Jess shrugged, "Don't worry about it, like I said before I just don't feel well."
"I know but I shouldn't push you like that. If you wanna talk about it you will. How about we just go back to Inn."
Jess nodded, "Okay." He stood up and held his hand out to help Tessa up from the bench. She smiled and took it gently.
Lorelai stuffed the last fry into her mouth. "Alright kiddo, I need to get back to the Inn or I might not live much longer."
Rory nodded, "Yeah I guess you do."
"Where are you ganna go?"
"I guess I'll just go home and sit around or something."
Lorelai sighed, "Now you're making me feel bad! I can't help it that I have to work honey."
"I know it's just, it's my summer break and I don't want to just lay around all day with nothing to do. I wanna be out having fun, doing something with you."
"I want that too but, the Inn is driving me crazy and I think my brain is literally ready to explode."
Rory nodded, "You go back to work mom. Ill be fine, maybe if Lane's not working I'll hang out with her."
Lorelai stood up to leave, "Okay but, I really am sorry that I can't stay with you."
Rory smiled, "Mom, I'm not four I can find something to do."
"If you say so, I'll catch ya after work." Lorelai said before leaving the diner. Rory sighed and looked around. The diner had cleared a bit so there was actually room to breath.
Luke came over and stood in front of her table, "So, how did your lunch with Jess and Tessa go"
Rory looked up at him, "Oh it was grand! I have been searching my brain for the best part but, it all seems so wonderful. How can I possibly choose?"
Luke nodded, "Well, I didn't expect you three to hold hands and sing songs."
"Yeah I guess I should've seen it coming."
Luke shrugged, "Well, you have all weekend to patch things up."
"Yeah, all weekend." Rory stood up, "I think I'm going to head back home or just, I don't know go somewhere."
"Alright, I'll see you later then Rory."
"Bye"
Jess saw the bookstore ahead. "Hey Tess, let's stop by here for a little while."
Tessa nodded, "Sure, okay." They both stepped inside and Jess felt a smile take over his face. It brought back memories of his old Stars Hollow days. The familiar smell and shelf upon shelf full of books. Tessa walked over to the magazine' leaving Jess alone. As he stared up at the dusty books, he couldn't help but feel as if he was home.
Rory felt the sun beat down on her face as she walked down the street. It was such a nice day, should she really just go home and be crunched up on the couch? Rory spotted the bookstore ahead. Why not? There's nothing else to do.
Rory walked in and immediately went to the nearest shelf. She kept her eyes faced toward the books as she dragged her finger along. Shelf after shelf she did this, looking for something to catch her eye. Rory walked along and suddenly, she ran into something. Rory noticed soon enough that it wasn't a something, it was someone. "Oh I'm so sorry," Rory said quietly before looking up to find a startled Jess standing before her.
Jess instantly started moving in the other direction without a word. Rory couldn't take this anymore. "Jess, wait!" Jess stopped and slowly turned back around. "Why are you doing this?"
Jess sighed, "Doing what?"
"Avoiding me!"
Jess pointed towards the next shelf, "I got to go Rory, so many books and so little time."
"Jess, please. Will you just talk to me?"
"But the books!"
"The books can wait! Now tell me, you have said less then three words to me during are whole entire lunch, I look at you and you look away. What's going on? You seemed fine when I first saw you and then, I don't know you just shut down."
Jess stared at her for a while like he was choosing his words carefully in his mind. Finally, he said, "Nothing's going on. I don't feel well, just wasn't in a chitty-chatty mood I guess."
Rory rolled her eyes, "Oh please Jess! You can't possibly think I'm ganna buy that crap. I know you a little better then that."
"Look, it's not that easy to sit there with my girlfriend and my…" Jess let his words hang in the air. What was he supposed to call Rory? After a moment, he began again, "my old friend and just carry on a conversation like were all old buddies. I'm sorry but it wasn't really the easiest situation to be in."
"I know that! Put yourself in my shoes Jess! I made a complete idiot of myself in front of Tessa by trying to carry on a conversation."
Jess shook his head, "That's not true, you didn't sound like an idiot. She likes you"
Jess really didn't know if his last statement was true or not but, whatever made her feel better.
Rory bit her lip, "She does?"
"As far as I know."
Rory let out a laugh, "God, I hope so." There was a small comfortable silence before Rory began again, "Okay, why don't we just start fresh?" No more avoiding, no more awkwardness, lets just clear our plates."
Jess nodded, "Okay." He extended his hand out to Rory, "Rory! Long time no see, how have you been?"
Rory smiled and shook it firmly, "Good, I have been good. You?"
"Great! How's the weather?"
"Gorgeous, very sunny and warm."
"Typical for the summertime." Jess said nodding his head.
Rory laughed, "Well," she began before a voice from far away cut her off.
"Jess!" Tessa called appearing from behind a shelf and walking towards Jess. She stopped when she saw Rory, "Oh, its Rory." she said slightly surprised Rory felt her heart skip a beat, "Tessa, hey!" She had completely forgotten that Tessa was even there. Obviously if Jess was at the bookstore, she would be there too.
Tessa put on a smile, "What a coincidence!"
Rory nodded, "Ya, it is. Well, I was just leaving. So, I'll see you two later." Rory practically ran out of there. She may have had a broke the ice with Jess but there was still Tessa. Rory let out a breath as she trudged back home. All the way there no matter how many times she tried to hide it, she found herself smiling and she knew exactly why.
A/N: Once again, thank you to all my reviewers! You guys are amazing! Leave me some more, tell me what you thought of this chapter, I liked it for once :) Happy reading folks!