A/N-Thanks SOOO much for the reviews, they're great. Forewarning: I may not update as frequently as I'd like because of school (yes, I'm a full-time highschool student, sorry!). Keep them coming!

xxx

Jess woke up Tuesday morning the following week with Luke staring at him like an idiot. He grimaced and reflexively drew the covers higher.

"Can I help you?" he grumbled.

"No, not really," Luke said, now smiling uncontrollably. They sat there for a few more seconds.

"Seriously?" Jess said as he whipped back the covers and threw his legs over the side of the bed to pull on a pair of pants. "It's early as all hell, and since this is Hell, I assume that this is commonplace for you. However, it's a Tuesday, I'm tired, and I don't need to be at school for almost two hours. Now, again, can I help you?"

"Honor roll?" Luke asked, laughing now.

"Jesus," Jess said, stomping into the next room, snatching up the letter from the table. "To whom it may concern," Jess started, under his breath. "It has come to our attention that the Star's Hollow High School student at this address has been admitted as a member of our Honor Roll, Congratulations." Jess stood and looked at the letter for a minute. To him, the letter meant little to nothing. And easier way to get into a college he didn't want to attend, a way to make the town realize that he wasn't just good for corruption.

A way to get closer to Rory. And also importantly, and assured stay in Star's Hollow until he could convince someone to leave with him.

"I am so calling your mother," Luke said as he laughed still at Jess. Jess flung the letter onto the table and stalked past Luke towards the bathroom.

"I'm showering. If you call my mother, I'm SO giving Lorelai the whole pot of coffee," Jess said, standing in the doorway of the bathroom.

Luke shrugged. "My funeral is your funeral."

xxx

"Honor roll? Luke, it's too early for jokes," Lorelai said as she watched the coffeemaker drip.

"Why would I kid about Jess doing something right?" Luke wanted to know.

"Uh, I don't know Luke. Because he doesn't?" Lorelai said, making sure Rory wasn't coming into the room. She could hear the shower upstairs running so she knew she was in the clear for a few more minutes.

"I swear, Jess Mariano made Star's Hollow High School's honor roll," Luke said as he stuck it to the refrigerator, knowing it would strike a nerve. Regardless of the displeasure that it would cause Jess, Luke was finally starting to feel like he was doing something right with this kid.

Lorelai narrowed her eyes in a flirty attitude that was lost on Luke's part. "I want proof, or I want pancakes," she said in confidant mode.

"I could show you the letter."

"How do I know it's not a fake?"

"Because I don't have time to lie about Jess's academics."

"But you have a typewriter.

"Do you seriously want pancakes this bad?"

"I want to believe you so bad I'm willing to use your own pancakes as leverage against you," Lorelai said as she watched Rory walk into the kitchen, give a finger wave, and walk into her room to change for school.

Luke was silent for a few seconds. "Have you ever heard of schizophrenia?" Luke asked as he hung up the phone. Lorelai replaced the phone on the table, unfazed by Luke's remark. He usually told her she needed to be committed a few times a week.

"Mom!" Rory called from her room.

"Yes?"

"How long has it been since you've done laundry?" Lorelai did some quick tabulation in her head.

"Do you really want to know the answer to that question?"

"Mom!" she exclaimed as she walked out, holding five empty hangers. "I have NO Chilton clothes!"

"Oooh, that laundry," Lorelai said as she poured coffee into her mug. Just enough to suffice until she could harangue Luke into giving her coffee. "I picked them up yesterday, but you were studying or something so I put them in the coat closet."

Rory stared at her mother for a moment and then blinked. "You put my Chilton uniforms in the coat closet?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Wait, we have a coat closet?" Rory said with a furrowed brow.

"I guess. It's kind of icky and cold in there; I'd get them before the boogey man does," Lorelai said mockingly.

"Mom! I can't wear boogey man clothes!" Rory said as she ran into the foyer, holding her towel tight and flung open the first door that she thought could pass for a coat closet.

"Ewww," Rory said as she walked back into the kitchen, holding them out, far away from her on the ends of her fingers. "They smell!"

Lorelai stood up to inspect them. After a quick whiff, she got out the Febreze and handed it to her.

"Spray 'em."

xxx

Rory returned home from school that day and went straight to the diner, sure to avoid Michel's watchful eyes at the Inn.

