A/N: Alright, let me explain this. I know I haven't written prior to the last chapter in a while. But if I say I'm going to do something, I'm going to do it. Therefore when I say It's going to be a Rory/ Jess fic. It is. Nothing is ever black and white. Usually people don't meet when they're 17 and stay in a relationship consecutively for the next 50 years, well not happily anyway. So please trust me. I hope the skipping forward didn't bother to many people, I just started getting writers block and figured hopping a head was probably best for the story. With that said on with the story:

*Rory and Tristan have been talking for the past hour.

"So you live Hartford now?" Rory asks Tristan.

Tristan grins, "I know, you'd think I'd have the common sense to stay away but I just keep coming back for more...I'm a gluten for punishment, I guess."

Rory laughs.

"You know being away for four years, it just felt like it was time to come back."

Rory nods.

"I'm actually trying to opening a club.....there's this great place that would be perfect for a nice casual establishment...I'm just waiting to hear from investors."

"That's great."

"What about you, Mary?" Tristan smirks. "How's Yale?"

"How did you know I was at Yale?"

"I kept in touch with Madeline and Louise for a while after I left."

"Oh how are they?" Rory asks.

"Beats me, I basically lost touch with everyone once I went to college."

"Oh."

"I see Paris at school a lot."

"Ah, how is the ice queen?" Tristan remarks.

"Good, editor of the paper, driving the professors crazy." Rory rolls her eyes.

"Nice to know some things never change."

"Yeah."

"So, enough small talk, what's the deal with your love life."

Rory almost chokes on her coffee, swallowing hard she croaks, "What?"

"Sorry, didn't mean to um, well I was but.....Hey, can't blame a guy for asking, can you?"

Rory shakes her head, "It's ok, I just forgot how crass you were." Rory says playfully.

"Ouch, Rory."

"Huh, you called me Rory." Rory smiles.

"Huh? That's very bad speech, Miss. Gilmore where'd you pick that up?"

Rory shrugs "Around...... But don't change the subject, you called me Rory."

"That I did, it is your name right? I figure maybe it's time to start using it."

"Huh." Rory replies with a grin.

Tristan laughs, "And don't talk to me about changing subjects you never answered my question, what's the deal, you have a boyfriend, engaged, married?!"

"Ha. Yes, I'm married, I'm married to my new apartment, I never leave it when I'm off of work, which to be honest is never."

"Seriously." Tristan says quietly.

"I'm actually between things right now."

"Between things?"

"I just ended an almost two year relationship."

"Bag Boy?"

"No, different guy, very different guy."

"Oh I'm sorry, when did it end?"

"4 months ago."

"Oh, what happened? If you don't mind me asking."

"Nothing, distance really he was out in California and I'm here."

"Oh that's tough."

"Yeah, but we've managed to stay friends and he has a new girlfriend, and I'm well I'm here."

"Lucky me."

"So what about you, still a 'different girl for every day of the week' guy?"

"I wish; it sure was easier that way. No, I too am between things, I dated one girl in North Carolina for about a year, and just got out of a relationship I had with this girl for about 6 months.....things were good for a while but we just drifted apart, you know I was happy she wasn't, she wanted to see other guys, I didn't want her too, so I guess it was irreconcilable differences."

"That's too bad."

"I agree."

"Wow, Tristan DuGrey settling down, scary concept."

"Nah, you just never got to know me well enough to see that I wasn't as James Dean as you thought I was."

"I never thought you were James Dean at all."

"But you have to admit I was cooler than bagboy."

Rory blushes.

"Come on."

"You act as if it's some sort of triumph."

"It's is!!"

"It's not hard to be cooler than Dean.....he was, Dean was sweet and thoughtful the perfect boyfriend......"

"So why did you break up?"

"Consult last relationship."

"Wait, you broke up with him for another guy.....what was I thinking calling you Mary, of course no one is that innocent, not even you."

"Technically he broke up with me, because I liked this other guy."

"Two years is a long time, don't you think its disrespectful to call him 'this other guy' ?"

Rory laughs shyly, "His name is Jess."

Tristan nods, "Jess and Rory, nice ring to it."

"Yeah well...."

"Hey Tris, I'm heading out man you coming?" Tristan's friend interrupts.

Tristan sighs, "Yeah give me 5 minutes."

Tristan's friend grins at Rory and then gives Tristan two thumbs up.

Tristan hangs is head, "Sorry about that."

"Don't worry about it."

"Look I really don't want to go, but I carpooled with that renob, so I have to."

"Renob, yes you've matured much." Rory giggles.

"What can I say? But I had a really great time. Would it be horrible of me to suggest we go out some time, Rory Gilmore?"

"Yes it would, but if you did, I'd be equally horrible and say yes."

"Great, do you have a pen?"

Rory nods, pulling a blue paper mate out of her purse.

Tristan scribbles down his number on a napkin and hands it to Rory along with her pen.

Rory rips off the bottom of the napkin and hands him her number.

Tristan smiles, 'Great I'll, call you."

"Sure." Rory smirks.

Tristan laughs, "I will."

*As soon as Tristan is out of sight James approaches Rory.

"Well hello there, Miss a thousand shades of red."

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing, I just didn't think blushing for an hour and a half was physically possible."

Rory swats James, "Shut up."

James takes a seat next to Rory, "So? Verdict?"

Rory shakes her head, "I don't know."

"Liar, you do so."

*At this moment Lane runs up to Rory., followed by Dave.

"So?"

Rory grins, "You guys did great!"

"Like you were paying attention, who was the cutie?" Lane asks.

"Tristan DuGrey."

"Trist---that guy who used to make fun of you at Chilton."

Rory nods.

"You never told me he was gorgeous."

"Hello, boyfriend standing right here." Dave says defensively.

