Title: Rory dumps Poor Bewildered Dean
Author: Charmkat
Pairing: L/L & R/J
Rating: PG-13(for now)
Disclaimer: I own none of GG unfortunately.
Rory walked over to the market and went inside. She knew Dean had the early shift on Sundays. Sure enough there he was on Aisle 3, stacking green beans. "Dean are you busy?" she called out. Dean looked up as if he'd heard an alien talking. "Rory is that you?" he asked confusedly. "Yes, I am awake before ten o'clock on a Sunday morning, is it so hard to believe," she sounded out angrily. "Well no, it's just that-" he was cut off by Rory. "What is so bloody hard to believe?" she yelled at him. Dean stood there frozen in position with his green beans, he looked shell-shocked. "I just w-" She waved a hand, "Oh forget it, are you free tonight?" she asked. "Yeah, why?" he asked. "Do you want to go out to dinner with me?" "Sure, what time?" he asked. Rory racked her brain, thinking of a suitable time "How about five, we'll meet in the park, and don't ask it's a surprise?" she said. "Okay, I'll meet you in the park at five," Dean said, to Rory's back as she stalked out of the store. He went back to stacking the green beans, unaware of what awaited him that night.
Rory stalked outside and pondered how she was going to put her plan effectively into action. She wasn't using Dean to make Jess jealous, was she? She brushed that thought away and made her way home. It was only eight-thirty. Plenty of time to do homework and plot how to exact her revenge.
Meanwhile, Lorelai was sitting at the counter sipping coffee and watching Luke walk around. She'd tilted her head to get a better view of his posterior. When he turned around to catch her. He turned a dark red. Lorelai laughed silently, the man was so shy. She'd have to do something about that. As Luke walked past her to deliver some food to a table, Lorelai innocently grazed his bottom with her hand. Luke fumbled and almost dropped the plates.
"Luke I need to see you about something?" she trailed her hand down her blouse and stared him blatantly. "Just a minute Lorelai," he said, talking to an irate customer. "Sure Luke," she said breathlessly.
Rory was at home, and she was going through her wardrobe, discarding one thing after another. "Damn it none of these are good enough," she swore aloud. Then a lightbulb went off in her head, why not raid her mom's closet. She ran upstairs and found the perfect outfit, that would knock Dean and Jess for a loop. She took it downstairs and put deep in the back of her closet, where it would remain until later that night.
Rory walked into the diner with Dean, in her "outfit", people turned and gaped at her. Clad in a black mini that ended several inches above respectable knee length, a purple tank top, black boots, and with enough makeup on to make a good girl gone bad proud. "Where'd you want to sit?" she asked Dean. "Wherever you want," Dean was still in shock from when she'd opened the door. He was proud and horny. He knew something had changed in their relationship, and he couldn't wait to find out. Just as he sat down, he noticed the diner had gone silent again. When he turned around to see what was going on, he almost couldn't believe his eyes.
Lorelai and Luke were in a passionate clinch, they were partially hidden in a corner of the diner, more in the back. But whenever the kitchen door swung open, you could see their hands moving fast and furiously. Dean looked at Rory to see what she thought of it. She was watching them, looking happy. Just then Rory put two fingers in her mouth and let out an ear-piercing whistle. Luke and Lorelai jumped apart. Luke realized that they had an audience, he fumed silently then shrugged his shoulders for a second and disappeared into the back. Lorelai looked out and gaped when she saw Rory. "Rory is that you?" "Yeah, you don't like it. Just thought I'd get all wild tonight, I'm in the mood," Rory explained. "Yeah, you look great in my clothes," Lorelai added. "You don't mind do you," Rory said, but her gaze was already elsewhere. Lorelai followed her gaze and saw Jess come in the door. Before Jess could see her, Rory had gone back to looking at Dean, with moon eyes. Lorelai wrinkled her brow in confusion, then just decided to let it go. After all Rory was a grown-up and could take care of herself. She made her way behind the counter to "help" Luke.
