It's been three weeks since Dean crashed my family dinner, and I was finally getting settled back into my normal routine. Get up, get dressed, go to school, stop by Luke's to start my shift at 4, take my lunch break with Jess whenever and wherever we feel like it, and after my shift's over around 10 he usually walks me home.

The past three weeks have been good. They've been great.

I even told Luke about my situation with Dean. After my mother so graciously gave out where I work, it seemed like a no-brainer to let Luke in on the details beforehand in case he tried to show up.

That time also let me sort out all of the emotions rattling around in my brain. I had been so worried about the next time Dean was going to jump out of the bushes I hadn't been paying attention to one person who's been on my mind for a while now.

Jess has been my rock since I'd known him and during these few weeks that hasn't changed one bit. We hang out all the time during work and after he drops me off at my house, we call each other late at night and don't hang up until one of us falls asleep.

Our relationship has been strictly platonic as far as I'm concerned, but I still can't get over how he makes me feel. He looks at me and it's as if I'm the most important person on the face of the Earth. When our hands grasp each other it sends shocks up my spine. And when he says my name, it sounds so perfect, like it shouldn't be said any other way.

I'm not stupid. I know that we're just friends right now and we have been for a better part of this year, but is it wrong of me to feel something more? What if he just thinks of me as a friend? If I tell Jess how I feel and he doesn't feel the same, it could ruin our friendship.

And what we have is good. Really good. I just don't want to freak him out or scare him off if he's just not into me like that. Not that I would want to stop being friends if he rejected me. I love hanging out with him regardless and that wouldn't change if he doesn't feel the same way I do.

Jess has been my best friend for seven months. How do you tell your best friend you're falling for them?

I was pondering that very same question while wiping down some countertops. It was a Saturday, so I didn't have any school, but I had an early morning shift at Luke's.

Luke had just gone upstairs to wake Jess up for like the fourth time since he never likes to come down before 8. I wasn't tired at all seeing as I was on my third cup of coffee since I started working.

A sharp ring from the bell above the door snapped me out of my daze and pulled it to my attention.

It was around 7, so after the morning rush, and someone I'm starting to wish I chucked in a ditch walked through the door with some poor girl, nonetheless. I didn't know if Dean was trying to get back at me or something, but to be honest I really didn't care.

I just wanted him gone, but now he's even invaded my place of work. And he roped another girl into his slimy gra–

Oh. My. God.

As I study the girl he's with more closely, I recognize her. Her long brown hair, her pale flawless skin, and her freakishly blue eyes that stare into my soul and try to suck out all the life that's left in me.

It's Rory fucking Gilmore.

Look. I have nothing against her personally, and I got over the whole "accident" in the hallway at school after I realized I might've been a little quick to judge. But every time she comes in here with her mom, she looks at me like I threw her favorite childhood blanket in a woodchipper.

I try to be as nice as possible to her of course, since she's a customer, and I wouldn't want to make Jess feel uncomfortable by making him wait on her every time she's here. But I think she just has something against me.

Pretty one-sided to say the least, but it's not like I can control what she thinks about me.

I don't think the gravity of the situation even hit me until I locked eyes with Dean, and he smirked my way. It made my skin crawl and as he started to walk towards me, my heart familiarly started to pound in my chest.

I'm slightly relieved that we're in a public setting, but I still didn't like the way he was looking at me. And why was Rory with him?

Dean didn't get a chance to open his mouth because just as I started to back away Jess and Luke came through the back door leading to the kitchen.

Jess locked eyes between Dean and me and the fury in his eyes was unmatched. I thought he was about to jump over the counter and throttle him, but luckily Luke set a hand on his chest holding him back.

"Hey Cass, why don't you head to the back for a bit, huh? Take inventory for me?" Luke sent me a pleading look, and I thankfully complied.

I did not want to have to deal with Dean right now. I felt multiple sets of eyes on me as I retreated towards the pantry.

Jess's POV

As soon as I saw Cass's ex, I knew it'd mean trouble. I mean, why come sniffing around her workplace if he didn't want to start something?

I nearly swung a leg over the counter to jump over and take care of the situation myself, but Luke stopped me. Probably didn't feel like bailing me outta jail.

