AN: Two years! Wow, I cannot believe it's been that long. I sincerely apologize. I think my writing has changed since I first started this story and has developed. Maybe not a lot, but at least a little. And I've been loving my new creative ideas I've had for my other fics. I think these two things have made this fic my least favorite and the one I've lacked the necessary motivation and creativity to update. But I recently had some time on my hands and I had a dream in which I dreamed about the opening lines of this chapter. And so we have an update. I actually like the way this chapter turned out, though nothing really happens. But it's necessary for the following chapter and to prevent from rushing the story line. And I apologize for the ending but my creative juices disappeared again. Hopefully soon I can find the inner strength to complete all of my fics. With that being said, enjoy the chapter.

Why on earth did I faint? Rory kept replaying this question in her head over and over again. I mean, it was only an article about him. It's not like he walked into the boutique and proclaimed his undying love for me. Rory let a long sigh as she flopped back onto the dressing room chair. She closed her eyes and replayed the words in her head. Jess Mariano: the next Greatest American Novelist. And before she could protest it, a smile crept across her lips.

"Here you go kiddo," Lorelai stated as she walked back into the dressing room with a Starbucks coffee in her hand. Once Rory came to after she fainted, Lorelai and Emily escorted her into a small boutique to rest. Lorelai sent the boutique's assistant to get a coffee for Rory to help revive her, while Emily silently reviewed the boutique's clothing. After thirty minutes of fanning Rory and listening to Emily gripe about the horrible service the boutique has to offer, the assistant returned with the coffee. Lorelai offered to carry it to Rory while she somewhat sympathized for the assistant left with her mother.

Rory jumped out of her seat as Lorelai interrupted her thoughts startling her. Why am I so on edge? It's only my mother. And it's not like she can hear my thoughts. Rory let out a long, deep breath and eagerly accepted the coffee. She tasted the extra frothiness which instantly calmed her nerves. "Mmmmmmm. Thanks."

"Are you ok? Are you feeling any better? I knew this whole wedding dress shopping with the one and only Emily Gilmore would be a bad idea. I should've put a stop to it as…."

"Mom! Mom, it's ok," Rory yelled to stop her mom's tirade. "Really, I'm feeling a lot better. I'm sorry. I don't know what happened to me back there. I've never fainted before in my life."

"Love makes you do crazy things kiddo."

Rory stopped drinking her coffee and stared at her mom who was rummaging through her purse for something. "W-what?" Rory asked as she discreetly looked at her own purse. She had somehow managed to distract both her mom and grandmother long enough for them to forget all about the paper she was reading. Once she had regained her strength, she sneaked away to the bathroom to splash cold water on her face and stash the newspaper in her purse, knowing full well that neither of them, especially Emily Gilmore, would approve of the article and her antics. She couldn't possibly be talking about Jess, could she? Rory thought.

"A simple look, a lingering touch, a careless thought…" Lorelai began slowly. Rory bit her bottom lip. "It's enough to drive a girl insane, run away when she's sixteen and raise a child by herself. It's enough to make your only daughter get married to someone her grandparents approve," Lorelai continued in a much faster and harsher tone.

Rory slightly smiled. "I was probably tired from the heat and walking and trying on dresses all day long. You know us Gilmores never exercise," Rory said more to convince herself than Lorelai.

"Lorelai! Rory! The driver is here!" Emily yelled sharply.

Lorelai rolled her eyes. "Coming mother!" she yelled back. "You're probably right. Emily Gilmore at her finest is enough to drive anyone insane."

Rory flung books of her bookshelf searching for the old, familiar, worn cover of the book she loved so much. Great Expectations flew behind her back, followed by Howl, Catcher In The Rye, Catch-22, and The Great Gatsby. They all landed in a disarray pooling at her feet. She smiled when finally saw it. Rand's The Fountainhead. She didn't know why she wanted to see it so much. Once she had arrived at her apartment that evening, she an overwhelming desire to find it. Her fingers grazed over the cover as she thought back to when Jess stole it from her. She opened the book and saw his messy handwriting in the margins. She thumbed through the book carefully reading the notes he had written for the first chapter. Jess hated that book with a passion. He thought Rand was an insane liberal who had no clue what she was talking about. But after much persuasion, he had eventually succumbed to Rory's praises and read her copy. And to her surprise left notes in the margins as he did with any of the books he borrowed from her. Rory hadn't looked at the book for years. It hurt her too much to think about Jess and the book only brought back those bittersweet memories of him.

Rory held the book close her while she speed dialed number 27 on her cell phone. "Good afternoon. This is Booked Solid, how may I help you today?"

Rory slightly smiled at the welcome. She loved hearing the name of her favorite local bookstore repeated. Rory had vowed to stop going to chain stores like Barnes N Noble and Books A Million since they undercut the publisher and authors. Since she made this vow, she had stuck with Booked Solid for the past two years and never got tired of hearing its name.

"Ah…yes, um, I was wondering…if you had The Subsect by Jess Mariano in stock?" Rory eventually stammered out.

"One moment please." Rory held her breath as she heard the typing on the keyboard in the background. "Miss you still there?"

"Yes," Rory replied exhaling.

"I'm sorry. The author and publisher have only released a limited amount of those books. None of the bookstores in Hartford carry it. Would you like me to see if I can place an order for you?"

"No thank you."

"No problem. Have a nice day ma'am."

"You too." Rory slide her cell phone shut and silently stared at the wall.

Only limited copies? How am I supposed to read his book? Rory grabbed her purse and pulled the article out of her purse. She quickly glanced over the article one more time. "Truncheon Books. Philadelphia," Rory whispered.

Rory quickly placed both The Fountainhead and the news article back into her purse. She then grabbed a duffle bag from the top of her closet and began ransacking her closet for her favorite outfits. In a much similar scene, her tops flew behind her back as her books did. A green turtle neck followed by a black and white cardigan, a pink pin striped button up, and an old Bangles t-shirt stolen from her mom without her knowledge. Once she had gathered her necessary items, she shoved them into her bag without even bothering to fold them. No time like the present, Rory thought. And who wastes time folding clothes?

Rory grabbed a notepad from the kitchen and scribbled a note on the paper:

Logan,

Going to Philadelphia for a while to do some research for an article. Be back soon!

Rory.

Rory placed the note on the refrigerator. She frowns slightly at the note realizing that she didn't write "love you" or "love Rory." She debates tearing the note up altogether and calling him instead. After a lingering moment, she decides against it, realizing Logan would try to persuade her into letting him join her for the trip. Rory grabbed her bag, locked the door, and never looked back.