Chapter Three

"Where the hell is Jess?" Luke cried. He had been scouring the town from top to bottom looking for his nephew. He knew that something was going on, and that Jess had started seeing some girl, but when Jess had come back from the wedding looking happy and a little dazed, he thought something had happened with Rory.

Luke was scrubbing the counter when the door rang. He looked up, ready to tell people that they were closed. "Uncle Luke," Jess nodded in his direction. "Had dinner yet?"
Luke's eyes widened. Rarely ever did Jess ask about him. "No, not yet." Luke said guardedly. After Jess had appeared in his apartment earlier today, he had been expecting him to act like he always did. But now, Jess was getting two plates out. "Are we eating… together?" Luke asked.
"Yeah, I guess. If you wanted to." Jess replied.
"I do," Luke said quickly. "What do you want?"
"A burger?" Jess suggested.
"Sure." Luke threw the burgers on the grill, and went back to where Jess was setting out cutlery. "Want to tell me what happened?" Luke asked.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Jess replied neutrally.
"Come on, Jess. You look like Christmas came early."
"It's none of your business." Jess said.
"So something happened." Luke built the burgers and returned to the table.
"Thanks. And, I'm not quite ready to talk about it."
"But you'll come to me if you want to talk about it?" Luke asked hopefully.
"Yeah," Jess said.

Luke shook himself out of his daze, and sighed. He realized he was standing right where he had pushed Jess into the lake when he first met him. "I guess I'd better wait for Jess back at the diner." He said to himself. He kept an eye out for Jess as he was walking, but no sign of him. He opened the door, and Caesar poked his head out of the kitchen.
"Hey Luke."
"Have you seen Jess?" He asked.
"Yeah, came in fifteen minutes or so ago. He's upstairs." Caesar said. Luke was at the stairs as soon as he was done talking.

Jess left Doose's, and stormed in the direction of the diner. He felt a hand on his arm. He shrugged it off, and turned to see Shane looking a little pissed. "What was that Jess? You just left me standing there!"

"Whatever." Jess replied. He turned, and continued towards the diner.

"Then, we're over, Jess!" Shane called. Jess rolled his eyes. He was three steps from Luke's when Shane called after him, "call me!"

Jess shot her one last look, and disappeared into Luke's Diner. "Luke!" He bellowed.

Caesar poked his head out of the kitchen. "Not here. He went out to the festival. Take these to table five."

Caesar handed Jess a tuna melt and a burger. Jess rolled his eyes, dropped the food off with an oh-so friendly "here," and went upstairs. He collapsed on his bed, and covered his face with his hands. He hated fighting with Rory. He felt really angry. Rory had the audacity to accuse him of kissing someone else? She's dating someone else, never wrote him, or called him. Suddenly, Luke burst into the room making Jess jump.

"Jess!" Luke saw him, and rushed towards him. "Where have you been? I've scoured the town looking for you!" He said breathlessly.

Jess scowled. "Out."

"Rory sent you a letter. Kirk never delivered it. It's date is four weeks ago." Luke said.

Jess ripped the envelope out of Luke's hand, and tore it open. He shakily slid the letter out, and unfolded it. Luke gave him a sympathetic glance, and went downstairs to the diner. Jess took a deep breath, and started to read.

Dear Jess,

I'm sorry for leaving right after I kissed you. Both running away, and leaving for D.C. If I had known you were coming back, I would've told Paris that I wasn't coming. I have decided that I would rather be with you than Dean. Dean is too comfortable, he doesn't make my heart race when I'm with him. I don't love him anymore, and I haven't for a while. The relationship is also quite unhealthy, and there are many red flags. I'm breaking up with him the second I get home. I'm sorry it took so long for me to write to you, but I was conflicted about how to handle the situation, and what to say. Hopefully you want to be with me, the way I want to be with you. Just write back if you don't feel the same way, so I know to avoid you when I come back to Stars Hollow. Even if you don't want to be with me, I'm still breaking up with Dean, but don't think I'll pine for you. You have one chance when I get back.

See you (hopefully) soon,

Rory Gilmore

Jess exhaled, and he re-read the letter. Everything makes sense now. She broke up with Dean, and he had never written her back, so she assumed that he would be waiting for her. The last line, You have one chance when I get back, stuck out in his head. He does like her, and he felt horrible. He had to find her.

Rory sat on the couch, crying over a tub of ice cream. She wasn't so much as mourning her relationship with Dean, but what could have been with Jess. She knew that she could love him, and he could love her too. Willy Wonka was on the TV, and Lorelai was hugging her. She couldn't believe Jess would do this to her. Maybe she should have expected it, but she really believed in him. All she could picture was Jess kissing that other girl.

