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A/N Hey peoples! Thanks to those of you who reviewed! I appreciate the feedback on my story. Majority seems to think it's good so maybe it is. I don't trust my own judgement when it comes to my stories. Sorry it took so long to update! I got stuck. I know it's short, but I'll try to make the next chapter longer. As a reminder, I don't really know what I'm doing with my story past the ball. If you have suggestions please, please, please let me know. Excuse me if this is crap because I'm writing this kinda late. I'm looking for a beta if anyone is interested because my spelling sucks! Anyway, on with the story!

Rory had been working in the diner, as promised, before school (she had to wake up earlier), and for the dinner rush for the past two days. She was grateful her teachers weren't being that bad about the homework. She liked working in the diner for the most part. Two reason, one: free coffee and two: time with Jess. Downside: she was always on her feet dealing with fickle people including her own mother, Lorelai. She loved to tease her about working in the diner. But would only stop when she wanted more coffee, but as soon as she got it she'd start up again.

Lorelai had called Chris and he had agreed to come down for the ball. He had been there about a day but still hadn't met Jess. Rory was happpy to see him, but she wasn't sure how he'd react to Jess. WIth Dean he was pretty mellow and they got along. But Jess was more like Chris. She just hoped he wouldn't start anything until after the ball, or ever. She lo-liked Jess alot and didn't want Chris to overreact or hate him.

Lorelai had arranged dance lessons for Rory and Jess that day. Hopefully noone ends up injured. "Time to go." Rory put her hands on his shoulders and pushed him out the door. "Be back later Luke!"

"I just can't wait for all the fun to be had. I just love to be violated by Ms. Patty." He said sarcastically.

"She can keep her hands off. You're mine and I'm not willing to share."

"I'm fine with that as long as you keep her away from me." He moved so he was next to her and draped his arm over her shoulders.

"Guess who else is going to be at the debutante ball?"

"Santa Clause?"

"Nope. Tristan."

"Ah, the infamous bible boy. I don't have to beat him up do I?" He smirked when she tensed a bit. Jess and Tristan hadn't met either. And Dean's first meeting with him didn't go over all that well. But then again, Jess and Tristan are alike so she doesn't have anything to worry about right? "Relax, Ror. I'm not six feet tall with floppy hair." She smiled a bit and relaxed leaning into him more.

"I know, I prefer your crazy hair anyway."

"Oh, I see how it is. You only like me for my body."

"Of course. You thought I had an actual interest in you? Ha!"

"Well if that's the way you feel then maybe I shouldn't be going to a dance lesson wih you." He said feigning hurt and walking backwards toward the diner.

"Get that cute ass back over here." 'Jeeze! Did I just say that out loud?' Rory thought to herself. Jess started walking back towards her.

"Cute ass huh?" She blushed. "You've been spending too much time with Ms. Patty." He shook his head putting his arm around her again.

"I'm the only one who takes her order!" She said defensively. Luke and Jess made her drop what she was doing just so she would take Patty's order.

"And you don't know how much I appreciate that." He kissed her cheek.

"I warned you!" They didn't realize that they were in Ms. Patty's hearing range.

"Warned him about what dear?"

"Nothing, Ms. Patty. So can you teach us the waltz?" What Rory didn't know was that when Jess was younger, and Liz was feeling extra maternal, she forced him to take dance lessons. Fortunately for him, Liz stopped feeling that way after about three months. Just long enough to learn the waltz. He still remebered it too, so that might mean they can leave early. . .

"Of course, sweetie." They got inside and Ms. Patty tried to get near Jess but had no luck. Rory caught on and blocked her off subtly.

She positioned them so they were both facing the front wall. They had to learn to move before they could dance together is what she told them. Rory was thinking 'God, how lucky can I get. Jess is doing this for me, he's taking me to the stupid deb. ball my grandma wants me to go to, he's taking dance lessons for me. He's doing this for me. Even if I have to work in the diner, for him to agree, he didn't and doesn't have to do this.'

