A/N: Welcome to a new story! It starts off kind of slowly, but I promise it will pick up. The story title and chapter titles come from the lyrics of "You've Got Me" by Jillian Edwards. I don't own Rory or Jess or any other Gilmore Girls thing which is good because it would make writing fanfiction a lot less fun for me. I hope you enjoy!

"We're having people over for dinner tonight, so don't be too long after school," Lorelai said, passing her daughter a cup of coffee. She already had hers in a travel mug and was holding her keys in the other hand, about to head out to work.

Rory looked up from her checking over her pre-calculus homework uncomprehendingly. They weren't the type of people to have guests over for dinner. Usually the ordered in or went out for dinner. "But it's Tuesday," she said. "It's grab bag night at Al's." Ordering Al's on Tuesday nights was a tradition. Ordering pizza on Tuesday nights was also frequently a tradition. Rory had once questioned the fiscal responsibility of order dinner from two different places, but Lorelai likened it to getting popcorn at the movies—you were paying to be entertained, not necessarily for the food. Rory hadn't complained about grab bag night since, and looked forward to it each week.

"Grab bag night will be there next week," Lorelai said, slipping her shoes on. "Tonight we are having Luke and his nephew over for dinner. And Sookie, because she's cooking."

"Nephew?" Rory echoed. "I didn't know Luke had a nephew."

"I didn't either, but I ran into Luke yesterday and he said his nephew was coming to live with him and would be here today, so I invited them over for dinner. I'd say I'll fill you in more later, but I don't know much more than that," Lorelai said. She kissed Rory on the head. "I'm sure your homework is great," she said. "If you stare at it for too long you'll go cross-eyed."

Rory snorted. "That's not true," she said, taking a sip of her coffee. "I just want to make sure it's perfect." Even though she was still a junior, Rory was on track to be valedictorian when she graduated from Stars Hollow High next year. She didn't want to jeopardize that by getting distracted and making a mistake on her homework. Half her teachers gave them full credit for just completing their homework, but what was the point of doing the assignment if you weren't going to do it right?

"It's perfect," Lorelai assured her, looking at the clock on the microwave. "Crap, I'm going to be late. I've got a meeting this morning. Lock the door behind you and don't forget about dinner!" She shouted the reminder as she dashed toward the front door. Rory shook her head. She knew her mom was great at her job, but she was chronically late to early morning meetings. Neither she nor Rory were morning people. The one exception to that rule was cherry Danish day at Luke's, when they made sure to get up extra early so they could have breakfast before they went their separate ways.

By the time she finished her coffee Rory was satisfied that her homework was 100% correct. She didn't love math, but she was determined to qualify for advanced placement calculus so she could take the AP test. She knew she was a dead ringer for AP English already and she was confident that she could get into AP biology and AP U.S. history, but calculus made her nervous. She couldn't let it get the better of her, though. Rory's mom didn't have enough money to send her to a fancy private school, but Rory planned on going to Harvard anyway. She wasn't going to let a little thing like public school get in the way of her dream college.

Stars Hollow High wasn't the most glamorous or exclusive school, but Rory liked it okay anyway. Pretty much everyone there had been in school together since kindergarten and people were generally nice, so there was always someone you could get notes from if you had to miss class. Of course, a small school also meant that people's groups of friends had been cemented for years. Outside of her best friend, Rory didn't have a lot of close friends. She and Lane sat with a group of girls at lunch and there was always someone to partner with in class if an assignment called for it, but most of the people there were merely her acquaintances. Rory went to school to learn and study and a lot of people there didn't share her academic mindset. It wasn't unusual to see girls painting their nails in class, or boys flicking paper footballs at each other. Luckily, not everyone was like that.

Rory had just walked up the steps when she heard someone call her name. "You're not usually here this early." Dean walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, but she pulled away. She and Dean had been dating since he moved to Stars Hollow from Chicago a year ago, but Rory still wasn't entirely comfortable with public displays of affection, especially at school. She was a pretty private person.

"My mom had an early meeting, so I guess we were both ready quicker than usual," Rory said, walking beside Dean to her locker. "Did you do the pre-calc homework last night?"

"I'm not letting you look at my homework," Dean said with a laugh. "Every time I do I just end up finding out I did the entire assignment wrong. I'm sure yours is perfect." He squeezed her hand reassuringly, and she smiled. Dean was her first boyfriend, and he was pretty much the best guy a girl could ask for. He was sweet and easygoing, and he was always full of encouragement. Quite a few girls had looked his way when he moved to Stars Hollow, but for some reason he had picked Rory. She didn't understand how such a beautiful, athletic boy had singled her out but she tried not to question it too much.

