Firstly, I have to apologize for taking forever and a day to update this story. I am incredibly thankful to all of you who took the time to review it, and I owed you better than this- 2 months between chapters! Well I made this chapter extra long, so hopefully you'll forgive me. So thanks a bunch, and I'll try to update sooner next time :)
Recap (because it's been so durn long!):
Chapter 1 – Lorelai is out of town for the night with her mother, leaving Rory home alone. Rory plans to spend the night doing her laundry just the way she likes it, and turns down Dean's offer to spend time with her. However, Jess invites himself over and he and Rory end up having a grand old time doing laundry together. Then Dean calls. He's on his way over.
Chapter 2 – Rory tries to rush Jess out of the house before Dean gets there, but it's too late! Jess hides behind the living room couch, but threatens to leave if he here's any smooching. Unfortunately, Dean seems to want to make his little visit into a sort of date, and Rory, panicked that Jess will make his presence known, asks Dean to leave, making him very angry. After Dean is gone, Rory tells Jess to stay, and after cheering her up with his amazing rendition of "Ice Ice Baby," they end up kissing. A lot. Through a strange misunderstanding, Luke thinks Rory might be in trouble, and he rushes over to check on her… and walks right in on the Rory/Jess makeout session.
This chapter has less Rory/Jess interaction, sadly. But the next chapter will have much more. I hope you like this part anyway…
"Luke?"
But Jess barely had time to blink before Luke had rushed toward him and pulled him up by the shirt.
"What the hell do you think you're doing to her?!"
"Luke, hold on," Jess said anxiously.
"Everyone said you were trouble. Everyone! But I didn't listen. I thought, I don't know, somewhere deep down you were a good kid who was just going through a tough time."
"Luke, listen—"
"But then I find you at Lorelai's house," he searched for the right word, "… molesting her daughter!"
"Luke!" Jess yelled.
"Well that's it Jess, you're going home. You're going somewhere that isn't here."
"Jesus Luke! What do you think? I just threw myself on her?"
Luke's eyes narrowed and he eyed Jess critically. "Well you must've done something close to it, because Rory isn't the type to do something like this."
Jess let out a noise of disgust.
"What do you mean she isn't the 'type?'"
"Rory isn't the type of girl who would cheat on her boyfriend," Luke started in a low voice, and then he almost growled, "unless some punk was messing with her head."
Jess was so angry he could hear his blood pounding in his ears. He was about to say something particularly scathing when Rory cut in.
"Luke!"
Luke let go of Jess and looked over at Rory, his eyes softened slightly.
"Luke, thank you for the concern, but Jess didn't do anything wrong."
She looked down at her feet. She felt horrible. She *was* that type of girl. This was proof. She was an awful person, and Jess was getting blamed.
An uncomfortable silence settled over the room. Luke continued to look confused. Jess looked helplessly at Rory, wanting nothing more than to go over and hold her, tell her that she shouldn't feel bad. Rory was wringing hands nervously, refusing to look up at anyone.
Finally, Luke cleared his throat and spoke.
"Well, I'm just going to leave now. Jess, I think you should come with me."
Jess was about to object when Luke gave him a stern look. He sighed and tried to suppress his frustration.
"Rory…"
Rory didn't say anything. Jess shook his head and followed Luke out the door. When she heard it close, Rory started to cry.
After about 5 minutes of wallowing, Rory got up and picked up the phone where it was still lying on the floor. She dialed a number slowly and curled up on the couch again.
"Mom?" she asked in a shaky voice.
"Rory? What's wrong?" Lorelai Gilmore asked.
"Are you busy right now? Is grandma there?"
Lorelai looked at her mother sitting on the barstool next to her.
"Yeah, we split from the spa and we're indulging in real food at a bar close by. Your grandmother was even hit on by some guy."
"I was not!" Emily Gilmore shouted into the phone, giving Lorelai a disapproving glare.
"She's just being modest. She's such a minx!"
"Mom!" Rory shouted and the exact same time that Emily shouted, "Lorelai!"
"Woah there Jim and Tammy, I guess I'll tone it down for the kiddies."
"Lorelai, why is Rory calling you? Is something wrong?" Emily asked.
"Uh, I'm not sure, hold on, I'll ask."
"You're not sure! What do you mean you're not sure? Your daughter calls you, you ask what's wrong, and then before giving her a chance to answer, you start joking around about my dealings with strange men in bars, and then you compare me to some mascara-crazed televangelist!"
"I know mother, I'm positively fiendish. Now if you'll excuse me for a moment, I'm going to talk to my daughter," Lorelai answered calmly, turning away.
