Chapter Two:

"Besides the fact that it is an unhealthy relationship, I don't love Dean anymore."

"Maybe you guys could talk about this." Lorelai said desperately. She didn't want Jess dating her daughter.

"No! Mom, I'm breaking up with Dean. I-I want to be with Jess, and- shhh! And I want to date Jess, I don't love Dean anymore, but I am falling in love with Jess." Rory said.

"Rory... you should be with Dean. He has done so much for you, and he loves you so much." Lorelai said. "Dean is the perfect boyfriend. Not Jess. Jess is- you can't count on Jess to be there. But you can count on Dean."

"Mom, won't it be unfair if I drag Dean along when I don't love him? I don't even like him anymore." Rory says, getting angry with her mother.

"I guess it would be." Lorelai said, but she made sure her disappointment is evident on her face.

"Bye Mom. Just like a Band-Aid." Rory said the last part for herself, and she slipped out the door.

Rory took a deep breath, and rang Dean's bell. He answered the door, and when he saw it's her, his face broke into a huge smile. Rory smiled back, but a weak halfhearted smile. Dean faltered. "What's wrong?" He asked.

"Dean, we need to talk." Rory said, desperately wishing that she wasn't about to do this. Will he get mad? Oh no. I hope he doesn't cry.

"What's wrong, Rory?" Dean asked.

"Dean, I did a lot of thinking in Washington, and we did a seminar there." Rory said.

Dean looks baffled. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"It was about unhealthy relationships. And ours… well, it checked most of the boxes."

"What!?" Dean yelled. "What the hell did you just say Rory?" His voice was very loud, on the verge of shouting.

"I said, our relationship is unhealthy. You said "I love you" and then yelled at me and broke up with me because I didn't say it back. You've called fourteen times in one night. You labelled yourself as a saint just because I wanted one night alone. And yes, Paris and Jess ended up at my house, but you decided to yell at me without hearing the situation first. You never trusted me around other boys either!"

"Who? Who have I not trusted you around Rory?" Dean shouted.

"Tristan? Jess? Have you forgotten they existed?" Rory exclaimed.

"I did that because I love you, Rory. They clearly like you, and I want to protect you."

"I can protect myself just fine! I never needed protection in the first place, Dean. We're over."

"You'll regret this. You'll go running to Jess and end up just like your mother." Dean gave her one last look of loathing, and slammed the door.

Rory took a deep breath, trying to hold back tears. She was right about him. She ran towards the diner.

"Hi Luke." Rory said breathlessly.

"Rory! You're back! Coffee?"

"Sure, but to go please? And also, is Jess here?"

"Uhhh, no, he's at the festival. Well, probably not on purpose, but he's outside." Luke rambled as he handed her her coffee.

"Well, okay. It's nice to see you again Luke." Rory called, as she slipped off the barstool.

"You too Rory."

Where could he be? Maybe at the bridge? It's the only place here he likes.

(Back at the diner)

Kirk is in his mailman uniform as he stepped through the door to Luke's. "Hello Luke. I am terribly sorry for this, but I was supposed to deliver this letter to Jess a month ago, but I lost it. It's from Rory in Washington."

"Thanks Kirk." Luke was wondering that if Rory sent him this letter, now she wanted to talk about it, as she asked to see Jess. I have to find him. Luke thought. "Caesar! I'm going out!"

(Back to Rory)

Where could he be? I've looked by the bridge, and I've scoured all his hangouts. Well, I'll just wander till I find him. Rory thought, starting to wander around the festival. She smiled, looking around the town that she missed so much. She saw Taylor harassing one of the vendors for doing something wrong and Miss Patty was gossiping away with Babette. What Rory didn't know was that the two ladies were talking about her. When she couldn't find Jess, she glanced towards the bookstore. One look can't hurt, Rory thought, and she disappeared into the shop. She spent a good half hour in the store, and bought a few new books. When she left, she decided to do one last lap of the town before she gave up. She searched the bridge, and stopped by Luke's but nobody was there. Rory left Luke's, and when she crossed over into the center of town, she stopped dead in her tracks. "Oh my god!" Rory saw Jess, kissing another girl, and tears came to her eyes. Her throat closed, and she felt like she couldn't breathe.

"Hey babe!" Lorelai said as she strolled up to Rory. "What's go-" she stopped mid sentence as she saw Jess and the still nameless girl pressed up against a tree. "I told you Jess would just end up hurting you. Well, good thing you didn't break up with Dean yet," Lorelai said cheerily. She was immensely relieved that Rory was still with Dean. At one look from Rory she faltered. "Wait... you did! You broke up with him! Oh, sweetie, come here!" Rory started sobbing, and her mother hugged her tight.

"Can I wallow?" Rory choked out.

"Of course sweetheart! You go home, get pyjamas on, and I will get ice cream, Willy Wonka, and candy, alright?"

"Okay." Rory sniffled. Her mother left her, and disappeared into Doose's. She turned toward Jess, and realized he was watching. He looked confused and a little angry. She looked away, and started walking quickly towards home. She glanced behind her, and realized he was following her. She could hardly see with the tears that filled her eyes. She continued on her way, speeding up, but he was speeding up too! Rory doubled back, and she saw her mom leaving Doose's. Oh no! She is too far away, and I can't run otherwise people will know something's up! Rory looked around, and speed walked into Doose's. She disappeared into the snack aisle. She heard the bell ring. Crap! He knows I went in here. Rory thought, near hysterical.

"Hi." Jess said. Rory nearly jumps ten feet in the air. "Did I startle you?" He asked, with dry sarcasm.

"I need to go." Rory pushed past him, but he caught her arm.

"I'll walk with you."

"No!" Rory practically shouts at him.

"Don't bite my head off. What did I do?" Jess asked. He didn't understand her at all. She never wrote him, or called him, and she's mad at him?

"What did you do? You're kissing another girl!" Rory cried. The tears started to spill. Jess got mad.

"It's not my fault you never wrote to me! You never called, you never even sent a postcard. What else was I supposed to do?" Jess said angrily.

"I can't believe you! Everybody warned me about you. I thought you were different, and I thought that we had…" Rory faltered. "A connection, or, or something. And now you're just going to pretend that… that I never…" Rory was so mad, she couldn't finish her sentence. "I'd like to thank you, for making getting over you the easiest thing I've ever had to do. I'm going home, and you can go straight to hell!" Rory finished angrily. She left the store, leaving Jess standing there. He scowled at her retreating back. He stormed out of Doose's, and towards the diner.

TBC

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