She wiped away the tears, and walked back home. She heard her name being called and stopped. Shoot. She turned around and came face-to-face with Jess

"Are you alright?" He asked. He had saw Rory with Dean. He had no idea what it was about, but the moment he saw her hit him, he knew that it had to have been about the remark he made in the dinner.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She nodded, only to convince herself more.

Jess took a look at her, and knew not to push her. He shrugged, muttered a simple 'ok' and turned around. Yet, when Rory yelled his name, he faced her again.

"Um… I just wanted to let you know that I lied earlier" She looked down at her shoes and he gave her a confused look. She didn't met eyes with him, but continued anyway, "I knew that you didn't just want uh…that. I always knew" Her voice got smaller as she told him this. Less than 48 hours ago, she was sitting in her house telling her mom that she was ready to sleep with her boyfriend. Now, she's becoming a nervous wreck. How in the world would she be able to do anything if she was nervous to talk to him about it? She sighed, and looked up to see Jess with a slight smile on his face. It wasn't a cocky smile, or a sarcastic one. It was one out of relief. She matched his smile and he gave her a quick kiss. She deepened it though, and pulled apart after a while. Again, she looked down.

"Rory… are you sure you're alright?"

She nodded her head for a moment, and then shook it. "I um…I think I'm uh… um…"

Jess put his hand on Rory's shoulder. "What?" he asked. He could honestly say he wasn't expecting what he heard.

"Im ready"

"Seriously? NOTHING?!"

"Unless you consider a nod and a completely confused face a something, then no."

Lane took a sip of the soda she snuck in, and joined Rory on her bed. "Are you sure he even knew what you were talking about?"

"He did. Trust me, he did." She sighed and her eyes widened "What if he's not ready! What if he wants to wait! OH MY GOD! What if he's one of those born-again virgins, and he wants to wait!" She hid her hands in lanes pillow. "I'm so stupid"

"No you're not. But maybe he is. Or maybe he knows that just because you're ready doesn't mean you're going to attack him in the middle of the street"

Rory nodded her head, taking in her friend's advice. "Probably…yeah, that's all it is…" She sighed and paced around Lanes room. "Want to go to Lukes? Im all of a sudden craving coffee"

Lane nodded her head, and slightly smirked "yeah, or craving Jess"

They walked in, and sat at the farthest table from the counter. He locked eyes with her twice, the whole hour they were there, and it wasn't for more than a minute. He walked over to re-fill her coffee, and she looked down. Lane looked up at Jess and tried her best to read him. He gave her a shrug, and walked away.

"Shoot! Rory, I've got to go. My mom expects me at home, & she'll be there in five minutes. Bye!" she got up, waved and walked out. Rory gulped, and quietly walked over to the counter.

"Hi." She said, slowly bringing her head to lock eyes with Jess.

"Hey. That'll be 10.44" he said, grabbing the money she put out.

"Are you busy right now?" She said, after a moment of silence.

"Breaks in ten. But I could leave now, if I tell Luke" He noticed the hopeful smile on her face, and walked behind the curtain, up the stairs.

"Luke?" he yelled, opening the door.

"What? Oh, hi. What do you want?" He asked, a bit more jumpy than ever.

"What were you doing in ther- never mind" Jess said, realizing not to finish that sentence. "I'm taking my break. I'll be back, bye." He turned and started walking when Luke called him.

"You're disgusting Jess! And you better be back in time to wake up for school tomorrow, or I swear!"

Jess just laughed, walking downstairs and draping an arm around Rory. Once they got outside, he stopped walking, and turned to face her. "Hi" he said, bringing his face down towards hers.

"Hello" she responded. She went to laugh, but was cut off by Jess' lips. She deepened the kiss, pulling Jess closer. After a moment, they broke apart. Once silence came upon them, Rory looked around.

"So…Um…" Rory nervously played with the hem of her shirt, gently biting her lip.

Jess sighed, and muttered a "geez" under his breath, "Rory, I didn't react properly today. I didn't know what to say, and honestly I wasn't expecting that at all."

"Oh." was all Rory said, before Jess started once again.