Jess walked in the door, looked around and was floored when he saw some hot chick sitting with her back to him. She had the same brown hairs as Rory, except Rory would never dress like that. So he was safe. Because if -. It was Rory. And she was dressed like that, and she was with Dean. His hands clenched, he looked down and unclenched them. He reasserted his control and made his way casually over to her table.
Rory was talking with Dean, trying to appear interested. She sensed Jess behind her. She threw her head back and laughed. She looked up and saw Jess standing beside her. "Can I help you?" she asked. "No, just wanted to know if I could borrow that copy of Jane Eyre?" he asked. Her eyes flickered in surprise, that she shielded behind a look of nonchalance. "I don't have it with me, I'll bring it by tomorrow," she looked at him and turned back to Dean and went on ignoring Jess. "Also I -" he was cut off by Rory. "What do you want, can't you see I'm busy, besides you made it clear earlier that you wanted nothing to do with me. So make like you said and get lost," Rory said harshly. Jess flinched and walked away, his eyes filling with anger. "What was that all about?" Dean asked. "Nothing, he means nothing to me. You are everything to me," Rory bluffed, joining her hand with his and looked deep in his eyes. Jess watched them, anger filled his veins along with jealousy. He stormed up the stairs. He walked into Luke. "What's wrong?" Luke asked. "Nothing," Jess yelled. "What's his problem?" Lorelai asked, coming up behind Luke. "He has a case of Roritis," Luke said. "What?" Lorelai said. "Never mind," Luke said, as he wrapped his arms around her and watched Dean and Rory. There was a relationship that was falling apart.
After a successful dinner, in which Rory knew she'd made Jess jealous. She and Dean walked home. He kissed her good night on the doorstep and then walked away. After he was gone, she wiped her lips clean, he left her cold. Where before, she'd felt a slow burn, now she just felt cold. Jess made her burn. She closed her eyes and walked down the dark hallway to her room. She knew her mom was still at Luke's. She opened her bedroom door, then turned and slammed it shut behind her. After that first scene in the diner, she thought Jess would've come back for more. But obviously he wasn't stupid. He just stayed upstairs and wouldn't come down. She shrugged her shoulders and started to take off her top. A soft sigh stopped her. She put her shirt back on and turned on her light. There on her bed lay Jess.
"Can I help you?" ice marked her tone. "Yeah, you can tell me, why the hell you were dressed like that with him?" he demanded an answer. "You're not my boyfriend, why the hell should I tell you anything," Rory raged. "Get out of my room and my house," she yelled. "Why, is Dean waiting in the living room?" Jess got off the bed and walked out into the living room to see for himself. "There's no one here," Rory said. "Did you send him home like a good little boy," Jess sneered. "Yes I sent him home," Rory admitted. "If you dressed like that to make me jealous, you succeeded," Jess said, moving closer to her. Rory backed up, her knees hitting the couch "I wasn't trying to make you-" she was cut off by the look in Jess's eyes. He leaned forward, his mouth honing in on its target. She closed her mouth and waited for something that would never come. She heard an indrawn breath and her eyes flew open. She was floored when she saw her mom. "What are you doing home already?" Rory asked. "I came home because I live here, now what is he doing here?" she pointed at Jess. "I was just leaving," Jess said and cut out of there quickly. The front door shut behind him. "Care to explain, did it have anything to do with your outfit at the diner tonight?" Lorelai asked. "Yes, I was just trying to get back at Jess," Rory said. "By dressing like that," Lorelai exclaimed. "I know it was stupid, but it was the quickest way- never mind," Rory said. "Well I'm going to bed, if you want to talk about it, I'm here," Lorelai said, walking up the stairs to her bedroom. Rory sat on the couch and shook her head, what was she going to do? She could either ignore Jess and throw herself whole-heartedly into her relationship with Dean. Or she could pursue Jess and throw caution to the wind. Although the latter sounded appealing, she just couldn't do that to Dean. Oh well, Dean was just too good to pass up. She shrugged her shoulders. Tomorrow at school, she would give Dean her answer, regarding his ring.
