I hope everyone is enjoying this story – I'm starting to move forward into some of my plot lines so hurray! Anyway, reviews really encourage me so before you close this box or read another story, just write me a little review so I know how I'm doing!

Chapter 12 – I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight

It must have been something you said, I shoulda walked away.

Rory spent the days following the break-up in a confused daze. Sometime that night Lorelai had crawled in the bed beside her, mumbling something about Luke needing time and going fishing. Rory had only nodded and scooted over, and the two had passed out from sheer exhaustion and misery.

After that night, Logan's number flashed constantly on Rory's cell phone—she'd started leaving it on silent or just turning it off due to the constant ringing—but she chose not to answer. Apologetic messages followed almost every call, though now she deleted them without listening. The first twenty had all sounded the same, so she certain that following twenty wouldn't be any different.

Furthermore, she wasn't ready to talk to him or hear his desperate apologies. He had hurt her deeply. Now, she knew just how little he trusted her, as well as how he was going to respond to her attempts at regaining some semblance of her former self.

She wanted to make things work with Logan, she really did, but this recent development was not very promising. Additionally, the reality of the situation had set in for Rory. Logan was living in London and would be for an entire year. Sure, there were holidays, but she wasn't sure that was going to be enough to keep them together.

Especially if Logan plans on reacting like that every time I do something he doesn't agree with, Rory thought bitterly.

She'd begun reflecting on their courtship and relationship intensely, combing over the details with intense concentration. Perhaps it was foolish, but she wanted some sort of sign that her and Logan were meant to be together to quash her doubts. But with every moment she spent trying to find a sign, she found more and more signs that Logan was not the one for her. Rory wanted to dismiss them, but the overwhelming evidence lingered in the back of her mind wherever she went.

Furthermore, there was Jess and his confession to consider. Rory couldn't deny her physical and emotional attraction to him, but she wasn't sure where that attraction was coming from, which worried her. Did her desire stem from their unresolved relationship from her younger years? Was her attraction a result of his image? Or did she possess genuine, heartfelt feelings for him that could actually go somewhere?

There was no denying that Jess had changed. He still retained some of that 'bad boy' attitude, but in reality, that was just Jess. It was his nature to be flippant and sarcastic, but Rory didn't mind. She knew that underneath the façade was a person who, despite his guardedness, was profound and real. Someone who loved unreservedly, though that love took a very long time to develop.

Rory let out a loud sigh. It was all so confusing and every time she thought she'd finally wrapped her frazzled brain around it all, something would cause all of her carefully constructed conclusions to topple over, and she'd have to start all over again.

"What's wrong, sweets?" Lorelai questioned. The two were sitting on the couch, having yet another movie marathon. Tonight's theme was worst movies ever starting with the letter G, and they had already finished Gigli and moved on to Glitter.

"This movie is, without a doubt, terrible," Rory replied, not in the mood to give her mother a real answer.

"I personally think this move required a great deal of talent," Lorelai responded in a phony offended voice. "I mean, only Mariah Carey could ruin a film about Mariah Carey. No one else could have done so horribly, and for that, I think she deserves recognition."

"Fine, fine," Rory grumbled. "Only Mariah Carey could have created a movie so spectacularly bad. Pass me the Red Vines, would you?"

"But I'm not done with them," Lorelai cried, clutching the box to her chest.

"So just hand me a few."

"But what if I wanted them all?"

"Then you are spectacularly selfish," Rory teased.

"Oh, fine, but only if—" Lorelai was interrupted by the phone ringing, and she smiled evilly. "Only if you answer the phone! Ha! I was originally only going to ask you to pass the Mars Bars!"

Rory dutifully got up, though she threw a pillow at her mother's head while passing. "Hello?"

"Rory, is that you?" a familiar voice screeched.

"Hi Paris," Rory answered and Lorelai laughed from the living room, so she moved into the kitchen and sat at the table.

"Why aren't you answering your cell phone? I've been calling for days!"

Rory silently groaned. She'd gotten in the habit of assuming that all calls or messages were from Logan since they came so frequently. "I'm sorry. It's a long story, but I haven't gotten any of your calls or messages if you left them."

"I imagine it has to do with Blondie?"

"If you're referring to the pop singer, then no, leave poor Blondie out of this. If you mean Logan, however, then yes, the one and only. But I don't really want to get into it right now…"

"That's fine. I'm actually calling you with a business matter."

"A business matter?" Rory replied, surprised. She wasn't sure what business matter Paris could possibly have to talk with her.

"Actually, it is more of a career opportunity that I'm invested in. The young women's magazine, WIT, is interested in developing a weekly column involving book reviews. Since I am a long time investor, subscriber, and now summer employee, I am recommending you for the position."

"Oh wow, Paris. That's amazing. I've never heard of the magazine… Wit, you said?"

"Yes, capital W-I-T. It stands for Women for Intellectual Treatment and is the intelligent young woman's Cosmo. Of course, instead of articles detailing with how to please your man or what shoes are currently out of style, WIT has articles regarding how to develop an informed political opinion or how to objectively evaluate an opponent's argument. So, what do you think? I already told them you'd do it."

Rory grimaced slightly. Typical Paris. However, she had to admit that it was a great opportunity. It gave her more communications experience, even if it wasn't with a newspaper. Plus, it's money, which I don't have a lot of, Rory reminded herself.

"Where would I be working?"

"Actually, I managed to wrangle you an email gig. You just have to write the article and email it every week by the deadline. However, you have to choose approved books. I know you Rory, you read more than anyone I know. At least, you used to."

