DISCLAIMER: If I said I owned it all, would you believe me? No, I thought
not.
Lane made it to the Gilmore house first, a little before six. She helped Lorelai get all the food set out, and they sat on the couch to await the boys. Lane grilled Lorelai for every detail in the asking of Luke to come over, to which Lorelai blushed and looked away.
"What?"
"Well, I sort of just went up to the apartment, cause I couldn't find anyone. So when I let myself into the apartment, he was sitting on his bed, doing his homework, in his boxers."
"Oh my God! Are you serious?"
"Yeah. I didn't know what to do, so I just asked him if he wanted to come while he screamed at me about knocking."
"I'm dying! So, what's he look like in boxers?"
"LANE! I didn't look."
"Sure you didn't. Tell me."
Lorelai smiled at her best friend and leaned in closer to her.
"Actually, he looks good. Very good muscle definition."
"Yea!"
As the girls reveled in their conversation, they heard someone knocking at the door. Lorelai jumped up to go let whoever it was in, and opened the door to see Luke standing on her porch.
"Hey, come on in!"
"Thanks for inviting me. I honestly think I've run out of things to do in this town."
"You've only been here a week."
"That's exactly my point," he said, coming in behind her.
"So, Luke, you know Lane, right?"
"Oh, yeah. Hi."
"Hi."
"Lane's been my best friend since the first day of kindergarten."
Luke nodded, a little confused as to why Lane was there, but sat down on the couch to get ready for the movies. Lorelai started to sit next to them on the couch, but immediately jumped back up.
"I forgot to order the pizza! What do you guys want on it?"
"We should wait for Tristan, see what he wants."
"I know what toppings he likes," Lorelai informed her friend.
Luke suddenly put two and two together. This was a set up, and not the matching he would have hoped for. He did have a small chance that this Tristan person was coming for Lane, but fate had never been that nice to Luke Danes. He missed the discussion on pizza toppings, thinking how dumb he'd been.
"So, Luke, what kind of music do you like?"
"Huh? Oh, you know, I'm not into music that much."
"Oh." Lane looked disappointed. Music was her life. She would rather die than go a day without it. "So, what are you into?"
"I like to fish."
"Oh, that's interesting." Lane lied, not wanting to give into failure five minutes into the evening.
Lorelai had just gotten off the phone with Joe, the local pizza delivery guy, when she heard a knock at the door. She hurried over with a huge smile on her face. She opened the door and fell into a hug as Tristan wrapped his arms around her.
"Thanks for being cool with Lane and Luke coming over."
"No problem. Where's Rory?"
"Oh, she went into New York with Jess, to some bookstore he was going to show her."
"Gotta love the lack of parental supervision," he whispered, nuzzling her ear. She melted against him a little and after a moment swatted him away so they could join the others. She and Tristan, while not officially dating, had seen each other five out of the last seven days, after school studying, out to the movies, or just hanging out. Rory had joked they'd have to get him is own collar and leash, if Lorelai was going to keep him. The fact that she was going on birth control hadn't been mentioned with Tristan, as it hadn't been an issue. It was this huge deal to her, but he was the only person she felt like deserved to know, and they weren't ready to talk about that yet. They were really only kissing, as intense as it was, and nothing more.
"So, Luke, you remember Tristan, don't you?"
Luke looked up from the oh-so-interesting conversation Lane was trying to have with him to see the same blonde rich boy that Lorelai had been with last weekend. It was now official; this night was going to suck.
"Yeah, sure."
"And this is my best friend Lane. Lane this is Tristan."
"Nice to finally meet you," Lane said, nodding to Tristan.
"You too."
"So, the junk food's all ready, pizza's on its way, are we ready for movies?"
"Let's do it," Lane said, settling back against the couch. Lorelai put the first movie in and sat down on the floor next to Tristan. Luke and Lane were on the couch, on opposite ends. Much to Luke's dismay, Lorelai was pressed into Tristan, with his arm around her. Every so often, he'd whisper something into her ear that made her giggle or blush, and she'd curl into him a little more. He really hated this guy. What was so damn interesting about him, anyway? He gave a little sigh and went back to focusing on the movie.