"Oh for heaven's sake!" Emily said, looking irritated that her daughter was now ignoring her.
"Rory, honey, is something wrong?"
"Sort of," Rory said, biting her lip.
"What is it? Do you need me to come home?"
"No," Rory answered quickly. "No, I'm okay, it's just… you're going to get so mad at me."
Lorelai's eyebrows drew together and she frowned.
"Did you burn down the house?."
"No," Rory said.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
"And is anyone else hurt?"
"No."
"Then I promise I won't get mad at you."
"Can I get that in writing?"
"Rory what is it?" Lorelai asked, concerned.
"I did a stupid thing."
"Ooookay, that could mean anything. Did you try to cook? Because then I might have real cause for concern."
"A stupid thing involving a boy."
Lorelai froze. She didn't respond.
"Mom?"
"What happened?"
"Mom, you sound mad. Remember the promise? Remember? I knew I should have gotten it in writing."
"Honey, that's not anger, it's blind terror. What happened? Did Dean convince you to do something that you weren't ready for?"
"WHAT?!" Emily Gilmore yelled, hearing the last part of Lorelai's question. "What did that hoodlum do to my granddaughter?"
Lorelai waved her hand signaling for Emily to stop. "Mother, please."
"Rory, what happened?"
"It was nothing like that."
Lorelai breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. Now I don't have to take a corkscrew to his head."
"It involved Jess."
"Okay, I'm keeping the corkscrew idea and adjusting it slightly. What happened?"
"Remember your promise?"
"Yes, now tell me!"
Rory sighed. "Jess came over and he was helping me do laundry and… we kissed."
"Rory! Honey, what were you thinking? What about Dean?"
"I know, I feel horrible."
"Who kissed who?"
"He kissed me I guess, and then I sort of kissed him back and then I just sort of got lost in it."
"You sort of kissed him back? You don't sort of cheat on your boyfriend, Rory. You either do or you don't, and you did. Big time."
"Do you think I don't know that? I'm just confused and upset and I needed someone to talk to and… You promised not to get mad!"
"I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed. I mean, what do you want me to say Rory? That maybe Jess is the one for you? He's not!"
"How do you know that?"
"Rory, let's compare and contrast, shall we? Dean is the sweet, respectful, honest boy who loves you deeply. Jess is the sarcastic, disrespectful thief who makes your mother's homicidal tendencies act up."
"I'm hanging up now."
"Rory, wait."
"What?" Rory asked shortly.
"Just… I'm not saying that you have to stay with Dean. If things just aren't working out with you two, by all means, end it. But don't end it over Jess. Don't even consider him an option Rory."
"Goodbye mother."
And then Rory turned the phone off and curled up on the couch.
Lorelai sighed and put her cell phone back into her purse. She pressed her fingers into her forehead and closed her eyes.
"Well?" Emily Gilmore began impatiently.
"Gah!" Lorelai yelped, jumping up.
"Don't 'gah' me Lorelai, what happened to Rory? Is she alright?" Emily asked agitatedly.
"Oh yeah mom, she's fine. She's just her mother's daughter."
"Sweetie?"
"Huh?"
Rory sat up slowly and realized that she was lying on the couch with a blanket wrapped around her. She decided that she must have fallen asleep on the couch after the not-so-pleasant conversation with her mother. She squinted and looked up.
"Mom?"
"Hey babe. Dean's on the phone," Lorelai said holding the phone out to her.
"What time is it?" Rory asked, reaching slowly for the phone.
"It's a little after noon. We got back at about 10:30 and grandma dropped me off here at about 11, but I didn't want to wake you up."
"Oh," she said dumbly, resting the phone in her lap.
"Rory?"
"What?"
"Phone. Dean."
"Huh? Oh! Right, phone. Thanks."
Lorelai flashed a concerned smile and left the room. Rory took a deep breath and picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
"Rory, hey."
"Hey."
There was an awkward pause.
"Listen Rory, I'm sorry about last night. I acted stupid."
"No, you didn't."
"Yes I did. I shouldn't have come over. I mean, you just wanted some time to yourself, it's not like you were having a party and didn't invite me. I feel really bad about the whole thing…"
Silence.
"Forgive me?" Dean said anxiously.
Silence.
"Rory?"
"I forgive you."
"Good. You wanna get together for lunch or something? I'm not working today."
"Oh well I just woke up, so…"
"Oh," Dean said with a hint of disappointment. "I guess we could—"
"But I can get ready quickly. I'll meet you at Al's for lunch at 1."
