"Something's bugging you…spill," Paris said to her roommate.
"It's nothing."
"Don't tell me it's nothing, Gilmore, I know you too well."
Rory didn't want Paris to know what was going through her head. Her feelings for Tristan, how bad he hurt her, and the one who was there. Jess was there when Rory needed him, but she wasn't sure she could trust him anymore. Dean might've been Rory's first love, but it was Jess who she considered sleeping with while they were together. Jess was the first guy that Rory ever felt truly passionate about…he just fit so well with her. Her mind flashed back to the Stars Hollow Dance-a-thon, when she realized that she had strong feelings for Jess.
Rory: you think you're bugging me sitting in front of me staring like that?
Jess: You think you're bugging me dancing in front of me staring like that?
Rory: I'm not staring at you
Jess: Then how do you know I'm staring at you?
Rory: I am dancing. I cannot control where my glance goes. And the few moments that I can control it, my glance goes to Dean, not you.
Jess: So you can't control when you look at me, but you have to force yourself to look at him? Sorry man, that's cold.
Then she remembered when Dean officially broke up with her because of Jess.
Jess: I'm gonna sit here as long as I like, and I'm gonna do whatever I like, and if you don't like it, then just ignore me and pay attention to your boyfriend.
Dean: Sorry, she can't. I'm not her boyfriend anymore.
Rory: What?
Dean: You know, I tried to ignore this. I really did, but I don't know what the hell I was thinking.
Rory: What are you talking about?
Dean: You don't wanna be with me, Rory.
Rory: Yes I do.
Dean: Oh please! You've been into hi since he got to town, and I have spent weeks – months actually – trying to convince myself that it wasn't true, that everything was fine between us. But now I know that I was an idiot. You're into him and he's into you, and Shane, who by the way, should be listening to this 'cause it's so damn obvious.
That night on the bridge, she knew for sure that her feelings for Jess weren't just friendly.
Rory: He's right. Everything he said. All those things about you and me, all those things about me lying to him, and messing with his head. He was right. Well, wasn't he? Fine, he was right about me, then. Now go away.
Jess: He was right…about all of it.
Rory couldn't get that night out of her mind…when she looked at Jess, everything was perfect. Now he'd broken her heart and run away … twice. Why did he have to be the one that she called? Why was he the one that comforted her all night? Rory didn't want to set herself up for heartache again, but she knew that's where it was headed.
"This is about Jess, isn't it? I didn't think it was a good sign when I saw you asleep in his arms this morning."
"Paris – please."
"No, I'm not going to stand by and watch him hurt you again."
Rory convinced Paris to change the subject to her and Alex and how they were out all night. Rory liked hearing Paris' story because it got her mind off of her night. The girls were interrupted by a knock at the door and Tanna coming into their room to say that there was a tall, blonde guy asking for Rory. Paris looked over at her friend and got up to answer the door.
"I thought I asked for Mary."
"What do you want, Tristan? I told you not to hurt her."
"Maybe she's not the one hurting right now!"
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know what I did, Paris. All of a sudden she was acting distant then she yelled and I yelled and I fucked up, royally."
"At least you know it."
With that she shut the door and went back to Rory who was in a complete daze on her bed. Paris didn't want to interrupt her thoughts; Rory hadn't even noticed her walking in the room. A few minutes later she looked up –
"Paris…"
"Yeah?"
"What did Tristan want?"
"I think he saw Jess, maybe he wanted to apologize? I'm not quite sure."
"I'm glad Jess was here for me last night."
"Really? But after what he's done to you in the past…"
"He's hurt me, but I remember the night we started dating…when Dean broke up with me the second time. I couldn't keep my eyes off Jess, he was so intriguing…so amazing."
"What about now, Rory. He wanted you to run away with him…he told you he loves you, then left."
"There's just one thing, Paris…"
"What's that?"
"I love him."
A/N – I have my college orientation followed by a vacation for the next week. I promise to write the next chapter when I get back. This is a little filler, but I'm trying to figure out where the story's going. Thanks for all the reviews J they're making me want to write more.