Jess' POV

There she goes.

The girl I want to be with….for now, heck maybe even forever…if that still exists. As she leans across the counter talking to me, while I play with her delicate hands and wrist teasingly…graduation, senior year, college applications, Paris driving her nuts, Finals I'm knocked back by her neat Chilton uniform, her tidy yet slightly mischievous pigtails, her book bag and her warm angelic smile. There she she be anymore perfect? I can't take it all in and I turn away, but she catches my face in her hands and she leans in to kiss me, to caress me with her soft lips. She moans slightly and my insides flip and my outsides, well…you know. She sits back and looks at me slightly flushed…I don't really know what I look like but it must be pretty funny because she laughs at me.

On the other side of the counter…

Here I am. Just Jess Mariano…except it's not just a last name anymore, because yesterday I met my dad. My dad actually knows who I am and now…well at least I can put a face to his name. Jimmy. He hasn't missed out on much has he? I mean, what have I got to tell him about my life? Well, it's not really like I got a chance because he bailed almost as soon as he walked through that door. He couldn't stand to look at me.

Now I'm angry because I want answers. I need answers. I want him to know that he screwed up my life without even being there. He left me with a restrained relationship with my mom, one that we'll never overcome because everyday as I screw up more and more I remind her of him. His absence left me to sit back and watch my mom get humiliated and beaten by one fucking loser after another. He left no mark, nothing…and because he wasn't there I never knew how to be the man…

But there she goes. Rory Gilmore. How do I even contemplate the words to say. I should be used to letting people down, destroying people's hope, it's in my blood. But Rory…….

I'm not graduating.

I can't take you to the prom.

I need to get out of your life.

I never want to see you again.

It's for the best?

"…I swear one of these days I'll just lose it and…and then forever be known as Rory, the Slayer of student councils…"

Distracted, Jess tugged on Rory's sleeve and then gently pulled her outside into the alley around the back of the diner. He paced back and forth for a while, ruffling his hair deep in thought.

"Jess, what are you doing?" she giggled. She couldn't catch his eye.

Jess' POV

Go on go on go on go on go on just tell her…

Rory squealed as she was roughly pinned against the wall. The top button of her blouse snapped She looked up into Jess' eyes confusedly…her lips trembled as he leant down to kiss her neck gently.

When Jess let go, Rory gasped with shock…relief…tension. She looked down, avoiding Jess' eyes and fumbled clumsily with her open collar. When she looked up, Jess had already gone.

Jess' POV

I can't be around her much longer. If I wait too long I'll end up hurting her…I already am.

His face was wet with angry tears.

Rory's POV

Was that love or hatred? Something tells me it was both…

A/N – I'm sorry it's been a while. This story started off as sort of light comedy but for some reason I feel it turning more angsty…please give me your thoughts in the form of a review!