Disclaimer: The characters, some dialogue, and scenario do not belong to me. I do not own any of the Gilmore Girls characters', dialogue, or plot.
Author's note: This is my very first story ever. Please leave a comment if you think this should continue.
1
"Got a restroom I could use?" Jess turns to Rory as she bites down on a fry.
"Down the hall to the left." She replies as she takes a sip of her coke.
Jess's eyebrows rise and he smiles as he shakes his head in amusement.
"He likes you, you know." Paris whispers once Jess is out of earshot.
"What?" Rory questions feeling the heat twinge her cheeks.
"Jess. He likes you."
"He does not. We're just friends. I have Dean. What makes you say that?" She looks at Paris intently trying to convince herself that it isn't true.
"Oh c'mon. He brought you food to feed 12. He's without a question cute. And he's got a brain! Although, his literary taste is a bit askew but at least he has one unlike most boys."
Rory let this sink in. She had an undeniable attraction to Jess but she was with Dean. She loved Dean but she knew there was a connection she had with Jess that she didn't have with Dean. Jess challenged her in more ways than one. He was smart, edgy. He gave her access to a world she'd never known. There was a knock at the door.
"Are you expecting anyone else?" Paris asked.
"No. And I wasn't expecting Jess to begin with. He just dropped by on his own." Rory walked to the front door. She opened the door to find Dean standing with a sweet smile and an ice cream to share for two. Rory's eyes widened in panic.
"Hey Rory. I wanted to surprise you. I've missed you. I hope I'm not interrupting your night alone." Dean closed the gap between them by wrapping his arms around her.
"Dean!" She almost yelled. "Hi..I..uh..Paris is here." She said into his shoulder.
"What happened to being alone?"
"Well, you know Paris. She wanted to study and there's no denying her."
"Okay well, then can I come inside?"
"Uh...we're still studying and I don't want to be rude to Paris. Do you mind if we do this another time?" She said as she closed the door behind her.
"Rory...I just wanted to see you. Why can't I come inside?" Dean asked suspiciously.
"You know Paris. If we get distracted now there's no telling how long we'll be up studying." Rory couldn't stop herself from making excuses. She loved Dean but she didn't want Jess to leave just yet; it was only 7:30.
"Rory is someone else in there? Is Jess in there?!" He boomed; his anger rising to the surface.
"No. Dean, it's just me and Paris. I swear." Rory was digging herself into a hole and she didn't see this ending well.
"Rory?" Paris walked out the front door.
"Paris…" Dean said.
"Hi Dean." Paris gave him a curt smile and then directed her attention to Rory. "We still have so many chapters to review. How long are you going to be?"
"I'll be right in." Rory told her as Paris walked back inside the house and came face to face with Jess just down the hall.
"What's all the commotion out front?" He asked.
"Dean."
"Oh." Jess said. A cocky smile pulled at his lips. He started to make his way towards the front door but Paris blocked him from reaching it.
"You can't go out there." She told him in a hushed but urgent whisper. Jess looked at her with incredulity.
"Rory said it was only her and I here. If you walk out there, Rory and Dean are going to have a major problem and that will only hurt her."
Jess looked at her with defiant eyes but he didn't want Rory to get hurt. "Fine." he said.
They walked back to the kitchen in silence.
"See!" Rory said. "It's just me and Paris and we're studying." Rory felt a twinge of guilt as she said the words.
"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow Rory." Dean left her front porch with his ice cream in hand silently fuming.
A wave of relief washed over Rory as she watched Dean leave. It only lasted a brief moment before she realized she would have to walk back into her house and face Jess. What would she say to him when he would ask her why she lied to Dean?