Life: 2.0

Chapter 3: Pants on Fire

Author: knowhere

Rating: Heavy Pg-13: language.

Disclaimer: Nothing.

AN: Wow, thanks to everyone who reviewed! Really, really, thank you!! You totally made all the effort worthwhile. And now if you'd only keep it up...*hint, hint* ;)

Seriously, it makes the writing go so much faster. Thanks again!

Just to let everyone know, this story will straddle the Pg-13 to R rating for the first handful of chapters due to some language and insinuations. Though not all chapters will require an R rating, to be safe, after this chapter, I'll officially up it to Mature.

Summary: Literati. Life doesn't always turn out like you expect. Jess and Rory meet as adults when their lives are at a transition period. Life, love, and everything else: Version 2.0. AU.


She juggled her coffee in one hand, the plastic lid she placed on herself looking dangerously loose, and a stack of graded papers in the other. A breeze blew by and took the top five pages. "Oh shoot! Come back!" Rory set her coffee on the roof of her car and chased after the missing papers. They blew up and over the side fence and onto Jess's front lawn.

By the time she crossed the property lines, she saw his dark head bent over, picking them up. "Morning."

The man had a great voice, she thought. It was so unbelievably sexy.

"Hi." Her voice sounded breathless even to her own ears and she was embarrassed. What was it about this man that got the girly part of her brain all mushy? "Thanks. Did they survive?"

He wiped a smear of dirt on the top page. "Sorta." He grinned and thumbed through the first few pages. "Did you give my brother a good grade?"

She flushed; wondering if the page he was holding really was belonging to Gabe. She had remembered giving Gabe a B- last night when she sat up in bed grading papers. He had good ideas, but he hadn't followed the directions and for that she had to dock him. "Um…"

"Relax. I'm just kidding." He paused. "Although if he is struggling in class, I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know."

"Of course. Gabe's a bright kid. Original ideas...but maybe not always on point." She added gently.

He smiled a cute lopsided half grin. "That's okay, he'll learn. At least he has ideas."

Rory straightened and took in the sight of Jess for the first time today. He wore a soft black t-shirt under a well-worn brown bomber jacket. His jeans were looking equally soft and for a moment she wondered what he did for a living. Maybe all that noise and work he was doing around his house was his job as well. He did do a good job fixing the fence and she saw him the other day in the garage putting together some entertainment unit.

"Here you go." He handed her the flyaway papers.

"Thanks."

"Headed off to school?"

She smiled. "Yeah." Catching sight of Gabe waiting by the car door, she gave him a friendly wave. "Hi Gabe."

He nodded back to her and then got into the car.

"You've got to excuse him; the mornings aren't the best for him."

"Totally understandable," she nodded. "He's been doing a good job walking Wesley. After I take him on his second walk, poor little guy is so exhausted that he just poops out on the sofa. It's great. I don't have to worry about a little bundle of energy running around late at night."

Jess chuckled. "Good to hear." He canted his head to the side and she felt his intense gaze scrutinizing her making her want to squirm of check her makeup for smears. "How have you been?"

"Good, good."

He smirked. "Good."

She racked her brain to say something, anything, but her phone went off in her pocket. "Sorry, excuse me."

"It's okay. I've got to get Gabe to school anyways. See you around."

"Bye." Rory bit her lip, hoping to have had a few more minutes with him and flipped her phone absentmindedly and answered. "Hello?"

"Rory. Good morning."

She winced. "Hi Grandma."

"I haven't gotten your RSVP yet. I sent you an invitation a few weeks ago. The dinner is this weekend."

"What dinner?" Her attention was glued to Jess as she watched him walk up his driveway and pause, picking up the newspaper and pitching it into his garage. Her eyes stayed with him as she saw him walk over to his midsized SUV and climb into the driver seat.

"The dinner that I've been planning for more than two months, Rory." Her grandmother's disappointed tone cut through the fog in her brain.

"Okay." She made a face, wondering if she had received anything lately from Emily. As she thought about it, she slapped a hand to her face. Right! That fancy schmancy invitation I never opened. "Um, when is it again?"

"Rory." Emily's disappointment rose a few degrees. "This Saturday at seven. And please dress nicely. A cocktail dress; and not something that you and your mother fished out of the clearance bin."