A beautiful sunny day had dawned. Rory awoke at her usual 6:35. She rolled out of bed and stretched. Yawning aloud, she looked outside and thought, Ugh another Monday morning. Monday was always the worst. She walked down the hallway to the bathroom to have a shower. Upstairs, Lorelai looked at her clock and it only read 6:42. She still had an hour till she had to get up. She burrowed back under her covers and went back to sleep. Dreams of Luke penetrated her dreams. She smiled in her sleep. Rory stepped into the kitchen, freshly washed and dressed. She turned on the coffee, it was 7:10. She pulled out her usual box of cereal and sat down to have a bowl and read Entertainment Weekly. By 7:20, she was done, and it was time to go upstairs and start trying to wake her mom. Slowly, Rory strolled upstairs and knocked on her mom's door. "Mom it's time to get up." "No, it's still dark, it's not time to get up," Lorelai evaded. "It is time to get up, it's 7:22, get up, or you'll be late for work. I have to walk to school, so I'll see you later," Rory walked down the stairs, grabbed her backpack and walked out the door. Lane was waiting at the end of the driveway, "Lane is that really you? What happened to your mom never letting you out of the house again?" Rory asked. "Well my mom and I had a long talk last night and we've decided that she is going to be a little more open-minded," Lane explained. "That's great," Rory commented. "I know, so now I can do stuff, because I'm free," Lane sighed happily. "So, what class do you have first?" Rory changed the topic of conversation. "I have Math, what about you?" Lane replied. "I have Literature," Rory retorted. "Hey you want to stop at Luke's for a coffee?" Lane asked. "No I'm just gonna walk to school, I'll meet you there, if you want to go in," Rory said. Lane stopped in her tracks, "Never would I dream, that the day would come, where Rory Gilmore says no to coffee." "I already had a cup today, besides there is always break and lunch," Rory said. "True, okay, I just wondered if there was something you were avoiding," Lane said, just then the diner door opened and Jess walked out. "Hey Rory," Jess said. "Hey Jess," Rory said. "Let's go," she dragged Lane away. She turned back and saw Jess staring after them. She turned back and focused on getting to school and seeing Dean. Dean met her at the front of her school, "So will you wear my ring?" Rory thought about it for a minute, then she saw Jess out of the corner of her eye. She knew she could no longer keep the hoax up. She would only hurt Dean in the end. Maybe she could persuade them to be friends after he got over his anger. Jess watched them from afar and knew Rory had seen him and now she was going off with Dean. He clenched his fists in anger, and walked off in the opposite direction to his first class, Literature.
By the bell rang, Rory still hadn't taken her seat in front of him. He wondered if she was making out with Dean under the trees outside. After all it was a beautiful April day. Just then, the object of his thoughts walked through the door. He searched her face for obvious signs that she'd been making out with Dean. He then thought about how he'd treated Rory on Sunday after their little tryst in the theatre. He'd shouldn't have been so hasty to treat like it was another meaningless thing, when it was so clearly not. It had seemed to mean something to her, if she wanted to talk about it. Or maybe she'd only wanted to tell him to not tell Dean. His mind zoomed from one possibility to another. "Mr. Blacken, would you please pay attention in class," Mrs. Slumbers scolded. Jess smiled at her, "Sure thing, please accept my apology," he said. "Only if you tell us what poem Alexander Pope is famous for writing?" Mrs. Slumbers asked, looking at him along with the rest of class, except Rory. "Rape of the Lock," Jess answered. "Now class, please turn to page four fifty-seven, and we will take turns reading the poem and then we will discuss it," Mrs. Slumber's voice faded off. Jess focused on Rory. "Now class, do we have any volunteers to read the first stanza?" the teacher addressed the class. "I will," Rory shakily volunteered. "Very well, Miss Gilmore," Mrs. Slumbers acceded. Rory began to read, and Jess was hypnotized, he stared at the back of her head. When she'd finished, Jess volunteered to read. After class was over, Jess attempted to go over to Rory, but she was talking to the teacher about the assignment. Jess went to the back of the classroom and was looking through his binder for something, when he overheard some girls gossiping. "Can you believe it, Rory dumped Dean," one girl piped up. "I know, he's such a sweetie, although I heard he was kind of sweet on Suzy the new girl from Ohio," another girl said. "Why did she dump him," the first girl asked. "I don't know, they had been dating for five months, then wham it's over. He must be heartbroken," the second girl answered. The voices faded away as the girls walked away. Jess could hardly believe his ears. Rory had dumped Dean. But why? He was going to find out. Just then the teacher's voice penetrated his thoughts, pulling him back to reality. "Class, I have come up with a better idea for your assignment," Mrs. Slumbers said. Everyone took their seats, waiting for the change. "I want you to get into pairs. Write a poem about a specific person, dead or alive. Write your own poems individually, then switch with your partner and have your partner try and guess who the person is. Then present them to the class, this will be due on Friday."
