Yay for reviews! See, you guys inspired me to get this chapter out quicker! Okay:

Moswen—I wasn't planning on explaining how Max and Lorelai got back together, but it's not out of the question. Maybe in a later chapter it will fit it. Thanks for the suggestion

Melia—I'm glad you're excited about the story, because I am too! And don't worry, Max won't be around for too much longer ;)

Katem, Meghan, Dodgerluv, Melissa, Jael, Briana, Shadowcat, Tara, Jewls, and my four anonymous reviewers, thank you!

A/N—I wrote this part while I was in chemistry class. I have no clue how to do percent composition now. I hope you're all happy. Heh. Just kidding. Enjoy! Next part should be up soonish.

Lorelai was having one of those "if I only had a big cream pie to throw in this person's face" moments again. She was frantically trying to get all of the last minute things ready for the most obscenely large retirement party ever thrown, and she had a creepy looking man in a dark blue suit breathing down her neck.

Okay, that sounded dirty she decided. The man was one of the company's chief advisors. He had been assigned the duty of annoying Lorelai until she cracked. At least, that's what Lorelai thought. Michel insisted that he claimed he had to oversee everything so that it went smoothly.

"So are you sure you know how to do this?" the man asked her condescendingly.

"Well sir, I *have* done a few of these before, so I'm pretty sure I can do it again," Lorelai answered impatiently.

"You're 'pretty sure' you can do it? Jesus. I told Bob we should have chosen another place. You look barely old enough to be a desk clerk here."

Lorelai's eyes flashed and she decided that leaving before she threw one of the large paper mache ducks at his head was her best option. She practically ran back into the inn and threw the kitchen doors, ignoring the creepy man's protests.

"Lorelai? What happened? Oh no, did it start raining again? The ducks will be ruined! Then there'll just be paper mush on the ground. Not duck-like at all. At least the food will be under a tent. And people always eat more when they're depressed—"

"Sookie. It's not raining."

"Oh. Good."

"But I need you to make me a very large cream pie."

"What? Why?"

"Nevermind."

Lorelai sat down on a nearby stool and took a deep breath.

"Hey, honey are you okay?" Sookie asked, concerned.

"Oh I'm fine. Just one of those days, you know?"

"Do you think you have—"

"Don't say it."

"Ennui?"

"Stop talking to Michel so much Sookie," Lorelai said. Then she remembered Max's visit.

"Hey Sookie, you told Max to come to Luke's to find me?"

"Um, yes? Was that a bad thing?"

"Well, Luke didn't take it so well. He seemed really annoyed that we were back together."

"Of course," Sookie said smiling.

"What do you mean 'of course'" Lorelai said, imitating Sookie.

"Oh come on Lorelai. I think you know what Luke isn't Max's biggest fan."

"Because he's Luke? I mean, that whole people-hating thing really lends itself to the… hatred of people."

"It's obvious that he feels—oh no! The tarts!"

"Why is he feeling tarts? Seems like an odd hobby. But then again, he's Luke so—"

"Lorelai, I forgot the tarts!"

"The raspberry tarts?"

"Yes!"

"Okay, don't panic. I'll go get the ingredients. What do you need?"

"It's too late! Oh jeez, that creepy guy in the blue suit said it's our retiree's favorite flavor, raspberry."

"Well, maybe Luke will have something raspberry-ish already made."

"Well go! Shoo! I'll distract creepy blue guy."

Lorelai didn't need to be told twice. She was happy to escape for a few minutes. She ran off to Luke's.

"Thanks for taking me. I didn't mean to seem so ungrateful at the diner," Rory said cautiously.

The car ride had been silent until just then. Both Rory and Jess had stared at the road straight ahead and had remained stiff and uncomfortable in their seats.

"Your welcome," Jess said.

At that moment, Rory's cell phone rang. Rory looked at Jess apologetically, and he just shrugged and gestured for her to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Rory, hi."

"Dean?"

Jess rolled his eyes and groaned.

"Who was that," Dean asked.

"Um, that was just my ride."

"Oh good! You found someone to take you."

"Yup, it wasn't too hard."

"I'm so relieved. I'm sitting here at this Brownies thing about ready to earn a badge for starting a fire."

Rory laughed. Jess' eyes narrowed.

"Well now, that wouldn't be fair to Clara, you showing her up at her own award ceremony," she said with a smile.

"Yeah. I guess you're right. Well, I'm glad you found someone to take you. Who is it?"

"Oh um, Luke. He closed the diner just so he could take me. It was really nice of him."

"He's sitting right next to you in the car now smiling isn't he, you suck up."

Rory glanced at Jess, who was glaring at her.

Rory laughed nervously. "You caught me. Okay well, you have to get back to the ceremony. What are they doing now?"

"Singing 'Kumbaya.' Isn't life wonderful?"

"Very. Just try to stay alive."

"Ah, the wise words of the Bee Gees will forever remain my life's motto."

"Glad to hear it."

Dean smiled. "Bye Ror. I love you."

"I love you too."

Rory turned her phone off and stared straight ahead at the road. It was silent for a few minutes before Jess spoke.

"So when did I turn into my uncle?"

"Jess—"

"I'm just saying, you didn't really give me any notice. I have lot's of plaid and a baseball cap to buy."

"I'm sorry, okay? But I couldn't tell him it was you. He'd freak."

