Within the hour, Rory heard a knock at the door and knew it was Jess. She answered to find him standing there with a concerned look on his face. She then apologized for calling him, but she really needed someone to talk to and since her mom was with Luke, he was the first name that came to mind. Jess really wasn't too upset with being someone Rory trusted, especially after he hurt her.
"What happened? Didn't you have that date tonight?"
"Yes…that's why I called you."
"Did that bastard try anything?"
"No…but…I don't know…I'm afraid that I'm just a game to him."
"What makes you think that?"
"I was the only girl at Chilton that didn't fall at his feet, he tried to get me, but I never accepted. We kissed one night at a party, he continued to chase me. I told Dean that I hated Tristan, Tristan heard and that was the last I'd seen of him until he was Romeo to my Juliet. There are just things he says that make me think he didn't change at all, that all he wants is to get in my pants."
Jess spent the next couple of hours calming Rory down. He wasn't going to push her into Tristan's arms of course, not when he wanted her to himself. Once Rory's calmed down she put her head on Jess's shoulder on the couch and he wrapped his arms around her. It felt so good for her to finally be in his arms again. She fell asleep and Jess didn't want to wake her, it had been a long night. He did however, want to find Tristan the next morning and have a talk with him.
Rory felt so comfortable with Jess, but he'd hurt her so much that she could never see him as more than just a best friend. She knew falling asleep in his arms wasn't the greatest idea, but she was tired and didn't notice herself fading.
Paris walked into the suite after her date with Alex to find Jess on the couch with Rory.
"I thought Tristan was her date tonight," Paris questioned.
"He was…when Rory got home she called me, upset. I'll let her tell you about it tomorrow."
Paris had met Jess briefly over the summer on one of her trips to Stars Hollow to visit Rory. She always noticed the way he looked at her, but she saw how much he hurt Rory and knew why they weren't together. Why was Rory with the guy that ran away instead of the one that was most likely pining for her just upstairs?
Tristan was in his room angry with himself, angry with her. Why did she have to ask him that question? Why did he have to snap at her? He loved her more than she'd ever know; she was unlike any other girl he'd ever met. All Tristan had wanted was for the night to be perfect, but it wasn't. He knew something had gotten to Rory during their dinner conversation and that's what led to the argument later. Tristan thought back to that day at Chilton when Rory told him that she wouldn't go to the PJ Harvey concert with him. He'd taken her books like an idiot and then watched her run back to Dean.
"Your boyfriend's waiting"
"He's not my boyfriend…I hate him."
Hate. She'd used the word hate to describe him. Tristan knew that Rory didn't still hate him or else she wouldn't have accepted that date. There was chemistry between them, he knew that when he kissed her at Madeline's party and when he asked her for that date.
The next morning, Rory found herself waking up in Jess' arms.
"Jess…"
"I should call Luke. I didn't want to wake you last night, so I just let you sleep."
"Thank you."
Rory looked at Jess and knew that he was probably one of the most trusted friends she had. He stayed with her and didn't try anything even when she was completely vulnerable.
"I have to get back to Stars Hollow. Call me if you need me."
"Okay. Good bye."
"Good bye, Rory."
On Jess's way out he saw a blonde with a smug face flirting with a girl in the hall.
"Are you Tristan DuGrey?"
"And who would you be?"
"The name's Jess Mariano."
"You mean Mr. 'I love you and run'?"
Jess wanted to explode at this guy. Who did he think he was butting into his personal life with Rory? Jess came back into her life, didn't he? He was there when Rory needed a friend; he wasn't playing any type of game with her.
"You have no clue what you're talking about."
"Sure I do, Rory told me everything. Why are you here?"
"Because I had an upset friend who called me and wanted me to be with her."
Those words sunk into Tristan's heart…had he upset her that much? He was also overcome with jealousy of the boy who hurt Rory, yet she'd gone to him. Jess just spent the night in Rory's dorm, probably holding her all night. Tristan didn't want his temper to talk over so he walked away.
"Now who's walking away, DuGrey?"
With that Jess left for Stars Hollow. He sat in his room waiting for Luke to finish up in the diner. The two had gotten close because of the Gilmore's…each had loved one, but only one was left with the broken heart. Luke walked upstairs to his apartment to hear something he never thought he would…98 Degrees.
"Jess, what the hell are you listening to?"
"My heart."
We do almost everything that lovers do
That's why it's hard, just to be friends with you
Every time your heart is broken by the fool
I want you to know that it hurts me too
It's hard to wipe your tears away.Knowing that you should be with me.Now tell me why..Chorus: Why, why are we still friends,when everything says we should be more than we are?and tell me why, everytime I find someone that I like, we always end up just being friends.I would hate for you to find somebody new,Who you really love, cause it would mean losing you.But am I a fool girl not to see,if I'm always scared I'll lose you anyway.Somehow somewhere I've got to choose.No matter if it's win or lose.Now tell me why..(Chorus)I don't wanna be like your brother,I don't wanna be your best friend.I only wanna be your lover. When will this end?If i told you that I want to be in your life,then you could be the woman in mine.Now tell me(Chorus x2)
A/N: I know the song was corny, but I love it and it fit to describe how Jess feels. I'm getting the Trory part, don't worry. Thanks for all the feedback I've been getting.