The next morning was fairly slow. Jess again just sat behind the counter reading. Lorelia and Rory both came in for their breakfast. Luke was busy, so it was Jess who again took their orders. As he handed Rory her coffee, she looked at him and whispered 'thank you'. He knew it wasn't for the coffee but for his letter. He nodded. She left to go to class, and he settled back down to his book. Luke and Lorelia started to talk but in very low voices, which made Jess assume they were talking about him. Luke cleared his throat and started to talk at a normal level.

'How is Rory handling all her schoolwork? She isn't in here as often any more.'

'Oh she's ok. I thought she spent a crazy amount of time studying when she was at Chilton but it was nothing compared to this. She has exams coming up before Christmas break, so she is confined in her room constantly.

'Stressful'

'Oh yeah like you wouldn't believe. She gets so cranky when I interrupt her'

'Which isn't often I hope'

'Oh no I wouldn't do it more then twice a day!'

'Oh well that's fine' he replied sarcastically

She stuck her tongue out at him. 'Although she has been distracted by something else lately, I wonder what it could be' she looked at Jess pointedly when she said that.

He glanced up at her, raised his eyebrows and shook his head, then went back to her book.

'But I actually am worried about her. She's been putting a lot of pressure on herself lately, and last night she disappeared for an hour then came back all flustered and upset. Jess do you know why that is?'

'Nope"

'Are you sure? She said something about wanting to see you.'

'Well she didn't'

'But-'

'Can we not do this, it's not going to change anything, so why not drop it.'

'Fine' she looked at him for a few more seconds then went back to talking to Luke. She could be so irritating some times.

( later that day)

The diner was packed. The usual dinner rush had come in and they were happily eating. Jess was behind the counter and Luke was giving a table some refills. The phone rang.

'Jess can you get that?'

'He got off his stool and went to the phone. 'Luke's Diner'

'Jess'

He looked around the diner and turned his back on the people sitting.

'Liz, where have you been?'

'Around'

'You moved without telling any one where you went'

'Didn't realize I had to. Connie said something about you needing to talk to me. So what do you want, and can you make it short I got some where to be'

'I want to move back so if you could give me your address I could be there in a couple of days' as he said this he was getting a pen and paper.

'Who say's I'm going to let you come back'

'What' he was shocked

'I don't want you back here'

'Liz, I got to come back'

'Well I don't have to let you'

'Yes you do'

'Say's who?'

'Say's who? Say's me' his voice was raising, 'Say's the law, you can't abandon me'

'I didn't abandon you, you left me here all alone to go and live with Luke!'

'I didn't leave you!' He was yelling now, ' You sent me away cause I was to much for you to handle cause you were always stoned and drunk and out partying so don't blame your problems on me'

'Well that's all the more reason for you to not come back'

'All I need is a place to sleep, I will sleep on the couch if I have to, or is that where you do business?' he was being stared at but he didn't notice.

'Shut up you ungrateful little bastard, I don't want you, you ruined my life, I I hate you!'

'Your delusional you know that. Are you hard up, need another hit, is that where your going now?'

'Oh that's right and your all high and mighty. If I recall wasn't it you who got caught up in all that shit with-'

'Shut up' The whole diner was silent now and staring in shock at Jess.

'Don't tell me to shut up. I'm through with you, forget it, I'm leaving now goodbye.'

'Liz DON'T hand up, LIZ don't FUCKING HANG UP!'

He slammed the phone down and punched the wall. He turned around. He was breathing heavily. He took in the shocked and scared expressions on the people's faces. Luke reached out and tried to talk to him, but he pushed past him and stormed out of the diner, nearly knocking over Rory who had stood up.

He knew that that was the wrong way to deal with his mother but she was just so frustrating. She had sounded drunk on the phone. He would give her a few days to cool down. He would call Connie and get her number, she probably had it now. Then he would just show up at her place, she would have to take him then.

He sat down on the bridge wishing he had a smoke. He was sitting there less then five minutes when he heard footsteps. He sighed, he knew who it was before he looked up.

Ok! So I had a difficult time writing this chapter. You know when you can see it all in your head and its perfect, but the second you try and put it on paper it gets confusing and all messed up. Well that happened here. I re wrote the phone call three times. I'm still not completely satisfied with it, but it'll have to do. Tell me what you think!