*** Wow, I updated!!! That must mean you guys are curious to find out what
happens next. Well, go ahead, read it and don't forget to review.....the
more reviews the better!! Thanks ***
**********
Rory opened the door of her house, she went in and closed the door behind her. She took off her coat.
R: "Mom! I'm home!"
L: "I'm here"
The voice came out of the livingroom and Rory went in. She was surprised to see Dean sitting on the couch next to her mom.
R: "Dean....."
D: "Hey"
R: "What a surprise"
She walked towards him. He wanted to give her a kiss, but she turned her head so he kissed her cheek. Then she sat down next to him. Dean wasn't sure what to think. Rory looked up at him. She saw his face and realized how awful he looked. Not one spot on his face wasn't bruised.
R: "You look terrible"
L: "You're never gonna believe what happened to him"
R: "I know what happened to him.....I would say the same thing that happened to Jess"
Dean seemed a little confused.
D: "You know?"
R: "Jess told me"
D: "What exactly did he tell you?"
R: "Not much"
A silence fell.
L: "You know, I just remember I have a very important phone call to make and I realize there's a phone in this room too, but I think I'm gonna use the one in the kitchen, cos.....that phone is prettier and I love the kitchen, so......don't mind me...."
Lorelai got up from the couch and went into the kitchen.
D: "Is the phone in the kitchen really prettier?"
R: "Could be........"
D: "Listen, about that fight......"
R: "What about it?"
D: "You shouldn't get too mad at him. He was just in a bad mood and...."
R: "Wait?! What makes you think I blame Jess and not you?"
D: "Several reasons. First of all I wasn't the one who started the fight"
R: "So you're saying Jess started?"
D: "Yeah. You know me. I wouldn't just start a fight"
R: "And Jess would?"
D: "I don't know. You know him better than I do"
R: "And that bothers you doesn't it?"
D: "What are you saying?"
Rory sighed and got up. She walked towards the window and looked outside. The weather was beautiful and she wished she could sit outside and read, but she couldn't. She first had to find out what happened between Jess and Dean. She felt like a nanny. This was so childish. They got in a fight and now one of them was lying about who started the fight. She turned back. It didn't matter who started the fight. It was just never supposed to happen. If it was Dean who hit first then Jess shouldn't have hit him back and the other way around.
R: "Listen, I'm so not in the mood for this. Frankly I couldn't care less about what happened between you and Jess. It's none of my bussiness and I don't want it to be. I want you to go now and leave me alone"
D: "Rory...."
R: "Just go Dean"
Dean slowly got up. He came walking towards her. Probably to give her a kiss.
R: "The door is the other way"
Dean turned around and started to walk away. Rory closed her eyes. When she opened them again Dean was gone. She sat down on the couch again. She was so sick and tired of this. Jess and Dean seemed like two 12 year olds and she couldn't stand it. If they didn't like each other, fine. As long as they left her out of it. She got up again.
R: "Mom, I'm going out"
Lorelai came out of the kitchen.
L: "I so don't like that word"
R: "What word?"
L: "Out. It makes me feel like you're gonna do all kind of stuff you don't want me to know about"
R: "Well, I'm just going out for a walk to get some fresh air"
L: "Is everything okay between you and Dean?"
R: "Not really, but it's his own fault"
L: "Oh honey, I'm so sorry"
R: 'Don't worry about it. I'm sure we'll work things out.....just not right now"
Lorelai gave her daughter a kiss on her forehead and stroke her hair. Rory smiled. Then she took her coat and left the house. She started to walk in the direction of the bridge. She always went there when she wanted to be alone. Suddenly she changed her mind. Jess would probably be there too and she so didn't wanna see him right now. So, she turned around and walked in the other direction, she wasn't excactly sure where she was going, but it was just nice to be outside. After a few minutes she sat down on a bench next to a big oak. She took off her coat and enjoyed the sun on her arms and face. She closed her eyes for a moment. She opened them again when she heard someone sitting down next to her. It was a guy. She had never seen him before. He was a few years older than her. His hair was dark and messy. His eyes brown. Dark brown, almost black, but defenitely not. He looked kind of mysterious. He was staring at her.