Rory and Dean had different classes first period, so she didn't have time to tell him that she wouldn't be able to hang out after school like they usually did. Most days they either went to the library to do their homework or went to Dean's house to watch movies. It would have been nice to hang out at Rory's house since they always had better snacks there, but Dean's mom wasn't on board with them hanging out in a house where no adults were around. At first Rory hadn't understood why they weren't allowed to be alone. Adults not trusting her was an entirely foreign concept to her. In time, she had just learned to accept it. Dean's family could be a little overbearing, but they were sweet.

She made a mental note to tell Dean about the change in plans as she settled into her seat in English. One problem with Stars Hollow High was the fact that they only offered one 11th grade English class. Even seniors only got to choose between AP English and English 12, depending on their grades. Rory would have liked more options, but she really couldn't complain. They had already read two books that year that Rory had already read, so it gave her a chance to re-read the books and look at them more critically. It definitely made writing essays about the books a lot easier. Her teachers always praised her for how thorough her reading assignments were, although Rory had once caught a classmate rolling her eyes during one of her book reports.

At least Lane was in her pre-calculus class. "Do you want to go to Luke's after school?" Lane asked, sliding into the desk next to Rory's. "My mom has an emergency bible study tonight, so I can actually order coffee this time." Lane's mom considered coffee a gateway drug and Lane was too afraid that her mom would be able to smell it on her breath to order it usually.

"I can't tonight," Rory said, digging through her bag for her math folder. Her bag was organized within an inch of its life, but it was also incredibly full which made it difficult to get things out at times. "What is emergency bible study?"

"I have no idea, but I'm glad I don't have to go," Lane said. "I do have to go out to dinner with my parents and the Lees on Friday night, though. Apparently their son is going to be a doctor."

Rory winced. "Uh oh," she said. "Did your parents pick out your wedding ring yet?"

"I think they're keeping it in the same drawer as my chastity belt," Lane joked. The teacher gave her a stern look and started writing on the whiteboard, a sign that class was about to start. "I've met their son before at church and I don't think it's going to work out," Lane whispered. "I'm pretty sure he isn't into me, or any other girl."

"Poor guy," Rory whispered back, flipping to a clean page in her notebook to copy down the notes on the whiteboard. Lane's parents were constantly trying to set her up with virtuous Korean future doctors that they knew through their church, and so far Lane had made sure none of the dates worked out. She preferred blonds.

Rory saw Lane again at lunch, but they both spent the period cramming for a chemistry test they had that afternoon. They didn't have the class together, but Rory did have the class with Dean. Normally they had plenty of time to talk since they were lab partners, but that day Dean was already sitting at his desk pouring over his notes when Rory walked in. "Don't worry too much," Rory said. "You'll do great."

"No, you'll do great," Dean said. "I will get a C. Or a D." Dean was smart, but chemistry wasn't his best subject. Rory could help him out during their labs, but he was on his own with the test. She gave him a sympathetic smile and pulled out her own notes, although she was feeling pretty confident about the test. She and Lane had quizzed each other on the formulas during lunch, and they had both done well.

Rory was feeling pretty good when school let out after chemistry. She thought she had done well on the test and even though at first she had questioned the necessity of having Luke over for dinner, she was looking for good food. Grab bag night was fun, but Sookie's food was light years better. As they walked out of school, Dean slipped his arm around her waist. "So, what do you want to do today? I thought maybe we could get some fries from Luke's and take them back to my house. I forgot to pack a lunch this morning and the spaghetti the cafeteria had was awful."

"Actually, I have to get home," Rory said. Technically it was still early and she probably didn't have to be home right away, but the idea of having an afternoon to herself wasn't entirely unappealing. If she was forced to pick a fault of Dean's, she might have said that he was a little too enthusiastic about hanging out with her. He usually wanted to hang out with her every day, even when they were both doing homework quietly at the library. Most of the time she didn't mind at all, but every now and then it was nice to just kick back with some Pop-Tarts and music Dean didn't like.

Dean frowned, his forehead creasing. "Why?"

Rory shrugged. "We're having Luke and his nephew over for dinner," she said, fiddling with her watch. "My mom wants me to pick up a little since she's still at work." Lorelai had never actually said that, although that's what Rory planned to do since she and her mom never made cleaning a priority and their living room had seen better days.

"I didn't know Luke had a nephew," Dean said.

"I didn't either," Rory said. "Apparently he's going to live with him and is getting here today."

