Chapter 3: 3's a crowd... so is 2

For once Rory was actually glad to be going to school on a Monday morning. It had been almost a week since she talked to Jess and Dean was beginning to smother her. He called her every hour on the hour and when she didn't answer he left at least 5 messages. She sat in her chemistry class listening to Paris go on and on about lab safety. A knock came at the door and a women that Rory recognized from the guidance office came in. "Mr. Dillon. We have a new student for your class." The women entered followed by a tall boy with blonde hair.

"Oh my god. This isn't happening." Rory slammed her head on her lab table as the boy walked over and hand the teacher a slip of paper.

"Tristan is it? There an empty seat for you at the lab table behind Miss. Gilmore." he pointed her out and she lifted her head slowly, as Tristan made his way to his seat.

"Miss me Mary?" he questioned as he passed her.

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The final bell rang and Rory got out of class as fast as she could. She had been avoiding Tristan all day, which didn't work very well considering he was in almost all her classes. "So." a voice came from behind her as she was grabbing her books from her locker. "Rory Gilmore. My how you've changed."

"Oh my god. You used my real name! Am i hearing things?"

"So how's that boyfriend of yours. Don was it?" he asked.

"Dean she corrected." slamming her locker.

"How is he?"

"None of your business." she snapped as she began to walk away.

"What's wrong? Having some trouble with Don?"

"Dean!" she corrected again as she exited the school. "You know usually when people walk away from you it mean they don't want to talk."

"Really?" Tristan questioned pretending to be surprised

"Rory!" a voice called from the parking lot and she glance around looking for the source.

"Who's that?" Tristan asked as Rory's eyes landed on Jess.

"Oh great." she sighed. "What do you want Jess?"

"Just let me talk to you OK?" he pleaded.

Rory looked over a Tristan, the only way to get rid of him would be to go with Jess and she would much rather be with Jess.

"Where you going Mary?" Tristan asked as she walked toward Jess. "Don't I get a good bye?"

"Bye."

"I'll see you tomorrow." he grinned with a wink and she rolled her eyes.

"Who's that?" Jess questioned.

"Satin." she replied climbing into Luke's pick up truck.

"Like him that much huh?" They turned out he the school and onto the road

"Bout as much as i like you."

There was a long silence. Rory stared out the window at the passing cars fo 20 minutes before Jess said anything." Rory I came to say i'm sorry."

"Jess."

"Don't' talk just let me get this out before I chicken out."

"YOU chicken out?"

"It's been known to happen."

"Fine talk."

"OK I'm sorry Rory. I'm sorry that I went out with Shane and that I tried make you jealous. I'm sorry that I didn't wait for you. I'm sorry I didn't get to say good bye to you before Washington. I'm sorry I was so mean and that I called you .... you know. I was so mad, but I though about everything today and I just want you to be happy. So if you want to be with Dean then be with Dean, but I just want you to know that I REALLY like you." Rory looked down at her lap. "and if you ever decided that you like me... I broke you with Shane." She look up at him in surprise.

"For m...e" she asked and Jess nodded.

"I'll see you later maybe." he sighed as they stopped at her house and he looked away from her.

"Jess." he turned to face her and was greeted by her lips. It was a short kiss, but it was just as good, if not better, then the one at Sookie's wedding.

"What the hell is going on here!?"

"Dean!" Rory yelled

"Hey Bag Boy." Jess couldn't wipe the smile off of his face.

"Shut up!" he yelled. "Get out of the truck."

"What?"

"Get the hell out of the truck." he repeated louder. "You kissed my girlfriend! Now I have to kick your ass."

"I'm not going to fight you." Jess laughed.

Dean ran over to the other side of the truck, threw the door open and pulled Jess out by the collar, causing him to fall on the ground. "Dean stop it!" Rory screamed grabbing his arm so that he couldn't punch Jess.

"Move out of the way Rory." Dean growled. "He kissed you and now he has to pay."

"Dean!" He pulled more. "Dean he didn't kiss me!"

"Oh come on Rory he kissed you! I saw it with my own eyes. Don't lie for him."

"Dean that's not what I meant."

"What did you mean?"

"I meant that Jess didn't kiss me, because... I kissed him."

"What?" he pulled his arm from her grip. "I can't believe you did this to me Rory. I trusted you." he shook his head and began to walk away.

"I'm sorry Dean." she ran after him.

"DON'T FOLLOW ME!" he screamed, scaring Rory.

"Dean!" she called once more as a tear ran down her cheek. Jess quickly turned her around and wrapped his arm around her. "I didn't want to hurt him."

"I know." he comforted her. "Don't cry." he whispered and let her rest her head on his shoulder.

"Why did I have to fall out of love with him." she asked herself out loud. "He doesn't deserve what I did to him."

Jess pulled back so that he could look into her eyes. "You still want to be with Dean, don't you?" he asked reluctantly afraid of the answer.