R: "Please don't tell me I still have toothpaste in the corner of my mouth"
They guy smiled. The most beautiful smile she had ever seen.
Guy: "Don't worry. No toothpaste alert"
Rory wasn't sure what to say or do, so she just kep staring at him, the way he kept staring at her.
R: "So, then what's the reason you keep staring at me?"
Guy: "I can't help staring at beautiful girls"
Rory knew his answer was so lame, but somehow she felt flattered. She tried not to blush.
R: "I don't think I've ever seen you around here. You just moved here?"
Guy: "You could say that, yeah"
R: "What's that supposed to mean?"
Guy: "I don't live here. I'm staying at the Independence Inn for a few days with some of my friends"
R: "Ah"
Guy: "This is an interesting place. Stars Hollow, I mean"
R: "I could give you a grand tour, but if you just walk to the end of the street and back I'm pretty sure you've seen all of it"
The guy smiled again. Then he held out his hand.
Guy: "I'm Dan"
Rory shook his hand.
R: "Rory"
Dan: "Nice to meet you Rory"
R: "Nice to meet you too"
Dan: "So, what are you doing here all alone?"
R: "Sitting mostly"
Dan: "And besides that?"
R: "Thinking"
Dan: "Nothing serious I hope"
R: "I won't bore you with that"
Dan: "So are you planning to continue this very interesting sitting and thinking-process?"
R: "I might get a cup of coffee in a little while"
Dan: "Coffee, huh?"
R: "Yeah. Can't live without it"
Dan: "So there's actually a place here where you can get coffee around here?"
R: "Several places even."
D: "I'm stunned"
R: "But the best coffee is from Luke's diner. You should go there some time. Luke makes the best coffee.......well, Jess does a pretty good job too"
Dan: "And let me guess. Jess is your boyfriend?"
R: "No! No! No, not at all. Jess is Luke's nephew and a friend of mine. Most of the time"
Dan: "So you only drink coffee when he or Luke make it?"
Rory looked up at Dan.
R: "You do realize we're having a conversation about coffee here, right?"
Dan: "I'm aware of that, yeah"
R: "Okay. Just checking"
Dan: "So, are you planning to show me that diner of yours?"
R: "Why would you wanna see it?"
Dan: "I'm showing interest"
Rory gave him a look.
Dan: "In the diner!"
Rory smiled.
R: "Well, let's go then"
A few minutes later they entered the diner. Jess was standing behind the counter. He looked up when he saw them coming in. He raised an eyebrow when he saw Dan. Rory showed Dan a table.
R: "Sit down. I'll get the coffee.......that is if you want coffee"
Dan: "Sure"
Rory smiled and went over to the counter.
R: "Two coffee"
J: "Who is he?"
R: "I don't see how that's any of your bussiness"
J: "You're still mad at me?"
R: "No"
J: "Then why are you doing like this?"
R: "Like what?"
J: "So not Rory like"
R: "Just give me the coffee, Jess. I don't need you to tell me what's like me and what's not"
J: "I wouldn't dare"
He poured the coffee and handed her the two mugs.
R: "Thanks"
J: "Welcome"
For a moment Rory hesitated. She saw the way Jess looked at her. Then she turned around and walked back to the table. She handed a mug to Dan and sat down.
Dan: "Thanks. Was it just me, or was that kind of an awkward situation between you and that guy? Jess is assume"
R: "No awkward situation. Just him being a jerk"
Dan: "Does that black eye has something to do with that?"
R: "What makes you think that?"
Dan: "I know girls. They don't like it when their guy get in a fight"
R: "Jess isn't my guy"
Dan: "I'm just saying that it's a guy-thing"
R: "What's a guy-thing?"
Dan: "The fighting-thing. Guys fight, they don't talk"
R: "Yeah, why is that? What's so nice about getting beaten up?"
Dan: "I wouldn't know"
R: "Well as far as I know you're a guy"
Dan: "I think of myself more as a man"
She smiled.
R: "And men don't fight?"
