"Hi Jess," Lane said after she turned to face him.

"Hi Lane," he replied. "Hi Rory."

"Hi Jess. Hey Lane, do you mind if I talk to Jess really quick?" Rory asked.

"No, not at all. I'll be here," Lane said.

"Great. Jess, can we talk outside?" Rory asked him.

"Sure. Lets go," he said and they went outside as Lane sat down at a table. "So, what's up?" He asked once they reached the sidewalk.

"I just wanted to say thanks for Friday night. Paris wanted to too, she told me to tell you if I ever saw you. So, thanks," Rory said.

"It's no problem. You needed help, so I helped. It's no big deal," Jess explained. He seemed uncomfortable and Rory noticed it.

"Jess, is something wrong? You look weird."

"Nothings wrong, really. I'm just a little confused about a few things is all. Also, not a big deal."

"What are you confused about? Does it concern me?" Rory asked, now she felt confused and uncomfortable.

"I don't know. I have to go. Maybe I'll see you around," Jess said.

"Yeah, I guess. I don't want things to be weird, Jess. I know that your probably mad about the thing a few years ago, but you have to understand..."

"I'm pretty sure that I've gotten over that. We'll keep in touch, maybe."

"Good. I'll see you around. Thanks again."

"Bye Rory," Jess said before he turned and left. Rory walked back inside to the Coffee Bean. She sat down with Lane and smiled as she took a sip of her coffee.

"How is everything?" Lane asked.

"Weird. He's confused about a few things. Maybe about me, he's not really sure. I don't know anymore. Do I love him? Do I hate him? Do I just want to get in his pants? Life is a joke. You're so lucky that you have Zach," Rory told Lane.

"Yeah, I am. You'll be lucky too one day. Your guy, he's out there. He might be Jess, he might not be. I just want you to be happy, Rory. OK?"

"Deal. Do you wanna go home and get some rest? It's still really early."

"Lets go back to the apartment and just hang out. I'm not really tired. We can talk with Paris and Sarah and whoever else might pop up."

"Lets go," Rory said. They picked up their coffees and left the Coffee Bean and headed towards Rory's building. Lane looked up, still in awe of the fact that she was in New York. Rory and Lane walked up the stairs to Rory's floor talking when they heard someone running up the stairs behind them. Afraid of what she might see, Lane turned around to see a man that she had never met in a jogging suit and she and Rory let him pass. Lane took a breath and they kept walking until they reached Rory's door.

This time when Rory opened the door she saw Sarah and Dave sitting on the couch, Paris must have left for work already. "Hi Dave," Rory said when she walked into her apartment, in front of Lane.

"Hi Rory. Is Lane with you?" He asked before he had a chance to see Lane.

"Hi Dave. It's nice to see you again," Lane claimed. "How are you doing?"

"I'm amazing. I hear that you're pretty amazing also. Congratulations, I really mean that. Zach is a great guy," Dave said, being truthful, but really just trying to be nice.

"Thank you, Dave. As long as I'm happy, right?" Lane asked while Rory sat down on the couch where Dave had been sitting.

"Of course," Dave replied. He sat down on the other side of Sarah and put his arm around her shoulders, not trying at all to be an ass. Lane saw it and she didn't even care, she just let it go. She had Zach, and that was all she could ever want. She sat down on the arm of the couch closest to Rory and they sat quietly watching something about celebrities on TV. Sarah stood up and poured herself a cup of coffee.

"Does anybody want anything?" She asked.

"No thanks," Dave told her.

"Can you bring me the Rice Krispys?" Rory asked.

"Sure. Lane, would you like anything?" Sarah asked, now Dave looked at her.

"No thanks. I have my coffee," Lane said, holding up her cup of coffee. "Thanks though."

"No problem at all." Sarah got the Rice Krispys and brought them over to Rory.

"Thanks Sarah." They sat quietly again but nobody was really dwelling on it until Rory had to pee and leave Lane alone with Sarah and Dave. "I'll be right back," she said as she stood up and patted Lane's leg on the way out.

There was now a somewhat awkward vibe in the room and nobody knew what to say due to the awkward situation. Rory was quick in the bathroom and joined them back on the couch, aware of the consistent silence that had occurred when she was gone. "Hey Lane. Do you want to go shopping or take a walk so that I can show you some of the sights?" Rory asked when she sat down on the couch.

"Yeah, that sounds great. Let me just go get my purse. I left it in your room," Lane said before she stood up and walked into Rory's room. Rory looked at Dave and Sarah who were also looking at her.

"This isn't weird at all," Dave said once he was sure that Lane was out of earshot.

"Well, it was basically inevitable. Oh well. It's not you Sarah, it's simply the situation," Rory explained before Lane walked out of Rory's room.