Chapter Three: "But I'm Happy!"

"Come on Ace hurry up I can't wait to show you this place. I thought of you the second I saw it."

Rory dragged behind Logan. He had been pulling her for seven blocks and they didn't seem any closer to their destination. "My feet hurt, and I've only been aloud one cup of coffee this place better be the most amazing thing I've ever seen."

With that Logan came to an abrupt Holt. They had arrived finally, but what Rory saw in front of her was not something she had expected.

"This place is amazing they have any record you could possibly think of. It's all vintage, and I thought you would love it. After all you are the biggest music freak I've ever met."

Rory wanted to protest to run in the other direction. He had put so much thought into bringing her here she couldn't do that to him. It was the store she had visited with Jess the day she had cut school and visited him in New York. It was in that store that she realized she was in love with him, although it took her months to admit it to anyone else she had known. This was Jess' memory she didn't want Logan to have one here, but it was too late he had already pulled her into the store.

Memories flooded her as she looked around the store that was unchanged since the last time she had visited. It was then that she saw him. Leaning over the counter entranced by whatever piece of literature he was reading. It was a stance she had grown accustomed to him being in. She had always loved the way he lost himself in books. He would forget everything around him. It was exactly what she did.

It was then that she realized she hadn't moved from the front door. Logan had since departed from her side to rummage through the racks, but she stood still watching him the way she had when he worked in the diner.

Jess finally tore himself away from his book to notice that people had entered the store. It was then that he saw her staring in much the same way he was now doing. He wanted to look away to duck into the back but he couldn't. It had been so long since he had seen her, and just the sight of her was making his heart soar. He kept telling himself that he hated her. He had opened up to her and she had broken his heart. He knew he didn't deserve her, but it still hurt that she told him to leave her alone. Realization cleared his thoughts and he glared at the only girl he had ever truly loved.

Rory came out of her trance when she noticed he was looking at her, or more so glaring. She hadn't expected that. She should have, but she didn't. Suddenly she felt her stomach flipping her palms were sweaty and her breath was caught in her throat. She should say something, anything, but she didn't know what to say.

Jess was in the same predicament. His first instinct was to run and hug her, but he couldn't do that it wasn't him. Sure he loved her but he had learned long before Rory how to hide his emotions, and so he decided to take the easy route.

"Well if it isn't Rory Gilmore." Jess Spit out angrily.

When Logan heard the clerks harsh tone directed at Rory he quickly shot a glance at the man behind the counter.

"Do you have a problem man?" Logan asked

"No problem, just wondering what the hell she's doing here? What Rory, one humiliating confession wasn't enough you had to come all the way here and remind me of what happened?"

By now Logan was confused he didn't know whether to punch the guy in the face or hear him out and see what kind of humiliation Rory had caused him.

Rory was speechless. "I…I…um…."

"What was that? I didn't hear you." Jess retorted angrily.

"I didn't know you were here. I never would have come here to purposely hurt you. You should know I would never try and do that to you." Rory said.

Jess sneered "What makes you think I'm hurt? I just wanna know what the hell you're here."

Jess had forgotten how well Rory knew him. She could tell that it was tearing him up inside to see her. She was the only one who could ever see past his tough guy façade. It had always been that way. What she didn't expect was the part where she would feel the same way he was. She was over him. She had moved on. She had sent him away, she was with Logan and she was happy. So why was her heart screaming the opposite?

A/N: and now the story can really begin. Please let me know what you think. Kim