Chapter 19

In hindsight, Rory realized she'd had a lot of clues. Jess had been charming her with kisses and touches, smiling at her whenever he thought she wasn't looking. But she now knew his good mood was a smooth attempt to distract her from his restlessness. To distract her from him biting his nails, chewing on his lips, twisting at his fingers. At first, she'd dismissed them as typical signs he'd just quit smoking (or at least she figured he had since he didn't taste like smoke that day), but there'd been other abnormalities too. She'd sneaked enough glances at him from behind bookshelves to notice he hadn't been turning over the pages in his book, almost as if he, the fastest reader she knew, was reading the same few lines over and over. He'd even checked his phone; he barely ever touched that thing since Rory made him buy it. Even now, as they bantered lightly about coffee and pizza toppings, she noticed him glance at his watch, then unsuccessfully try to hide it by pretending to scratch his head.

Jess was nervous, she realized with a start. What she'd mistaken for excitement before was actually a jittery nervousness. Her James-Dean, leather-jacket-clad, too-cool-for-school boyfriend was nervous. When had she, Rory Gilmore, ever made him nervous?

She contemplated what to do with the knowledge she had. Her grandmother had just revealed to her that he was taking her to prom, which was a ludicrous idea. It was already evening and they were nowhere near Stars Hollow, which meant they couldn't possibly be going to the Stars Hollow prom. And anyways, how would they go dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, a Distillers t-shirt, of all things? The idea seemed beyond ridiculous.

And yet… Why would he be acting so jumpy all day? And would her grandmother really assume she was going to prom without good reason? She must've somehow gotten the information from her mom, so… Was her mom pulling a prank? The easiest solution, of course, was to call her mother and ask. Why does grandma think I'm going to prom tonight? Am I really? But there was no way to call or even text her mother without Jess noticing.

Besides, if he'd wanted to tell her, he would've already. But he hadn't, which meant he somehow hadn't wanted her to know. Maybe because there was nothing planned at all. In that case, if she brought it up herself, she'd only make him feel bad and ruin what's turning out to be the best date they'd ever had.

'So, where do we go from here?' Rory asked, as nonchalantly as she could, while they carried their purchased books back to his car.

'We should get you some coffee.' He wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

'And then after the coffee? Are we going back home?'

'Nope. One more stop.' He said cryptically.

'What stop?' She pressed, sliding her body closer to his.

'I think we should really get that coffee now.'

'Jess!'

'Coffeeshop's right over there.' He pointed across the street.

'Where are we going after?'

'I don't know if I mentioned it, but you should always wear this shirt. Looks good on you.'

'You're evasive.'

'For telling you look good?' His eyes widened in innocence.

'I'm gonna make you tell me.'

'I doubt it.' He kissed her cheek and led her across the street.

She stared at him and smiled at the challenge. He was definitely planning something. Whether it's prom or not, she was going to make him tell her.

'Oh, come on! I Dream of Jeanie was not sexist.' Jess defended, laughing, nearly snorting coffee through his nose.

'A half-naked blonde woman owned by an astronaut. How is that not sexist?'

'She wasn't a woman. She was a genie and the astronaut found her lamp.'

Rory finished the last of her coffee, savoring the last few drops, then responded. 'She called him 'Master' all the time.'

'Only 'cause she's a Genie.'

'It was still cringy.' Rory shook her head in disdain. 'And that outfit –'

'Hey, the outfit was iconic.' Jess interjected.

'The outfit was a male fantasy! It was so skimpy!'

He smiled appreciatively. 'I agree. That's why it was iconic.'

'Jess!'

He just laughed, sliding away when she tried to slap his arm.

'And the way she was just following him around, doing everything he said –'

'Again, genie.'

'It was a sexist show!'

'Not really.'

'It was!' She argued, not very convincingly, since Jess's fingers had very distractingly just brushed hers as he took her empty coffee cup from her hands. He tossed the two cups into a nearby trashcan.

He continued. 'Jeanie totally wore the pants in that relationship. That much was always obvious.'

Rory became momentarily distracted again as he took her hand and intertwined their fingers. 'But they never just let her be smart. I mean, after a thousand years –'

'—two thousand years.' He corrected lightly.

'—stuck in a lamp, she would've read every book in existence, so why would she be constantly asking all these stupid questions?'

'She was curious in an alien sort of way.' He retorted, then squeezed her fingers. 'And you gotta admit, it was hilarious!'

'I get that you watched it as a kid with your mom, but it's still offensive.'

'It was damn funny.' He pointed out.

'My mom would kill you if she knew that's your favorite sitcom.'

'Whatever. You think it's funny too.' He stated, then slowed to a stop, turning her to face him and raising his eyebrows in amusement.

Rory conceded with an eyeroll. 'It had its moments.'

'See? You just can't hate it.' He said simply.

Rory started to retort, but realized they weren't walking anymore. 'Hey, why'd we stop?'

'Subway.' He pointed behind her to the subway stairs.

Rory cocked her head, hoping for an answer. 'We're taking the subway again? Where to?'

'Just somewhere.' He shrugged.

She pursed her lips and scrunched her eyebrows, stepping closer to him. 'Tell me where.'

'Nope.' His nose rubbed hers as he shook his head.

She sighed, slipping her arms around his neck as her lips brushed against his. His eyelids fluttered. More than anything, she wanted to see how long he'll resist telling her. She whispered. 'Tell me.'

'Rory…' He warned, but his voice was soft.

'Tell me.' She whispered again, rising on her toes to lick his lips.

At that, he sighed and leaned forward to kiss her, but his lips only met thin air as she pulled back.

He groaned quietly. 'It's somewhere you'll like, but it's a surprise.'