"So you have to spend your evening hanging out with Luke and some kid?" Dean asked, sounding a little miffed. Rory didn't understand what the problem was. They hadn't had real plans for the afternoon, just an understanding that they usually did things after school. What was one day of not hanging out?

Rory adjusted the strap on her backpack, not meeting Dean's eyes. "It's not a big deal," she muttered. "We can hang out tomorrow," she added in a more cheerful voice, realizing she had sounded a little annoyed herself. As they reached the street where Dean lived Rory rose up on her toes and gave him a kiss. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Will you at least call me tonight?" Dean asked, still sounding a little put out.

Rory nodded. "Of course," she said. She called Dean every night, even when they did hang out. Most nights they didn't have a lot to talk about, but he liked when she called to say goodnight. It was kind of nice, although Rory had fallen asleep early a few times and then felt bad the next morning about missing their call.

She would definitely call him tonight, she thought as she walked into her house. It was hardly his fault that her mom had made other plans for them without asking Rory if she had plans, and he had obviously been upset. As she turned on the stereo and grabbed the vacuum she considered calling him before dinner too, but decided that calling him at their usual time was good enough. She wasn't sure what time Luke and his nephew would be over, but there was a fair amount of cleaning to do beforehand. After vacuuming Rory even ventured into the kitchen and experimentally wiped at the counters, hoping Sookie found them acceptable. They never really used the kitchen, so how messy could it be?

Sookie got to the house even before Lorelai did. "Hi, sweet pea," she said, lugging several stuffed grocery bags. "Can you grab one of these for me? I think the one on the right is about to slip."

Rory grabbed the bag and carried it into the kitchen, trying to peek inside on the way. "This is a lot of food," she observed. "What exactly are you making tonight?"

"Oh, a little bit of everything," Sookie said. "I meant to make some things last night, but Jackson and I were late to our movie so we had to go to the late show. I've got Lou covering the dinner shift at the inn."

That was a surprise. Sookie usually hated delegating, and she really hated leaving other people in charge for a whole meal. "Wow, you and my mom are really going all out for this," Rory remarked, grabbing a Coke from the fridge. "Until this morning I didn't even know Luke had a nephew."

"That's what your mom was saying yesterday," Sookie said, pulling a huge slab of meat out of a bag. "Pot roast," she explained. "Do you think Jess will eat pot roast?"

It took Rory a second to process Sookie's question. "Jess is the nephew," she clarified. "Mom had to rush to work this morning and was only good for the headlines. I think everyone eats pot roast." If Jess didn't like it, Rory would eat his share. Pot roast was her favorite food.

Sookie didn't look convinced, but started rubbing salt and pepper into the meat anyway. "If not, there will be plenty of side dishes," she said. "I'm making macaroni and cheese. And salad, because I don't know a lot about Luke's eating habits but I know he eats salad. Jackson's bringing over a fruit salad later, too."

Rory wrinkled her nose. She would pass on the salad, fruit or otherwise. "I can't wait for the mac and cheese," she said. Sookie's macaroni and cheese was the stuff of legends.

"Did someone say mac and cheese?" Lorelai asked, walking into the kitchen. "I could eat some mac and cheese." She grabbed a handful of the cheddar Sookie had just shredded and danced away before Sookie could swat her with the spoon she was holding. "I told Luke to be here at seven, so we've got two hours to make it look like we are accommodating and normal people." As it to demonstrate how accommodating she was, she set a box of Ding Dongs out on the kitchen table. Rory grabbed one, having a feeling they would be gone before dinner with her and her mom around.

"Even with the snack cakes, I think we might need more than two hours for that," Rory said. "Since everything is under control here I'm going to get some of my homework out of the way before dinner."

Lorelai shook her head. "I don't know where you get your motivation from," she said, amazed. Rory just shrugged. To her, two hours of homework was nothing. When she had a test coming up she would study for hours on end. Spending a couple of hours doing a regular amount of homework was no big deal. Even though she didn't have a lot of it, she wanted to get it done before dinner. With her mom there was no way to tell how long Luke and his nephew would be over, and she owed Dean a phone call.

Homework came first, though. She was in the middle of proofreading an article she had written for the school newspaper a while later when her mom knocked lightly on her open door. "Rory, come say hi to our guests!"

"I'll be there in a minute," Rory promised. She turned back to her computer to save her article and was surprised to see a guy standing in her doorway when she got up to join her mom. "Oh. Hi," she said. For some reason, she had pictured a younger kid when Lorelai had talked about Luke's nephew. In his beat-up canvas jacket and dark jeans, Jess definitely did not look like a young kid.

Jess smirked at her surprise. "Hey."