Kym and Jess walked together in silence away from the diner and were begining to walk through the park when Kym suddenly stopped and turned to him.

'Look Jess, I...' She began but was interupted by Shane crying out 'Hey!' They turned to watch her cross the road to reach them, closly followed by Luke and Taylor, neck and neck.Jess groaned.

'Look Shane, it's ok, just go back inside.' Shane was eyeing Jess's girlfriend with an avid interest. She took in the vacant expression and the bright blonde hair, and a nickname formed in her head.

'No, let Barbie speak,' she said teasingly. 'Let's see if she can string an entire sentence together. She eyed her with great amusement.

By this time Luke and Taylor had caught up with them and were watching the conversation, the two Lorealis not far behind.

'Why the hell did you come to Stars Hollow?' Asked Shane

'That's what I want to know,' mumbled Taylor under his breath.

'Did you think you could get back with Jess?' Shane pressed angrily.

'Yeah that was part of the plan.' Kym said slowly, as if she was talking to an idiot. Shane was thrown, she was used to being able to intimidate her peers at school, but this brunette was proving to be a challenge

'Well you can't!' Was her witty reply. Kym stepped forward and looked down at the shorter girl raising a perfectly arched eyebrow.

'Oh yeah? And why's that Barbie?'

'Because he's mine,' cried Shane fiercly, regaining her confidence. 'And if some fashion reject like you thinks you can steal him away from me, you're in for a rude awakening!' Shane lashed out, slapping Kym, hard, around the face. Kym recoiled slightly and blinked in surprise. She felt her rapidly reddening cheek.

'That actually hurt Barbie.' She dropped her bag with an ominous thud, her eyes blazing, and her hands formed fists as she flexed her knuckles. A crowd had begun to form and everyone was watching the enraged newcomer. Except Rory. Rory was watching Jess, watching his expression go from annoyance to disbelief to something resembling fear. His back stiffened.

'Come on Kym, you're not in New York anymore,' he said urgently. 'Leave it.'

'Back off Jess,' said Kym looking over her shoulder. 'I'm just going to teach your girl here a little lesson, ow! Ow! OW!' Shane had caught Kym unawares and was yanking on the girl's dark hair.

'Ow!' Cried the New Yorker again, batting and scratching helplessly. She hated to admitt it but Barbie definately had the upper hand. She was more used to street fighting with knives than bitch slapping with hair pulling.

'So much for street cred,' drawled Loreali. Jess glared at her and opened his mouth to say something when Kym let out another cry of pain.

'OW! Barbie let go! Ok you win, you win, I'll go, I'll leave Jess alone, just get off me!'

'Really?' Asked the gullable Shane.

'I swear!' Warily Shane realised her. True to her word Kym picked her bag up and made as if to leave.

'Thanks Barbie,' Kym said before turning and punching Shane straight in the face. Shane fell back onto the ground clutching her nose. Jess flinched. Luke rushed forward with Taylor to help Shane to her feet whilst Kym fished in her bag for a cigarette. She took one, lit it and threw the packet to Jess. His face was grim and he deliberated about taking one for a second, before deciding against it and tossing the packet back to her.

'I thought you'd quit,' he remarked.

'Yeah and it lasted all of two days.' Kym replied puffing away, completely oblivious to the crying girl on the floor. Jess nodded for no particular reason and she finally glanced down at Shane, fighing back the smile.

'Check on your girl, we'll catch up another time.' She walked away calling out over her shoulder, 'I'm working at Gypsy's garage, my apartment's above it.' And she was gone.

Shane stood crying, her nose red.

'Ohmigod did you see what that bitch did to me?' She ranted at Luke and Taylor, who were closest.

'Can it, nothing's broken,' said Luke abruptly whirling on his newphew. 'Who the hell is she Jess?' He demanded.

'She told you,' he grumbled. 'My ex.' Taylor stepped forward and jabbed him in the chest.

'Who do you think you are you little hooligun!' He turned to the crowd and shot a sideways glance at Luke.

'You should never have let him come back Luke! Look at the type of people he's bringing into our town!' The crowd mumered support and Rory looked horror-stricken as she stared at Jess.

The teenager's face hardened and he ran off, leaving the scene. Loreali let off a low whistle in an attempt to clear the tension as Rory called Jess's name and set off after him, at a slightly slower pace.

Loreali looked stunned as everyone watched her daughter's retreating back in an amazed silence, punctuated only by Shane's sobs.