Dear lord, I broke 100! More than 100 reviews… I'm in shock. I hope you all know how much I appreciate your reviews. I really do try to combine your suggestions to please you all :) And I'm *so* sorry for the wait, but I was working a lot (I'm a supermarket cashier. Ugh) and school was insane this week. I'm applying to colleges. Bleh.

Your individual thank yous are at the end of this chapter :)

"Choose," Jess repeated, his voice low and serious.

Rory was frozen. She couldn't believe her situation. Jess was pressed against her, lips on her neck, giving her an ultimatum, and Dean was quickly approaching them, looking murderous.

Jess' voice brought her back to reality.

"Come on Rory. Just tell me what you want."

"Rory!" Dean yelled again. "What's going on?"

Rory looked at Dean's face. He was so angry. She still hadn't spoken.

"Get off her!" Dean shouted, grabbing Jess by the shoulder and pulling him away from Rory.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Dean asked, shoving Jess further away.

Jess ignored Dean and looked directly at Rory, who was still standing with her back to the wall.

"I guess you made your choice," he said.

Rory looked away, still not speaking. This was too fast. She didn't get enough time to even process the question.

"What are you talking about?" Dean growled.

Suddenly Jess' entire demeanor changed. His serious look was replaced be a teasing smirk and one cocked eyebrow.

"I think that's between me and your girlfriend," Jess answered. "Funny though, there wasn't much between us a second ago. Basically just two thin layers of clothing."

He looked at Rory again adding, "By the way, your hair smells nice." He grinned at her with a glint in his eye.

"Son of a bitch," Dean said, pulling back his fist.

He took a swing and knocked Jess on the jaw. Rory flinched but didn't move. Dean glared at Jess, waiting for him to fight back. Jess just smiled wider than before, rubbing his jaw.

"That's a nice swing you got there, bag boy. Did you get strong from lifting all those gallons of milk?"

Dean pulled back his fist and started to swing again, but someone caught his hand.

"What the hell is going on here?" Luke yelled. "Step away from each other now!"

Luke put himself between the two boys and put a hand on Dean's chest to push him back a little.

"Explain," Luke demanded.

Jess just looked disinterested and rolled his eyes, but Dean spoke up, furious.

"He was all over Rory!"

"What?!" Luke said, glancing at Rory and then glaring back at Jess.

"She doesn't seem too upset," Jess said matter-of-factly.

"Rory?" Dean said, waiting for her to say something. With all the attention on her Rory panicked. She looked at the three people staring at her and bolted, bell above the door jingling violently as she exited the diner.

"Rory!" Dean called after her.

He threw one last angry look at Jess and ran out the door after her.

Luke turned his attention back to Jess.

"You!" he barked. "Upstairs. I'll be up to talk to you in a minute."

Jess scoffed. "Give me a break."

He started to walk away when Luke put a hand on his chest and shoved him back against the counter.

"We'll talk in a minute," he repeated, seething.

Jess looked at Luke. They glared at each other for several seconds before Jess removed Luke's hand and pulled away. Jaw and fists clenched, he went upstairs.

"Rory!" Dean called out. "Rory, slow down! Talk to me!"

Rory didn't slow down. Dean ran faster and caught up with her. He passed her and turned around, putting his hands on her shoulders. Rory stopped moving and looked down at her feet.

"Hey, what's going on?" Dean asked in a desperate tone.

Rory was quiet for a second. She had obviously started to cry as she ran out of the diner.

"I think we should break up."

"What? Why?"

Rory looked up at him.

"Because I'm not being fair to you. I'm a horrible girlfriend."

"Wait, Rory. Calm down. What are you talking about?"

Rory closed her eyes and shook her head. "I've been ignoring you and lying to you and treating you like crap."

"What are you saying? What were you lying to me about," Dean asked, grinding his teeth. He knew what she meant.

"It's just unfair to you. I shouldn't be your girlfriend unless I can be as completely devoted to you as you are to me."

