Chapter 6: That Little Rat Corrupted My Daughter's Heart

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"Hey," Jess said, closing the door behind him.

Rory smiled. “Hey.”

Jess moved over to her desk, pulling out the chair and sitting down backwards on it.

“They were really getting into the movie...”

“I know.” Jess paused. “Tonight was fun. We should do it again sometime soon.” He raised his eyebrows at her suggestively.

“Jess—“

“Didn’t you have fun?”

Rory nodded. “It was fun.”

“Then what’s the problem?” he asked, standing up and moving over to the bed, sitting opposite her.

“I love Dean...” Rory said slowly, trailing off. She was suddenly aware of his closeness, and her heart started beating a bit faster again. “And he doesn’t like you,” she finished, after having taken a deep breath to calm herself.

“I am aware.”

“But then again, you’re my friend, and friends...” she trailed off, swallowing. “Friends are allowed to hang out. Dean has no right to be jealous, and—“ Rory knew she was rambling on, but she couldn’t help it.

Time seemed to stop, as Jess leaned closer until he was only about an inch away. Rory’s breathing slowed, and she moved forward, locking lips with the very person she was supposed to steer clear from.

She didn’t care anymore. She was sick and tired of denying her feelings just because everyone in Stars Hollow expected her to always be with Dean. They treated her like she was fragile, like she was perfect. But she wasn’t perfect—no one was.

Rory finally pulled away, and she and Jess just sat there, staring at each other. Jess’s lips curved in a small smile.

“It’s about time,” a voice called from the doorway.

Rory’s eyes widened. “Mom, I can explain—“ she started.

“No need to, hun,” Lorelai replied. “I’m not the one you need to talk to.”

Rory and Jess looked at each other, and Rory sighed.

“I guess I should go,” Jess said, standing up. He walked into the living room and grabbed his jacket.

“Come on, Luke.”

“What?”

“You can watch the chick flick some other time. LET’S GO.”

“Woah, is Jess trying to do a Luke impersonation there?” Lorelai asked Rory in a whisper.

“I don’t know. It’s kind of amusing though.”

“I know.”

Luke looked at Jess like he was crazy, but he obediently stood up anyway.

Jess led the way outside, and Luke paused as he passed Lorelai.

“Thanks for the, uh, movie,” he said.

She smiled. “Anytime.”

“See you tomorrow?”

“Yeah. Ooh, maybe tomorrow we can watch Where the Heart Is.”

Luke’s smile faded. “What? No, that’s not what I—“

“Oh, ooh—Charlie’s Angels. Sound good?”

“No.”

“Good, it’s a date. See you tomorrow. You bring the popcorn this time.”

“No—“

“Luke, need I remind you that you still have the keys to the diner?” Jess yelled.

Luke nodded at Lorelai and Rory, heading out the door and following Jess back to the diner.

Lorelai watched them leave, sinking down into one of the kitchen chairs. “I’m tired.”

“Me too. I’m going to bed. Night—“

“Woah, hold on there,” Lorelai commanded, raising her head. “Are you going to talk to Dean tomorrow?”

“Yeah.”

“What are you going to say?”

“I have no idea.”

* * Next Day * *

“Rory,” Dean greeted, giving her a quick kiss. “What’s up? I can’t really talk now...It’s pretty busy. A few people called in sick, and I have to go—“

“Maybe I should come back later.”

“No, you said there was something important you needed to tell me. I’ve got time. Go ahead.”

Rory swallowed back the tears that threatened to fall. “It’s about us, Dean.”

“What about us...”

“I think...Well, I mean—“ Rory struggled to find the words. This was new to her; she didn’t even know how to go about breaking up with someone. If only Dean had caught Jess in Rory’s room, then maybe—

“Rory?”

“I think we should take a break from us,” she said quickly, before she could change her mind.

Dean reeled back as if he’d been slapped, and Rory lowered her head.

“What, why?” he asked, with an edge to his voice.

“Well—“

“It’s because of Jess, isn’t it?” Dean asked quietly.

Rory looked up at his sudden change of emotion. She shook her head. “Not entirely.”

“But mainly?”

“Well...I guess.”

Dean nodded. “I have to get back to work now,” he said numbly.

“Dean, don’t—“

“Bye Rory.”

Rory bit her lip to keep from crying. She nodded at Dean’s retreating back. “Bye Dean.”

“You just broke up with him—just like that?”

“Yeah.”

“And no one cried?”

“Nope.”

“Surprising.”

Rory glanced at her friend. “Yeah?”

“Did you want to cry? I hear it’s very emotional to break up with someone. Of course, I wouldn’t know. I could imagine, though. But, you know, I think my mom is warming up to the idea of me and Henry as a couple.”

“That’s awesome, Lane,” Rory said.

“I know.”

“Is HE warming up to the idea yet?”

“Well, he said as long as we can be seen together in public, and not have to resort to diversions to see each other...”

“When’s the last time you talked to him?”

“I called him last night.”

“And?”

“And he didn’t sound totally disappointed that I called,” Lane said, a self-satisfied grin on her face.

“That’s great!”

“Yeah,” Lane nodded. “So are you going to make a move with Jess now? Or...another move?”

Rory blushed. “Whatever happens, happens.”

