Disclaimer: Don't own L Wish I did.

A/N- Thanks for all your reviews. Keep them coming. Reviews=J

The strangest things

Chapter Nine

Rory was sat in the diner at a table with Dean, Lane, and Ally. The conversation being carried by Dean and Ally, while Lane worked on a list of records she wanted Rory to pick up for her in Hartford when she was back at school the next day. Leaving Rory staring out at the town square completely bored, the conversation mainly consisted of things that had happened at Stars Hollow High, all of which Ally laughed about loudly with Dean, saying that "You had to be there"

The last day of winter break and instead of enjoying the time off she was trying to think of an excuse to leave, and then feeling guilty for wanting to leave when her boyfriend was sat there, she should want to spend time with him, but could listening to him talk and laugh with Ally count as spending time with him? She doubted it, so once Lane had left. Because Mama Kim would be expecting her to be at home, when she returned from running her errands, and Lane still had to get the smell of fast food off her, and change into some mama Kim approved clothing. Rory excused herself by saying she needed to order some more coffee, going over to the counter, neither one at the table noticed she carried a full coffee mug with her.

'Need an escape route?' Jess asked, handing her a muffin without her even asking for one, she took it with a smile of gratitude.

'Thanks, and no escape route needed, just felt like coming to speak…' Jess cut her off before she could end her sentence.

'To someone with more than one brain cell.' He smirked.

'Jess don't.' Rory reprimanded him, she knew she shouldn't be talking to him because of the run in that Lorelai had with him the day before. Jess had apparently been rude to her, yelling that she didn't know anything about his life, so she should save her interfering for someone who cared. Lorelai had been fuming about it, and went on for an hour to Rory about how much of a bad guy he was, really messed up. In the short time he'd been here the town had all taken a disliking to him, naming him the town hoodlum and bad boy because he pulled a few harmless pranks. Rory smiled thinking of the fake murder he'd committed, and stealing but then returning the gnome from Babette's garden. They'd held a meeting about his disruption to the town. She knew that she shouldn't be talking to him, but she couldn't help it. He was nice to her, and only her and that intrigued her.

'What are you smiling at?' He asked an amused smirk on his face, he'd been watching her all morning and this was the first time she'd smiled, and he was the one who'd made it happen. Which gave him a strange feeling of contentment.

'Nothing, just wondering if they ever cleared up that whole fake murder thing.' She smiled seeing the instant recognition in his eyes, he smirked back at her.

'Well they did hold that meeting, you should be careful talking to a criminal.' He raised an eyebrow at her, making her laugh which got Dean's attention. He got up from the table and walked to her side, putting an arm around her.

'Got what you needed babe? We were thinking of heading down to play some basketball, or rather I play and you and Ally watch.' Dean explained, Rory tried not to roll her eyes at the thought. Jess however wasn't so subtle.

'Wow, your own personal cheerleaders, how thrilling for Rory.' Jess said sarcastically.

'Shut up Jess, nobody asked you what you thought about it. I can tell Rory's bored just sitting around here so I figured I would take some action.' Dean said angrily.

'Never confuse movement with action.' Jess said looking to Rory, wondering if she'd picked up on the quote.

'What's that suppose to mean?' Dean demanded.

'It's a Hemmingway quote.' Rory explained, watching the amused smirk on Jess' face, he'd used a quote for her, it was like their own little language that they'd learnt to speak, using quotes.

'Sure whatever but what is it suppose to mean?' Dean said, by this time Ally had joined them at the counter, looking bored and eager to get down to the basketball court so she could cheer on Dean.

'Who knows what my brother talks about half the time, let's go.' Ally said in a whiney voice.

'Just because you're moving them somewhere else doesn't mean you're taking action, you are confusing movement with action.' Jess shrugged.

'You know you're really starting to bug me.' Dean said annoyed.

'Huh.' Jess replied.

'Rory get your things and let's go.' Dean demanded.

'Ooh that's good, now say, Get in there and make me my dinner!' Jess smirked.

'Jess.' Rory pleaded, using only his name, knowing he would understand what she was asking him.

'Ok I'm stopping.' Jess said staring Dean down.

'Rory? Are you coming?' Dean asked.

'Uh no, I need to get home. Me and my Mum are going shopping this afternoon.' Rory shook her head. 'You two go without me'

'Great, let's go.' Ally smiled at Dean, who looked annoyed but leaned down and kissed Rory before leaving the diner.

'I wish you wouldn't mess with Dean so much.' Rory sighed.

