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"LUKE" I yelled when I got into the diner.

Luke came out of the storage room and walked behind the counter.

"What" he said.

"Tell me about Rory" I said.

Luke told me about how her and her mom used to be inseparable. It was almost weird how close they were. He told me about how one day after staying the weekend at Dean's house because she was mad at her dad and knew he was still going to be there she turned into what she is now but more severe. She didn't come out of her house for weeks. You could hear her and her mother yelling at each other. She just kept getting worse until one day Dean left out of the blue. She started coming out of the house more but you could see her in these long black dresses with black makeup and her natural snow white face. She was different she was miserable and depressed. She had left town for a week after her mom found knives in her purse and cuts up her arm. No one knew exactly where she went but they knew she left and they knew why. No one knew what Dean did to her most just thought it was her dad.

He told me how Lorelai thought it was her fault. Rory started barely sliding in school. She didn't turn in assignments even if she had spent hours doing it. She stopped talking to everyone. She wouldn't even speak to her own family. She would only talk to Lane and occasionally say a few words to Luke. She kept getting better started doing better in school and wore more colors stopped cutting and started talking more. She got more trusting but she was far from being the same girl she was. She still shuddered if someone talked to her. Then when Dean came back she started slipping again. Many people saw her snapping a rubber band on her wrist whenever she saw him or he was around.

He told me how some people saw a few cuts that looked new on her wrists. She always wanted to be in a crowd but wanted to be unnoticed. She kept doing well in school though because she knew it counted. She still spoke to people but now everyone was kind of getting the feeling that the sudden turn around 3 years ago wasn't because of her dad but because of Dean. He was questioned a lot and after every interrogation would go to see Rory where ever she was. He had a schedule of where Rory was at all times. After every interrogation he would look at the list. If she wasn't where she was supposed to be he'd ask everyone to help him find her saying that she had gone missing.

"How stupid are these people he's crazy" I said starting to get mad.

"I know I never liked him and I talked to Rory and she tells me a lot of things that I'm sure she didn't tell you things that I know only Lane and Dean's family knows" Luke said.

"I didn't know you knew she told me only Lane and Dean's family knew" I sad knowing what he was talking about.

"She told you?" he said a little surprised.

"Yeah yesterday after Dean attacked her again."

"She must really trust you."

"Yeah and now on a lighter note what's with the references?"

"Ah the famous Gilmore references they both do it but I don't think they know they both do it sometimes they apply to what's going on sometimes they just insert it because it's funny."

Later that night Lane came into the diner.

"Hey Jess I was just talking to Rory she told me about what happened yesterday" she said "Mr. Hero?"

"Yeah speaking of Rory do you know a way I can reach her, her phone is busy" I said.

"Got IM" she asked.

"Um yeah" I said not sure where she was going with this.

"She's stuck in the suburbs" she said.

"Oh thanks."

"Your welcome" she turned to the counter "two coffees to go please.'

I rushed up the stairs and searched for my cell phone. When I found it I IMed her without hesitation.

NYNYJM: Hi

StuckInTheSuburbs: who are you!

NYNYJM: Rory?

StuckInTheSuburbs: HOW DO YOU KNOW MY NAME!

NYNYJM: Rory it's me Jess

StuckInTheSuburbs: oh DON'T DO THAT

NYNYJM: sorry you know I heard an interesting story from Luke today

StuckInTheSuburbs: really what about

NYNYJM: A princess

StuckInTheSuburbs: really doesn't sound very Luke-ish

NYNYJM: Well this princess lived in a castle with very dirty gutters

StuckInTheSuburbs: oh really

NYNYJM: Yes and she was very happy and she even had a prince or so she thought

StuckInTheSuburbs: this story sounds familiar

NYNYJM: really huh what a coincidence then I guess you know that her prince wasn't a prince at all but really and evil townsman

StuckInTheSuburbs: guess I forgot to mention that Luke knew too

NYNYJM: yes but I also heard more like how the princess was taken away to another castle so she could get better and learn not to cut

StuckInTheSuburbs: Everyone has their problems

NYNYJM: Not everyone stops talking to their best friend because of their problems Rory you have to tell her Luke is right you need to make things good with your mom

StuckInTheSuburbs: NO!

StuckInTheSuburbs signed off 6:06:33 PM

I sighed and signed off.

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I got up and walked out of my room. I saw my mom sitting on the couch watching TV.

"Mom we need to talk."

"Ok talk" she turned off the TV.

"I can't do this I'm sorry Jess but I can't do this" I said "I'll be back later."

"Where are you going" she asked.

"I'll tell you when I get back" I said and left.

I walked to Luke's and threw stones up at his window. I missed a few times then finally got it. He came up to the window and opened it.

"Hey what are you doing" he yelled.

"Come with me" I said.

"Where?"

"Anywhere."

"Ok" he closed the window. A few minutes later he was standing right beside me

"I can't tell her" I said "I want to but I can't."

"Rory she's your mom she has a right to know" he said "why you suddenly changed."

"I'm fine I haven't cut in over a year I stopped wearing long sleeves" I started "I stopped hiding I stopped not turning in work at school I stopped crying myself to sleep I stopped trying to ki… I'm better ok I was a lot worse before.'

"I know but you're not the same far from it" he said "I've heard stories about the famous town princess Rory Gilmore for a long time and you aren't her."

"You know I stopped going by Rory for a while I started to go by Lora" I told him.

"Where are we going" he asked.

"Wherever the wind blows us" I smiled.

I haven't smiled this much since I was… 13. How is it that this boy I just met yesterday already knows me better than I know myself? He's always in my head. I haven't stopped thinking about him since he got here which really wasn't that long ago but it's a long time to be thinking of someone.

"What are you thinking about" Jess asked.

"Me oh nothing… nothing at all I'm not thinking nope no thoughts at all" I said.

"Right" he smirked. God I love his smirk and his eyes.

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Lots of background information in this chapter.

Preview

We know he's working his way into her head. But is he working his way into her heart as well?

"Jess I need you."