Jess' thoughts were more along the lines 'I can't belive I'm doing this. Her working in the diner isn't worth this, but her smile is. God! When did I become such a sap. Oh, that's right. When Rory made me read Bronte Sisters. I was perfectly fine with my Hemingway. At least one of us is happy. But boy does she owe me...

Chris and Lorelai had decided to stop by and see how the lessons were going. That and Christopher wouldn't stop asking about Rory's 'escort'. They got to Ms. Patty's and saw them doing the exercise. "Thank God! Coffee. Can we take a break Patty?"

"Go ahead but don't sit down, your muscles will get cold." She went outside and lit a cigarette.

"Dad, this is Jess, my boyfriend." She didn't think that she should hide the fact that she and Jess were together like she had with Dean

"So hows the dancing going?"

"We got here a little late because somebody didn't want to come." Rory said looking at Jess.

"Hey! I'm here aren't I?" He said smirking.

"So we haven't been dancing for long." She said completely ignoring Jess as if he hadn't said anything and took a cup of coffee from Lorelai."

"Ballroom dancing is an incredibly sexist thing. Any woman can do it, all they need is a strong male lead." He pulled Lorelai to him so he could dance with her but she stumbled. "Well, almost any woman."

"I wasn't ready. I wasn't ready. I want a do over."

"Fine. May I have this dance?" He extended his hand waiting for her to take it.

"I don't know." She took his hand. "Do you have a trust fund?" She looked at Rory and told her "Always make sure." She and Chris then danced around the room looking like experts. When they were finished Rory's mouth was hanging open slightly.

"I'm adopted. I will never be able to dance like that."

"C'mon Rory. We haven't actually danced yet. Have a little faith in me. Any woman, including your mother, can dance as long as they have a strong male lead." Chris smirked. So far he liked Jess. From what he could tell he was definitely like him and Lorelai as teens but a bit more mature. That scored him some points as far as he's concerned.

Rory looked at Jess and smiled as he put his hand out for her and pulled her to him. They had practiced the motions so she kind of knew what she was doing. They established eye contact which, Ms. Patty said was important, and began dancing. She felt like she was floating. To her the world didn't exist because she was drowning in his eyes.

He lead her around the room, for once grateful Liz had made him take those classes. He absolutly loved the feel of Rory in his arms and how her body fit perfectly with his. He could hold her in his arms for ever and be perfectly content.

As the song came to an end, Jess twirled and dipped her gracefuly recieving applause from Lorelai, Chris and Ms. Patty. "You've done this before." Chris said matter-of-factly.

"Liz made me take dance lessons when I was 8. Key words: made me. I did it against my free will."

"Liz?" Chris asked.

"My so called mother." Jess said with a cold look in his eyes.

"Ah. So, you guys keep practicing and we'll see you later." Ms. Patty smiled at him in that way that looked like she was undressing with her eyes. Chris was able to not shudder.

"Come on, let's get you out of here before you become Patty's new husband. Bye kids." Lorelai lead Chris to the exit. "Bye, Patty."

"Bye Ms. Patty." Chris said as he neared her.

"Oh, the way you toy with me." She shook her head and smiled at him.

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"My feet hurt. Too much dancing. I figured she'd let us go early because our little preformance when dad and mom were there." Rory complained as they made their way, very slowly, to Luke's.

"She just didn't want me to leave and knows she could probably get arrested if you weren't there with me."

"Good, now I have someone to blame, you. Luke better give us the night off."

"He will. I just spent 3 hours with Ms. Patty dancing. You owe me so much."

"Just be grateful this is the only dance lesson we have to go to since we're so good."

"You still owe me." She gave him a light kiss.

"Does Luke's seem farther away to you?"

"Look at how slow you're walking! If you'd walk a little faster we'd be upstairs on the couch right now."

"My feet hurt!"

"What? You want me to carry you?" He said in his usual sarcastic manner.

"That'd be great. Thanks"

"You've got feet, use 'em." Rory grumbled something under breath that sounded like 'jerk'. "Hey, who just spent 3 hours dancing for you?"