Rory rolled her eyes. Some of her favorites were reeled in from the sales pond. "Is Mom coming too?"

"No. She has a conference for work."

Liar. Rory made a mental note to call her mom and complain about her not including her own daughter in the fake excuse.

"There's a lovely young man I want you to meet."

Red lights flashed behind Rory's eyes. Danger, Danger! "No, Grandma! No blind dates."

"Well Rory, I can't have you sitting by yourself. Everyone will be with a dining companion."

Rory grappled for an excuse. "You can't set me up."

"Why not? Are you bringing your own date?"

"No…" She wondered if she could get away with bringing Bram. Her grandparents knew his parents but then she'd have to endure another night of long looks from Emily. That silent reproach she always got when Bram ended up as her date. It was a knowing look from Grandma saying without words that she wouldn't get anywhere with a guy who dated other guys.

"Then you'll enjoy this young fellow. He's a corporate lawyer and is closely connected to one of your grandfather's associates." Gag me. Rory could see it now. Her sitting there, uncomfortable, and him probably balding and talking constantly about the declining economy.

"I already have a boyfriend." Damn! Where did that come from?

"I have not heard of this."

Rory floundered. "It's new."

"Your mother didn't mention it the other day at lunch."

"I asked her not to. I just met the guy. He can't make it on Saturday because he has to work. But I wouldn't be comfortable in having a date to the dinner."

"Why not? Either bring your young man or take mine."

"It's not right, Grandma. I wouldn't feel comfortable."

"Tell me about your boyfriend."

"Uh," Rory stalled to think. "What do you want to know?"

Her grandmother's voice sounded crisp, as if expecting to hear bad news. "Does he work? What does he do for a living?"

"Yeah, he works."

"Yes, Rory," came the correction. "You're a professor now, you need to set a good example."

"Grandma, I teach high school English. I'm a teacher, not a professor."

"What does he do?"

Rory looked around and saw some pieces of discarded two by fours leaning against Jess's yard. "He owns his own construction company." God, what am I doing? Making up a fake boyfriend?

"And how did you meet him?"

"He moved in next door." Oh man…

"Owns his own company, you say? And how long have you been seeing each other?"

When did they move in? "About a month." Her palms started to sweat. "Listen, Grandma, I've got to get to school. I'll see you on Saturday. But please, no dining companion for me."

"Rory, dear, I already have the table setting planned out and the caterer is already confirmed with the amount of plates needed that night."

"Fine, I'll bring him." And then I'll come up with a last minute excuse when I show up to dinner alone.

"Good. See you Saturday."

"Bye." Rory disconnected the call and hung her head in desperation.


Jess's cell phone buzzed in his pocket. Reaching to slide it open, he recognized the local area code but not the exact phone number. "Jess Mariano."

"Jess?" Gabe's voice floated thinly through the phone.

"Gabe, what's wrong? Why aren't you in school?"

"I am." Jess heard a sigh. "I'm not feeling good. I threw up in class."

Aw shit. "You okay?"

"Did you hear the part when I said I threw up in class?" He could hear Gabe's incredulous voice injected with sarcasm but laced with hurt. "My shirt's covered in puke. Come get me. I wanna go home."

"Gabe, I can't. I've got a meeting with my editor in fifteen minutes."

"What? No, I can't stay here. Jess, come get me!"

Jess tampered down his anger. "Don't yell at me Gabe, it won't fix anything. I know you're uncomfortable and not feeling well, but I can't just up and leave work in the middle of the day."

"I don't want to go back to class. Everybody's laughing at me."

Jess's heart broke a little at that. He knew Gabe was sensitive and didn't have a thick skin. Being the new kid in school would have been enough, but getting sick in front of everybody would throw Gabe over the edge. Gabe liked blending into the background in social situations, much like Jess, but unlike him, Gabe didn't ignore people as easily as Jess did. Gabe tended to internalize and absorb everything, analyzing it to death.

"I'm sure it isn't as bad as it seems. I'll get you around noon, okay?"

"That's two hours from now!"

"It's the best I can do."

The line went silent for a second and then Gabe responded in a small voice that reminded Jess of a little boy. "Jess, please come get me now. Please."

He swallowed the lump in this throat. "I'll be there at noon. Promise."

Right before Gabe hung up, Jess could hear a mumbled, "I wish Mom were here."


