A/N: It's great to see so many of you loving this fic, and I love to read your thoughts and opinions on what might yet happen. Keep it coming, folks :)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 6

Rory saw him first. She and Jess had just parted ways outside the building with a sweet kiss and promise to catch up with each other in the cafeteria at lunch. He headed off to class and Rory intended to go to her room when she heard someone call her name.

"Jamie?"

They should have known it was going to happen eventually. Jamie was nothing if not dedicated to Paris and so completely in love. He had proven it in so many ways over the past year, the only thing that made sense when he didn't hear from his girlfriend in too long was that he would worry and show up at Yale.

"Hey, Rory," he greeted her with a smile that didn't look altogether genuine.

"Hey," she replied, trying to be upbeat herself and knowing she wasn't doing so well. "Um, how are you doing? How's Princeton?"

"It's still there", he said, nodding his head. "I, er... I admit, I'm not doing so well this year as before. I guess it's no surprise to you that I'm having some trouble concentrating."

"Yeah," said Rory, looking away.

She couldn't tell Jamie anything that Paris had told her, it wouldn't be right, breaking the whole sanctity of the sisterhood thing. Still, she felt so very awkward right now, knowing what at least part of the problem was in this relationship and unable to say anything.

"Um, you should come inside. I think Paris has a class right now, but there's no reason you can't hang out, wait for her to get back," she said, heading for the door, key in hand to unlock it.

"Thanks, Rory. I really appreciate you being so kind to me."

"Oh, of course. I don't have any reason not to be nice," she said, opening the door and glancing back at him. "Do I?" she checked warily.

"No, no," Jamie promised her, looking awfully worried she might not believe it. "I swear, I can't think of any reason why Paris is so distant lately. I actually hoped maybe you could tell me."

"Jamie." Rory sighed, bringing him into the dorm and offering him a seat. "I can't. You know, you and Paris really need to talk to each other instead of me. Whatever I do or do not know, I can't get in the middle of this."

"This," Jamie echoed, laughing painfully as he sank down into the couch cushions. "I'm not sure what this is anymore," he admitted. "I barely saw Paris over the summer. A little more in the beginning but then it was like... like she just didn't want to be with me anymore. When I talk to her, she says I'm being ridiculous. Of course, she loves me, of course she wants to be with me, but... I'm sorry," he apologised the moment he caught sight of the look on Rory's face.

"It's fine," she assured him. "I do understand, Jamie, but relationships are never easy and Paris is..."

"Never easy?" he supplied, with a smile he couldn't help. "Don't worry, I am aware, but I love her anyway."

"And she loves you, Jamie. That much I will say, because we both know it's true."

"I'd like to hope so."

"It's a safe bet in my book," she said, smiling a moment before a frown overtook her face. "Oh, no. Book!" she declared, hand slamming against the bag on her shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Jamie. I have to go, but you're welcome to stay. Paris should be back in an hour or less."

"I'll be fine," he assured her, waving away her concern. "And thanks, for letting me in and being so nice."

"All part of the girlfriend's best friend service," she promised, raising her hand in a brief wave before hurrying out into the hall.

In her rush, Rory really wasn't looking where she was going and ploughed right into oncoming traffic in the shape of three guys, one of which seemed a little too happy to have gotten so close.

"Well, hello, darling!" he declared, hands grasping her arms.

Rory fought to get away, and to be honest, he wasn't exactly trying to stop her. He probably had a hold of her more by luck than by design, even trying to be helpful, but she didn't care for strangers getting grabby.

"What is your problem?" she asked, shaking him off.

"No problem here, love," he assured her, hands now raised in mock-surrender.

"Yeah, to be fair, you did run into us," said his friend. "And Finn is a chronic sufferer of grab-hands syndrome," he said way too seriously.

"Hey, guys. Come on," said the third guy, the only one of the three that Rory recognised. "I'm sorry about Finn and Colin, they're not at their best this morning."

"Just get out of my way, Logan," she snapped at him, moving to pass.

Annoyingly, he didn't let her go.

"So, you don't like me," he said, trying to meet her eyes as well as block her path. "And somehow you know my name, despite the fact I don't think we ever met before."

"Your reputation proceeds you, Logan," said Finn with a knowing look. "Although, I don't think I'd be so careless as to forget such a beauty," he added, staring at Rory.