"Uh, you might want to rethink that."
"Why?"
"Al is doing his tribute to Germany this week."
"Ugh. Lots of sauerbraten?"
"And plenty of liver Goulash. Your favorite."
"Yes. I just can't get enough liver."
"Exactly. So I propose going somewhere else. Luke's?"
"No."
"What?"
"I don't want to go to Luke's."
Dean laughed. "Okay, and why would that be?"
"I always go to Luke's. Let's go somewhere else."
"Where?"
"We could order a pizza."
"Come on Rory, let's just go to Luke's. We can take a walk afterwards and I'll buy you an ice cream."
"Dean, I don't want to go to Luke's."
"Rory, what's wrong with you?"
"Nothing, I just—"
"I mean, refusing an ice cream bribe? What's going on?"
"Nothing!" Rory took a deep breath. "Never mind. Luke's is fine."
"You sure?"
"Sure I'm sure. I'll see you there at 1?"
"Perfect. It's a date."
"Great. A date."
Rory clicked the phone off and buried her head in the couch cushions.
"Rory? Is there something fascinating in between the cushions that I was not made aware of."
"Mmmph." Rory mumbled.
"Rory, come on. We need to talk," Lorelai said, taking a seat next to Rory on the couch.
Rory lifted her head slowly and turned to face her mother.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Rory, I'm sorry that I blew up at you last night."
"Good."
"But you have to understand how scary the thought of you and Jess is to me."
Rory sighed. "I know."
"I don't want you wasting your time with him."
"I know."
"We don't even know if he's had all of his shots yet."
"Mom!"
"Sorry! See, there I go again. I just… I really want you to think about the whole Jess thing. Evaluate it, analyze it, pick it apart, and really think about it before you do anything else."
"I'm meeting Dean at Luke's in an hour."
"Oh! That's not good."
"I know."
"Well, maybe if you were a bag over your head, Luke and Jess just won't recognize you. But then they'd think that Dean was cheating on you with some strange bag-headed chick and they might run him out of town, which would also be bad."
"Darn, and I was seriously considering the bag option."
"Well, I guess your best option is to ignore everyone, eat quickly, and drag Dean out of there before Jess has the opportunity to say or do anything snide."
"I guess."
Rory buried her head back in the couch cushions. Lorelai looked at her sympathetically and pulled her up.
"Come on sweetie, it'll be okay."
"In what universe?"
"Rory, you're just going to have to make it through today and then maybe you can talk to Jess and I can talk to Luke and we can just forget the whole thing."
"Assuming I want to just forget the whole thing."
Lorelai cringed.
"I saw that!"
"Saw what?" Lorelai said innocently.
"I saw the flinching."
"Well you know Jess isn't exactly my favorite person!"
"No, I didn't. I guess that's because you're so subtle about it."
Lorelai put her hands on Rory's shoulders and looked her square in the face.
"I don't like him, but I'm really going to try to be supportive here, okay? Just don't rule out Dean yet."
Rory sighed and gave her mom a slight smile.
"Okay."
"So we're good then?"
"We're good."
"Good."
"Okay," Rory began, heading down the hall to her bedroom. "I have to go get ready for my lovely lunch date, and—what's this huge bowl doing on the floor?" Rory looked down at the bowl and reached over to pick it up.
"Ah! Don't turn that bowl over!" Lorelai yelled, rushing over.
"What? Why?"
"There's an evil bug under that bowl," Lorelai said, completely serious.
"An evil bug?"
"Yes."
"Bugs can't be evil. They're just innocent creatures doing what nature tells them to do."
"Even that hornet that stung you on your tenth birthday?"
"Okay, bugs can't be evil with one notable exception."
"Correction, there are two notable exceptions; the birthday bee, and this sucker right here. This beetle attacked me after I got home and went to the kitchen to make some coffee."
"It attacked you?"
"Yes."
"How, pray tell, did the beetle attack you?"
"It… almost made me step on it with my bare feet!" Lorelai said, pointing at the bowl accusingly.
"Okay, so assuming that you have in fact trapped the Hitler of beetles, why was such a large bowl necessary to trap it? Is it a giant mutated freak bug?"
Lorelai sighed and rolled her eyes.
"No, of course it's not a mutant. See, I originally had it trapped under a Dixie cup, but then I started to think, 'that bug is going to be under that little cup until my brave and wonderful daughter Rory wakes up and gets rid of it for me. And until that happens the poor thing is going to be freaking out and circling and trying to find an exit and wondering where it is and what's going to happen to it, and if it will ever see its family ever again and—"
"Wait, how did this bug go from Hitler to 'poor little bug?'" Rory said giving her mother a look of mock curiosity.
