The next morning Lorelai and Rory entered Luke's. Jess was standing behind the counter talking to some guy. Rory wanted to sit dwon at a table.

L: "What are you doing?"

R: "I think it's called sitting down."

L: "Let's go sit at the counter"

R: "Why?"

L: "Why not?"

R: "Okay, whatever"

They walked to the counter. Rory sat down next to the guy who was still talking with Jess. He turned to Rory when she sat down.

Guy: "Hey.............don't I know you from somewhere?"

J: "Don't" Jess said to the guy before Rory could respond.

Guy: "What do you mean, don't?"

J: "Just leave her alone"

R: "I think I can speak for myself, Jess"

J: "Whatever"

Mike: "Aren't you gonna introduce me to your friend?"

J: "Rory this is Mike, Mike this is Rory. Unfortunately Mike has to go now"

Mike: "Go where?"

J: "Go back wherever you came from"

Mike: "I just got here, I'm here to visit you, dude"

J: "Just go now"

Mike stared at Jess for a moment. Then he turned around and left the diner.

L: "What was that all about?"

J: "Coffee?"

L: "Yes, please"

Jess poured the both of them coffee.

R: "Who is he?"

J: "Who's who?"

R: "Who's Mike?"

J: "Mike is.......Mike"

R: "Is he your friend?"

J: "Sort of"

R: "From New York?"

J: "Yep"

R: "Why did you send him away?"

J: "No reason. I just don't want him here"

R: "He seemed nice"

J: "Seemed yeah"

R: "I thought he was your friend"

J: "He was, in New York. Now I don't want him around me anymore"

L: "Around you or around Rory?"

J: "Were you taking part in this conversation?"

L: "I was just asking a question"

J: "Why would I don't want him around Rory?"

L: "He was coming on to her"

R: "What?!"

J: "If you say so"

L: "And you didn't like it. That's why you send him away"

J: "Once again: if you say so"

R: "Jess, can I talk to you?"

J: "Now?"

R: "Now"

J: "Sure"

They sat down at a table.

R: "Why are you doing this?"

J: "Doing what?"

R: "Pretending nothing happened"

J: "I told you I wasn't mad at you"

R: "Okay, but what was really going on between you and that Mike guy?"

J: "Nothing"

R: "Don't nothing me"

J: "Look, the guy just has a reputation when it comes to girls"

R: "A reputation"

J: "You know what I mean"

R: "But he is.....or was your friend. You can't just send him away. Just spent a couple of days with him. Who knows, maybe you guys are gonna have a lot of fun"

J: "I guess you're right"

R: "Did you just tell me I may be right?"

J: "Yeah, well don't get used to it"

R: "I won't, but I'm gonna remember this moment"

J: "Cherish it"

R: "I will, now go after him"

J: "Thanks"

Jess got up. When he walked pass her he put his hand on her shoulder. She smiled. Then he went outside. Luke came downstairs. He saw Jess leaving.

Luke: "Jess! Jess! Where are you going?"

J: "Out!"

Luke: "Okay, should have known that"

Rory sat next to her mom again.

L: "So?"

R: "So what?"

L: "You guys worked things out?"

R: "I guess"

L: "I don't know what it is you do, but when I see Jess with you he looks like a complete different person"

R: "Yeah, well......"

L: "Must be the Gilmore genes"

Luke: "You wish"

L: "And what's that supposed to mean?"

Luke: "I think it will be best if I don't answer that"

L: "Me too"

Luke: "So, where was Jess going?"

R: "Don't even ask"

Luke: "Is he in trouble?"

R: "No, nothing like that. He is doing the right thing "

L: "Well, that's new"

R: "Mom!"

Luke: "I'm glad he's okay"

R: "Me too"

She drank some of her coffee. She was happy she was able to help Jess and that things were alright between them. Now she had to deal with Dean. She had to talk to him. It wasn't going to be easy, but it was something she had to do. If she didn't, she was gonna regret it for the rest of her life.