Later that evening, Jess knocked on Rory's door.

"Come in." she replied.

Jess slowly opened the door. "Hey…" he said softly.

Rory turned around. "Hey."

"Look, I know I'm the last person you want to see…"

"You can come in, Jess." Rory said as she turned around in her seat to face him.

Jess slowly walked into the room and took a seat on Rory's bed. "Rory…. I.."

"I know Luke is making you apologize so…"

"No." Jess quickly interrupted. "Well… yes, but… I wouldn't actually come do it if I didn't want to myself. I am sorry. I don't know what come over me… I guess, I'm just used to doing whatever it takes to get what I want and not considering other people's feelings… Rory, I don't want to hurt you. Ever."

Rory inhaled deeply. "You know, I'm really not innocent in any of this either. I've treated you like crap pretty much from day one."

"It's not your fault. I gave you reasons to treat me like crap."

"I wish we'd gotten off to a better start." Rory stood from her chair. "Being mad all the time sucks."

"Yeah… it does." Jess smiled.

Rory walked over to her night stand and picked up the pamphlet, she turned and handed it to Jess.

"I'm transferring schools." She stated simply.

Jess took the pamphlet. "Prep school... Not surprising." He added. "You belong in a place like this." He smirked.

"I think so too." Rory agreed. She sat down on the bed beside him.

"Well, now we won't collide so often will we? If we could only work out a schedule for the bathroom and when to leave and exit the house, we'd never have to put up with each other again."

"Jess, I don't want it to be that way." Rory replied seriously.

"I figured you'd hate me after the trick I pulled with Dean."

"I tried explaining things to Dean…" Rory's eyes drifted away. "He wouldn't believe me… he didn't even try to understand."

"Well, I could tell him if you want…"

"It wouldn't matter. He's not interested."

Jess nodded. "Some guys are idiots. It's his loss."

"Yeah." Rory smiled. "I should be focusing more on academics anyway… dating can be a huge distraction."

"Not if you're with the right person." Jess replied. "Sometimes, not being with someone can be more of a distraction."

"That's true, I suppose."

"Rory…" Jess' tone became serious. "Can I ask you a question and you'll give me an honest answer?"

"What?" Rory asked a little skeptical.

"Promise you'll tell the truth… no tricks or games or avoiding the answer."

"I promise." Rory agreed.

"If things weren't like they are now… if Luke and your mom never got married… would I have had a chance?"

Rory figured this question was coming. She could see the sincerity in Jess' eyes that he really wanted to know.

"Yeah." She finally replied. "I think you would have... one day. You're smart and funny and …. I could see us really getting along if we'd just gotten off to a better start."

"I think you're the most incredible girl I've ever met in my life. You're so much different from everyone else."

"I've not met too many guys like you either." Rory smiled.

Jess grinned. "Well, I try." He laughed lightly.

"Don't worry. You're going to find someone." Rory assured.

"See… that's the biggest difference between you and me." Jess replied as he stood from the bed. "You think that I'm going to find someone… and I think I've already found her. But I guess only time can tell, huh?" Jess slowly walked towards the door.

Rory stood from her bed and followed him. "I wish it was less complicated…I really do."

Jess turned. "So do I." he gazed deeply into her eyes.

"If only things weren't so…. So…."

"Complicated?"

"I was leaning more towards complex, but I guess we can go with complicated again." Rory laughed.

Jess immediately smiled. "Miss technicality… it's the same thing. Close enough anyway."

"Not true… completely different meanings, only similar to the untrained human mind." Rory teased.

"Oh, so now I'm untrained? I'll add that to the list of other adjectives that suit me so well, like… what was it… ogre?"

Rory laughed. "I had forgotten about that."

"I didn't… scared for me weeks. Still discussing it in my therapy meetings." Jess replied jokingly.

"Seems pretty immature now." Rory noted.

"Yeah, well… like you said, we didn't really get off to the best start."

"You're not an ogre." Rory sweetly added.

"And you're not a spoiled rich girl." Jess returned. "Yet."

"At least someone believes me…"

Jess slowly leaned forward until his face was only inches away from Rory's. He could feel her warm breath on his cheek. "I'm really sorry…" he whispered.

"So am I." Rory repeated in the same low voice. Her eyes gently closed. When she opened them again, Jess was gone.