Jess sighed and shifted in his seat. "Poor Desdemona," he said in a mocking tone.

"What are you talking about?"

"Desdemona was faithful, but Othello killed her on the suspicion of her infidelity."

"I know who Desdemona is," Rory snapped. "So, what are you saying? That Dean is going to strangle me in my bed?"

"I dunno. Maybe a simple beheading," he answered sarcastically.

"If I'm Desdemona, then you're Iago."

"How so?"

"Iago loved to toy with other peoples' emotions. He loved to see Othello in anguish. And he didn't care about anyone, especially the woman he was with."

"Who said I don't like who I'm with?"

"Jess, did you even get her name before your tongue became thoroughly acquainted with her esophagus?"

"Jealous?" he said, smirking.

Rory sighed in frustration.

"You know," Jess began, "On second thought, you're not Desdemona."

"No?"

"No. Desdemona was innocent of any betrayal. She never even thought about another man, let alone kissed one." He looked pointedly at her. Rory shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"So what, now I'm Hester Prynne?"

"I didn't say that you're a scarlet woman. Which is a good thing, because red isn't your color, is it?" he said, noticing how red her face had gotten.

Rory felt her burning cheeks. Why did she have to blush? Didn't her cheeks know that Jess would capitalize on that? Stupid cheeks.

"Okay," Rory said abruptly. "I'm done describing you with literary illusions."

"I'm just indescribable, huh?" Jess asked.

"Whatever."

"So do you do this a lot with Dean?"

"What?"

"The literary illusion thing. Does he add in his two cents about Madame Bovary or Hamlet? Or do you play it safe and stick to sports figures and cartoon characters?"

"Jess, shut up."

"I'm just saying—"

"God! I shouldn't have even asked you to take me."

"Wow. Keep those compliments coming," Jess said, actually looking hurt.

Rory sighed. "Come on Jess. Just quit putting Dean down. Why do you always have to do that?"

Jess turned to look at her. She looked sincere. She really wanted to know.

"Maybe it's because I think there's someone better out there for you."

"I don't need someone better. Dean is great," Rory stated emphatically.

"Sure. Great."

"Well how would you even know?" Rory snapped back.

"Because I'm seen the way you act around him, and I know he doesn't do it for you anymore."

"You don't know what you're talking about."

They had entered the Chilton parking lot and Jess slowly parked his car before continuing.

"Rory, he doesn't make you feel excited or complete or… he doesn't make you feel…"

"What Jess?" Rory shouted. "Apparently you're the expert! What doesn't Dean make me feel?"

Jess looked at her intently.

"He doesn't make you feel this."

And with that, he leaned in close to Rory. Her heart was pounding and she froze. She felt dizzy all of a sudden. She could feel his breath on her neck. He brushed his cheek against hers and his lips grazed her neck. His hand touched her knee.

And then he pulled away.

Rory sat there, trying to compose herself.

"We're here. You should get your stuff," Jess said without a hint of a smirk on his face.

Rory unbuckled her seat belt and walked briskly away from the car. She tried not to think about the fact that she had an entire car ride home with Jess ahead of her.

"Lorelai?" Luke said as she rushed into the diner. "Is something wrong?"

"Raspberries!"

"Are red in color." Luke finished for her.

"No, I need something raspberry flavored. Do you have anything? Tarts, cookies, coffee?"

"Coffee?"

"Sorry, the coffee part just slipped out."

"Okay, let me check. I think I might have some strudel in the back."

"Strudel! Yes, strudel is good. Anything to keep the creepy blue man at bay."

Luke looked at her questioningly.

"You don't want to know. Now go, you are on a mission here. Strudel search!"

"Fine. Help yourself to some coffee. You look like you need it."

"Hmm… I'm not sure whether I should thank you sincerely for the coffee, or sarcastically for implying that I look bad."

"Lorelai, take the coffee. Don't distract me from the all-important strudel search."

"Ah yes. Search away."

Lorelai poured herself a cup of coffee and ran her hand through her hair nervously. Luke seemed to be back to his normal self. Maybe he would just forget about the Max thing.

"Hey, why isn't Max with you?" Luke called from the back.

Damn.

"Ha ha. And Bitter Luke makes his triumphant return."

Luke returned to the counter with a large quantity of strudel.

"I just figured that he'd be with you, seeing as how you two are so inseparable these days."

"Luke, quit it. Thank you for the strudel. I have to get back to the inn now."

"Wait, I'll help you carry it back."

Lorelai looked at him gratefully. The prospect of balancing three large pastry boxes in her arms and then walking several blocks in the still puddle-filled streets wasn't exactly making her overjoyed.

"Oh shoot."

"What?" Lorelai asked.

"I can't."

"Can't what? Don't bail on me now strudel boy."

"Sorry Lorelai, Caesar's not here and Jess is out helping Rory. I can't leave the diner."

"Wait, what do you mean Jess is helping Rory?"

"He gave her a ride to Chilton so she could get a book or something."

"He what?!"

TBC… reviews help the process go faster! I already have part of chapter 3 written. There might be some very fun R/J parts. And by fun I mean *raised eyebrows, wink wink* fun. And of course, Luke and Lorelai will fight and make up and fight and make up and fight and…..

But give me suggestions, because I try to listen. I thought the whole 'rory and jess being quiet in the beginning' was good. Thanks!