Tristan was walking along the street heading to the Crap Shack to spend some time with Rory that evening. He was lost in thought when suddenly caught his eye. Across the street he saw Jess leaving Sophie's music shop with Lane. He watched as they laughed together. He went closer, making sure he stayed out of sight, and heard the end of the conversation.

"So same time tomorrow?" Lane asked.

"Yeah. And remember..." Jess said.

"No telling Charlotte. I know. That's sort of a given." Lane joked.

Jess chuckled. "Yeah. And no telling Rory either because she would tell Charlotte." He said.

"Got it." Lane nodded. "So tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow." He nodded.

"Bye Jess." She smiled.

"Bye." Jess said before they both walked off in opposite directions.

Tristan didn't know what to think. What was it that they were doing that they couldn't tell Charlotte or Rory? He hated to think of the worst situation. He watched Jess disappear into the diner before he continued to walk to the Crap Shack.

Once there, he was greeted by Rory. "Hey!" She smiled.

"Hey." He smiled giving her a kiss. He followed Rory into the living room where Lorelai and Charlotte were.

"Hi Tristan!" Lorelai gave him a warm smile.

"Hi." He smiled. "Hey Charlotte."

"Hey!" Charlotte smiled.

"Right I'm going to go order food! Chinese ok for everyone?" Lorelai said getting up. Everyone nodded so she went off to order it.

"So...is Jess coming as well?" Tristan asked sitting down on the couch with Rory.

"No. He's doing an extra shift at Wal-Mart this evening apparently." Charlotte said.

"Oh...right." Tristan said, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach.

"Oooh I'm going to make sure mom orders some egg fried rice." Charlotte said getting up and disappearing into the kitchen.

Rory glanced at Tristan. "Are you ok?" She asked. "You look conflicted."

Tristan sighed. "Jess isn't at Wal-Mart." He told her.

"What?" Rory frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I saw him when I was on my way here." He said. "He was coming out of Sophie's shop...with Lane."

"Oh..." Rory frowned. "Well maybe he was buying some music before his shift..."

Tristan shook his head. "He went back to the diner afterwards and I heard him talking to Lane. It was...weird..."

"What do you mean?"

"Lane asked him if he wanted to do it the same time tomorrow." Tristan told her. "Jess said yes and then made sure Lane knew not to tell Charlotte or you..."

"That could mean anything..." Rory said.

"Rory..." Tristan sighed. "They were laughing together and looked like they were getting along really well..."

"What, so you're saying Jess is cheating on Charlotte with Lane? No, that's crazy! He wouldn't do that to her. And with Lane? We've been best friends with Lane since we were kids. She wouldn't do that to Charlotte either." Rory said shaking her head.

"I'm just telling you what I saw and heard. It didn't sit right." Tristan said.

"Well ok...but don't mention it to Charlotte. Not yet anyway. It could still mean nothing." Rory said.

"What do we do then?"

"Investigate. See if we notice anything." Rory said. "Then if something is obviously going on...then we talk to Charlotte."

"Ok." Tristan said.

Just then Lorelai and Charlotte appeared back into the room. "Right the food's ordered! Who wants to go collect it?" Lorelai smiled.

"So she ambushed you, huh?" Rory said as she was walking down the street with her mom and Charlotte the following day.

"She bit me, incapacitated me with her poison, and devoured me whole." Lorelai exclaimed dramatically.

"Great..." Charlotte said sarcastically.

"I know you're still mad at your Grandpa." Lorelai said. "But my mother did make one good point."

"What was that?" Charlotte asked raising her eyebrows.

"That it wasn't her that arranged the meeting behind your back." Lorelai said. She sighed. "Look this isn't exactly how I want to spend my thanksgiving either but they're going away until after Christmas so this will be the last dinner for a few weeks. Your Grandma seemed to really want us to come."

Charlotte sighed. "Fine." She said.

"Quick question though, how are we going to go to four Thanksgiving dinners?" Rory asked.

"It's not four, is it?" Lorelai asked.

"Yeah it sort of is." Charlotte said. "Lane's house, Sookie's, and we always stop by Luke's as well but this year Luke's is sort of a must. That's three, and Grandma and Grandpa is four."

"Oh..." Lorelai said.

Just then Kirk walked out of The Chat Club with several bags.

"Hey Kirk. Discover a new freaky fetish?" Lorelai joked.

"What?" He asked confused.

"Nothing. You buy a cat?" She asked.

"Yup. I'm very excited." He smiled.

