1

Jess entering the apartment, slamming the door behind himself. Luke looked up from the kitchen table, startled. "Watch the door. It has feels too ya know."

"Whatever." Jess grumbled, walking to his room, kicking off his shoes and climbing into bed.

"Bad night?" Luke joked, taking a bite from his fork.

"I don't want to talk about it." Jess mumbled, turning his back to his uncle.

"Great."

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Meanwhile, Rory had just arrived home where she found nothing but quiet which was only interrupted by the soft sound of her mother snoring. Rory felt horrible. She knew that Jess was completely right to call her a hypocrite. How could she expect him to open up to her when she couldn't do the same to him. Suddenly it was becoming easier for her to understand why he might not be able to talk to her sometimes.

Defeated and confused, she shuffled towards her room and climbed into bed. She wasn't up for any reading tonight.

A week passed without a word from Jess. Rory and Lorelai would see him occasionally at the diner but he would just give them his usual scowl and disappear until they left. Rory hadn't even tried to talk to him. She felt lost, just like she had when he had left.

Sighing, she sat back on the porch swing and stared out at the front lawn. Placing a book beside her, she thought about reading but couldn't picture herself being able to really get into the story like she used to be able to.

She found herself waiting. For something...well someone that probably wouldn't come. But much to her surprise, he did. Rory straightened up as she watch him approach slowly. Once he reaching the steps of the porch he stopped. "Can I come up?"

"Sure." She nodded, moving over to make room for him on the swing. "You want to sit?"

"No thanks. I'm not gonna stay long." He shrugged, leaning against the wooden post across from her.

"Oh."

Jess stood silently, staring at the ground before he spoke. "There's this thing tomorrow." He began, still not looking at her. "It's at the high school at 3:00. I get my diploma. The principle gives a speech. It's all very ceremonial."

Rory smiled brightly. "You're graduating tomorrow?"

"I guess you could say that." He nodded. "So I just wanted to let you know. In case you came by the diner around that time and I wasn't there."

"Alright. Thanks for letting me know." She played along.

"Just didn't want you to worry."

"That's very thoughtful of you."

Jess shrugged, walking down the stairs of the porch. "I guess I'm a thoughtful guy." He replied, looking back at her. "G'nite Rory."

"Night Jess." Rory couldn't keep the smile off of her face. Excited, she grabbed her book and rushed inside.

The next day, Rory woke up extra early because she couldn't sleep. She could not wait to see Jess finally graduate.

"Waking up early again?" Lorelai pointed out, lifting an eyebrow. "What's up?"

"Jess is graduating today."

"Jess is graduating. Jess as in the guy that hasn't been giving you the silent treatment for a week?" She wondered.

"He came here last night." Rory replied, receiving a look from her mother. "He's making an effort mom. And he didn't do anything wrong. It was all me this time."

"Yeah. Well."

"Why don't you come?" Rory questioned.

Lorelai laughed. "You're silly."

"It was worth a try."

"You're cute." Lorelai continued.

"I know."

"Come on. Let's get some coffee. I need to fuel up."

"Me too!" Rory nodded, as headed out the front door.

"Rory and Jess. Sittin in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G." Lorelai teased, receiving a smack from her daughter.

"That's enough missy." Rory warned. "Besides, I thought you hate Jess."

Lorelai scoffed, placing her hand on her chest. "Who me?" She questioned, innocently.

"I must be thinking of someone else." Rory shrugged.

"Yes. You must." Lorelai joked with a nod.

Rory stopped walking. "Mom. If I were to be with Jess...would you accept it?"

Lorelai frowned, surprised by her sudden seriousness. "Are you...are you gonna be with Jess?"

"Yeah. I hope so." Rory nodded.

"Soon?"

"Yeah."

"Like how soon?" She questioned.

"Mom!"

Lorelai let out a breath. "Yes. I can accept that." She finally agreed reluctantly. "I don't agree with everything he's done, but I can see that he makes you happy. You're a smart girl. I trust your decisions."

"Thank you."

"Uhuh." Lorelai nodded, not believing that she was going to allow her daughter to be with Jess again. But then again she would probably do it anyway, at least this way she'd have her daughter.

That afternoon dragged by but eventually 3:00pm came close. Wanting to be her normal prompt self, Rory entered the high school at 2:50 and was directed to the room where the band usually practiced. It had risers set up with chairs for friends and family and in the front row there were about 20 or so chairs for the graduates.