"I can't believe you!"
"What?" Jess sighed as he found Rory still in the classic literature section.
"How long have I known you?"
"I don't know, ten or fifteen years."
"When did you find this place?"
"Dunno, five years ago, maybe?"
"And in five years, it never occurred to you that you HAD to bring me here?"
Jess shrugged.
"Jess, this place is amazing! There aren't even words for how much I love this place."
"I'm glad you like it. Find anything?"
"You're kidding me, right? I could blow an entire years salary here!"
"Well, don't do that. I wouldn't want Lorelai starve because of something I did," he joked.
"Speaking of salary, I have something to run past you." She turned to face Jess, noticing the interest on his face.
"Go ahead."
"Well, maybe this isn't how to do these things, maybe I should be taking you out to dinner or something to discuss it."
"Rory, just spill it."
"Fine. I was reading over some of your graffiti in my books, and some of it was really good. I mean, you made me look at some things I would have never put together. And it just so happens that our book reviewer is moving to Maine, so we need someone to fill the spot. I was going to do it myself, but what with everything else I have going, I don't really have time." She knew she was rambling, but she had been waiting for the perfect time to ask him about this.
"You want me to be the new book reviewer for the Gazette?"
Rory nodded and smiled. "What do you think?"
Jess crinkled his brow and looked at her for a moment. "Wouldn't that make you my boss?"
"Well, yeah, but I wouldn't ask you to hold regular hours. You'd have a deadline, that's about it."
"Well," Jess scratched his jaw mindlessly, and looked back at Rory. She seemed really excited about the possibility.
"Sure, why not?"
"Great! Just get me a sample piece by next Wednesday, and if I like that, then you're regular column can start the following week."
"Wait, I have to submit a sample?"
"Well, I do have to follow protocol, I'm going to be hiring you on as a new member of my staff."
"But you offered me the job."
"Ah, I offered you the first crack at the job."
"Tease."
"That's no way to speak to your boss, Jess," she laughed.
"We're so going to have problems working together."
"Then I'll just have to fire you," she shook her head sadly.
"For what?"
"Probably insubordination," she joked.
"Right. Are you ready to get out of here? I feel the need to eat some celebratory dinner, due to my new career direction."
"It's just the Gazette."
"Rory, you're ruining my celebration. Are you coming or not?"
She smiled at him and nodded. They headed to the cash register and purchased what they had found, and went out into the street to find the perfect restaurant.
Back at the Gilmore house, the Halloween marathon was in full action. Lorelai had thought since it was October, it was justified, not to mention scary movies were the only ones to watch in the beginning of relationships. Lots of opportunities for cuddling during tense and scary parts, and lots of mocking potential, depending on how the evening was going.
After the second movie finished, they took a break to stretch, get more food and chat. Lane and Luke were talking about their biology class, and Lorelai had gotten up to get more pizza.
Tristan stood, stretching his legs and headed into the kitchen to see what was keeping Lorelai. Lane was nice enough, but it appeared to him that she was feeling uncomfortable with Luke, and Luke kept glaring at Lorelai and himself. He smiled at Lorelai, who was banging on the coffeemaker.
"You know, those usually work better if you don't beat them first," he offered.
"No, you have to do this first. Otherwise it just gurgles and spits out coffee grounds. You have to let it know whose boss."
"It sounds like you need a new coffeemaker," Tristan laughed.
"NO! Frank is a beloved member of this family!"
"Frank?"
"We name appliances," Lorelai explained.
"What's the stove's name?"
"Silly boy, we only name appliances we use."
"Ah, I see. I should have known, forgive me."
