A/N: Alright here is Chapter Two, I really appreciate the feedback and the subscriptions to this story, but is it too much to ask those of you who don't review but subscribe to leave me a little bit of feedback?

Disclaimer: I own nothing, not even the nail polish I'm wearing, it's my friends.

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Step one you say we need to talk
He walks you say sit down it's just a talk
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through…

-How to Save a Life-by The Fray

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"Jess," Rory choked out, not sure of what to say.

Jess.

That one word brought a flood of memories back to her.

"Rory," Jess said standing up.

"Hi," she squeaked out.

"Hey," he said back.

"Hey," she said still obviously flustered.

"Hi," he replied, knowing he was making her nervous.

Another memory.

The day after the dance marathon.

Jess had said, "Hi."

Then she replied, "Hey."

He then said, "Hi," to her mother.

Who replied with a, "I."

Then he said, "Hi," to his Uncle.

Who replied with a very confused, "Hi."

Rory smiled at the memory and then remembered she was standing in her office building next to Jess Mariano.

"How have you been?" Rory asked, leading him into her office.

"Good," he replied. "And you?"

"Good," Rory said. "What brings you to New York?"

"My book release, it's called-" he began.

"You and Me, I know I picked it up on it's release date, it's amazing, the dedication… you didn't… you shouldn't have… thanks."

"I did have to, the book is about Stars Hollow and everything that happened there, with You and Me…" Jess said trailing off.

"Yeah, so what are you doing here?" Rory asked.

"Well I was supposed to come for a interview and then you would review it, your secretary said that she called but that a man answered saying that you were busy," Jess said. "He was supposed to give you the message."

"That sounds like Logan," Rory mumbled not realizing she had said it out loud.

"The blond dick from Yale? You're still with him?" Jess asked.

Yeah," Rory replied. Not by choice.

"Oh, well, should we get this review under way?" Jess asked clearly upset that she was still with Logan, but trying to stay professional.

"Yeah, let me just get some paper out and a pen," she said retrieving the items from her drawer. "Ok, Title-You and Me, Author-Jess Mariano, Review- 5 stars."

"You don't have to review it yet," Jess said.

"I finished it already, it was written excellently it deserves 5 stars," Rory said smiling a genuine smile for the first time in weeks. "Alright, when did you decide you wanted to be a writer?"

"My close friend convinced me without actually telling me to be a writer, she and I used to have heated debates about different writers and I realized I wanted to write myself," Jess said.

Rory felt a blush creeping up her face and looked down at her paper, "Who has influenced most of your decisions in life?"

"My Uncle Luke and that same friend, they pushed me and pushed me and told me I could make something of myself so I finally did," he replied.

Rory continued to read the questions off the sheet until she came to one that made her heart skip a beat. "Who is the book dedicated to and why?"

"A girl named Rory, the same close friend who talked me into becoming a writer; she just seemed perfect for the dedication," Jess said, knowing that she was embarrassed but honestly just speaking the truth.

"What is the book about?" Rory asked.

"My life as a teenager growing up in a town called Stars Hollow and my relationship with Rory," Jess said.

"What is your favorite part of the book?" Rory asked trying not to get off topic.

"When Rory and her mother Lorelai egged, no devil egged my car, they didn't think I would find out and were mad because I had gotten a car after wrecking Rory's car," Jess said, trying not to laugh at Rory's expression.

Rory's head shot up and her mouth flew open, "How did you know?" she said giggling.

"I'm not stupid, plus later in the diner your mom told Luke and I was standing right there," Jess said laughing.

Rory smiled and then looked down at her paper, "Well, that's it. Hey, it's time for my break, the review took longer than I thought it would, do you want to maybe get some lunch?"

"Sure," he said standing up and opening the door for her.

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"I can't believe you remember that," Rory said laughing before taking a bite of her ham sandwich.

"Yeah well it's kind of hard to forget the look on Dean's face when I told him that you were in the diner reading a Hemingway book. I mean, he should've known your whereabouts and what you were doing, not me," he said laughing.

"Yeah and I still can't read Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms, how did you even get past the first two pages?" (A/N: I tried to read Hemingway and I agree with Rory, it is really boring, I couldn't get past the first two pages.)

"Yeah, that one isn't my favorite," he said.

"So what have you been up to besides being a writer, that still seems so weird to say, bad-boy Jess Mariano is now on the best seller's list!" Rory said.

"Nothing, I went to visit Luke and your Mom, they still aren't married, she's waiting for you," Jess said treading lightly on what he knew was deep water.

"Yeah," Rory said trying to avoid that topic. "It's warm today," she said pushing her sleeves up unconsciously.

"Yeah," Jess said sensing that she didn't want to talk about her mom. "Why are you wearing a turtleneck, you must be sweltering?" he said before his gaze transfixed on the large bruise that Rory had revealed when she pushed her sleeves up. "Rory, where the hell did that come from?"

"Oh, I fell… down the stairs, It doesn't hurt though," Rory said pulling her sleeves down again.

"You're such a bad liar, you always have been."

"No," Rory said, "I'm not lying."

"Bull. Where did you get the bruise?"

"It's nothing Jess," she said her heart pounding, Logan's threats popping into her head: "Don't tell a soul or I swear to god…"

"It obviously is something, Rory, when your ready to talk, call me," he said scribbling his number on a napkin and shoving it over to her, "Or better yet call your mother."

"Wait," Rory said, as she watched him get up.

"What?" he said, turning around to face her.

Rory suddenly panicked, "I… I really enjoyed the book and it was good to see you."

"Yeah, bye have the Rory I knew call me when she comes out," Jess said leaving the café.

"She wishes she could talk to you," Rory whispered after he had left.

She threw some money on the table and walked out of the café.

A/N: Alright end of chapter two, what do you think please please please review!!! I don't own the song used in this chapter.