As Mrs. Slumbers settled behind her desk, she closed her eyes and waited for the bell to ring, so she could go to her locker and forget about this assignment. No one would be her partner, the people in this class were too conceited. "Rory want to be my partner?" a voice asked. "No," she kept her eyes closed. "You can't avoid me forever," Jess said. "Yes I can," her eyes still closed. "We need to talk," Jess said. "As I recall, you didn't want to talk," Rory said, one eye now open. "If you be my partner, I will do anything you want, but I need to talk to you," Jess said. Unaware that the whole class had gone silent, Rory agreed, "Fine." They sat together, Rory rather reluctantly, looking, as if she wanted to bolt at any second. "So what's going on with you and Dean?" Jess asked. "We broke up," Rory answered, not volunteering any details. "Why?" "Because we both felt like it was time to move on," Rory said. "Okay, let's get on with the poems, what's your take on this?" Jess started an easy subject for them, and they discussed it at length, until the bell rang. "So I'll come by the diner after school and we'll talk," Rory said, as she walked with Jess out the door. "Okay," Jess said, then walked down the hall towards his next class.
Rory walked over to the market and went inside. She knew Dean had the early shift on Sundays. Sure enough there he was on Aisle 3, stacking green beans. "Dean are you busy?" she called out. Dean looked up as if he'd heard an alien talking. "Rory is that you?" he asked confusedly. "Yes, I am awake before ten o'clock on a Sunday morning, is it so hard to believe," she sounded out angrily. "Well no, it's just that-" he was cut off by Rory. "What is so bloody hard to believe?" she yelled at him. Dean stood there frozen in position with his green beans, he looked shell-shocked. "I just w-" She waved a hand, "Oh forget it, are you free tonight?" she asked. "Yeah, why?" he asked. "Do you want to go out to dinner with me?" "Sure, what time?" he asked. Rory racked her brain, thinking of a suitable time "How about five, we'll meet in the park, and don't ask it's a surprise?" she said. "Okay, I'll meet you in the park at five," Dean said, to Rory's back as she stalked out of the store. He went back to stacking the green beans, unaware of what awaited him that night.
Rory stalked outside and pondered how she was going to put her plan effectively into action. She wasn't using Dean to make Jess jealous, was she? She brushed that thought away and made her way home. It was only eight-thirty. Plenty of time to do homework and plot how to exact her revenge.
Meanwhile, Lorelai was sitting at the counter sipping coffee and watching Luke walk around. She'd tilted her head to get a better view of his posterior. When he turned around to catch her. He turned a dark red. Lorelai laughed silently, the man was so shy. She'd have to do something about that. As Luke walked past her to deliver some food to a table, Lorelai innocently grazed his bottom with her hand. Luke fumbled and almost dropped the plates.
"Luke I need to see you about something?" she trailed her hand down her blouse and stared him blatantly. "Just a minute Lorelai," he said, talking to an irate customer. "Sure Luke," she said breathlessly.