He stepped closer to her, between her and what was left of Frank. He brought his hand up to brush a stray curl out of her face. He brushed his lips against hers roughly, not properly kissing her, but making her want to throw him down against her bed. She looked into his blue eyes, which didn't do anything than increase that desire. He saw it in her eyes and pressed his lips against her in a better-formed kiss this time. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he pulled her hips against his. They enjoyed each other for a few minutes, until Lorelai realized that Lane and Luke were still in her living room. She pulled back and looked to the hallway into the living room.
"Maybe we should ask them to leave."
Lorelai nodded, not thinking it would be anything but necessary at this juncture.
"I'll be right back," she whispered, motioning for him to stay there.
She walked back into the living room, and smiled at the two. It obviously wasn't a love connection on either end, but they were now talking more comfortably.
"Lane, you should probably get home, it's almost ten."
"Oh, you're right! Mama will kill me if I'm not home then."
"Luke, do you think you could walk her home?"
"Just as long as you don't come near the house, we'll be fine."
Luke looked at Lane as she uttered her last comment and cringed. He so didn't want to know what that was about.
"Are you sure you'll be okay here?" he turned back to Lorelai.
"Oh, yeah, Tristan will be here. I'll see you guys later."
She looked insistent and rather flushed. Luke didn't like the looks of this at all. Not seeing where his protests would do much good, since he wasn't about to profess how he felt for this girl he barely knew, he just nodded indicating he would walk Lane home. They gathered their things and headed out of the house.
It was ten o'clock and Rory and Jess were still in the Chinese restaurant Jess had led them to hours before to celebrate. Rory thought he was being silly, but he had gone all out. They ordered one of everything, and ate more food than they'd ever eaten before. They were talking and laughing, oblivious to what time it was. Finally, the waitress brought out fortune cookies, a whole plate full of them.
"Aren't they just supposed to bring as many as there are people?"
"Now we can pick the fortune we like."
"Thus defeating the purpose."
"What's yours say?"
Rory cleared her throat and read aloud off the tiny slip of paper. " 'Suppose you can get what you want...' "
"What does that mean?"
"I guess it's supposed to make me think about what I want."
"So, what do you want, Rory?" Jess said lowering his voice. The look in his eyes made her very nervous all of a sudden.
"I want you to read yours," she said, recovering quickly.
"Fine, keep your pants on," he said, opening his cookie. "'Don't ask, don't say. Everything lies in silence'."
"Huh?"
"Mine makes sense."
"And what, pray tell does it mean?"
"It means some things are best left unsaid."
"Well, I hope you don't adopt that policy in your reviews."
"I'll do my best. But most books are best left for people to make up their own minds about them. Most authors encourage that, in fact."
"I know that. But that's why people are encouraged to discuss books, to open up their views and see new ideas."
"True."
"Maybe I've made a mistake, what with you and your famous one-syllable comebacks."
"Ah, it's too late, now you have to give me a chance."
"Just don't make me regret my decision."
Jess looked at Rory. He hadn't had this much fun in a long time. Hours had flown by, and he didn't want to have to take her home. He knew as detail oriented as she was, she was bound to realize how late it was soon.
"My turn again!" she turned her attention to the plate of cookies.
He smirked, turning his hand over in the air in encouragement for her to continue.
"'There is nothing permanent except change'."
"Ah, sage words."
"It's true."
"That's what I said!"
Rory gave him a look and nodded towards the plate. He picked up another cookie and snapped it open.
"'Fortune favors the brave'."
"Hmm, feeling brave?"
"I'm always brave."
"Hah!"
"What?"
"I remember the look on your face when Patty kissed you. That was definitely terror."
"Well, you'd be afraid too. Imagine if Kirk did the same thing to you."
Rory winced and laughed. She held her hands up in defeat. "You're right, you win!"
"Well, maybe next Christmas we'll both get more lucky than that."
"Maybe I'll just skip the mistletoe this year. I've seen enough kissing lately."
"Lorelai?"
"She and Tristan just seem to be glued together. I hope they get over this newness soon."