"Fine, fine. I'm sorry." They finally got to Luke's and walked straight to the stairs.

"Hey! Where d'you think you're going?" Luke asked coming out of the kitchen.

"We just spent 3 hours dancing at Ms. Patty's. At least give us the night off Luke." Rory explained before Jess could say something that would cause them to lose their night off.

"Fine." He grunted before he walked off to serve a customer. Rory and Jess walked up the stairs and laid down on the couch. Jess on one end and Rory on the other.

"You owe me."

"So I've heard. So how come you didn't tell me you could dance. We coulda avoided Ms. Patty."

"Now she tells me. It's not something I want your mom teasing me about."

"So your mom made you take dance lessons?" She asked. She really wanted to know about Jess's past because she wanted to know him. She knew he didn't like to talk about it, but on certain occassions he'd open up. Even if it was jus a little, she was glad he did because it seemed as if he was learning to trust her more.

FLASHBACK

Rory and Jess were reading together on the bridge. It somehow became their spot where they would meet if they wanted to see each other alone or just to read together. Rory looked up from her book and towards Jess. "Hey, Jess?"

He looked up from book. "Yeah?" He had a feeling he wasn't going to want to answer whatever she was going to ask, but knew he probably would in the end.

"Why did you get sent here. I mean I'm glad you did, but I'm just curious. You don't have to answer if you don't want to." He thought for a few minutes,trying to figure out if he should tell her or not. Questions were running through his mind like 'what would she think?' 'would she still go out with me?' ' will she just let it stay in the past?

After a few minutes he decided that he should tell her and see if she really cared about him or not. "I had gone to a rave and stayed out all night again. Usually Liz didn't notice because she was drunk, high and getting laid, but this was one of those rare occassions where she was sober. So when I showed up the next morning she started yelling at me and saying how worried she was. I said it was all bull since she never noticed before and I went to one my friends place to get some sleep. I went back home to grab some cash for dinner and dear ol' Liz told me I was going to live with an uncle I hadn't seen since I was 3 in some small town in Connecticut. The next morning I'm on a bus here."

Rory didn't say anything or look judgemental like Jess figured she would. Instead she gave him a soft loving kiss telling him that she cared about him and wouldn't judge.

Jess never really told Rory much about his mom, but she knew she didn't like her already if that was the first time catching him. Her image of Jess had softened because she knew a little bit more why he was so cold to alot of people. That was how he was in NY and not now. She was glad Liz had caught him because if she hadn't, she probably never would have met Jess.

END OF FLASHBACK

"Yeah, it was after she promised to stay sober and be more like a mother. Lasted 3 months before I found her stash of coke."

"Jess, I'm so sorry." She said taking his hand in hers.

"Don't be, I'm not. If she feels like screwing up her life, that's fine with me. I don't want to end up like her. Can we talk about something else now?" Jess didn't mind sharing stuff like this with her. But he couldn't just spill his soul out to her all at once. He never had the need to tell someone about his life, but Rory changed that. She changed alot of things about him, but all for the better.

"What book are you reading?"

"I'm re-reading The Sun Also Rises..." They got into their usual banter. Through books they could communicate their feelings on certain matters. Such as whether or not love exists, what it should be like, how life should be lived, whether or not God exists, how do we know he/she does. They would read books from all themes and genres and share their thoughs about it. Jess got Rory into the habit of writing in the margins. It's how they communicated, through something they both loved and could talk about intellegently.

A/N I like this chapter. Again sorry it took so long to update but I couldn't get past the dance lesson. If the first part is crap, sorry, I wrote that at like 2 in the morning. And if the whole chapter is crap, I've been having a bit of writer's block so sorry about that. I just had to throw Tristan into the mix, I know. But I like the character. No, it won't become a TRORY fic so don't worry 'bout that. Please tell me what you think and if you have any ideas please let me know because I'm stuck after the ball. And I wrote short one-parter that I'd love some feedback on, One Door Closes, Another Opens. REVIEW!