Rory was at home, and she was going through her wardrobe, discarding one thing after another. "Damn it none of these are good enough," she swore aloud. Then a lightbulb went off in her head, why not raid her mom's closet. She ran upstairs and found the perfect outfit, that would knock Dean and Jess for a loop. She took it downstairs and put deep in the back of her closet, where it would remain until later that night.
Rory walked into the diner with Dean, in her "outfit", people turned and gaped at her. Clad in a black mini that ended several inches above respectable knee length, a purple tank top, black boots, and with enough makeup on to make a good girl gone bad proud. "Where'd you want to sit?" she asked Dean. "Wherever you want," Dean was still in shock from when she'd opened the door. He was proud and horny. He knew something had changed in their relationship, and he couldn't wait to find out. Just as he sat down, he noticed the diner had gone silent again. When he turned around to see what was going on, he almost couldn't believe his eyes.
Lorelai and Luke were in a passionate clinch, they were partially hidden in a corner of the diner, more in the back. But whenever the kitchen door swung open, you could see their hands moving fast and furiously. Dean looked at Rory to see what she thought of it. She was watching them, looking happy. Just then Rory put two fingers in her mouth and let out an ear-piercing whistle. Luke and Lorelai jumped apart. Luke realized that they had an audience, he fumed silently then shrugged his shoulders for a second and disappeared into the back. Lorelai looked out and gaped when she saw Rory. "Rory is that you?" "Yeah, you don't like it. Just thought I'd get all wild tonight, I'm in the mood," Rory explained. "Yeah, you look great in my clothes," Lorelai added. "You don't mind do you," Rory said, but her gaze was already elsewhere. Lorelai followed her gaze and saw Jess come in the door. Before Jess could see her, Rory had gone back to looking at Dean, with moon eyes. Lorelai wrinkled her brow in confusion, then just decided to let it go. After all Rory was a grown-up and could take care of herself. She made her way behind the counter to "help" Luke.
Jess walked in the door, looked around and was floored when he saw some hot chick sitting with her back to him. She had the same brown hairs as Rory, except Rory would never dress like that. So he was safe. Because if -. It was Rory. And she was dressed like that, and she was with Dean. His hands clenched, he looked down and unclenched them. He reasserted his control and made his way casually over to her table.
Rory was talking with Dean, trying to appear interested. She sensed Jess behind her. She threw her head back and laughed. She looked up and saw Jess standing beside her. "Can I help you?" she asked. "No, just wanted to know if I could borrow that copy of Jane Eyre?" he asked. Her eyes flickered in surprise, that she shielded behind a look of nonchalance. "I don't have it with me, I'll bring it by tomorrow," she looked at him and turned back to Dean and went on ignoring Jess. "Also I -" he was cut off by Rory. "What do you want, can't you see I'm busy, besides you made it clear earlier that you wanted nothing to do with me. So make like you said and get lost," Rory said harshly. Jess flinched and walked away, his eyes filling with anger. "What was that all about?" Dean asked. "Nothing, he means nothing to me. You are everything to me," Rory bluffed, joining her hand with his and looked deep in his eyes. Jess watched them, anger filled his veins along with jealousy. He stormed up the stairs. He walked into Luke. "What's wrong?" Luke asked. "Nothing," Jess yelled. "What's his problem?" Lorelai asked, coming up behind Luke. "He has a case of Roritis," Luke said. "What?" Lorelai said. "Never mind," Luke said, as he wrapped his arms around her and watched Dean and Rory. There was a relationship that was falling apart.
After a successful dinner, in which Rory knew she'd made Jess jealous. She and Dean walked home. He kissed her good night on the doorstep and then walked away. After he was gone, she wiped her lips clean, he left her cold. Where before, she'd felt a slow burn, now she just felt cold. Jess made her burn. She closed her eyes and walked down the dark hallway to her room. She knew her mom was still at Luke's. She opened her bedroom door, then turned and slammed it shut behind her. After that first scene in the diner, she thought Jess would've come back for more. But obviously he wasn't stupid. He just stayed upstairs and wouldn't come down. She shrugged her shoulders and started to take off her top. A soft sigh stopped her. She put her shirt back on and turned on her light. There on her bed lay Jess.
