Chapter 2
Rory fought to get her rapid heart beat under control but didn't even try to fight the happy blush that she knew was creeping up into her cheeks. She still didn't understand what it was about her boyfriend, Jess, that caused that exciting reaction. She certainly had never experienced it with her first boyfriend, Dean. There was just something about Jess that made her go crazy. She was crazy about him. She closed the door to the diner and tried to sneak quietly up behind him and surprise him while he was bust taking the order of some tourists. Right at the last minute though he whipped around, slipped his arms around her waist, and lowered his mouth to her own before she even had a chance to think. He kissed her sweetly and softly, and when he broke the kiss there was laughter in his eyes.
"You were trying to sneak up on me weren't you?"
"Didn't work, huh?" she said, still slightly breathless.
"I heard you" he explained
"How?! I was quiet!" Rory said, feigning exasperation.
"I could hear you breathing" He explained quietly.
There was something about the tender look in his eyes when he said this that made Rory's heart skip a beat. She blinked, fighting the urge to grab him by the neck and kiss him senseless. She knew he wouldn't mind making out in front of a room full of strangers, but she did. She smiled, "Do you know what today is?"
Jess shook his head, "No, Rory, what is today?"
"Our one month anniversary," Rory explained, only slightly hurt that he hadn't remembered. Now forgetting a biggie like the sixth month anniversary, or the one year anniversary, now that would be bad. She hadn't really expected him to remember anyway. No, she didn't care.
Without missing a beat Jess replied, "Ah of course, our one month anniversary, which is exactly why I got you this" He smiled goofily and handed her a mug of steamy coffee that he had been carrying to another table when she had walked in. Rory noticed Kirk glaring at her from across the room.
"Are you sure this wasn't supposed to go to Kirk?" she asked.
"Yes, I'm positive that I've been dating you for the past month and not Kirk" he replied seriously.
"That's alright Rory, I'm used to being shunned by the public and placed last behind all other members of mankind" Kirk called form across the room.
"I think you better take that coffee to Kirk" Rory said, laughter dancing in her blue eyes.
"Your prettier" Jess responded. Rory flushed with happiness over his completely irrelevant comment. A few minutes later Rory was seated at the bar with her own mug of steamy coffee, while Jess ran upstairs to get permission from Luke to take the day off. After several minutes of arguing, giving Rory just the right amount of time to finish her coffee, Luke relented and Jess and Rory headed out the door. Rory filled Jess in on her dilemma in finding the perfect brown bag stuffer and asked if he had any good ideas.
"Well most of the people in this lunatic town are wild about porcelain unicorns and cotton candy and ice cream, and since I've never really been a Strawberry Shortcake kinda guy, I'm really lost as to what would be considered good idea around here."
Rory rolled her eyes and punched him playfully in the arm. "Well? What are you and Luke putting in yours?" she asked.
"I don't think we're bringing one."
"Jess! That's against the rules."
"Says who?"
"Says me, I win" she put a finger over his lips when he started to protest, "We'll pick something out together" Jess, knowing it would be pointless to argue, leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on Rory's lips. He laughed when he saw the disappointed expression on her face when he pulled back, and leaned down and proceeded to kiss her more thoroughly. He gently coaxed her lips open and softly caressed her tongue with his own. He pulled back before the kiss got out of hand and whispered, "Better?"
"Much better," she sighed. Rory suddenly gave Jess a seductive wink and turned to practically skip into the nearest gift shop. Jess just smiled, shook his head, and followed behind the crazy girl he loved.