A few days later at Stars Hollow High. Rory was in deep thought as she sat at the lunch table.

Lane sat down beside Rory. "I know why Dean stopped talking to you."

Rory's eyes widened. "Why?"

"Well, the rumor around school is, Jess went up and talked to him a few days ago."

"What!?" Rory nearly jumped out of her skin. "What did he say?"

Lane had a strange look on her face as she continued. "He told Dean that you were a rich spoiled girl who was going to inherit an entire fortune in a few years from your great-grandmother in London. He also made Dean feel like the necklace he bought you was crap, and that you felt it was unworthy to wear. Apparently, Dean got his feelings hurt pretty bad and he's really embarrassed about it."

"Oh, my God!" Rory spat. "How could he do that? Better yet, how could Dean believe it?"

"So, you don't have a rich great-grandmother in London?" Lane asked.

"Well… I did. She passed away. But I'm not getting anything. My mom and I moved here…. You know that. And I am not a spoiled rich girl. I mean, we have money, but we don't consider ourselves better or anything… we don't even think about it!" Rory was clearly very overwhelmed. "That jerk!"

"Where did he get that from?"

Rory shrugged. "I guess he's made it all up. Luke probably told him that Trix was rich and he's just added crap to it…" She sighed. "No wonder Dean acted so strange…"

"You've got to explain to Dean." Lane replied.

"Ew! I could kill him!" Rory grouched. "He's so…. So….. Ew!" She grabbed her books from the table.

"Where are you going?" Lane asked.

"I have to talk to Luke and mom. This has got to stop."

"Rory, it's lunch time… you can't just walk off campus." Lane objected.

"Watch me." Rory replied as she took off. Within a few minutes she was at the inn.

"Rory!" Mia expressed. "How wonderful to see you."

"Hi, Mia… I'm sorry to be short and rude, but is my mom around?" Rory asked.

"I'm afraid not, sweetheart. It's lunch time." Mia smiled.

"The diner." Rory replied.

"But of course.

"I'll stop by again soon for a real visit." Rory promised.

"Is everything alright?" Mia asked becoming concerned.

"It will be soon." Rory remarked as she turned and left.

(The diner)

Luke leaned across the counter. "So, I was thinking…"

"Uh-oh…" Lorelai smiled.

"Maybe we could start round two tonight?"

"Think you got it in ya, champ?" Lorelai teased.

"I've been training my whole life this." Luke cleverly replied.

The door to the diner swung open. "Mom!" Rory roared.

Lorelai, abruptly turned around in her seat. "Rory? Why aren't you in school?"

"I need to talk to you." Rory replied in a lower voice as she came closer to her mother. "Both of you." She eyed Luke.

"What's going on?" Luke asked.

"Can we talk somewhere a little more private please?"

"Sure." Luke replied. "We can go up to the old apartment…"

"Rory, what is this about?" Lorelai asked before budging from her seat.

"In the apartment." Rory replied as she headed upstairs. Luke and Lorelai followed.

As they all entered through the doorway, Rory whisked herself around to face them.

"I've tried to deal with this on my own, but it's not working."

"What's not working?" Luke asked.

"Jess!" Rory blasted. "He's not going to stop until he ruins my life!"

Luke's mouth stiffened. "What did he do?"

"Rory…" Lorelai began. "Sweetie, why don't we talk about this later."

"He lied to Dean. He's the reason Dean acted the way he did." Rory folded her arms. "He's liked me the whole time, Luke."

"He's what?"

"He wants to go out with me. He even told me he loved me… it's driving me crazy! I can't take it anymore. I keep telling him now and to stop and but he's so damn stupid!"

Luke's mouth gaped. He glanced over at Lorelai who had a similar look of shock on her face.

"Did you know about this?" Luke directed to Lorelai.

Lorelai stammered. "Well, I… I kind of knew some… I had no idea he said anything to Dean or that he told Rory he loved her." Lorelai looked back at Rory. "Why would he tell you that?"

Rory huffed. "I have no idea. But he's ruined my relationship Dean." Tears began to whelm in Rory's eyes. "He told Dean that I was a spoiled rich girl from London. That my great-grandmother had left me a fortune… He made Dean think he wasn't good enough for me."

"How did he know about that?" Luke asked in complete surprise.

"Ah." Lorelai stuttered. "Luke…" She shook her head.

"What do you mean?" Rory asked.

"Um. Nothing." Luke replied, realizing his slip up. "Don't worry, Rory. I'll get this whole thing straightened out with Jess."

"Luke, what did you mean?" Rory persisted.

"You know, I bet the people down in the diner are really wondering where you went…" Lorelai replied.

"Yeah, yeah… I bet they are." Luke agreed. "I'd better get back down there and... you know… be … there." Luke quickly walked out of the door.

"Mom…" Rory gazed at her mother for sever seconds. "What's going on?"