Chapter 2
Rory lay in bed that night wide awake. She knew sleep wasn't going to come. Her head was full. First, she could still feel Jess's hand and lips all over her. That thought was enough to make her masturbate until sleep came, but there was something else going on in her head as well.
She cheated on Dean. Sure, she had been over Dean for a while now, but he was safe, and he really did care about her. He was her first boyfriend, and there was something to be said for that. And she had just thrown that out the window for some guy she just met.
But Jess wasn't just some guy. She knew that she didn't know him well, but something about him pulled her to him. She'd always been cautious when it came to sex, and she never really felt the desire to move passed second base, but for a few minutes tonight she honestly thought about losing her virginity to Jess. What was wrong with her.
She lay there all night, thinking and pondering. It didn't matter how Jess made her feel, she decided. It was just hormones. It was about the time she started experiencing them, and Dean was reliable. Dean cared about her. The least she could do was be loyal to him. She would just have to put this Jess thing out of her head. From what she had heard from her mother, he probably wouldn't be in Stars Hollow for long anyway, and she could avoid him. It's not like they went to the same school. She could plead temporary insanity if they found themselves in each other's presence again.
Jess shoved his hands in his pockets and made his way back to the diner. What the hell just happened? First, he is invited to a dinner than he was sure he was going to hate in a town that he didn't even want to be in. Then he met Rory. As much as he hated to admit it, she curled his toes. She wasn't like any other girl he'd ever known. Then she kissed him. Or he kissed her, he couldn't be sure, but either way she kissed back.
Then she was gone. She said she was with someone. It would figure that the first girl that turned him on like that, in more ways than one, was taken. Probably by some stupid jock who didn't know Tom Wolfe from his ass-hole. It just wasn't Jess's year.
As much as he wanted to chalk it up to suck timing, he couldn't help but wonder why she kissed him if she was in a relationship. Maybe she felt the same electricity he felt. It sure seemed like she did.
He sighed and turned down the street toward his new home. He hated this town, but after tonight he thought he just might find a home here. He knew it was clichéd to change his mind over some girl he barely knew, but he also knew that no one had ever affected him like Rory.
"Where have you been?" Luke asked gruffly as he entered the apartment.
"Out," he said, flopping down on his air bed and getting under the covers. He didn't even bother getting out of his clothes. He knew he wasn't going to get any real sleep that night anyway.
Rory was lying to herself when she thought she could avoid Jess all together. She and her mother practically lived at the diner for God's sake! When she watched him walking around town or helping people in the diner, she couldn't help but think back to that night, and a warm tingling feeling spear across her body. That was usually the time she moved closer to Dean. It wasn't right, but she had to do something to take her mind off of Jess, and if pretending she loved Dean worked, she would use it.
"So, what are we doing tonight?" Dean asked one day a month or so after Jess came to town.
Rory smiled and shrugged at him. "Don't know. You know, Mom is having that Bracebridge dinner tomorrow, so I don't know if she needs help getting t I ready.
"If not, we've got the house to ourselves," Dean said, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. Rory just smiled as the entire act was a little silly.
"Yeah," she replied quietly.
"Hey, is something wrong?" Dean asked, more worried. Rory just shook her head, but before she could say anything, Jess moved up to their table.
"More coffee?" he asked, staring at only her. The way his eyes bore into her made her shiver, and not from the cold.
"Umm, sure." She said, trying to smile, but she was sure it came out as a pained look instead. They hadn't really talked since that night. The occasional bump into each other, or 'do you want coffee with that' happened, but other than that Rory had been avoiding him, and he certainly wasn't pushing her to talk to him either. But he always looked with her with eyes that bore into her soul. And sometimes she would catch him watching her from across the room. As wrong as it was, the thought that he might have been a little affected by their night at the bridge exhilarated her.