"Can I help you?" ice marked her tone. "Yeah, you can tell me, why the hell you were dressed like that with him?" he demanded an answer. "You're not my boyfriend, why the hell should I tell you anything," Rory raged. "Get out of my room and my house," she yelled. "Why, is Dean waiting in the living room?" Jess got off the bed and walked out into the living room to see for himself. "There's no one here," Rory said. "Did you send him home like a good little boy," Jess sneered. "Yes I sent him home," Rory admitted. "If you dressed like that to make me jealous, you succeeded," Jess said, moving closer to her. Rory backed up, her knees hitting the couch "I wasn't trying to make you-" she was cut off by the look in Jess's eyes. He leaned forward, his mouth honing in on its target. She closed her mouth and waited for something that would never come. She heard an indrawn breath and her eyes flew open. She was floored when she saw her mom. "What are you doing home already?" Rory asked. "I came home because I live here, now what is he doing here?" she pointed at Jess. "I was just leaving," Jess said and cut out of there quickly. The front door shut behind him. "Care to explain, did it have anything to do with your outfit at the diner tonight?" Lorelai asked. "Yes, I was just trying to get back at Jess," Rory said. "By dressing like that," Lorelai exclaimed. "I know it was stupid, but it was the quickest way- never mind," Rory said. "Well I'm going to bed, if you want to talk about it, I'm here," Lorelai said, walking up the stairs to her bedroom. Rory sat on the couch and shook her head, what was she going to do? She could either ignore Jess and throw herself whole-heartedly into her relationship with Dean. Or she could pursue Jess and throw caution to the wind. Although the latter sounded appealing, she just couldn't do that to Dean. Oh well, Dean was just too good to pass up. She shrugged her shoulders. Tomorrow at school, she would give Dean her answer, regarding his ring.
A beautiful sunny day had dawned. Rory awoke at her usual 6:35. She rolled out of bed and stretched. Yawning aloud, she looked outside and thought, Ugh another Monday morning. Monday was always the worst. She walked down the hallway to the bathroom to have a shower. Upstairs, Lorelai looked at her clock and it only read 6:42. She still had an hour till she had to get up. She burrowed back under her covers and went back to sleep. Dreams of Luke penetrated her dreams. She smiled in her sleep. Rory stepped into the kitchen, freshly washed and dressed. She turned on the coffee, it was 7:10. She pulled out her usual box of cereal and sat down to have a bowl and read Entertainment Weekly. By 7:20, she was done, and it was time to go upstairs and start trying to wake her mom. Slowly, Rory strolled upstairs and knocked on her mom's door. "Mom it's time to get up." "No, it's still dark, it's not time to get up," Lorelai evaded. "It is time to get up, it's 7:22, get up, or you'll be late for work. I have to walk to school, so I'll see you later," Rory walked down the stairs, grabbed her backpack and walked out the door. Lane was waiting at the end of the driveway, "Lane is that really you? What happened to your mom never letting you out of the house again?" Rory asked. "Well my mom and I had a long talk last night and we've decided that she is going to be a little more open-minded," Lane explained. "That's great," Rory commented. "I know, so now I can do stuff, because I'm free," Lane sighed happily. "So, what class do you have first?" Rory changed the topic of conversation. "I have Math, what about you?" Lane replied. "I have Literature," Rory retorted. "Hey you want to stop at Luke's for a coffee?" Lane asked. "No I'm just gonna walk to school, I'll meet you there, if you want to go in," Rory said. Lane stopped in her tracks, "Never would I dream, that the day would come, where Rory Gilmore says no to coffee." "I already had a cup today, besides there is always break and lunch," Rory said. "True, okay, I just wondered if there was something you were avoiding," Lane said, just then the diner door opened and Jess walked out. "Hey Rory," Jess said. "Hey Jess," Rory said. "Let's go," she dragged Lane away. She turned back and saw Jess staring after them. She turned back and focused on getting to school and seeing Dean. Dean met her at the front of her school, "So will you wear my ring?" Rory thought about it for a minute, then she saw Jess out of the corner of her eye. She knew she could no longer keep the hoax up. She would only hurt Dean in the end. Maybe she could persuade them to be friends after he got over his anger. Jess watched them from afar and knew Rory had seen him and now she was going off with Dean. He clenched his fists in anger, and walked off in the opposite direction to his first class, Literature.
