Disclaimer: All characters and almost all the places mentioned are property of the wonderful ASP although I wish I owned Jess/Milo and the Lit story line… sadly it's all hers.

Sorry it's been so long since my last update. I've been really busy finishing up my senior year of high school and I had a lot of internet issues over the past year. This chapter has not been beta-read. I haven't talked to my beta in a long time – I miss you beta. So if anyone is interested email me. I hope you all enjoy. I've rewritten this chapter like 5 times and I have two more ready. Enjoy and thanks for your patience

I like to consider myself someone who's been through it all. I've seen a lot of bad things in my lifetime and I've seen a lot of good but this – this scene right now – perhaps the worst thing I could ever bare witness too.

"You're what?" I asked just to make sure I heard him correctly. I needed to make sure I heard him correctly - my life could depend on it. My life did depend on it.

"I'm leaving New York." He repeated. At least my hearing is still intact but I'm not sure how many of my senses will be working once she gets through with me. Good thing I'm not at the top of her hit list.

"Jess, you should…"

"No Luke," she said as she cut my off mid-sentence. Surprisingly her voice reached an unusual level of equanimity. Not good. "Jess doesn't need to do anything. Let him say what he has to say then he can be on his way. We all know that saying things and running away is his specialty so…"

"Lorelai!" I yelled her name. She had to be stopped. Jess was trying so hard and he finally had his life pretty much together. He had a steady job and a place to live. He was really proving to be everything I knew he was capable of being.

"What? I'm just speaking the truth the god's honest truth."

I knew exactly what she was doing and it wasn't a good idea. "Lorelai, don't do this."

"No. She's right Luke." I could tell by the expression on his face… this is the last place he wanted to be right now. But agreeing with Lorelai… that was taking it to the extreme.

"See? He agrees with me. Now just let him finish."

"Upstairs," I direct him. It'll be much easier to talk to him away from Lorelai. I watch as Lorelai shot him a look and he disappeared behind the curtain. I started up after him and it didn't surprise me that she was in tow.

"No," I turn around and say to her, "you are staying right here."

"But…"

"I know what you're trying to pull here and you need to stop right now. Stay down here."

"This is the perfect opportunity Luke. Rory is going to go to New York and Jess is here… she'll feel abandon, alone, and realize that it was a mistake to even think about getting involved with him again."

"That's not fair. He had no idea Rory was on her way to go see him."

"But we don't have to tell him anything. Rory - she'll come home and be heartbroken but she'll get over it eventually. She'll be fine. Luke I'm begging you… don't tell him anything."

I couldn't even begin to rationalize her reasoning. I couldn't even dignify her grade school antics with a response. I just shook my head and disappeared from her view.

I started mumbling to myself... repeating what Lorelai had said in a mocking undertone. "Luke, don't tell Jess anything. He doesn't have to know. Rory will get over it. Please." This was absolutely ridiculous. But really what was I supposed to do? I think – no I know – that Jess has a right to know what's going on.

Damn. I thought there were a lot more steps.

I took a deep breath before opening the door. I wasn't surprised to see Jess just sitting at the table with his left leg outstretched. Silence blanketed the room. God this was going to be the longest day of my life.

"So," I said trying to start up the conversation.

"So."

"Leaving New York?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"I need a change."

"Listen," I said as I sat in the vacant seat across from him, "I know what happened last night."

"Great," he said as he threw his arms from the table down to his side and rolled his eyes.

"Jess, you don't have to be…"

"No I'm not talking about this with you," he said as he got up from his seat.

"Jess," I said following his lead, "I'm not trying to do the emotional bonding conversation with you."

"Really? At least we got that much clear."

"We don't need to talk about it."

"Fine."

"Fine." I repeated. This was not going well at all. He had as much of a right to know what Rory was planning as Lorelai did but getting a decent seg-way into that was not going to be easy.

"I just wanted to tell you I was leaving so you wouldn't have to drive all the way to New York to find out that I wasn't there."

"Rory did." That's the only thing I could think of and I regretted saying to almost immediately.

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing." I said desperately trying to cover up the slip of my tongue. I wanted the seg-way and I got it. It just all came so fast I didn't have a chance to think.

"No Luke, you need to tell me what the hell is going on around here."

"Nothing."

"Your jaw nearly dropped when I came in the diner; Lorelai was acting stranger than usual and – just tell me what the hell is going on."

"You should stick around for a few hours."

"I should what?"

