Previously in "I am the Tower Around Which You Orbited"

"What the hell were you thinking?"

"We weren't okay? We just weren't thinking. Maybe we deserve lobotomies, or something, I don't know, but I'm tired of people asking me that goddamn question. I'm not dumb; I just don't think things through some times. So back the hell off me," I shouted and shrugged Luke off, walking about ten times faster than he was.

Chapter Twenty-three: The Girl Upstairs

I trudged through the day wondering how I was going to last the last half-month of the year. It had been two days since I last saw Rory, except this time, she wasn't avoiding me. Luke essentially kept me from moving when I was at the diner.

My final class of the day was over and I rushed out of the school as fast as I could – unfortunately, it wasn't fast enough. "Hey Jess," called a voice from behind me. I was tempted to not turn around, but curiosity convinced me.

"What do you want, Dean?" I asked as he walked up to me threateningly.

"I want you to admit to Rory what you did," he whispered harshly to me.

"What I did? What the hell are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about you and Aerin."

"Uh-huh. And you're being uber-vague." I thought I knew what he was talking about. How did he know?

"Why don't you cheat on your girlfriend when nobody's looking, I'm thinking it'll turn out better."

"If you're just trying to get me to punch you, it's working."

"I'm talking about you kissing Aerin a few nights ago."

"You're off your rocker, man. I have never kissed Aerin. Ever. So back the hell off me." I walked out the door of the building only to see Aerin waiting for me. "Oh, great. Could this day get any better?"

"Hi, Jess."

"Aerin, I really cannot talk right now." I tried to brush past her, but she put her arm out to stop me.

"I need to talk to you."

"But I don't. So, if you would please excuse me, I have a job."

"Listen, Jess, we both know what happened, and I'm not sure what happened when you dropped in on Rory, but somehow, Dean knows and I just think you need to tell Rory before he does."

"And how does Dean know, by chance?"

"He knows because…"

"Because why, Aerin?"

"There are reasons."

"Yeah, I'm sure there are. Look, I don't want to hurt you, Aerin, but if you don't let me go, I'll have no choice but to act." Before I could move she kissed me again. I pushed her off me the second her lips touched mine. "You are one screwed up girl, you know that?" She smirked and nodded. "Stay the fuck away from me, Aerin. There is no us, there will never be any us." I realized I was shouting and that essentially the entire high school was watching our little scene. "We're done here. All of you go back to your regular lives." I straightened my jacket and pushed my way past Aerin.

"Now she's going to know no matter how much you avoid the subject, Jess. So don't run away like you're her knight in shining armour 'cause you're more of a screw up than I am." It was all I could do to not turn around and punch her in the mouth.

As I continued walking, I heard Lane say to Aerin, "I think I liked you better when you were mute. You didn't seem so keen on ruining some people's lives."

The Korean caught up to me and turned me to face her. "Hey, Jess, wait. Want to explain to me what was happening back there or are you just going to be Super Taciturn Man?"

"There's nothing to explain, Lane."

"I'm Rory's best friend, everything I see is reported back to her. You do know that, right? Just because you sleep with her doesn't mean you are the all-knowing when it comes to Rory handling things like you kissing Aerin."

"Were you not watching, Lane? She kissed me."

"Yes, I know that. It just… came out differently when I said it."

"She… God, she seemed nice, and I felt bad for her because she's stuck here, virtually friendless like I was last year, and kind of still am. And now she's just going and screwing up everything. Everything I know, everything I thought I knew, seems different now."

"Jess, I think you really need to talk to Rory."

"There's no way to talk to Rory. Luke keeps me secluded and who the hell knows what Lorelai's doing with Rory."

"Lorelai doesn't seem to mind. She's kind of allowing Rory to go around and do what she wants. Its freedom, seriously – and anyway, since when did it matter what kind of hold Luke's got you in?"

"I don't know what I'm doing anymore."

"Jess, you really need to talk to her. She might not be back yet, I don't know, but you really, really need to talk to her as soon as possible."

"But… Luke…"

"I'll be your alibi. I'll say I was teaching you about the bible or helping you cram for exams or something, I don't know."

"He'll ask your mom."

"No, he won't. The only person in the world that Luke is afraid of is Mama Kim, and maybe a dictator."

"A dictator?"

"Any one. You know, whichever one he's afraid of, because I certainly don't know."

"She's probably not there, and what if Lorelai is?"

"Then ask if you can wait there for Rory."

"Right." I started towards Rory's house. "I can't do this."

"Can't do what?"

"I can't talk, Lane. I can't… talk."

"Just let the words roll off your tongue. It'll work, trust me."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

THE END of chapter twenty-three