"Ah, to be young and in love," Jess remarked sardonically.
"Have you ever been in love?"
Jess looked at her in surprise. He didn't expect that question. They never really talked about personal stuff. Well, she did, but he never did. They usually kept the banter about books and music and work. He shifted a little in his chair.
"Uh, once. I think."
"You're not sure?"
"Well, I thought I was in love, but it didn't work out."
"Just because it doesn't work out, doesn't mean it isn't real," Rory said softly.
"You've been in love, right?"
Rory nodded. "Not that it worked out, either."
"Just once?"
"Just once."
"Do you still love him?"
"Hey, I thought I was asking the questions!"
"Do you?"
"I still love him, but I'm not in love with him."
Jess nodded. He could see that, since they shared a child. At least, he assumed she was talking about Lorelai's dad. Rory didn't struck him to be the one night stand kind of gal, especially when she was younger.
"So, what about you?"
"What about me?"
"What happened with this girl you loved?"
"Pass."
"Jess," she sighed.
"She ran off with my best friend."
"You're kidding?"
"Sadly, no."
"I'm sorry, that's horrible."
"We were all young. It's not a big deal."
Rory nodded, looking at her watch.
"Oh, we should go! It's almost 11!"
"Rory, I'm sure it's fine."
"Jess, I can't just stay out all night, when Lorelai has Tristan over."
"Aren't Lane and Luke there, too?"
"Yeah."
"So, quit worrying. Read another one," he prompted. She gave a small smile and reached for another cookie.
Back at the Gilmore house, all hell broke loose once Lane and Luke left. Lorelai and Tristan had gone into her bedroom, and began not so innocently making out on her bed. She lay underneath him, as he rested his weight on his elbows. This wasn't the first time she had found herself in this situation; they had been escalating their make out sessions all week. He moved his hand to the hem of her shirt and her breathing stopped momentarily. He looked into her eyes and she looked away for a moment.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm okay," she said, sitting up a little forcing him to lean up a little too.
"Are you worried about your mom coming home?"
"Sort of. I mean, she should be here by now, but I think we should probably talk about this."
"This?"
"Whatever is going on with us."
"Ah."
"Yeah."
"So, what is going on with us?"
"I don't know. We're ... dating?"
"Yes, I think that's safe to say."
"Are you dating anyone else?"
"No. Are you?"
Lorelai shook her head. "Do you want to?"
"Date anyone else?"
"Yeah."
"No. You?"
"Nope."
"So, we're clear on that."
"Crystal."
"So is there anything else?"
"Well, there's this," she said with a smile.
"This?" he asked knowingly.
"You know, the making out, the ..."
"I know."
"Thoughts?"
"I enjoy it. Thoroughly."
"Me too."
She looked at him through thick lashes and resumed her previous position. He moved over her again and moved his hand back to the hem of her shirt. She giggled as his hand slid up her stomach, tickling her. The sensation of tickling didn't register anymore as his lips parted, and he licked her bottom lip, causing her to respond in kind. She moved her hands to his shirt, trying to remove it from his person. He stopped his roaming hands to help her in her efforts when he realized what she was going after. He was rewarded for his cooperation as she moved her hands over his stomach, feeling the defined muscles she found there. Soon they were reaching points of frustration, taking it out on each other with their kisses. Their tongues dueled, as they fought for dominance. Just before anything could be taken any farther, the phone rang, bringing them back to reality rather quickly. Lorelai reached out for the phone, noting that the clock read 11:30pm.
"Hello?"
"Lorelai? I'm sorry, were you in bed?"
"Uh, yeah, I'm in bed."
"Jess and I are just now leaving the city. I didn't want you to worry."
"Thanks, mom."
"I'll be home in an hour and a half or so."
"Okay. I'll probably just see you in the morning, then."
"Alright. Night, sweetie."
"Night."
Lorelai hung up the phone and smiled at Tristan devilishly.
"So, that was your mom?"
"Yep. We have about an hour."
