"Jess!" Rory repeated more insistently, pushing him off her and ducking off the bed. The bed still held the form her body, the memory of her hurried rejection fresh on its sheets. Jess landed on his forearms and let out a frustrated 'Jeez!' before getting up.
Rory ran a hand through her hair, face feeling too hot to be healthy. She glowed with innocent fear, a furrowing between her brows begging to be smoothed. "Not here, not now!"
"Fine!" Jess gave the short answer in a bark, looking anywhere but her. His form was bathed in darkness, a creeping anger slipped into his throat.
"What's wrong with you?" She tried to discern his facial expression in the dark lighting, but as per usual, she couldn't figure him out. He was like a book in a different language, an ancient, dust on the cover book that was undecipherable to her until she learned the code. And he didn't want to be the one to tell her.
"Nothing is wrong with me." He replied, stubbornly. His shoulders hunched in aggravation that was practically tangible on Rory's lips.
"Someone could've walked through the door." Rory continued and stared at him, upset. Of all the times to push his want for her, it had to be now? She barely even knew how much she was worth to him.
"And Santa Claus could come down the chimney." He finished sarcastically, beginning to pace the room. It suddenly became too small and the walls seemed to close on him. Like a panther about to be captured, he almost seemed to bare his teeth.
Rory tried again, embarrassment of the moment and irritation dug into her. "You did NOT think that it would happen like this, did you?"
"I don't know what I think anymore." Jess said quietly, begrudgingly. Rory stopped cold in her thoughts, critically examining his face and seeing it in the light from the window. He looked frustrated and melancholy, not like he wanted to take advantage of her at a keg party. She took a hesitant step forward, nearing him like he was a skittish deer and put a concerned palm to his cheek.
He didn't shake it off, but didn't respond either, choosing to watch her quietly. Rory found that encouraging and timidly closed the distance, sliding the hand past his cheek to his hair. Moving closer, Rory pressed a very small and tentative kiss to his lips before hugging him firmly, as if he would vanish if she didn't hold him.
It took him awhile, time stopping in her mind, but he eventually wrapped an arm around her thin waist, pressing her into his structure. Rory's face pressed into his neck, hot breath puffing against his skin. She kept her eyes open, reassuring herself that they both probably felt confused and frustrated.
Jess held her closely, like if they were touching tightly enough, his indistinguishable thoughts would unfurl and flow into her, so she'd understand. His thoughts entangled with intense emotions, coming out as brusque and unnecessarily harsh. He hadn't wanted to shout at her, the poor girl was probably frightened out of her mind. The fact that she hadn't ran blew him confused him, a new concept in his life.
Rory felt a change in his embrace, a subtle acceptance of her. "Wanna get out of here?"
Jess nodded insecurely, but came out gruff. "Yeah."
She released him but he kept a comforting arm around her waist. For a second, they just looked at each other probingly, trying to make out their thoughts. Then a small sad smile lit Rory's face and they stepped out of the room, feeling like quiet would be a balm to them.
The hallway went by quickly and soon they were at the stairs, passing Dean talking to a friend. Dean jealously noticed Jess's arm around Rory and misunderstood the calm compromised moment they seemed to be entranced in for an after glow.
"You bastard." Dean muttered through clenched teeth. The guy sent Dean a surprised look at the sudden hostility. Dean was never the angry one. At school, he was known for his quiet, kind presence and affinity towards sports. It was unusual to see him unsheathe claws and unravel his height against a guy that was practically a foot shorter. But then the friend recognized Rory, a girl that by dumping Dean made him less approachable and prickly.
Jess and Rory stopped their descent down the stairs, turning to look at him in unison, hackles rising at the expected but still unappreciated attack.
Rory surprisingly answered, a shocked and pissed look overcoming her face, blue eyes flitting to a darker shade. "Excuse me, Dean?"
Dean didn't even bother to acknowledge her, instead said angrily to Jess, "You had sex with her, didn't you."
"And this is your business, how?" Rory bit out, more determined to make him notice her, making Dean even more heated, his face turning an angry red. Jess pushed Rory behind him, a cold reserve filling his body. Finally, a release for the emotions built up inside him. All he had to do was wait.
He didn't have to wait long. Dean finally gave Rory the attention she wanted, but rudely. "So, all I had to do was be an asshole and you would've given yourself up to me, huh?"