"Aw babe, don't worry I only go for boys who dance like ducks on riddlin."

James and Rory laugh.

Dave eyes James.

James nudges Rory.

Lane interrupts, "Ok, so Ror, what about Tristan, he's amazingly beautiful..."

"And he made you laugh." James contributes.

"It seemed like there were sparks." Dave says.

"Yeah..." Rory says shyly.

"But?" James asks eyeing his friend.

"There was no feeling."

"What?" Lane asks.

"I didn't get that flippy feeling that you're supposed to get."

"God, Ror, you can't make that decision in an hour, how much could you have talk about?" Lane says.

"Enough." Rory replies.

"Well, don't throw his number out, at least see him again." Lane pleads.

"Ok, Lane."

Dave nods at Lane.

"Well we're going to go pack up, call me tomorrow, ok?" Lane asks.

"Ok, bye Lane."

James sighs, "Come on I'll take you home."

"Thanks James." Rory replies as James holds the door open for her.

"Hey we came together I was going to have to take you home anyway."

"I mean for not getting on my case about this, Tristan thing."

"Hey if there were no feelings there were no feelings.......but if you're just saying no because you're still pining for Jess, I think Lane is right and you need to see this Tristan guy again."

Rory shrugs, "I, I just can't move on."

"Yes you can."

"I know he's with Cadi, and he's happy.....he's got his job at that publishing company he's getting a degree..."Rory replies, her eyes tearing. "There really is no room left in his life for me...."

"Oh, hon," James answers; taking Rory protectively into his arms.

Rory sniffles into James shoulder, "I just, I, I still love him......and he, he's with her......and I'm alone!"

James shakes Rory, "You are not alone, you have me."

"Yeah, but you have----"

"I have you, it's me and you and everybody else second, ok?"

Rory pulls her head back so she is staring into James eyes, "Ok."

*************California*****************

*7 days later:

Jess is sitting at his desk typing on his computer, Cadi enters the room quietly, put her arms around Jess neck.

He puts a single hand on her left arm.

Cadi starts to kiss Jess' neck suggestively.

"Jess shakes his head.

Cadence purses her lips, "Jess."

"I'm sorry I have to finish this summary for tomorrow."

"Oh." Cadence says deflated. "Well I can wait." She smirks.

"Actually, the kid's here and there's no school tomorrow so she's going to be up pretty late."

"Oh."

Jess pushes his chair away from the desk and stands up, eyeing Cadence sympathetically.

Cadence approaches him, leaning her body against his, kissing the center of his neck.

Jess pulls away.

"Wha---Jess." Cadence whines.

"Not no, I could put a movie on----"

Cadence sighs loudly, "Another movie?"

"Well yeah or, you know I really should take a break if you're hungry we could go eat or I could read to you...."

"Read?"

"Sorry." Jess says quietly. "......I forgot who I was talking to" He mumbles.

"If it's time for a break, maybe we should pop over to my place and..."

"Cadi." Jess says sternly.

"What?" Cadence hisses.

Jess sighs, "I don't know, just forget it."

"No, Jess what is your issue, something is going on, it's been over a week since we've done anything..."

"Hey we've done a lot we've seen each other every day." Jess replies.

"Yeah for movies, and walks, and dinners but not for, for dessert."

"Nice metaphor." Jess scoffs.

"It's not like you Jess, we used to......all the time."

"Yeah, well there's more to a relationship than, than that."

"I know that, don't talk to me like I'm some sex-crazed girl Jess Mariano."

"But you are Cadence, up until this week when was the last time we really sat down and talked."

"I never heard you complain about lack of talking before."

"God, Cadence you just don't get it."

"No, I guess I don't, and I won't until you tell me but you seem so wrapped up in work and when I do come over you turn on the movies and you get lost in Jim Carey for two hours, and then you lay down with your book and you fall asleep...you're way too hung up lately to even notice me,"

"It's hard not to notice you when you're throwing yourself at me, Cadi."

"Jess, what's going on?"

"Nothing.....I don't know, I just don't think this is working."

"What?" Cadence replies her voice high and uncomfortable.

"I know that there are a million other guys praying that they'd have as much sex as I do........but it's just not enough anymore."

"Jess.....

"Please let me finish."

Cadence sits on the edge of Jess' bed.

"When I met you, you were a breath of fresh air in this smog infested hell hole. We talked everyday about everything and anything and you made me miss Rory less."

"Rory I shoulda known." Cadence scoffs.

"Cadi, I swear to you, this is not about her, this is about us."

"Go on."

"And when me and Rory broke up you were there for me, and the image of you while I was with Rory drew me to you, I started having these feelings for you, and since we'd built up to it the past year in becoming emotionally connected, we jumped into sleeping together and that's been the focus of our relationship for months now.....I miss you me 6 months ago."

"I'm still here." Cadence sniffles.

"No, you're not, I'm not."

"Jess what are you saying?"

"I don't know what I'm saying." Jess sighs.

Cadence stands up suddenly becoming very angry, "Well when you figure it out give me a call." Cadence exclaims before stomping out of Jess' room, through the door.

Jess curses at himself. Flinging himself onto his bed he stares at the phone momentarily before picking it up and dialing it.

Hi this is Rory Gilmore, I'm not hear right now, I'm probably out fulfilling my daily Coffee requirements leave me a message after the beep.

"Hey, Ror, if you're there pick up, it's me Jess.....I uh, got your message last week, sorry I didn't call back sooner I've been, I've been going out of my mind actually. Well the machine's gonna cut me of so, be careful out there in the dating world, there are some real weirdoes out there and you deserve the best, ok well call me back I love-----beep!"

A/N Ok, so please leave comments I'd like to know your thoughts, but please trust that this story will work itself out. Now it's 2 am and I need sleep goodnight.