"If you just stick around I can almost guarantee everything will work out."

"Do you even hear yourself?"

"Okay maybe I can't guarantee it will work out but it could be worth your while to stick around for a couple hours."

"What kind of drugs are you on?"

"I'm not on anything."

"Are you sure? Because a few months ago you were dishing out this self help bullshit – talking about how communication is a two way street – give me a break."

"Hey I wasn't the only one reading that book."

"And how are things with you and Lorelai by the way? You two were awfully chummy last night… did you two?"

"No."

"No?" He asked with a cocked eyebrow.

"No." The truth is something could have happened with Lorelai last night. I mean we are heading in that general direction and I want to continue on that path. I could have… but I need to take things slow. Not the point. Focus here. Jess and Rory. Rory and Jess.

"Ironic isn't it?" He asked as he folded his arms across his chest.

"What?"

"Me and you."

"Huh?"

"Both in love with certain members of the same family."

He was right. It was definitely the best and worst kind of ironic that my nephew and I were both in love with Gilmore women. At least if things worked out for the both of us we would have an understanding of how fickle and strange they really were. On the other hand, if things worked out for one of us and not the other… talk about the awkwardness. Holidays would be the furthest thing from normal.

Silence.

"What do you want more than anything Jess?"

"You're serious?"

"Humor me." I wasn't going to get an answer out of him I knew that but I was ready to try anything. He started to shift his weight back and forth between each leg and he avoided eye contact with me at all costs. He's just like me with the not expressing emotions well thing. "It's a good thing I know the answer to that question."

"Do we really have to do this?"

"Do you trust me Jess?"

"Will you leave me alone if I say yes?"

"Maybe."

"Fine," he answered in a less than enthusiastic tone. "I trust you," he mumbled.

"Then just stick around for a few hours. You could get some sleep it looks like you haven't sleep in days."

"It's been a long night." He said running his fingers through his hair.

"Yeah I know."

"I could use a few hours of sleep."

"Good. I'll be downstairs."

"I know."

"Alright," I said as a nodded. He nodded back as I shut the door to the apartment. I shook my head as I headed back downstairs to the diner. I walked through the curtain and I wanted to choke her.

"What do you think you are doing?"

"Coffee?" she answered innocently.

I took her arm in mine hand and lead her out from behind the counter. "I have two rules Lorelai and one is that you never go behind my counter."

"I needed more caffeine. It's been a long morning."

I laughed. "Long morning? You're kidding right? I woke up at four o'clock this morning to Rory banging on the door to my diner and listened to her explain her ordeal with Jess. Then I didn't even bother going back to bed, I got ready to open the diner. Only to have you come barging in, screaming at me, making demands for coffee, arguing with me in front of my customers… making a scene."

"Luke."

"I'm not finished yet."

"Luke."

"Then my nephew, who I've listened to you insult over and over again, comes here to tell me that he's leaving New York and going to places unknown after I sent Rory after him, followed by you trying to fix it so that Rory doesn't see him again and vice-a-versa. You were trying to keep Jess completely out of the loop when you knew that it meant a great deal to Rory to see him again."

"Luke."

"And I'm just getting to the best part – I go upstairs to talk to Jess and try to carefully talk him into sticking around for a few hours without telling him that Rory went after him per your request. You know nothing about having a long morning."

"Well at least you avoided making a scene."

I looked around the diner and I could feel my face start to turn fifteen different shades of purple. Everyone was staring at me. Here I was screaming at Lorelai for making a scene earlier with only a few customers… I had a diner full of people and I was almost screaming at the top of my lungs.

"Luke, dear, maybe you should take the day off," Miss Patty said as she broke the deafening silence that covered the entire diner upon Lorelei's last comment.

"It sounds like you've had a rough morning doll," Babette started as she rose from her seat, "Come on everyone we'll go over to Al's and have some pancakes."

Before Kirk left he came over to the counter. "Luke, maybe you should come to my counseling session tomorrow night."

I reached over the counter and grabbed at his shirt. "Kirk, if you want to live to see tomorrow you'll never mention anything along the lines counseling or therapy to me again."

"Luke," Lorelai said as she helped Kirk free himself from my grasp. "Stop it."

"You're lucky that Lorelai was here," I yelled to him as he hurried out of the diner – stumbling over his feet falling. He couldn't leave fast enough. "I feel better now."

"What did you go and do that for?"

"I felt like it."

"You can't go around and bully people Luke."