Dean's eyes narrowed. "I agree."

Rory was about to continue her explanation, but at Dean's response she stopped short. "What?"

"I said I agree. It's pretty obvious that you don't care about me anymore Rory," He saw Rory starting protest continued to speak.

"You tell me you love me, but the only time you act like it is to put on a show for Jess. You're obsessed with that guy. You're always sneaking around with him, and to be honest, I was getting sick of it anyway. So just for the record, I broke up with you."

Rory blinked. "What?"

"You heard me. I'm breaking up with you."

Rory stared at Dean. "What is this, a competition? Who can break up with who first?"

"No, I just think that as the wronged party, I should be the one to do the dumping."

"So now I'm being dumped?"

"You're the one who went and listed all of the things you've been doing."

Rory looked at him angrily. "And you're the one who so eagerly added to the list! You know, it's not like you were perfect!"

"You admit to me that you've been leading me on while you have the hots for some other guy, and now you're saying that this breakup is my fault?"

"You were just always there Dean!"

"You mean, like a good boyfriend? How horrible of me!" he said sarcastically.

"I mean, you were always so protective and so… Dean, you called me ten times a day!"

"I don't have to deal with this. I'm leaving. Goodbye Rory."

He stormed away, leaving Rory in the middle of the street. She looked around, starting to feel her eyes water. She saw Miss Patty standing down the road, pulling out her call phone and dialing excitedly.

"What the hell do you think you're doing Jess?" Luke yelled as he entered the room.

Jess looked up apathetically. "Trying to think of the perfect name for the shade of red that your face is turning."

"You were all over Rory?"

"See, just a second ago I would've said tomato, but I think you've progressed to a nice burgundy color."

"Damn it Jess, you said you'd leave her alone. What were you thinking?"

Jess let out a disgusted sigh. "Don't lecture me. God, you're such a hypocrite!"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Oh gee, I don't know," Jess began sarcastically, "'Lorelai, I don't like that you're dating.—I mean, I don't like the *guy* that you're dating!' 'Lorelai, you hair sure looks swell today.' 'Lorelai, I'm going to stand by the cash register and make kissy faces at you.'"

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

"No? You have no feelings for her?"

"It's none of your business whether or not I have feelings for her."

"That wasn't a no."

"No, I do not have romantic feelings for Lorelai. We're very good friends who periodically have the urge to murder each other."

"Sure. That's why I heard you moan her name in your sleep."

"What are you doing listening to me while I sleep?" Luke said incredulously.

"There's nothing to do in this town after 10pm."

"I don't talk in my sleep."

"Hmmm, interesting," Jess said, mock-curiously. "I notice that you're denying the accusation based on the validity of the claim that you talk in your sleep instead of the claim that you would be having dirty dreams about Lorelai."

Luke became flustered. "Well I was just saying that you're obviously making this up, because—wait a minute, whatever is between me and Lorelai is none of your concern. We're here to talk about Rory."

"Listen, you don't have to worry about that anymore. She made her choice," Jess muttered.

"Oh please."

"What?"

"I'm heard this before Jess. You said you'd leave Rory and Dean alone, and judging by the fireworks downstairs, I'd say that maybe you went back on that agreement."

"I told you, she made her choice," Jess repeated angrily.

"Fine. You better be right."

"Fine!" Jess said.

He stood up and walked to the door.

"Put some ice on your chin. It's going to bruise," Luke called after him.

Jess ignored Luke and walked downstairs and then out of the diner. Luke sighed and slowly walked back into the diner.

"Back from your date?" Luke asked casually as Lorelai walked in.

"Look at this!"

"Lorelai, why do I have a cow mug in my face?" Luke asked, exasperated.

Lorelai moved the spotted mug a few inches back from Luke's nose and tried again.

"Look at this!"

Luke grabbed the mug and looked inside, faking amazement.

