Rory woke up around 9. She looked outside and decided instantly that she loved California and it's sunny weather.

She showered and dried her hair. Then she dressed in some short khaki shorts and a black shirt that said The Beatles in gray letters across it. She added her silver sparkly flip flops and her black sunglasses and went outside.

She got some breakfast at a small diner she'd found. It was where she had dinner the night before.

After breakfast she wandered until eleven. Then she finally got up the nerve and headed back to Jess's house.

She was bound and determined now. She was going to knock.

She stuck her sunglasses in her purse and knocked on the front door. She took a deep breath before it opened. She was looking straight at a younger girl with glasses and a book in her hand.

"Yes?"she asked.

"Is Jess here?"

"No. Are you his girlfriend?"she asked.

"He has a girlfriend?"Rory's face fell.

"He did in Connecticut. You look like her."the girl explained.

"Rory?"

"Yeah, you her?"

"Yes. Is he here?"Rory asked nervously.

"Mom! Rory's here!"the girl called."I'm Lily. Ever read The Old Man and the Sea?"

"I hate Hemmingway. Sorry."Rory shrugged.

"Me too. Jess is making me read him."

"He made me too. I made him read fountainhead."

"Great book. Confusing but great."Lily smiled.

"Rory?"a blonde woman approached her.

"Yeah. Is Jess around?"

"He's out with friends. I'm Sasha, his dad, Jimmy's girlfriend. Lil and I were about to have lunch. Come on in and eat with us."

Rory smiled at her and came inside. She followed Sasha and Lily to the kitchen. She could see three dogs playing outside in the backyard.

"So, Rory, you here to see Jess? Are you two still dating?"Sasha asked as she added another grilled cheese sandwich to her pan.

"I don't know."Rory sighed."That's what I'm here to find out. He didn't even tell me he was leaving."

"How did you know where to find him then?"Lily asked. She'd easily ditched Hemingway to talk to Rory.

"Luke had his address."

"Why do you even want to see him if he left without saying good-bye?"Lily asked.

"Lily!"Sasha exclaimed.

"It's okay."Rory assured her."I just want to talk to him. See why he left and what it means for us. I just want to tie up all the loose ends he left behind."

"He has a habit of leaving those."Sasha nodded understandingly."Let's eat!"