Jess stepped off the bus in Hartford after 4 hours of practically straight traveling, completely exhausted. He heard the bus driver say that they would leave for the next destination (i.e. Stars Hollow) in about an hour so he decided he had time to eat. He looked around and quickly spotted a little deli on the corner. He walked in, got his food, and sat down. As he was eating, he started to think: *am I really doing the right thing? I could get a job....and maybe...get an apartment...I'm almost 18...but I could pass as an 18 year old.* he was having an inner battle...he couldn't figure out what he wanted to do. He sat and contemplated for quite some time, not even noticing that it was getting darker and darker outside and that the hours were passing by quickly.

Seeing as how his idea to try and make it on his own was completely idiotic, he finally decided that he would continue to Stars Hollow. He looked as his watch. "CRAP!!!" He grabbed his jacket and his backpack that he kept his "bus entertainment" supplies in and ran to the bus stop. And just as he had figured, the bus was gone....but all of his bags were in the bus and would therefore be dumped off in Stars Hollow, without an owner. Lucky for him he had actually put his name on those name tags that are always hung around the handles of the bags....so maybe...someone would find it...and maybe...keep it for him until he came back? "Well I guess I'm walking." So he started his long, rugged journey to Stars Hollow.

~*~*~Stars Hollow~*~*~

"And so then they made me stand up in front of everyone and recite Romans 3:14, 5 TIMES!!! And my mom encouraged it!!! Isn't that insanely mean!?!" Asked Lane as she and Rory were walking down the street Saturday morning. Lane noticed that her best friend wasn't listening yet again. "RORY!" She punched her shoulder.

"Huh?"

"You're kidding right? Don't tell me you weren't listening to me."

"Oh...I'm sorry Lane..I just...look over there." The two looked.

"What? I don't see anything."

"The bags at the bus stop."

"Yeah...someone probably just forgot to pick them up."

"No...they've been sitting there since yesterday. Don't you think someone would have noticed that they didn't have their luggage by now? Maybe we should go over and see if there are some name tags or somethin." Lane and Rory walked to the bus stop and bent down, reading the name.

"Jess Mariano." Lane read outloud.

"What?! Jess? Let me see!" She pushed her friend out of the way. And sure enough. It was Jess's and it was his handwriting and everything. "Get the bags, Lane!" Rory ran to Luke's. She burst through the door and ran up to the counter. She realized she was making an idiot out of herself so she tried to calm down a bit. "Where is he?" Lane came in, trying to hold the bags.

"Who?" Asked Luke completely confused.

"Jess! Where is he?"

"Jess isn't here, Rory..."

"Then why are his bags here?"

"What??" He came around the counter and looked at the luggage that Lane was struggling to hold up on her back. (there were like 4 bags)

"Ya know, for a guy, he sure packs a lot!" Added Lane, still struggling.

"Yep that's Jess's stuff...I mean it's his name and his handwriting and everything but....that doesn't make sense...I haven't really heard from him since the funeral...."

"Guys! A little help here!!" Yelled Lane, about to fall over backwards. All of a sudden someone took the 4 bags from her and began to head upstairs to the apartment. "Whoa, thanks....JESS!!!!" He turned around, his clothes were dirty and so were his face and his arms.

"Hey..." He said nervously..Luke and Rory stood there like idiots while Lane rambled on, obviously over the fact he was back.

"How do you do that, Mr. Mocho Man? I couldn't carry one of those bags and stay standing and you are carrying 4 without any trouble at all!!" He smirked and went upstairs, knowing Luke would follow...eventually...and maybe even Rory...hopefully.

A/N: Hey! I hope you guys liked this chapter...I'm not real sure of it...please tell me what you think!!