"Well I'm not heartless!" Lorelai answered indignantly. "So anyway, I quickly switched the dixie cup for a large soup bowl, but then I realized that it would be all dark and scary under there so I eventually decided on the clear plastic mixing bowl that we never mix anything in because baking and mixing and Gilmores don't… mix."
"I understand."
"Good."
"You're insane."
"Exactly," Lorelai said grinning. "Get rid of it, please?"
"Of course," Rory said, flipping the bowl over and scooping the beetle into it. She carried the bowl over to the front door and set the bowl on its side, allowing the bug to crawl out. "There you go little fuhrer," she said, waving goodbye.
"There, are you happy?" she asked Lorelai, closing the door.
"My savior."
"Mmm-hmm. I'm going to go get ready."
"Okay. Good luck!"
"I'll need it," Rory said, heading off to her room to get dressed.
"Rory! Hey," Dean said.
"Hey," Rory said nervously.
Dean grinned and walked over to her, giving her a peck on the cheek before leading her into the diner. They looked around for an empty table, and Rory motioned towards the Mafia table in the corner, thinking of the protection it might offer. This way at least no one could sneak up on her.
"So," Dean began once they sat down. "You must have been up for a while doing laundry. You slept in pretty late."
Rory laughed nervously. "Yeah, well you know how picky I am with my laundry."
"I do now."
Rory looked around and noticed Luke. He looked up at her and quickly averted his gaze. Then, feeling slightly foolish, he looked back up and walked over with his notepad out.
"What'll you have?" he asked, careful not to look directly at Rory.
"I guess I'll just have a burger with fries and a cherry coke," Dean said, oblivious to the tension.
"Yeah, me too," Rory said quickly.
"Great, so I'll just get right on that then, and I'll just… Yeah, um, I'll just be leaving now," Luke stuttered, walking away swiftly.
Dean let out a small laugh. "What's his deal?"
"I don't know," Rory answered a little too quickly.
"Okay…"
"Isn't it beautiful out today?"
"Um… yeah, I guess."
"Hardly a cloud in the sky," Rory said, not so smoothly changing the subject.
"Caesar, two burgers, two fries, two cherry cokes."
"Gotcha."
Luke walked out of the kitchen and ran right into his nephew.
"Whose order was that?"
"Jess!"
"Was that order for Lucy and Ricky over in the corner?"
"Jess, I think you should go up to your room and just stay there."
"Sure, whatever," Jess said coolly, turning around and started up the stairs.
Luke watched him go, and then grabbed the pot and started to refill some mugs.
"… never quite this blue. It's quite striking, actually."
"Rory, maybe you should have slept in a little later."
"Huh?"
"Well, you've been going on for almost five minutes now about the weather."
"Well I think it's a particularly nice day."
"Me too, but couldn't we talk about something else for a minute?"
"Uh, sure. Sorry."
"No problem," Dean said, smiling. "Is that a new shirt?"
Rory looked down at her outfit.
"Oh yeah, my mom got it for me when she was with my grandma yesterday."
"I like it."
"I'm glad," Rory said, returning Dean's smile.
"Order up!" Caesar called from the kitchen.
"I got this one," a voice called.
"Jess? Don't you have today off?"
"I just want to help out my dear uncle," Jess answered with a smirk.
"Whatever. Two burgers, two fries, two sodas. Corner table."
"Right."
"I mean, I'm a big fan of the puppy dog pajamas, but I guess you can't just wear those out of the house."
"Well, I could, but I have a feeling Taylor wouldn't approve."
"He might even accuse you of violating some obscure town law."
"They could lock me away for years," Rory said, feigning dread.
"I'd visit you every day."
"Well that's a comfort," Rory replied perfectly straight-faced.
"Your food."
Rory froze. 'What's the point of sitting at the Mafia table if you don't look out for possible dangers!' she berated herself.
She slowly turned towards Jess who was staring at her. He might have looked bored or annoyed to anyone else, but Rory thought she saw hurt written on his face.
"Great," Dean said, glaring at the guy who was staring at his girlfriend. "I think we can handle it from here Jess."
"Right," Jess answered, still staring at Rory. He set the plates and cups down on their table.
"But if you decide that you want something different, just holler."
"What?" Dean asked impatiently.
"You know, if you decide that maybe the burger and fries combo is getting to be boring and you want to spice it up a little, I can help. But then you might just decide that the burger is a safer option and stick with that. I don't know."
