Its not much and I was going to change it but I don't have the time. Anyways – another chapter tell me what you think. Thanks to everyone who was concerned about me – apparently its ok and I wont die this week at least which means I can finally finish all these stories I've got lying around and upload all the ones I've started! Lovelil.

Rory stumbled down the stairs. Tristan was eating a bowl of cereal on one of the kitchens breakfast chairs. "looking good mar." he commented as he glanced at his sister, her skirt was askew, her knee high stockings where slung over her neck as a reminder to put them on. In a hand she held her school shoes. Her blazer was on but under it she had a singlet top.

As she finished pouring her cup of coffee she glared at him, he didn't have to look up from his bowl to know that. She sat her shoes on her seat and pulled out the brush shed tucked into one of them. Running it though her hair she waited for her poptarts to be done. As she flicked her head back flipping all of her hair out of her face she passed an unexpected body. Guests. Jess guest to be specific. Damn it. She couldn't tear away from his eye contact, she wasn't sure if it was because of her embarrassment or because he looked a hell of a lot better than she did at this time of morning. She pulled herself away as Lorelai walked in singing some insane song that included mallowmars. It had been a week, so Connie no longer raised her eyebrows and Jess didn't furrow his, as their mother carried on her insane way. The post was tucked neatly under one of Lorelia's arms and she dumped it all on the table as she straightened Rory's skirt "pumpkin where's your shirt?"

"In the dryer – it'll be ready by the time I have to leave."

"You have more than one shirt."

"Right and somehow" she paused to frown at Tristan "my clean one got wet so the three in the wash really do nothing for me."

Tristan ignored Lorelia's inquiring gaze with a shrug of the shoulders and another mouthful of cornflakes. Lorelia gave Rory a sympathetic pat on the back and got her a bowl of cereal, cocoa pops mixed with fruit loops and topped with mini-mallows.

Rory smiled slightly and ate about half the bowl before the phone started to go off.

She and Lorelia began the search, Rory finding it in the fridge soon after "hello?"

"Rory that's not a very appropriate way to answer the phone."

She put on a strained smile but was slightly pleased to hear from the woman no matter how much fear ran through her veins wondering why she was ringing. "hi grandma."

"hello Rory dear, is your mother around?"

She looked up at Lorelia questioningly, she shook her head vehemently "sorry grandma she's running a little late this morning – still in the bathroom – can I take a message for her?"

"tell her to call me back – I wish to discuss this weekend with her. I also need to ask her about Margaret and Janlan's plans."

"ill tell her grandma."

"I wont keep you any longer Rory – have a good day at school."

"I will bye."

After she had hung up she looked at her mother "there coming over with Janlan and Margaret?"

"what?...no….what did she say?"

"she said she will talk to you later about plans this weekend and ask you about theirs."

"I hate that woman!"

Rory smiled sympathetically before finishing her breakfast.

When Tristan and the others were ready to leave Jess found her wearing the appropriate top and sitting with a leg in the air. He paused at the entrance to watch her fine out the creases in her tights before that leg was lowered and the bare silky other one was raised. He stood mesmerized as the black covered ivory with her ankle arched and her hands skimming up the forever that was her legs.

As she created a plucking noise with the elasticized top to show completion of the process he was drawn back to his normal state and took a few more steps catching her attention.

"Your brother was wondering if you were ready to go?"

"yeah – just my shoes." She beamed at him as she continued to blindly tie her shoelaces and stood looking around

"Missing something?"

"My bag – I know I brought it downstairs with me."

"It's under the stool you sat on for breakfast."

Nodding Rory walked back into the kitchen brushing against Jess as she slipped through the door. She blushed slightly and tucked some hair behind her ear before continuing on her way.

When they got to school Tristan kissed Rory on the head before pocketing his keys and walking towards the gym rather than the building that the rest of them were about to enter.

Rolling her eyes mumbling that only insane people would willingly jump into water and splash around to the stage that they were so exhausted so early in the morning.

Rory stood by her locker attempting to open it when a dull thud resounded and I gently moved jar. "thanks – Orlando was being particularly difficult today – don't you have a class this period?" she got no response as she dug through her locker "Tristan?" she asked as she pulled out a final book and slammed her locker shut. She turned and came in contact with a chest. A chest that was obviously not Tristan's. she felt a hand that was obviously not welcomed. And after a few seconds of discomfort she noticed a face that brought relief.

"I don't think she's interested."

The tall angry blonde laughed. Jess sighed "are you interested Rory?"

"look – I don't really care if she's interested or if your interested – the only thing I care about is the simple fact that I'm interested." He brushed Jess aside.

Jess took a step closer "I don't think you understood – she isn't interested." He now stood between the two.

Rory slipped off to the side as Jess threw a punch before he picked up her books and led her to her next class as if he had done nothing, they were in silence most of the way, she had tried to talk but he did not. Finally they stood at the empty class room and before Jess could walk away she pulled him in and closed the door. "I'm getting the impression that you don't want to talk about…it. And we wont. After this. Its not something I can just let slide Jess – I have to thank you for that."

"it really was nothing."

"but it was - I get that you probably wanted to punch him anyway. But the thing is you punched him for me. You considered my interests. You made someone else consider my interests." She began to stumble over words as she realized how close they stood. She stopped speaking altogether as she felt a hand encompass hers. They continued to inch closer until she could feel the warmth of his breath on her skin, and until seconds later when the door swung open and the two of them separated and noticed the oblivious teens beginning to fill the room. Rory picked up the bag that she didn't remember dropping and with one last flushed look towards Jess she took her seat.

Thanks for reading please reply lovelil.