"Huh," he said, moving back over her.
Lane made it to the Gilmore house first, a little before six. She helped Lorelai get all the food set out, and they sat on the couch to await the boys. Lane grilled Lorelai for every detail in the asking of Luke to come over, to which Lorelai blushed and looked away.
"What?"
"Well, I sort of just went up to the apartment, cause I couldn't find anyone. So when I let myself into the apartment, he was sitting on his bed, doing his homework, in his boxers."
"Oh my God! Are you serious?"
"Yeah. I didn't know what to do, so I just asked him if he wanted to come while he screamed at me about knocking."
"I'm dying! So, what's he look like in boxers?"
"LANE! I didn't look."
"Sure you didn't. Tell me."
Lorelai smiled at her best friend and leaned in closer to her.
"Actually, he looks good. Very good muscle definition."
"Yea!"
As the girls reveled in their conversation, they heard someone knocking at the door. Lorelai jumped up to go let whoever it was in, and opened the door to see Luke standing on her porch.
"Hey, come on in!"
"Thanks for inviting me. I honestly think I've run out of things to do in this town."
"You've only been here a week."
"That's exactly my point," he said, coming in behind her.
"So, Luke, you know Lane, right?"
"Oh, yeah. Hi."
"Hi."
"Lane's been my best friend since the first day of kindergarten."
Luke nodded, a little confused as to why Lane was there, but sat down on the couch to get ready for the movies. Lorelai started to sit next to them on the couch, but immediately jumped back up.
"I forgot to order the pizza! What do you guys want on it?"
"We should wait for Tristan, see what he wants."
"I know what toppings he likes," Lorelai informed her friend.
Luke suddenly put two and two together. This was a set up, and not the matching he would have hoped for. He did have a small chance that this Tristan person was coming for Lane, but fate had never been that nice to Luke Danes. He missed the discussion on pizza toppings, thinking how dumb he'd been.
"So, Luke, what kind of music do you like?"
"Huh? Oh, you know, I'm not into music that much."
"Oh." Lane looked disappointed. Music was her life. She would rather die than go a day without it. "So, what are you into?"
"I like to fish."
"Oh, that's interesting." Lane lied, not wanting to give into failure five minutes into the evening.
Lorelai had just gotten off the phone with Joe, the local pizza delivery guy, when she heard a knock at the door. She hurried over with a huge smile on her face. She opened the door and fell into a hug as Tristan wrapped his arms around her.
"Thanks for being cool with Lane and Luke coming over."
"No problem. Where's Rory?"
"Oh, she went into New York with Jess, to some bookstore he was going to show her."
"Gotta love the lack of parental supervision," he whispered, nuzzling her ear. She melted against him a little and after a moment swatted him away so they could join the others. She and Tristan, while not officially dating, had seen each other five out of the last seven days, after school studying, out to the movies, or just hanging out. Rory had joked they'd have to get him is own collar and leash, if Lorelai was going to keep him. The fact that she was going on birth control hadn't been mentioned with Tristan, as it hadn't been an issue. It was this huge deal to her, but he was the only person she felt like deserved to know, and they weren't ready to talk about that yet. They were really only kissing, as intense as it was, and nothing more.
"So, Luke, you remember Tristan, don't you?"
Luke looked up from the oh-so-interesting conversation Lane was trying to have with him to see the same blonde rich boy that Lorelai had been with last weekend. It was now official; this night was going to suck.
"Yeah, sure."
"And this is my best friend Lane. Lane this is Tristan."
"Nice to finally meet you," Lane said, nodding to Tristan.
"You too."
"So, the junk food's all ready, pizza's on its way, are we ready for movies?"
"Let's do it," Lane said, settling back against the couch. Lorelai put the first movie in and sat down on the floor next to Tristan. Luke and Lane were on the couch, on opposite ends. Much to Luke's dismay, Lorelai was pressed into Tristan, with his arm around her. Every so often, he'd whisper something into her ear that made her giggle or blush, and she'd curl into him a little more. He really hated this guy. What was so damn interesting about him, anyway? He gave a little sigh and went back to focusing on the movie.
