Disclaimer: See previous chapters.

A/N: and the drama continues…

Summary: When being together with Tristan might mean losing the friendships she has with her mother and Lane and her home, will Rory decide that it is too much and come running to Jess or is she willing to deal with the harsh reality.

Chapter 7 A harsh reality

Jess's POV

By now we had reached Luke's, but what Rory had said was still on my mind. She seemed to have gotten over it, so I didn't bring it back up again. I spotted Lane staring into Luke's and glaring at Rory. When she noticed me staring at her, she quickly started walking away.

"Hey, I'll be right back. I'll see what I can do to fix this whole thing." I told her hurrying out of the building. "Hey Lane, wait up."

Lane turned around and glared at me. "what do you want?"

"I wanna talk to you about Rory. If, she stopped seeing, and hanging around with Tristan, would you want to be friends with her? Think about this first, you must have feelings for him, or at least your jealous of the numerous boyfriends Rory's had and that doesn't seem fair. If she is as good of a friend as she claims she is, then she should know that no boy is worth a lost friendship, so therefore she should stop seeing him for the sake of your friendship. I mean, you would do that for her, so why can't she do that for you. Anyways, that's just my opinion. Well, think it over before you do anything. I gotta get back. Later." I told her, walking away smiling. Hey, it would work out for most of our benefits, just not Tristan. I couldn't have him here, messing up my chances with Rory and plus Rory will get back, next to her mom, her best friend in the world. Opening the door, I walked back into the diner.

"what did she say?" Rory asked expectantly.

"We talked about things and she says she'll think it over and get back to you later." I told her.

"Really? Thanks you so much Jess. That was a great thing to do." Rory complimented me.

"Hey, what are friends for?" I asked, giving her a hug that turned into a kiss.

"What are you doing?" Rory asked, pulling away from me. "just friends remember?"

"Sorry, I got a little carried away." I told her.

A few hours later

"Hey Mom, what do you think about me dating Tristan?" I asked sitting on the couch.

"That was random Rory. Why don't you just make your 'Pro and Con' list like you always do? Well, maybe you don't have to. I mean, it's not like your actually considering dating the guy." Lorelei laughed.

I sat silent before telling her. "Mom, I think I might be in love with him."

"Rory, he just came back into town, and before that he constantly tried to break you and Dean up. Or did you just conveniently forget that?"

"I know that, but its just. It feels right. It-" I started before the phone rang. "I'll get it."

"Hello Rory?" Lane called.

"Oh, hi Lane." I greeted.

"I wanna talk to you. It's about our friendship and the fight. I wanna make a proposition for you." she started.

"ok, go ahead." I told her, thinking it was nothing.

"I'll be your friend again, as long as you agree to stop seeing, talking, and hanging out with Tristan." she told me.

I gulped, faced with the harsh reality that is life.

"Rory?" she asked. "Is it a deal or not?"

A/N: No review, no update. Simple as that.