"It's coffee! Good lord, what on earth is coffee doing in a coffee mug. I'll call the Enquirer."

"Not just any coffee Lucas, this coffee is special."

"Because it's in a ridiculous cow mug?"

"No, although the mug is adorable."

Luke rolled his eyes before Lorelai continued.

"After dinner Max and I went back to my place and—"

"Ten bucks to stop talking right now."

"And I taught him how to make it. He's a natural. I now have coffee perfection from the guy I'm with," she finished, beaming.

"Congratulations," Luke said without any emotion.

"*And* he said he'll fry donuts for me tomorrow morning! He's actually going to make them from scratch or dough or whatever donuts are made of!"

"Great. Fantastic. Guess you won't be needing me anymore, huh?"

Lorelai looked at him curiously. He was serious. He looked hurt.

"Hey, Luke I didn't mean it that way. You're not being replaced. Max still doesn't have the fluffy egg thing down."

Luke clenched his teeth and nodded curtly. "Sure, and I guess if he takes a culinary class, then I'll really be screwed. I get it okay, he's your coffee soul mate and I'm just that grumpy guy in the plaid who you only tolerated because you could get your caffeine fix from him."

Lorelai snorted in disbelief. "What? Are you insane? Has that baseball cap been blocking important brain functions? You're my friend. You can't be replaced."

"Whatever," Luke said, walking away. Lorelai sat at the counter for a second, nervously running her finger around the rim of the cow mug. Finally she closed her eyes and shouted.

"I lied!"

Luke stopped short. He turned around.

"What?"

Lorelai sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

"I lied, okay? This isn't Amazing Max Coffee, this is Insecure and Desperate Lorelai Coffee."

"I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with that brand. Care to elaborate?"

"Well you just made me all doubtful about Max, and I had to do something so I tried to teach him how to make good coffee. I really did, but… well taste it."

Lorelai handed Luke the mug and he took a sip.

He grimaced. "A little… what would you call that taste?"

"Not coffee?"

"Yeah, that's what I'd call it too," he said. "Lorelai, why did you feel the need to come in here and shove your cow mug in my face."

"Because I think it's pretty?"

"Lorelai."

"Okay, it's just… you were so damn smug and I hate it when you're right."

Luke felt his heart jump. "What was I right about?"

"There it is!"

"What?"

"The smug look. The evil smuggish look."

"Smuggish? Is it fun to make up words?"

"It's growing in smuggishness."

"Fine. I ask you unsmuggishly, what do you think I was right about?"

Lorelai sighed and looked away.

"Maybe Max isn't the one for me," she mumbled.

"What?"

"Maybe me and Max just aren't compatible."

Luke started to smile, but then he started to feel a little bit guilty.

"Hey, you know I was just kidding about the coffee thing. For the most part."

"I'm not basing this all on coffee. We're just very different."

"They say opposites attract."

"And if I was a bar magnet, I'd totally go with that. But I'm not, I'm Lorelai Gilmore, spaz, coffee junkie, hyperactive wisecracking mom whose daughter is more well-grounded than she is."

"And Max?"

"Is this great, stable, very non-crazy guy."

"So what are you going to do?"

"Well, first I'm going to spill this coffee out in your sink," Lorelai said, getting up.

"I'll get you a new cup."

"Thanks."

Lorelai returned a second later and saw Luke holding a new mug of coffee out to her. She took it and began to pour the coffee from Luke's mug into her cow mug.

"Is that really necessary?" Luke asked.

"Hey, I don't want Gus to feel neglected," Lorelai answered.

"Gus?"

"Rory has a matching one at home named Black. That way when we talk about them together we say 'hey, let's take out black and gus,' only the words slur together like 'black angus'"

Luke just stared at her.

"You know, black angus. Like the kind of cow. Like, as in angus beef."

"I get it," Luke said, stopping her from further explaining the mug names. "You are a very strange woman."

"Well thank you," Lorelai said sarcastically.

"I mean that in a good way," Luke said, smiling.

