly. I tried my best to keep my voice from shaking.

He laughed again, and it made my stomach lurch. I wanted to run. I wanted to scream. I wanted to throw up.

"Isn't it obvious? I came to see you." Dean also whispered so as not to wake anyone up.

"But how did you find me? I moved to a different state." I wasn't thinking I was just talking which was a dangerous combination. My brain needed to catch up fast, before I said something stupid.

"Your mom told me about your new school, and I did some research and found it here. In Connecticut," He squinted his eyes, as if studying me closer. I tried to push myself through the wall. "Aren't you happy to see me? I wanted to surprise you! I'm moving to Connecticut!"

"What?!" I whisper-yelled but his look of confusion urged me to continue, "You know how much I hate surprises."

Tread carefully.

"I know, but I just wanted to see the look on your face. You should see yourself; you look so surprised." He laughed again; another knot was tied into my stomach.

He released one of his hands from my shoulders and began to play with my hair, smiling. He was too close. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't move.

I couldn't take it anymore.

I pushed him off gently, so as to not cause suspicion, but from there it was like my brain hadn't been in my head to begin with. All logical reasoning went out the door.

"You can't move to Connecticut, Dean. You just can't. I just started my new life here, and I can't have you screwing it up again. You hear me? I don't want to be with you!" I smacked a hand over my mouth and watched as he crept closer.

The fear in my eyes was now apparent, and both of our masks dropped.

"Let me get this straight," He moved closer, and I backed away trying to get closer to the window, "You moved two states away, to get rid of me?" He cocked his head.

His green eyes had the same look in them that Jess's had yesterday, only Dean's seemed more unhinged and unpredictable than Jess's had. They bored into me.

I tried to duck, but my sluggish reflexes weren't fast enough to dodge his approaching hand. He slapped me across the face, hard enough so that the ring he always wore on his pointer finger scratched my cheek.

I was tearing up now, but I wiped the impending drops away quickly to cure my blurry vision. I hadn't realized I was on the floor until I was reaching for the arm of my desk chair to help pull myself up.

But before I could steady myself, Dean yanked me by the hair and by sheer momentum flung me against the bed. My back hit the footboard and a shock of pain reverberated throughout my spine.

When I opened my eyes, Dean whispered strings of obscenities and contradicting statements that I couldn't quite catch because he was talking so fast. His hands grabbed and pulled at his own hair.

I took this as my chance. It was now or never, and I could feel my heart in my throat as I threw myself onto my bed and crawled like hell for the open window. I had my entire torso out, and freedom was in reach, or so I thought.

A hand wrapped around my ankle and tried to pull me back in. I clutched the side of my house as I struggled not to be torn away from my current position.

I felt his nails digging into my skin and I let out, not a scream, but a strangled cry.

I felt adrenaline pumping through my veins, and I had to decide: Let myself be pulled back in or fight like hell to escape. I chose the latter.

I kicked vigorously with socked feet, trying my best to loosen his grip. My chest hurt, I couldn't breathe, but I would not surrender.

And then, I felt myself falling.

Down,

Down,

Down,

Down.

I hit the ground with a hard thud, but I had braced my head with my arms. I struggled to get up, but there was a searing and ever-present pain in my ankle. I looked up to see Dean staring down at me through my window and that was enough to make me start running.

And there I was, running at 3:00am, in my pajamas, down Main Street.


Author's Note: Hi everyone, I'm back. Sorry for the short chapter, but it didn't feel right to continue. You guys will be in for it next week, fluff in incoming. I promise.

-taylor's version 2.0