"You all met me before," she reminded them, arms folded across her chest and eyes flashing with anger. "In the quad? By the coffee cart?" she prompted them. "I was with Marty."

"Marty?" Logan echoed, looking to his friends for help.

They each looked as clueless as he was.

"Marty, my friend, Marty. He tended bar at a party for you guys."

"Ah, yes, Marty!" said Logan, snapping his fingers and the memory apparently returned to him. "The guy who makes a kick-ass margarita!"

"He is capable of more than that, you know," she told them smartly.

"I'm sure he is," Logan agreed. "I don't think they let guys into Yale for mixology alone."

Rory felt her blood pressure rising so fast, she half expected the top of her head to blow off like a cartoon. This guy was insufferable, and the more he talked, the more she disliked him for every word out of his stupid mouth. Just because people were rich, they should not treat those less wealthy like servants, and she planned to tell Logan just exactly that, the moment he let her get a word in edgeways!


"I just got so mad about it, I really laid into the guy, which is not exactly like me. I mean, he was kind of insufferable, but I think maybe some of it had to do with the whole Paris and Jamie thing, and maybe even Jess too."

"There's still trouble with Paris and Jamie?" asked Lorelai with a frown. "I just assumed they figured things out."

"They may have done, now. I mean, I had classes, met Jess for lunch, and then when I swung by the room they were gone. I came straight here when I was done this afternoon, so I have no idea what happened. I really, really hope they figured things out though. Jamie is such a nice guy, and if Paris just talked to him about what happened-"

"About what happened?" Lorelai echoed. "What did happen?"

"Oh, er... I'm kind of sworn to secrecy, sorry."

"No problem, sweets. The sanctity of the sisterhood is what it is. I wouldn't expect you to spill my secrets, I respect you for keeping Paris' too," she said definitely, ringing the Gilmores' doorbell. "Besides, you'll end up telling me later anyway."

Rory opened her mouth to protest but didn't get a chance as the maid opened the door and ushered them inside. The grandparents came to greet them next, Richard offering drinks, and Emily questioning Lorelai's choice of outfit. As Friday Night Dinners went, this one was starting out fairly normal.

"Rory, you don't seem so enthusiastic this evening," said her grandpa when he handed her a soda. "I can't believe you would be struggling at Yale."

"Oh, no. Yale is fine, Grandpa. It's good actually," she said, finding a smile.

"Then perhaps it's that young man of yours that has you so down," said Emily acidly.

Lorelai rolled her eyes and turned away. Of course, her mother was going to start with Jess. Her other favourite topic was reasons why Luke was no good either. At least where Jess was concerned, Richard seemed willing to defend the kid a little bit.

"Everything is fine with Jess and me," Rory insisted. "Yale is a big adjustment for him, just like it is for all of us, but we're just fine."

"I'm sure Jess will excel in such an environment," said Richard, nodding his head. "He's a very bright boy, he's just never been given the opportunity to shine before."

Emily scoffed into her drink and everyone else pretended to be too polite to notice.

Realising that if she didn't make a subject change, she was just going to be hounded all night about her less-than-stellar mood, Rory started telling tales from college that her grandparents might find interesting. She mentioned classes, teachers, and assignments, as well as her friends whose names came up on a semi-regular basis.

"Well, you certainly seem to have settled in very well," said Richard mid-way through dinner. "And this Marty that you mention, does he have a last name?"

"I'm sure he does." Rory nodded. "But it's just now occurring to me that I have no idea what it is. Huh."

"I'm not sure we know anyone with a son or grandson named Martin that would be at Yale," Emily considered. "You know quite a few of the up and coming young men seem to be at least a year ahead of you. Just last week, I was talking to Shira Huntzberger, and she was telling me that Logan-"

"Logan?" Rory echoed with surprise. "Logan Huntzberger? That's... He's Mitchum Huntzberger's son?"

"Well, of course," her grandmother assured her. "Oh, have you met the boy? I haven't seen him in quite a while, but I understand that he's grown up to be one of the most handsome and charming young men."

Lorelai's eyes were wide as the serving dishes as she shared a look with Rory across the table. Certainly, from what she had heard, Logan was not at all charming, though handsome she couldn't vouch for. Rory looked incensed and ready to let rip in a big way, which was why Lorelai quickly thought of a subject change.