"I can't believe you!"
"What?" Jess sighed as he found Rory still in the classic literature section.
"How long have I known you?"
"I don't know, ten or fifteen years."
"When did you find this place?"
"Dunno, five years ago, maybe?"
"And in five years, it never occurred to you that you HAD to bring me here?"
Jess shrugged.
"Jess, this place is amazing! There aren't even words for how much I love this place."
"I'm glad you like it. Find anything?"
"You're kidding me, right? I could blow an entire years salary here!"
"Well, don't do that. I wouldn't want Lorelai starve because of something I did," he joked.
"Speaking of salary, I have something to run past you." She turned to face Jess, noticing the interest on his face.
"Go ahead."
"Well, maybe this isn't how to do these things, maybe I should be taking you out to dinner or something to discuss it."
"Rory, just spill it."
"Fine. I was reading over some of your graffiti in my books, and some of it was really good. I mean, you made me look at some things I would have never put together. And it just so happens that our book reviewer is moving to Maine, so we need someone to fill the spot. I was going to do it myself, but what with everything else I have going, I don't really have time." She knew she was rambling, but she had been waiting for the perfect time to ask him about this.
"You want me to be the new book reviewer for the Gazette?"
Rory nodded and smiled. "What do you think?"
Jess crinkled his brow and looked at her for a moment. "Wouldn't that make you my boss?"
"Well, yeah, but I wouldn't ask you to hold regular hours. You'd have a deadline, that's about it."
"Well," Jess scratched his jaw mindlessly, and looked back at Rory. She seemed really excited about the possibility.
"Sure, why not?"
"Great! Just get me a sample piece by next Wednesday, and if I like that, then you're regular column can start the following week."
"Wait, I have to submit a sample?"
"Well, I do have to follow protocol, I'm going to be hiring you on as a new member of my staff."
"But you offered me the job."
"Ah, I offered you the first crack at the job."
"Tease."
"That's no way to speak to your boss, Jess," she laughed.
"We're so going to have problems working together."
"Then I'll just have to fire you," she shook her head sadly.
"For what?"
"Probably insubordination," she joked.
"Right. Are you ready to get out of here? I feel the need to eat some celebratory dinner, due to my new career direction."
"It's just the Gazette."
"Rory, you're ruining my celebration. Are you coming or not?"
She smiled at him and nodded. They headed to the cash register and purchased what they had found, and went out into the street to find the perfect restaurant.
Back at the Gilmore house, the Halloween marathon was in full action. Lorelai had thought since it was October, it was justified, not to mention scary movies were the only ones to watch in the beginning of relationships. Lots of opportunities for cuddling during tense and scary parts, and lots of mocking potential, depending on how the evening was going.
After the second movie finished, they took a break to stretch, get more food and chat. Lane and Luke were talking about their biology class, and Lorelai had gotten up to get more pizza.
Tristan stood, stretching his legs and headed into the kitchen to see what was keeping Lorelai. Lane was nice enough, but it appeared to him that she was feeling uncomfortable with Luke, and Luke kept glaring at Lorelai and himself. He smiled at Lorelai, who was banging on the coffeemaker.
"You know, those usually work better if you don't beat them first," he offered.
"No, you have to do this first. Otherwise it just gurgles and spits out coffee grounds. You have to let it know whose boss."
"It sounds like you need a new coffeemaker," Tristan laughed.
"NO! Frank is a beloved member of this family!"
"Frank?"
"We name appliances," Lorelai explained.
"What's the stove's name?"
"Silly boy, we only name appliances we use."
"Ah, I see. I should have known, forgive me."
