It was 2:30 on Saturday and Jess was beyond ready to be done with his shift. Lane was supposed to be here in a half hour and he was hoping to shower so he could get the smell of grease and burgers off of him before they went to the movies but Luke was running late. He'd called five minutes ago to tell him that the bank was taking much longer than he expected and he asked Jess to stay on until he got there because he didn't trust Ceasar to be able to handle the front and the back by himself. Jess was annoyed and made sure to let Luke know that but agreed all the same, it's not like he had much of a choice, Lane could wait five minutes for him if need be so he could take the world's fastest shower.

Jess didn't know his luck could get any worse but was proved wrong when Ms. Patty walked in followed by Kirk right behind her. Kirk was insane, Jess was sure and he avoided talking to him at all costs. Whenever he came into the diner Jess did whatever he could think of at the time, whether it be taking another person's order or running upstairs because he 'forgot something', so that Luke would have to serve him, unfortunately, Luke wasn't there to do it this time, so that left Jess to have to do the dirty work. Ms. Patty was nice enough but Jess avoided her too, every time he got within ten feet of her, she'd touch him inappropriately and start talking about the fun they would have if she was a few years younger. Last time she casually mentioned that they could still have a lot of fun and that she could keep up with him better than any girl his age. He was pretty sure that was illegal somehow but he also knew enough of this town to know no one would care or do anything about it. In fact, when he mentioned it to Luke he just laughed and mumbled something about there being an unspoken law for unmarried men to stay ten feet away from her for their own safety.

Jess looked at Ms. Patty and saw her giving him the 'come hither' eyes and promptly looked away. He decided Kirk was the lesser of two evils and went to his table first. He offered no pleasantries and in a gruff voice asked, "Whaddya want?"

"Some good customer service would be nice, I come in here for the atmosphere and you are surely lacking."

"Would you like me to physically throw you out like Luke does at least once a week? It'd be my pleasure if that's the type of atmosphere you're looking for."

"A BLT on rye, please."

"Fantastic."

With a long-suffering sigh, Jess walks over to Ms. Patty. "What can I get you today?"

"How about you on a platter?"

"Aw jeez, you're gonna make me blush." He said sarcastically but was partially worried he was telling the truth.

"Oh aren't you adorable, I'll just have some coffee. If it slows down do you think you can sit with me? I have a few things I gotta talk to you about." She leaned in to whisper. "There's some rumors going around and I figured it'd be better to ask the source instead of spreading false gossip, if you know what I mean."

"What would this town do without you, Ms. Patty?"

"Thank goodness for them, they don't have to find out. So what do you say?"

Thankfully Luke chose that moment to walk in and Jess was able to breathe a sigh of relief. "I'd love to, but unfortunately, Luke's back so I have to go get ready, I have plans tonight."

"So it's true, you are dating Lane!" She said with a gleeful smile.

"Oh jeez, no! We're just hanging out as friends."

"I don't know about that, darling. Most friends don't make their first time hanging out at the movies, it sounds more like a date to me."

Jess wanted to laugh her off but realized she was probably right. Fuck, he didn't want Lane to think this was a date. Then again, she was the one who asked him, did she think she was asking him out on a date? She was cool and all, pretty too but he already had his sights set on someone else, her best friend. Then again, Rory was already in a relationship and had been for a while if what he heard was true. The word around town was that they were the best couple and would one day get married and raise their kids here. Jess worked hard to hold back the cringe, that type of life sounded horrible to him, so if that's the type of life Rory would want it's probably better that she was in a relationship with someone else. Then again, they were teenagers and she was smart, he doubted she had her whole life decided and set in stone already, she seemed too big to be stuck in such a small town forever, without ever seeing the outside world.

He mentally shook his head and focused back into the present. "We're just friends. I'll put your order in and have Luke bring it out."

"Have a good date, sugar!"

He sighed while walking up to Luke at the counter and taking his apron off. "What is this I heard about a date?" Luke asked sounding nervous.

