A/N- Thank you for all the great review! I've decided to continue this story it's going to follow the timeline of the show with my own twists. This is still Nick & Nora/Sid & Nancy we've moved ahead to the day of their dinner. I hope you like it!

Disclaimer- For the rest of the story-I don't own Gilmore Girls I did however borrow some lines.

Jess' POV

"Jess! Get down here!" I rolled over and looked at the alarm clock, six thirty. I groaned and rose slowly from the bed. I headed for the bathroom and took a shower before stumbling down the stairs.

"You yelled?" I questioned groggily.

"Yeah, I need you to-" he started.

"Luke! I need coffee and lots of it!" Rory announced loudly as she entered the diner and approached the counter. Her eyes sparkled mischievously when she spotted the coffee pot sitting there. Luke noticed this too and grabbed the coffee pot just as she lunged for it. "Luke, you can't keep coffee from me today." She begged.

"Really? And why is that?"

"Because I have to interview Max for the paper today." She told him.

"I'll leave the pot." He said setting the pot back down and walking away forgetting about whatever he wanted me for. She smiled smugly and poured herself a cup.

"Hey," I greeted approaching her.

"Hi," she replied brightly. "So you start school today?"

"All I have to do is take and entrance test or something. So they can see what level I'm at, I really have no idea. Luke was babbling about it last night." I said shrugging.

"If you do really good they might recommend you to a private school…in Hartford…named Chilton…where I go." She said between sips of coffee.

"Huh."

"Well…" she prompted.

"What?"

"Are you gonna do really good?" she asked.

I shrugged, "Depends how hard it its."

She glared at me then looked at her watch, "My bus will be here in a minute. Luke! I'm taking a cup of coffee with me, okay?" She stood and went around the counter to grab a to-go cup. When she had filled it she came back around the counter and grabbed her book bag. She faced me and smiled, "See you later, good luck on your test!"

"Thanks. Good luck with the interview." I said returning her smile with a smirk.

"Thanks!" she called over her shoulder on her way out the door.

I smiled to my self as she jogged across the street to catch her bus, Luke stopped abruptly in front of me looking at me like I had a second head.

"What?"

"You like Rory." He stated.

"I just met Rory." I replied not denying what he had said. "I'm leaving now." I announced grabbing my jacket and walking out the door.

I headed towards the school considering what Rory had said about doing well on the entrance test. I guess I could at least try. I walked slowly to the main office and approached the desk.

"I'm Jess Mariano, I'm supposed to take an entrance test today." I told the woman.

"Okay," she stood and walked over to a file cabinet in the corner she pulled out a booklet and turned to face me. "You can take this in the library. Follow me."

We walked out of the office and down a few short hallways before entering a large room with bookshelves lining all the walls but one that one had a row of desks. She walked that way and placed the booklet on one of them.

"Bring this back to the main office when your done. Good luck." She said before departing stopping to say a few words to the man sitting at a desk by the door. I sat and opened the test. An hour and a half later I sighed and shut the booklet; I stood slowly and headed for the main office again nodding to the man by the door as I left. I made my way back to the main office and handed it to the woman who had given it to me.

"Wait here." She instructed.

I sat down and waited, the test was pretty simple it mostly consisted of English so I think I did pretty good. The lady came back and told me to go to the principal's office next door; I followed her into the principal's office.

"Mr. Mariano, please have a seat." I sat in one of the chairs facing his desk. "We processed your test scores, they were very good. Math was the hardest for you but you still scored above average. Your English score was the highest followed closely by history. There is a private school in Hartford, Chilton Preparatory, whenever we come across a particularly bright student we send their transcript to them so they can review it. I'm going to personally deliver yours today, if you would like me too."

"Um…okay."

"Excellent, they should contact you within a week, I have no doubt they'll be pleased with you. We've only had one other student get in, Rory Gilmore, she transferred there last year, perhaps she could help you with your interview." The principal offered me his hand. "Goodbye Mr. Mariano, good luck."

I shook his hand, "Thank you."

I walked slowly to Luke's and took a seat at the counter, Luke came from the kitchen and looked at me, "Shouldn't you be at school?"

"Apparently I'm smart." Luke just stared at me waiting for a full explanation. "I took the entrance test and all my scores were above average the principal is sending my transcript to Chilton."

"Okay."

I looked at the clock it was only noon Rory didn't get home for another four hours so I stood and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" he called after me.

"Out!" I yelled not looking back.

I headed to the bridge where Rory and I had talked yesterday. I sat down and read. I finished my book about three hours later and headed back to Luke's. He was busy in the back so I snuck upstairs without him noticing. I grabbed another book and sat on my 'bed' reading for a little while at ten of four I shut the book and stuck it in my back pocket. I went back downstairs, grabbed a to-go cup and filled it with coffee before making my way out of the diner and to the bench across the street.

Her bus pulled up and I glanced up from my book, when I noticed her standing in front of me I handed her the coffee with my free hand.

She smiled and took a long sip before looking at me expectantly, "Well?"

"Well what?"

"How did your test go?" she asked.

"Good, they said I'm smart." I said noncommittally.

"How smart?"

"Smart."

"Jess…" she pouted.

"The principal is sending my transcript to Chilton." I relented.

"Yay!" she said excitedly.

I just blinked at her enthusiasm. "How did your interview go?"

"Okay, good actually."

"What was so bad about interviewing your teacher?" I asked.

"My mom was engaged to him and she kinda left him right before the wedding." She explained.

"That must make class awkward."

She shrugged, "I have to go home and do my homework. I'll see you tonight."

"Yeah." I agreed.

She stood and walked in the direction of her house, I headed back in the diner, unfortunately Luke was behind the counter.

"Jess, I need some help!" he barked in my direction.

I sighed and grabbed an order pad walking to a table where an older couple had just come in.

Luke's Apartment 5:30pm

I stepped out of the shower and pulled on a pair of jeans. I stood in front of the small mirror and poured some gel into my hands I ran my hands through my wet hair. I combed it back and opened the bathroom door. I headed across the room to my dresser and dug around for a short Luke came into the apartment and stopped short when he saw me.

"What's that?" he asked gesturing to my left side.

"That is my stomach." I responded sarcastically.

"Jess, the scar what happened?" I sighed and ran my finger along the rough scar that ran vertically down my side it was about six inches long and still healing.

"A knife."

"What do you mean a knife? How did you get stabbed?"

"One of the great prizes Liz chose got drunk one night and tried to hit me, when I fought back he grabbed a knife and there you have it." I snapped. I pulled a black short sleeved shirt over my head and grabbed a gray jacket on my way out the door.

A/N- Next chapter will be the actual dinner! Review and I'll have a new chapter up by tomorrow!