Jess poured the coffee, and left the table without another word. He felt like slamming the coffee pot against the wall. He might have been able to take the fact that she was with someone else if he was worth her time, and he actually thought they had some chemistry, but those two were about as sexual together as…well he couldn't think of a simile, but the point was, they didn't have chemistry. Not to mention the guy was an idiot. He had a few classes with him, and while he got good grades, Dean was not what you would call well-read.
He knew he sounded like an elitist prick, but it sucked. The longer he was in this town, the more he paid attention to Rory. The more he watched her, the more he was smitten with her. Things never worked like this for him. He wanted the girl, he got her, fucked her, and moved on. Rory was different.
He sighed and pulled out One Flew Over the Co-Co's Nest from his back pocket, leaned over the counter and started reading. There was no use internally bitching over this situation. He'd have to do something about it, or get the fuck over it.
Rory's eyes caught on his book and she smirked. Good book. Then, coming to reality she turned to Dean. "Want to head over to the bookstore?" she asked.
Dean sighed but agreed. She almost said they didn't have to go, but changed her mind. She needed a book, it just so happened it was the same one Jess was reading. Afterward, she would make it worth Dean's time, even if she didn't really want to.
"No, Paris, that's not what I ment!" Rory protested. She was roped into this Bracebridge dinner since the original group got snowed in, and she knew Paris wasn't doing anything all night, so she just offered to let her stay. It wasn't like they didn't have enough food. But Paris was proud, so she knew she wouldn't take the invite well.
"You're sure I wont be a problem?" Paris asked, and Rory knew she really wanted to stay.
"No problem at all." Rory said with a dazzling smile.
"Well ok," Paris smiled, "let me call nanny."
Rory nodded and left her to it, then turn back to look into the dining room. Her eyes set on Jess as he entered the Inn with Luke. She hadn't known he was going to be there. Her breath caught as his eyes found hers, and the intensity of his gaze set on her. It was going to be a long night.
Of course he'd found a way to sit right across from her as Dean sat to her right during dinner. She was torn between the feel of Dean's hand on her lower tight, and the look of pure desire in Jess's eyes. She hoped it wasn't her imagination that he looked at her like she was an all-you-can-eat buffet. She silently scolded herself, then placed her hand in Dean's on her thigh. He smiled, and leaned in, kissing her lightly on the lips.
"Ewww," Clare cried, and Rory and Dean just laughed. She was going through that phase right now. It was almost fun to watch her squirm. Rory couldn't help but look at Jess after the kiss. He continued eating his food, but the look in his eyes spoke for him. He almost looked…jealous. That couldn't be, but somewhere in Rory, she hoped he was.
Rory had to admit she was a little relieved when Clara insisted that Dean ride in a carriage with her after dinner. She'd spent the whole day with Dean, and it was a little exhausting trying to find topics to discuss with him since she and he had so completely different interests. And everyone knew a Gilmore Girl had to have something to talk about it.
She got into the last carriage by herself since everyone else had already been paired up. That was fine with her. She didn't mind enjoying the beauty of early winter in a horse-drawn carriage by herself. It might even be better that way.
Those thoughts flew from her head as Jess jumped into the slowly moving carriage with her. "You're not supposed to do that!" she almost bit out. She was more surprised than anything, and hadn't a clue what to say to him. Though, him being this close to her for the first time in over a month wasn't helping her mind come up with clear thoughts either.
"And you aren't supposed to ride alone," he said, smirking at her. Damn that smirk. "Rule breaker," he teased.
"Well, Dean's sister wanted to ride with him." Rory lamely explained.
"I know. I saw." Jess said, simply. He had to admit he was actually enjoying the reaction he was getting from Rory. She was flustered, which could only mean one thing. That night between them was still on her mind.
"So, you don't seem the horse drawn sleigh type," Rory said, trying to fill the awkward silence, "What made you hop into mine?" she asked.
"Thought I'd give it a try," he said with a shrug.
Rory rolled her eyes and looked out the side of the carriage. "You can't just do that." She said, finally.
"Do what?" Jess asked.
"You can't just be around me. People don't even know that we know each other." She explained.