Paris's final comment caused Rory to physically flinch, and she didn't respond for a moment.

"Look, Gilmore. You know I don't approve of that Tristan-wannabe. He's changed you."

The truth of Paris's astute observation startled Rory. She had never noticed it before, but Logan was very similar to Tristan, someone who she'd spent a lot of her time in high school disliking. How very ironic, Rory thought grimly.

"I'll take the job," she told Paris, ignoring her previous statement. "When do I start?"

"The next deadline is a week from tomorrow. I've already sent you an email with specific details, including payment, and the list of approved novels. WIT is targeting a younger sect of girls than before, so I would start alternating between classic novels—you know, the standard Dickens, Austen, Fitzgerald—and more obscure, important works. Let's educate these girls to the best of our abilities."

"Okay."

"Don't mess this up, Gilmore. It'll make me look bad since I recommended you," Paris said abrasively, but Rory knew it wasn't meant to be offensive or harsh.

"Okay… and Paris?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you. I really needed this. In more ways than one."

Paris's voice softened as she replied, "You're welcome, Rory. And stop being a stranger."

Rory hung up, thinking about what novel she would review first when Lorelai called from the living room.

"Hey, are you done in there? You're missing Mariah's warning about never taking life for granted! This is moving stuff!"

She laughed and walked back to the living room. "Any chance you saved me some Red Vines?" she inquired, plopping down on the couch.

Lorelai handed the box over and hushed her. "This is the best part, shush!"

"The best part of Glitter? There's an oxymoron if I ever heard one," Rory muttered quietly, ignoring Lorelai's insulted hiss.

"Ah, what a classic," Lorelai said happily after the credits began rolling.

"Speaking of classic, that was Paris on the phone earlier. She offered me a job at a magazine writing book reviews."

"Oh… Well, where at?" The disappointment was evident on Lorelai's face and Rory smiled.

"What? You going to miss me?"

"Of course not. Paul Anka and I were talking just the other day, and we decided that you take up way too much space. Not to mention you're smelly, but he said that, not me."

Paul Anka's ears lifted at the sound of his name, but he did not get up from his basket in the living room.

"Well, that's just too bad because I'm writing articles for WIT, a young woman's magazine, and they only have to be emailed," Rory retorted smugly, crossing her arms over her chest.

Lorelai shrieked gleefully and tackled Rory with a tight hug.

---

The days following Jess's confession to Rory were torture for him. He wanted to be mature and promise himself that he and Rory would remain friends regardless of her decision, but he was scared. He wanted Rory to love him as much as he loved her, but he wasn't willing to force himself on her like before. She had to want to be with him like he wanted to be with her. At least, he thought wryly, that's what you keep telling yourself.

Therefore, he felt he was lucky that Luke had asked him to run the diner during his absence. Firstly, the physical process of running the diner kept him busy, so Rory stayed in the back of his mind, instead of the forefront. Additionally, Luke's mysterious disappearance had kept the gossipmongers of Stars Hollow, namely Patty and Babette, working over time and most of their inquiries were directed towards Jess. This served to keep him busy just handling their antics.

"Oh darling, just a little hint about Luke's secretive departure. Does it have to do with Lorelai?" Miss Patty wheedled, flashing him a smile that Jess assumed was supposed to entice him to confess.

"Unless Luke is planning on using Lorelai as fishing bait, I don't think so," Jess lied smoothly.

"Oh, so he's just gone fishing?" she asked, clearly disappointed. She sighed loudly. "That's a pity. It's been rather boring around Stars Hollow lately."

He smirked and nodded, walking away. There, Jess silently declared, glancing back at Miss Patty. That should at least keep them away from prying too deeply.

That was the nice thing about a bad boy reputation Jess reflected with amusement after his third verbal inquisition from Miss Patty. No one expects you to cooperate, so even a small amount of cooperation is enough.

As the day came to a close, Jess bid Lane and Caesar goodbye as he locked up. He wasn't quite as efficient at running the diner as Luke, but he thought it had gone pretty well, all things considering. Things being Rory's relentless presence in my head, he noted dryly.

He wished she had come in, but for some reason both her and Lorelai had been absent. Nobody had noticed, but that was only due to Luke's nonappearance. Miserably he wondered if Rory had told Lorelai about Jess's declaration; they'd probably shared a good laugh afterwards. And now they weren't coming in to avoid laughing in his face. He groaned at the thought.

After wiping down the counters, he turned off the lights and went upstairs. He was glad Luke had offered to let Jess stay in the apartment; the inn was pretty expensive for a workingman, and the thought of running into Lorelai made it even more unappealing. He still wasn't exactly sure of how she felt about him, though given their previous meetings, his guess was that they would not be become best friends any time soon.

Luke's blinking answering machine caught Jess's eye, and he wondered if he missed a call from Luke. He pressed a button to play the message and moved toward the sandwich he'd brought from the diner.

However, he paused when his mother's frantic voice filled the room.

"Big brother! Karen keeps contacting me about meeting Jess and I really think we should tell him. He's grown up now and I'm sure he'll understand… Please call me back!"

Clenching his fists, Jess felt his face turn red. He grabbed his jacket and stormed out of the diner.

He didn't know who this Karen was or why she wanted to meet him. All he knew was that he and Liz needed to talk. Now.

A/N: I hope everyone is intrigued now! Though, I think it's pretty obvious where I'm going with it… :)