DISCLAIMER: I own nothing except for Tess. I'm just borrowing the rest of the characters =D.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry it took me so long to get this part done, but my computer has been quite annoying. The troryness starts in the next chapter, promise. Hope you like this part! R-E-V-I-E-W please! You know you want to! =)

CHAPTER 2: ENTER, UNCOMFORTABLE SILENCE

In Kim's Antiques

"Come on Rory please?" Lane paced around nervously.

"I don't know Lane. A football game?"

"Well, it's the first big game I'm actually cheering at. I mean, I've been to other big games, but for some reason I'm never allowed to cheer. I think I don't kick high enough."

Rory groaned. "This is a completely ridiculous conversation."

Lane threw her hands up. "Come on Rory! It's Chilton against Stars Hollow! It's the last game of the season! You might even find a friend to talk too!"

Rory gave Lane an evil look.

"Ok, so you can take a book!" Lane looked at Rory with puppy dog eyes. "Please?"

Rory sighed. "Fine. But you owe me."

Lane hugged Rory. "Thanks you so much."

"Lane, time for your snack!"

Lane squeezed Rory again. "You better go. It's tofu day."

"Aah! I'll see you tomorrow." Rory turned around and practically ran out of the store. She made it to the footpath, and started walking in the direction Luke's where she figured her mom would be. She turned the corner almost smacked into Jess.

"Oh, sorry!" Rory looked confused as she laid eyes on Tess, who was still holding Jess's hand. He looked around uncomfortably.

"Rory! Hi!."

Rory nodded in response. Tess looked at Jess, waiting to be introduced. She pretended she hadn't noticed how fast Jess's hand had left her grip when he saw Rory.

"Tess Macelli, this is Rory Gilmore, and vice versa."

Tess smiled brightly. "Hey Rory."

Jess cleared his throat. "Lorelai, the woman at the diner? That's Rory's mom."

Tess looked shocked. "Really? You guys could be sisters."

Rory laughed awkwardly. "We get that a lot."

Rory looked at Jess, waiting to find out who Tess was.

"Um, Tess is my best friend from New York."

It was Rory's turn to be shocked. "Oh, you never mention she was a girl."

Tess laughed. "And funnily enough, I've gotten that a lot."

The three teens stood around uncomfortably for a bit, until Rory finally broke the silence.

"Well, I'd better go before my mum falls into a coffee induced coma. It was to meet you Tess." Rory smiled.

"Nice to meet you too Rory."

Rory nodded and started walking. "Later Jess."

"Bye." Jess turned around and watched Rory leave. He sighed and grabbed Tess's hand again. She gave him a questioning look and started walking again.

"What was that for?" Jess asked quizzically.

"What was what for?" she smiled innocently.

"That look!"

"There was NO look." Tess just grinned and peeked over her shoulder.

Jess sighed. "What are you doing?"

She giggled. "I'm waiting until Rory is out of earshot so I can mock you to death." She leaned closer and whispered in Jess's ear. "Is she gone yet?"

Jess just looked at her. "You are an idiot."

"Thanks!" Tess had finally decided that Rory was well out of earshot. She put on a bad Jess accent and immediately started talking loudly.

"I think you're pretty Rory. I think I love you Rory. Marry me Rory!" she tried to go on but Jess had clamped his hand over her mouth.

"You know, you should really come with an OFF switch." He moved his hand and allowed Tess to talk again.

"You're no fun!" she said, and slapped him on the arm. She suddenly became serious.

"So…is that your crush?"

"No."

"Your girlfriend?"

"No."

"Your…wife?"

Jess glared at her. "Funny."

"I thought it was. So she's your…"

"Friend. She's my friend."

"Jess Mariano, I have known you for six years. You can't fool me."

Jess cleared his throat. "We should probably get back to the diner."

"And he's off! This is serious."

"Luke is probably waiting."

Tess sighed as the pair entered the diner. "You don't have to deny it Jess, I'm not stupid."

Jess rolled his eyes. "Now THAT'S debatable."

Tess stuck her tongue out at him. "You're such an ass."

"Oh, Real mature."

The two glared at each other until Luke broke the staring contest.

"You two fighting already?" he looked concerned.

Tess laughed. "This, this is not a fight. We once had an argument and didn't talk to each other for two months."

Jess's face looked pained as he recalled the memory. "I remember that. You slapped me. Hard. But they were the two most boring months of my life."

Tess groaned. "Me too! Sorry Babe, I'll be on my best behavior." She gave Jess a big hug.

Lorelai grinned. "Aww, that's sweet! Isn't it sweet Lukey?"

Luke glared at her. "Why are you still here? Rory left five minutes ago."

Lorelai shrugged. "I'm not working this morning, so I thought I would sit here and bug you."

Before Luke could say anything, Tess jumped in.

"Speaking of work, I'd like to do that, so I can pay you for letting me stay in your apartment."

Luke shook his head. "It's fine."

Tess disagreed. "No, it's not. I wouldn't feel right."

Jess looked at Luke. "I wouldn't fight it. She's as stubborn as a Mule."

Tess blinked. "I didn't know Mules were stubborn."

Luke suppressed a laugh. "I guess you could work here." He said, motioning the diner.

"Here? As a waitress?" Tess looked nervous.

Luke nodded. "Is there a problem with that?"

"Well, I uh…tend to break stuff."

Jess laughed. "Oh yeah! Plates, cups…"

Tess started where he left off. "…Vase's, microwaves."

"Do I even want to ask?"

"Definitely not."

Lorelai had been paying close attention to the conversation and felt it was time to butt in. "Would you like to work for me?"

Tess looked interested. "What do you do?"

"I'm the manager of the Independence in. You could do odd jobs. Answering phones, sending mail, stuff like that. We're kind of understaffed. What do you think?"

Tess grinned. "That sounds fantastic! I'm a real people person."

Jess snorted but stopped immediately when he received a glare. "Sorry."

Lorelai smiled at Tess. "So I'll swing by here tomorrow and show you around the Inn?"

"Sounds good."

Lorelai stood up and picked up her bag. "Ok then. Bye guys."

"See ya Lorelai." The three of them waved her off.

Jess turned to Tess. "You want to see your room?"

"Absolutely. After you Jessi-poo." She said, following Jess up the stairs.

"Don't call me that."

"I can call you whatever I want!"

"You're such a brat."

"Well then that makes two of us doesn't it?"

Luke laughed. He could still hear them arguing all the way upstairs.