Jess watched as Gabe opened the passenger door before the car was fully stopped and placed into park. He arrived at the school at twelve on the dot to find a pale faced Gabe sitting on a squeaky plastic chair in the nurse's office. There was a wet spot on his t-shirt, where Jess assumed where vomit had been washed off. Gabe had looked very uncomfortable and disoriented but when Jess reached to help him get up and walk out to the car, Gabe shook off his arm without a glance.

"Gabe—"

The door slammed before he could finish and Jess sighed heavily as Gabe went through the front door and slammed that as well. "Fuck."

He followed behind, dragging his feet behind him slowly, wondering what to do with a sick kid. Gabe hadn't gotten sick and was very healthy, but even an unknowledgeable Jess could tell that Gabe would be out of commission for a day or two. He locked the door behind him and dropped his bag on the kitchen table. "You want some chicken soup?"

Gabe was lying on the couch, his skinny frame sprawled out. "Whatever."

"I'll make some anyways. And some toast, okay?"

Gabe ignored him, picked up the remote, and flipped on the TV to the Cartoon Network.

"Why don't you change out of your clothes? You'll be more comfortable."

"Yeah, it's not fun smelling the puke, is it? How do you think I liked wearing this for two hours?"

Jess sighed. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't come any earlier."

He snorted in response and Jess left him alone to fix some food.


Rory got out of her car, wondering if she should go next door and ask what happened to Gabe. None of the other kids in class had known where he was and she had gotten worried that something might have happened. But she feared that it might be crossing the line. When she got to the front, she found a folded up piece of paper taped to the door.

Rory,

Gabe got sick so he couldn't walk Wes today. Just in case he's still not feeling well for the rest of the week, let's just call off the walks until Monday, okay? Don't worry about paying him for this week. I'll take care of it. Sorry about the inconvenience.

Jess.

Rory puzzled over the note in concern but smiled weakly at Jess's messy scrawl and the way that he shortened Wesley's name again. She found it oddly endearing that he gave her dog a nickname.

She opened the front door to find Wesley zipping around doing house laps in his crazy little energized way. He stopped to lick her hand and darted out into the kitchen. She opened the back door for him and he sniffed around and did his business in the backyard.

The doorbell rang and she left the door open for Wesley to come in when he was ready. "Coming!"

When she opened it, her heart stopped beating for a second at the sight of her grandmother standing on her porch, a large clothing box tucked under her arm and looking decidedly determined. "Grandma!" Rory squeaked.

"Hello Rory. May I come in?"

"Uh, sure. What are you doing here?" Rory stepped aside and twisted her fingers together.

"Well, I saw this dress in the display window this morning and thought that it would be lovely for you to wear to dinner on Saturday."

Rory peered at the Nordstrom's silver box and took it gingerly. "Thank you. You didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to. And now you'll have something appropriate to wear."

"Well, thank you so much. I'm sure I'll love it." Rory's mind whirled at the thought of her fake boyfriend next door. Please don't ask about him; please don't ask.

"I'd like to meet your young man."

"He's not home."

Emily looked suspicious. "There's a car in the front. It is the neighbor to the left, correct?"

"Yes." What am I going to do?

"Introduce me."

Rory dropped the box onto the chair by the door and ran to chase after her grandmother. "No, we can't. He's busy. And plus, I haven't prepared him and all that." She laughed thinly.

"Nonsense. I want to meet him first so I'll know what to expect." Emily's heels clicked down the path and onto Jess's driveway, getting closer and closer to the front door by every passing moment.

"Grandma!" Rory ran after her, pushing her away by the shoulders when she caught up.

"Rory! For heaven's sake. What on earth?"

"Please. I promise to have a date for your dinner."

"Good. I want to meet him now." She reached around Rory to knock.

Please don't be home; please don't be home. Rory's eyes widened in fright when she saw Jess open the door an amused smile gracing his features. "Hey, what's up?"

Rory could just feel Emily's disapproval at the slang but she jumped in before her grandmother could open her mouth. "Jess! I've missed you." She launched herself into his arms and credited his quick reflexes. He caught her tight up against him and she leaned in for a kiss. Right before her lips made contact, she whispered, "Please play along."

