Author's Note 2004/05/14: Thank you everyone for the wonderful reviews. They mean a lot to me. Enjoy!

Author's Note 2004/06/09: Just uploaded the BETAed version. Thank you Mai-Ahn.

The Thin Line Between Love And Hate
Chapter 5: Secrets Revealed

Feeling the sun warming her face, Rory keeps her eyes closed, savouring the moment, and remembering her dreams that were filled with blue eyes, strong arms holding her and a lot of kissing. Sighing softly, Rory opens her eyes to see Lane glancing at her with a smile. "He must be some kisser. You practically have his name on your face."

"Who are you talking about?"

"Tristan."

Rory gets up, walking slowly toward the kitchen, "You're wrong, I was dreaming about Dean."

"Whatever you say that makes you feel better."

Entering Luke's, Rory sits at the counter while waiting for Dean join her. The place is empty as it always is during the afternoon. Jess comes in from behind the curtain, walks to the coffee machine, retrieves a mug, and fills it. He places the coffee in front of Rory then moves to the opposite end of the counter. Retrieving his book from under the counter, he starts reading, completely ignoring Rory. Taking her mug, Rory moves to join him, "Hey."

Without stopping his reading, Jess responds without enthusiasm, "Hey."

"Can we talk?"

Still not looking at Rory, "I don't have anything to tell you."

"We'll have to talk eventually."

"Not if I can help it."

"Jess, I'm…"

Finally looking at Rory, Jess speaks angrily, "I never wanted to be just your friend and you obviously made your choice. You want to stay with you bubble bath boyfriend forever, fine. You don't like me that way, fine. It's your life, Rory."

Hurt can be seen in Rory, "And now you won't talk to me anymore?" Jess returns to his reading, "Come on Jess, talk to me."

Jess puts the book under the counter, the bell over the door chimes as the door opens. "You kissed me and asked me not to say anything. I figured that you were freaking out, but that you would eventually talk to me about it. Instead, you left for Washington without even a goodbye. I thought you needed time to think things through, to know where you stand, to make a choice. Now, excuse me if you're not on my 'people I can stand in Stars Hollow' list right now."

Jess leaves to go in the kitchen, leaving Rory alone. As she turns around, she sees Dean looking angrily at her. "Dean, I can explain!" Dean walks out of the diner followed closely by Rory. "Dean, wait!"

Dean slowly turns around, anger and sadness in his eyes, "How can you explain that, Rory? You kissed another guy! Another guy that I hate and you kept this from me all summer long. How many times have you lied to me?"

"I never lied to you!"

"No, you just hide the truth. Don't you see? It hurts even more because now I don't know what you've hidden and didn't hide?" At that moment, a silver Porsche stops right beside them. The door opens to reveal Tristan holding a bag, a bright smile covering his features. As Dean recognises Tristan, he exclaims, "You've got to be kidding me. Is he another secret you kept from me?"

Rory blushes as she looks at Tristan, his eyes bluer than ordinary under the bright sun. She silently begs him to be quiet, to keep the secret. As Tristan realises what is going on in front of him, the smile disappears and his eyes turns cold. He gives Rory the bag, "Here, the clothes you've forgotten last night."

Dean is in rage and screams at Rory, "Him, too! How long has it been going on? Since the dance? The courtyard? The play? Wasn't he supposed to be gone? That must have been a lie, too. A tiny little white lie so I wouldn't suspect."

"He was gone! He just came back!"

"Are you going to claim that you hate him again?" Looking between Dean and Tristan, Rory doesn't know how to answer. Tristan stares at Rory, angry at her silence. Dean continues, "We're over, Rory." Dean slowly walks away, his hands in his pockets.

Rory looks at Tristan, sadness filling her eyes, "Thanks for the clothes." She walks away, leaving Tristan alone on the sidewalk.

The bell over the door chimes signalling the opening of the door. Jess comes out of the kitchen to greet the stranger sitting near the window by standing beside him, his white pad, and pencil in hand. After waiting a couple of minutes, Jess impatiently taps with his feet to get the stranger's attention. When it doesn't break the young man's concentration of watching out the window, Jess looks out the window to find out what is so fascinating. He sees Rory trying to get Dean to speak to her. "Ha! Staring at the bubble bath couple. Friends of yours?"

Finally realising that someone is standing right beside him, he turns to look at Jess. "I wouldn't say friends."

"What do you think they are fighting about this time, she forgot to call him goodnight last night?"

Smiling Tristan asks, "Something about her keeping secrets from him."

Jess smirks, "Really?" Walking to the counter, he screams, "Luke, I'm going out for a while."

Tristan is still looking out the window, watching at Dean, Rory, and Jess. Dean leaves, apparently very upset. Rory gesticulates frantically as she speaks to Jess. A smile creeps over Tristan's face as he realises the chaotic state Rory and Dean's relationship is, until Jess moves closer to Rory, trying to kiss her. His smile drops instantly; he gets up to go get explanations when the bell over the door chimes. "I see that you are captivated on the fight going on in the town square. The whole town is watching. We all want to know who won the bet."

Tristan looks at a stiff man in the thirties, wanting to laugh at the stiffness of the man but retains himself. "I'm sorry sir, a bet on what?"

"You should just say on whom. See, this young woman has been going out with Dean for a long time, until this little punk came into town stirring up trouble. Everybody could see that something was going on between Jess and Rory. Even Dean knew, but tried to ignore it. The only one that hasn't realised anything yet is our little Rory. Would you like to place a bet on who will win her heart? Is it going to be Dean or Jess?"

"I say neither."

"Then who?"

Tristan smirks at Kirk, backing his way to the door, "I would vote for me."

Tristan climbs in his Porsche, looking at Rory on last time. He smirks as he turns the key and places the clutch in first gear to speed away.

Lorelai watches the Porsche speed away as she enters the dinner. "I want one of those. One day when I make enough money to buy it."

"Then you will be happy to know that the young man driving it just declared that he will be the one winning the pool on Rory's heart."

"And who did he bet on?"

"Himself."

Lorelai sits down on a chair, "I just missed finally seeing what this little devil looks like."

Author's Note: Give me feedback… What did you like? What did you hate?
Siaram