Pairing: R/J thus far.
Rating: PG-ish.
Disclaimer: Obviously, these characters are still not mine. If they were, I would write better fanfic about them. (
Author's Note: Okay, I kind of started this fic in my own time zone. Let's see…I'll suffice it to say that "Teach Me Tonight" has not happened, even though it's summertime. Try to enjoy.
1
2
3 Part One: Frappacino Knockoffs and a Broken Air Conditioner
It was hot. It was so hot that the trees were dripping with sweat. Their leaves drooped, exhausted from the heaviness of the day. The grass was wilted and soft underfoot, almost sticky. In town, the cement blazed with mirages and storefronts gleamed blindingly. The quiet town of Starts Hollow was quieter than normal, slower than usual. Everyone moved languidly; even Miss Patty couldn't bring herself to walk around town and collect gossip.
The air conditioner in the Gilmore house was broken. Rory Gilmore was stretched out on the living room couch in a pair of shorts with three fans blowing on her. Her hair, pulled back into a ponytail, was frizzy, with tendrils sticking wetly to her forehead and the back of her neck. Sighing, she shifted uncomfortably for the umpteenth time in the last hour. It was silent in the house, save for the rustling of her novel. The strong gust from the fans made the thin pages of The Lord of the Flies flutter.
Again, Rory reached up to wipe the sweat off her brow. It had pooled there, dripping slowly into her eyes and obstructing her vision. Rory had stopped comprehending her book about thirty minutes ago. All she could focus on was the desperate heat that encased her. Her legs were slick with sweat, and her thighs kept adhering to one another. The fans did their best to evaporate her sweat, but were no contest for the heat and humidity. Frustrated, Rory slammed her novel down on the coffee table. She slid her flip-flops on and, not bothering to lock the front door, clomped down the porch steps on her way into town.
The streets were utterly deserted, save for a car here and there. No one wanted to walk anywhere today, and Rory could tell why. But she was desperate for an iced coffee and an air-conditioned location. The bell above Luke's door clanged invitingly, and Rory sat gingerly on a vinyl- covered bar stool. She rested her overheated arms on the cool Formica counter and waited for someone to emerge from the kitchen.
"Taking the natural look to the extreme?"
"Hi, Jess," Rory greeted him. "I want an iced coffee."
"Now let's not get ahead of ourselves. Did I ask you what you wanted?" Jess grinned.
Rory returned it. "No, I'm telling you what I want."
"Well, when you put it that way…" Jess disappeared into the kitchen and Rory was left alone at the counter. There were only two other patrons in the restaurant, both middle-aged women eating sandwiches with iced tea. Rory looked around the diner, drumming her nails on the countertop. It never changed, Rory noted with satisfaction. "Where's your boyfriend?"
The question startled Rory. Jess' voice came from beside her, frightening her. "I didn't even see you come up!" Rory cried in surprise.
"But did you hear the question?"
Rory took a long drag from the beverage. "Ahhh," she sighed involuntarily. "He's working today."
"Day like this?"
Rory rolled her eyes. "Yes, a day like this. You're working on a day like this."
Jess shrugged. "Doesn't seem like Taylor would need a lot of help today."
Rory answered with a shrug of her own. She took another gulp of the drink. "This is good."
"Frappacino knockoff," Jess said disparagingly.
"Designer drinks for less," Rory replied. "It works for clothing manufacturers."
Jess stared at Rory for a long moment, causing her to shift in her seat and gaze at her hands uncomfortably. "So, what were you doing?"
"Before I came here?"
"Yeah."
"I was reading."
"Shocking."
Rory grinned. "Yeah. It was too hot to read, though."
"Too hot to do much of anything. What were you reading?" Jess asked, interest gleaming in his eyes.
"Lord of the Flies."
"Great book. Heavy on the symbolism. Tough read."
Rory heaved a breath. "Yeah. I spent twenty minutes trying to comprehend two pages."
"You can borrow my copy, if you want. I've got some notes in the margins."
"Is there a book where you don't have notes in the margins?" Rory asked, smiling.
Jess tamped his chin in mock thought. "No, don't think so."
Rory nodded. With a final sip of her iced coffee, she was done. "It sure does go fast," Rory noted.
"Especially when you drink it like a Hoover."
"Best vacuums around."
Jess picked up her glass. "You want another?"
Rory checked her watch. Dean had a break coming up pretty soon, she was sure. "No, I better go," she said.
