Author's Note: Thanks for those who reviewed and to all those who are reading. I mostly got positive reviews, and I know that this isn't Hemmingway here...so if anyone has any criticisms feel free to put that in your reviews too. I am a big girl and I can take it. Anyways here is chapter two... - - - - - -

It was beautiful. There was no denying that. The afternoon sun on the trees and the pond was creating a glow in the park that illuminated everything. Jess was leading Rory to someplace secluded. She was deep in thought. Practicing in her mind what to say to her mom when she called. He stopped in front of a familiar bench.

"Here," Jess said. Rory looked at the bench and took off her back- pack. She sat down.

"Okay so now I call my mom." But she didn't reach in her back-pack for her phone. She just sat there and Jess stood in front of her.

"And tell her what happened with the buses and everything." Rory glanced at her watch as Jess spoke. Her mom would be worried that she wasn't there yet......at the graduation where Sookie and Jackson and her grandparents were. Rory knew she was the only one not there.

"Okay." Rory unzipped her bag and got her phone out and held it in her lap. She looked up at Jess pleading for him to say something......tell her it will be okay. That was really all she needed right then.......but Jess didn't understand......he thought she was asking him to leave her alone. Silently he took the record out of Rory's hands and the back-pack off the bench where Rory had laid it. Still holding her gaze he took a few steps backwards holding her items.

"Where are you going?"

"Over there." Jess pointed to a grassy hill about twenty feet away from the bench where a few people were sitting on. They had blankets and books and two shirtless guys were throwing a Frisbee. "I figured you would want some privacy." Rory nodded and saw it wasn't far away.

"Yeah thanks." But Rory's voice was shaky.

"Don't leave the bench. If I look over here and you're not here I am going to freak out."

"Okay." Jess turned and walked away to the grassy area. He dropped Rory's things softly on the grass and lied down. He looked at the sky. At the clouds and glanced at Rory on the bench. She was on the phone but he couldn't see her face, she was looking down, her fallen hair covering her face from his view.

Jess thought that it was unfair. This was probably the first time Rory had done something wrong, something she could get in trouble for. And now she was busted. Jess had considered calling a guy he knew and driving her home. But that would mean that Jess would owe him something.......and the guy was not the type to owe favors to. But Jess had considered it. To do that for her.

Because she had done all this for him.

They hadn't talked about it, but Jess wanted to.....badly. Rory had ditched school and came in her uniform to see him. For him only. Their phone call the other night was awkward and strange....and Jess was rethinking everything he felt for her. Then she shows up and blows his mind.

No one had risked so much for him before.

He looked at her again. He could see her face. She was crying and talking to her mother on the phone. He had also caused her to get in trouble. Jess wondered if Rory thought he was worth all of the trouble...........he knew he didn't.

Rory was walking to him, talking into her phone until she was standing above him. Jess sat up confused at what was going on.

"My mom wants to talk to you." Rory handed Jess the phone. Jess looked at Rory for a second before he took it. The last thing he wanted to do was talk to Lorelai. Not only did she hate him but Jess thought she was a raging bitch. He didn't understand how someone so judgmental and ridiculous could have such a sweet and lovely daughter. But the pleading look in Rory's eyes convinced him. Damm her blue eyes, he thought.

"Hello."

"Hey Jess."

"Hello Lorelai." His eyes were fixed on Rory's as she was watching him. He told himself to do this for her. To not screw up and say something sarcastic and smart-ass to the woman who he hated and hated him. It would only make things worse for Rory he told himself.

"My daughter says you are offering her a place to stay tonight."

"Yes Rory can stay at my apartment. It's no problem."

"Will your mother be there?"

"My mom gets off work at around midnight and then she comes home." It wasn't a complete lie. Lizzie does get off work at midnight, but Jess knew she would be sleeping at her boyfriend's tonight.

"I need the telephone of your apartment incase anything happens."

"555-9763."

"Jess?" The way she said his name was full of such disdain that Jess felt like either hanging up or saying something along the lines of "fuck off". But Jess kept his mouth shut, for Rory.

"Yes?"

"I don't think I have to remind you that Rory is my only child and very special and if anything happens to her, and I mean ANYTHING, I will hunt you down."

"No you don't have to remind me."

"Good. And I also don't have to remind you that I am less than happy with the current situation and I want Rory to come home on the bus in perfect condition, with no broken bones or fractured wrists this time. Think you can handle that?"

"I think so." Jess said it through clenched teeth. God what a hypocrite, Jess thought.

"Good. Put Rory on." Jess handed the phone back to Rory and put his head down on the grass as he was before Rory came over to him. She said a few things to her mother then flipped the phone back into place. Rory stood above Jess, looking at him but said nothing. She felt like crying again.....like her chest was about to implode........she looked down at Jess and he seemed so comfortable that she decided to lie down next to him. They both stared at the sky and the clouds.

Rory couldn't control it any longer and she turned on her side, away from Jess, and cried quietly. She covered her face with her hands. Jess also turned on his side, toward Rory. He was staring directly at the back of her head.

"Look its going to be okay." Jess was uncomfortable with Rory crying next to him. He didn't know what to say, but knew he had to say something, or do something. That was what nice guys did in books and in movies, guys like Dean, guys Rory dated. They made sure that their girl was okay and let the girl cry on their shoulder. Jess decided to show his compassion by stroking her hair, feeling the softness of every strand on his fingertips. He loved the sensation.

And the act was all deliberate and pre-mediated. To stop Rory from crying and to show he cared.

"You don't understand. She is sitting in her chair in her cap and gown at this very moment....." Rory paused trying to control her breathing which was irregular then continued, "......waiting to walk across the stage and I was the one person she wanted there. I completely let her down."

"Rory, she shouldn't be that dependent on you to be so responsible and mature all the time. You are a teenager, once in a while you are supposed to do irrational things and get into trouble." Jess was careful not to badmouth Lorelai. Not to call her all the names he had in his head.

"Look what happens when I do. I was spontaneous for the first time in my life today and it completely blows up in my face." Rory cried a little more then. She thought back to the moment when she turned away from Chilton and walked back to the bus that would take her to New York. All she was thinking of was Jess and that phone call.

"I know it seems bad right now, but I got a feeling.....it will turn good in the end." Jess kept his hand in her hair.

"I hope so." And she kept crying.