Dan: "Only when they have a point to prove"
A silence fell. Rory kept staring at Dan. To his eyes. They were amazing. She couldn't exactly explain what it was, but she just had to keep staring.
Dan: "So, people always get their coffee for free?"
R: "No. No one gets their coffee for free. I just never pay. I think Luke has a bill, that goes back to the stone age. I think we owe him a fortune, but he never asks about it, so we might as well keep it that way"
Dan turned around so he faced the counter. Jess kept staring at them.
Dan: "So, that's Jess?"
R: "The one and only"
Dan: "And he's not your boyfriend?"
R: "Nope"
Dan: "So, you don't have a boyfriend?"
R: ".........you think because Jess isn't my boyfriend, I don't have a boyfriend at all?"
Dan: "So, you do have boyfriend?"
R: "Yes"
Dan turned back and stared in her eyes.
Dan: "Then he's a lucky guy"
To keep herself from blushing, she said:
R: "You know, if you're gonna continue this giving compliments-thing, I might become a little arrogant."
Dan: "I wasn't doing the giving compliments-thing.......I was just being honest"
R: "Don't push it"
Dan took a sip.
Dan: "I have to say, this is great coffee"
Rory had already finished her cup.
R: "You want another one?"
Dan: "I think I'll pass"
R: "Your loss"
She was about to get up and walk to the counter to get another cup of coffee when she saw Dean outside walking towards the diner. He hadn't seen her yet. She sighed.
R: "I changed my mind. How about leaving?"
Dan: "How about you just go get your cup of coffee?"
R: "How about, let's not!"
Dan: "How about you telling me what's wrong?"
R: "How about, nothing's wrong, but I just wanna leave?"
Dan turned around and looked to where Rory was staring at. He saw Dean.
Dan: "How about, I think that guy who's about to enter the diner has something to do with it?"
R: "Dan, just come with me"
Dan: "He doesn't look so good, does he?"
R: "What are you saying?"
Dan: "I'm saying that I think that guy is your boyfriend and I see his bruised face and I put two and two together and...."
R: "You get four......"
She sighed and saw how Dean entered the diner. It was too late now. There was no way she was ever gonna get away now without Dean seeing her.
Dan: "Something like that, yeah"
R: "Well, you sure do like math"
Dan: "Because I can put two and two together?"
She nodded.
Dan: "So let me get this straight. You're having a fight with your boyfriend and your friend because they got in a fight?"
R: "That would be the short version, yeah"
She saw how Dean sat down at a table by the window. He had noticed her and he kept staring at her with a look in his eyes she was so familiar with. It was the same look he also had when she spent time with Jess.
R: "I had just had enough of their childish games. I know they don't like each other and that's fine with me, but can't they just stay away from each other instead of beating each other up?"
Dan: "I guess you're asking the wrong guy"
R: "Man"
Dan: "Right, man. You're asking the wrong man"
Rory stared at Jess and then at Dean. She didn't wanna fight with them. She wasn't the kind of person to fight with people, but maybe it was time now to let them feel she didn't wanna go on like this. Or they had to find a way to get along with each other and if that was really impossible then they had to stay away from each other.
Dan: "You really like both of them don't you?"
R: "Yes I do. I love Dean"
Dan: "And Jess?"
R: "I love him too.......as a friend of course"
Dan: "I can see he loves you too"
R: "Jess?"
Dan: "Yeah. Just look at him. Are you really that blind? There's a reason why those two can't get along, Rory. It surprises me you don't see it"
R: "What do you mean?"
Dan: "Jess loves you......maybe more than as a friend. He hates Dean cos he's the one standing between you and him and Dean sees Jess as a threat. If you ask me it was only a matter of time before those two would get in a fight"
Rory looked at Dan for a little while. She wasn't stupid. She knew Dan could be right. Why did things have to be this complicated? Why couldn't Jess just be her friend and Dean just be her boyfriend? Without the jalousy- issues?
R: "Let's go"
She got up and walked towards the door. Dan followed her. Before she left the diner she looked at Dean and Jess one more time. They were still staring at her. She felt bad about not talking to them, but she needed time now. To think about how to solve this.
