A couple weeks later, Rory got over Dean. And we were a thing. We talked. Connected. Socialized, and yes kissed. I never took her anywhere really. Nowhere super special. Didn't really call her much. We just excised. After a while of dating. She started asking about my childhood.

"A bookstore." I answered. We were walking down a street in Stars Hollow. She shook her head.

"No, no, where did you grow up?" She asked.

"New York." I answered dryly. She wouldn't take that as an answer.

"Where in New York?"

"Rory, look, let's put it this way. If you grew up there, you would be a completely different person then you are now." I said putting my arm around her. He looked down. And then looked like she had an idea.

"How about you show my tomorrow." She said after lifting her head in excitement. I shook my head and then saw how happy her expression was.

"Only tomorrow." I said finally answering her idea. She smiled. I think that she's so happy sometimes that she's like a kid. Not in the bad childish way. But in a happy kid way. I feel like the adult in this relationship sometimes.

The real reason I didn't want her to go to New York is because I want to keep her that way. What I've been through is rough. My mom and I lived in a two room apartment. Barely any food in the house. I would be lucky to even get one full meal each day. For breakfast I would steal an apple from the market. Only once in a while though. My mom would waste all our money on booze. Always came home drunk or high. Sometimes with a guy she met at the bar. We had one couch. No tv. Not even a radio to listen to. My favorite bookstore was a few blocks away. Once a year I would steal one. We never celebrated any holiday. I didn't even know what Christmas was until I was 10.

After a while I got used to the taste of my own blood. I was abused. But I couldn't tell anyone. My moms boyfriends were always abusive. They stole from her. From us. Once I discovered a calendar I knew when the day, week, month, and year ended. But my birthday was when I knew the year ended and started. Oliver was my hero. Oliver Twist. He was everything and anything. Oliver gave me hope. But that hope faded away after having another taste of my own blood. It was surprising that I could even read. Reading saved me. And finally when I escaped to Stars Hollow it felt like a dream. No mom. No abuse. Freedom. Then I met Rory. I stole her books and vandalized them. I loved her face when she found out that I had. But impressed.

And honestly the thought of going back there ghosted me. But for Rory. I would walk through fire to see her smile. Which meant if she wanted to see New York. I would. And honestly I don't think she deserves me. Of all the guys in town, she chose me. It's a wonder why. Anyways, I promised. And a promise is a promise.

The next day was Saturday. So I took her to see New York. We took a bus. I told her to keep her eyes closed until we were there. She couldn't, it was too exciting. Once we there I showed her my favorite hot dog cart, park, subway. She seemed to love it all. We finally stopped at my bookstore. She asked why I called it mine. I answered 'because I grew up here.' Once we were inside she pounced for all the good books.

"Wow, Jess, this place is amazing!" She said picking up a bunch of books at once. "If I lived here, this would be my home."

"I'm glad you like it." I said smirking at looking at the cover of a book on a shelf. It was The Fountain Head. I wouldn't have ever read it if it wasn't for Rory.

"How come you never talk about New York?" She asked putting down a book. "It seems so, great."

I stared at the book a little more. Then looked at her. "Because this bookstore is the only place with good memories." I answered with a sigh.

She frowned. "the only place? What about with you mom, or with your friends?" She asked in disappointment.

"Well, my mom was always drunk and never wanted to do anything, other than be with her boyfriends. Who eventually stole from her. Us actually."

She was stunned for a moment. "Jess that's horrible."

"All the money she had left was spent on booze. So I only had one full meal daily." I said. She was quiet. Opening her mouth from time to time with no words coming out. She stepped closer. She kissed me and hugged me tightly.

"I'm so sorry." She said quietly. I was debating whether to tell her the whole story. The came to a decision. I told her the rest as we walked out. About my childhood. My mother. Abuse, which told no one. My dad. The blood. My moms boyfriends. The stealing. Everything.

Once we were back at Stars Hollow, she came with me to Luke's. We were upstairs before I knew it. I sat on my bed. She sat next to me. It was about 11pm. She was hugging me from my side. I felt like she was gonna cry, but she didn't. I laid down on my bed and got under my blankets. She laid next to me and did the same. I was facing her. She looked happy, but sad at the same time. I stared kissing her slow. I had my arms rapped around her. She had hers around me. We didn't do anything but kiss and talk. Until we fell asleep.

When morning came I opened my eyes. To find Rory still in front of me. I moved the hair in her face to the side. I would wait for my sleeping beauty to wake. She finally opened her eyes and looked at me. She smiled, which I did back.

"Good morning, sunshine." I said in my raspy voice.

"Good morning." She said and then stretched. I saw a messy bed in the corner of my eye. Luke's bed.

"How'd you sleep?" I asked.

"You snore you know." She said slightly laughing.

"I know." I said straightening. She laid flatly. She looked at me. I stared into her eyes silent. "Your so beautiful when you sleep."

She rolled her eyes. "Oh, that was so cheesy." She said stretching one arm up. She then gave me a quick kiss and got up.

I stood up and made my bed. I went into the bathroom to get dressed. When I stepped out of the bathroom holding my cloths Rory was practically in the doorway. I almost bumped into her. She swung her arms over my shoulders. She locked her lips onto mine. I dropped my cloths and rapped my arms around her. She had one hand tangled in my uncombed hair with no gel to make it stick up. When she released me from her lips we stood in the doorway with our foreheads touching and leaning on each other.

"You're getting good at that." I said with my arms still around her.

"I learned from the best." She said and smiled. We stood there silent for a minute. "Alright I gotta go."

"Don't go." I pleaded shaking my head.

"I have to." She said.

"No you don't. Let's go somewhere." I said raising my head up.

"My moms waiting, actually she's probably worried where I've been all night." She answered and then was quiet.

"Alright, so I'll call you." I said letting go of her. She nodded and slightly smiled. She started walking away towards the door.

She waved and said "Bye, Jess."

"Bye, Rory." I waved smirking. She smiled and walked out the door down to the diner.