"You seem it. So what's all this?" Lorelai asked.

"I'm assuming there's nothing left in the store." Rory smirked.

"Actually, there are a number of things left." Kirk said.

"I think she meant you seem to be buying a lot of stuff." Charlotte smirked.

"Oh, sorry. My excitement must be clouding my ability to judge comedic hyperbole." He said.

"So where did you get the cat?" Rory asked.

"A lady had a bunch of them at the grocery store and Kirk seemed to take an instant liking to me." Kirk smiled.

"Kirk?" Charlotte smirked.

"Yes?" He said.

"No, I mean, the cat's name is Kirk?" She asked.

"Yup."

"Weird coincidence or...?" Lorelai asked.

"I named him Kirk." Kirk clarified.

"Isn't that confusing?" She asked.

"Not when you think about it." He said.

"No, it's still confusing." Lorelai said after pretending to think about it.

"I like the name, and whenever I call Kirk's name, I obviously won't be calling myself." He said.

"True." Charlotte commented.

"Although when my mom calls for Kirk, that may be confusing. Maybe I can get her to say CatKirk when she's calling Kirk, and HumanKirk when she's calling me."

"That would keep it straight." Rory nodded.

"I'm glad I ran into you. See ya." He said.

"See ya, HumanKirk." Lorelai waved.

"Bye HumanKirk." Charlotte grinned.

"He's always been a cat person, he's just never had a cat." Rory commented. "Right I'm going to head to Luke's. You guys coming?" She asked.

"I have to get back to the inn." Lorelai said reluctantly.

"I would but I need to finish this sketch I've been working on." Charlotte said. "It sort of has a deadline."

"Ok. I'll see you at home." Rory smiled.

*****************************

Rory entered the diner but stopped when she saw Jess and Lane chatting at the end of the counter, laughing together. She shook her head. Surely Tristan couldn't have been right? Jess and Lane wouldn't do that to Charlotte and besides Lane had told her she was into Dave. She couldn't help but notice the closeness between them though as she watched them chat together. She started to get even more suspicious when she saw Jess notice her and say something to Lane who suddenly looked up. She smiled at Jess before heading towards Rory.

"Hey Rory!" Lane smiled.

"Uh...hi Lane." Rory said.

"I've got to run but I'll see you tomorrow for Thanksgiving right?" She said.

"Yep we'll be there." Rory nodded.

"Great! Bye!" Lane smiled before leaving.

Rory slowly walked up to the counter where Jess was. "So I didn't realise you and Lane were such good friends?" She said cautiously.

"She's pretty cool." Jess shrugged. "She's the only sane one at Stars Hollow High."

"Right, right..." Rory said.

"Everything ok?" Jess asked.

"Sure. Why wouldn't it be?" Rory said.

"You just seem...distracted." He said.

"No, not distracted." She said. She glanced at him. "So our mom's has to be at the inn tonight so Tristan's coming over to hang out with me and Charlotte. Fancy coming?" She asked.

"Oh...I can't." He said.

"Oh. How come?" Rory asked innocently.

"Have to work." He said.

"Oh." Rory said. "Weren't you working last night?"

"Yup." He said. "Someone's called in sick so they asked if I could cover his shifts."

"Oh right. That's nice of you." Rory said.

"Could do with the money." Jess shrugged.

Rory just nodded. "I better get going." She said.

"You don't want any coffee or food?" He asked confused.

"Oh..no..I'm suddenly not that hungry." She said before leaving quickly, leaving a bemused Jess behind.

*****************************

Rory headed home and found Charlotte on the couch with her sketchbook. "Hey..." She said.

"Oh hey!" Charlotte smiled. "That was quick."

"Yeah...uh...Luke's was packed and I couldn't be bothered to wait." Rory made up an excuse.

"Oh. Ok." Charlotte said.

"So what are you drawing?" Rory asked.

"Promise you won't make fun of me if I show you?" Charlotte said.

"Of course." Rory said sitting down on the couch next to her.

Charlotte turned her sketchbook round to show a sketch of Jess she had been working on.

"Wow..." Rory said surprised.

"I know it's cheesy but I wanted to give Jess a present before I go away to college." Charlotte admitted. "Do you think it's too much? He'll hate it, won't he?"

"No." Rory said quickly. "It's amazing, Charlie. Really."

"You really think so?" She asked self consciously.

"It's amazing." Rory smiled. "He'll love it." She said. "Well he should..." She muttered.