He stepped closer to her, between her and what was left of Frank. He brought his hand up to brush a stray curl out of her face. He brushed his lips against hers roughly, not properly kissing her, but making her want to throw him down against her bed. She looked into his blue eyes, which didn't do anything than increase that desire. He saw it in her eyes and pressed his lips against her in a better-formed kiss this time. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he pulled her hips against his. They enjoyed each other for a few minutes, until Lorelai realized that Lane and Luke were still in her living room. She pulled back and looked to the hallway into the living room.
"Maybe we should ask them to leave."
Lorelai nodded, not thinking it would be anything but necessary at this juncture.
"I'll be right back," she whispered, motioning for him to stay there.
She walked back into the living room, and smiled at the two. It obviously wasn't a love connection on either end, but they were now talking more comfortably.
"Lane, you should probably get home, it's almost ten."
"Oh, you're right! Mama will kill me if I'm not home then."
"Luke, do you think you could walk her home?"
"Just as long as you don't come near the house, we'll be fine."
Luke looked at Lane as she uttered her last comment and cringed. He so didn't want to know what that was about.
"Are you sure you'll be okay here?" he turned back to Lorelai.
"Oh, yeah, Tristan will be here. I'll see you guys later."
She looked insistent and rather flushed. Luke didn't like the looks of this at all. Not seeing where his protests would do much good, since he wasn't about to profess how he felt for this girl he barely knew, he just nodded indicating he would walk Lane home. They gathered their things and headed out of the house.
It was ten o'clock and Rory and Jess were still in the Chinese restaurant Jess had led them to hours before to celebrate. Rory thought he was being silly, but he had gone all out. They ordered one of everything, and ate more food than they'd ever eaten before. They were talking and laughing, oblivious to what time it was. Finally, the waitress brought out fortune cookies, a whole plate full of them.
"Aren't they just supposed to bring as many as there are people?"
"Now we can pick the fortune we like."
"Thus defeating the purpose."
"What's yours say?"
Rory cleared her throat and read aloud off the tiny slip of paper. " 'Suppose you can get what you want...' "
"What does that mean?"
"I guess it's supposed to make me think about what I want."
"So, what do you want, Rory?" Jess said lowering his voice. The look in his eyes made her very nervous all of a sudden.
"I want you to read yours," she said, recovering quickly.
"Fine, keep your pants on," he said, opening his cookie. "'Don't ask, don't say. Everything lies in silence'."
"Huh?"
"Mine makes sense."
"And what, pray tell does it mean?"
"It means some things are best left unsaid."
"Well, I hope you don't adopt that policy in your reviews."
"I'll do my best. But most books are best left for people to make up their own minds about them. Most authors encourage that, in fact."
"I know that. But that's why people are encouraged to discuss books, to open up their views and see new ideas."
"True."
"Maybe I've made a mistake, what with you and your famous one-syllable comebacks."
"Ah, it's too late, now you have to give me a chance."
"Just don't make me regret my decision."
Jess looked at Rory. He hadn't had this much fun in a long time. Hours had flown by, and he didn't want to have to take her home. He knew as detail oriented as she was, she was bound to realize how late it was soon.
"My turn again!" she turned her attention to the plate of cookies.
He smirked, turning his hand over in the air in encouragement for her to continue.
"'There is nothing permanent except change'."
"Ah, sage words."
"It's true."
"That's what I said!"
Rory gave him a look and nodded towards the plate. He picked up another cookie and snapped it open.
"'Fortune favors the brave'."
"Hmm, feeling brave?"
"I'm always brave."
"Hah!"
"What?"
"I remember the look on your face when Patty kissed you. That was definitely terror."
"Well, you'd be afraid too. Imagine if Kirk did the same thing to you."
Rory winced and laughed. She held her hands up in defeat. "You're right, you win!"
"Well, maybe next Christmas we'll both get more lucky than that."
"Maybe I'll just skip the mistletoe this year. I've seen enough kissing lately."
"Lorelai?"
"She and Tristan just seem to be glued together. I hope they get over this newness soon."
"Ah, to be young and in love," Jess remarked sardonically.