"I mean, I never thought the topic would come up. I thought it would be something that was never discussed with anyone but your mom. But when you told me today, I didn't know what to say to you. ESEPECHALLY after what happened yesterday morning" Jess took the breath he skipped and Rory looked up.

"I know. Which is why I wasn't going to say anything to you, yet. I was hoping that you would find out right before anything happened." She shrugged her shoulders and sighed.

"Huh." was all jess could say. How else do you react when the girl of your dreams is telling you that she imagined sleeping with you?

Rory nodded her head, just to make movement. "You uh, want to rent a movie or something with my mom and me tonight?" Rory asked, trying to lighten the mood.

"Yeah, sure. That sounds cool" Jess gave her a smile.

"Alright. Come by at 7?"

Jess nodded his head. "I'll see you then" he lent down and kissed her goodbye, claiming this as his turn to deepen it. His tongue asked for entrance, and she gave it to him, with little hesitation. They broke apart, and rested foreheads.

"so., I'll see you tonight?"

Jess nodded, and kissed her cheek before walking back into the diner.

"Oh finally it's over!"

"Ewhh. I'm telling! Rory, you're boyfriends actually happy that Charlie and the Chocolate factory are over!"

Rory's mouth dropped, sarcastically of course, "why? Do you want to find no cure to boredom?"

Jess rolled his eyes, "if I have to watch that movie once more, I will bring out Almost Famous"

"NO!" Rory yelled walking over towards Jess. He grabbed the bowls from her hands and put them in the sink.

"You are never inviting your boyfriend again if he brings that movie. I promise you that"

Rory laughed, and gave Jess a smile. She looked over at her mom a beat later.

"I get it, I get it, you want to go play tonsil hockey. Enjoy, just don't conceive any kids on my front porch. I'll be upstairs" Upon Rory's cheeks a small blush appeared, as Jess smirked. "So, cross front porch off, but that Hupa Luke built is still open" He laughed a bit, and gave her hand a quick squeeze.

She said nothing though. She just stood there emotionless. After a moment later of staring into the living room. Jess slowly turned Rory around.

"You alright?"

"Is this how it's going to be now? I tell you that I'm ready and you all of a sudden make jokes about it?"

Jess sighed. He knew that Rory would be embarrassed, but he wasn't expecting her mad. "No, I was just joking" Rory nodded, not wanting to start a fight over nothing.

"Yeah, yeah...sorry, I over reacted" She blinked a bit, to regain vision in her eyes. "So, I'll see you tomorrow morning?"

"Unless you plan on being at Lukes at 6, no. I have a meeting with the principal tomorrow."

"Really? Any idea what it's about?"

Jess just shook his head. "I've got to go; I promised Luke I'd help him lock up."

Rory nodded and gave him a quick, but deep kiss. "I'll see you tomorrow. Bye"

He gave her a smirk, and walked out, both of them walking away smiling.

"What?""HOW!"

"Don't ask me."

"Don't ask you! You're the one who did the damn work"

"Huh"

Luke's voice became shaky, "you did do the work right? You didn't pay some nerd to do it for you right?"

Jess just laughed, "Yeah, I did it. It was simple shit. I don't know why there making a big deal about it"

Lorelai laughed, and but in to the nephew-uncle conversation. "Maybe because the Jess Mariano who never did any work, and barely showed up for school, actually passed High School"

Jess rolled his eyes.

"And not only that, but is getting a scholarship to a 4 year collage anywhere in Connecticut." Luke added.

"You're over reacting. Big whop. Im going to college, and I graduated. & I swear, if there is any party, I will hurt you both" he shot Luke a face, and gave Lorelai a nod before heading back upstairs.

"I like the idea of you going to college, Jess"

He gave her a smirk, and continued kissing her neck.

"I'm serious. I'm proud of you" he looked up and locked eyes with him. It was different with Rory. When the topic came up with Luke, or with Lorelai, it was a simple "great job jess. Way to go Jess." But Rory actually said she was proud of him. Never in his life had he heard that and know that it was meant 100. He smiled, and kissed her. "Thanks. But it's nothing compared to you Mrs. Valedictorian"

She rolled her eyes, and Jess attached his lips to hers once more.