"Luke and I are engaged!" she announced out of nowhere.

"I beg your pardon?" asked Richard.

"What did you say?" said Emily in the same moment.

Lorelai pulled her ring from her purse and had her left hand up from her lap, flashing her ring at everyone in a second. Rory was left wondering what had happened for a moment, before she realised quite how her mother had saved her. Honestly, she had been telling her mom how she had to tell her parents about her engagement eventually, but every week she put it off a little longer, certain she was in for nothing but scorn when the news came out. Tonight, all focus had been on Rory, and when the grandparents started in on how some guy Rory so disliked was just saintly because he was rich and pretty, that was the final straw. There was bound to be an explosion and a disastrous fight. Better for Lorelai to throw herself on that particular grenade apparently. Rory was sure she'd never been more grateful for such a sacrifice.


Jess was just exiting the bedroom when Rory entered her dorm. She looked confused and he didn't wonder at it.

"Hey," he greeted her. "Good time at dinner?" he asked, smirking some.

"Not the greatest." Rory shook her head. "You okay?"

Jess nodded. "Can't say the same for Paris."

They had talked about it at lunch, Rory telling Jess how Jamie had come to visit and that she was worried what would happen when he and Paris finally did talk. She had text to let him know neither Paris nor Jamie was around before she left for Hartford. Clearly, Jess had been worried too and had come to check on his sister. It didn't seem as though he had found her in a good state.

"What happened?" asked Rory, she and Jess sitting down on the couch together, and talking in low voices.

"Long story short, and shoot me now for making this reference, but 'they're on a break'," said Jess, rolling his eyes even as he air-quoted from Friends. "Your guess is as good as mine how long for."

"Oh. Well, on a break is better than broken up, I guess." Rory sighed. "Poor Paris, and poor Jamie too. I don't even understand what went wrong."

"C'mon, Ror," Jess said, giving her a look. "I know she told you about the whole pregnancy thing."

"She told you? Tonight?"

"It kind of came spilling out, yeah."

"But she was never pregnant."

"No, but she could've been, and when she told Jamie about it, apparently, he didn't handle it so well. In Paris' mind, if he couldn't handle that, she can't see him handling anything serious in the future either."

"Yeah, because she handled it so well." Rory rolled her eyes. "I'm sorry, Jess, I know you love her, I do too, but she really should've talked to him sooner."

"For the record, I did tell her that," he admitted with a sigh. "Other people's relationships, huh?" he said, pulling her closer.

"Yup," she agreed, glad of the hug she was getting right now, "and it has been a long day."

"I'll agree with that," said Jess, kissing the top of her head, "and not to ruin your weekend, but I think you've got more trouble coming tomorrow. Gym Membership Barbie will probably be on the warpath," he said, tilting his head towards Janet's room. "Apparently, finding a different guy on the couch every time she gets home? Not something she's comfortable with."

"It was only Jamie and you." Rory rolled her eyes. "What's her problem?"

"I think Jamie and me," Jess told her, smiling. "Also, Paris. Those two really didn't hit it off."

Rory groaned as if she might cry, burying her face in Jess' shirt.

"Long, long day," she grumbled. "I just want it to be over."

"It is over," Jess promised her. "Which is why I should probably go."

A further noise of complaint escaped from Rory, but she did get up and allow her boyfriend to move. At the door, Jess moved to kiss her, but it was Rory who didn't want to let go when he tried to leave. If they were anywhere that they could be alone, this situation would not have ended at a mere kiss goodnight.

"You're killing me, Gilmore," he told her breathlessly when they finally parted. "We've got to figure out a place to be alone sometime soon."

"No arguments here," she told him, grinning like a fool. "Did I mention that I love you?"

"A couple of times," he told her, smiling just as wide. "I love you too," he promised, kissing her lips one more time, then heading out of the building with a salute-type wave.

Rory closed the door and turned back towards the empty dorm room. If she went into the bedroom, Paris might want to talk about Jamie or cry all over her or something. If she stayed out here, she might at least get some sleep on the couch.

"Good night's sleep or being a good friend?" she muttered to herself. "No contest," she replied to her own question, heading straight for the bedroom door.

To Be Continued...