"I've had a rough morning Lorelai. The last thing I need right now is you lecturing me on how I'm supposed to treat people."

"I'm sorry for trying to be your friend." She said as she slid off her stool. "I'm sorry that I thought we could go through this together and I'm sorry for even bothering." She grabbed her purse off the counter and stormed out the diner.

"Damn it!" I yelled as I slammed my fists against the counter. This was not going well at all.

I was so naive to think I could just go to New York and Jess would be wanting with open arms to greet me. I can't believe that I was so stupid. I just keep thinking that maybe if I had left sooner I would have gotten to him before he left. I would have been able to tell him – stop Rory – don't do this to yourself.

But the picture…

He kept a picture of me in his wallet. Did I even know Jess had a wallet? And what picture? We took a bunch of pictures together when we dated but I don't think we ever took a picture of just me. Unless it was one of the poses from my senior pictures that I got done at Art Rich.

It was sweet and so unlike Jess that I wanted to… I don't know. Jess was never the most emotional available boyfriend but God, he made up for that in every other area of our relationship. We could talk for hours and the kissing… let's just say I'll never ever forget that aspect of our relationship.

He gave me the best kiss I've ever had.

I wiped the tears that were left on my cheeks away and took a deep breath as I continued to make the drive back to Stars Hollow. I just needed to stop thinking about Jess – about Jess and me – about what ifs – about last night…

I need some music.

I reached over and pressed the power button on the radio. It figures that my mother would leave it set to KISS FM but damn I hate this song. I mean seriously how many times can you hear Everytime before you literally want to slit your wrists… trust the video is not just a concept.

I need to change the station. I set it to scan as I let it stop on each station for a few seconds before I finally stop it on STAR 99.9.

I will remember you

Will you remember me?

Don't let your life pass you by

Weep not for the memories

I let the tears roll down my cheeks as my mind flashbacked to the entire time I spent with Jess: the first time Luke introduced us…

Remember the good times we had

Let them slip away from us when things got bad

Clearly I first saw you

Smiling in the sun

I want to feel your warmth upon me

I want to be the one

…when he stole my copy of Howl… when he out bid Dean for my basket… when he jumped into my sleigh so I wouldn't be alone…

I will remember you

Will you remember me?

Don't let your life pass you by

Weep not for the memories

…our day in New York – the first time I ever skipped school and I'd do it again in a second – just to have that day with him…

I'm so tired that I can't sleep

Standing on the edge of something much too deep

Funny how I feel so much yet I can not say a word

We are screaming inside oh we can't be heard

…our first kiss at Sookie's wedding…

I will remember you

Will you remember me?

Don't let your life pass you by

Weep not for the memories

…us fighting at Doose's Market… the dance marathon… our first tryst in Luke's apartment…

So afraid to love you more afraid to lose

Clinging to a past that doesn't let me choose

Where once there was darkness, a deep and endless light

You gave me everything you had

Oh you gave me life

…our first dinner at my grandparent's house… when he told me the exact distance from Stars Hollow to Yale…

I will remember you

Will you remember me?

Don't let your life pass you by

Weep not for the memories

…the first time he told me he loved me…

I will remember you

Will you remember me?

Don't let your life pass you by

Weep for the memories

Weep not for the memories

God, I miss that so much.

And then I think of everything we missed out on doing together: he didn't take me to my prom… he missed my graduation… the first time we – you know – our first time – my first time was supposed to be with him. God how I wanted it to be with him.

I miss him so much.

I let the tears roll freely down my cheeks as I crossed the state line back into Connecticut. Another hour and I'd be back in Stars Hallow where everywhere I turned I'd be reminded of Jess. Is it odd that everywhere I turn I'm reminded of Jess?

No.

Jess is the great love of my life and I keep thinking that I'll never get the chance to tell him that. Our timing always seems to be off but when we finally think we got it right – things were great. They were perfect, mind blowing, exciting… they always were and if we ever get to that point again – they always will be that way.

I don't think I'll love anyone the way I love Jess. He completes a part of me that I didn't realize I needed to be whole. He'll always be the one I reach for at night when I'm alone in my bed… the one I go to call when I've had a rough day… the one I think about during the day… the one I dream about every night.

God, I need him.