Jess eyed her. "Because you want to see Dean?" Rory's eyes shifted for a split second, and Jess nodded. "Well, have fun."
Rory stood up. "I will." She left her money on the counter, but Jess shoved it back.
"On the house."
"Thanks." Rory awkwardly put the money back in her pocket and haltingly turned. The bell chimed again, and Rory was released into the scorching heat. Instantly, she felt as though she had been transported into a sauna, but she quelled the urge to go back into Luke's. It was just a block to Doose's.
There was no bell on Doose's door, but anyone could hear her come in. It was tomb-like in there, with no sound save for the occasional rasp of metal on metal as cans were stocked. Rory wandered up and down the five aisles, looking idly for Dean. She found him on aisle five, the canned foods aisle, where Rory and her mother rarely ventured. "Hey," Rory said.
Dean turned, surprised, and smiled. "Hey, you." He leaned down a considerable distance and pecked her on the forehead. "What are you doing here?"
Rory smiled. "I'm here to see you."
"Nice."
"And the air-conditioner is broken."
"Now she gets to the real reason," Dean said, and shoved the last can onto the shelf. He turned fully to her and smiled. "I'll ask Taylor if I can take my break now." His shoes made soft squeaking noises as he walked down the aisle. Rory turned in an exaggerated fashion and observed the unfamiliar aisle with an air of discovery. Canned okra. Canned lima beans. Canned carrots. Rory was beginning to realize why her mother refused to step foot in the canned goods aisle. "Let's go to Luke's," Dean's voice suggest from behind her.
Rory twisted to face him, her lip captured between her teeth. Her eyes pleaded with him, softly begging him not to be angry. Dean's face hardened a little and he said, "Jess is there, isn't he? You went there already." Dean shook his head. "I think I better get back to work."
"Dean, please don't be mad. I went in for an iced coffee, that's all." Rory grasped his forearm and squeezed lightly.
"And you couldn't wait for me?" Dean's face looked cold and hurt, and he nodded when she offered no argument. "See you later." Without another word, Dean grabbed another box of foodstuffs and began stocking the shelves again with a rhythmic grate. Defeated, Rory left Doose's waving at a suspicious Taylor on the way out.
The heat hit her again, pouring over her body in waves and pounding in her head. Shading her eyes with her hand, Rory walked down the street in no hurry. The pace of her walk allowed her to contemplate where to go. Lorelai wouldn't be happy if Rory showed up at the inn in ratty old shorts and an ancient T-shirt. Lane was probably not allowed to see anyone today, since she and Rory had spent hours at the Gilmore house yesterday. Therefore, Rory concluded that she had to head home, into the labyrinth of heat awaiting her.
Rory took the shortcut home, hoping to avoid any long stretches in the sun. The shortcut sliced through the park and Babette and Morey's spacious backyard. When Rory finally arrived home, her feet were killing her from the flip-flops, and she was drenched in sweat. In vain, she searched the house for more fans, but the only six they had were concentrated in Rory's room and the living room. Guiltily, Rory thought she should put some in Lorelai's room, but it was just too hot.
For once, her novel looked unappealing. Glancing around, the only thing that looked inactive enough to do was watch TV. Rory was unaccustomed to daytime TV, but she flipped it on nonetheless and channel-surfed for forty- five minutes. When she heard the chafe of the door against the wood floor, her heart stopped.
"Hey! Anyone home?"
Rory exhaled when she recognized Jess' voice. "You know, it's considered polite to knock in most cultures."
Jess came around the corner carrying a beverage tray. "M'lady."
Rory jumped off the couch, the most strenuous physical activity she had engaged in all day. "A whole tray! How much do I owe you?" Rory seized the tray out of his arms and trotted to the kitchen. She took them out and set them lovingly in the refrigerator.
"Nothing." Jess leaned against the doorjamb and watched her arrange the iced coffees. "How was your time with Dean?"
Rory turned to look at him and took in his smug look. "You know."
Jess lifted a shoulder. "Yeah. You guys have a fight or something?"
Rory frowned. "That's none of your business."
"Okay. It just seemed like you walked past the window twice in pretty quick succession." Jess raised his eyebrows and Rory blushed a little. "So, channel-surfing. You never struck me as the type."
"Oh. Well, I was having some trouble concentrating on the book, and I was kind of…tired from the heat and all, and I've never really done it during the day before—in fact, I only really do it with my mother—"
"Hey, hey. Whoa. It's not like I'm going to define you by that moment." Jess grinned disarmingly, and Rory smiled back. "It's hot in this house. You guys ever think to turn to air conditioner on?"