"Rory Gilmore," Taylor said as he came across town square in her direction. Rory contemplated ducking her head and pretending that he wasn't there. But she knew that she would end up getting more grief if she avoided him and he snuck up on her later.

"Hi Taylor," she said, barely muffling a sigh as she turned to see him.

"Dean said something about a breakup…" Taylor started, wringing his hands.

"Taylor, you were at the dance marathon," Rory said as she tilted her head, inquiringly.

"Well I think we all can agree that I was a little out of my element," Taylor said, snapping a little.

"Yes, I agree. Anyway, Dean and I aren't exactly together anymore."

"That's terrible. What happened?"

"We didn't like each other anymore," Rory pointed out.

"What a shame. Dean has just been devastated these past few days. I hope you're doing better than he's been," Taylor said in prepackaged sympathy.

"I have," Rory responded, purposefully cryptic.

"I can't imagine why," Taylor began. "It must've been a terrible shock, losing a boy after so long. Why, there simply isn't a way to have gotten over the shock already-," Taylor rambled.

"I'm with Jess now, Taylor! That's why we split up! Jesus Christ in heaven you ask a lot of questions!" Rory exclaimed. Taylor paled at her remarks.

"Young lady!"

"I'm sorry Taylor. I have to be going. I told my mom I'd meet her at Luke's after school. Have a nice day," Rory said insincerely as she stalked off toward the diner.

Upon entering the door, Luke wrapped her in a huge hug.

"Glad to see you too Luke," she said as she struggled a little for air.

"You almost made Taylor cry! I can't believe it! Do you know how long I've been trying to do that for? I've been trying to make Taylor that upset since God was a boy! How'd you do it? I need to know all the details so I can really make his life as miserable as he says it is," Luke said, a little hyperactive.

"I told him that I was with Jess and that he asked too many questions."

"That's it? I don't believe it. I've told him far worse things and he's done nothing short of roll his eyes and make a comment about my attire of the day," Luke said, a little taken aback.

"You've desensitized him," Jess said as he set a cup of coffee in Rory's spot at the counter and she took it as permission to take a seat.

"Then there's hope for the next generation,' Luke said as he stalked back into the kitchen. Jess was glad for the sliver of privacy and he replaced the pot of coffee back on the brewer, out of Rory's reach.

"I think almost making Taylor cry deserves something more than a cup of amazing coffee," Rory said, smirking wildly.

Jess leaned across the counter in response and picked up her free hand, resting it gently, palm up, in his. She felt the rougher contours of his palm against the small back of her own. She saw the dexterity in them without the movement, their kindness showing regardless of their owner. The softness of them was unreal, deeper than skin, deeper than she could've imagined it. Jess was this unreal being. So rough to touch without actually feeling. So soft once you took the moment to actually feel him. 'Somehow I don't think toying with the idea of feeling Jess Mariano is a musing you ought to share,' she thought as she continued to unconsciously stare at their hands.

He looked up at her once he was sure that he held her, captivated by his next move. This would be slow, methodical, a reintroduction. He could change. He already had changed. Who in the history of his family had thought they would see Mariano on the Honor Society list? Nobody. Not a single one of them had a shred of faith in them for Jess.

Which is why he had her. She held that single shred of overbearing conviction.

And he loved it.

He took his other hand and cradled her elbow, his thumb resting in the crook of it gently. Rory had a quick lapse in her breathing as she looked down a little further to see what he was doing. His touch was light and reassuring, indefinitely present.

Jess took a moment to recalculate what he was going to do. His mind was reeling. He was touching her with two hands. It was just too absurd. The angel girl, Star's Hollow's finest. And he held her here with his own two hands.

Dragging his mind back to the present situation, he gently dragged his hand down her arm, his thumb staying inside, gently gliding across her impossibly soft skin. When he came to her wrist, Rory suppressed gasping, his touch electrifying her with every agonizing second.

When his thumb finally reached her palm, her hand reflexively closed around it, and embarrassed, she let it fall open again. And at the moment, her heart followed suit, and opened up the very same way.

Jess never thought he'd see straight again.

A/N: I know, very fluffy. But I was feeling deprived, I didn't get to see my wonderful boyfriend today and I needed a little bit of fluff. Like I said, sorry it's taken so long to update, I'll try and update a little more often. I got blocked. Please R/R!