Jess wanted to laugh at Luke's clear panic, so Jess decided to egg him on. "Oh yeah, real hot babe, we're going to the movies so we can make out in the dark. She seems like the type to let me pass third base on the first date."

"Jess you cannot be serious, I know for a fact that Liz had to teach you how to treat women right.'

Luke cringed almost as fast as Jess got defensive and angry. If Liz were a normal mom, yeah, she'd have taught Jess how to treat women but going by what Jess said to Lorelai she was the furthest thing from a normal mom so he regretted saying it as soon as the words came out of his mouth. Jess on the other hand was used to people saying things like that and was also used to all the blame being solely placed on him so he didn't think twice and went on the defense.

"Jess, I'm sorry, I didn't mean…" He was cut off by Jess.

"Yes you do, and it's fine, it's what I'm known for, right? You don't have to panic, I'm not planning on impregnating anyone tonight and ditching like my father did. I'm just hanging out with my friend who I have no intention of fucking so you can breathe a sigh of relief."

Luke opened his mouth to explain his side and apologize but he wasn't given the chance because Jess left the conversation by stomping upstairs and straight into the shower. He felt terrible, he didn't mean to attack Jess like that, maybe a lot of what Liz told him about Jess stuck with him even if he didn't mean to listen. He took two steps towards the stairs to follow him, explain himself, and apologize but the bell on the door rang signaling another customer. He was a little surprised to see it was Lane Kim, she had a very strict mom and her mom never let her eat the food he cooked.

"Hey Lane, what can I get for ya?"

"Me? Oh nothing, I'm here for Jess, we're supposed to go out tonight."

You're his date?" He asked incredulously but regretted it as soon as he saw the hurt on her face. "I didn't mean it like that, it's just, you're such a good girl and he's just… not." Again, he regretted the words as soon as they came out of his mouth. He always defended his sister, she was his baby sister and he was always there to protect her even when he knew she was in the wrong. The first time he remembered that happening he was 16 and she was 14, she had a boyfriend, which don't get him started about how she was too young for such things but he digressed. Anyway, she was 14 and her boyfriend just got arrested for stealing their father's tool set. His father wasn't one of means but his father owned a hardware store and did some spotlighting as a handyman from time to time so he made sure to have top of the line tools. Anyway, they were stolen and it turned out Liz's boyfriend did it, there was no way he could have gotten them, let alone known they existed if Liz wasn't involved so Luke knew his sister had to help him steal it but still, when it came to defending her to the police and their parents, he had her back. It was more than habit, it was built into him. If his sister needed help or defending Luke was there, he was always there. And honestly, he thought he always would be but things were different now, he couldn't live in denial and blind defense of his sister when his nephew was at stake. Jess deserved better than that and if Liz wasn't going to be there to help and support her son, Luke knew he'd step up and take that position.

"Wait, please don't respond to what I just said, better yet, just forget I said it. Because I was wrong, Jess is a good kid and doesn't deserve the rap he's gotten, especially because he's only gotten that wrap because I was scared to take in a teenager." His eyes widen, as if he just realized he was saying too much to a teenager who didn't know what the heck he was talking about and didn't need that type of information even if she did understand.

"Okay…" She drew out the Y in okay, confused about where this was going. Honestly, she had a feeling that Luke wasn't even talking to her, more speaking to himself, she was just a sounding board, either way, she didn't care, she listened to all the town talk when Jess first got here saying he was a bad boy, a troubled kid, and she stayed away. Then a few days later the new talk of the town was that they had it wrong and that Jess just had a rough life and needed time to settle in. She decided two things at that point, one, that she was going to get to know him to make her mind up on him herself, and two, that she wasn't going to base anymore of her own opinions on town talk anymore because it was clear that they were just as clueless as she was and if she was going to like or dislike someone it was going to be because of what she learned from them from now on.