"Hey Cass, why don't you head to the back for a bit, huh? Take inventory for me?"

I focused my attention on Cassie as Luke said this and watched her as she slipped past the both of us and headed to the back with a quiet "Thanks."

I felt bad for her. She shouldn't have to deal with this kind of crap.

Once Cass was out of sight, Luke continued, interrupting Dean for the second time, "Hey kid, as a service worker employed in this country, I have the right to refuse service to anyone I deem fit. I deem you fit. Scram."

The piece of shit slid on a smile as smug as can be, "Now, why is that?"

I wanted to punch that smirk off of his fucking face. As long as I've known Cass, I've gotten to know her to be the kindest, most understanding, most thoughtful person I've ever met. And this motherfucker thought he could just waltz in and out of her life leaving a trail of pain and destruction in his wake.

It made me sick when Cassie told me what he'd done to her, on more than one occasion. And now he has the audacity to harass her here? In my home? I don't fucking think so.

"I think you know exactly why. Leave or I'll call the cops." Luke retorted.

"You can't be serious! Jess, what the heck is going on? Luke, this is crazy! You can't refuse service to all of my boyfriends just because we broke up!"

I didn't even realize Rory was standing next to the abusive bastard until she spoke up.

Wait. Did she sa–

"Boyfriend? You dumped me, but you're dating that sorry excuse for a human? I'm going out. Cass let's go! You got the diner covered right, Luke?"

"Yeah, I'll take care of it, just go." Luke kept his eyes trained on Dean, as he spoke.

Cassie came out from the back and followed my lead as I motioned her past Rory and Dean. She looked terrified of him, and it made something inside of me ache to see her like that. She looked like she wanted to run and hide just like a couple weeks ago when she came to me for help.

I hated seeing her like that. She usually covers up what she's really feeling with a smile and sarcastic remarks that are nearly as good as mine. At least then I know she's doing as ok as she can be. But when it involves him, she always looks afraid and fragile.

Like right now.

"Are you really gonna do this to me again, Cassie? What did I ever do to you?"

She didn't answer or look up. She stayed completely frozen as he addressed her, and when I finally looked at her, she seemed like she was about to break.

"Don't you talk to her! She doesn't have anything to s–"

"You again? Do you have some kind of vendetta against me? First, you "accidentally" bumped into me and made me drop all of my books on my first day of school, then you started dating my ex, and now this? What is your problem? Seriously?" Rory cut me off, directing all of her words at Cass.

"Rory, not everything is about you, especially this. Just leave us alone, would you? And American Psycho, I thought I told you to stay away from her. What the hell is your problem?"

"You're gonna be my problem if you keep talking to Rory that way." Ever the drama queen, isn't he?

"Oh, I'm absolutely shaking! Let's go, Cassie." I wrap an arm over her shoulder when she doesn't move immediately and open the door for her. I think she was actually paralyzed with fear for a few seconds.

"You better walk away." Those four little words made me want to turn right around and rip Dean a new one, but I felt someone tugging on my arm.

"Don't, Jess. He's not worth it." Cass looked me in the eyes and laced her fingers with mine. "Where are we going?"

That made me calm down a little. Especially when a small smile made its way on her face. I didn't know how she could just do that to me; just looking at her made me happy. What was this girl doing to me?

We started walking down the street aimlessly, enjoying the cool March breeze and watching the bustling of the town.

"What? Are we just gonna walk silently until dark? We shouldn't let that douchebag ruin our day! And now we have the day off!"

"Always looking on the bright side, are we?"

"Without the bright side what's left to look forward to?" I wrapped my arm around her again and she leaned her head on my shoulder.

"You know there might be one place we could go."

Jess's POV

I took her to the only place in this damn town with some peace and quiet. The Stars Hollow Bridge is somewhere I can just take time for myself and sort out my thoughts.

I'm glad I finally got to share it with Cassie. I feel like she needs a place like this. To let everything out. A safe space.

"Wow, it's beautiful out here." Cass said.

But I wasn't paying attention to the lake around us, I was just taking her all in. I do that from time to time, but quick enough so that she's never noticed me staring.