Lorelai smiled back and stepped closer to Luke.

"Thank you," she said.

"Your welcome."

There was an awkward pause and then Luke inhaled deeply and pulled out his notepad.

"Well, I guess I better start taking orders."

"Oh, uh yeah. I guess so, considering you're the order taking… guy," Lorelai stammered, taking a step back.

Luke moved past her.

"Luke," she said. He turned around. "Your coffee is much better than Max's… or my dentist's."

Luke tilted his head and smiled again at her.

"Is that so?"

"Yeah."

"Thanks."

"Your welcome."

She found him on the bridge. He was sitting there reading a thin book.

"Hey," she said, walking up to him.

"Hey."

Jess didn't look up at her. He wanted to pretend she wasn't there. Rory uncomfortably shifted on her feet, looking at Jess, waiting for him to say something. She studied him closely. He had his coat on, zipped all the way up. His eyebrows were drawn together, like he was concentrating pretty hard on his reading, only it didn't seem like his eyes were moving to scan the words. She looked at the cover of the book.

"Othello," she said.

"Yup."

"Do you want to talk?"

"Nope."

"Do you want me to leave?"

He just shrugged.

"Hey, you're getting really good at your Luke impression. Hardly any syllables at all," Rory said, trying to get him to respond.

"What do you want?" he asked, still not shifting his gaze from the play in front of him.

"Dean and I broke up."

Jess was quiet for a second.

"Oh."

"'Oh?' That's all you have to say? 'Oh?'"

"What am I supposed to say?"

"I don't know," Rory said, anxiously. "Maybe, 'I'm sorry to hear that?'"

Jess looked up at her like she had just grown a second head.

"Hey, I got you to look at me, didn't I?" Rory said, smiling hopefully.

"I'm glad to hear that you dumped bag boy. He was an ass."

"Actually, I think I was the dumpee."

"What?"

"There was a very confusing argument in which the dumper was unclear. Dean is the unofficial winner right now, but it's being contested. The preliminary results are coming in but Florida screwed things up again. Thousands of Floridians accidentally chose Bootsy on their ballots, throwing everything off."

"So why did you break up?" Jess said, ignoring Rory's attempt at humor.

"I told Dean that I couldn't be totally devoted to him," she said, taking a seat next to him.

Jess turned to look at Rory questioningly.

"Why is that?"

"I'm sort of into someone else."

"Bootsy?"

"Yes, Bootsy. I've had a desperate crush on him ever since his spoon banging rendition of 'Hotel California' at the Bracebridge Dinner."

Jess smiled.

"Hah, I knew I could do it! I knew you couldn't keep the frowny face forever."

Rory's smile widened and she leaned in towards Jess. She looked into his eyes and then closed her own. Their lips were almost touching. Suddenly Jess pulled away.

"I thought you chose Dean in the diner."

Rory was surprised at the sudden change. She managed to speak.

"Well that belief is also being contested, but this just in, Florida has been kicked out of the union. The votes have been tallied. You're wrong."

"Wow. The entire nation came together to declare my wrongness."

"Yup, you're just that special," Rory said with a grin.

Jess smiled back. "So you've made your updated choice then?"

"Yes."

And then he was kissing her before she even had time to blink. It took her a moment before she truly felt him. His arms were around her, hands making slow circles on her back. She brought her own hands up and ran her fingers through his hair. She had wanted to do that for so long.

"Oh my God."

They broke apart, looking at the owner of the voice.

"Mom!" Rory said.

"What's going on here?" Lorelai asked in complete shock.

"Hey, maybe I should start calling her mom too. Whadya think?" Jess asked, grinning.

A/N: I really dislike this chapter. It took me forever to write and I don't think it was as strong as the others. What's your opinion? Comments, suggestions? And don't worry, it's not going to be this easy. Rory and Jess are going to run into some trouble.

