Hi, guys. I'm glad you liked Ch. 3. Here's Ch. 4 enjoy.

Jess just stared at Rory, hoping that he hadn't just imagined those words come out of her mouth. Finally, he found his voice, "Rory, I-I"

"Don't, just tell me one thing,"

"Okay,"

"What made you so upset before the party?"

Jess ran a hand through his hair, "I found out I wasn't graduating."

"What?" Rory said it so softly, Jess almost hadn't heard her.

"I was in line to buy the prom tickets, but I got dragged down to the principal's office and he told me that I had missed too many days of school, and I couldn't graduate." Jess looked up and saw Rory was staring at the floor between them. "Rory, please say something."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because….I felt like such a loser. I mean, I knew that if you found out, you would just break up with me."

"Do you really think I'm that superficial?"

"No Rory,"

"Then what?"

"Come on Rory. You're going to Yale, how would you look if you kept dating the high school drop-out. Besides, once you step foot on campus, you would meet someone and then you'd…."

Rory stood up and walked over to where Jess was sitting, "You were worried I'd leave you for someone else."

"Of course I was Rory. You are smart and beautiful and just amazing. What guy wouldn't want to be with you?"

Rory walked around so she was standing in front of Jess, "Well, it's a good thing there's only one guy I want to be with." Rory leaned down and kissed Jess lightly. Jess was shocked, but soon relaxed.

They pulled apart after a few minutes, both unsure of what to say.

Finally Rory spoke, "You need to promise me that you will talk to me no matter what, okay? You can't shut me out."

"I know. I promise." Jess took a deep breath and looked up into the bright blue eyes that had captured him so long ago, "I love you Rory."

Rory smiled, tears in her eyes "I love you Jess."

XXXXXXXXXXX

Rory and Jess had spent the last two hours talking, clearing the air, and a lot of making out.

"It was a swan?" laughed Rory.

"Hey, that was a vicious swan." A very red-faced Jess said.

"It's a swan."

"So? It was still vicious."

"I can't believe what I'm hearing." Rory said.

"Hey, I told a secret. You keep your end of the bargain."

"Fine." Rory leaned forward and kissed Jess's cheek.

"Your turn."

"Okay." Rory thought for a moment. "Okay, so when I was fifteen,"

"Yeah?"

"I lied to my mom about her favorite green sweater so I could have it."

"Really? That's the best you got?"

"Well, I haven't had an exciting life like you."

"And we have been doing this for two hours."

"Yeah." Rory and Jess leaned forward and kissed sweetly. Rory pulled back after a moment, "You should go."

"Yeah, wouldn't want your mom to see me and try to skin me alive."

"I come home tomorrow."

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye."

"Bye." They kissed once more and then Jess left.

Twenty minutes later Lorelai arrived, with clothes and books in Rory's backpack. "Hey, how are you feeling?"

"I'm doing a lot better." Rory said, trying to hide her smile.

XXXXXXX

The next morning, Rory and Lorelai were driving home when Lorelai stopped in front of Luke's. "Do you want coffee Rory?"

"Actually, I'm kind of tired. Can we just make coffee at home?"

"I guess so." Lorelai started up the car and drove home, curious of Rory's behavior. Ever since she returned to the hospital yesterday, Rory was in a happy mood and Lorelai didn't have the slightest idea why.

When they arrived at the house Lorelai made coffee while Rory unpacked her bag. Ten minutes later Lorelai knocked on Rory's door. "Hey, Rory. I'm gonna head over to the Inn with Sookie and Michel."

"Okay, when will you get home?"

"Not until late. We have to walk through the Inn and see if there is anything that's salvageable."

"Okay. See you tonight." Rory waited until she heard the car start and drive off before racing to the phone to call Jess. Before she dialed the first number, she heard a knock on the window, and sure enough there was Jess. She walked over and opened the window. "I was just about to call you."

"I followed the jeep here and waited." Jess climbed through the window easily.

"Nice."

"Years of practice. Hey." He bent and kissed Rory hello.

"Hi."

"Oh, I have a surprise for you."

"What?" Jess reached into his pocket and pulled out a movie. "Almost Famous? Jess seriously?"

"I promise, we can get Indian food for lunch."

"Sounds like a plan to me."

XXXXXXXXX

Two hours later, Rory and Jess were sitting on the couch, surrounded by food containers, their faces plastered to one another's. Rory pushed Jess so she was lying on top of him, then she started unbuttoning his shirt.

This did not go unnoticed by Jess. "Rory, what are you-"

"I'm ready Jess."

"No, you're not."

"Yes, I am Jess."

"Rory, we just got back together, you might say you're ready, but I know you're not."

"I'm not a little kid, Jess. I'm an adult now."

"I know, hey" Rory had moved off of him and to the other end of the couch. "How about I take you out tomorrow night?"

"You can't."

"I can, there's a festival tomorrow. Something about summer starting."

"Yeah, the annual Memorial Day/ Start of Summer Bonanza."

"See, I'll take you out tomorrow night, just you and me. Okay?"

"Yeah, that sounds nice."

"Good, can I have my shirt back now?" He said with a smirk.

Rory, blushing, handed him his shirt.

XXXXXXXXX

The next morning Rory called Lane and asked her to come over.

"Hey, how are you doing? Your mom told me you got a concussion."

"I'm okay. I just get tired more easily. But I have to tell you something."

"This sounds good." Lane sat in the chair opposite of Rory's bed.

Rory took a deep breath, "Jess is back."

Lane jumped out of her chair, "Oh my god! Jess is back! What happened?"

"He came to see me in the hospital. We talked and I kissed him."

"Oh my god! You kissed Jess! So are you back together? Where is he?"

"I would hope we're back together. What do you mean 'where is he?' I thought he was staying at the diner?"

"No, Ms. Patty and Babette saw him enter the diner, go up the stairs and leave. That's it."

"I don't know. I saw him yesterday."

"Does your mom know?"

"No."

"Rory, you have to tell-"

"No! I-I can't. She'll just ruin it."

"Rory, you don't know that."

"I do. Lane, she hates Jess. She almost had a panic attack when I told her I was thinking about sleeping with Jess."

"You told your mom you wanted to sleep with Jess?"

"Yeah, a couple months ago."

"Did you?"

"No but…"

"What?"

"When I got home yesterday, Jess came over. We ate Indian food and watched Almost Famous and then after the movie I.."

"What?"

"I told him I was ready."

"Wow."

"Yeah."

"You have to tell Lorelai."

"I can't."

"Rory, she'll be hurt if you don't tell her and something happens."

"I know, but..."

"You have to tell her."

Rory looked up at her friend, tears in her eyes. That was all Lane needed. She walked over to Rory and hugged her.

Alright, another chapter done. I'm not sure how many chapters are left. Probably three or four. Anyway, review and let me know what you think. Until next time.