I don't need a lot of things

I can by with nothing

Of all the blessings life can bring

I've always needed something

I've got all I want

When it comes to loving

You're my only reason

You're my only truth

I need you like water

Like breath, like rain

I need you like mercy

From heaven's gate

There's a freedom in your arms

That carries me through

I need you

Your the hope that moves me to courage again

Oh yeah

You're the love that rescues me

When the cold winds, rage

And it's so amazing

Because that's just how you are

And I can't turn back now

Because you brought me to far

I got so distracted by the song and how true it rings to how I feel about Jess; I almost missed the exit to get home.

Home.

Probably the last place I want to go right now. My mother is going to ring my neck. Maybe she'll give me a break when she finds out that I went there for nothing. Nope. Then she'll really try to kill me.

As I drive through town, I don't even want to think of stopping anywhere but home. I want to see my mother… I want to explain to her everything… I want her to offer me solace in my time of need then I want her to tell me she'll yell at me later when I'm feeling up to it. I needed the norm right now more than anything.

I pulled right up to the house and stopped the jeep in its proper place. I turned the engine off and took the keys out of the ignition before climbing out of the jeep.

She must have heard me pull up because as I start up the porch the front door opens and there she is standing with her arms folded tightly across her chest.

"Thelma," she says.

"Louise."

"You know you're not supposed to go on any road trips without your other half."

"Mom, it wasn't pl…"

She cut me off mid-sentence. "I'm so glad that you're okay. I was so incredibly freaked out." She wrapped her arms around me so tightly I could barely breathe.

"I'm so sorry mom," I said as I returned the gesture and hugged her tightly. I never wanted to let go. I was safe – I was protected in her arms – nothing could touch me.

She pulled away. "You're alive and you appear to not be broken but that look on your face…"

"I drove all the way out there to tell him I loved him and he wasn't there mom." I broke down into tears. "I wanted to tell him that I wanted to be with him… that I couldn't love anyone else the way I loved him… and I went to his apartment and he wasn't there."

I lead her into the house and directly into the kitchen. I sat her down and I sat right across from her … holding her hand as she prepared to tell me the entire story.

"I don't even know where to start to tell you what happened."

"I have a synopsis of what happened last night – your conversation with Luke, which I'll have to talk to you more about later – and I know that you took off. Rory talk to me babe… tell me why you decided to go and get all spontaneous on me."

"Last night when Jess asked me for another chance, I turned him down right away…," I could see the angst in her eyes as she started to relive the events of the hours before. I hated seeing that constant hurt and pain in her eyes but what else could I do? I had to let her get it out… holding it inside wasn't doing her any good.

I just squeezed her hand to let her know that I was still there and was ready to listen to whatever she had to say. I wasn't going anywhere.

"I tried to convince myself it was because I was completely over him and I needed to move on with my life but mom, as soon as he left, I realized how stupid I was being. How could I not give him another chance? How could I not give us another chance?"

"Babe because he hurt you before; you can't count on him."

"That's the thing – I can Mom – he promised me that I could count on him now."

Oh no. He was already starting to reel her in with his empty promises. She was going to get hurt again if she had found him – it's a good thing that Jess wasn't there when she was. "Don't take this the wrong way but Jess' word doesn't mean squat to me."

"But it does to me. Mom, this past year I spent it alone trying to figure out if I was ready to move on with my life – trying to find the right guy to move on with. Then the whole Dean thing."

"What whole Dean thing?"

"I watched him marry Lindsey and start his new life with her… I was jealous."

"Babe you have no reason to be jealous of their marriage."

"But Mom I was. I was so angry that Dean was able to get over me and go on with his life. God, Dean was getting married and all I could think of was how lonely I was without Jess."

Oh no. This is bad. She still has it so bad for Jess and it has been over a year. "Maybe you were just envious because you know Dean was your first boyfriend and…"

"I thought that maybe that was it at first. I thought that maybe I was still in love with Dean and that's why I was jealous of his marriage to Lindsey."

"But you're not in love with Dean?"

"No. I told myself that I was in love with Dean to protect myself from Jess. He is the one person that makes me feel whole… I can't and won't love anyone else the way I love him. Mom, he's my soul mate."

My head is just spinning at this point. "Rory, you're nineteen years old… you're not supposed to be thinking about who you're meant to grow old with it's not like you're Mandy Moore's character in A Walk to Remember and you're dying. You have your whole life to live and find your soul mate." I am really trying hard to convince her that she is wrong about Jess, mostly because I don't want to be wrong about Jess.

"Mom, I don't need to search and find my soul mate… I already met him and I already love him and I already know that I want to spend the rest of my life with him."

