Christine Writer: Nope, not it. Still going. I hope you keep reading!

Kinky-Bugs: Aww, thanks. I'm glad you liked it. Here's some more for you!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the story line, unfortunately.

A/N: I'm glad people liked the last chapter. I know I didn't wait long enough to get many reviews on it, but I was just in the mood to write, and I started and couldn't stop! I know this is probably the quickest I've ever gotten a new chapter out, so enjoy it! Please Read and Review. I want more reviews. I don't want to have to set goals for you people! D Alright, enough already, I'll give you the chapter now.

Chapter 9: Wherever, Whenever

They walked up the stairs to Rory's apartment in silence. Jess kept looking over at Rory to make sure she was ok. They got in the apartment and Jess walked her over to the couch and sat her down.

"Do you want some coffee?" Jess asked Rory.

Rory turned her head to look at him and nodded.

"Second cabinet on your right."

Jess made Rory coffee and it remained silent for quite some time. Jess was just about to suggest they do something to get Rory's mind off of everything when the phone rang. Rory got up to answer it.

"Hello.." Rory answered softly, almost in a whisper.

"Rory, It's Tye!"

Rory's face paled noticeably when she heard who it was. Jess noticed this immediately. He got up and walked over to her, placing his hand on her shoulder for comfort.

"What do you want Tye? I don't know how you could possibly call my apartment after what you just did. You've got some nerve, goodbye!" Before Rory could hang up, Tye yelled into the phone, causing Rory to jump.

"C'mon Rory, Jackie just left, let me pick you up and make it up to you…"

"No way!" Rory was starting to get angry and upset, "Just because your girl left you, doesn't mean I'll fall into your arms again, I'm not stupid."

"Well think about it, you must be, you went out with me in the first place. Fine, it's your loss. Besides I like my girls dangerous, you seem a little too 'by the book'." With that last comment, he hung up the phone, leaving Rory shaking, and in tears. Jess didn't know what had happened yet, but because of what just happened he knew he hated the guy no matter what.

"Rory, Rory who was that.." Jess put each of his hands on her arms to hold her still and looked her in the eyes.

"That was.. him. The guy who left me at the station."

"What?"

"Maybe, maybe I am stupid."

"What, Rory where would you get a crazy idea like that?"

"It's true, I mean, I did go out with the guy, I didn't even know him."

Jess sat her down on the couch and knelt in front of her. "Rory, you're not stupid, it could happen to anyone, tell me what happened.."

"I don't want to talk about it, you'll think I'm stupid. If you don't think I'm stupid now, you will once I tell you."

"Not a chance, Ror. Please tell me, trust me."

"Well, I bumped into this guy at school the other day and he asked me to a movie and I wasn't sure about going but finally Dilanie talked me into it."

"Dilanie?"

"My room mate, anyway.."

Once Rory finished her story, Jess was speechless, everything he thought to say sounded lame and stupid. "Ror, I don't know what to say." He leaned in and hugged her as she let the tears fall.

"I was so scared Jess, I didn't know what I was going to do, and the next thing I know I'm calling the bookstore and asking for you. I couldn't control it, I didn't even know I called you until someone answered the phone."

"Rory, I'm so glad that you called me. It's not safe to sit out in the dark alone in New York."

They sat there on the couch in her apartment, Jess just holding Rory as if to protect her from anything or anyone. They just sat there enjoying the company of each other. Neither one had noticed how they were sitting or even thought anything of it. The thing is, if anyone walked into the apartment at that moment, they'd probably get the wrong idea. It would definitely spark the impression that they were a couple. Jess was sitting on the couch with Rory in front of him, he had his arms protectively wrapped around her waist and stomach. Rory had leaned her head to the side and it was no resting on Jess' upper arm. To her surprise, he had leaned down and kissed the top of her head to show her that he really cared. Before they knew it, they were asleep, and they stated in that position all night. The next morning Jess had woken up to find Rory still asleep in his arms. He gently got up, careful not to wake her, and walked over to make her coffee. Twenty minutes later, Rory woke up to the smell of coffee; she looked over to find Jess sitting at the kitchen table with the newspaper. He looked up and met her eyes. "Hey," he said.

"Hi, you're still here.." Rory was shocked that he had stayed all night.

"Of course I am, I wouldn't leave you in the middle of the night. I made coffee."

"Thank you." Rory got up and walked over to the coffee, quickly glancing at the clock on her way. "Oh no!"

"What? Rory, what's wrong?"

"I have class in ten minutes. I'm never going to make it." Rory gulped down her coffee and went running around the apartment. Jess took the liberty of stopping her to calm her down.

"Rory, you're not going to class today, no way."

"But.."

"No buts, you're not going, not after last night."

"Fine."

"Listen, I have to run over and meet the guys for a little while, I would stay, but I promised I'd be there. But I'll tell you what, I'm going to be back in two hours to check on you, ok?"

"Alright, but you don't have to."

"I want to."

"Ok, I'll be here."

"Great, I'll see you soon then, ok?"

"Yeah, see you soon."

