A/N: There really isn't an excuse for not updating except the lack of knowing how to write down my ideas for this fan fiction. I'm really sorry times a thousand. **Smiles while turning away from the glares** Here is the new part. I will try to update more often with longer chapters than before. Also, I'm skipping a lot of time in here because I tend to find it boring to write out old episodes from Jess' POV.

Off topic rant: deeply sorry about this, but I need to say it. Has anyone noticed that every time we see Sherry her hair is lighter and that she seems to get more ditzy-er each episode she's in? Maybe it's just me and hating that she was getting in the way of the Rory-Lorelai best friend/mother-daughter thing. **Shrugs**

Missing You

Chapter Five

*Timeline: Between A-Tisket, A-Tasket (the picnic basket episode) and It Should Have Been Lorelei (the episode where Sherry is first shown)*

I went back to the bridge the day after the picnic. It was great just to be able to talk to Rory without her worrying that Dean would show up. Me? I couldn't care less what he thought. If he even thought, that is. It's no secret that I hate him. Maybe it's the fact that he was with this amazing girl and didn't appreciate her or know that much about her. Maybe it was because he had the picture perfect family while I was stuck with a drunken mother and a gruff, non-emotional uncle. Maybe it was because it had been guys like him who had messed with me back in New York. The ones who thought they were better than me so they just beat the shit out of me, but it didn't matter.

I shoved my hands in my pockets as I walked to the center of the bridge. I played with the bracelet. I knew I should have given it back, but it wasn't my style. If she'd noticed that she was missing it, maybe I would have given it back. She didn't miss it though. She was too busy telling me that I should try and read Ayn Rand again. I sighed as I pulled the bracelet out of my pocket. I held it over the water. I could just drop it. She wouldn't miss it. It would show that she wouldn't miss him either. I let it fall from my hand, but then I caught it again a second later.

No, I couldn't drop it. She would miss it sooner or later. Which would also mean she'd miss him. She'd never miss my books or me. That's because there was no need. He was with her. Not me, him. I slipped it into my pocket. I'd give it back, but only when she missed it. Later though, she wasn't missing anything because when I walked back into the dinner for the afternoon rush, she sat at the counter. In front of her was a coffee cup and The Sun Also Rises. I shrugged out of my jacket and put it on the coat rack by the door. Maybe she would miss me. Maybe.

***

*Timeline: After Lorelai's Graduation Day*

She missed me. She actually missed me. She skipped school, got on a bus, came to New York, just to see me. I'd come back and stayed with Darren, Krystal, and Angel. I'd missed my friends, but it didn't feel possible that I could miss Rory more in only a few days that I did my friend in almost a year. She had the bracelet on though. I hated that bracelet. I'd told Darren about Rory. He told me I was whipped. He called me a puppy dog. You could say I was. I followed her back home. Doesn't that sound like a puppy dog? I really was whipped, and oddly enough, I found it okay.

***

*Timeline: After I Can't Get Started (last episode of season three) Rory's been gone fore two weeks.*

I found it okay until she kissed me and then left with no noticed. That's when it stopped being okay. That's when I got angry. It seemed she had only kissed me as an in the moment sort of thing. I met this girl, Shane, while Rory was gone. I hardly knew her name. It didn't matter though. I just needed someone to take my mind off of Rory. Shane didn't help get Rory off my mind because no matter how much Rory hurt me by what she did, no matter how mad I was: I was still whipped. Now, being whipped wasn't okay. It was just down right cruel.

***

A/N: I'll work on it more, I promise! I know how I want this to go. Now, I'm going to go to bed. It's 1:00 in the morning. *sigh* I need sleep.

Liz