Rory spotted Luke immediately. He was sitting by himself in the very back corner. "Hey Luke."

"Hey Rory." He smiled. "Here sit down." He motioned to the seat next to him.

"I will in a minute. I just need to find Jess really quickly. I'll be right back. Save my seat." She told him, as she made her way down the risers and snuck into the back room. Inside she found a bunch of familiar faces that she recognized from some of her classes when she was back at Star's Hollow. Of course, a lot of them weren't in class that much so she didn't remember their names.

Looking around she didn't see Jess anywhere, but noticed that there was an open door on the other side of the room that led outside. Rory made her way to the door and peaked out to find just what she had expected...Jess was leaning against the building in dress pants and button up shirt, smoking.

"Don't you look handsome." Rory announced her presence.

Jess looked over, surprised. "I'm pretty sure you're not allowed out here."

"Yeah well...I'm a rule breaker. What can I say?" She joked, walking towards him.

"Rebel." he smirked, flicking some ash to the ground.

Rory laughed. "Yeah."

"So you came?" He pointed out the obvious.

Rory shrugged. "There was no one to serve me coffee. I got confused."

"I tried to warn you."

"Yes you did." She nodded. "Umm..."

"What?"

"I wrote something." She told him, pulling out a piece of lined paper that had been folded into a square. "Here." She reached out her hand and he looked down at it.

"What is it?"

"Just wait till later to read it." She told him. " Good luck. Luke and I are on the top in the corner."

With that, she left him. Thumbing the paper in his fingers he became lost in thought. She had said to wait before he read it, but he couldn't. He opened the paper and began to read.

Jess,

Ever since the kiss at Sookie's wedding I've started more letters to you then I can count. Some where out there thousands people are writing on my recycled feelings for you and they have no idea. Isn't that crazy to think of what you could be writing on? Like, right now I could be writing on the pieces of a great novel that'll never be read. A missed opportunity...all because the author got too lazy or too busy or too...scared. I don't want us to become an amazing story that never had a chance to be read all because I'm too scared.

You're right. I am a hypocrite. I pressure you and pressure you to talk to me and tell me how you feel but when it comes time for me to say how I feel...I can't. Maybe it's easier if I write it or maybe it's not, but I'm going to anyway. I still love you. I love you. There is said...well, actually I wrote it. But either way it's out there...I love you.

Rory

P.S: Congratulations. I'm proud of you.

Folding up the paper quickly, he rested his head against the wall and sighed. That was what he had been waiting to here since the very first night he came back.. He felt as if there was a weight lifted off of him.

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"Jess Mariano." The principle read off his name and he walked slowly across the stage. He finally graduated, but the one thing on his mind was Rory. As he took the dimploma in his hand he glanced up at her. She was smiling. She was proud of him. It made him proud of himself.

"Oh man." Luke whimpered, wiping his eye.

"Luke are you crying?" Rory smirked, looking over at the big, tough guy sitting beside her.

Luke looked away. "No. I think I just ...I have something in my eye."

"Uhuh." Rory nodded, knowingly.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. The graduating class of the summer session." The principle announced, not sounding as excited or proud as he had at Lane's graduation. Most of the kids threw their hats in the air, but Jess sat slumped in his seat, shaking his head at the stupid tradition. Rory laughed. She could have predicted that one.

Soon everyone was seperated into their only little family groups, hugging and congratulating each other. Luke rushed down to the floor and shook Jess' hand, then gave in and hugged him. "I'm proud of you kid."

"Thanks." He nodded, then looked up to where Rory was standing. "I'll be right back."

"Yeah. Okay...I have to get back to the diner anyway." He smiled. "Just makes sure you stop back there for a while cause I got a cake. It's nothing big or anything...just a little something."

"Alright." He nodded, then turned. There she was. She looked nervous. Understandable. He smirked and pulled out the letter, holding it up as he climbed towards her.

"You were supposed to wait to read that." She told him, as he got closer.

"Do I ever do what I'm supposed to?" He asked.

"Sometimes." She whispered, as Jess finally reached her, grabbing the back of her head and pulling her lips to his. "I love you Jess."

"I already knew that."

"Oh you did huh?"

"Yeah...I'm a smart guy. Didn't you here? I'm a high school graduate now." He smirked. Rory smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her lips firmly against his.

Maybe they wouldn't be perfect. Hopefully there would be more good times then bad. They would probably fight and yell sometimes. They might even hurt each other every once and a while. But from now on they would both know...that they are in love.