Jess grabbed his coat and opened the door to leave when Rory stopped him, and turned him around to hug him and said, "Thank you.. so much Jess." He just hugged her back, smiled, and left.

Rory sat in her apartment just thinking about everything. It was so weird having Jess be all concerned for her safety and well being, but she knew that she was happy about it. A small part of her had hoped there was a chance for them, somewhere down the line anyway. She didn't want things with them to blow up again, like they always had.

Jess had just left Rory's apartment and was on his way to Artie's, the diner they always met up at. When he got there, he went inside, and found all of his buddies. Derek, who was Jess' closest friend, and his room mate. Rich, who he met through Derek. They knew each other since they were kids, and Tye, who Jess wasn't too fond of, but they'd had some good times.

"Hey guys, sorry I'm a little late, I was helping a friend."

"Hey, no problem man, we haven't been here that long." Derek knew Jess, and he knew that he wouldn't be late unless there was a good reason to be.

"So, Tye how was your date last night with that NYU girl?" Rich had been curious to know because Tye went on dates with different girls every night and none of them seemed to stick. "Rich, this one was pathetic. I took her by the bar, and nothing. I showed her the room, and she couldn't care less. So I let her go. Wasn't worth it."

"Geez man, you've never had that problem before." Rich was in complete shock. Tye had always been the one guy to land the girl, whichever one he wanted.

"Eh, no big deal man. She wasn't that hot anyway, major book worm."

"Who was she?"

"She had a weird name.. Torey, Corey, umm, Rory! That's it, Rory Gilmore!"

Now normally when they met up, Jess just hung back and talked to Derek, not even caring to pay any attention to Tye and his girl stories. He knew how Tye was, and he didn't spend time listening if he knew how it was going to end. This time though, he couldn't help but listen as soon as heard a very familiar name. Jess turned to Derek with a look of complete anger and muttered, "He didn't just say what I thought he did, did he?"

"What?" Derek was clueless.

"Tye. He just said Rory Gilmore, right?"

Jess was getting angrier by the second. He couldn't stay calm anymore. He had never really liked Tye, but this put him over the edge.

"What did you just say?" Jess was angry now, and he didn't care that he was yelling at him in a public diner for everyone to hear. Tye looked over at him, confused by his sudden outburst.

"I said that the chicks name last night was.."

"Rory Gilmore, or Lorelai Leigh Gilmore."

"Umm yeah, I guess."

Jess leaped out of his seat and pushed him up against the wall.

"I don't know what makes you think you have the right to just go around hurting innocent girls. Some girls are idiots and don't care who the heck they go out with, or where they go with them, and girls like those, well maybe they deserve what they get. But innocent girls like Rory; they don't deserve it at all, not one bit. She deserves a guy that will take her to a nice restaurant and pay for anything she wants. Girls like her just want a nice, sweet guy, and guys like you feel the need to belittle them and make them feel stupid for being smart. You destroyed her.. I'll have you know that I spent all night comforting her, because she was scared to be alone. You did that to her. I had to pick her up at the random gas station which you so kindly dropped her off at, which was miles away from her apartment. Now don't get me wrong, I have no problem with picking her up and helping her, but seeing her sitting outside the gas station store, scared, alone, and shaking was horrible! All I could think about was what kind of stupid idiot would do this to a girl like her, and now I know that that idiot is you. I'm telling you right now Tye Jensen, if you ever come near Rory Gilmore again, or even just talk to her, you'll have me to deal with! I guarantee it! Guys like you don't deserve girls like her. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go check up on her.. see how she's doing. And by the way, you're lucky I didn't know it was you last night when you called her. You've got some nerve!"

With that, Jess let go of Tye and stormed out of the diner, leaving Rich and Derek in complete shock, and the whole diner staring at Tye. Jess was on his way back to see Rory when he realized it might be smart of him to get coffee, considering she probably hadn't had any since he left her an hour ago. He walked into the lobby of the apartment building and buzzed her to let her know he was there.

"Hello?" She didn't sound upset, that's good.

"Rory? It's Jess, can I come up?"

"Of course," Rory buzzed him in and ran around the house trying to tidy up. She hadn't realized it the night before, but today she was completely aware. She just finished making her bed when she heard a knock on the door.

"Coming!" She opened the door to reveal a smiling Jess.

"I come bearing coffee!"

"Aah, I love people that bring me coffee."

Jess couldn't do it to her, not now. She seemed too happy, like she had gotten over what happened the night before. Only Jess knew it wasn't that easy. It was bound to hit her again. It was unfortunate, but true. He didn't want to spoil her moment of happiness, so instead he decided to tell her what he'd wanted to since he fist saw her.

"Rory?"

"Yeah Jess?"

"I miss hanging out with you, do you think we could maybe be friends?"

"You read my mind.." Rory looked up at Jess and met his eyes with a smile.

A/N: There you have it, the 9th chapter. No, I'm not done. Hehe. I hope you all liked it. I'll never know if you did though, until you review! So please review! I'm kind of tired now though, so I'm going to go, and I'll try my best to get the next chapter up within a decent amount of time. The more reviews I get the easier it will be to make that happen though. ;-)