Rory got off the bus from school. She was practically bent in two because her backpack was so heavy with homework and schoolbooks. She could hardly look where she was going. She ran into something. It felt like a brick wall. She fell down.
She had bumped into Dean. Unbeknownst to Rory, Dean had been hanging around, waiting for her to get off the bus. He was plotting to steal her away from Jess, who he hated with a passion akin to the fire of a thousand suns. The first step in his plan was to hang around everywhere Rory was so she would have to notice him. Dean crouched down. "Hey, Rory," he said. "I'm sorry for bumping into you." He was sort of laughing inside, because he'd done it on purpose. He wanted to touch her. The way she was sitting, he could also sort of see up her skirt, but she didn't know that. Rory was very childish that way. She didn't understand the effect she had on guys.
"Dean!" said Rory. For a second she looked like she was going to be mad, but in the end she smiled at him. That was just the way Rory was, too nice for words. "What are you doing here?"
"I have to pick my sister up from her jazz class at Miss Patty's," Dean said. He got a brilliant idea. "Why don't you come with me? Clara is begging and crying to see you all the time. She's driving me crazy! I tried to explain to her that we broke up, but she's too little to understand why you aren't around all the time like you used to be."
"The poor thing!" said Rory, instantly sympathetic. "Of course I'll come. I just have to tell Jess. I was supposed to meet him at the diner, you know."
"No time," said Dean. "Clara's class is over in two minutes. If I don't go get her, she'll wander around and get into trouble. She's a little retarded that way."
"Ooh," said Rory, frowning prettily. "I guess Jess won't mind if I go off with my ex-boyfriend and don't tell him where I'm going ahead of time. He knows we're just friends."
"Oh, hey, Jess is a terrific guy," Dean said. "I decided that five minutes ago."
"Great. But will you help me up?" Rory asked. "You pack a wallop, mister."
"Well, I am the center on the Stars Hollow hockey team," Dean said proudly. He gave Rory his hand and helped her to her feet. He took her backpack and carried it, so she would be reminded of the fact that he was sweet and did things like carry heavy stuff for her.
"I've been meaning to ask you about that," Rory said as they walked away. She was limping a little. "I don't know much about hockey, but how come you can't do that skidding thing with your feet? You know, where there's a big shower of ice?"
Dean looked back over his shoulder. He could
see Jess in the window of Luke's Diner, and boy did he look pissed.
Dean smiled to himself. He was hoping he could make Jess mad enough
at Rory to hit her. Then who would she run to? Me, that's who,
he thought with satisfaction. "You mean come to a stop?" he asked
Rory. "Well, I'm working on it."
That night, Rory was deeply engrossed in her homework. She had forgotten to call Jess and explain where she had gone after school. As far as she knew, Jess was none the wiser. She was sitting at her desk, wearing pajama bottoms, a tank top and big fuzzy slippers. She looked adorable. She had her hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun, and was chewing on her pencil. She was turning the pages in an enormous book, the title of which is unimportant, and you wouldn't care if I told you. She sort of heard the doorbell, but she wasn't really paying attention, so she was surprised when Jess appeared at her bedroom door. "Oh, hey," she said. "Look, I'm studying. Maybe I could call you later?"
"Rory, we were supposed to get together after school," Jess said.
"Oh. I forgot." Rory started to look anxious.
"Maybe getting knocked down by Dean gave you amnesia," Jess said.
"Jess it was nothing. We went to see his sister."
Jess snorted. "That annoying little brat! So that was his excuse this time, huh?"
Rory started to get angry. "His excuse for what?"
"To see you! Rory, how can you be so naive? He's trying to win you back!"
"Jess, no, Dean has a girlfriend. Haven't you seen them together at school?"
Jess couldn't answer that. He had been skipping school a lot to work at Wal Mart.
"Jess," Rory said. "I don't want to be in a fight with you, okay? So can we end this right here? Plus, I really do have to get back to my studying."
Suddenly, Jess got very frustrated. He took Rory's arm and pulled her to her feet. "Let's forget about Dean and make out," he said. He started to kiss Rory, wrapping his arms around her waist. He ran his hands through her hair.
"Oh, Jess. I really do have to study." Rory was out of breath. His dark kisses had that effect on her. She always wanted to let him do more, but she had to make herself stop.
"Get on the bed with me," he said, tying to pull her down.
"My mom is in the next room!"
"Lorelai went up to bed after she let me in. I could spend the whole night, and she'd never know."
Rory was shocked. Why was he suddenly pressuring her? She didn't know that Jess was jealous of Dean, and afraid of losing her. He wanted to make love to her to make her his. In a way, Jess wouldn't have minded if Rory got pregnant with his baby, because then, no matter what happened, he would always be in her life. Jess thought Rory was too good for him, and at some point, she would leave him for sure.
Rory started to push him away. "Jess, we can't! Not now, not like this! Please don't force me!"
Jess got angry. "I'm not trying to force you! Is that what you think of me?"
Now Rory was upset, and a little scared. "No, that's not what I meant! I mean you're pressuring me!"
"But what you said is not to force you, like you thought I was going to rape you or something!" Jess let go of her. He was very, very angry. "You think I'm some kind of thug, don't you?"
Rory put out her hand, and tried to touch his cheek, but he turned away. "Jess, please don't be this way. This is just crossed wires, or something."
Jess gave her a dark look. "Is it? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like I'm getting the signal loud and clear."
The two of them were silent for a moment, looking at each other. Rory was so pretty, it made Jess's heart ache in his chest. She was so lovely and pure, and he would never have her.
Jess was so dark and mysterious, Rory wanted to know all his secrets. But she was a certain type of girl, who lived a certain type of way, and there were limits to how far she was willing to go.
Finally, Jess said, "Whatever. Maybe I'll see you tomorrow."
"Oh, Jess," Rory said, as he left. She sat
on the edge of her bed, staring at the floor.
Across town, Dean, who had no idea what had just
transpired, rolled over in his sleep. He was having a very satisfying
dream about Rory. Let's just say she was naked and leave it at that.
To Be Continued