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Chapter 4: The Howl

PLACE: New York

Rory looked outside of the bus window, absorbing all of the New York atmosphere. Everything seemed so familiar, even though she had only been there a few times. The bus stopped and Rory stood and grabbed her stuff and started to head toward the door. She stepped off the bus and walked toward her apartment on 5th, looking excitedly at all of the sites to see and noticing her apartment was right across the street from a park. She looked a little closer at the park, thinking it looked so familiar. Finally it dawned on her, that was the park in which she saw Jess sitting on the bench reading, the time where she had skipped school just to see him.

Trying to forget those memories Rory walked through the doors of the beautiful apartment her grandparents had paid for and went up the stairs to her room. There was an incredible view of the park. Rory ran up to the window very fast, wanting to see all the natives of New York walking around in a bustle trying to get to work or school or any place that they desired. Then she saw him, Jess. She ran down the marble stairs to the apartment and slammed open the doors as ungracefully as possible and screamed, "JESS!" The man did not turn around. Not knowing what to do Rory ran even faster to catch up to him. With a saddened look on her face Rory slowly walked back toward her apartment. Rory was not sad that she had just made a fool of herself to a complete stranger but was sad because the man she had chased was indeed not Jess.

Now hungry, Rory, instead of walking to her apartment , turned around and walked aimlessly looking for a place to eat. She stumbled upon the hot dog stand and ordered the same thing she had ordered with Jess, oddly enough she actually --even though she had been here with Jess over two years ago--remembered what she had ordered. Most of New York reminded her of the boyfriend she had once had.

Satisfied with her meal Rory walked back upstairs to the expensive apartment which her grandparents had furnished. She sat exhaustedly on the leather couch bored, not knowing what to do with her time. She tried to take a nap but she had too much on her mind and soon after decided to go to an old bookstore she had seen while trying to find a place to eat.

Right when Rory walked into the bookstore, she realized it had twice as many books as the store in Stars Hollow, and began looking through each and every one eagerly. She saw a copy of 'The Howl' and flipped through it. On the last page Rory noticed someone had written on it. Looking a little closer Rory realized that she knew the handwriting. It was Jess's, she was positive, she had almost memorized it from reading her copy of 'The Howl' over forty times. At the top of the page it said, "Past Property of Jess Mariano." She scrolled her eyes down to the bottom of the page swiftly and it said, "Never Give Up On the Love of Your Life." Rory immediately put it down and ran out of the store and bumped into a man.

"Sorry." said the mysterious man with a rather recognizable voice.

"Nope, It was my fau… Jess? Rory was almost at a loss of words. She had been thinking of what to say to him but she had nothing prepared. She was not planning on seeing him in at least another week. There was a long silence when the two just stood in shock.

"What are you doing in New York?" Jess said trying to contain his excitement, but a little smirk slipped out.

"I live here for the summer."

"Well I know you don't want me anywhere near you so I'm just gonna leave." He said knowing that he did not want to leave but wanted to stay with her forever.

Everything was running through her head, everything she thought of Jess and soon Rory forgot why she had been looking forward to seeing him. "Just stop it okay! I don't have time for your sarcastic comments. You know… I have been thinking that I should hate you and just let you walk away again, but you know I don't want that. I want you in my life, just not the way we were, just as friends…I mean I have a boyfriend. So if you promise me no funny business we can be friends…because I really need someone to talk to, someone who knows me the way you do."

Unsure of what to say, "Rory, are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine I just really need to talk. Here is my address. Feel free to swing by around 7. I would really love just to hang out."

"Okay, I will be there." Jess smiled as Rory walked away and mumbled to himself, "This may be my chance." He walked into the bookstore and saw the copy of 'The Howl' just lying there, wondering if Rory had seen it.

Authors note

...Short but we thought it was a good place to end the chapter ….more to come later ……… REVIEW PLEASE! We like feedback! It is appreciated…. Thanks to those who have!