Jess was leaning up against the brick wall of the school, smoking a cigarette and watching Maggie, who was sitting
in the middle of the kids merry-go-round, drawing. She looked up and watched him back for a few seconds, then
dropped the sketchpad on her backpack and walked toward him.

"Every time I see you, Mariano, you're watching me."

"I like watching you."

Maggie stepped closer to him, took the cigarette out of his hand and dragged on it. She turned her head and
blew the smoke out away from him, then dropped the butt and put it out with the toe of her boot. She slid her
hand between Jess's waist and elbow, flattening her palm against the wall and leaning toward him. She tilted
her face up toward his and her other hand traced patterns on his chest. "Maybe I need to keep a closer eye
on you."

Jess slid one hand against the back of her neck and pressed the other against the small of her back. "The closer
the better," he murmured against her mouth before kissing her.
------------------------------------------------------------

Jess opened the door to Maggie's house and headed down the stairs to the basement. After her mother had died,
Maggie had taken over the basement for her room and studio. It was full of easels and covered with oilcloth and
paint. Maggie was sitting on a stool in front of her easel when Jess came through her door and plopped down on her
bed.

"Hiya bookworm. What's shakin'?"

"It's Thursday night in Stars Hollow. Nothing is shakin'"

Maggie looked at him over the top of her glasses. "Maybe we could do something about that."

Jess affected a breathy southern belle accent. "Why Miss O'Donald, if I didn't know better, I would say you were
propositioning me. I am just not that kind of man."

Maggie set her glasses on the easel and jumped off the stool. Jess moved to the edge of the bed and Maggie stood
in between his legs. "Why Mr. Mariano, you must think I have a terrible memory." Jess's hands slid under her
paint-spattered shirt and skimmed her waist. "Just last night you were exactly that kind of man." She pushed him
back on the bed and straddled him, pulling her t-shirt over her head and baring her breasts to him. His eyes darkened
and his thumbs dragged over her nipples and his fingers caressed the outside swell almost under her arm. Her hips
bucked against him and he sat up, flipping her so she was on her back and he was looking down at her.

Jess pulled off his shirt and pressed his bare chest against hers. "I think I need reminding...what exactly
did we do last night?" he whispered, smiling, before his mouth claimed hers.
--------------------------------------------------------------

"No, Jess, don't! I don't want to study. It's just stupid old trig." Jess was dragging Maggie toward the diner.

"Megs, it's 8pm and the test is tomorrow morning. Your portfolio can wait for three hours while we work on the
stuff you missed on the last quiz. You don't need to make an A; you just need to pass. But if you don't study
at ALL, you'll be taking this stupid old trig in the fall too, and seriously hating life. If you pass now you get
one extra study hall when you can DRAW all you want."

"OK, ok, ok. You win."

"Thatta girl." Jess patted her on the back and opened the door.

"But you have to give me brownies."

Jess rolled his eyes. "Anything for you."

Maggie raised an eyebrow. "And you have to kiss me."

Jess pecked her forehead. "I don't like the direction this is going. Next thing I know you'll have us naked in the
storeroom, and you'll still be flunking your test."

Maggie looked chagrined. "Damn. You're onto me."

Jess laughed. "I am the mighty academic taskmaster. Get to work, wench!" He wrapped his arms around her and pressed
his mouth to hers, tangling his tongue with hers, then dragging his lips against her neck.

"Jess..."

He reached behind her and grabbed the textbook, grinning at her. "Tomorrow...we'll celebrate your passing the
test..."

Maggie's expression was resigned as she sat down and opened the book while Jess went to find brownies.