A/N: I love you all. You are the best-est of the best. I'm not going to tell you who Rhett's dad is. Although, I think some of you are leaning in the right direction. Just keep an open mind until you know for sure. Oh, and though Rory and Jess may seem to have something closer than just friends, I want you to know, that these are some of the conversations me and my best guy friend have/had. Please don't mistake them and think the two are together.

2. In My Place

They all sat in the living room of Rory's house, eating immense amounts of junk food and watching a movie.

"How did he know his first name was Jack?" Rory asked.

"The tattoo."

"But I only saw the Sparrow part. Not the Jack."

"Just watch the damned movie."

"Hey, don't use that language in front of the woman who bore you. It's disrespectful."

"Mom!"

"Okay, okay, no need to get all huffy."

Jess chimed in. "How did he get the Jack part?"

"See? It's an unsolved mystery, I swear."

"Could you two please shut up? It's almost time for them to have the sword fight."

Jess hit him playfully on the back of the head. "Where's your manners?"

"Still in Mom's stomach."

"So that's why it hurts so much," Rory said, rubbing her stomach.

"Or," Jess reasoned, "that's the result you get from eating so many Red Vines."

"I've hardly eaten any!"

"Mm hmm…"

"Jerk," she threw popcorn at him.

"I was just agreeing with you!"

"You were being sarcastic, though. There's a difference."

"Jesus Christ! Shut up!" Rhett yelled.

Jess hit him again, on the back of his head.

But all quieted down and watched the movie.

IN THE MORNING

"Jess, wake up," Rory shouted from the kitchen.

She could hear him moaning.

"Yes, you fell asleep again. I just didn't feel the need to wake you up this time, again, because you looked like you were having fun in your dream and-," she walked into the living room, where he lay on the couch. "- I told you to get up."

"I don't want to."

"You need to get to your office; you need to get another idea for that new one."

"I already have one," he murmured and tried to go back into his reverie.

"Oh, what is it?"

"Well, this girl gets murdered for trying to wake up a person that was successfully sleeping. The killer is never caught," he said sardonically, turning around to have his back to her.

"I don't care if I die; but you don't have a knack for writing mysteries. It's not your forte."

"It's not going to be a mystery."

"Oh?"

"A comedy. You're going to laugh your head off. Oh wait – you're dead."

"Shame."

"I know, you're missing a lot."

"It sounds so."

She put the sausage that Rhett had made earlier that morning right next to him.

"Okay, I'm up." He sat up.

"Hah! I did it!"

"Don't you have classes to teach?"

"Yes… it's called school."

"Why aren't you dressed?"

"I still have time."

"Time?" he checked his watch, "like, 10 minutes."

"Shit!" Rory started running to her room.

"Do you teach your students with that mouth?" he shouted after her.

LUNCHTIME – IN RORY'S CLASSROOM

"So, I have food," he said, pointing to what he was talking about, "Mac and Cheese, some of Rhett's leftovers, Danishes, and what resembles… a sandwich of some sort…?"

She grabbed the Danish and started to nibble off it. "I'm so glad you're back. Now, I have someone to eat lunch with."

"I'm glad I rank so highly on your list."

"You're number one, baby," she teased.

They silenced, eating their choice of food.

Suddenly, "Rhett asked about him yesterday."

Jess looked up, wearily, "And by him, you mean-"

"Yup. Him."

He looked at her sympathetically. "What'd you say?"

"I sort of blew up on him. I really didn't mean to…" she looked down, clearly trying to hide.

He reached over and took her cheek in his palm, wiping off the tears that cascaded it. "Rory," he said like it was the obvious thing in the world.

"What?"

"Come on. Of course he is going to have some effect over you. He-"

She stood up hastily. "No! No!"

He looked at her with kindheartedly and stood to go and hug her, but when he came in contact with her, she flew out of his grip, loosing balance, and falling to the floor. She was crying hard.

"Rory…" he kneeled by her.

"He can't be a part of me anymore. He can't. I won't let him."

LATER THAT DAY

She left school early. She couldn't stand it. Rory felt so emotionally drained, she could hardly stand up. She was now on her bed, watching old episodes of Friends and eating ice-cream. The phone rang.

She reached beside her bed and picked it up.

"Hello?" she said into the speaker.

"Rory?"

She quickly clicked the button off and threw it on the bed. She pulled her knees to her chest and started to cry softly. He had found her.

A/N: So I'm sorry it's not very long, but if I were to make it any longer, it'd take more time, and I think you guys would appreciate a chapter right now. So, as you can see, this story is going to be very emotional. More emotional than the other story. I hope I'm not over sappy-ing it. sigh I'll write when I get reviews that motivate me to. --- Paige