A/N This is my first serial fanfic, so constructive criticism is greatly appreciated. I am writing this while I'm bored at school, so some of it may seem a bit farfetched. Please don't hold it against me. Also, I don't remember whether the picnic basket auction was in the second or third season, but for my purposes, it was in the second. Oh, and sorry that my chapters are so short, I just don't have enough patience to type up that much at once.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything Gilmore Girls related.

The next day, Rory stayed home until nightfall, when she headed to the bridge. She knew that it was his bridge, but she hoped that he wouldn't mind her coming to it. He had taken her there first, when he bought her basket at the festival. Sure enough, she found him there, but he wasn't reading as she expected him to be. Jess was just sitting, dangling his feet over the side, his toes barely and inch above the water. He had a book and a flashlight at his side, and he was twirling a cigarette between his fingers. Jess didn't notice that Rory was there until she sat down next to him. He looked at her, and she met his eyes, seeing surprise in them. 'Here goes nothing!'

"Dean and I broke up." Her words came out jumbled, and Rory wondered if Jess had heard or understood her. She was just about the ask him if he had when he spoke.

"Why?" He asked in a small voice. The look in his eyes and his hand hovering just above her knee told her that he hardly dared to hope that he was the reason.

"Because of you. Us. Because I… I finally stopped trying to convince myself that I don't want to be with you. We have so much in common, and there is something there." Rory stopped, calming herself, and, when Jess didn't respond, only stared into the distance, she snapped at him.

"Well, I thought that there was! I thought that I felt something between us when I kissed you. I guess I was wrong." She started to get up, but was stopped by Jess' firm hand on her knee, pressing her back down.

"You're right," He took a deep breath, not daring to believe that this was really happening. "There was something there. I always thought that nothing would happen between us. I figured that you would never leave Dean for the 'town hoodlum-'" Without warning Rory leaned over and kissed him, cutting him off. She pulled back after a moment.

"I want you. I thought that you should know that. Even if nothing more ever happens, I want you to know that."

Before she had a chance to do anything else, Jess leaned over and kissed her all on his own. When he pulled away he touched his forehead to hers.

"I don't want this to be all." He whispered

Rory responded by kissing him again. She slid her hands around his waist and climbed onto Jess so that she was sitting on his legs, straddling him. He put his hands around her waist and pulled her closer to him. This time Rory pulled back saying

"Well, whatever else happens between us at least we know that part works."

Jess chuckled, and moved as if to get up, startling Rory so that she fell backwards into the lake, pulling him in with her. They came to the surface sputtering, but Rory didn't give him time to catch his breath before she was pushing his head under water. He struggled for a moment, the succeeded in dunking her under instead. When she came up again she shrieked and swam towards the shore as quickly as she could. Jess was on her tail the whole way, and they collapsed next to each other on the grass. When Rory had caught her breath she rolled so that she was facing Jess, and saw that he was already facing her. He propped himself up on his elbow and leaned forward to kiss her. Rory kissed back as he moved the thumb of his free hand up and down her jawline. She put her arms around him and draped her leg around his waist. Jess rolled so that he was on top of her, her leg still around his waist. A few minutes later Jess pulled back and away.

"We don't want too much excitement tonight, right?" His voice cracked as he said it. Jess couldn't believe that he was stopping her. He had wanted this for so long. He had never felt this way before- he wanted it all for her. He didn't need to have sex with her. He was willing to wait, just for her. Jess stood up, then helped Rory up.

"Come on. I'll walk you home."

Rory smiled, and silently pointed at the bridge, reminding him that his book and flashlight were still there.

"Oh, right." Jess grinned at her. "Don't come with. I don't want to risk ending up in the pond again."

"Haha." Was all Rory said as he went and got his stuff. When he got back he took her hand and they walked through town together, ignoring the pointing and whispering directed their way all the way to her house. When they stood on the porch of the 'Crap Shack' Jess kissed Rory chastely, then turned around without a word and walked back towards Luke's.

Rory watched him walk away. When he was out of sight she turned around, pushed the door open, and called "Mom?"

"Rory? Where were you?" Lorelai asked. "And why are you all wet?"

Rory took a deep breath and sighed. It was going to be a long night.

A/N I'll update as soon as I can, but no promises on when that will be. Hopefully it will be soon!