Chapter Eleven
It was weeks before they released Jess from hospital, and a few more until he was back to his normal self. Rory became a permanent fixture around him, although nothing had been said. As far as everyone in town thought, she'd broken up with Dean but everyone was hoping it would work out for the two of them. A handful of people suspected something between Rory and Jess. Lane, Lorelai and Luke were among the few.
It was a bright day in the middle of June that Rory entered Lane's bedroom and fell back onto the bed with a cry.
'What is it?' Lane asked carefully putting a CD back in it's hiding place under the floorboards and going to her best friends side.
'I don't know what to do Lane!' Rory said pulling herself upright and hugging her knees to her chest.
'I'll be needing more information if I'm to help' Lane said looking at her concerned.
'It's been weeks since Jess left the hospital, and we hand out a lot! But we're friends you know and sometimes things get a little awkward, I don't know what to do Lane' Rory said burying her head in her hands. Hating that any boy was making her feel this way.
'You want to be more than friends?' Lane guessed. Rory looked up at her and nodded.
'Then why don't you ask him out. Tell him how you feel.' Lane suggested.
'I can't! Lane I'm so scared of how I feel about him. I don't want him to turn me away because that would destroy our friendship and Lane that would kill me!' Rory said her eyes wide.
'How serious are these feelings?' Lane asked shocked how this was affecting her usually level headed friend.
'I'm in love with him.' Rory said with tears in her eyes 'I've never felt this way about anyone before.' She added getting up and pacing the room.
'Do you think he had feelings for you?' Lane asked.
'I do but then he never says anything about it. It's just the way he looks at me sometimes. I'm the only one in this town that he actually talks to. I don't want to mess this up.' Rory said playing with her hair.
'Rory, if you believe he has feelings for you then you have to talk it over. If you don't then it'll end up destroying your friendship anyway.' Lane said comforting her friend 'Have you spoken to Lorelai about this?'
'No. I don't know how she'd react. She's never really like Jess and I guess she knows I like him as more than a friend but still I don't know how she'd take it if I told her what I told you.' Rory replied.
'You guys are best friends, she'll be fine with it. If I was to tell my mum I was in love with Jess I'd be murdered in my sleep and then Jess would be murdered. Luke would be murdered for letting Jess come here. You would be murdered for liking Jess. Lorelai would murder my mother for murdering you and then she'd end up in jail. So you see really you have nothing to worry about.' Lane said deadly serious. Rory laughed.
'You're right. So I should just go find him and tell him I love him?' Rory asked her friend.
'I'd probably ease into it. You don't want to scare him off after all' Lane joked, Rory hit her arm playfully but decided to take her advice. She quickly said goodbye and headed towards the bridge knowing Jess would be there. Just as she'd thought he was sat there reading a book. He looked up as she approached and a small smile played on his lips. Rory walked over and sat down next to him dangling her legs over the edge, her feet stopping just before the water.
'Jess..' Rory said slightly nervous. He put his book to one side and turned to face her. 'What are we?' She asked quietly. Desperately hoping things would be OK.