"That's it." Rory said, decisively, not exactly knowing what she would do, but planning on doing something to hurt him. Jess shot forward before she even finished her sentence and nailed one hard on Dean's jaw. Dean sailed backwards before straightening and lunging towards Jess. Jess quickly darted out of the way after being nailed in the lip, using his smaller stature for an advantage. Dean wobbled before leveling again, his blunt nails biting into his fists. Before he could even try to reciprocate, Rory rushed forward and slapped him.
"How dare you!" Rory yelled, tears springing into her eyes out of pure anger. The fact she had dated this boy disturbed her. Dean was never like this during their relationship. Why did he change so much, from a sweet loving guy to a hard insecure jerk? "How dare you even touch Jess for something you have no right to intrude upon! So what if Jess and I had sex? I'm not dating you, I'm dating him. Get over it!"
Jess sneered at Dean, the blood on his lips reflecting a bloodthirsty individual to Dean. "If you ever fucking touch me or Rory again, you'll regret it, believe me." He said quietly, licking his lips and a small smile lifted them, slightly intimidating Dean. There was no doubt or lie in Jess's threat, and whatever had made Jess so easy to fulfill them scared Dean.
Dean leaned against the stair landing's wall, gasping. He understood then that he'd lost, didn't even know if he'd even had a chance. Feeling foolish, he stared furiously at the ground as Jess and Rory passed him. Dean didn't even notice that his friend had ditched the moment he'd started to harass Jess and Rory.
Before they left the stairs, Rory turned around, wanting the last word. "And we didn't have sex, you jerk!" Dean chuckled bitterly in his throat, knowing that he was an idiot.
The couple left the party, welcoming the cool air freely. Their arms were back around each other as they walked, seeming closer from experiencing Dean's envious persecution together.
"Dean's a jerk." Jess repeated his old words and Rory nodded.
"I can't believe he said that and went for you like that. God. It's just so-I'm sorry, Jess. That you had to go through that." She mumbled, tugging an aggravated hand in her hair. Her hair fell into her face and Jess took the hand, wrapping it in his. They continued in silence of their thoughts until they reached the bridge, their free spot.
"S'not your fault." Quietly, they sat down, freeing their arms. The woods surrounding them filled the silence with chirping and they both watched the moon reflected on the water. Fifteen minutes past and it felt like years to Rory. The waiting and anticipation was swirling in her stomach.
"I can't take you to prom." Jess finally admitted. Rory took it, trying to separate her mind from her emotions which were revolting. The hurt, anger, sadness and curiosity warred in her mind but she had to talk with a clear voice in order not to scare him off. The last thing she wanted to do was that, because he'd finally opened up to her slightly.
"Why not?" Rory asked with no indict. It came out like an everyday question, like she intended. Jess probably already knew that she was hurt about it, anyways.
"Not graduating." Jess sighed, forcing it out. Pride and embarrassment held him back, the fact that he was dating Scholarly Rory, who was going to Yale and becoming an oversea correspondent. He couldn't even get a high school diploma because he worked at Wal-Mart, of all places, all the time.
"Oh." Rory let out, shock undulating through her skull. Jess was the smartest guy she knew and he wasn't graduating? What kind of world was this?
"Yeah." Jess paused, feeling like he'd bared himself too much. He felt naked and didn't exactly enjoy it. However, a part of him was relieved that she finally knew. Now, her reaction meant everything. Whether she accepted him, or refused him. Knowing their differences in life aspirations, she'd be crazy to still want him.
Rory felt a rush of need towards him, a continuing warmth that he was stepping towards her figuratively, little by little starting to let her know what was inside him. And she liked, really liked what she saw so far, the imperfections, the flaws and the beautiful. She was desperate to know more.
"Jess?" Rory said his name lightly and he turned his face towards her, his eyes stuck to the pond. "Thanks for not trying to be perfect for me."
His eyes flicked towards her like a bullet from a gun. Jess didn't know how he felt; something unfamiliar was blooming in his stomach. Stunned stillness was the only answer he could give her at the moment. It took him so long to respond that Rory was about to mistake it for disturbance.
Embarrassed, she started to get up and gave him a shaky smile. "I know that sounds stupid."
"Rory." Jess said and she paused from turning her back to him. Hair brushed into her face, shadowing the expression there. "Thanks for giving me a chance." Rory sat down, feeling hope flutter in her chest.
"No one's ever said that to me." Jess confessed, taking a deep shuddering breath. "It's usually the opposite, actually."
Rory gave him a sad smile. This boy she was with was broken and jaded. He had not an easy life.
