Chapter 10-You Love Her

"Strike! Yes!"

"No way!"

"Are you kidding me?"

"You're so going down."

"Jess, baby, your turn."Charli said and turned to him.

He nodded. He got up, bowled and then sat back down.

"Jess, what's wrong with you? You've barely said 2 words all night. Even Brittany, Kyle and Danielle have noticed that something's wrong."Charli asked when he sat back down.

"Nothing. Just thinking."His phone rang suddenly."It's loud. I'll be right back."He told her.

"I'll bowl for you."She answered.

"Hello?"Jess asked as he went outside.

"Jess?"

"Who else would it be?"Jess asked Luke.

"Sorry. You will never guess what happened yesterday."

"Taylor wore something other than a sweater."Jess said dryly.

"No. We all wish. Rory was in town, you know? We were right, that was her, the skinny girl outside the diner."

"Okay."Jess sat on the curb and lit a cigarette.

"And she came to Lorelai and apologized for everything. She said she'd been a brat and that she was stupid. Apparently she's really struggling. She has a crappy apartment and crappy jobs and she wants to go back to school. Isn't that great?"

Jess was shocked.She'd listened to him? Taken his advice? Did this mean that-?

"Jess, you there?"

"Yeah, sorry. Luke, I should probably tell you something."

"What?"
"I talked to Rory that night."

"Oh jeez, Jess."

"Don't oh jeez me, she's back on the right track isn't she?"

"What'd you tell her?"Luke asked, ignoring Jess's comment.

"I told her she needed to grow up. She went out with guys who cheated on her and were wrong for her and that she killed everyone when she cut them out of her lives and I told her to think about what her life used to be like. Did she like it then or now? Apparently she chose then."

"Jess, can you come down here?"Luke asked suddenly.

"What? Why?"
"I want to talk to you. In person."

"Oh jeez. Get all buddy, buddy? Man to man?"Jess asked sarcastically.

"Can you do it or not?"Luke asked, annoyed.

"Yeah. I'll be down in a couple hours."

"Good. See you then."Luke said.

Jess went back inside and pulled Charli outside.

"What's going on, baby?"

"Charli, I have to go to Stars Hollow. Luke wants to talk to me and-"

"And what?"She asked.

"Rory's there. She wants to put her life back together."

"That's good I guess."

"Yeah, I think it was because I talked to her the other night."

"What? When?"Charli looked confused, shocked, hurt, and even a little angry.

"The night we were in the Hollow. She was that skinny girl outside the diner. I ran into her that night and told her what she was doing wrong. I made her think and I really need to talk to her now, Charli."

"Oh."Charli bit her lip."Jess?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I tell you something?"

"Anything."He said.

"You love her."Charli stated simply.

"What? Charli that's crazy. I love you. She may be changing but she's still messed up."

"You love her, Jess. You love me too, I can tell but you love her in a different way."

"Charli, don't do this."Jess pleaded.

"Jess, I think we should break up."

"And she does it."Jess ran a hand through his hair, frustrated.

"Jess, I'm sorry but I can't do this anymore! I can't pretend that you love me as much as you love her! You two had something. I know we have something. We have something great. You've given me the best 8 and a half months of my life but we're done. Those good times are over Jess. Go find Rory and tell her how you feel before you lose her again. Please, Jess."

"Charli, that's not-"

"Don't tell me it's not true, Jess. Don't lie to me. Go. I love you. I'll always love you but you need to be with Rory. I'll move on."

"Charli, I'm sorry. I really am."

"I know. Go."She pushed him towards the street. He rushed towards the subway and waved to her one last time before disappearing from her sight.

"Jess Mariano, I love you. I'll never find another guy like you. Rory better realize what she's got when you come back or she's the dumbest girl alive. I'll never love anyone as much as I love you."She whispered softly to herself. She realized her eyes were watering so she hurried inside.

When her friends questioned her she blamed the tears on the smoky atmosphere and continued bowling like nothing was wrong.