"No."

"Jess, come on."

"I said no. And how did you even get this number?"

"I," there was a pause, "stole it from Luke's address book, alright?"

That broke a smile out of Jess, though it was followed by a light wince as his chapped lips pulled. "Look at you, breaking and entering."

"There was hardly any breaking and entering involved. Just some…..quiet walking and copying down a number."

"I still like this new naughty Rory."

Rory's voice perked up. "Enough to agree to come?"

"Oh, no. Definitely not."

"Jess!"

"Look, Rory, I'm sorry. But I'm not going back to Stars Hollow just to celebrate a stupid birthday."

"It's not a stupid birthday. It's Luke's. And I know he'd love to have you there."

Jess smirked, though Rory could of course not see him. "I highly doubt that."

"No, he really does."

Jess sighed. "Fine, how do you know?"

"When mom asked him who he wanted invited, he said he didn't care, of course. But when she pressed him, he finally admitted it would be nice to see you again. So there!"

So there. But he still couldn't come. And he didn't want to tell her why.

"Still no."

"oh my God, Jess!"

"To be fair, I did say I was sorry."

Rory's voice was demanding this time when she asked, or insisted rather, "give me the real reason you can't come."

Jess sighed. "I'll be sick."

"That's bologna, Jess. You can't predict something like that a week away. The party isn't until Saturday."

"So?"

"So, it's Tuesday."

Jess was getting annoyed now, and he could hear in Rory's voice that she was too. "So?"

"So?So we will see you Saturday at 3 at the diner. Bring a gift."

Dialtone.