She could see a flicker of interest pass through his eyes and her body tightened in response. He caught the back of her neck in his large palm and brought her to his lips. When they touched, there were little electrical sparks. Oh wow. Her world dissolved all around and all she could focus on was him. Jess and his sinful lips. His kiss was surprisingly tender, masterful without seeming like it was practiced. His lips moved gently against hers, coaxing her to open up to him. When she felt his other hand creep across her back, she arched up into him and bit down on his lower lip. He apparently liked it because he kissed her harder. Rory felt something stir against her belly and she smiled into their kiss.

"Ahem!" Her grandmother cut in with a loud sound of disapproval.

Rory felt Jess retreating from the kiss. "Hey." His voice was all gravely.

"Hi." Rory was surprised at the breathless sound in her voice.

"Rory, please introduce me."

"Oh, right." Rory detangled herself from Jess's arms but she noted with a silly private grin that he kept his arm around her waist. "Jess, this is my grandmother, Emily Gilmore." She emphasized the word in hopes that he would keep playing along.

"Hi, Jess Mariano." He stuck out his hand for a shake. "Nice to meet you."

"Rory says that you own your own construction company." Emily quickly launched into her interrogation.

"Did she?" Jess turned to look at her. "Actually, fixing things around the house is just a hobby. She must've gotten confused."

Rory squeezed her eyes shut. "Oh right. Sorry about that."

"That's okay, darling." Jess bent down to peck her cheek.

"You've been dating for nearly a month and she doesn't know what you do for a living?" Emily raised a questioning brow, disapproval clear.

"Remember how I told you I write a daily column for the local paper?" Jess nudged her.

"Right! Column. Paper. It's great!"

Emily waited for an explanation.

"You must've been too distracted by me to have noticed the mistake." Jess winked. "Your granddaughter is really something. I feel like I've known her forever. We just clicked."

Laying it on a bit thick, aren't you buddy? "Right, click!" Rory imitated.

"Jess…I'm gonna throw up again." A sickly voice came from behind them and Rory closed her eyes, begging for the nightmare to be over. Please be over soon.

"Who is that?"

"That's my younger brother, Gabriel." Jess paused and seemed to be reluctant to offer more information. "I have custody of him."

"And where are his parents?"

For the first time since she had unexpectedly launched herself into his arms, Rory noticed that Jess's eyes dimmed and hardened. Rory realized that he was really protective of his brother. "Our parents died three years ago in a car accident."

Emily lost a bit of her starch in her spine. "I'm sorry to hear that."

Jess nodded but his eyes lost that teasing glint.

"Jess?" Gabe appeared behind Jess and Rory felt his arm slip away from her waist. "What's going on?"

"Gabe, this is Rory's grandmother, Mrs. Gilmore." Jess nodded.

Gabe scrunched up his face and Rory felt instantly bad in recruiting her student into this fiasco. "Why?"

"Rory wanted me to meet her grandmother. Since I've been dating her for a month." Jess gave Gabe an unreadable look and her heart melted a little at the sight of him coming to her rescue.

"Grandma, we should get going. Gabe is sick and we should be leaving."

"All right. Jess, I look forward to seeing you on Saturday. Young man," Emily looked to Gabe, "Feel better."

Jess shot her a questioning glance but when she shook her head vehemently, Jess dropped the look and adopted a smile instead. "Nice to meet you."


Jess watched the two women disappear into the house next to his and laughed at the way Rory scurried after her grandmother like a child. He had been pleasantly surprised when he saw her at the door and beyond shocked when she had thrown herself into his arms.

And when she had kissed him…man! He hadn't felt desire like that so instantly since he was a teenager. At thirty-two and going through a major dry spell, Jess hadn't ever thought he could get hard so quickly. But apparently he could.

He rubbed at his mouth, still tasting the sugary cinnamon innocence of her on his tongue.

"What was that?" Gabe held his stomach protectively.

Jess shrugged. "I think I just got a girlfriend."

"Miss Gilmore? That's so not right."

He turned to look down at Gabe. "Why?"

"I dunno. It's just not. She's my teacher."

"She's still a woman."

"I don't want to talk about it. I have to go throw up." Gabe tossed Jess a look. "Literally."

Jess watched Gabe trudge out of the living room and the sound of the toilet flushing. He stayed at the door, replying the last few minutes in his mind. And remembering her taste. God, I can't get that out of my mind.


AN: Please read and review!