Thankfully she didn't have to make any more conversation with Luke or listen to his own apologies or guilt over Jess anymore because said guy made his way downstairs and pushed the curtain that separated their apartment and the diner apart to make himself known. "Hey Lane, you ready to go?"

"Yup!"

The walk to Black White and Read was somehow made in both a comfortable and uncomfortable silence. Jess was prepared to talk about it, his past and his problems with his uncle, in the vaguest of terms just to calm the air but he noticed Lane jumping off into the ally ways hiding every once in a while, and was happy for the new chance for conversation so that he didn't have to bring up his life before Stars Hallow. The next time she dipped behind a trash can he couldn't stop the laughter that bubbled up. "What the hell are you doing, Kim?"

"Kim, yeah, that's good! I'm Kim, not Lane, just in case my mom or one of her friends hear you talking, they won't think it's with me."

"I know you said your mom is strict but is she deserving of all this crazy?"

Lane gave him a 'duh' look, one that clearly said 'Would I be hiding behind trash cans if it wasn't absolutely necessary?' And he had to admit that wasn't something he suspected Lane would normally do. When they finally made it to the theater Lane was able to explain her mom and all her crazy, borderline abusive ways, and that made Jess like her even more. It made him feel not so alone, that at least she kind of understood where he was coming from. Jess really enjoyed the movie even though they barely watched it, just enough that they could make fun of it when they weren't talking about real things. By the time the movie was over Jess truly thought he made his first real friend in Stars Hollow and he couldn't say he minded, he really liked Lane and her tastes in music and movies. There was an awkward moment in front of Luke's after the movie was over. When he first agreed to hang out with Lane he thought they were going out just as friends but when she stood there waiting for.. something before he went inside he thought he might have given her the wrong impression. He wasn't the touchy-feely type but he landed on leaning in and giving her a hug.

"Goodnight Lane, that was fun, I want to do it again when you can get some more time away."