"What did you say?" Charlotte asked.

Rory sighed. "I need to tell you something..." She said reluctantly.

"What?" Charlotte asked putting her sketchbook down as she could sense her sister's tone.

"So when Tristan was coming to the house yesterday, he saw something..." She said.

"What did he see?" Charlotte asked.

"Jess." Rory said.

"Jess?" Charlotte frowned. "But Jess was working yesterday..."

"I don't think he was..." Rory said quietly. "He saw him leaving Sophie's store with Lane."

"Ok..." Charlotte said. "Well he could have been buying some music before his shift."

"I thought that too. But he heard them chatting and arranging to do the same thing this evening." Rory said. "Tristan said Jess went back to the diner afterwards."

Charlotte was quiet for a moment. "What are you saying?" She said.

"Tristan thought it was odd. I told him not to think about it but then I saw Jess in the diner today...with Lane. They were chatting and laughing together but when they saw me, Lane made a hasty exit." Rory said quietly. "I don't know what to think but Tristan said he heard Jess making sure Lane wasn't going to say anything to you or me."

"You're saying Jess is cheating on me..." Charlotte said quietly.

"I don't know." Rory admitted. "I don't know what to think but it's weird. Jess has never hung out with Lane this much before. I mean, has he mentioned hanging out with Lane to you at all?"

"No." Charlotte admitted.

Rory sighed. "I'm sorry, Charlie. I didn't want to be the one to tell you but I had to. I couldn't keep this from you."

Charlotte shook her head. "I don't believe it. Jess wouldn't do that. And Lane? We've been friends for years!"

"I know but..." Rory said.

"No. There will be an explanation for this. Lane's into Dave anyway!" Charlotte exclaimed.

"Charlie..." Rory said softly.

"No! I don't believe it!" Charlotte exclaimed getting up and disappearing to their bedroom.

Once she was in there, she took out her cell phone. She hesitated before dialling a number.

"Hey!" Jess answered.

"Hey." Charlotte replied. "How's it going?"

"Good. You?" He asked.

"Yeah good." She said. "So..uh..how was work yesterday?" She asked.

"Same old." He said. "Boring."

"Right." Charlotte said. "So do you want to hang out tonight?" She asked.

"I can't, sorry." Jess said.

"Oh...ok."

"I have to work again." He told her.

"Oh. Ok." Charlotte said.

"Sorry."

"No it's ok."

"I'll see you tomorrow though. You're coming to Luke's for dinner right?" He asked.

"Yep." She said.

"Ok, so I'll see you then?"

"Sure."

"You ok?" He asked.

"Absolutely. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye."

"Ok. Bye." Jess said.

Charlotte stared at her cell after the call. She sat on her bed for a moment before getting up and heading through to the living room. "I'm going out for a bit." She told Rory.

"Where?" Rory asked.

"Just out. I won't be long." Charlotte said before leaving the house. She then walked all the way to Wal-Mart. She went inside nervously. She looked around and then walked up to a guy in uniform. "Hi..uh..I wasn't sure who to talk to but I was just wondering who to ask a favour about my boyfriend not working a shift tonight?" She said.

"That will be the manager." The guy said pointing out an older man.

"Ok. Thanks." Charlotte said. She took a deep breath before going up to him. "Hi, are you the person I should talk to about who works when here?"

"Yes I am. Is there a problem?" He asked.

"I was just wondering...my boyfriend..uh..Jess Mariano had to work here last night and he's said he has to work tonight as well. I know he's a good worker and all but I was wondering if you could let him off tonight? I had something planned." She lied.

"Jess Mariano?" The man frowned.

"Yeah..." Charlotte said.

"Jess wasn't scheduled to work yesterday or tonight. I don't know what he's told you but he's not scheduled to work until next week." The man said.

"Oh..." Charlotte said, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach.

"I'm sorry if you thought..."

"No it's fine." Charlotte forced a smile onto her face. "I must have misunderstood. Sorry to have bothered you."

"It's no problem." He said.

Charlotte left Wal-Mart and then collapsed onto the bench outside. She didn't know what to think. Could Rory have been right? Could Jess be cheating on her?

*****************************

That evening, Charlotte was sat on the armchair in the living room of their house while Rory and Tristan sat snuggled up on the couch together. She saw Rory keep glancing over at her. "What?" She exclaimed.

"Nothing." Rory said.

"You keep glancing at me!"

Rory sighed. "I'm just worried about you. You've been really quiet since this morning."