Lorelai watched silently as Michel yelled at Rune for something or the other. She almost felt sorry for the guy. It seemed like he could never get anything right.

“You just had a break,” Michel told Rune. “You don’t get another one.”

“But I wasn’t doing anything.”

“Exactly.”

“But—“

Lorelai watched in amusement as they fought some more, but asked them to go outside when their argument had gotten heated. Rather than doing the adult thing and stop fighting, they agreeably went outside.

Lorelai went to the kitchen to check up on Sookie.

“How’s everything coming, Sook?”

Sookie glanced up as she whisked some eggs in a bowl. “Twenty four, twenty five...”

“Looks good.”

Sookie shook her head and started counting more vehemently. “Twenty six, twenty seven...”

“REALLY coming along...” Lorelai trailed off.

“Twenty eight, twenty nine...”

“So, Rory broke up with Dean today.”

Sookie dropped the bowl onto the counter, her eyes widening. Ignoring the mess that had sloshed from the bowl on impact with the table, she addressed Lorelai. “What did he do?”

“It’s not what DEAN did, per say.”

“Okay, what did Jess do?”

“That little rat corrupted my daughter’s heart. He got into her head and messed everything up.”

“Did you talk to Luke?”

“Why? Jess wouldn’t listen to Luke anyway.”

“Well, I don’t know. How did Dean take it? Poor kid.”

Lorelai shrugged. “I haven’t talked to Rory yet.”

Rory walked into Luke’s and looked around. “Where’s Mom?” she asked Luke.

He glanced up from wiping down the counter. “Not here.”

“Oh.” Rory looked around again, trying to be casual about it.

“Jess is upstairs.”

“Oh.”

“He’s probably just reading. You can go up if you want.”

Rory opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again, changing her mind. “No, I didn’t come to see Jess,” she said carefully. “I just wanted to see if my mom was here. Guess she’s still at the inn.”

Luke nodded. “Coffee?”

“Um...Sure.” Rory nodded.

Luke poured her a cup and set it down in front of her. He stood there looking at her, trying to decide on saying something or not. Finally, he sighed, the nagging voice in his head—JESS’S nagging voice—getting the best of him.

“I heard you broke up with Dean today. Are you okay?”

Rory blinked, setting her coffee cup back down and fixing Luke with a stare. “Where did you hear that from? It JUST happened!”

“Uh...news travels fast,” he replied.

Rory picked her cup back up and took a sip. “I’m fine, thanks.”

“Want to talk about it?”

“Not really.”

“I understand,” Luke assured her.

Rory smiled her thanks just as Jess came downstairs. He saw Rory and started to head over, before changing his mind and making a quick exit from the diner.

Rory watched him leave, sighing dejectedly. It was just like him to run away when things got a little complicated.

Jess took a deep breath, staring at the ground as he walked—where, he wasn’t sure yet. Probably the park. He paused outside of the market Dean worked at. Yup, there he was—bagging someone’s groceries.

Suddenly Dean looked up, spotted Jess, and walked over.

“Jess,” he growled.

“Dean.”

“I guess by now, by that smirk on your face, you know Rory and I broke up.”

Jess raised an eyebrow, a grin slowly spreading across his face. “Huh.”

“Like you didn’t know.”

“I believe I didn’t. Good to know, though. Thanks for the update, Dean.”

Jess walked off, leaving Dean glaring after him.

“What’s happening tonight?” Lorelai asked, later that evening.

She had just gotten home, and she and Rory were hanging out in the living room, catching up on the day’s events.

“I don’t know,” Rory responded, glancing around. “Another movie?”

“Yeah, or maybe we could invite some of those lowlifes over that we talked about before...” Lorelai looked hopefully at her daughter.

Rory frowned. “No lowlifes.”

“Aw. Now even one lowlife?”

“No, Mom. No lowlifes for you.”

“You sound like that guy from Seinfeld!” Lorelai exclaimed.

“Which one?” Rory asked, confused.

“The Soup Nazi,” Lorelai replied as the doorbell rang. She stood up and moved to the door. She turned back and pointed at Rory. “No soup for you!” she mocked.

“Stop!”

Lorelai laughed, opening the door. Her eyes widened a little. “Ror—it’s for you.”

“Is it the lowlife?” Rory called, walking into the room. Her smile faded as she saw who it was. “Oh...hi.”

Jess walked into the diner, his eyes quickly scanning the occupants. He breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn’t here.

He walked up to the counter and nodded at Luke. “Hey.”

“Hey,” Luke replied gruffly.

Jess stood there a moment longer in silences, then turned to leave. He took a few steps before Luke sighed, telling him to hold on.

“Yes, she broke up with him. But that’s all she would tell me.”

Jess stopped, but he didn’t turn around.

“What did you do, Jess?” Luke demanded.

Jess looked first to his left, then to his right, as if he was about to cross a busy street. Then he spun around, fixing his eyes on Luke. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Uncle Luke.” And with that, he walked off and headed upstairs.

“It’s not UNCLE Luke, it’s just Luke!” Luke called after Jess, who showed no sign of hearing him whatsoever.

“I try to be helpful, and this is what I get,” Luke said, frowning. He nodded at the person standing before him, trying to get his attention. “What’ll it be?”

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