Disclaimer: Forgot this before. I don't own the show...I may distort Rory's character, but not like that...that would be ASP.

AN: Big thanks to Michelle for assuring me this wasn't complete crap. And thanks to everyone who reviewed! I don't know if this will be my normal updating speed...probably not, but reviews encourage me! hint, hint

Chapter 2-- She's gonna break

Once again, Jess had been dragged along to a random party thrown by some faceless person. He didn't know why he agreed to these things, probably just starved for entertainment.

No, that couldn't be it. He knew the routine; drink, nail some girl who was drunker than you, brag about it all later. Frankly, he'd much rather stay home, but his mom had her boyfriend over. (At least, he assumed it was her boyfriend, but you can't always tell with these things.) He certainly didn't want to stick around for that. It was bad enough that Lizzie would try to give him details later.

While conducting a once-over of the scene before him, he spotted a girl trying to make eye contact from across the room. She was pretty, straight brown hair falling around her shoulders, pale skin a striking contrast to the obvious tanning bed visitors around her. She was made up, but not to the extreme extent of most girls he was used to. There was something different, though. The forced way her eyes were gazing, trying disinterestedly to look "flirty", the impassive way her hand curled around her beer bottle.

She intrigued him.

It wasn't often that he came across a girl who didn't give off the desperate whore vibe. Sad, yet sickeningly true.

He stood up and walked towards her. He knew she saw him, she had broken the gaze they had held. her job was done, he could take over now.

She was prettier close up. Her eyes were a striking blue, the features on her face delicate.

"Jess," he introduced, and she looked back into his eyes.

"Rory," she said softly, almost halfheartedly.

"Shall we?" he held out his hand, half smirking. She gave a weak smile and took his hand.

Her hands were small, he noticed. And soft.

Why he was taking mental notes on some random girl's hands was beyond him.

They walked side by side off to an empty room. Rory slipped out of his hand and gently sat on the bed. She began to stare blankly at the wall ahead of her, seemingly not realizing that she was doing so. Jess stood at the doorway watching her for a moment before quietly sitting next to her.

"Quiet in here," he remarked, ironically trying to break the silence.

"Yeah. Music was giving me a headache. Too loud." He nodded.

Suddenly, she turned towards him, grabbing his hands with her own and pulling them behind her waist. Once she had drawn herself closer, she placed her lips on his, diving past any formalities. He welcomed her mouth on top of his, giving into the kiss. She pushed herself back, laying on the bed and bring him down on top of her. He moved over her, kissing her neck and playing with the hem of her shirt as she fiddled with his waistband.

"Damn it," she swore quietly. "I can't get it undone." He moved a hand down, undoing them for her. She kissed him again and he lifted up her shirt. As he began to undo her bra, Rory went in to panic mode. This wasn't right, she couldn't do this, couldn't let herself sleep with another faceless guy whose name she wouldn't remember in the morning. They should...talk first! Know each other better!

She began wishing she had thought about these things a year ago, before she started this vicious cycle.

"Shit!" She screamed, at nobody in particular, just her thoughts. Jess's hand stopped mid-stroke down her back.

She pulled away from him, balling herself up on the corner of the bed. He stayed away, unsure of what was going on, or what he should do. then he noticed her shoulders shaking ever-so slightly Was she...crying?

Cautiously, he moved closer, reaching out his hand so his fingertips gently touched her shoulder. Now that he was closer, he could see she was breathing heavily, trying to keep herself from hysterics. Her eyes were squezzed shut, lines of water framing them, stray droplets streaking across her pale cheeks. Hesitantly, he wiped the back of his hand across her cheek to brush off the tears.

"R...Rory?" He didn't know how to deal with crying girls. It was like they were broken, the cut edges oh-so fragile. If you brushed them too hard, they'd break further, but touch too gently, and they'd never heal.

He didn't even know her. The worry lumped in his throat didn't even make sense. He hoped he hadn't hurt her.

Tear-filled blue eyes looked up at him. She sat up a bit, and he placed his arm around the small of her back to support her.

He heard take a deep breath, and suddenly, felt the weight of her head laying against his shoulder. She turned her body towards him, pressing herself against his chest.

Confused, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her.

Feeling her like this, her vulnerability seeping out, her too soft hair grazing his neck, her porcelian limbs heaped against him, made him realize what a fragile girl he held.

Frankly, it scared him.

He didn't even know her.

ooooooooo

Rory glanced up at the man holding her. He ? Why would he be concerned? Wasn't she just some random party girl as much as he was just some random party guy?

She wasn't so sure anymore. The way he looked at her...nobody had looked at her like that in the longest time.

And his arms...she felt warmer and safer cradled in them than she had felt in years.

She felt like...dare she say it? Like...she belonged there.

She tried to shrug off the feeling. She had spent so many years building up walls, closing herself off from the world. Then again, maybe it wasn't that good of a thing to do. Wasn't she crying in some stranger's arms?

Stranger.

For some reason, she couldn't place that word with... Jess. Yes, that was his name. Jess.

Good name. Not common, makes it harder to flow into the seas of Josh, Matt, and Ryans.

She wouldn't want him to get lost in the masses.

After all, he was holding her, at least pretending that he cared. Which was more than she could say for any Josh, Matt, or Ryan.

She looked up at him again, locking his eyes with her own.

"Can you g-get me out of here?"

He nodded, pushing her up so he could lead her out of the room. Instinctivly, he wrapped his arm around her, pressing her back into him protectively.

It felt right.

More right than two strangers' bodies should feel so close to each other after such a short amount of time.

Then again, the word stranger didn't quite fit.