"I know that I haven't been the best boyfriend. I'm not a nice guy, Ror. I don't trust easily and I'm not very attentive. You deserve better than me." He continued to admit, mouth turning down at the corners.
"Jess, don't think that I expect you to be the perfect boyfriend. I'll own up to the fact that I've been mad at you for certain things that I had hoped for but we're both learning, I guess." Rory said softly, sitting down next to him.
An awkward pause ensued, even though they felt like they were wrapped up in fuzzy blankets. Then, as if on cue, they both yawned. Exhaustion kicked in for both, the highly emotion filled day draining them.
Jess got up, offering his hand to Rory. She took it and he pulled her up, the almost confession of their love ringing in their ears. Their hands lingered in each others, clasping in tender timidity. Jess looked at Rory's face, seeing her dusky eyelashes blink slowly and her body trudging as they walked to her house.
The warmth seeping from Jess's jean jacket was inviting and Rory nuzzled into it, her face against his neck. The body heat made her sleepy, her steps dragging. Jess received her body touching his, staring at the girl that was perfect in her own way. The thought of Rory still being devoted to him was ludicrous and scary yet nothing thrilled him more. He pressed a kiss onto her forehead and she sighed. Lifting her head drowsily, she searched for his lips and returned it. Jess responded to the kiss, unable to hold back even though he knew she was too tired for it. Fervor swept through his entire being, his lips apologetically adamant on hers.
Rory woke up a little after feeling Jess's tongue sweep persistently across her bottom lip in a silent demand for her affection. The memory of earlier on the bed passed through her and she moaned with unsuppressed lust. Jess reacted quickly, idea of taking her home flying out his head. She'd never made any type of verbal response when they'd made out before. Of course, they had limited time for exploration but from they had achieved, she seemed like a quiet lover. And right now, she'd never seemed sexier. He could feel the soft yet firm curve of her waist, his hand spanning so his index finger brushed the underside of her breast.
Her hands tugged in his hair, Rory was overwhelmed by the intensity of the kiss. It was like his body heat was drugging her, the taste of his tongue in her mouth inducing some type of needy craving. All she wanted to do was get closer and closer.
As if she wanted to meld herself into him, Rory pressed against him, mouth greedy. She appeared willing for anything, even for the hand he'd snuck under her shirt that stroked her stomach in circles. The skin there was so soft and he wished he could see it, wished that he could see all of her. The hand circled upwards, carefully nearing her breast. When his fingertips brushed against her, Rory's fingers clenched in his hair. He took that as a good sign and cupped his hand around her breast, slowly caressing her with precaution and experience. Her fingers kneaded his head and Jess gasped. There were few things that turned Jess on and pulling his hair was one of them. Little did Rory know, she was almost preparing him to take her on the ground right there.
Soon, no thoughts pounded through their heads, only the rushing of feelings when their hands slid unhindered across each other in exploration. There were no parents around, nothing holding them back from straining against each other. Their hands were up each other's shirts, experimenting with touches and listening for reactions. Jess's mouth was fused to hers, tongue in her mouth like he wanted to imprint her taste upon him forever and Rory's hand was making its way around his chest with cautious feather light and petal soft fingers. There was never a more intense moment in which they both wanted to rip each other's clothes off. Rory would later think of this moment and have her face heat up so quickly she'd feel dizzy.
But, as all good things have to end, so did this. Eventually, Jess slowed the kiss down, letting his hand fall from underneath her shirt and land at his side, automatically clenching in its want to return to her skin. Rory's fingers made their way down his chest before parting from him. Immediately, when all their body parts were at their correct placements, Rory and Jess felt cold.
"Let's get you home." Jess said huskily, his breath coming in pants. Rory nodded, trying to catch her breath and linked their fingers together. Jess's thumb made circles in her palm while they walked, distracting her. Jess smirked, helping her along when she stumbled. When they arrived at her house, he snuck a peek at his watch. Ouch, it was 3 in the morning. Her mom wouldn't be that happy.
Jess continued smirking, however, when seeing Rory's lips. They were puffy from his own and he couldn't help but take pride in the glazed look in her eyes. Rory and Jess tried to lengthen their time together, preventing her from going inside. She kissed all over his face, in blessing butterfly kisses. Jess ached to kiss her, the tenderness in her touch making him crazy. But, with one last lingering kiss, she let go of him, smiling softly before disappearing into her house.
"What is love?" Jess wondered to himself on the lonely walk home. He wasn't sure about it, but Rory seemed pretty close.