Ch.8

After that, Jess and Rory did become friends. They started hanging out about once a week or so at first, but then more and more often. Now they spent time together pretty much every day, but still only as friends. Jess hated it and loved it at the same time. He had missed Rory so much before and was ecstatic that he got to spend time with her now. It was bittersweet, though, because every time he saw her, his heart would flop. He was still so in love with her. He wanted to be able to kiss her and hold her again. He wanted to be the guy she talked about to her friends, not the friend that she talked to about other guys. He wanted her and only her, but it was impossible.

Rory was having similar feelings but she couldn't tell Jess that. She couldn't let him think that he could just leave her for a long period of time and then come back and everything was back to being the same automatically. Sometimes, though, she just ached for him. There were tons of other women dying to date him and it killed her to know that at any moment, he could actually date one of them. She dealt with it, though, and just enjoyed the time they spent together, whether they were watching movies, reading, listening to music, or just talking.

One day, Rory had just gotten home from work. She was absolutely exhausted. She walked over to her stereo and turned the CD player on. The All-American Rejects blasted out of it as she walked into the kitchen to make some coffee. While the coffee started brewing, she went into her bedroom and changed into some shorts and a sweatshirt. She couldn't wait to just go sit down on the nice comfy couch with a steaming cup of coffee and a book. She poured a cup of coffee, grabbed a random book off her bookshelves, and went over to the couch. She was just about to sit down when there was a knock at her door.

Rory groaned. She set her stuff down and walked over to the door, pouting. She opened it and there stood Jess.

"Don't look so happy to see me," he said, feeling a little unloved.

"Well, I was just about to sit down when there was this annoying pounding on my door and I had to go answer it."

"Fine, then I guess you don't want these burgers and fries." Jess turned around and started to walk away. Rory ran after him, though, regaining her strength for a few seconds.

"Hang on there, buddy, You should have mentioned the food in the beginning. Come on in. Make yourself at home."

"I feel like you only use me for food and coffee sometimes."

"Sometimes?" Rory said jokingly.

"Haha, you're so funny."

Rory walked over to the stereo and turned the music off. She went and sat down next to Jess on the couch. She grabbed a burger and started chowing down. About a minute later, she was done with the burger and starting on her fries. Jess was staring at her in disbelief. Rory felt his eyes on her and looked over. When she saw his mouth curved into his all too familiar smirk, her face immediately turned bright red. "What?" she asked, totally embarrassed.

"Nothing," Jess replied, having trouble containing his laughter. "I just had forgotten how much you can eat when you're hungry. Man you must be hungry." He couldn't help himself anymore. He started laughing.

Rory's face got even redder. "Shut up, Jess. God, you're so mean sometimes, I swear. I can't even do a normal thing like eating without you laughing at me."

"I'm sorry, Ror. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. It was just too funny." He really was sorry but he still couldn't keep himself from smiling. He thought she was so cute, even when she was just stuffing her face with food.

After they finished eating, the decided to watch a movie. After much debate, the choice of movie was Where the Heart Is. Jess had no interest at all in watching it but Rory used the food incident from earlier against him to win. While she got up to put the movie in, Jess laid down on the couch. When Rory returned, she just stood there, staring at Jess.

"What?"

"Jess, move."

"Why? I was here first."

"Yeah, but I was sitting there, too. Come on, move so I can sit down."

"Sit somewhere else, Ror. This is my couch now." Jess stretched out even more and put his hands behind his head. Rory, giving up, stuck her tongue out at him and sat on the floor and leaned up against the couch. Her head was right in front of Jess' chest.

The movie started and they both watched quietly. Soon, though, Jess was no longer paying attention to the movie. He was focusing on Rory. His hand was laying about two inches from her hair. All he had to do was move it just a little bit. Then he would be able to feel her silky hair. He was just about do this when Rory interrupted him.

"Jess, can I have the blanket, please?"

"Sorry, I'm using it."

"Come on, Jess. Stop being such a jerk. You already got the couch. Please let me have the blanket."

"Just come up on the couch with me."

"Jess! You wouldn't let me sit up there before and now you're going to move? God, you are so difficult sometimes!"

"I'm not moving. You can lay here by me if you want but otherwise, no blanket, no couch."

"Ugh, fine." Rory got up and sat on the very edge of the couch. She turned and looked at Jess, who just shrugged his shoulders. She sighed and laid down next to him. She had to get really close in order to not fall off. After a few minutes of getting comfortable, she finally focused her attention back onto the movie.

Jess couldn't focus on a single thing, though. Rory was laying there, so close to him with her head on his arm. He couldn't see the TV anymore but that was OK because he couldn't concentrate on anything except how close he was to Rory. His heart was beating so loud and fast that he was sure it had to be deafening Rory. He had dreamed of being like this with her for the longest time but he didn't actually think it would happen. Jess just laid there, reveling in the moment, hoping it would never end.

Soon, the movie ended and Jess wished it hadn't because he figured Rory would get up to go turn it off and he didn't want her to move. She didn't, either. For a quick moment, he thought maybe she too was just enjoying the closeness. A few moments later, he realized he was mistaken. He heard Rory's heavy breathing and realized she was fast asleep. Oh well, he thought. Guess I'll just let her sleep for awhile. Soon, though, he dozed off, too, lying there next to Rory.

A/N: Hey guys. I'm sooooooooo sorry that it took me so long to update. I got kind of busy this summer and then I just couldn't get back into the story but now I should be updating more often. I already have the next chapter and part of the one after that written. I just have to type them. Once again, I'm sorry and thank you guys sooooo much for the reviews I got from the last chapter.