Rory sighed in exasperation. "It's broken. The repair guy won't come out till Thursday."
"So you have to survive two days in this sweltering house? Why don't you just stay at the inn?"
"Booked solid. July is the busiest month."
Jess got off the doorjamb. "Here, I'll take a look at it."
Rory's eyes widened. "Oh, well…"
"Lead me to it."
Rory pondered. What harm could it do? It was already broken. "Okay. It's right out here, behind the house…" Jess followed her lead as she walked through the heavy grass. "We don't know what's wrong with it."
"Obviously, or you might have fixed it by now."
Rory shook her head. "Never trust my mother around tools. Any kind of tool. Power or manual, doesn't matter."
Jess raised his eyebrows. "I'll keep that in mind." He leaned over the appliance and squinted into it. "Do you know where the screwdriver is?"
Rory thought for a second. "I'll be right back." She ran as fast as she could into the house, panting, and searched for the screwdriver. She knew she had hidden it somewhere around here…aha: in the back of the seldom- accessed vegetable crisper. "Here." Rory handed it to Jess. "Don't tell my mother I let you use it. She'll get jealous and make you tell her where it is."
"I don't know where it is," Jess pointed out.
"Well, you'll get annoyed and make up a location. And I might have something else hidden there."
Jess nodded, his head buried in the large machine. Rory stood on her toes, rocking on the balls of her feet, trying to see what was happening without getting too close. "It's not going to explode, you know."
Rory immediately settled onto her feet again. "What? Oh, I know. Duh."
"So, if you wanted to know what I was doing, you could come closer."
Rory nodded. She knelt down on the lawn next to Jess and observed as he skillfully fixed the air conditioner. He twisted a screw here and there and tightened bolts with his fingers. The fan got dusted off, and he inspected the grating. Then, he leaned back. "I think it's fixed," he announced.
Rory smiled. When she backed out as well, she was approximately an inch from Jess' face. She breathed shallowly, unsure. If he kissed her, she didn't know that she could restrain herself from kissing back. Jess wavered a little, dipping forward a fraction of an inch before clearing his throat and standing up. Rory scrambled to her feet and held out her hand. "Screwdriver," she demanded.
Jess handed it back, looking intently into her eyes. "As you wish."
Rory felt the weight drop into her hands, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from the look on his face. A rustling sound made her jump and practically leap inside the door. "Let's turn this thing on, see if you have worked a miracle."
Jess trailed her in the house and shut the door after himself. He watched as Rory dropped the screwdriver back into the crisper drawer. She straightened and went over to the controls. The buttons were large and easy to read, so he watched over her shoulder. Rory punched in the desired temperature and stood back. She stuffed her hands in the back pockets of her jeans and lolled on the backs of her heels.
"Does it usually take this long?" Jess asked.
Rory shrugged. "I've never really paid attention." Another minute of silence ensued. Suddenly, there was a loud mechanical chink, and then some whirring noises. Rory raised her eyebrows in a hopeful expression, and ran over to the vent. Sure enough, cool air coursed through the vent. "Oh my God." She stood and faced Jess, forced herself to look him in the face. "Thank you. For everything. The coffee and the air conditioner—"
"No problem."
Rory walked ahead of him. "Do I owe you anything? 'Cause labor costs nowadays." Rory kept leading him toward the door.
"A date."
Rory halted. She stopped so fast, in fact, that she nearly hit the sharp edge of the table in the foyer. "What?" she squeaked past her dry throat.
"A date." Jess made a hand gesture. "Normal bonding ritual for young Americans of opposite sex."
"I know what a date is, I just…" Rory bit her lip. "I just think it would be better for me to pay you in cash."
Jess smirked. "Scared of Dean?"
Rory huffed indignantly. "I'm not scared, I just don't think—"
"It's a good idea," Jess finished for her as he backed toward the door. "You know what your problem is, Rory Gilmore?" He rested his hand on the doorknob. "You need to give into your impulses once in a while." He twisted the knob and let himself out of the newly-cooled house and into the sweltering day.
Rory watched the door swing shut and bit her lip. She stood in that spot for some time, thinking of Jess' remarks. Unconsciously, she licked her lips, thinking about the almost-kiss that had transpired in the backyard. Unearthing herself from her reverie, she shook her head. What was she thinking? She could never do that to Dean. It was the heat, Rory decided, turning and heading for the couch.
