** Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of Gilmore Girls. If I were that all powerful then Jess would be staying put! So, in summation... Please don't sue me!**

"Did you kiss her?"

"No."

"What?" Jess stopped and looked at Dean in shock. "I left after 30 minutes! You had soooooo much time!"

"We talked." Dean smiled.

"Oooh, really?" Jess sounded unimpressed.

"It was nice. I don't get to talk to her much." He sighed. "And, I made her laugh." He said proudly.

"Really?! How many times?!"

"Man, you can be such a jerk." Dean shook his head as they walked into the diner.

"I'm sorry. But I have invested a lot of time in this non-relationship. And when I put effort in, I want results!" Jess teased.

"You haven't put any time into anything."

"Uh… I'm sorry, was it not me who spent the past few months listening to your incessant droning about her pretty nose and her perfect hair?" He asked.

Dean glared at him and sat at the counter as Jess walked behind it ready to start work.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you." Dean said, a severe lack of sincerity in his tone.

"Did you at least ask her out during your amazing talk?"

"No." Dean sighed. "I couldn't find the right time."

"Do you want me to ask her? I promise to be totally subtle." He nodded. "I have this friend, and he thinks you're super great!"

"No, thank you." Dean said pointedly.

"Well hurry up and do it yourself then, otherwise I just might be forced to do it for you anyway."

"Do it and die." Dean threatened.

Rory walked over and smiled.

"He bugging you too?" She asked Dean.

He turned suddenly, surprised to see her.

"Oh, uh… yeah." He laughed softly as she took a seat next to him at the counter.

"Glad to see it's not restricted to me." She smiled.

"I am nothing but nice to you!" Jess protested.

"Debatable." Rory grinned.

Jess rolled his eyes and walked into the kitchen, leaving Rory and Dean to talk.

"So… how was your day?" Dean asked.

"Oh, good." She nodded and tucked some hair behind her ear. "I had this horrible biology test but I think I passed it."

Dean watched her every move, mesmerized. She carried on talking for a few minutes and he just sat and smiled.

"Dean?" She frowned.

Jess walked out of the kitchen and cringed.

"Ah! Fire!" He yelled.

"What?" Dean brought himself back to reality and looked at Jess.

"What? What fire?!" Luke demanded, rushing into the kitchen.

"Oh… my mistake." Jess sighed, looking at Dean and mouthing 'wakey, wakey'.

"I'm sorry." Dean blushed ad he turned back to Rory.

"That's ok." She smiled. "Anyway…" She dug around in her back pack and pulled out an envelope.

"What's this?" He asked with a nervous laugh as she handed it to him.

"An invitation to my party." She chuckled. "You know? The one I was just telling you about."

"Oh!" Dean nodded as if he'd been listening.

"Hey, Dodger, here's yours." She said, throwing one across the counter to Jess.

"Oh, truly honored." He said sarcastically.

"Fine, give it back." She said playfully, holding her hand out.

"Nope. Mine." He smiled, holding it away from her. "I shall cherish it always."

"Of course you will." She smiled and rolled her eyes, turning back to Dean. "So, do you think you'll be able to make it?"

"Of course!" He said enthusiastically. "I mean… sure, probably. As long as Taylor doesn't make me work."

"I'll get my mom to harass him until he caves and promises to give you the night off." She laughed softly, picking up her backpack. "I gotta' go."

"Oh, ok." Dean stood up when she did. "I'll uh… see you around?"

"Sure." She nodded and glanced at Jess. "Bye."

"Later Veronica." Jess smiled, busying himself with the cash register.

Rory picked up a straw and threw it at Jess's head like a dart. He didn't even have to look up to know it was coming, and swatted it away with on hand.

Rory smiled to herself and waved to Dean as she left.

"Ok, what was that?" Dean asked.

"What was what?" Jess frowned.

"'Dodger'?"

"Oh. I committed a felony. In her bedroom no less." Jess said deceivingly.

"What?!"

"Jeez, calm down. I 'stole' a book from her room. So she nicknamed me Dodger."

"Why?" Dean laughed slightly.

"Dodger…. Oliver Twist?" Jess waited for Dean to catch on. "Seriously man, pick up a book!" He laughed, walking away.

*****


Rory sat at the Kim's kitchen table and grimaced as she swallowed her mouthful of food.

"Good, huh?" Lane said sarcastically.

"What's it called again?" Rory asked, drinking half her glass of water trying to get rid of the taste.

"Tofruity." Lane chuckled.

"Great, adding it to the list of things I will never again put in my mouth."

"What's on the list so far?"

"Uh… mud, sand, sprouts and peanut brittle." Rory smiled.

"Short list."

"Yeah, well… I don't wanna limit myself too much in case I get desperate."

"Good point." Lane smiled.

"So, are you coming to my birthday party?"

"Of course. I come every year, and I wouldn't miss your 18th for anything!"

"Don't you have to ask Mama Kim first?"

"I'll wait until she's in a good mood." Lane sighed.

"Good idea." Nodded Rory. "Wanna hear something scandalous?"

"Always." Lane giggled excitedly, leaning in closer to hear what Rory had to say.

"Ok, well… you'll have to settle for slightly interesting." Rory smiled at her best friends enthusiasm.

"Hey, it's better than anything else going on right now."

"Ok…" Rory paused for dramatic effect. "I think Jess is trying to set me up with Dean."

"Dean? Really?" Lane chuckled.

"Yeah." Rory shook her head.

"He's too tall for you. You'd have to spend the rest of your life at a chiropractor." Lane mused.

"He's nice though." Rory shrugged.

"Yeah, he seems nice. And he's not bad to look at." Lane agreed.

"Huh, maybe I should set you and Dean up." Rory teased.

"No thanks. He's not my type. Besides, everyone knows he's totally smitten with you." She sighed.

"Everyone?"

"Uh…" Lane cringed and wished she could take back her last comment.

"Lane…"

"Well, he's not exactly the Stars Hollow High outcast, you know? Girls don't have bad reactions to him. But it's a well known fact that he's only got eyes for one person." Lane explained, pointing at Rory.

"I didn't know."

"You don't go to the same school as us."

"I live in the same small town. I should know this. You should have told me."

"You're right. I'm sorry." Lane apologized.

"Forgiven." Rory smiled.

She thought about what Lane had told her. She wasn't sure if she felt flattered or burdened. She picked up her Tofruity and idly took another bite.

"Oh my gosh." She spat it back on the plate. "Why didn't you stop me?"

Lane bit her lip to stop herself laughing as Rory drank her water urgently.