Once my mom and I left the diner I felt different, like I didn't have to hide. Yet I had this feeling inside of me that made me feel ashamed. Jess and I had kissed passionately in front of everyone in the diner, which I knew would soon spread throughout the town in about ten minutes. Mom had left me, and there I was just walking aimlessly around the town, with an occasional glance in my direction. Just a few minutes later, I heard some footsteps beside me, and a shocked Lane presented herself into my view.

Lane: Tell me you didn't!

Rory: I don't know what you're talking about.

Lane: You can't be serious.

Rory: (silent)

Lane: You are part of the Star's Hollow gossip chain and you can't even tell your best friend?

Rory: Lane, everyone is part of the gossip chain at least a hundred times in their life.

Lane: Yeah but this is so good. You and Jess professing your love for one another by just randomly kissing each other in Luke's diner.

Rory: We weren't professing our love.

Lane: Yeah? Than why did you too kiss?

Rory: I think it was because my mom told him too.

Lane: (starts laughing)

Rory: It's not funny. What if he didn't want to kiss me? What if it was because he had to?

Lane: Rory, you know as well as I do, that Jess would never do something he didn't want to do.

Rory: You do make a good point there, my friend.

Lane: I just think that you're in love, but are too scared to let it blossom.

Rory: Okay stop making flower references.

Lane: (holds her hands up in defense)

After I talked with Lane I went to the bridge and sat down. I felt as though my life was moving without me, as I was watching from above. Everything was moving so fast, but I sort of liked that feeling. A feeling as though anything could happen. I felt so at ease with Jess, like I could be myself around him. But why couldn't I say I loved him? Lane was right I was scared and-

Jess: Hey.

Rory: (turns around) Oh. Hey.

Jess: (sits down beside her) So. Today was pretty crazy wasn't it?

Rory: You could say that.

Jess: I mean, I feel like we don't have to hide anymore, we can finally be together again.

Rory: (smiles faintly) Yeah.

Jess: (frowns) What's wrong?



Rory: It's just- did you kiss me because you wanted to or because you had to?

Jess: Partly it was because your mom said and partly because I really wanted to. You want to know how much times I wanted us to become us again? How much times I fantasied walking down the street with you in my arms? I really wanted to.

Rory: (smiles) Listen, I just have to go.

Jess: Rory-

Rory: (kisses him on the cheek) See you tomorrow.