"Have you ever been in love?"
Jess looked at her in surprise. He didn't expect that question. They never really talked about personal stuff. Well, she did, but he never did. They usually kept the banter about books and music and work. He shifted a little in his chair.
"Uh, once. I think."
"You're not sure?"
"Well, I thought I was in love, but it didn't work out."
"Just because it doesn't work out, doesn't mean it isn't real," Rory said softly.
"You've been in love, right?"
Rory nodded. "Not that it worked out, either."
"Just once?"
"Just once."
"Do you still love him?"
"Hey, I thought I was asking the questions!"
"Do you?"
"I still love him, but I'm not in love with him."
Jess nodded. He could see that, since they shared a child. At least, he assumed she was talking about Lorelai's dad. Rory didn't struck him to be the one night stand kind of gal, especially when she was younger.
"So, what about you?"
"What about me?"
"What happened with this girl you loved?"
"Pass."
"Jess," she sighed.
"She ran off with my best friend."
"You're kidding?"
"Sadly, no."
"I'm sorry, that's horrible."
"We were all young. It's not a big deal."
Rory nodded, looking at her watch.
"Oh, we should go! It's almost 11!"
"Rory, I'm sure it's fine."
"Jess, I can't just stay out all night, when Lorelai has Tristan over."
"Aren't Lane and Luke there, too?"
"Yeah."
"So, quit worrying. Read another one," he prompted. She gave a small smile and reached for another cookie.
Back at the Gilmore house, all hell broke loose once Lane and Luke left. Lorelai and Tristan had gone into her bedroom, and began not so innocently making out on her bed. She lay underneath him, as he rested his weight on his elbows. This wasn't the first time she had found herself in this situation; they had been escalating their make out sessions all week. He moved his hand to the hem of her shirt and her breathing stopped momentarily. He looked into her eyes and she looked away for a moment.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm okay," she said, sitting up a little forcing him to lean up a little too.
"Are you worried about your mom coming home?"
"Sort of. I mean, she should be here by now, but I think we should probably talk about this."
"This?"
"Whatever is going on with us."
"Ah."
"Yeah."
"So, what is going on with us?"
"I don't know. We're ... dating?"
"Yes, I think that's safe to say."
"Are you dating anyone else?"
"No. Are you?"
Lorelai shook her head. "Do you want to?"
"Date anyone else?"
"Yeah."
"No. You?"
"Nope."
"So, we're clear on that."
"Crystal."
"So is there anything else?"
"Well, there's this," she said with a smile.
"This?" he asked knowingly.
"You know, the making out, the ..."
"I know."
"Thoughts?"
"I enjoy it. Thoroughly."
"Me too."
She looked at him through thick lashes and resumed her previous position. He moved over her again and moved his hand back to the hem of her shirt. She giggled as his hand slid up her stomach, tickling her. The sensation of tickling didn't register anymore as his lips parted, and he licked her bottom lip, causing her to respond in kind. She moved her hands to his shirt, trying to remove it from his person. He stopped his roaming hands to help her in her efforts when he realized what she was going after. He was rewarded for his cooperation as she moved her hands over his stomach, feeling the defined muscles she found there. Soon they were reaching points of frustration, taking it out on each other with their kisses. Their tongues dueled, as they fought for dominance. Just before anything could be taken any farther, the phone rang, bringing them back to reality rather quickly. Lorelai reached out for the phone, noting that the clock read 11:30pm.
"Hello?"
"Lorelai? I'm sorry, were you in bed?"
"Uh, yeah, I'm in bed."
"Jess and I are just now leaving the city. I didn't want you to worry."
"Thanks, mom."
"I'll be home in an hour and a half or so."
"Okay. I'll probably just see you in the morning, then."
"Alright. Night, sweetie."
"Night."
Lorelai hung up the phone and smiled at Tristan devilishly.
"So, that was your mom?"
"Yep. We have about an hour."
"Huh," he said, moving back over her.