Disclaimer-- I don't own anything

~~~~~~~~~~ The Rebel ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was a crisp, clear night and Jess Mariano was lost in thought. He was lying on the old bridge. He had found himself going there more and more often. Most times he read. But not tonight. Tonight he could only think about one thing: Rory. In New York he could have had any sleazy girl he wanted. But then he came to Stars Hollow, and met the exception to the rule. Rory Gilmore shouldn't have meant anything to him. She wasn't like any girl he had ever dated. She was smart, kind, even a bit conservative. Those weren't the things that drew him to her, though. Unlike the rest of the town, Rory trusted him. Something about that enticed Jess and the more he got to know her, the more he liked her. She had a boyfriend though. A good-looking yuppie, who loved her. And she loved him back. She would never look at him the way she looked at Dean.

At this realization he turned over and looked at his watch: 4:30. He decided to get back home before his uncle Luke woke and found him gone. He managed to get in a little sleep before Luke woke him up for morning shift at the diner he owned. Somehow Jess was able to work after only having a couple hours of sleep. Until he saw her. He saw her coming into the diner, looking beautiful as ever. He quickly dodged upstairs making the excuse that he had to get ready for school. She didn't see him.

Rory was having her usual effect on him. When ever she was near, he felt like a little kid, not the bad boy everyone said he was. It was a while before he finally worked up the nerve to go back down stairs. He saw his uncle arguing with Rory's mother, Lorelei. Rory just sat there lost in a daze. Jess couldn't help but think of the day he thought she finally liked him. He had gone back to New York, thinking he'd hurt Rory in a car accident. The day of Sukie's wedding he came back to Stars Hollow, unable to stay away any longer. Rory had seen him and came running up to him. As he talked to her he thought he saw happiness in her eyes. That was when she kissed him. It was only a quick kiss, but was better than any other feeling Jess had ever experienced. She ran off, but Jess was on top of the world. His heart was shortly shattered when he found out she had left to go to Washington DC without saying good-bye. For a few short days he had thought she loved him. He saw how very wrong he was. He could not let him self love her.

He casually walked over to the Gilmore's table and said good morning. Unfortunately, Dean walked in at that moment. Seeing how happy he made Rory made his heart break. He knew he would never have that effect on her.

He knew he wasn't good enough. He watched Rory until she left. As she approached the door she turned to look at him. As they locked eyes Jess thought he saw something. Then he remembered the kiss and knew he was wrong. She would always the girl he couldn't have, too good for any guy, let alone himself. It was at that moment Jess decided he couldn't love her. He couldn't let his heart get broken again. As long as she was Rory and he was Jess, the rebel, they could never be together.

~~~~~~~~What do you think? I really like this story and hope to go on. Please review honestly. I really love the feedback!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~