AUTHOR'S NOTE: And now…. The chapter you've all been waiting for… I hope it's to your liking…

Chapter 5

Jess knew he needed to get out of town before sunrise but he couldn't leave without seeing this place one more time. He knew now more than ever he wasn't coming back. Not ten years from now, not even twenty years from now. No one's life stopped when he left, they all kept on going. Some of them didn't even remember him when they saw him today. And those who did, remembered him as the hoodlum who wreaked havoc on their town ten years ago. He'd correct them and say eleven because he didn't do anything to anybody his last year in Stars Hollow.

He was glad he wrote that book the way he did. He'd made everyone look like a douche, except for her. He'd never taint who she was, and now she doesn't even care to know anything about him. He was through with it. He was through wallowing and pining after her, he was through trying to make amends, and he was through with this town. He slowly got up from his sitting position on the bridge. He was about to walk towards his car, when he heard a branch snap from the other direction.

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Rory couldn't move. She couldn't even breathe. She'd seen a figure from far away and knew it was him. She'd even blinked a few times to see if he was real. Rory Gilmore had not thought of Jess Mariano in eight years. The only time she pinned after him was her freshman year of Yale, which was right after he left. After that she'd met Logan, and Jess had become a distant memory. Then Lori had come along, and for the last six years, Rory has thought of no one but her daughter.

She was going to stay still and wait for him to leave. But a stupid swan walked right by her stepping on small branches. Now Jess was looking in her direction and she felt like a deer caught in headlights. She didn't know what to do.

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Jess was still looking in the direction the sounds had come from. He couldn't see anyone because it was so dark, but he knew someone or something was there. He figured he didn't want to be eaten by some sort of animal so he started walking towards his car.

Once he reached his car he hopped in, revved the engine and got out of there.

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Rory didn't stay in one place for too long. She started walking back from where she came towards her house. She was passing by the high school and the gazebo when she had to cross the only streetlight in Stars Hollow. It was red so she started crossing.

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Jess was in a hurry and was circling the gazebo to get out town. It was two already and he didn't want to risk being seen. He was coming up to the only stop light in Stars Hollow right in front of Luke's Diner and had to come to an immediate stop for a pedestrian.

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Rory crossed the street without looking up. She was about to go into Luke's Diner for some coffee. She reached up and grabbed the spare key and walked inside.

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Jess saw the pedestrian just go straight for the key he'd left on the threshold and walk inside. He panicked. What if someone was watching him as he closed? He didn't want Luke to end up robbed. He parked his car in the middle of the street and got off to question the apparent thief.

He walked in and cursed the bell over the door, killing any element of surprise he could have had.

Rory, with her back to the door, opened her eyes wide. She couldn't believe it, the first crime Stars Hollow had seen in her entire time living there and it was happening to her.

Jess walked around the counter and stopped when he saw who it was.

Rory closed her eyes tightly and reached for the coffee pot. She raised it above her head and planned to hit her "attacker" over the head.

"Rory stop!"

Rory opened her eyes for the first time and saw who was standing in the diner with her.

"Jess?"

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Loralai Gilmore woke up suddenly in her bed. She saw the time was a little after two and went downstairs for coffee. She grabbed the pot and felt suddenly weird. She thought of Rory. She knew Rory was in the room sleeping though, so she went to go check on her. When she walked in the bed was empty and unmade. She panicked and ran upstairs.

She bolted into her room over to Luke's side to wake him.

"Luke… Luke…"

"Hmmm…"

"Rory is gone."

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"What are you doing here", Rory asked shock evident in her voice.

"I can ask you the same question", Jess said prying the pot from her hand and placing it on the counter, "its well after two… shouldn't you be home…"

"Couldn't sleep", Rory stated.

"So you walk to the diner for coffee you probably have at home?"

Jess smiled. He knew to Rory this plan made sense.

"It made sense at the time."

"I bet", Jess said leading her to the table. He lowered a chair for her and himself. She sat down in one, he in the other.

"How are you Rory", Jess asked.

"I'm good Jess", Rory said, "and you?"

"Pretty good", Jess said.

He'd gotten good at the small talk over the years. He needed to keep the conversation general. He didn't want to mention he had met her daughter earlier in the evening.

"So how long you in town for Jess", Rory asked.

"Actually, I was on my way out of town."

"What? Why?"

"I was here all day", Jess smiled, "I have to get back to work."

It wasn't a complete lie. He was there all day and he really should get back to work.

"Where are you living? What are you working in?"

"Whoa… slow down", Jess laughed.

"Sorry, you know me", Rory said, "Especially when I get excited."

"You're excited to see me…" Jess said slowly.

"Well not excited excited… but you know happy… well not happy in that way happy… you know… "

"Rory", Jess said, "I know what you meant… This suddenly feels like déjà vu."

"And you're teasing me", Rory said smiling at the memory.

"No I'm not", Jess smiled, "I thought it was cute then…"

"And what about now…" Rory said seriously.

"Oh um… yeah it's cute… not cute cute… but you know", he cleared his throat nervously.

"Relax Mariano, I know", Rory smiled.

"Now you're patronizing me."

"Me… nah…"

Jess smiled.

"Well I better go", he said getting up, "I want to be back in Philly by morning."

"Philly?"

"Yeah I own a publishing house down there…"

"Very sleek Mr. Mariano."

"Thank you Ms. Gilmore."

"You should stay", Rory blurted.

"What", Jess stopped mid-step.

"I mean", Rory suddenly gained confidence, "if you really have to work then definitely you need to go, but if not you should stay."

"Why?"

"Well, we could catch up. It's been ten years. There's so much that has happened. And you and I should catch up."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah", Rory said.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: If you are curious to see when and where I got this idea. Check out a link to a video on you tube. Reviews equal love! Remember! Until next time, stay thirsty my friends…