Shit. I sound like a total creep.

I paused for a minute and smiled, shoving the thought out of my way and focusing on only her, "Yeah. Beautiful."

I liked seeing her at ease. Relaxed. I'm proud to say that that's how she usually looks when she's with me.

Jess's POV

We talked and laughed for what seemed like mere minutes, but before we knew it the sun was starting to set. We were both lying flat on the bridge, our legs dangling over the edge and our hands almost touching.

"Did you really get attacked by a swan here?" Cass laughed hysterically at my expense.

"Ok, you shouldn't laugh until you've actually fought one. Those things are vicious." My dramatic warning only set off another series of harder giggles from her that brought a close-mouthed grin to my face.

"You talk about it as if it was some sort of MMA tournament. Jess v The Ugly Duckling." Cass responded between breaths, her face taking a bright shade of red.

"Alright, stop laughing unless you want me to throw you in the lake. It is the one place in town you have yet to see. Best view in my opinion." I said with a chuckle in my voice.

I would never actually throw her, but it's fun to watch her react.

She tries to stifle her laughs quickly as she scrambles to her feet, but a couple slip through when she replies, "Don't you even think about it. I'm serious, Jess. I'll drag you down with me."

"I'd like to see you try." I jumped to my feet, too.

She squinted at me as if we were in a Mexican stand-off, and I tilted my head welcoming the challenge.

Alright. It's on.

It didn't take long for me to get a hold on her. I grabbed her by the waist from behind when she tried to retreat.

"Hey, let me go!" She squealed playfully and tried to squirm out of my grasp.

"Not until you surrender!" I replied with a laugh, but I made sure not to hold her too tightly on the off chance I could accidentally hurt her.

She took advantage of the extra room and managed to twist herself around until she was facing me. I had both arms wrapped securely around her waist now, so she was pressed against my chest and that's when we both locked eyes.

The look in Cassie's eyes wasn't all that playful anymore, and I doubt mine was either when my heart started to beat so uncontrollably, I was sure she could feel it. I think it did a little flip too when I caught a glimpse of her gaze flicking down toward my lips.

It was at that moment that I came to my senses and let her go, taking a few steps back as a precaution.

It's not that I didn't want to kiss her. I really did, but I didn't want to be another complication in her otherwise confusing and stressful life.

"Oh my God. I'm such a fucking idiot. I am so sorry, just forget that ever happened. I don't know what I was thinking."

"Hey, don't say that. You're not an idiot, Cassie," I have to take a deep breath and decide that the best way to go about this is the honest truth, "Look, I really like you, Cass. And you have no idea how much I've been wanting to kiss you, but I don't want to get in your way with everything going on with Dean an–"

"Mariano!"

"What?"

"Shut up."

At those two words, Cass closed the space between us and enveloped me in such a sweet kiss I felt my knees go a little weak. I tangled my fingers in her hair and grabbed her by her waist again, melting into the passion of the kiss.

I was the one to pull away first, both of us breathing heavily from the prolonged lack of oxygen. One question still plagued my thoughts.

"So, what does this mean?" I studied her face in the dim light which was now flushed a pale pink.

"What do you want it to mean?" Cassie asked earnestly.

"I want–" Just then I felt the bridge start to give way and before I knew what was happening, I was swimming in that damn lake again.

A burst of laughter bubbled out of Cassie's throat, but the humor in it was short-lived as the plank she was standing on also snapped.

Now, that gave me something to laugh about. Cass looked annoyed as shit, but I think she knew she deserved it after laughing at me for the last half hour.

I finally saw a smirk sneak its way onto her face after she splashed me in good nature, "You were saying?"

I didn't need a second to think about what to say next, "I want to be with you."

"Good. 'Cause I want that too."

Without a second thought, I caught her lips with mine, and we stayed like that until we couldn't feel the cold of the water anymore.

Author's Note: Hey everyone! Sorry for not being able to update on Saturday as planned, but I hope this extra-long chapter makes up for it. I took a stab at writing in Jess's point of view for the majority of this chapter just to better explain his feelings and to make the relationship between Jess and Cass not feel one sided. Tell me what you think and catch you next week!

-taylor's version 2.0