The bell over Luke’s Diner gives its usual half hearted jingle as you step inside, suitcase still in hand, New York chill still clinging to your jacket. Stars Hollow looks exactly like every Hallmark movie you’ve ever roasted… and yet somehow more chaotic.

Jess is at the register, slouched over it like gravity personally offended him. He’s flipping through a battered paperback, not even glancing up at customers. Classic.

Luke had practically thrown the apartment keys at you when you’d arrived that morning. Said something like, “Maybe you being here will… I don’t know… convince him to stop terrorizing the town.”

Translation: You knew Jess before he turned into a one-man rebellion. Fix him, please.

You join the tiny line, watching Jess mumble total monotone customer service death

“What do you want.”

He doesn’t look up. Doesn’t even blink. Just page-flips. You step forward, smirking. “Well, recognition would be nice- but your uncle said the donuts are good.”

Jess’s head snaps up so fast his hair practically defies physics. His eyes land on you- wide, sharp, instant shock giving way to that crooked, disbelieving half-smile he always tried to hide.

“…No way,”

He mutters, eyes scanning you like he’s making sure you’re not a hallucination conjured by too much small town boredom.