"Yeah, me too." She said with a big smile when she pulled away. Her smile made him relieved, she didn't seem upset that he didn't make a move on her which was good. Even if he came to the conclusion that Rory Gilmore was taken and off limits, dating her friend would take away any possibility of anything happening in the future, and even though he felt stupid planning things like this around a girl he barely knew and one that had a boyfriend at that, he couldn't stop himself and didn't really want to.

~~~~~

The next day found him pacing around the apartment feeling like a fool. Why was he so anxious? He was pretty sure it was just a pity invite anyway, he wasn't sure why he was worrying so much, it wasn't like they actually liked or cared about him, they're friends with Luke and he was probably worried about Jess and convinced them to hang out with him so that he could feel like he was part of this town. With that crappy but probably true thought, Jess thought about ditching but after a few seconds more though he decided against it because he wanted an excuse to see Rory again and Lorelai seemed cool enough.

With a few more paces through the apartment and a few sighs, Jess sat down. He needed something to occupy him until it was time to leave, yeah, that was the ticket. He looked around, he just finished his most recent book and thought about rereading an old one but Liz hadn't sent his stuff yet, which if he was being honest was mostly books, so he didn't really have anything he was in the mood to reread. He couldn't believe it when he opened his textbook but after two pages he decided to at least read the chapter that they were studying. So he turned the book to the right page and opened his notebook. If he was going to read the chapter he might as well do the work going along with it, he thought with a roll of his eyes. What was he turning into?

Thankfully, his schoolwork did the job, and the next thing he knew it was time to leave. He got up and walked to the door but looked at himself in the mirror on the way out. He stopped and messed with his hair until it looked how he wanted. He looked down at his clothes and got mad at himself for getting distracted with schoolwork when he should have been getting ready for tonight, he wanted to look good when going to see Rory. Eventually, he decided he just had to go or he'd be in front of the mirror for another hour fretting over how he looked like a schoolgirl.

When he walked up the stairs of the porch at the Gilmore Girls house he felt strange, like he wasn't meant to be in a place like this, he felt like he didn't belong. Fuck, if he listened to anything his mother said to him, he didn't deserve anything nice. According to her, he was the reason anything went wrong in her life, and not only did he not deserve anything good, but he'd also ruin anything even a little good that he touched.

He must have been too lost in his downward spiral of thoughts he didn't realize how long he was standing on their porch in front of the door not knocking. Rory was standing there on the threshold looking at him "Jess?"

He shook his head and then gave her a smirk of his lips, that was the closest he came to smiling when he wasn't around his friends, who he knew he could trust. "Hey there."

"Are you okay?"

"Course. Why wouldn't I be?"

She looked at him long and hard, it was clear that she wanted to say more and probably ask a few questions, he was unbelievably relieved and thankful when she didn't. "No reason, so are you coming in or standing out here like a weirdo all night?'

He scoffed, "I'm not the weirdo in this relationship, you're the one who'd rather study than do something fun."

Rory felt a blush come over her cheeks, she was glad she was walking in front leading the way so that Jess couldn't see. She knew he didn't mean anything by saying relationship, friendships are relationships, the way that students and teachers interact are relationships, heck, Lorelai being her mom was technically a relationship, they had a familial one. Jess and her relationship was one of friendship, that's all they could ever be because she had a Dean. So there was no reason for her to have such a strong reaction to him saying the word 'relationship' but that didn't stop it from happening.

Lorelai chose that moment to come out of the kitchen with her hands filled with snacks, Jess looked at what was already on the table and didn't know how all three of them could even make a dent in just a quarter of the snacks they had. He was getting a stomach ache just looking at it, he opened his mouth to say something but remembered rule number one of movie night with the Gilmore Girls. He felt really out of his depth right now, he'd never been in this situation before. Sure, he had movie nights with his friends in New York but this was different, Lorelai was older, a parent, and he'd never gotten along with parents before, well, other than Tia, of course.

"Hey Jess, are you ready for a night filled with horribly terrifying yet awesome movies?"

"How terrifying? I scare easy." He said deadpan.

"Oh you know, the type that will keep you up for weeks on end."

"Oh, I'm sure Luke will love that. Do you think he'll make me warm milk, tuck me in, and sing me lullabies until I fall back asleep?"

