A/N: Thank you for the reviews.

Inappropriate Behavior

"I'm telling you, there's definitely something going on. He was at their house last night!" Babette whispered, looking at the young man reading behind the counter.

"Do you think it's why she..." Hushing suddenly when the teenage girl walked into the diner, Miss Patty watched her as she walked to the counter, smiling.

"Hey." Rory grinned at him and he put his book down, shooting Babette and Patty a look and they quickly turned their heads, pretending to look out the window.

"Hi. Upstairs?"

"Andrew's?"

"Works for me." Sticking his head in the kitchen, he found his uncle standing in front of the stove, cooking. "Luke, I'm going out." Before the man could say anything, he walked back outside, heading to Rory. "Let's go." Draping his arm over her shoulders, he kissed her cheek, smirking when she blushed and glanced at Babette and Patty, who were watching them again, mouths open in shock.

"You had to do that in there?" She tried to protest as soon as they were outside, pointing with her head at the diner, wrapping her arm around his waist at the same time.

"Yeah." He kissed her cheek again, still smirking. "They've been debating it all morning, it was driving me crazy."

"And that's a good enough reason to make us the center of gossip for the next month?"

"What's the big deal?"

Shaking her head, Rory smiled. "I just think it's none of their business."

"They were going to find out eventually."

"Yes." She agreed, nodding.

"And there was always going to be gossip."

"I know."

"So?"

"So nothing. I would have preferred some sort of warning, that's it." She smiled and he leaned closer to her ear.

"Ok. I'm now going to kiss you, because Taylor is looking at us and I want to see his head completely explode. Good enough warning?" Stopping in the middle of the sidewalk for a second, not giving her a chance to reply, he cupped her face in his hand, before kissing her passionately. As soon as he pulled back, he put his arm over her shoulder again, smirking sarcastically and waving at the older man, who was also staring at them.

"You're a jerk sometimes." Rory smiled, not noticing the other young man who was watching them from behind the windows of the grocery shop.

"You have to admit it was slightly entertaining." He chuckled and Rory blushed slightly, hiding her face in his shoulder.

"Maybe."

Kissing her forehead, he smiled softly before both of them walked into the bookshop. Waving at Andrew, they headed towards the back shelves, ignoring the couple of people staring at them.

"How long until Taylor realizes what happened and barges in here?" Rory smiled, glancing over her shoulder, looking at the door.

"Probably not for a while." Jess picked up a book after kissing her again.

Looking up from her book a while later, Rory smiled, running a hand through his hair. "How's the book?"

"Not bad. Why?"

"I'm hungry."

"And that's unusual how?" He smirked, closing the book and leaning over, placing a small kiss on her lips.

"Can we go back to the diner?"

"What are my chances of getting you upstairs after lunch? To discuss literature, of course." He whispered in her ear, watching her as she blushed. "You make this too easy." Jess chuckled and she slapped his arm.

"Get me food and we'll talk."

Walking in the diner a few minutes later, Rory sat at the counter, leafing through one of the books he'd bought as Jess headed behind the counter to get her coffee.

"How are you already halfway through this? We were only in there for like an hour."

"Easy read." He shrugged, pushing a full mug in front of her, noticing Kirk walking in the diner and sitting at a table, keeping an eye on them. "What do you want to eat?"

"Cheeseburger, fries, see what you can find for dessert. Maybe some onion rings as well."

"You do know the diner's not responsible for your medical bills when you've eaten yourself into a heart attack, right?"

"Luke's told me before." Rory grinned, putting his book down. "Remind me to borrow this from you once you're done with it."

"I'm sure you'll remember. And bug me to death until I finish it." Jess smirked, leaning over the counter and placing a quick kiss on her lips, seeing Kirk write something down. Rolling his eyes, he walked to the kitchen, handing Caesar the order before walking back out to Rory.

"It's not my fault you bought the book I wanted." She smiled when he was back, sipping from her cup.

"They had more than one copy."

"But this way, I can buy different books and then switch with you. Double the books, same amount of money." Rory snickered.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you were only dating me to have easier access to my books."

"Nah, I had that before." She smiled, biting her lip playfully.

"Careful, next you're going to admit you're actually doing this for less pure reasons."

Blushing again, she looked down, staring intently at her coffee cup.

"See? Way..." He drew out the word, chuckling. "...too easy."

"Jerk." She mumbled, smiling at the same time.

Walking into the kitchen of her house later that day, Rory saw Lorelai sitting at the table, flipping through a magazine.

"Hey." Rory greeted, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"Done flaunting your inappropriateness around town?" Lorelai snickered as her daughter sat down.

"What?"

"Taylor called."

"Oh..." Blushing, Rory closed her eyes, sighing. "What'd he say?"

"Let's see..." Pausing for a second, Lorelai cleared her throat, preparing herself for the monologue that was about to follow. "You and that no-good punk are just brandishing your lewd behavior in front of him! Do you not realize that children can see you? You've scarred the entire future generation of Stars Hollow for ever and ever. Also, kissing at the counter? That is clearly a health code violation and he will personally have a talk with Luke about it and what kind of a mother am I to allow you to do such things? Irresponsible parenting at its finest. Letting you have time alone, unsupervised with that delinquent? This is not acceptable and if I won't put an end to it, he will."

