Luke was at Rory's side in an instant, Lorelai was right behind him. Rory leaned against the closed door with her hand pressed against her heaving chest.
"Are you Ok, Rory?" She nodded, gulping. Luke looked at her with a puzzled look on his face. He patted her arm, and padded back into the den. Lorelai stayed for a moment, and looked deeply into her daughter's eyes.
"You sure you're Ok, Sweets?" Rory nodded and Lorelai squeezed her arm affectionately. She turned down the hall, and Rory slipped quietly into her bedroom. A dark haired boy sat on the bed buttoning his shirt. A pixie like blonde, was pulling up her skirt behind him, and sized up Rory as she clipped back her hair.
"You must be the daughter," She murmured, sticking out her hand, and snapping a wad of pink bubblegum.
"I'm Rory. Hi." Rory smiled, trying her hardest to remember if Lorelai had mentioned a son. The boy smiled and she was warmed all the way down to her toes.
"Jess." The confusion must have shown on her face, because he added, "Luke's nephew." Rory nodded, relief flooding through her. They weren't related! Not that it made much of a difference considering he was obviously with-
"Shane." Panic surged through her at the thought that she'd said her thoughts out loud, but the girl only shrugged in response. "You were looking." Rory's cheeks burned, and she mumbled an apology as she bent to pick up her bag. A worn copy of Another Side of Bob Dylan slipped out, and as Rory bent down to grab it, Jess did as well, their heads bumping.
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry. Are you Ok?" Rory asked, biting her lip, and avoiding looking at him in the eye. She felt as though she knew him. Had known him forever. And that frightened her. He laughed, and the rich sound had made the blood in Rory's veins zing. Jess steadied himself and sat back on the bed holding the album.
"Lorelai know you're a Dylan fan?" He asked a smile in voice and on his face, and something inside Rory came alive. "She'll love that."
"If she doesn't, she should. He's the best. I mean, hello. It Ain't me Babe? Classic. Chimes of Freedom? Classic. Motorpshycho Nightmare? Classic. You can't go wrong with Dylan." Her eyes were blazing, and Jess couldn't help but notice how pretty she was. Somewhere in the back of his mind there were whispers. About how this was Lorelai's daughter. How he'd wanted Shane Carver for months. Sitting here talking to this girl who probably knew less about sex than his little finger couldn't possibly benefit him in any way. But then why did he so badly want to stay?
"Jesss," Shane's voice blared in his ear. "I've gotta be home in an hour. And you know how my parents are about the rules." Her voice had grown breathy as she'd finished the sentence, but instead of feeling the stirrings of longing, Jess only felt annoyed.
"Shane why don't you-" But Rory had already gotten up. She glanced down at him, the smile on her lips the product of her prep school breeding, but Jess's breath still caught.
"Don't break the rules on my account," She was saying to Shane whose painted beauty, Jess noted, was nothing to Rory's. Shane nodded her thanks and propped the window open.
"Guess we won't be able to use this room anymore." Shane replied trying her best to be intimidating.
"Guess not. I'm not going anywhere." As Jess stood and soundlessly slipped out the window he couldn't help but turn back and stare. Rory Gilmore sure knew how to shake up a perfectly ordered life.