Lorelai and Rory laughed at the mental image. "What kind of uncle would he be if he didn't? Okay, okay, we have to get started if we want to get them all in before this one has to be tucked in herself. You don't want to see a cranky Rory with a lack of sleep on a Monday morning. Without further ado, back by popular demand because of their cinematic excellence, I present to you our triple feature!"

She holds up three VHSs and presents them with a flourish to the kids. Jess leans in to see and it's 'Rosemary's Baby' 'Mommy Dearest' and 'The Omen'.

"I'm sensing a theme here," Jess said.

"Oh yes, I just like to remind Rory once in a while about the possible terrible outcomes of sex. It's my form of a safe sex talk, consider yourself sex talked to as well."

"Uh, thanks, I guess." Jess wasn't sure what to say to that, with a quick look at Rory he could tell she was embarrassed and a little uncomfortable too. Lorelai had a look on her face like she realized she made the room awkward.

She cleared her throat. "Anyway, come, come sit, make yourself at home. We have all you could possibly want or need for a movie night."

"Yeah, we're so practiced in this that we have the table set up perfectly, everything is in the optimal position for comfortable movie watching. The popcorn is front and center, you don't even need to reach to get it, oh and the sour candy is to the right, directly next to it are the pop tarts, they're a great pallet cleanser. We set it up so the pizza will get here at the end of the first movie and the coffee machine is set to start in two and a half hours so we have a pick-me-up right about halfway through the second movie. Oh and just for a little variety we have some chocolate-covered strawberries and pretzels over here on the side table. Soda?" Rory asked and held out a can for him.

"Wow. Uh sure."

"Okay, sit down kids, and let the show begin!" Lorelai sat down on the right side of the couch with Rory in the middle and Jess on the left. About halfway through 'Rosemary's Baby' Jess started to relax and was laughing at their commentary, by the time 'Mommy Dearest' started Jess was joining in too. He enjoyed their senses of humor and they seemed to think he was funny too if not a little dry. He and Rory went for the popcorn at the same time and their fingers touched, Rory jolted back, she felt something when she touched him, like electricity going through her body. She was so aware of him, every time he moved or reached for a snack. She had this crazy urge to hold his hand but she stuffed that down. She shouldn't be thinking that way, she had a boyfriend, a boyfriend who loved her and treated her great. She felt like a terrible girlfriend for having these thoughts about someone else. Maybe having him over wasn't such a good idea.

She felt his hand rest next to hers on the couch and she had the urge to move her hand a little closer to see how he'd react but she stopped herself. She was being silly, he was a friend, that was it. A good friend who got along with his mom liked the same movies as them and was probably the only person she knew who read as much as she did, other than Paris of course. She could have guy friends who were objectively attractive and still have a boyfriend. Yeah, that was fine, no big deal.

They took a break between the second and the third movie for bathroom breaks and to heat up more popcorn. Jess couldn't think about eating another bite, after the popcorn and snacks and the obscene amount of candy he wasn't sure he could move at all. Instead, while the girls were moving around the house he stayed in his seat and took out the book he always had in his back pocket, this time it was Pride and Prejudice. He only made it a paragraph in before Rory plopped down next to him.

"What are you reading?" She asked as she leaned over to look and couldn't help but notice his scrawling on the page he was reading, it seemed this was another book he read multiple times. Instead of verbally answering her he flipped the book closed so that she could see for herself. "Huh."

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing! I just didn't see you as the Austen type"

"What, because I'm a guy?"

"No, no! I think it's more because of your whole thing." She said waving vaguely over his body.

"My thing?" He didn't know if he should be offended or not.

"You know, the whole bad boy, rebel without a cause thing."

Jess scoffed. "Oh come on, I'm not a rebel without a cause, that would be like me assuming you're a nerd with no friends because of the whole thing you have going on." He said repeating the same thing she did by gesturing all over her body.

"What do you mean?"

"You know, you got that whole 'I'm shy and smarter than everyone else so I'm stuck up' vibe going on. I know that's not who you are though."

"Okay, okay, I get it, I'm sorry."

He gave her a small smile at her apology, leaned over, and nudged her shoulder with his. "Yeah, I like Austen, not my favorite for sure but she knows how to draw you in."

"Yeah she does, I really like how she…"