**********
Rory opened the door of her house, she went in and closed the door behind her. She took off her coat.
R: "Mom! I'm home!"
L: "I'm here"
The voice came out of the livingroom and Rory went in. She was surprised to see Dean sitting on the couch next to her mom.
R: "Dean....."
D: "Hey"
R: "What a surprise"
She walked towards him. He wanted to give her a kiss, but she turned her head so he kissed her cheek. Then she sat down next to him. Dean wasn't sure what to think. Rory looked up at him. She saw his face and realized how awful he looked. Not one spot on his face wasn't bruised.
R: "You look terrible"
L: "You're never gonna believe what happened to him"
R: "I know what happened to him.....I would say the same thing that happened to Jess"
Dean seemed a little confused.
D: "You know?"
R: "Jess told me"
D: "What exactly did he tell you?"
R: "Not much"
A silence fell.
L: "You know, I just remember I have a very important phone call to make and I realize there's a phone in this room too, but I think I'm gonna use the one in the kitchen, cos.....that phone is prettier and I love the kitchen, so......don't mind me...."
Lorelai got up from the couch and went into the kitchen.
D: "Is the phone in the kitchen really prettier?"
R: "Could be........"
D: "Listen, about that fight......"
R: "What about it?"
D: "You shouldn't get too mad at him. He was just in a bad mood and...."
R: "Wait?! What makes you think I blame Jess and not you?"
D: "Several reasons. First of all I wasn't the one who started the fight"
R: "So you're saying Jess started?"
D: "Yeah. You know me. I wouldn't just start a fight"
R: "And Jess would?"
D: "I don't know. You know him better than I do"
R: "And that bothers you doesn't it?"
D: "What are you saying?"
Rory sighed and got up. She walked towards the window and looked outside. The weather was beautiful and she wished she could sit outside and read, but she couldn't. She first had to find out what happened between Jess and Dean. She felt like a nanny. This was so childish. They got in a fight and now one of them was lying about who started the fight. She turned back. It didn't matter who started the fight. It was just never supposed to happen. If it was Dean who hit first then Jess shouldn't have hit him back and the other way around.
R: "Listen, I'm so not in the mood for this. Frankly I couldn't care less about what happened between you and Jess. It's none of my bussiness and I don't want it to be. I want you to go now and leave me alone"
D: "Rory...."
R: "Just go Dean"
Dean slowly got up. He came walking towards her. Probably to give her a kiss.
R: "The door is the other way"
Dean turned around and started to walk away. Rory closed her eyes. When she opened them again Dean was gone. She sat down on the couch again. She was so sick and tired of this. Jess and Dean seemed like two 12 year olds and she couldn't stand it. If they didn't like each other, fine. As long as they left her out of it. She got up again.
R: "Mom, I'm going out"
Lorelai came out of the kitchen.
L: "I so don't like that word"
R: "What word?"
L: "Out. It makes me feel like you're gonna do all kind of stuff you don't want me to know about"
R: "Well, I'm just going out for a walk to get some fresh air"
L: "Is everything okay between you and Dean?"
R: "Not really, but it's his own fault"
L: "Oh honey, I'm so sorry"
R: 'Don't worry about it. I'm sure we'll work things out.....just not right now"
Lorelai gave her daughter a kiss on her forehead and stroke her hair. Rory smiled. Then she took her coat and left the house. She started to walk in the direction of the bridge. She always went there when she wanted to be alone. Suddenly she changed her mind. Jess would probably be there too and she so didn't wanna see him right now. So, she turned around and walked in the other direction, she wasn't excactly sure where she was going, but it was just nice to be outside. After a few minutes she sat down on a bench next to a big oak. She took off her coat and enjoyed the sun on her arms and face. She closed her eyes for a moment. She opened them again when she heard someone sitting down next to her. It was a guy. She had never seen him before. He was a few years older than her. His hair was dark and messy. His eyes brown. Dark brown, almost black, but defenitely not. He looked kind of mysterious. He was staring at her.
