A/N – Here's Chapter 6.  I decided not to be vindictive, so this chapter does pick up where 5 left off, with Rory going for a walk.  (Okay, so it had nothing to do with me being vindictive, and everything to do with the encounter I wanted Rory to have.  No, she's not being attacked or anything, I just wanted to focus on more of the R/J relationship.  I think it'll help me decide whether I really want this to be a Trory or not.)

Disclaimer:  I invented Gilmore Girls.  It was my idea.  This story is actually comprised of upcoming episodes.  I just wanted to get fan response before we actually started filming, to see how Tristan's return would be taken.  As the response has been overwhelmingly positive, we will begin negotiations with Chad Michael Murray soon.  As soon as I let him out of my closet, that is…

RECAP:  Tristan came back to Chilton.  Rory was asked to help him get caught up in a class.  Tristan and Jess met, and were/are friendly with each other, if not friends.  Tristan and Dean met, and while there was no violence, it wasn't pretty, either.  Dean attempted to warn Jess that Tristan had a thing for Rory.  Jess blew off the warning.  A few weeks later, Tristan had a party, and invited Rory, Jess, and Lane.  Jess begged out, but Rory and Lane both went.  Lane met up with Dave at the party, and they made out.  Tristan told Rory about military school, and asked if they could be friends.  Rory agreed, and Tristan promptly pissed her off.  Tristan took Rory and Lane home.  He thinks Rory might be upset with him, but he's not sure why.  This chapter happens the same night as Chapters 4 and 5.

SECOND CHANCES

YOU NEED GUM

Rory walked through the night, breathing deeply in the cold air.  She relished the feeling of the wind though her hair, and the cold biting at her cheeks.  The nerve of him!  Geez.  If he wanted me to go to his party so badly, he could've just asked me.  He didn't need to go and invite my friends, too!  And then, to tell Lane that he only invited her so that I would come!  How wrong is that?  Why did he even want me to go to that party?  He pretty much ignored me the whole time!  I mean, he could've said his piece about wanting to be friends at school!  I can't believe I skipped out on a night with Jess for that.   She stopped on the bridge, and stared out at the water.    Why am I so upset by this?  Lane got to see Dave, after all…and she has the next 3 Fridays free, with no curfew.  She was hurt, yeah, but she got over it pretty quickly.  I mean…he didn't mean to hurt her, did he? 

Lost in her reverie, she didn't notice the figure walking up behind her, and gave a jump of surprise when she felt arms wrap around her waist and warm breath on her neck.

"Couldn't sleep, huh?"  Jess asked huskily.

Rory turned with a smile.  "Hey hon.   I'm just thinking.  What are you doing out here so late?"

Jess leaned down, and kissed the tip of her nose.  "I missed you."

Rory leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder, her face buried in his neck.  She sniffed, wanting to smell the clean scent that was his, and suddenly pulled back.  "Jess!  Have you been smoking again?"

Jess looked away guiltily.  "Sorry…I had a lot on my mind tonight.  Smoking calms me down, and helps me clear my thoughts."

Rory smiled gently.  "I'll forgive you this time…but what was wrong?"

Jess shrugged.  "I was just thinking about something Bagboy said a while back."

Rory frowned.  "Jess…it really is over between Dean and I…I thought you knew that."

"I do…it wasn't about…He just told me that I should watch out for Tristan."

"Jess…Tristan and I are just friends…if that.  You have nothing to worry about."

"I know…but…you said that to Dean before, too."

Rory shook her head.  "Trust me…there is no way I'll ever break up with you for Bible Boy."

Jess sighed.  "I know…it's just…what the hell.  I do trust you, Ror."  He leaned down, and kissed her again.  The kiss deepened in passion for a split second before Rory broke it off. 

"Ewwww.  Gum.  You need gum.  Yuck!"  

Jess laughed.  "Unfortunately, the 24 hour convenience store closed twenty minutes ago," he teased.

"Too bad."  She laughed, and then shivered.

Jess wrapped his arms around her tightly.  "Hey…it's cold, it's late…we should get you home."

Rory snuggled into him, ignoring the cigarette smell, and murmured  "but I'm comfy."

Jess rested his cheek on top of her head, and smiled.  What a lucky guy I am…I knew I shouldn't have listened to Bagboy.

The two stood there like that, taking comfort in their proximity to the other, for several minutes, before Rory raised her head.  "Here's an idea," she whispered.  "Why don't we go back to my house, and watch a movie?  Since neither of us is tired, and we're both cold…"

Jess nodded agreement.  "Sure."

They moved away from each other, turned, and walked back to Rory's, holding hands. 

"You never told me what you were thinking about."  Jess said softly.

"Nothing important…just…Tristan hasn't really changed as much as I thought he had.  He told Lane that he only invited her tonight so that I would go."

"Ouch.  Maybe he really does have a thing for you, then."

"I don't know…I mean, he pretty much ignored both of us all night.  Then, when we did talk, he said that he needed a friend like me.  Someone who wouldn't see who he is, only who he can become.  I haven't really figured it out…he could've asked to be friends at school.  Why did he want me to go to his party so badly?"

"Maybe just to see if you would go?  If you hated him, you wouldn't have even considered going, no matter how badly Lane wanted to."

Rory shrugged.  "Could be.  I really don't think he likes me as anything more than a friend.  If he did, he wouldn't have invited you, too.  He didn't know that you would say no."

"Maybe you should try to be friends with him.   I know from personal experience how much good your faith in a person really can do."

"Yeah…I'll try.  I'm not going to put up with him hurting me or any of my friends, though.  You and Lane came first."

"Good to know."

By this time, they had reached Rory's house.  They went inside, and started looking at movies.

"What do you want to watch?"  Rory whispered to Jess.

"Whatever."  He replied in the same muted tone.

"Willy Wonka!"  Rory squealed gleefully.

"Shhh…you'll wake up Lorelai.  And she'll have a coronary if she sees me here this late."

"Don't you mean early?  Rory, where have you been?"  Lorelai exclaimed from behind them.

Rory looked back at her mom.  "I went for a walk, Mom…I left you a note by Fred." 

"Ah…the one place I would ordinarily see it first, if he were working."

"Fred's broken again?  What did you do?"

"Um…who's Fred?"  Jess interjected.

Rory laughed, and explained, "Fred is our coffee pot."

"Ooookaaaaay…" Jess said, with a look that clearly said "I'm not even going to try to understand the Gilmores."

"However, daughter dearest…you still haven't explained Jess's presence in my living room this late at night."

"I ran into him on the bridge.  Since neither of us could sleep, we decided to come watch a movie." 

"Alright…you are aware of the rules, though, right?"

Rory rolled her eyes.  "Yes, mom, I am well acquainted with the rules."

"Anyone care to fill me in?"  Jess inquired.

"Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory cannot be viewed in this house without my presence."  Lorelai stated loftily.  "And I call the couch."

Rory popped the video into the VCR, and the three settled down to watch the movie; Lorelai sprawled on the couch, with Jess and Rory on the floor, propped up against the couch.

When the movie ended, Lorelai clambered up, and glanced down at her daughter.  Rory and Jess had both fallen asleep, leaning against one another, Jess's arm around Rory's shoulders.  She sighed.  I may not like him, but I have to admit…he does make her happy.  She found a blanket, laid it over the two, turned off the TV, and went upstairs to bed.  I'll call Luke in the morning to let him know where Jess is.