Lorelai was watching and listening to their conversation from the kitchen, the popcorn had been done for a few minutes now, she didn't know why she was waiting in the kitchen. They were having a nice night together and she thought Jess was a pretty good kid, if not a little rough around the edges. Some of the comments he made about the movies made it clear that he didn't have a normal or healthy upbringing. Even if what he said surprised a laugh out of her it still made her sad. She wanted to make sure he had a better life from here on out and getting in with kids like Rory and Lane was a great start.

She couldn't help but be a little worried though, Rory was a great kid, the greatest even, and she deserved only the best. Jess was a good kid too but he'd been through a lot and some of those things shaped who he became. Lorelai knew this kid was on the edge, he could easily become trouble, he was the kid that skipped school, started fights, drank, and tried drugs. She thought that being friends with kids like Rory and Lane could stop that but it could also go the other way, he could drag them down with him and Lorelai wouldn't let that happen.

So Lorelai was at a precipice herself, she could wash her hands of him, let whatever was going to happen to him happen and that would make sure she kept her daughter safe. Or she could keep trying, showing him that people are here and he's not alone, showing him that there are other ways to live than how he'd been living for the last 17 years. She promised herself when Rory was born that she'd do whatever she had to, to keep her daughter safe no matter what. Following that promise to herself would mean pushing the kid away. After a few seconds of thought, she decided she couldn't do that, she just didn't have it in her. Plus she wasn't oblivious enough to think that if she stopped bringing him around, he wouldn't stop trying to be near Rory.

She knew the look he was giving her daughter well, he was smitten. She got it, Rory was the best, you'd have to be blind and deaf not to fall in love with her. She had a bad feeling when she realized the looks weren't one-sided, Rory seemed just as interested. Poor Dean, she thought, it might not be for a while but she had a feeling this wasn't going to end well for the kid.

She just took her first step into the living room when there was a knock on the door. "One second kids, then we'll start the finale!" She said as she put the popcorn down and walked over to the door.

For some reason, she wasn't surprised that it was Dean at the door with ice cream for three. "Hey Dean, what are you doing here?"

"I figured movie night had to be over. I hope it's not too late to come in for a nightcap." He said with a smile while holding up the ice cream.

"Movie night actually isn't over yet, we have one more." She sighed internally, maybe she wasn't the only one who noticed the looks between the two that were currenly lost in conversation on the couch. "Rory, you have a gentleman caller."

Rory and Jess had been deep in a debate over Austen versus Dickens when Lorelai yelled. They both jumped in surprise and Rory leaned back after noticing how close they leaned into each other while debating. "Oh, um, hold that thought, I'm not done with this conversation."

"Sure, I was just about to win you over anyway."

"You wish!" She walked over to the door, and when she saw Dean she felt guilty for a reason she wasn't sure about. "Oh Dean, hey, what's up?"

"Oh nothing, I was hoping you were done with movie night." He again held up the ice cream hoping to bribe his way into the house. He was lying, he knew how Gilmore Girl movie night worked and he knew there was no way they were done. He just couldn't sit in his house one more minute thinking and worrying over what was happening with them and that kid. He didn't trust Luke's nephew, not one bit, and he definitely didn't trust the way he looked at Rory.

"Nope not yet, you know how movie night works, we're never done before we're fighting to keep our eyes open, we just had our second coffee pick me up, and we have another movie yet to watch."

"Can I join you?"

Lorelai answered before Rory could, she saw Jess standing up and gathering his stuff, she had a feeling if Dean came in Jess would make an excuse to leave and she didn't want that. She had a mission, get Jess acclimated and make him know he was welcomed and wanted, and she wasn't going to fail. Kicking him out so another kid could join would not get that done. "Sorry Dean, I already told you not tonight." She turned to look at Rory, "Hey hon, say goodbye to your boyfriend then meet us inside. 'The Omen' waits for no man."

"Okay, Mom, thanks."

"Sure thing," Lorelai said with a smile before going inside and closing the door, she walked back over to Jess. "What do you think you're doing? We still have one movie left."

"The couch is a little small for four, I was going to leave room for the boyfriend."

"Oh, he's not staying, he knew we were busy tonight. Rory will be in in a second then we can start."

Jess stood for a few more seconds looking around, trying to decide if he should stay or not before eventually sitting with an 'okay.'

Back outside Rory looked at her boyfriend with a smile. "What are you really doing here Dean?"

"What? I just missed you, didn't you miss me?" He said with a sweet smile that usually made her heart flutter but for some reason, it didn't today.

