"Just dinner than probably to a bar," she answered without looking at him. She was hobbling around the room in a black, knee length, chiffon skirt and a red, silk blouse with only one shoe on.
"Aren't you going to be cold in that?" he asked, sizing her up.
"I have a coat," she told him, continuing to move hastily around the room, her eyes looking everywhere but at him.
Jess stared at her for a few moments, taking in her darty movements and tense posture. "Is everything alright?" he asked.
"Rory stopped suddenly and looked up at Jess but avoided his eyes. "Umm, yeah. Why wouldn't it be?" she responded, then quickly took her eyes away from him again.
"You've just been acting a little weird all day and this 'girls night out' with Sue seems kind of sudden."
"Everything's fine," she replied tersely, once again beginning to roam around the room. "Have you seen my other pump?" she asked, changing the topic.
"No," he answered flatly, his eyes still following her every movement. "Rory," he said sternly after a few more moments, "Stop."
Rory stopped again but only for a moment. "I really have to find my shoe Jess. I'm supposed to meet Sue in ten minutes and it's going to take me twenty to get to Chow Mein's."
Jess couldn't help but notice that Rory's eyes continually failed to meet with his when she talked. "Did something happen at work or something?"
"I'm fine, work's fine, everything's fine Jess, except my bare foot," she told him unconvincingly.
"I don't like this," he said.
"Me going out with Sue?" she asked, getting down on her knees to look under the couch.
"No. You acting weird, avoiding me, not looking at me, not telling me what's going on," he said, his irritation clearly evident.
"I'm not avoiding you," she insisted, pulling the missing shoe out from under the couch and standing up. "I'm just trying to have a fun night out with a friend."
"Fine, if you say so," he said, clearly not believing her. "Have a nice time."
"Thanks," she said, pulling on her shoe. "Jess," she said, finally making eye contact.
"Yeah?" he replied.
"I love you, you know that right?" she told him.
"Yeah, of course, I love you too," he answered her back, his voice softening.
I don't deserve you she thought to herself but instead she responded by walking up to him and giving him a quick kiss on the lips. "Don't wait up," she told him as she headed back towards the door.
"I won't," he promised as he watched her grab her coat and walk out the door.
"Hey sorry I'm late." Rory said, sitting down across from Sue. "Have you been waiting long?"
"Just a couple of minutes. So what kept you? Were you and Jess reenacting your favorite scenes from The Story of O?" Sue asked scandalously.
"More like scenes from Nancy Drew and the Case of the Missing Shoe." Rory explained, pointing to her black pumps.
"Oh, that's not exciting," Sue said with exaggerated disappointment.
"Hasn't my life had enough excitement the past few days?" Rory asked.
"Well, I suppose. So, how's Jess taking all of this?" Sue asked.
"OK, mostly because I haven't told him anything yet," Rory replied, glancing at her friend and then opening her menu.
"Not even that HPG is thinking about buying the paper?"
"Nope, but he can tell something's wrong. I'm not great at hiding stuff," Rory admitted.
"No, you're definitely not," Sue told her friend. "So what about Logan?"
"What about Logan?"
"Have you spoken to him yet?"
"No," Rory sighed.
"So Jess doesn't know about Logan and Logan doesn't know about Jess? This is quite the pickle you've gotten yourself into," Sue said.
"You're telling me," Rory looked up from the menu.
"I hate to state the obvious but you know you're going to have to tell them, right?"
"Well…" Rory started, looking away from her friend.
"Rory," Sue gave her friend a stern look.
"Well, Logan I definitely have to tell, I know that. I'm just not so sure about Jess," she reasoned.
"And what if Logan buys the paper. You don't think Jess would need to know that you're working for your ex?"
"Logan isn't going to buy the paper; he promised me. And telling Jess I had lunch with Logan will only hurt him," Rory said.
"Wow, you're an excellent rationalizer," Sue informed her friend.
"It's one of my many talents…I'm thinking about the Kung Pao Chicken, what are you getting?" Rory asked, trying to change the topic.
"Apparently I'm getting the run around, that's what I'm getting. You know we're not done with this conversation yet," Sue was determined not to let Rory off so easily.
"I figured as much but it was worth a try…Although I did think tonight was supposed to be about forgetting my problems not about beating them like a dead horse."
"Drinks at the bar are for forgetting, dinner is for me prying into your personal life," Sue said, mater-of-factly.
"Why am I friends with you again?" Rory asked, shaking her head slightly.
"Because I'm so darn pretty, " Sue said smiling.
"Ah yes, the basis for any long lasting friendship- appearances,"
"Darn tootin'" Sue agreed before continuing on. "So now, back on topic…When are you going to tell Logan?"
"I guess at our lunch," Rory answered.
"So you're still planning on going to lunch?" Sue asked, looking at her friend suspiciously.
"I have to."
"Oh you have to. I see. I must have missed the gun being pointed at that pretty little head of yours."
"Logan and I made a deal…He wouldn't buy the Liberty if I had lunch with him. If I don't show up all bets are off." Rory reasoned with her best friend.
"Yes, and if you don't show up you also don't get to stare into those pretty brown eyes of his and picture the future you could have had," Sue said insightfully.
"I'm not going to be picturing our non-existent future," Rory said defensively.
"Fine, but you are going to stare into his eyes and imagine having sex with him."
"Yeah well…I picture having sex with Johnny Depp too but it doesn't mean I'm going to leave Jess and run off to France to be with him."
Sue sighed deeply, her eyes drifting to the ceiling. Rory gave her a knowing look. "You're picturing having sex with Johnny Depp aren't you," Rory asked.
"Maybe," Sue admitted. "But this isn't about me."
"I know, I know. I will tell him, but don't you think I should do it in person?" Rory asked her friend.
"I guess...but no dilly dallying. It's the first thing you say to him when you get to the restaurant…And I think you're right…"
"Right about what?" Rory asked.
"Jess. He doesn't need to know, so long as you tell Logan and put and end to this…assuming that's what you want."
Rory sat thoughtfully for a moment. "It is. I love Jess, I'm going to marry him. I can't give that all up because of a guy I used to know and love."
"You're sure?" Sue asked.
"It's the right decision. It's the smart decision. Jess and I are good for each other." Rory said but her heart wasn't really agreeing with her head.
"Ok than," Sue smiled. "Now that that's settled I'm thinking of the chicken and broccoli but of course I'll have to split that with your Kung Pao chicken and there should be plenty of egg rolls."
"Seriously? Chicken and brocolli? Brocolli is a vegetable; you know that's against the Gilmore code…."
Logan stood on the street looking up at the number on the building then down at the piece of paper he was holding. 2228 Chestnut Street. This was it, Rory's building; apartment 4B.
It had only been a day and a half but he had to see her again. He knew Honor had said not to push too hard but she'd also said to make his presence known. He would just play it cool when he saw her. He could restrain himself, he could avoid the urge to take her right there in the doorway. He squinted his eyes shut and took a deep breath. He could do this.
He had it all planned out. He wouldn't go into the apartment; that would be too hard for him. He'd simply ask her out for coffee. If there was one thing Rory Gilmore was always in the mood for, it was coffee. Once they were in a public place he would be safe from himself.
Logan took another deep breath, willing himself to move. He had to see her again, he knew it was a risk; he knew it might be too much too soon but he had to see her. He opened the door to the building and walked to the elevator. He pushed the button and his heart began to beat faster. He stepped onto the elevator and leaned against the wall. He tried to think straight, to push the vision of her blue eyes and shy smile out of his head. The elevator moved slowly yet seemed to reach the fourth floor in no time at all. This was it, there was no turning back, Logan walked up to the door and knocked.