Rating: PG-ish.
Disclaimer: Obviously, these characters are still not mine. If they were, I would write better fanfic about them. (
Author's Note: Okay, I kind of started this fic in my own time zone. Let's see…I'll suffice it to say that "Teach Me Tonight" has not happened, even though it's summertime. Try to enjoy.
1
2
3 Part One: Frappacino Knockoffs and a Broken Air Conditioner
It was hot. It was so hot that the trees were dripping with sweat. Their leaves drooped, exhausted from the heaviness of the day. The grass was wilted and soft underfoot, almost sticky. In town, the cement blazed with mirages and storefronts gleamed blindingly. The quiet town of Starts Hollow was quieter than normal, slower than usual. Everyone moved languidly; even Miss Patty couldn't bring herself to walk around town and collect gossip.
The air conditioner in the Gilmore house was broken. Rory Gilmore was stretched out on the living room couch in a pair of shorts with three fans blowing on her. Her hair, pulled back into a ponytail, was frizzy, with tendrils sticking wetly to her forehead and the back of her neck. Sighing, she shifted uncomfortably for the umpteenth time in the last hour. It was silent in the house, save for the rustling of her novel. The strong gust from the fans made the thin pages of The Lord of the Flies flutter.
Again, Rory reached up to wipe the sweat off her brow. It had pooled there, dripping slowly into her eyes and obstructing her vision. Rory had stopped comprehending her book about thirty minutes ago. All she could focus on was the desperate heat that encased her. Her legs were slick with sweat, and her thighs kept adhering to one another. The fans did their best to evaporate her sweat, but were no contest for the heat and humidity. Frustrated, Rory slammed her novel down on the coffee table. She slid her flip-flops on and, not bothering to lock the front door, clomped down the porch steps on her way into town.
The streets were utterly deserted, save for a car here and there. No one wanted to walk anywhere today, and Rory could tell why. But she was desperate for an iced coffee and an air-conditioned location. The bell above Luke's door clanged invitingly, and Rory sat gingerly on a vinyl- covered bar stool. She rested her overheated arms on the cool Formica counter and waited for someone to emerge from the kitchen.
"Taking the natural look to the extreme?"
"Hi, Jess," Rory greeted him. "I want an iced coffee."
"Now let's not get ahead of ourselves. Did I ask you what you wanted?" Jess grinned.
Rory returned it. "No, I'm telling you what I want."
"Well, when you put it that way…" Jess disappeared into the kitchen and Rory was left alone at the counter. There were only two other patrons in the restaurant, both middle-aged women eating sandwiches with iced tea. Rory looked around the diner, drumming her nails on the countertop. It never changed, Rory noted with satisfaction. "Where's your boyfriend?"
The question startled Rory. Jess' voice came from beside her, frightening her. "I didn't even see you come up!" Rory cried in surprise.
"But did you hear the question?"
Rory took a long drag from the beverage. "Ahhh," she sighed involuntarily. "He's working today."
"Day like this?"
Rory rolled her eyes. "Yes, a day like this. You're working on a day like this."
Jess shrugged. "Doesn't seem like Taylor would need a lot of help today."
Rory answered with a shrug of her own. She took another gulp of the drink. "This is good."
"Frappacino knockoff," Jess said disparagingly.
"Designer drinks for less," Rory replied. "It works for clothing manufacturers."
Jess stared at Rory for a long moment, causing her to shift in her seat and gaze at her hands uncomfortably. "So, what were you doing?"
"Before I came here?"
"Yeah."
"I was reading."
"Shocking."
Rory grinned. "Yeah. It was too hot to read, though."
"Too hot to do much of anything. What were you reading?" Jess asked, interest gleaming in his eyes.
"Lord of the Flies."
"Great book. Heavy on the symbolism. Tough read."
Rory heaved a breath. "Yeah. I spent twenty minutes trying to comprehend two pages."
"You can borrow my copy, if you want. I've got some notes in the margins."
"Is there a book where you don't have notes in the margins?" Rory asked, smiling.
Jess tamped his chin in mock thought. "No, don't think so."
Rory nodded. With a final sip of her iced coffee, she was done. "It sure does go fast," Rory noted.
"Especially when you drink it like a Hoover."
"Best vacuums around."
Jess picked up her glass. "You want another?"
Rory checked her watch. Dean had a break coming up pretty soon, she was sure. "No, I better go," she said.