'I am the way I am.' Jess shrugged. 'So what now? You want to hang out?'

'I really do have to meet my mum at home.' Rory apologised, getting up to leave. 'Oh,' She said reaching the door. 'For the record I don't like Hemmingway.'

'You're kidding!' Jess said in shock, 'How can you not like Hemmingway?'

'To be continued.' Rory laughed, walking out of the diner, leaving Jess hoping that conversation would be continued soon.

*

'Termites!' Rory looked at her mother with a shocked expression. 'Our house had termites?' Rory wanted conformation on this, how could there house have termites.

'Yes, termites, and they are eating away at our foundations, that's why my foot went through the porch, because they ate it.' Lorelai said. Both girls were stood in front of the house looking over at it.

'Well how bad is that? What do we need to do?' Rory was worried. 'We don't have to move right?'

'No hun, but we'll have to tent the place to get them out, and then have some work done because they've been eating the foundations so the house could collapse.' Lorelai said not noticing the look on Rory's face.

'Our house could collapse.' Rory said loudly.

'Uh huh, but it's ok we'll fix it, all I need to do is get a loan from a bank because let me tell you it is not going to be cheap, you'd think for the price I have to pay that they'll be re-housing each termite with their own New York City penthouse, and rebuilding the foundations with solid gold blocks.' Lorelai said dramatically.

'So is it safe to go inside?' Rory asked.

'Yeah sure.' Lorelai smiled. 'After you.'

'Mum! Is the house going to collapse if I go in there?' Rory asked.

'No it won't collapse, or it shouldn't. But we can't stay here until it's over with so lets go in and grab some of our stuff, Sookie said she can put us up.' Lorelai said.

'She doesn't have room for both of us, I'll go to Lane's.' Rory said tentatively stepping onto the porch.

'So termites huh?' Rory still couldn't believe it.

'Termites.' Lorelai confirmed.

*

'Don't you look cheerful.' Jess smirked as a very upset looking Rory sat down at the counter in the diner. She half smiled, half glared back at him.

'Our house had termites, we can't get a loan. I've been staying at Lane's for two nights and Mrs Kim is starting to freak me out, I swear she's two steps away from trying to convert me, I had a huge fight with my mum because I told my Grandma that we needed money and mum didn't want to borrow it from her, so yeah I'm as cheerful as they come.' Rory moaned.

'Will coffee help?' Jess asked filling her a cup.

'It can't hurt.' Rory said sipping it.

'Still look at the bright side.' Jess shrugged.

'There's a bright side? I'm not speaking to my mum, I don't see a bright side.' Rory said gloomily.

'At least you don't have to live with Ally.' Jess replied.

'Good point, but you didn't have to deal with Paris' neurotic meltdown at lunch today because I hadn't had time to rewrite one of Louise's articles for the Franklin.' Rory added.

'Well you didn't have to wake up at six to open a diner.' Jess countered with a smirk. Rory was starting to smile at their good natured banter.

'Hmm well I had Paris on my case all day for not telling her what my PSAT scores were.' Rory thought for a minute.

'OK, I had to deal with Taylor earlier because he thought I stole come pennies from the correct change thing in the market.' Jess said.

'And did you?' Rory asked curiously.

'I may have, so do I win?' Jess asked, she smiled at him. Forgetting about him basically admitting to stealing it.

'No. I'm staying with Lane and not only is her mum freaking me out, but we fell out because she decided to become a cheerleader.' Rory added.

'Huh, Lane Kim a cheerleader. Didn't see that coming.' He smirked. 'Well each to their own I guess.'

'You're right, I was so stupid fighting with her over this, it is her choice. And it's my mums choice not to take that money I had no right to interfere' Rory said. 'I'll have to talk to them both tonight. So can you top that?'

'I have to close the diner tonight because Ally said she feels a headache coming on and of course Uncle Luke believes her, he's not used to having girls around, all Ally did was mention she had women's problems.' Here Jess used air quotes. 'And Uncle Luke let her off work and is staying out of her way.' Jess said.

'Wow, tough break. Anyway as much as I would love to stay and chat, I have to go and meet Dean.' Rory said hopping off her seat felling way better than when she came into the diner.

'Ok Ok you win, your day is far worse.' Jess said dramatically throwing his hands up in defeat.

'What are you talking about?' Rory turned around confused.

'Meeting Dean. I feel for you.' Jess mocked. Rory smiled and stuck her tongue out at him before leaving.

A/N- REVIEW PLEASE, I love to get reviews.