Saturday morning rolled around. Jess was woken up by Luke yelling at him to get downstairs. He slowly made his way down to the diner. It was packed. He smiled at Rory and Lorelia who were sitting at the counter. He went to take peoples orders.
The morning rush died down and there were only a few people left in the diner. He was able to sit behind the counter and read. But he found that he did little reading because he started to listen to the Gilmore's conversation. It seemed that Rory had gone out to dinner with Dean last night.
'Was it awkward?'
'Kind of, I mean we were friends before he left, and we've talked over the phone a few times but sitting there was different, you know? He was talking about the difficulties about being married, and I was like I only the know difficulties of being in collage and being away from home.'
'Yeah those may be a little different from his, ah, problems.'
'Really' she said sarcastically
'Well'
'I know.' There was a pause. 'I kind of did or said something that got him all mad'
'What would that be?'
'Well remember when he first told me he was getting married and I asked why? Well I sort of asked again, and he became all offended, so I tried to change the subject, but ended up picking another sore subject.'
'What could be sore-erer then that?'
'Sore-erer?'
'You know what I mean'
She whispered 'Jess'
'You didn't'
'I did'
'What did you say?'
'That he got his diploma, then Dean just looked at me like I was insane, so we just sat in uncomfortable silence for a while.'
'Sounds like it was a disaster'
'Yeah'
'Listen sweetie I got to get to work so I'll see you later for diner, Al's?'
'Sure, see you' Her mom left. 'Jess'
He jumped a bit when she called him, and looked up.
'Coffee'
'Coming right up' he pored her more coffee and leaned on the counter facing her at an angle. 'So how did dinner go?'
'How'd you know about that?'
'Heard you mom ask how did diner go with Dean last night'
'Did you here any more?' she sounded a little panicked so he lied.
'No'
'Okay'
'Are you going to answer my question or shall I just assume?'
'Oh it was fi-strange it was strange'
'How so?'
She sighed. 'I don't really know why he wanted to have dinner with me. Lindsey wasn't there, and it was just uncomfortable. I think he just wanted to show off how he was doing. It just seemed, I don't know, fake or something, do you understand?'
'Sure, he was just being the all to familiar egotistical, I'm better then you look at me asshole kind of-'
'Jess'
'Sorry, I get it'
'Mmhmm'
He smiled at her, and as he looked at her he caught himself wanting to kiss her and silently cursed himself for pushing her away. He quickly shook that thought out of his head. He had to stay strong. He wanted to get his life together. He knew it would take a while, and he had to be stable himself before he let someone he cared for back in, he wanted to make sure he wasn't going to push them away again. He realized that Rory was talking to him.
'Huh?'
'Were you listening?'
'I'd say yes, but then I'd be lying'
'Gee thanks'
'No problem, what were you saying?'
'Nothing important, it was just that I had to get going so I asked if I would see you later'
'Oh'
'So I'll see you later?'
'Yeah, of course I'll be here'
'Right' she looked a little disappointed, like she had wanted him to say something else. He watched her go. He sighed, just wait a while Rory, just wait until I find myself. He looked back at her coffee mug and picked it up and put it in the kitchen and then proceeded to clean the counter.