Jess eyed her. "Because you want to see Dean?" Rory's eyes shifted for a split second, and Jess nodded. "Well, have fun."
Rory stood up. "I will." She left her money on the counter, but Jess shoved it back.
"On the house."
"Thanks." Rory awkwardly put the money back in her pocket and haltingly turned. The bell chimed again, and Rory was released into the scorching heat. Instantly, she felt as though she had been transported into a sauna, but she quelled the urge to go back into Luke's. It was just a block to Doose's.
There was no bell on Doose's door, but anyone could hear her come in. It was tomb-like in there, with no sound save for the occasional rasp of metal on metal as cans were stocked. Rory wandered up and down the five aisles, looking idly for Dean. She found him on aisle five, the canned foods aisle, where Rory and her mother rarely ventured. "Hey," Rory said.
Dean turned, surprised, and smiled. "Hey, you." He leaned down a considerable distance and pecked her on the forehead. "What are you doing here?"
Rory smiled. "I'm here to see you."
"Nice."
"And the air-conditioner is broken."
"Now she gets to the real reason," Dean said, and shoved the last can onto the shelf. He turned fully to her and smiled. "I'll ask Taylor if I can take my break now." His shoes made soft squeaking noises as he walked down the aisle. Rory turned in an exaggerated fashion and observed the unfamiliar aisle with an air of discovery. Canned okra. Canned lima beans. Canned carrots. Rory was beginning to realize why her mother refused to step foot in the canned goods aisle. "Let's go to Luke's," Dean's voice suggest from behind her.
Rory twisted to face him, her lip captured between her teeth. Her eyes pleaded with him, softly begging him not to be angry. Dean's face hardened a little and he said, "Jess is there, isn't he? You went there already." Dean shook his head. "I think I better get back to work."
"Dean, please don't be mad. I went in for an iced coffee, that's all." Rory grasped his forearm and squeezed lightly.
"And you couldn't wait for me?" Dean's face looked cold and hurt, and he nodded when she offered no argument. "See you later." Without another word, Dean grabbed another box of foodstuffs and began stocking the shelves again with a rhythmic grate. Defeated, Rory left Doose's waving at a suspicious Taylor on the way out.
The heat hit her again, pouring over her body in waves and pounding in her head. Shading her eyes with her hand, Rory walked down the street in no hurry. The pace of her walk allowed her to contemplate where to go. Lorelai wouldn't be happy if Rory showed up at the inn in ratty old shorts and an ancient T-shirt. Lane was probably not allowed to see anyone today, since she and Rory had spent hours at the Gilmore house yesterday. Therefore, Rory concluded that she had to head home, into the labyrinth of heat awaiting her.
Rory took the shortcut home, hoping to avoid any long stretches in the sun. The shortcut sliced through the park and Babette and Morey's spacious backyard. When Rory finally arrived home, her feet were killing her from the flip-flops, and she was drenched in sweat. In vain, she searched the house for more fans, but the only six they had were concentrated in Rory's room and the living room. Guiltily, Rory thought she should put some in Lorelai's room, but it was just too hot.
For once, her novel looked unappealing. Glancing around, the only thing that looked inactive enough to do was watch TV. Rory was unaccustomed to daytime TV, but she flipped it on nonetheless and channel-surfed for forty- five minutes. When she heard the chafe of the door against the wood floor, her heart stopped.
"Hey! Anyone home?"
Rory exhaled when she recognized Jess' voice. "You know, it's considered polite to knock in most cultures."
Jess came around the corner carrying a beverage tray. "M'lady."
Rory jumped off the couch, the most strenuous physical activity she had engaged in all day. "A whole tray! How much do I owe you?" Rory seized the tray out of his arms and trotted to the kitchen. She took them out and set them lovingly in the refrigerator.
"Nothing." Jess leaned against the doorjamb and watched her arrange the iced coffees. "How was your time with Dean?"
Rory turned to look at him and took in his smug look. "You know."
Jess lifted a shoulder. "Yeah. You guys have a fight or something?"
Rory frowned. "That's none of your business."
"Okay. It just seemed like you walked past the window twice in pretty quick succession." Jess raised his eyebrows and Rory blushed a little. "So, channel-surfing. You never struck me as the type."
"Oh. Well, I was having some trouble concentrating on the book, and I was kind of…tired from the heat and all, and I've never really done it during the day before—in fact, I only really do it with my mother—"
"Hey, hey. Whoa. It's not like I'm going to define you by that moment." Jess grinned disarmingly, and Rory smiled back. "It's hot in this house. You guys ever think to turn to air conditioner on?"
