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Chapter 8: Kisses of Gratitude

PLACE: LUKE'S DINER

"Okay here's your coffee." Luke said in a monotonic voice.

"Why Thank you, Now I know who to send my kisses of gratitude to!" said Lorelai enthusiastically.

"Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to…" Luke stopped in the middle of his sentence, shocked at what, more like who, was staring back at him through the diner window.

"Okay, you're going to have to give me a little more than that, want to what?" Lorelai paused for a moment. "What are you looking at?" and with that she turned her head and saw Rory walking into the diner, with Jess.

There was an awkward silence in which both Rory and Jess noticed was due to Luke's reaction of their arrival together. Rory broke the silence by saying, "Umm…Jess and I have been talking." She paused nervously. "Mom didn't I tell you we've been talking?"

Instead of Lorelai responding Luke jumped in quickly, "When did this happen? I did not know about this talking."

"That's because you're you and I just figured Jess would tell you." Lorelai said.

"Congrats, you guys are finally together, Hey Luke, Fix any neighbors porches lately." Jess said changing the topic.

"Let's not relive that." Luke sounded exasperated.

"Oh Lucas, you talked about me didn't you." Lorelai said pleased with knowing Luke had been pining for her all those years.

"No, and never call me Lucas again." Luke said sounded embarrassed.

Jess leaned over to Rory. They were close, their cheeks touched, and he whispered in her ear, "Wow nothing's actually changed except they're actually together." Jess knew he could have spoken this out loud, but he just wanted to be close to Rory, and he didn't want to pull away.

Neither did Rory. Rory was taking Jess in, the way he looked, the way he smelt, they way it felt when he whispered into her ear, inches away from her face. She found herself remembering what they used to have, how she had once teased him about how he wanted to come over, when Paris was over studying, but he would never admit that. She could have stayed there forever until…

"RORY!" Lorelai spoke loudly trying to get Rory's attention.

"Oh yeah, bridesmaids outfits…." Rory said still not paying full attention. She knew she wouldn't be able to pay attention with Jess right next to her, smelling so good, looking so good.

"Well they are all finished and beautiful. Now All I need is for that thing I created 21 years ago to try it on."

"Dirty" Rory said as almost like an instinct.

"Thank you" Lorelai responded. "So, Hey, Hun, why don't you come over, we can have a movie night."

"Okay, I'll be there." Rory said, happy to be able to spend time with her best friend, whom she felt like she hadn't seen in forever.

"Hey Luke, your coming over later tonight?" Lorelai said in a flirtatious and infamous voice.

"Dirty." Lorelai listened to these words shocked, because they did not come from Rory, but Jess.

"Wow, I actually thought Jess Mariano was somewhat funny, that's a first." Lorelai was still in semi-shock.

"Well time does change people." Jess said.

"Well how about you come with Luke." Lorelai said genuinely wanting Jess to come.

"No thanks, I'm not into the whole 'The Graduate' movie scene." Jess said laughing at his own joke.

"JESS!" Luke yelled. Now the other three sat there laughing. "Jess is coming." Luke said whether Jess wanted to or not. But Luke knew Jess wanted to, Lorelai knew Jess wanted to, Jess knew he wanted to.

"I have added to my book collection, it will even impress you." Rory said excitedly.

"and what if it doesn't." Jess said in a mysterious sarcastic tone. He knew he'd be impressed, it was Rory, how could he not.

"if it doesn't I'll read J.D Salinger….but if it does you have to read Sylvia Plath." Rory said

"Oh, you're on" Jess said in a playful voice.

Jess knew he'd have a long night ahead of him reading

'The Bell Jar.'

Rory stood up out of her chair, Jess then stood up immediately. He held the door for Rory as she walked out the diner. He ran to catch up with her. They walked closely, almost shoulder-to-shoulder.

Through the diner window Luke and Lorelai watched as Jess put his arm around Rory.