Chapter 5

Everytime I try to fly

I fall without my wings

I feel so small

I guess I need you baby

And everytime I see you in my dreams

I see your face, it's haunting me

I guess I need you baby

Everytime- Britney Spears

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She was greeted by a "Hey." when she opened the door. He had nice clothes on and a rose in his left hand. Rory just stared at him, expecting him to do something more. Thinking quickly, he gave her the single rose. He was looking away, hoping she would quickly take them. She did, laughing to herself. Tristan faced her again.

"So, you ready?" He asked, receiving a nod in return. Rory got her purse and headed out. Walking to the car, she thought, when was he ever this.. shy?... or this cute? She shook her head thinking, what am I thinking about? He's not cute. They got inside and took off. For the first few minutes, in just complete silence. Although, later on, it wasn't so complete.

"So, how did you like my little act there Mary?" He asked, having a little smirk on his face.

"Little act?" She asked as she shifted sideways so she would be facing the window.

"You know, how I was all bashful, coy, shy, being all sheepish," He didn't stop just there. "And the rose?" He said, raising an eyebrow. She looked down onto the rose that she had on her lap. How sentimental that was.

"You thought I was cute, huh?" He asked, getting her attention. Turning away from the window, her eyes were set on Tristan now. She had that shocked look when she didn't say anything.

"It's like I read your mind, right?" He said, looking back at her and back onto the road. She was on the verge of opening her mouth and saying something to her defense but then he parked the car. He got out, she didn't. He had went around and opened the door for her. She then got out, still staring at him.

"You just can't resist me Mary. No matter what. Shall we?" He led her into a grand cafe. It was wide and he had saved a table for them by the window, only one of the few window tables there were. Although, instead of just two chairs. There were four. Tristan waited till she sat down and pushed her chair in for her. And he too sat.

"Are we expecting people?" She asked, looking at the empty chairs before her. She was sitting right next to him, so she had expected him to say yes.

"Yeah, you know my friend who I told you about, that works at the store? Him." So it was. It was Him that would be sitting across them two. As they were waiting for Him, they ordered coffee. Not for Him though. They didn't want it to get cold when he arrived. It was some time. Both of them talked for a while until he came. At that time, Rory was looking down at the rose she had got.

"Jess, here!" She heard. At that name, she turned around to look at Tristan if he was the one who had said it. He was. He was standing up now, gesturing to come over. Suddenly, Rory had a hard time breathing and thinking. Was it who she thought it was? A part of her wanted to look up and greet an anonymous face but the other part was much more interested in the rose. What kind of possibility was there proving that it was him? She took her chances. Rory got up from her seat and looked up to greet that stranger. It was no stranger. He stood there. It was him. He was smiling at Tristan. I guess he didn't notice her yet. Then he did. His smile faded away, replacing it with blankness. Rory stood there also, staring at him. They had been staring at each other for a moment. It was like it was meant to be. Was it really her? Jess thought. Later, he snapped out of the blankness and looked away so their contact would be broken. He walked over. What else was there to do?

"Hey." Jess got to their table. Rory had her eyes on him the whole time.

"You made it." Tristan said, not knowing what was going on.

"Yeah. I had too. I was practically dragged here." Jess joked. Though, this wasn't a time to joke around and laugh like they were all close friends. Tristan laughed and realizing he hadn't introduce, he said,

"Rory, this is Jess. Jess Mariano. He's like my brother. Too bad we're not related. He could of gotten my good looks." Jess just rolled his eyes at his friend's conceitedness. Rory smiled, looking back at Tristan.

"And this is Rory. My girlfriend." Tristan added. Jess suddenly looked at him with a questioned look. So did Rory. The two were quite uncomfortable with the last part.

"Hey." Jess said to her. He had to say something.

"It's.. It's nice to meet you.. finally." Rory got the words out.

"What do you mean?" He asked in his way as he lifted an eyebrow.

"Well, Tristan told me about you and finally meeting you.. It's nice."

"What did he say?"

"That you work at the bookstore."

"Oh." He said. There was quite a silence and awkwardness since they were all standing up. Jess had looked away from her and him. So did Rory. Tristan just didn't know what to do.

"Excuse me. I got to go to the men's. You can order if you want." Tristan said as he excused himself. Oh why, why did he leave? Rory thought.

"He talked about you too." Jess finally let out. Rory turned her head to face him. He was looking at her also.

"He did?" She asked. Wow. She finally knew what guys talked about.

"Yeah. He referred to you as Mary though. Don't know why.. So I thought.."

"Thought it wasn't me." Rory finished his sentence as she looked down.

"Well, he referred you as Him." Rory added.

"Hmm. Figures."

"What?" She asked, tilting her head.

"Well, if you knew it was me, then you wouldn't have come. It's simple as that." He said clearly in an attitude tone. She couldn't believe it. After all this time, she thought he grew up.

"You.. you probably would do the same! So I don't know why you should say that." She retorted.

"Whatever. Let's just get this over with. If you want me to leave, I'll leave." Jess seemed upset. He wasn't like that when he first walked into the cafe.

"Why are you being so ignorant?!" Rory yelled out. She didn't want to be too loud though.

"Why are you being so questioning?!" Jess had been annoyed of her ongoing questions.

"I'm sick of arguing and seeing who get to leave first!" Rory let out.

"Same here."

"Let's just sit."

"Just sit?"

"Yes."

"Fine." Then Jess sat in his chair, for the first time.

"Fine?! That's all you're going to say?" On the other hand, Rory was still up. She was frustrated at him for no reason. She just was.

"Hey, I thought we weren't gonna be arguing and seeing who gets to leave first. Where's the sitting?"

"Nevermind. I'm leaving."

"We've done the arguing and seeing who gets to leave first. But what happened to the sitting?"

"I'll sit and then leave." Rory finally sat down. Making them both happy.

"What about your boyfriend?"

"He's not my boyfriend."

"You sure about that?"

"I'm not having this conversation."

"Then neither am I."

"What's wrong with you? You leave and now you have the nerve to even talk to me?!"

"Rory, it's.." Jess looked serious this time. He looked down and then back to her face. He had to tell her.

"It's not that easy to say goodbye." That was so not like him. That was the exact opposite. That was what someone like Dean would of said. Not Jess. Though she couldn't forget the past. Not that easily.

"Well, it's not that easy to say hi and pretend nothing happened." These words stung Jess. She was right. She always was. He hated the fact that he was wrong. He wanted to be right. At least once. So there they were, sitting, staring into space. Then someone had come along, saving them the uneasiness.

"Sorry it took so long. Had a long talk with someone I bumped into. You ready to go Mary?" He didn't know what was up but he knew that they had to leave. Rory smiled to prevent Tristan to find out she had been upset. It would just cause more fuss, more trouble. She gave him a quiet "Yeah." and stood up. Leaving Jess the only one sitting.

"Well, I'll catch you later." Tristan said, directing it to Jess. Jess just gave him a nod.

"Again, it was nice meeting you." Rory forced it out of her mouth. Jess just had a smirk on his face.

"It was my pleasure." Jess replied, looking back at her. Then, the two had left. Out the cafe they went and to the parking lot. Tristan held her hand and she somehow held it back. In her other hand was the rose. And all this, Jess watched, as he sat at the table by the window. So Jess Mariano had spent his first real vacation day, sitting at a cafe, watching what was gone long ago.

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Notice me

Take my hand

Why are we

Strangers when

Our love is strong

Why carry on without me?

Everytime- Britney Spears

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