By the bell rang, Rory still hadn't taken her seat in front of him. He wondered if she was making out with Dean under the trees outside. After all it was a beautiful April day. Just then, the object of his thoughts walked through the door. He searched her face for obvious signs that she'd been making out with Dean. He then thought about how he'd treated Rory on Sunday after their little tryst in the theatre. He'd shouldn't have been so hasty to treat like it was another meaningless thing, when it was so clearly not. It had seemed to mean something to her, if she wanted to talk about it. Or maybe she'd only wanted to tell him to not tell Dean. His mind zoomed from one possibility to another. "Mr. Blacken, would you please pay attention in class," Mrs. Slumbers scolded. Jess smiled at her, "Sure thing, please accept my apology," he said. "Only if you tell us what poem Alexander Pope is famous for writing?" Mrs. Slumbers asked, looking at him along with the rest of class, except Rory. "Rape of the Lock," Jess answered. "Now class, please turn to page four fifty-seven, and we will take turns reading the poem and then we will discuss it," Mrs. Slumber's voice faded off. Jess focused on Rory. "Now class, do we have any volunteers to read the first stanza?" the teacher addressed the class. "I will," Rory shakily volunteered. "Very well, Miss Gilmore," Mrs. Slumbers acceded. Rory began to read, and Jess was hypnotized, he stared at the back of her head. When she'd finished, Jess volunteered to read. After class was over, Jess attempted to go over to Rory, but she was talking to the teacher about the assignment. Jess went to the back of the classroom and was looking through his binder for something, when he overheard some girls gossiping. "Can you believe it, Rory dumped Dean," one girl piped up. "I know, he's such a sweetie, although I heard he was kind of sweet on Suzy the new girl from Ohio," another girl said. "Why did she dump him," the first girl asked. "I don't know, they had been dating for five months, then wham it's over. He must be heartbroken," the second girl answered. The voices faded away as the girls walked away. Jess could hardly believe his ears. Rory had dumped Dean. But why? He was going to find out. Just then the teacher's voice penetrated his thoughts, pulling him back to reality. "Class, I have come up with a better idea for your assignment," Mrs. Slumbers said. Everyone took their seats, waiting for the change. "I want you to get into pairs. Write a poem about a specific person, dead or alive. Write your own poems individually, then switch with your partner and have your partner try and guess who the person is. Then present them to the class, this will be due on Friday."
As Mrs. Slumbers settled behind her desk, she closed her eyes and waited for the bell to ring, so she could go to her locker and forget about this assignment. No one would be her partner, the people in this class were too conceited. "Rory want to be my partner?" a voice asked. "No," she kept her eyes closed. "You can't avoid me forever," Jess said. "Yes I can," her eyes still closed. "We need to talk," Jess said. "As I recall, you didn't want to talk," Rory said, one eye now open. "If you be my partner, I will do anything you want, but I need to talk to you," Jess said. Unaware that the whole class had gone silent, Rory agreed, "Fine." They sat together, Rory rather reluctantly, looking, as if she wanted to bolt at any second. "So what's going on with you and Dean?" Jess asked. "We broke up," Rory answered, not volunteering any details. "Why?" "Because we both felt like it was time to move on," Rory said. "Okay, let's get on with the poems, what's your take on this?" Jess started an easy subject for them, and they discussed it at length, until the bell rang. "So I'll come by the diner after school and we'll talk," Rory said, as she walked with Jess out the door. "Okay," Jess said, then walked down the hall towards his next class.