Rory took a deep breath and pushed open the door to Luke's. It was the next day, Sunday, so she knew Jess was working. She almost panicked and ran but Jess spotted her and waved. She went and sat at a table, willing Luke to come out and either yell at Jess or come serve Rory himself.

There was no God.

Jess sidled up and went to kiss her but she turned her head at the last moment and his kiss landed on her cheek.

He frowned then shook his head. The rumours meant nothing. Rory was still his girlfriend. She wouldn't cheat on him.

A little voice piped up inside him, 'She cheated on Dean and he's the good guy…'

Jess waved it away and smiled at Rory, handing her a menu, as pointless as it was to her. "Can I get you something?"

"Coffee please." She looked out the window as Jess went back to the kitchen to get her coffee. She wanted to break up with jess, willed herself to do it but the look on his face when she'd turned away and the missed kiss threw her. He was waiting for her to disappoint him so he could blame it on her.

He came back and she thanked him. "How's life?"

"Good. You?" He was confused. This was so general and Rory was usually a little more interested…

"Fine."

"Good." He turned away but she called him back.

"Thank you." Was he going to bring up that night?

"No problem." Was she ever going to explain why she ran away?

"Jess-" She started.

"Rory-" he said at the same time.

"You first," she said.

"No, you."

"Age before beauty."

He smiled wryly. "Ladies first."

"Well, thanks…"

"Just trying to be the chivalrous knight for you."

She jumped, rattling the mug, coffee almost sloshing out.

"What?" he asked, partly annoyed and partly confused.

By now the diner was listening.

"Nothing. I'm fine."

"You're not fine. You don't look fine."

"But I am."

"Fine."

"Fine."

They stared at each other until Rory felt she was going to cry.

"Jess, this isn't working."

"Why not?"

"I don't know."

"I do."

"Jess, don't."

"It's Dean."

"No."

"I talked to your mom."

"You hate my mom."

"No I don't."

"Yes you do. And she hates you. You'd never talk."

"She hates me?"

"She does."

"Well, I don't hate her."

"Yes, you do."

"No, I…" He held up his hands. "That's not the point, Rory. She talked to me. Whether or not she liked me."

"About what?"

"You… Dean… two nights ago. Remember it?" He glared at her.

She blanched. "I didn't plan on being driven out of your house and running into him."

"Oh, so now it's my fault?!"

Everyone turned to stare at the couple.

"Jess, everyone is staring."

"Mind your own business!" he bellowed at them, grabbing Rory by the arm and dragging her upstairs.

"Is this your way of breaking up with me?"

She looked at him, wide-eyed. "I don't know," she said finally.

"Well, maybe we should break up if you love him so much," he snapped.

"Jess, I-"

"No. If you want to be with your bagboy boyfriend then go right ahead. I have better things to do than waste my time with you."

She recoiled, stung.

He turned away. "I'm sorry Rory. I just need time to think."

She reached out to him but he flinched away.

"Seriously, leave me alone."

Rory left, feeling confused. She hadn't done anything. It wasn't as if she'd cheated on him with Dean. It wasn't as if she'd chosen Dean over him… She stopped on the stairs. Or had she? She never told Jess that she'd chosen him over Dean. She turned and ran up the stairs, knocking on the door. "Jess! Jess!"

"Leave me alone!"

"But Jess, I-" She was cut off by music blaring.

She pounded on the door for a few more minutes before giving up and going home.