"Can you blame me?" Charlotte retorted.

"Sorry." Rory said quietly. "Look, I'm sorry I implied Jess could be...well you know..."

Charlotte sighed. "He didn't work at Wal-Mart yesterday and he's not scheduled to work tonight either." She admitted.

"What?" Rory asked.

"I went to Wal-Mart and ask the manager. He said Jess isn't scheduled to work until next week." Charlotte said quietly.

"Oh." Rory said quietly.

"I can't do this anymore. This not knowing is killing me!" Charlotte said getting up and heading for the door.

"Where are you going?" Rory asked.

"I'm going to get to the bottom of this! I'm going to catch them out." Charlotte said angrily, grabbing her jacket and then leaving the house.

Rory glanced at Tristan before getting up. "I think we should go after her." She said.

Tristan nodded. "Right behind you!" He said.

*****************************

They caught up with Charlotte and reached Sophie's store in record time.

"Charlotte, wait!" Rory said.

"What?"

"Do you think this is a good idea?" Rory asked.

"Well what do you propose I do? Ignore it and let whatever's going on carry on? Have Jess continue to lie to me?" Charlotte exclaimed angrily. "I need to know!"

Rory looked at her sister for a moment and then nodded. "Ok. But whatever you find out, we're here for you ok?"

Charlotte just nodded. She then pushed the door open roughly. "Ok whatever's going on can stop right now!" She exclaimed angrily storming into the store. She stopped when she found Jess sat with Lane but it wasn't what she had expected. Jess was playing the guitar and Lane was on the drums and they were with the rest of Lane's band as well.

"Charlotte! What are you doing here?" Jess asked surprised.

"What...how...You're playing the guitar..." Charlotte said confused.

"What are you doing here?" Jess asked again.

"I went to Wal-Mart." She said. "You didn't work yesterday and you weren't scheduled to work today. Tristan saw you yesterday leaving here with Lane and Rory saw you in the diner laughing with Lane...What are you doing?"

"This was meant to be a surprise." Jess said.

"Surprise?"

"I've been working on this song. I've been coming here for a couple of weeks to borrow the guitar and practise it. Lane caught me one evening so I had to tell her what I was doing. She offered to get the band to help me practise. I was going to play the song to you before you went off to college." Jess admitted.

"I thought...When I found out you were lying to me and Rory and Tristan were saying these things, I thought..." She said quietly.

"You thought I was cheating on you." Jess guessed.

"Oh god...I can't believe...I need to go." Charlotte said embarrassed. "I'm so sorry!" She said before running out of the store.

"Charlotte wait!" Rory exclaimed chasing after her with Tristan.

"I can't believe I listened to you!" Charlotte exclaimed. "You made me doubt him! You made me actually think that Jess could be...I can't believe I listened to you!"

"I'm sorry!" Rory said guiltily. "But everything was pointing to it being true..."

"No it wasn't! I knew! I knew deep down that Jess wouldn't do that! That Lane wouldn't do that! He was doing something nice. For me! And now I've ruined it! I've ruined everything!" Charlotte exclaimed. "I'm going home! Don't follow me!"

Rory watched her sister storm off and turned to Tristan. "I feel awful." She said quietly.

"It's not you fault." Tristan assured her. "You were just trying to look out for her."

"I got it wrong. We got it so wrong." Rory said quietly.

Tristan sighed. "Come on, let's go get some coffee. Give her some space." He said.

Rory just nodded and walked off with Tristan.

*****************************

On Thanksgiving morning Lorelai, Charlotte and Rory were walking towards the market. Rory and Charlotte hadn't talked since last night.

"So...what's on the list?" Rory asked, trying to ease some tension.

"Flowers for everyone we're visiting and cranberry sauce for the Kims." Lorelai said.

"Charlotte and I will do the flowers." Rory said.

"No. I'll do the flowers. You two do Doose's." Charlotte spoke for the first time.

"Charlotte..." Rory said.

"I'll do the flowers." Charlotte repeated.

"Ok...you do the flowers. We'll do Doose's." Lorelai said frowning. She didn't know what was going on between her daughters but she knew something was.

Charlotte looked at the flowers when she felt some footsteps behind her.

"Flowers huh? You buying them for your other boyfriend?" A familiar voice.

Charlotte turned round. "Jess..." She said quietly.

"Or are you buying them for me to give to Lane?" He asked.

Charlotte glanced down at the floor. "I deserved that." She said.

"You think?" Jess asked, raising his eyebrows.