Rory opened the door with her own key, thanking God she had a spare one and walked to her room trying not to wake her mother and the interrogation that came with it. Rory laid down on her bed and thought about the events of the evening. She couldn't get the image of Jess's black eye and bleeding lip and nose out of her head. She fell asleep not knowing what would happen between her and Jess next.

~*~*~Apartment~*~*~

Jess thought about Rory and her black eye. *how could someone do that to her?!* he kept thinking about their conversation at the bridge earlier. She never really answered his question... *why did she tell Shane about that....* He fell asleep not knowing what would happen between him and Rory next.

THE NEXT DAY

Rory woke up with ice on her eye. *what the....* "HEY!! I've been waiting and waiting for you to get up!! I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT!!!!!" Rory, having just woke up, was having a difficult time comprehending everything.

"Umm...I...I..." She began to remember the events of the night before. "Dean punched me."

"That's funny. Tell me the truth."

"What? That IS the truth! Dean punched me, I ran into Jess-"

"Literally?! That's hilarious!!!"

"NO! Mom! Jeez...anyway...I ran into Jess and Shane and we kind of...got into it. And then I went to the bridge and Jess followed me and we kind of got into it again....but not real bad...and..I....umm fainted..and then...Jess carried me here and the door was locked and you were in a dead sleep and then he took me to Luke's and I woke up there and on my way out I ran into Jess again....not literally...and he had a black eye and a bloody nose and a bloody lip and he told me he got in a fight with Dean because he figured that he was the one who hit me and I feel really bad because now Jess looks worse than I do! Which isn't entirely fair because he didn't do anything! Except for maybe going out with Shane..." She muttered... "But that doesn't make a big difference!!!" Rory kept rambling on and on like usual but was stopped by her mother.

"Whoa whoa girly! Take a breath!!"

"Sorry...I just...how did everything get so messed up?" Tears were welling up in her eyes.

"Well...I think...a boy named Jess came into town one day....and was really sweet to you....and then you happened to kiss him....and then he got into a fight with your boyfriend because he was trying to defend you.....am I right?" Rory's tears spilt over as she nodded her head in response. "Are you and Dean still together?" Rory shook her head, while her tears continued to fall.

Black eyes, I don't need 'em

Blue tears, gimme freedom

Positively never goin' back

I won't live where things are so out of whack

No more rollin' with the punches

No more usin' or abusin'

I'd rather die standing

than live on my knees

Begging please--no more

Black eyes--I don't need 'em

Blue tears--gimme freedom

Black eyes--all behind me

Blue tears'll never find me now

Definitely found my self-esteem

Finally--I'm forever free to dream

No more cryin' in the corner

No excuses--no more bruises

A/N: Hey sorry it took so long! I hope you liked it! I know it's a little too dramatic but I'm still workin on it! Please review!