Lorelai stroked Rory's hair, while she cried into a pillow. The next time she went to Luke's, she would murder Jess. But, in a positive, Rory and Dean might get back together. "You want some more Cool Whip sweetie?" She asked. Rory shook her head. Suddenly they both jerked their heads up at the same time. Familiar voices came through the door.

Jess had left the diner, and was crossing through town to see Rory. He ran past the gazebo towards the Gilmore house. "Jess, darling! Where are you going in such a hurry?" Ms. Patty called.

Jess glared at her. "None of your business." He muttered.

"Perhaps to see Rory?" Ms. Patty said suggestively.

Jess faltered. "Why do you say that?"
"Sweetie, she just broke up with Dean! I could hear them screaming from here. The whole town knows!"

Jess turned away from Patty and continued towards Rory, while Ms. Patty laughed. When he reached her house, he stood just in front of the porch. He took three deep breaths. There was a really good chance that she would just shoot him down, and tell him that he lost his chance.

"You."

Jess whipped around, and saw Dean standing there, with three roses, staring at him with contempt. "Bag boy. Heard you and Rory broke up." Jess said with a smirk.

"Let me guess, that's why you're here?" Dean asked angrily.

"No, I made a mistake, and I'm here to apologize." Jess stated simply.

"Save it. I know exactly why you're here. You're here because you like Rory. You want her. But too bad, because when she sees me, she'll regret dumping me."

"Stop." A voice came from the porch. Rory stood there, dressing in pink pajamas, her eyes red and her voice was all choked up. "Why are you here?" Her eyes were locked on Jess's, and Dean scoffed. "Blondie must be missing you." Her beautiful face became marred with a sneer.

"Rory, I'm so sorry." Jess said. "I never got your letter. If I had gotten it, I never would have…" he trailed off.

"Save it, Jess. Everybody warned me about you, and I chose not to listen. Now I know it was a mistake."

Jess opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Dean jumped in.

"Rory, I'm sorry. Please take me back. I'll do better this time. I love you." He held out the flowers.

Rory's face became a mask of pity. "No, Dean. It would be unfair to you. I don't love you anymore. I'm sorry."

Dean's face hardened. "You'll regret this." Then he turned, and stormed away.

Rory turned back to Jess, and her face returned to the mask of anger and indifference. "Leave. Now. I don't want to see your face ever again."

She turned back towards the door, but Jess called after her, "Rory, please. I would never hurt you on purpose."

His tone made her falter. She swallowed. Just then Lorelai came to the door. "I believe she told you to leave." Her voice was ice, and she was glaring at Jess. Just her glance made him want to run away. But he had to fight for Rory.

"No. I can't. Not until she forgives me." His voice shook.

Lorelai said, "then you'll be here for a while." She tried to pull Rory in through the door, but Rory resisted.

"Jess…" she turned to face him. She turned back to her mom. "Could you… um, go inside for just a sec?"

"Sweetie, he hurt you. You were just on the couch sobbing into a pillow! And now you want to talk to him?" Lorelai asked incredulously.

"Yeah." Rory gave her mom a half smile.

"Fine," Lorelai conceded. "But if you hurt my daughter, I swear I will make your life a living hell." She turned back, and disappeared into the house. The door shut.

Rory sat on the porch steps. "Jess, are you telling the truth? Did you actually never get my letter?"

"Yes. I swear I just got it today." He took two steps towards her.

"What a coincidence. The day I get back, you get my letter. I find it hard to believe."

"Ask Luke if you don't believe me. But Rory, I won't ever lie to you."

Rory looked up at Jess, and she could tell that he was telling the truth.

"I believe you. I'm sorry I reacted like that." She apologized.

"No, Rory, you don't apologize. It was totally justified." Jess said. He closed the distance between them. Rory stood up, and their fingers twined together. Jess pulled her closer. "Hi."

Rory smiled back. "Hi." They lean in. Their lips are an inch away, when the door flies open.

"Oops." Lorelai said with a not so guilty smile. "Rory, my favourite part's coming up!"

Rory looked back at Jess with a disappointed look on her face. Sorry Jess, she mouthed.

Jess gave a little shrug. "Bye, Rory," he said. He turned and walked away. He allowed a small smile to creep onto his face.

God, I hate Jess, Dean thought, as he stormed away from Rory's house. That smug bastard thinks that he can get Rory? There's no way that he's good enough for her. He barely even goes to school! Dean gets an evil smile on his face. Rory should know about that.