Rory sighed in exasperation. "It's broken. The repair guy won't come out till Thursday."
"So you have to survive two days in this sweltering house? Why don't you just stay at the inn?"
"Booked solid. July is the busiest month."
Jess got off the doorjamb. "Here, I'll take a look at it."
Rory's eyes widened. "Oh, well…"
"Lead me to it."
Rory pondered. What harm could it do? It was already broken. "Okay. It's right out here, behind the house…" Jess followed her lead as she walked through the heavy grass. "We don't know what's wrong with it."
"Obviously, or you might have fixed it by now."
Rory shook her head. "Never trust my mother around tools. Any kind of tool. Power or manual, doesn't matter."
Jess raised his eyebrows. "I'll keep that in mind." He leaned over the appliance and squinted into it. "Do you know where the screwdriver is?"
Rory thought for a second. "I'll be right back." She ran as fast as she could into the house, panting, and searched for the screwdriver. She knew she had hidden it somewhere around here…aha: in the back of the seldom- accessed vegetable crisper. "Here." Rory handed it to Jess. "Don't tell my mother I let you use it. She'll get jealous and make you tell her where it is."
"I don't know where it is," Jess pointed out.
"Well, you'll get annoyed and make up a location. And I might have something else hidden there."
Jess nodded, his head buried in the large machine. Rory stood on her toes, rocking on the balls of her feet, trying to see what was happening without getting too close. "It's not going to explode, you know."
Rory immediately settled onto her feet again. "What? Oh, I know. Duh."
"So, if you wanted to know what I was doing, you could come closer."
Rory nodded. She knelt down on the lawn next to Jess and observed as he skillfully fixed the air conditioner. He twisted a screw here and there and tightened bolts with his fingers. The fan got dusted off, and he inspected the grating. Then, he leaned back. "I think it's fixed," he announced.
Rory smiled. When she backed out as well, she was approximately an inch from Jess' face. She breathed shallowly, unsure. If he kissed her, she didn't know that she could restrain herself from kissing back. Jess wavered a little, dipping forward a fraction of an inch before clearing his throat and standing up. Rory scrambled to her feet and held out her hand. "Screwdriver," she demanded.
Jess handed it back, looking intently into her eyes. "As you wish."
Rory felt the weight drop into her hands, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from the look on his face. A rustling sound made her jump and practically leap inside the door. "Let's turn this thing on, see if you have worked a miracle."
Jess trailed her in the house and shut the door after himself. He watched as Rory dropped the screwdriver back into the crisper drawer. She straightened and went over to the controls. The buttons were large and easy to read, so he watched over her shoulder. Rory punched in the desired temperature and stood back. She stuffed her hands in the back pockets of her jeans and lolled on the backs of her heels.
"Does it usually take this long?" Jess asked.
Rory shrugged. "I've never really paid attention." Another minute of silence ensued. Suddenly, there was a loud mechanical chink, and then some whirring noises. Rory raised her eyebrows in a hopeful expression, and ran over to the vent. Sure enough, cool air coursed through the vent. "Oh my God." She stood and faced Jess, forced herself to look him in the face. "Thank you. For everything. The coffee and the air conditioner—"
"No problem."
Rory walked ahead of him. "Do I owe you anything? 'Cause labor costs nowadays." Rory kept leading him toward the door.
"A date."
Rory halted. She stopped so fast, in fact, that she nearly hit the sharp edge of the table in the foyer. "What?" she squeaked past her dry throat.
"A date." Jess made a hand gesture. "Normal bonding ritual for young Americans of opposite sex."
"I know what a date is, I just…" Rory bit her lip. "I just think it would be better for me to pay you in cash."
Jess smirked. "Scared of Dean?"
Rory huffed indignantly. "I'm not scared, I just don't think—"
"It's a good idea," Jess finished for her as he backed toward the door. "You know what your problem is, Rory Gilmore?" He rested his hand on the doorknob. "You need to give into your impulses once in a while." He twisted the knob and let himself out of the newly-cooled house and into the sweltering day.
Rory watched the door swing shut and bit her lip. She stood in that spot for some time, thinking of Jess' remarks. Unconsciously, she licked her lips, thinking about the almost-kiss that had transpired in the backyard. Unearthing herself from her reverie, she shook her head. What was she thinking? She could never do that to Dean. It was the heat, Rory decided, turning and heading for the couch.