"You know maybe Jess doesn't feel the same way…" I was starting to grasp at straws that weren't even there. I was that desperate to try and make her see otherwise.

"He told me last night that he knew we were meant to be together the first time he saw me two years ago."

"Oh Rory." God, Jess. Why did you have to be the one she feel head over heels in love with? Why did you have to be her soul mate? Why did you have to be her destiny?

"And you know what?"

"What babe?"

"I knew it too." After she said that I watched as she hung her head down in disappointment – a classic Rory trait. She always did that when she felt that she had messed up really badly. "But it doesn't matter now because Jess is gone and I may never see him again."

I watched her eyes turn cold and empty. She really did love Jess and she really wanted to be with him more than anything else. Seeing Jess and being able to tell him all those things she just told me was important to her. I couldn't be the evil mother that took away that chance. No way was I being the evil stepmother from Cinderella. "Sometimes things have a funny way of working out."

"Yeah well I have my doubts."

"Why don't you go down to Luke's and grab a real breakfast while I run to the inn?" I can't believe I'm actually encouraging her to go down there. I know that there's a ninety-nine point nine percent chance she's going to see Jess but it's because of her that I'm encouraging this. She has to see for herself if Jess and her were meant to be forever. I can tell her all I want but it won't change a thing.

When did I become Dr. Ruth? Oh wait, that was the sex doctor… I meant to say Dr. Phil with all my self-help therapy I'm dishing out. My next book will be called Playing Matchmaker for Your Children: a New-Aged Approach to an Outdated Ritual. Focus Lorelai.

"I could just come to the inn with you."

"No, I want you to have a real breakfast. Go. Order some pancakes and I'm sure Luke will add anything you want – and coffee – come on you know you want a nice hot cup of Luke's coffee."

"Well that does sound good."

"Fantastic," I said as I grabbed her arm and pulled her from the chair. I started dragging her towards the door.

"Mom, at least let me take a shower and change out of these clothes before you force me to mingle with the townsfolk."

"Good idea," I said as I hurried into the living room and grabbed a clean bath towel out of the laundry basket. "Upstairs. Fast. Change. Luke's." I demanded as I shoved the towel at her and pushed her up the staircase.

"What is wrong with you?"

"You know how Luke is… no breakfast foods after noon so you need to hustle if you want those pancakes."

"I'm cutting off your coffee intake woman because this," she said waving her towel at me, "is boarding insanity."

"Whatever is going to please you," I say with a plastered smile on my face. "Now go hurry."

While Rory took her shower, I decided to put some laundry away. I grabbed the basket of unfolded clothes off the couch and placed it on the coffee table. I just let my body fall back into the couch and let out a long sigh.

"What a day!" I tell myself as I sit up and reach into the basket pulling out another towel and began to fold.

"Mom," she called as she descended from upstairs, "do you know where my black rock-star boots are?"

"That was fast," I said as I glanced up at her from my new issue of Cosmopolitan at her, "and they should be in your closet." I watched as she rolled her eyes and headed towards her bedroom. I threw my magazine to the other end of the couch and followed.

She was on her knees digging through the endless pile of shoes that covered the bottom of her closet. "Ahaha," she shouted as she pulled the boots from the closet.

"Told you." She rolled her eyes again. "You look awfully dressed up to just go to Luke's." She was wearing a pair of dark blue flared Perry Ellis jeans, a white netted halter top under a short black jacket. Her hair was crimped and her face was all done up. She looked like she just stepped out of my magazine.

"I just felt like getting all done up," she argued as she finished putting her boots on, "it's not a big deal." I gave her one of my who-are-you-trying-to-impress looks. "No one Mom."

"I didn't say anything," I defended myself as she passed by me and headed towards the door. "Its just I don't see why you got all dressed up – its not like you're on your way to meet Jess – or did I miss something? The last I knew which was about a half hour ago you were so in love with him you couldn't see straight."

"Mom," she said as she turned around and looked at me face to face. "I just needed to do something… anything… that was going to keep people focused on me and while they are focusing on me… I'll be focusing on me and I won't be focusing on Jess."

"You totally lost me after Mom but whatever is going to make you feel better," I encouraged. "Now you go – give Luke my best – and I will meet you later. Dinner?"

"Tacos?"

"Chinese?"

"Pizza?"

"Pizza," I repeat, "Excellent idea daughter of mine who I love to the depths of my soul. We could go to the West Farms Mall and do the shopping thing."