Thank yous:

Griss: lol, thanks! I am mean, aren't I? ~!~ Artemis moonshine: Hee! Guess you'll just have to read on to see huh? ~!~ Mochacocanut: I hope this part is just as interesting :) ~!~ Christine: I know, I'm horrible ;) And thank you so much for commenting on the breakfast scene, because I was nervous about that one. ~!~ Piper: I promise not to leave you hanging ;) ~!~ Anonymousthinker: I totally agree. Great suggestion! ~!~ Wondertross: I'll absolutely give you more R/J stuff :) ~!~ Kat: Please don't track me down! I see the destiny. Be patient ;) ~!~ KikiDiki: Woo hoo! I was going for oh-so-cute :) ~!~ Jewls13: Yay! I was hoping you'd like it better :) And I agree about the regents not giving teachers freedom in their curriculum. My email addy is shan21@twcny.rr.com. Drop me a line :) ~!~ Sam: Please don't die! I thrive on your reviews! lol ~!~ Christina: AHHH! Okay! ~!~ Dodgerluv: Don't we all wish we were Rory? ;) Good suggestion btw ~!~ Christina C: I'll try to get Dean out of the picture for you soon, okay? :) ~!~ Neurotic Coffee: Thank you! And to answer your question, I'm not really sure if this is how Jess would act. I just started watching the show a month ago, but I figured if he just got fed up with Rory for using him he might. ~!~ This is sex: Interesting name ;) And is this quick enough for you? :) ~!~ Moose-girl: Thank you! I try to keep humor in, but it's so hard to write, ya know? ~!~ SlayerRyoko: Thanks for the brownies! ~!~ Sailor Grape: You rock! Your suggestions were so great! This chapter is dedicated to you! ~!~ Chickyconqueso: Oh my God you sang to me! How cool is that? And I totally know what you mean. I've read fics aloud in different voices too. That doesn't make either of us sane, but I just wanted to tell you ;) ~!~ Trace: Awww, thanks! And thanks for the suggestion too :) ~!~ Jenn: lol! I'm getting the idea that you might be an R/J fan? I promise I won't disappoint you :) ~!~ Hey: lol, thanks ~!~ Holly: I'm glad you liked the tension :) And I know what you mean about Dean. He's sweet but I'd probably choose Jess over him for the same reason—he's a bad boy ~!~ Eryikah: lol! I'm soooooo glad! ~!~ Starbelly: Rambling is good! And I like Max on the show too. He's a nice guy, but Luke is better. Plain and simple ;) ~!~ Moswen: I know I'm making it difficult ;) I just really think that Max is a great guy, and it would be unfair of me to make him seem otherwise in my fic. And if I got Jess wrong, I'm sorry. I'm not too familiar with his character. But thank you so much for reviewing! Yay for reviews! ~!~ Tanzy: Wow! One of the best, really? Thank you! And you deserved the dedication, believe me. You rock. ~!~ Night Angel: lol, I'd definitely be doing something too ;) ~!~ Dani: Thank you for the Jess comments. I hope I have his characterization down okay ~!~ Alanna Roseguard: You're right, I KNOW they belong together. Don't worry ;) ~!~ busagirl: lol! Well, you might be a little disappointed in the beginning of this chapter, but hopefully I'll redeem myself. ~!~ Niki: Yay! I love the "sounds like the show" comments. Thanks! ~!~ katem-23: Well aren't you sweet! I just know that I love it when authors respond to reviewers, so I'm doing it too. And thank you! I was going for sexy in that last chapter ;) ~!~ Madison: No worries hun. I like Dean and plan on doing him justice :) ~!~ Naveed: Ooh, thanks for commenting on that scene. It was really fun to write. Sookie rocks ;) ~!~ megan: Thank you, and you've got mail… although if you're reading this I guess you already knew that… ~!~ teea: Thank you for the encouragement :) Banter is fun to write! ~!~ And to my 5 anonymous reviewers: Thank you and get names so I can thank you personally next time!