Set after 'A house is not a home' (aka 5th's finally) Rory's not going to Yale anymore, but life at the Gilmore's isn't what she expected. What will she do to change that?

Chapter one: aim reunion

Rory sat at her desk in the Gilmore pool house staring at her computer.

Classes will be starting soon. She thought.

Rory couldn't believe she had given up on school; the only thing she knew now was that she wasn't going back. Earlier that same month her and Logan broke up and her mom and her hadn't said more that ten words to each other all summer. She thought maybe her mom was mad at her or something so she just stopped calling after Lorelai stopped coming to Friday night dinners. Everything Rory had worked so hard to get, everything she thought she wanted was gone. Nothing in her life made any sense; she hadn't even gone back to stars hollow, the only place that always stayed the same, the only place that was always a comfort. It wasn't anymore. Nothing was, she was so depressed. Richard and Emily had tried everything to cheer her up, they even took her all across Europe, they tried the back-packing part too, but it did nothing. Not even a smile. Rory wasn't there anymore, her life seemed over. Richard and Emily were scared of what she might do, but they didn't want to tell Lorelai they had failed with her. There was nothing anyone could do. Rory just felt so alone, no mom, no Luke, no school, no Logan, no Stars Hollow. She couldn't even be around Lane, it was too sad to see she how happy Lane was and how depressed she was. No one could understand her.

I'll ask Paris how school is. Rory thought as she typed 'hey' to her friend

'Hey Rory' Paris typed back 'haven't heard from you in awhile'

'Yeah, been busy. How's school going?'

'Weird without you, g2g ttyl.'

'Yeah ttyl.' Paris signed off just as someone else says 'hey Rory' Rory was confused; she couldn't tell who it was.

'Hey, do I know you?' she asked

'Yeah, oh right you don't have this one, it's Jess.' Jess? Rory thought as a smile stretched across her face.

'Hi, it's been awhile.'

'Yeah I know, how've you been.'

'Awful, you?'

'The same as always, what's so awful'

'What isn't, I broke up with my boyfriend, my mom hates me and I can't even go home cause I'm to ashamed to' she spilled out to him

'Why?'

'Dropped out of school.'

'What? Why?'

'I don't really know, can we talk about something else.' There was a long pause then he typed 'Yeah' the two talked for three and a half hours when Jess finally said he had to go to work. Rory got up and went to the mane house to get some food. She walked in and everyone was staring at her, she couldn't figure out why til' a maid said to her "Miss Gilmore, you're smiling." Rory thought for a moment as to how she should answer that.

"I guess I am." She announced to everyone as Emily entered the room.

"Guess you are what, Rory"

"Smiling." The maid told Emily proudly.

"Is she? You are, Rory you're smiling. Richard get in here!"

"What is it Emily?"

"What is it Emily." She scoffed "Oh it's nothing, just your granddaughter is smiling."

"You are? You are! Rory you're happy!" Richard exclaimed.

"Okay, calm down everyone. It's not that great."

"Yes it is, and may I ask what has put you in such a fine mood today." Emily asked Rory

"Jess" Rory answered as she bounced into the kitchen.

Rory and Jess talked for about two weeks before either one even mentioned the thought of school again. The two were talking about that first winter Jess came to Stars Hollow, and how he was the one who destroyed the snowman so that Rory could win.

'Don't lie you know you did.'

'Rory I swear to you no one can prove I did it.'

'Doesn't mean you didn't do it.'

'I never said I didn't do it.'

'Jess?'

'Yeah?'

'I don't know what to do with my life anymore.'

'You will soon.'

'I wanna get out of here; I don't wanna think about Yale. I don't know maybe I should just stay here.'

'Come here.' Jess types back right away.

'What, no Jess I…' she began to type but stopped. I guess I can now.

'Are you sure?' she sent him

'Yeah, come, leave now, just go, don't tell anyone. I'll meet you at the bus station in New York.'

'I don't know are you sure I won't be a bother.'

'Yeah the offer still stands, come on pack your stuff.'

'Okay, see you in a little while.' She signed off, packed her stuff, left a note for her grandparents, and took off for the bus station.