The next day was still weird, but I didn't have any false expectations of normality returning. I was still at a loss of words when I was in the same room as him, which was often, considering we were living in the same house. I would avert my eyes when he would try to catch them with his penetrating stare, and I could see the sheepish look on his face he didn't see me looking.

Mom knew that we 'were in a fight', although I refused to tell her what it was about, despite her probing.

For the life of me, I don't understand why Luke didn't tell her about the time he caught us in bed together. I'm still worried that he will, one day.

It was in the middle of summer, and I spent most of my time wandering aimlessly around town, anywhere but the house. I felt a little guilty for avoiding Jess, but when I remembered what he did, the guilt would be replaced with anger.

One night when I had nowhere to go and my mom and Luke were out for the evening, I sat and began to watch Edward Scissorhands. Halfway into the movie, Jess sat down beside me.

"That Johnny Depp is so dreamy," he said, rolling his eyes.

I said nothing, pretending to be engrossed in the movie.

"Rory?" I could tell he was looking at me.

"What?" I said, feigning annoyance, but actually nervous.

"Are you ever going to forgive me?"

"I would have never thought I would hear those word come from your mouth,"

"What can I say?" he said, shrugging. "But really, why do you find it so hard to believe?"

"Jess," I turned on the couch and faced him. "I've never heard you apologize before, let alone admit you're wrong. Forgive me if it takes me by surprise just a tiny bit."

He didn't say anything, but turned around and faced the TV, and I could tell he was pretending to watch but wasn't really.

A couple minutes later he turned around to face me suddenly. "You didn't answer my question."

"Well, I don't know!" I said, unsure. "I mean, you seem different and all, but I really don't know if I can believe you."

"What can I do to prove it to you?"

"Tell me what happened in New York."

He sighed. "Rory, that's not going to make you want to forgive me,"

"I don't care what it is, Jess," I said, lying. "Just so long as it's honest."

"I got into some trouble with the law,"

Not surprising. "Drugs?"

"No," he paused. "I was involved in a gas station hold-up."

"And so… the judge decided to send you to Stars Hollow instead of jail?"

"I didn't get caught." He said. "But I didn't want to stick around. That's why I came here. There. Are you happy?"

I wasn't too happy that he came to Stars Hollow because he was on the run, but I was glad he told me what really happened.

"Wait," I said. "So you're only here because you're running from the law."

"No, Rory," he said, a look of sincerity in his eyes. "I could have gone anywhere. I came here because of you."

I never would have expected Jess to say anything like this; and I was having a difficult time believing him. It was so odd to hear him say things like this. I wondered I he was being sarcastic, in a sick sort of way. But I remembered how much I had missed him.

I decided to give him a chance.

Author's Note: Sorry for the short chapter. The next one will be longer, I promise.