"That's a little self-involved don't you think?" Jess asked with a chuckle. "Thinking that the people in this town have nothing better to do that focus on what you are doing. Besides, we are just sitting her." He reasoned.
"That is all they have to worry about," Rory countered. "You must not have been around long. When Dean and I first got together, Ms. Patty knew more about our relationship than I did!" she relied.
"Yeah," Jess bit out, thinking about Rory and Dean together wasn't his favorite pastime. "So when did you and the great white hype get together," he asked, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.
"A little over a year ago," Rory said, looking down at her feet. This was quite possibly the most uncomfortable conversation she ever had.
"Huh," was all Jess said.
"Look, about that night…" Rory started. She wanted to punch herself in the fact for bringing it up, but her mouth opened and words just flew out.
"What night? The night you kissed me and ran away?" Jess asked, her eyes probing her.
"Yeah," Rory said, unable to look at him.
"What about it?" Jess asked. He certainly wasn't going to make this easy.
"It was a misunderstanding. I'm with Dean, and I don't know what came over me, but it won't happen again." Rory said.
"Who said I want it to happen again?" Jess asked, looking her directly in the eyes.
Rory had to admit she was taken aback by that comment. It never crossed her mind that she might have miss read the signals, but she had to save face. "Well, good." Rory said. "Then that's settled."
"Didn't say I didn't want it either," Jess said, his smirk back on his face.
"What is wrong with you?" Rory cried, exasperated. "Can't you ever just say what you mean?"
"What's the fun in that?" he asked, looking over her shoulder. "So, is that you're snowman?" he asked, pointing at her and her mother's work.
"Yeah, it's supposed to be…"
"Bjork." Jess finished for her. "Yeah I got that."
"You like Bjork?" Rory asked surprised.
"Yeah, she's alright." Jess said. "Dean like Bjork?" he almost laughed at the thought of that Neanderthal listening to Bjork. He probably thought the gayness would start growing inside him if he listened to Bjork.
"I've played him some." Rory said, uncomfortable again. This whole situation sucked. Jess liking her music, and being that sexy, and that close was making her head spin again. When he head spin she did stupid things.
"Well, I'm glad you found a guy who shares your interests." Jess almost laughed as he spoke.
"You don't know him." Rory defended, though she couldn't disagree.
"Yeah," Was Jess's only reply verbally. His hands said enough. He pulled the blanket over their bodies and laid his hand on Rory's thigh, much higher than Dean ever head. She almost jumped out of her skin at the touch, but she didn't want him to remove his hand, so she just sat there. How did she always get herself into this position?
Jess leaned back casually and drew lazy circles on her thigh, almost daring her to move out of his reach, which she never did. She looked up at him, confusion in her eyes, and he just smirked back. Thank god they were out in the open, or she might have done something she really regretted.
It never went further than that, though, and soon they were in front of the Inn again. "See you around, Rory." Jess almost whispered as he removed his hand and jumped out of the carriage. It took Rory a minute to get her bearings, but she finally slipped out of the sleigh and on shaky legs made her way over to Dean and Clara.
"What was that?" Dean asked, his eyes flaring with anger.
"Oh, he didn't have a partner." Rory answered, hoping her voice came out more even than her emotions.
"Yeah, I bet." Dean said, wrapping his arms protectively around Rory. At least he wasn't mad at her, she thought. Though, if he knew the truth, he would have every right to be.
Jess walked back to the diner alone, letting Luke and Lorelai have a few minutes alone. They had it so bad for each other and they didn't even know it. He couldn't blame his uncle though. There was something about those Gilmore Girls that could make you do the stupidest things. Like, for instance, lose yourself and become a sappy love-sick boy. Well, he wasn't quite there yet, so all hope was not lost.
He thought about the night. It seemed obvious that Rory did not LOVE Dean, and it also seemed obvious that he had an effect on her. She sure as hell did not push him away when he touched her. So, now it was a matter of enacting a plan to get her to come around to him, instead of leading that poor unfortunately ignorant boy around.