A/N – Thank you so much for your reviews! It is more encouraging to me than you can imagine when people review!

It was 6:30 and Rory was lying on the couch alone in her PJ's, having finished her homework, watching Edward Scissorhands. She'd already found, and read and scowled, at the note from Lorelei, explaining that she had to work really late and probably wouldn't be home till after midnight. The note had also said, on the other side, that Lorelei had asked Luke to send someone round to drop off a burger or something. But, Rory not being her usual thorough self, had failed to notice it, and had proceeded to sink into extremely casual attire. The one person in the world that Rory longed for right now, was her best friend, her mom.

It was only the very beginning of the movie, but she was already drifting off into a light snooze, where she could still hear the movie in the background. The frosty, tingly music made her shiver…but then she was roughly jolted awake by the sound of the doorbell.

Rory's POV

No, no, no, no, no!

Why is there someone at the door…I hate people!

My God, look at me, I am not fit to be witnessed by any other living being, the way I look right now!

Rory got up swiftly and crept to the door, with an anxious look on her face. Her hair had been ruffled so much, that any feeble attempt to smooth it down was in vain. It tangled around her wildly and Rory cursed to herself.

"Who is it?" Rory cried out accusingly.

"It's me."

Rory squealed and then froze, breathing uncontrollably. She looked down frantically at her scruffy penguin Pyjamas and wished with all her tired, weary and craggy might, that this were not happening. It felt like her mind was shutting down and she was beginning to malfunction. She was absolutely helpless.

Rory's POV

Aaaarh! What am I going to do?

What the hell is he doing here? Of all the people it could have been…

"Who sent you?"

" Luke did…Rory…are you all right?"

"Fine." She burst out in a hurry before he'd even finished the question. She hadn't realised it until now, but she'd been rubbing her scalp, messing up her hair even more.

"Then why is the door still closed?"

" Um…because it doesn't want to let you in…" Rory stuttered. What am I saying?

"Really? I'm shocked…because I've never had a problem with your door before. It usually opens to reveal a beaming face. " Jess replied, faking seriousness. Rory leant with her back against the door and rolled her eyes, and on the other side, Jess did the same.

"You're laughing at me,"

"I never laugh at you!"

"You always laugh at me…that is if you're not teasing me, mocking me, poking fun at me, generally being an asshole to me, or a clever combination of all of those…"

On the other side of the door, Jess rubbed his forehead in frustration, as he struggled for the words swarming through his mind, to emerge from his mouth.

"Look, Rory…"

"Why are you here?" Rory asked impatiently.

"To make amends with your door of course…"

"Jess, I'm not in the mood…"

"…And to bring you some food from Luke's because I know that Lorelei isn't in…"

"…I've had a really crappy day…"

"…Also, to return something that you dropped today and…"

"…I really don't have time to…"

"…And to say that I'm sorry."

Silence.

Rory, still breathing heavily, smiled to herself. "And what exactly are you sorry for?" She asked innocently.

Now Jess smiled to himself. Rory wanted him to do this the hard way.

"I'm sorry for…well…you know right?"

"You know Jess, I don't think I do know… you know?" This was awkward for Rory too. She had no idea how to act, or what to say, whether to be mad at him, or to just forget about it.

"Oh Rory, come on…this is stupid…I can't apologise to a door!"

"I thought we decided that it was me you were meant to be apologising to, not my door…"

"No…I meant you…"

They were both rambling now, when Jess bit the bullet and came out with, "Why won't you let me in?"

Rory's mind was wildly conjuring up excuses, but in the end they all sounded just as ridiculous and somewhat humiliating as the actual one.

"Um…because…I'm not decent."

Jess silently chuckled to himself and smiled broadly.

"Stop smiling!" Rory exclaimed indignantly.

"Rory, I can assure you that I'm not smiling… I mean, this is a very serious matter………………are you naked!"

"NO!"

"I'm afraid I can't just take your word for it…"

"My god Jess, did I ever mention to you how annoying you are?"

"Did I ever mention to you how stubborn you are?"

"Ok, ok! Fine, you can come in, hand over the food, making no sarcastic, jeering, offensive comments, and then leave….please."

Rory reluctantly stood back from the door, awaiting Jess' reaction at her somewhat "homely" apparel. Jess swung open the door, holding a brown paper bag behind his back. There was silence for a few seconds, as Jess took in her appearance, his eyes flickering curiously up and down her frame. Rory shivered as his eyes fluttered over her body, almost as if she could feel him. She didn't dare to look into his eyes for the sheer embarrassment that she was feeling.

"Huh….……Very sexy…"

Rory looked up into his soft brown eyes and saw with some relief that although he was highly amused, it was not in a cruel way. He was laughing, but warmly.

Rory sighed and looked at him sternly.

"…I mean the hair is just…wow… so untamed…."

Rory moved closer to him to reach for the paper bag behind his back and she could feel his breath tickling her neck as she gently prised the bag out of his hands, while he was talking.

Jess adored the smooth feel of her small delicate hands as they tickled his skin. When she had the bag, she was about to let go of his wrists, when he surprised her by stopping her.

He held on to her wrists and gently rubbed small circles along the pulse of them. Although it was cliché to admit, Rory felt weak at the knees as their eyes bored into each other.

It was all so quick, that before Rory could gather her thoughts, Jess had dropped her hands and was looking away and scratching his neck.

Rory coloured slightly, and when Jess looked back at her and noticed this, he smirked.

That brief tender moment was over, and both of them had to be resolute, firm. They didn't belong to each other. They couldn't just melt into one another like they secretly wanted. There were so many other people to think about…

"Do you know what time it is Rory?"

"Yep, time for you to leave!" Rory began to gently shove Jess out of the door.

"Oh, hang on, I almost forgot," Jess took a book out of his pocket and handed it to Rory, "You dropped this…Hemmingway…I mean, I know you're a fan!"

Jess smirked at Rory and she just looked confused and awkward, beginning to get annoyed with his mocking tone again.

Rory watched him as he walked away.

Jess knew that she was watching him as he walked away.

He called back, "By the way…nice penguins!"

And he didn't even need to turn around to look at her, because he could practically feel her indignant blush.

A/N – I hope you liked it! Please review!