As the bus pulled into the stop Jess stood up and sighed, oh how he didn't want to be here. He grabbed his bag and started to walk aimlessly around the streets. It was so familiar yet so different from before. Everything was the same but everything had changed. Or maybe it was he who had changed. He knew that he had grown up a lot in the past months. He knew that he was a screw up he had realized all his mistakes, he didn't want to be that person anymore but it was hard to break old habits. He was trying, in California he was able to take a few courses to get his diploma; he finished quickly not needing to take another year at high school.

He shook his head clearing them of all thoughts. He headed towards his old apartment, taking in the streets of his old neighbourhood. A smirk played around his lips as he saw some of his old friends. He headed towards them, but suddenly stopped, he didn't want to see them he didn't want to fall into the pattern again. He turned back and kept walking. It was close to nine when he got to his apartment. He realized he didn't have a key so he was going to have to get buzzed in. he went to push his apartment buzzer when he saw the name next to it. M. Chase, apartment 17. That wasn't his mom, maybe it was some guy she was seeing. He pushed the button.

"Hello"

" Ah my name is Jess, Jess Mariano, umm I used to live here is Liz there by any chance?"

"Liz? No she moved out like three months ago"

"OhDo you know where she went?"

" Nope"

"Right umm can you buzz me in I have to talk to Frank"

"Yeah sure hold on"

"Thanks"

The door opened and Jess walked into the dimly lit hallway. He walked right to the back to Frank's office. He hesitated then knocked. "Come in" He opened the door.

"Jess, haven't seen you in a while, a year really"

"Yeah I moved"

"So why are you here?"

"I was actually wondering if you know where my mom is, she doesn't seem to be in our apartment, they said she moved"

"Yeah bout three months back"

"Did she say where she was going, leave an address or number or anything"

"No she said nothing"

Jess was trying hard not to panic or look worried at the moment but it was hard, where was he going to stay?

"Shit"

"Listen Jess do you need some where to stay the night?"

"Yeah is that alright?"

"Couch is there"

"Thanks"

"I'll go look just incase Liz did leave something"

He nodded. Oh shit. How could she do this to him? Her friends probably know where she is. He would just have to ask them. Luke may know, but he didn't want to go back. He shook the thought of Luke out of his mind, he had fucked up to much there to impose himself on Luke again, he couldn't do it. Just then Frank came back confirming that Liz had left nothing. He sighed lay down and picked up a book. Frank shook his head sadly, poor kid he thought.

The next morning Jess went in search of his mom or her friends. He went to the places she hung out, or occasionally worked. There was no sign of her anywhere and none of her friends had heard from her in a couple of weeks.

"Sorry doll, she's off with her latest fling, haven't talked to her in a month, she didn't give us a number or anything"

"Oh well, listen Connie if you talk to her get the number, tell her that I'm looking for her and that she should call me, but she probably wont, so uh here is the number where I'll be if you talk to her can you call me, let me know where she is Please"

"Sure thing"

"I'll see you, don't lose that number, I really need to talk to her"

"I wont, don't worry"

He gave a slight smile and nod before he left the restaurant. Guess he had no choice but to go to Luke. He could crash with one of his buddies, but he knew where that would get him and he was trying to get as far away from that. He had very little money so he couldn't stay in New York. Ugh what the hell this certainly wasn't going the way it was intended to. He would go back to Frank stay one more night, then it seemed he would be going back to Stars Hollow. Oh shit he thought.