She began to walk faster when she saw Dean approach her. She still after two months couldn't stand to be around him. She knew he wanted to be friends but after all they had been through, she couldn't make it work. Also being friends with Dean made Jess mad. She knew how to keep them apart. Every time they saw each other, they would glare at each other or fight over her. She didn't want that to happen. Every time they would fight, all of Stars Hollow would know and remark again and again about it.

"Rory, wait up!" cried Dean but she just kept on walking.

"Rory, we need to talk. I have something to tell you", cried Dean still trying to get her attention.

Suddenly she stopped and waited for him to catch up? Why am I doing this? she said to herself.

"Rory, I only have a few minutes to talk before I have to go back to work. Just listen. Over the past two months I haven't been able to stop thinking about you. I still love you and wonder if you still love me. Do you?" said Dean as he stood there in his Doose's Market uniform.

"Dean, I..," she interrupted.

"Just listen. I know you're with Jess but I was just hoping you'd, well, still have feelings for me as I have with you. We shared something special, you and I. We loved each other. No one can ever love you as I love you. Just tell me Jess means nothing to you and I can forget everything and we can be happy together again. We mean so much to each other, don't let that go over a boy who doesn't mean anything to you", said Dean grabbing at Rory's hands which she immediately withdrew.

"But Dean, I can't say that I don't care for Jess because I do. He and I have a lot in common and the truth is, we really don't. I know everyone thinks that he's a bad boy but he's not really that way once you get to know him. Before, when we were going out, you didn't have a lot to be jealous of. Jess and I were friends and only that. Jess didn't dare try anything because of you. He didn't like seeing me with you but now, you have to get used to seeing me with him. I admit I still love you but I know things between us won't work out and well, I don't want to ruin things with Jess and I", said Rory trying to hide the fact that she was lying.

She hated lying to Dean but she knew she had to in order to not hurt his feelings. Even if she didn't have feelings for Dean anymore, she didn't want to purposely hurt him or his feelings. That would just be evil and that wasn't her at all. Slowly she walked away only turning back to notice that Dean stood there staring off with tears coming to his eyes . She hated to see him cry but there was nothing she could do. It had to be done, not butts about it. She had to go see Jess and nothing would get in her way.

She walked into Luke's, expecting to see Jess but instead saw another young boy helping Luke by waiting tables. Who was he? she asked herself. As far as she known, Luke had never hired anyone as a waiter except that boy long ago but she didn't really remember him. She did remember that he had been fired when Jess began to help more at the diner.

"Hey, Luke. Who's the new boy?" she asked.

"Just some new kid in town. He claims to be a friend of Jess' but since I haven't seen him all day, I haven't gotten a chance to ask Jess. Have you seen him?" asked Luke as he poured coffee for her.

"Thanks", as she grabbed the coffee.

"Weren't you supposed to meet him here a few minutes ago?"

"Yeah, I was. Tell I went to the bookstore if he comes in. Thanks, Luke", said Rory.

Walking out she absentmindedly bumped into the new waiter causing him to drop the tray of coffee. She rushed down to help him clean it up.

"Tristan?" she asked.