'I'm already somewhere I like.' She said, just as she glued her body to his, her fingers trailing down his neck. Before he could respond, she pulled him into a kiss, long and deep. She sucked on his lips hard, the way she knew he liked. The kiss was restless and needy and she refused to let his lips go. Her legs stepped in between his, almost grinding against him.

Where had she gotten this sudden courage from? She herself didn't know. She just knew she wanted him to crack. Is there really a prom? She was dying to ask. Instead, she let herself sigh against his open lips before resuming her sucking.

Several minutes later, she was breathing hard against him and so was he, but he still hadn't cracked.

'Jess, tell me.' She whispered, barely pausing her kisses.

He just shook his head slowly, looking like he was enjoying her assault a lot more than he should.

She moaned in disapproval and gripped his neck again, pulling him to her. 'Let's go for ice-cream.'

'Later.' He promised.

'I wanna see the empire state building.'

'Next time.'

'How about a play? We could go see a play.'

'Rory.'

'I've never been bowling, have you?'

He pecked her lips softly, but he wasn't having it. 'Not tonight.'

She was suddenly exasperated. 'What? You have somewhere else to be, Mariano?'

Cocking his head, he said. 'What is up with you?'

'What's up with you?' She narrowed her eyes and stared.

He rolled his eyes. 'Let's just take the subway. We're gonna be late.'

When she didn't move, he sighed dramatically. 'I think getting you that coffee was a mistake.'

She laughed. 'Are we going somewhere dirty?'

'Sure your coffee wasn't laced with something?'

'It must be somewhere really cheesy if you're so intent on hiding it.' She stared him down, frowning.

'Really? That's your best withering stare?' He teased.

She ignored him. 'Or somewhere very dirty. Is it one of those naked masquerade balls from Eyes Wide Shut?'

'You're enjoying this, aren't you?'

'And you're picturing a naked masquerade ball in your head.'

The corners of his lips turned up. He leaned his head towards her ear, about to whisper something. He took one breath, then a second one, then chuckled.

'Is that really the best you can do?' He whispered, before dragging her into the subway station.

They exited the subway into a dimly lit street and Rory could see Jess's nerves start to show. He was rambling distractedly, talking about his first job at a video store, telling her a story about how it closed down because the couple who owned it had a bad fight. She wasn't exactly listening, as she'd just had another brilliant idea.

She took two steps into the sidewalk then pretended to stumble. 'Ow. I just twisted my ankle. I better go lie down.'

Jess rubbed a hand over his mouth, unsuccessfully hiding a smile. 'Gee, I wonder who taught you that?'

'Jess, I can't walk when I'm injured.' She widened her eyes innocently, swinging an arm over his shoulder, leaning her weight on him.

'You poor thing.' He mocked.

'It's very serious.'

'Very seriously fake.'

'I mean, I guess I could force myself to walk a little bit further… if I knew where we're going.' Rory said pointedly.

'Nice try.' Jess was unimpressed.

'Seriously, where are we going? Is it a disco party?'

'Not telling you.'

'Costume party?'

'Not telling.'

'Halloween party?'

'In June?'

'Music festival?'

'You know you're pretty tiny. I could just carry you the rest of the way.'

'I feel like I'm being kidnapped.'

He rolled his eyes and gave her a look, amused but soft. 'What, you're just now figuring that out, Wendy?'

'Well, that just leaves the Eyes Wide Shut naked masquerade party.' She deadpanned.

'I guess it does.'

'Unless, of course, it's one of those infamously cliché high school dances you love so much.' She looked at him expectantly, waiting, staring, pursing her lips, trying to keep a smile off her face.

He opened his mouth, then paused, reading her face. 'Oh, no.'

Her smile grew wider.

'Oh Jeez. You know.' He accused.

She couldn't help her laugh, but then he looked so horrified that she almost felt bad.

'You know?' He repeated.

'Sorry.' She pouted slightly.

'How long?'

'Only a couple of hours.' She tried to look apologetic.

He shook his head. 'I can't believe Lorelai—'

'Grandma actually.'

'Your grandmother? How would she even…?' He groaned, muttering under his breath.

'But you also kind of gave it away.'

'What? How?'

'You evaded way too much.'

'Huh. And here I thought you were all over me just for my hot looks.'

'I don't understand though. Why this big mystery? Why didn't you just tell me we were crashing prom?'

'Well…' He chewed on his lower lip.

'I would've at least put on a dress or brought one with me. I can't go to prom in a band t-shirt.'

He shook his head very seriously. 'If it were up to me, you'd be wearing that shirt everywhere.'

'Jess!'

'Don't worry though. There's gonna be a dress. And we're not exactly crashing.'

'So we're really going?'

He sighed and hung his head. 'Look, it's okay if you don't wanna go… Or if you think it's lame…'

'What are you talking about?'

He rubbed his arm, suddenly looking fidgety. 'I know you wanted to go to the prom in Stars Hollow and yeah, we could've just snuck in… but, well, everybody in town knows we don't go there, so they would've noticed and we would've had to put up with Taylor chaperoning and so…'

'So?'

'So I thought it'd be less drama if we came here.'

'You know I was kidding when I suggested the whole party-crashing thing. You didn't have to do this.'

'I know.' He said simply.

She smiled. 'I always thought I'd have to drag you screaming to a school dance.'

'Instead, it seems like I'm dragging you, fake busted ankles and all.'

'Very freaky Friday moment that we're having here.'

'Very freaky.'

She smiled, suddenly excited. 'So where's the party?'

A/N: Please don't hate me for the extra suspense! I just couldn't resist some more teasing between these two. Don't despair though, the prom will happen! Please, pretty please leave me a review if you're reading :3