"I was just with you a few hours ago." She said with a laugh but realized she said the wrong thing when his smile fell. "I mean of course I missed you, I always do but you knew I had plans and how important hanging out with my mom is to me, she's my best friend."

"Yeah I know that, but why does he have to be here?"

"What do you mean, are you talking about Jess? He's Luke's nephew and was new to town, we wanted to make him feel welcome. He's cool, we're friends. Why does it sound like you don't like him?"

'Because I don't!"

"Why? You don't even know him."

"He just isn't a good guy, I can tell. He's short with all the teachers in school and never pays attention, always ignoring the class and reading. That's not even talking about how often he skips. He's bad news Ror, I can tell."

"Have you ever even talked to him?"

"Yeah, I've talked to him, you were there."

"What, at Ms Patty's? That was two words. You didn't talk to him enough to get to know him well enough not to like him." Rory was getting the feeling something was going on here that she didn't know. She wasn't sure why Dean was getting upset, Rory never knew him not to like someone, especially for no reason. Maybe there was a reason that he wasn't talking about. "Did he do something to you? You can tell me, no one messes with my boyfriend."

"What? No. As if he could do anything to me, I could kick that jerk's butt if I needed to."

"Oh, real mature Dean."

"Oh come on, you know what I mean. He's never done anything to me but I like to think I'm a good judge of character and he's not a good guy."

"You don't know him, he's nice and smart, just give him a chance, for me, please." Dean sighed, not sounding convinced so Rory took a step closer and put her hands on his arms. "For me? Look, I really don't want to fight with you, especially over me making a new friend, I think you guys can be friends too if you give him half a chance."

Dean finally smiled after a few moments of looking mad, he leaned in and kissed her. "Fine, I'll give him a chance, but only if you ditch the rest of movie night and come out with me to enjoy this ice cream."

Rory felt bad but she knew what she had to say. "I'm sorry Dean, you know I can't do that. I made plans I gave my word, you knew I had plans. We'll hang out tomorrow like always."

Rory could see that Dean wasn't happy with that answer and was about to argue with her until she agreed with him so she leaned in to distract him with a kiss. She kissed him a little longer than normal and when she pulled back the smile was back on his face. She decided to end the conversation before he could get upset again. "Bye Dean, see you tomorrow."

She ran over to the door and went inside so fast she didn't hear or respond to his "I love you." Dean sighed and after staring at the house for a few more seconds, turned to make his treck home.

After Rory made it inside she plopped onto her spot on the couch, grabbed the remote, and pressed play without another word. Lorelai wanted to ask her about what happened, especially because Rory didn't look particularly happy but decided to keep her mouth shut for once, at least until Jess left. It only took the intro of the movie before everyone was back in high spirits making snarky comments and enjoying the movie. By the time it was over Rory could barely keep her eyes open and Jess was getting tired himself, who wouldn't after coming down from that much of a sugar high and spending that many hours rotting their brain in front of the TV?

"That was fun Jess, I think you officially passed the test?"

"Mhmm, grade A work for sure," Rory mumbled half asleep almost leaning on Jess.

"Test?"

"The movie test, not just anyone gets invited back after the first movie night, you have to be able to keep up with our wit and have actual taste in movies, you passed. So be proud Jess Mariano, you are one of the lucky few officially in our inner circle invited to our very exclusive, super duper, fun, unique hangouts."

Unique is definitely a word Jess would use for these two. He was too tired to think of any funny or smart-ass quips so he just nodded his head, scooched Rory over so that she wouldn't fall over when he moved, and got up to get ready to leave. "I'll be waiting very impatiently by the phone and/or mail for my next invitation." Huh, he supposed he wasn't too tired to be a smart-ass after all. More seriously, he looked at Lorelai, "didn't expect to meet anyone cool when I moved here but you guys are cool and have decent tastes in movies. I could do this again."

"If that's the broody teenage boy's way of saying thanks and you had fun, you're welcome and we'll do it again soon," Lorelai said with a smile that said she didn't mean anything mean with her words.

Jess gave the now sleeping Rory a soft smile that Lorelai didn't miss before making his way to the door. "Night."

"Goodnight Jess." She said as he closed the door. She let out a sigh, she wasn't sure what was going to come of Jess being in town but she had a feeling things were about to change, she hoped for the better but she couldn't be sure. She had a sinking feeling that it definitely wasn't going to work out well for Dean. She looked over at Rory when she shifted on the couch making up for the room that Jess made and decided to think that over tomorrow. For tonight she had to get her baby girl to bed and get some rest herself.