Better in cones

Chapter Six

She hadn't seen Jess in a week and it was starting to get to her, not that it should. Sure they were friends, but she had gone a week without seeing other friends before and it hadn't effected her this way. She was sure he was avoiding her, disappearing upstairs whenever she entered the diner, and when he was forced to work while she was there, he avoided her table and didn't make eye contact. Which was exactly what he was doing today, Rory kept glancing over at him as she ate her breakfast with her mum. Each time he was looking the other way, and twice now he'd tried to go upstairs. He wouldn't talk to her, or acknowledge her and it was driving her crazy.

'So then I said, Michel you can't just tell the guests that we're full when we're not, and he rolled his eyes and looked at me....then he proposed and I said yes, mad I know but what can I say it was an impulse and so Michel is going to be your new daddy.' Lorelai said noticing how Rory didn't even flinch.

'Quite a day you had yesterday.' Luke said coming over to the table, trying to figure out what Lorelai was on about, by way of explanation she nodded to Rory who was playing with her food.

'She didn't listen to a word I said, clearly or she would have had an opinion about Michel.' Lorelai said lowering her voice, though she was sure Rory was still not paying attention.

'Is she ok?' Luke asked. Rory watched as Jess walked into the store room, enough was enough, she got up from her chair, turning to her mum.

'I don't for a minute believe you would marry Michel, I can hear you and I'm fine. Be right back.' Rory said walking into the storeroom and firmly shutting the door behind her.

'What are you doing?' Jess asked seeing her blocking the door. Her back pressed firmly against it.

'We need to talk.' Rory said, he was still avoiding looking at her.

'I'm working.' Jess shrugged his shoulders. Trying to get past her, but she wouldn't move.

'Stop avoiding me.' Rory tried to sound firm but it ended up feeling more like she was begging him.

'I'm not.' He replied but knew she wouldn't buy it for a second, she could read him just as well as she could read a book. Finally he looked at her.

'Why won't you talk to me?' Rory looked at him sadly.

'Because...Because it doesn't matter that we're friends, he'll always come first. Even when we had plans, and now he's back it'll be him you want to hang out with, so what was I? A stand in, well I'm smart enough to cut it off here.' Jess yelled, causing people in the diner to look towards the closed door, none of them could make out what was being said, but they could tell it was an argument.

'What do you expect? Dean's my boyfriend I wanted to avoid a fight, but that doesn't mean I don't want to be your friend.' Rory yelled back.

'Until bag boy finds out we have plans and spoils them again, you're kidding yourself Rory.' Jess yelled back.

'Then tell me what I'm supposed to do, is there some great plan you've come up with?' Rory yelled frantically.

'There is no plan, you go be with that guy who treats you like a piece of property that he owns, and you'll forget we were ever friends.' Jess yelled, he couldn't deal with the rejection of seeing her choose Dean over him, so he turned away.

'So that's it, I'm in a relationship with someone who doesn't like you so we stop being friends, and you stop talking to me.' Rory yells back angrily. How could he do this to her?

'I'm not the kind of friend you need Rory. I can't be.' Jess said in a slightly calmer tone, his voice laced with cynicism. Rory wrenched open the door, tears threatening to fall. She stormed through the diner.

'Fine have it your way.' She yelled, running out into the street.

'What did you do?' Luke growled at Jess, he didn't respond simply took out a book and walked upstairs. Sinking onto his bed and tossing aside the book.

*

'Rory hun are you ok? That fight sounded pretty bad.' Lorelai asked coming into her daughters room once she reached home. Rory was laying on her bed, a copy of howl at her side, left unread.

'Did everyone hear what we said?' Rory shot into an upright position, her eyes wide, tear stained.

'Nope not a word, but the raised voices were heard, just not what was being yelled.' Lorelai replied. 'I could kill that punk for upsetting you.'

'It isn't his fault. I pushed his away I guess, I mean I did have plans with him and I totally blew him off and I didn't even call him to explain.' Rory replied.

'Honey, what were you fighting about?' Lorelai asked.

'Dean, and me and us, I don't know. I blew off our plans to go to a concert because Dean told me not to go, so I didn't. Jess wad mad at me for it and he had a right to say what he did, he's right as soon as I say to Dean that I can't hang out with him because I'm doing something with Lane it's fine, but if I say I'm hanging out with Jess then it's a fight, and I don't want to hurt Dean. So maybe Jess is right, it is better for me and him to just keep our distance.' Rory shook her head.

'Oh honey, I don't know how to do this. I know you said you and Jess were just friends, but is there anything else, do you have any other feelings for him?' Lorelai asked, seeing how upset Rory had gotten.

'No mum, maybe I thought I did but I was wrong. I love Dean and he loves me and that's good it really is. So I'm not going to do anything to upset Dean, if he doesn't want me seeing Jess then fine.' Rory said getting up. 'I need to get to school. Can I take the car?'

'Yeah sure hun, drive careful.' Lorelai replied, satisfied that there were no feelings for Jess that Rory was hiding.

*

A/N- Hope you like it. Please review. I haven't had many reviews lately :( So please hit the button and maybe if I get a lot of reviews there will be another part tomorrow or the next day :) Next part will be Sookie and Jackson's wedding.