"You're kidding." Rory snorted, seeing her mother roll her eyes.

"No, I'm summarizing." Lorelai laughed, shaking her head. "I stopped him from bringing it up at the town meeting, but I'd be more careful if I were you."

"Jeez." Sighing, she put her head on the table, grimacing.

"Don't worry, Taylor's insane."

"He wasn't even in the diner!"

"Oh, no, that's from Kirk's report. I shouldn't be worried, he's asked him to follow you around to make sure you don't join him in any of his illegal activities."

"What does he think we are? Bonnie and Clyde ?"

"Yes. But you shouldn't worry, someone will play you beautifully in the movie. Faye's too old now."

"You're ok with all of this?" Rory mumbled, looking at her mother.

"Hon, you're a teenager. I expect you to act like one from time to time. Walking around, making out with your boyfriend isn't exactly unheard of."

"We weren't making out."

"Well, no, according to Taylor, you were practically auditioning for an X-rated movie."

"Christ." She sighed again, drinking from her coffee. "He's insane." Standing up, she picked up her cup, heading for her room.

"By the way, I told Taylor to call Kirk off, but you might want to check your surroundings for the next few days, just in case."

"Thanks, mom."

"Any time."

Picking up a box of cereal from the shelf of the store, Rory looked at it, making a face before putting it back.

"Not enough sugar..." She mumbled before picking up another one. Checking the box quickly, she smiled, finally satisfied with her selection before dropping it in the basket and heading towards the condiments section. Turning around on the next aisle, she spotted the tall, lanky boy and bit her lip, freezing on the spot. Seeing her as well, he sighed before waving.

"Hey." Dean greeted, his voice slightly insecure.

"Hi." She almost whispered back, clinging to the basket. "I...your shift...not today..."

"I picked up an extra shift." He shrugged.

"Figures." Rory mumbled, cursing silently at the universe for throwing them together. "So...you're good?"

"I'm good." He nodded. "You?"

"Yeah, good." Pointing in a random direction, she laughed nervously. "I should probably...uh...go."

"I saw you with him yesterday." Dean stated before she could leave and she frowned, looking at the young man.

"So?"

"He's not good for you, Rory."

"I appreciate your concern, but I've got it."

"He's gonna..."

Shaking her head, she cut him off mid-sentence. "What I do or don't do doesn't concern you. You can believe anything you want, but Jess is a nice guy."

"Sure he is."

"I'm done." She huffed, grabbing a bottle of ketchup before starting to storm towards the registers.

"Rory, I'm just saying..." Dean tried to smile, attempting to calm her down as he walked after her.

"And I'm just saying I don't care." She spun on her heels, looking him in the eyes. "You lost all rights to take an interest in my love life when you broke up with me. So keep your opinions of Jess and our relationship to yourself, ok?" She ranted before slamming the basket next to the register, smiling weakly at the girl behind the counter as she pulled the money out of her pocket, ignoring the shocked looks she was getting from everyone in the store, starting with Dean. Walking in the diner a few seconds later, she wrapped her arms around Jess who was standing at the counter, reading, keeping an eye out on the diner as well. Putting his book down, he returned the hug, kissing her temple.

"Thought you had to study."

"I do. Just..." Before she could finish her thought, she saw Babette and Patty starting to whisper again and Kirk take notes so she let go. "Ok, everyone? I get it. You don't like me dating Jess. But guess what? It's none of your business and it's not going to change, so stop the stupid gossiping and stalking us and everything else you're doing."

"What's going on?" Luke asked, walking out of the store room to find yet another room staring at Rory in shock.

"Nothing." Jess grumbled back at him, rubbing Rory's back. "Want to go somewhere else?"

"I have homework to do." She shook her head.

"I'll walk you home."

Reaching her house at the end of a very quiet walk, Rory turned around to look at Jess, smiling softly. "Thanks."

"For?"

"Walking me."

"Any time. Want to tell me what the diner was all about?"

"Long day." She shrugged, leaning closer and placing a small kiss on his lips. "Sorry."

"It's ok. Though I don't think that was the best way to stop the gossip." He smirked, cupping her face in his hand.

"Probably not." She agreed, sighing. "The only way today could get more humiliating is if you broke up with me, making that entire speech entirely pointless."

"Wasn't planning to." He shook his head, leaning in and kissing her quickly. "Though, you know, now that you mention it..."

"Jess..." She smiled, biting her lip.

"Fine, I suppose I can brave it out for a while longer to save your reputation."

"Your sacrifice is appreciated." Kissing him again, she looked at the front door. "I should probably go get started on homework."

"Need any help?"

"Sure. You're going to help." Rolling her eyes, she giggled and shook her head. "I don't think mom would be too happy with us being alone in the house without her knowing."

"She doesn't have to know." He winked, placing one last kiss on her lips before letting go and heading towards the stairs, walking backwards so he could look at her. "Have fun studying."

"Jess...?"

"Huh?"

"I ran into Dean. That's what started this."

Tensing up slightly, he stopped walking and looked at her. "And?"

"Got into a fight."

"Ok." He shrugged. "I should let you get on with your homework."

"Don't...do anything, ok?"

Shoving his hands in his pockets, he cocked his eyebrows, sighing. "Wasn't going to."

"Thank you."

"I'll see you at the diner." He smiled softly and she nodded, waving him goodbye.