Rory smiled over at Jess as he drove. She couldn't stop smiling since the kiss this morning in the motel. Sure, it was just a kiss. But that kiss brought back all the feelings Rory had mentally put away. She had tried so hard to hide it all when he left. She tried to make herself seem stronger than she really was. The truth was, she hadn't moved on from him. When he left, he dragged Rory's heart with him. She tried for so long to deny it, but there it was, clear as day.

They passed a sign that read, "Welcome to New Jersey." Jess looked over to see Rory smiling at him. She had been relatively smiley all morning. They hadn't exactly talked a lot during their time in the car, they mainly listened to the radio and sang along from time to time. They had always had a much deeper connection and sometimes words were never enough.

"So where do you feel like going?" Jess asked her. They were in Jersey so the possibilities were endless. They could go to a big city, or even a beach. Whatever she felt like doing was what they'd do.

"It's Jersey. What is there to do besides go to Atlantic City, which is further south." Rory stated. She didn't exactly know much about any other states besides Connecticut and New York. She saw Jess shrug.

"We could hit the coast if you'd like." He changed lanes and turned off onto the next exit. When Rory looked at him, he answered her questioning eyes. "We need gas." He said it simply and indifferently.

"Okay well like a beach?" Her question sounded stupid. Duh. The coast usually refers to the beach. Although she couldn't picture Jess at a beach. The idea made her smile. They pulled into a gas station.

"Yeah, a beach." He said it simply. There was no tone in his voice that made her feel stupid, he was just…Jess. He got out of the car and swiped his card at the gas pump. Rory got out and went to stand next to him as he pumped the gas.

"A beach sounds good. But one close by, I'm tired of being stuck in the car." Rory said as she watched him. He was always so relaxed. The other night was the first time she had ever seen him on the verge of tears. The night when he had begged her to come with him. Jess nodded at her statement and smiled.

"If you need to go to the bathroom or something the time is now. We have about an hour until we hit the coast." Jess said it casually. He put the gas pump back in its spot and took his receipt.

"Okay, I'll be right back." Rory said as she walked off to the store. There was a bounce in her step that made Jess smile. He was glad that she was happy. He popped the trunk and beside Rory's boxes, he grabbed his black messenger bag. He flipped it open and pulled out a long black box. He opened the box and caught a glance of the necklace that gleamed inside. He had bought it from Liz. She had been getting serious with making jewelry and when he saw the necklace, he thought of Rory. He hadn't been able to bring himself to giving it to her, not yet. But someday at sometime, he would. He promised himself that one-day it would hang from her neck, and hopefully she'd never take it off.

When he saw Rory coming from out of the store, he stashed the box back into his bag and slammed the trunk. He gave her a small smile.

"Ready?" Jess asked, his eyes hopeful that she wouldn't be suspicious. Rory had picked up on something there but she could tell it was something she wasn't supposed to know, so she nodded.

"Yup. Let's go!" She opened the passenger door.

"Wait. Do you think maybe you could drive? I'll tell you which way to go." Jess looked like he was in pain. He had his hand on the back of his neck. Rory nodded.

"Sure." She went over to the drivers seat and got in. She started the car and pulled back out onto the highway.

They had been driving for a while. She was driving slowly compared to everyone else. Jess laughed.

"Ugh! Jess, I hate your car!" She yelled it at him, not meaning to sound as whiney as she knew she did. Jess just laughed again. "Stupid piece of crap car." Rory mumbled under her breath but Jess heard her and smiled.

"It was all I could afford." He said plainly. He brought his hand back up to his neck and rubbed it slightly.

"I know, I know." Rory griped. Out of the corner of her eye she saw him rub his neck. "Are you okay?" she asked him in a more worried tone.

"Yeah, it's just been sore today…" He said it quietly. "Turn at this next exit." He told her, pointing to the right.

--

It didn't take long for Jess to find a motel on the beach. It seemed to be a fairly easy task for him. Rory figured that Jess had probably traveled more than she had; therefore he knew what he was doing.

They got settled into the motel room relatively quickly. Jess had even brought in some of Rory's boxes, the ones that had her clothes and necessities in them. He had also brought in his own bags, his messenger bag and duffel bag. After he carried it all in, he collapsed onto the bed and groaned. Rory could tell that he was sore and tired so she decided to let him sleep. She'd wake him up in a couple of hours and they could relax and actually have some time to talk and be together. It sounded like a good idea to her, so she watched him perceptively as he dozed off.