Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

For the second morning in a row, Rory Gilmore woke up to her cell phone receiving a new message. Knowing it had to be Dean, she braced herself for whatever it said. "I have a break at two meet me at the gazebo?" Rory smiled, happy that she would finally get to see him.

She got dressed and made her way into the diner. The diner was empty with the obvious exception of Jess and Luke who appeared to be having a somewhat serious conversation across the counter. Seeing Rory, Luke said, "Maybe you should go to Yale. I hear it's not too bad."

"College? You're going to college?" Rory was immediately excited. "You would love college."

"I wouldn't go that far." Jess responded, amused at her enthusiasm.

Luke handed her a coffee and walked into the back.

"So I see you're looking better today."

Rory smiled. "Yeah sorry about that... yesterday was just... everything should be okay now."

Jess nodded.

"So you're really going to college?"

"Yeah. Well, eventually. I don't really have the money but I'm looking. I'll apply for some financial aid and try to get some independent scholarships. Maybe someone will feel bad and give me some money."

Rory smiles, happy that she can finally talk to Jess this way. Glancing at the clock, she sees it's time to go meet Dean.

"Well I have to go, thanks again for yesterday." She flashes a smile and leaves the diner.

Dean was already at the gazebo when she arrived. She reaches up to kiss him but he turns his head and hugs her instead.

Trying to pretend that his small refusal was in her head she says, "I finally get to see you. I've missed you."

Dean smiles at her. "I've missed you too."

"So you want to get lunch... or go somewhere... or..."

"No... listen, Rory, we need to talk."

"Oh did you talk to Lindsay? How did she take it?" Her face showed hope trying to cover all fear.

"Well actually yes I did talk to Lindsay... she... we... Rory I think you were right to begin with. I think our problems are really just about adjusting. I think... we're working things out. I mean you and I ... we were great it's just, we're at such different stages in our lives." He refused to meet her eyes.

"What?? How can you say that. Dean, we're perfect together. You love me, you told me that. We were so happy. We can make things work. You're not happy with Lindsay, I can make you happy." Tears filled her eyes and she looked away.

"No Rory. I'm married. That's it. I swore to love Lindsay for better or for worse. We're going to make it through this, we just needed to learn to communicate."

"But we already do that Dean. Don't you understand? We can do this. You and I. Just like it was always supposed to be. We can make it work."

"Rory. You're not listening. I don't want to make it work." With that statement he turned and left her there, the tears finally flowing freely.

Never having had to deal with a situation like this, Rory thought it best to act like nothing had happened. She told no one about the conversation she had had with Dean the previous day. She went about her normal routine. She woke up, went to Luke's and then went to the bookstore. Satisfied that she had found three books that suited her mood perfectly, she approached the counter. It was then that her invincible façade ended. She was so surprised to see Lindsay at the check out that at first she could only smile.

"Hi Rory, how has your summer been so far?" Lindsay decided that for the sake of her job and working things out with her husband, she had better be nice to Rory.

"Oh uh, um good. I mean it hasn't really started but good I guess. You?"

"It's been okay. Stressful, you know starting a new job and all. Your total is 27.13"

Rory handed her the money and as Lindsay was counting her change, something in Rory's head snapped. She decided that this person, not three feet away from her, was responsible for all the pain she had been feeling lately.

"Well I'm glad things are working out for you. I told Dean that if he was just honest with you and told you what happened between us that you would probably love him enough to work things out with him." Rory flashed Lindsay her most innocent smile and left.

Lindsay stood with a blank expression on her face for about five minutes before realizing she had another customer.

"Oh sorry Jess, um just that one?"

"Yeah." He had witnessed the whole scene and was really surprised that Rory would so something like that.

After paying he hesitated for a minute seeing her pained expression. "You should call him" He suggested. She nodded. Then he was gone.

"Hello?"

"Dean."

"Lindsay? What's wrong honey?"

"Dean. Dean what happened between you and Rory?"

"What? Who said.. What did you hear?"

"You slept with her didn't you?"

"Well.. Lindsay we shouldn't talk about this over the phone."