"I second that plan."

"Good." I said nodding with a smile on my face as she leaned in and kissed me on my cheek.

"I'll see you later," she said as she walked down the steps of the porch and instead of taking the jeep – opted to walk to Luke's.

I watched her walk to the end of the driveway before I went back inside. I knew I would see her later but I also knew that we would not be sharing a pizza or shopping. She was going to Luke's and she was going to run into Jess – they would probably talk and sort things out – before I know it they'll be kissy-face all over town again like the past year hadn't gone by.

You know what? I don't even care anymore.

I'd rather see Rory with a smile on her face everyday then see that heartbreaking look in her eyes. She really did love Jess and even though I hated to admit it – Jess cared about Rory a lot – he probably does love her.

Who wouldn't?

I feel a little better… at least she won't spend the day sulking either here or at the inn with nothing to do… she'll see Jess and the next few months… years of her life will change.

I can't do a thing about it.

I guess I missed the part of the parenting manual that said sometimes you just have to let your child learn from their own mistakes. If in fact this turns out to be that. For all I know, Rory is one hundred percent right. Maybe Jess is her soul mate – maybe he is her destiny. God won't I look like a jackass if after all this Jess turns out to be the one person who will always be there for her from this point on. With my luck, Jess will turn out to be the man who protects her and takes care of her for the rest of her life.

God, I need to get away from this teenage drama. I need Sookie… Michel… and work. I need to work. The inn… it's opening tomorrow. Oh god another thing to worry about.

Really? What was I thinking allowing Luke to talk me into staying to get some sleep for a couple hours? I'm such a moron. I should have just grabbed some food and left. I was insane to think I could spend a few more hours in this town.

Although he did spike my curiosity when he said that 'it could be worth you're while to stick around for a couple hours'. It was definitely not the only contributing factor to me staying. The fact that I think that he may be under the influence of large amounts of crack-cocaine or another type of narcotic is another.

But he mentioned Rory when I told him that I didn't want him to drive all the way out to New York and not find me there. He responded with 'Rory did'.

Now if you were me and then you asked about it but got some weird ass answer instead of him just directly explaining what he meant… you'd be suspicious of what he meant as well. I could have done it the easy way and listened in on the conversations he was undoubtedly having with Lorelai downstairs earlier but hell I don't follow half the conversations those two have. And to nitpick for information… forget it. Not happening in this lifetime.

So I did try the sleeping thing… I really did try hard but I can't get Rory and our past and what could have been our future out of my mind. It's all I think about – it's all I've been able to think about since last night – since the day I took off last year. I can't do anything without thinking – what would Rory think of me if I did this or would Rory still love me if I did that or would Rory be proud of the man I've started to become in light of being on my own – all those questions and not a single answer.

If she had taken me up on my offer, I would have told her everything that I did the past year… everything. I would have explained every detail and I would have asked her point blank what she thought after I finished telling her what I've been through. I always hoped that she would tell me that she was proud of me and that she loved me anyway.

I'd never get the chance to ask her.

I glance over at the clock on the wall. It's almost twelve. I've been here way longer than I intended. I just need to get my stuff together, grab some food and leave.

I swing my legs off the far end of the couch and feel my feet make contact with the hardwood floor. I lift my upper body off the couch and rest my head in my hands for a moment before getting up. I walk heavily over to the bathroom and look at my reflection.

I'm not the same person I was this time last year. Not even close.

I was an inconsiderate punk who thought everything would work out in his favor because it had so many times before – that was until the bottom fell out. Which it always did. I never doubted that.

But I finally grew up. I'm still a punk at heart but I'll be damned if I haven't changed the way I present myself to certain people. Granted… I haven't shown this town I've changed… they never gave me the chance to prove them wrong so why should I take the time to prove them wrong?

I shouldn't.

I walk over to the chair and grab my jacket. I slipped my arms into the roughly broken in leather and straighten the collar to my liking. I walked towards the door to the apartment and opened it. As I stepped out, I took one last look around. This was my home… my only home.

Screwed that one up royally.

I walked down the stairs and pushed the curtain aside. I called to Luke before I actually was in view and stopped moving my jaw as soon as I saw who was sitting at the counter. My heart stopped and I couldn't move even if I tried.

Art Rich is an actually photography studio in Watertown, Connecticut

"I Will Remember You" Lyrics are property of Sarah McLachlan

"I Need You" Lyrics are property of