After going through so many dresses that I had every conceivable type of glitter stuck to my skin, we found the perfect dress.

It was blood-red silk, with a corset top and a slanted hem with black embroidery on the bottom of the skirt. The strings that tied the corset were black. It ended at mid-thigh. There wasn't any glitter.

When I put it on, I didn't look like me. Not like sweet, innocent, Dean's girlfriend, Rory. No.

I looked like...

Like I belonged to someone like Jess Mariano. Not dependable, perfect decent Dean Forrester. Bad-boy, risky, bookworm, rough around the edges Jess.

He wasn't perfect, but I had fallen for him. I'd realized that Dean's perfection irritated me. Jess wasn't like that.

He was always surprising me, always had, since the night I met him, when I called him Dodger and he knew.

I have to break up with Dean...

Monday after school:

"Thanks so much for findng that dress. It's so perfect. I can't believe Mamma got it for me. Of course, I have to dust everything in the shop a thousand times, but...Oh, hey Jess!"

I turned. Jess's face was an inch from mine. I took a quick step back and he smiled. "Talking about Prom dresses? How far away is Prom anyway?"

"It's this Saturday."

"Oh, right. Well, have fun." He started to walk away.

I stopped him. "But, wait. Aren't you coming to Prom?"

"No...why should I spend more time at a school I hate? Why would I get all dressed up for people who couldn't care less if I fell off the face of the earth?"

"I'm sure there's someone who wants you there." I said, instantly regretting it as we walked through town.

"Hey, this is my stop. See you tomorrow Rory, bye Jess." Lane said, walking into the antique shop.

We walked through the park and Jess stopped.

"Are you saying you want me to go to Prom?"

'N-no, I said I was sure someone wanted you there. I never said that someone was me."

"Really? 'Cause, it sure sounds like it's you who wants me there, Rory." He smirked.

"Jess, I have to go." I turned, but felt his hand close over my wrist. I turned back. "Jess-"

"Rory, if you want me to go, you know I will."

I blinked. He would do that for...me? "I...I kn-know that...Jess...Jess, Dean is-"

"Waiting for you?" He nodded and let go of my hand.

As I walked away, it may have been my imagination, but I though I heard him say,

"So am I, Rory. So am I."