R: "Please don't tell me I still have toothpaste in the corner of my mouth"
They guy smiled. The most beautiful smile she had ever seen.
Guy: "Don't worry. No toothpaste alert"
Rory wasn't sure what to say or do, so she just kep staring at him, the way he kept staring at her.
R: "So, then what's the reason you keep staring at me?"
Guy: "I can't help staring at beautiful girls"
Rory knew his answer was so lame, but somehow she felt flattered. She tried not to blush.
R: "I don't think I've ever seen you around here. You just moved here?"
Guy: "You could say that, yeah"
R: "What's that supposed to mean?"
Guy: "I don't live here. I'm staying at the Independence Inn for a few days with some of my friends"
R: "Ah"
Guy: "This is an interesting place. Stars Hollow, I mean"
R: "I could give you a grand tour, but if you just walk to the end of the street and back I'm pretty sure you've seen all of it"
The guy smiled again. Then he held out his hand.
Guy: "I'm Dan"
Rory shook his hand.
R: "Rory"
Dan: "Nice to meet you Rory"
R: "Nice to meet you too"
Dan: "So, what are you doing here all alone?"
R: "Sitting mostly"
Dan: "And besides that?"
R: "Thinking"
Dan: "Nothing serious I hope"
R: "I won't bore you with that"
Dan: "So are you planning to continue this very interesting sitting and thinking-process?"
R: "I might get a cup of coffee in a little while"
Dan: "Coffee, huh?"
R: "Yeah. Can't live without it"
Dan: "So there's actually a place here where you can get coffee around here?"
R: "Several places even."
D: "I'm stunned"
R: "But the best coffee is from Luke's diner. You should go there some time. Luke makes the best coffee.......well, Jess does a pretty good job too"
Dan: "And let me guess. Jess is your boyfriend?"
R: "No! No! No, not at all. Jess is Luke's nephew and a friend of mine. Most of the time"
Dan: "So you only drink coffee when he or Luke make it?"
Rory looked up at Dan.
R: "You do realize we're having a conversation about coffee here, right?"
Dan: "I'm aware of that, yeah"
R: "Okay. Just checking"
Dan: "So, are you planning to show me that diner of yours?"
R: "Why would you wanna see it?"
Dan: "I'm showing interest"
Rory gave him a look.
Dan: "In the diner!"
Rory smiled.
R: "Well, let's go then"
A few minutes later they entered the diner. Jess was standing behind the counter. He looked up when he saw them coming in. He raised an eyebrow when he saw Dan. Rory showed Dan a table.
R: "Sit down. I'll get the coffee.......that is if you want coffee"
Dan: "Sure"
Rory smiled and went over to the counter.
R: "Two coffee"
J: "Who is he?"
R: "I don't see how that's any of your bussiness"
J: "You're still mad at me?"
R: "No"
J: "Then why are you doing like this?"
R: "Like what?"
J: "So not Rory like"
R: "Just give me the coffee, Jess. I don't need you to tell me what's like me and what's not"
J: "I wouldn't dare"
He poured the coffee and handed her the two mugs.
R: "Thanks"
J: "Welcome"
For a moment Rory hesitated. She saw the way Jess looked at her. Then she turned around and walked back to the table. She handed a mug to Dan and sat down.
Dan: "Thanks. Was it just me, or was that kind of an awkward situation between you and that guy? Jess is assume"
R: "No awkward situation. Just him being a jerk"
Dan: "Does that black eye has something to do with that?"
R: "What makes you think that?"
Dan: "I know girls. They don't like it when their guy get in a fight"
R: "Jess isn't my guy"
Dan: "I'm just saying that it's a guy-thing"
R: "What's a guy-thing?"
Dan: "The fighting-thing. Guys fight, they don't talk"
R: "Yeah, why is that? What's so nice about getting beaten up?"
Dan: "I wouldn't know"
R: "Well as far as I know you're a guy"
Dan: "I think of myself more as a man"
She smiled.
R: "And men don't fight?"