"And again I say 'What?'" Dean said in annoyance. Jess wouldn't look away from Rory.
"Maybe you're fickle orderers. I'm just trying to be of some help to you."
"We're fine, thanks," Rory said sternly, looking directly at him.
"Fine," Jess grunted, leaving abruptly.
Dean looked at Jess in detest as he walked away.
"I don't like that guy."
"I know you don't," Rory said simply, staring at Jess's back as he walked away.
"Dean, we need to talk."
"What about?"
"About us."
"Okay," Dean said, confused.
"Sometimes I feel sort of… suffocated."
"Rory, is this about last night, because I already apologized. I understand that you need time alone."
"No, it's not just that. It just seems like you're constantly checking up on me, and it's just a little overwhelming sometimes."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, for example, do you have to call ten times a day?"
Dean tried not to look hurt.
"I didn't know that bothered you so much."
"Well, it's just a little excessive."
"Uh, okay I'll limit the calling. So what else about me annoys you?"
"Dean, I didn't mean it like that," Rory said, quickly backpedaling.
"No really, I mean if there's something else… maybe you don't like the way I always smile when I see you."
"Dean."
"Is my smiling excessive? Because I can change."
"Dean, come on."
"It's just frustrating Rory. I try to be a good boyfriend. I like talking to you. I like seeing you. I like paying attention to you. I like you, okay? I'm sorry if I annoy you."
"You don't annoy me! Certain things you do occasionally annoy me, but you yourself are not an annoyance!"
"Sometimes that distinction doesn't seem so clear."
"Any changes yet?" a voice interrupted.
"Jess," Rory said in a warning tone, looking up at him.
"Whad'ya say Rory? Would you like to change your order?"
"No thank you," Rory ground out.
"Are you sure? I could have sworn that you expressed an appetite for something different a little while ago. Oh well. It figures that you'd settle for the usual."
Jess and Rory were glaring at each other. Sensing the tension, Dean tried to catch Rory's eye, but she was intent on beating Jess in the strange staring contest they had going.
"Okay, what the heck is going on?" Dean shouted, standing up suddenly.
"Nothing!" Rory shouted back. "Jess, can I talk to you for a second?"
Before waiting for an answer, she grabbed Jess by the arm and dragged him outside.
"What is wrong with you?!" she yelled once they were out of sight.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Jess answered calmly.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about."
"I don't think *you* know what you're talking about. I don't think you understand what you really want."
Rory glared at Jess.
"Don't psychoanalyze me. I never claimed to know exactly what I want. I'm trying to figure that out, but you're not exactly making it easy."
"You don't have to figure anything out Rory. You know what you want, you just won't accept it."
"Stop it."
"Stop what?" Jess asked, moving towards her.
Rory stopped talking. Her felt her pulse quicken as Jess came closer. He reached out and gently grasped her hand.
"You know what you want, Rory."
He massaged her palm slowly with his thumb, focusing his gaze on her lips.
"Jess, give me time to figure things out," Rory whispered. Jess could feel her breath on his neck. "I don't want to be that type of girl. The type Luke was talking about."
Jess pretended to be in deep thought before replying, "I have discovered a simple solution: dump him."
"Jess, stop it."
Jess sighed.
"Fine. Let me just tell you something that might make your decision easier."
"What?" Rory asked, exasperated.
"Just this"
And then he kissed her. It was a furious, desperate kiss that ended as suddenly as it started. Jess pulled away and walked back toward the diner.
Rory stared after him in disbelief. She reached up and touched her lips gently as she watched him reenter the diner.
"Rory Gilmore!"
"Oh no," Rory said, frozen in horror.
"Rory darling, did I just see what I think I just saw?"
"Miss Patty, I—"
"Oh honey, there's no need to explain anything to me!" Miss Patty said, rushing over to Rory and slinging an arm around her shoulder.
"Miss Patty, I would appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone what you just saw," Rory practically begged.
"Your secret's safe with me honey," she replied, eyes twinkling. "I won't tell a soul."
She then giggled knowingly and rushed across the street where Rory saw her pull aside a random pedestrian. She then saw Miss Patty perform what looked like charades as she pointed enthusiastically at Rory.
"Wonderful," Rory said quietly, looking away and walking over to the diner. Dean was sitting at their table with his head in his hands waiting for her to come back.
TBC… Questions, comments, suggestions? And yes, I'll admit it, I have a soft spot for Dean. So sue me, I feel sorry for the guy sometimes. Anyway, if you've got any ideas, feel free to contribute.