Chapter 2 – Campbell's Makes Good Soup

"Rory! Wait!" Jess ran after her. This was bad. How could this have happened? She thinks I'm an asshole. I am an asshole. I was going to fast for her. Girls in New York were never like this. Of course, I knew that.

Rory ran past everybody, past Dean, past Lane, she ran towards Main Street. Still crying, she wiped the tears from her cheeks. Note to self: Running and crying is not such a good idea. She had to stop, had to rest. She picked the bench across from Luke's. Why don't I ever have tissues? Great idea Rory. Don't take a pocketbook. I hate it when Mom is right. And then she realized the most horrifying of all things. The keys weren't on her belt. The keys that her mom had put there for the very purpose that she wouldn't make any mistakes, and now she lost them! She couldn't go home now, but she couldn't go back to the party. So she just sat there, crying.

Jess ran after her through the streets. It was at times like these when he wondered why she was never on the track team. I guess she needed motivation. I guess me running after her is terrific motivation. He spotted her sitting at the bench, but he stopped. If I go over there, we are just going to fight again. He couldn't go home, and he couldn't go back to the party. So he just sat there, watching.

Jess was never known to be patient. He proved it that night more than once. After only fifteen minutes he got fed up. He couldn't stand watching her sitting there weeping. Plus it was getting cold out. He walked over to the bench.

"Rory." he said sympathetically as if he'd been looking for her everywhere. It's better she thinks that, I guess.

Rory looked up. She really didn't have anything to say to him. So she just waited for him to do something.

"Rory, come on. Let's go."

Rory nodded. She was cold, and as he motioned towards the diner, she followed.

Being out here reminded her of the day they met.

--

Rory had gone to pick up a book she had wanted to read. She had ran of out stuff to do, and when things got boring, Rory read. It was probably why she read so much. She wasn't the most popular girl, and Dean just wasn't as thrilling an adventure as he had been anymore. She was easily bored, and easily distracted.

She spied Jess walking out of one of the local stores. Her first impression of him wasn't record breaking, but there was something about him that she just couldn't stop thinking about. Maybe the mystery in him, and his past. It was like reading the first page of a book, it's so invigorating.

"Hey." She'd been reluctant talking to him before, but he'd liked that. It was so different than the girls from New York. She was carefree, and she read a lot. Probably more than him, which was really impressive. There was something about her that made him want to know all about her.

"Hey yourself." Am I flirting with him?

"What are you doing out here?" It was late. I guess I'm not used to this crime-free neighborhood yet.

"I needed something for school. What about you." I'm lying, but it's none of his business.

"Oh yeah, same thing." He knew she was lying, so she deserved no less.

"Uh huh." I so don't believe him. "So, that was quite a disappearing act you pulled."

"Potlucks and Tupperware parties aren't really my thing."

"Too cool for school, huh?" I guess I am flirting, oh well, aren't girl allowed to lead guys on anyhow?

"Yeah, that is me." More like too cool for a blow-up mattress.

"What are you doing?" She watched his hands. God he has great hands.

"Oh this? Nothing." He took a coin out of Rory's ear.

"Little tip? If you ever want to speak to me again, don't pull that out of my ear."

"So I assume the nose is off limits too?"

"Any place you wouldn't naturally find a coin, let's leave it that way."

--

As he opened the door to the diner he turned the lights on. He felt the heat of the room press on his skin. Note to self: Wear thermal underpants.

"You want something to eat?"

"Yeah."

"Well what's your pleasure Gilmore, burger, hot dog, pancakes, eggs…?"

She was so cold.

"Actually, do you have any soup?"

"Soup." he replied.

"Yes, soup."

"Soup?"

"How many more times can you say soup?"

"How many French fries have you eaten in your life?"

This made Rory laugh. She was feeling better, warmer even.

"Make that chicken soup."

"Chicken soup."

"They say it's good for the soul."

"Huh."

"I could really use some soul healing right now."

"Chicken soup it is."

He went back to the kitchen and found a can. He grabbed the can opener and turned it swiftly. Then he poured it into a pot and turned the gas on.

"Oh, you don't have to go through all that trouble. Microwaved soup is fine."

"Soup on the stove always tastes better."

"And you know this how?"

"I'm a soup tester. Every Sunday morning while most townspeople go to church, I go down to Campbell's headquarters and taste soup, and the first thing they told me was 'Soup is always better on the stove.'"

"Then why do they put microwave instructions on the can?"

"Because big corporations make money off of stupid people."

"Are you calling me stupid?"

"Maybe."

"Jess!"

"Kidding. I'm kidding. You're not stupid."

"I think today I was."

"Rory…" He wanted to tell her how she was the best girl he'd ever met, and how he knew she did the right thing. And how he wanted their relationship to be special and not pressured, but she didn't let him.

"No, I ran out of there so fast. I didn't give you a chance. I was selfish and something's been going on with you and I didn't give you a chance to tell me. You know, I want to know. Tell me."

"Soups ready."

"Jess." Why wasn't he telling her?

"Do you want a big or little spoon?"

"You're just going to completely ignore the fact that I asked you a question."

"You know, I might just have some soup myself. I hope you don't mind sharing."

"Fine. You know what, tell me some other time."

"Here you go." He placed down one bowl for Rory and own bowl for himself, and as they sipped soup, they just stared at each other. They were warm, content, and finally alone.