Dan: "Only when they have a point to prove"
A silence fell. Rory kept staring at Dan. To his eyes. They were amazing. She couldn't exactly explain what it was, but she just had to keep staring.
Dan: "So, people always get their coffee for free?"
R: "No. No one gets their coffee for free. I just never pay. I think Luke has a bill, that goes back to the stone age. I think we owe him a fortune, but he never asks about it, so we might as well keep it that way"
Dan turned around so he faced the counter. Jess kept staring at them.
Dan: "So, that's Jess?"
R: "The one and only"
Dan: "And he's not your boyfriend?"
R: "Nope"
Dan: "So, you don't have a boyfriend?"
R: ".........you think because Jess isn't my boyfriend, I don't have a boyfriend at all?"
Dan: "So, you do have boyfriend?"
R: "Yes"
Dan turned back and stared in her eyes.
Dan: "Then he's a lucky guy"
To keep herself from blushing, she said:
R: "You know, if you're gonna continue this giving compliments-thing, I might become a little arrogant."
Dan: "I wasn't doing the giving compliments-thing.......I was just being honest"
R: "Don't push it"
Dan took a sip.
Dan: "I have to say, this is great coffee"
Rory had already finished her cup.
R: "You want another one?"
Dan: "I think I'll pass"
R: "Your loss"
She was about to get up and walk to the counter to get another cup of coffee when she saw Dean outside walking towards the diner. He hadn't seen her yet. She sighed.
R: "I changed my mind. How about leaving?"
Dan: "How about you just go get your cup of coffee?"
R: "How about, let's not!"
Dan: "How about you telling me what's wrong?"
R: "How about, nothing's wrong, but I just wanna leave?"
Dan turned around and looked to where Rory was staring at. He saw Dean.
Dan: "How about, I think that guy who's about to enter the diner has something to do with it?"
R: "Dan, just come with me"
Dan: "He doesn't look so good, does he?"
R: "What are you saying?"
Dan: "I'm saying that I think that guy is your boyfriend and I see his bruised face and I put two and two together and...."
R: "You get four......"
She sighed and saw how Dean entered the diner. It was too late now. There was no way she was ever gonna get away now without Dean seeing her.
Dan: "Something like that, yeah"
R: "Well, you sure do like math"
Dan: "Because I can put two and two together?"
She nodded.
Dan: "So let me get this straight. You're having a fight with your boyfriend and your friend because they got in a fight?"
R: "That would be the short version, yeah"
She saw how Dean sat down at a table by the window. He had noticed her and he kept staring at her with a look in his eyes she was so familiar with. It was the same look he also had when she spent time with Jess.
R: "I had just had enough of their childish games. I know they don't like each other and that's fine with me, but can't they just stay away from each other instead of beating each other up?"
Dan: "I guess you're asking the wrong guy"
R: "Man"
Dan: "Right, man. You're asking the wrong man"
Rory stared at Jess and then at Dean. She didn't wanna fight with them. She wasn't the kind of person to fight with people, but maybe it was time now to let them feel she didn't wanna go on like this. Or they had to find a way to get along with each other and if that was really impossible then they had to stay away from each other.
Dan: "You really like both of them don't you?"
R: "Yes I do. I love Dean"
Dan: "And Jess?"
R: "I love him too.......as a friend of course"
Dan: "I can see he loves you too"
R: "Jess?"
Dan: "Yeah. Just look at him. Are you really that blind? There's a reason why those two can't get along, Rory. It surprises me you don't see it"
R: "What do you mean?"
Dan: "Jess loves you......maybe more than as a friend. He hates Dean cos he's the one standing between you and him and Dean sees Jess as a threat. If you ask me it was only a matter of time before those two would get in a fight"
Rory looked at Dan for a little while. She wasn't stupid. She knew Dan could be right. Why did things have to be this complicated? Why couldn't Jess just be her friend and Dean just be her boyfriend? Without the jalousy- issues?
R: "Let's go"
She got up and walked towards the door. Dan followed her. Before she left the diner she looked at Dean and Jess one more time. They were still staring at her. She felt bad about not talking to them, but she needed time now. To think about how to solve this.
