AN: Heh, I bet you are all going to HATE me.
Disclaimer: I don't own GG, how many freakin times do I have to say it!
XXXXXXXXXX
Jess pulled out the small box and opened it, his gaze never leaving her eyes. "Rory, will you…"
Rory stared at the box, her mouth agape. There was a key inside, not a key to a locket, but a pink, uncut key to a door. It was strapped in with silver ribbon, but it was still out of place in the velvet jewelry box. She looked up into his eyes and he finished his question, "move in with me?"
Rory gawked at him. She couldn't find any words, which seemed to be happening to her a lot recently. After a short silence, she felt her head nod, "Yes." Jess closed the box, dropped it on their laps and leaned in to hug her. "You almost gave me a heart attack," she said, still slightly shell-shocked.
Jess laughed and pulled back, "I know, you should've seen the look on your face! I wish I had a camera!" He winced when she playfully hit him on the shoulder. "I'm sorry; I just wanted to make it special…"
"Don't apologize," Rory said, "The next time you give me a small velvet box and ask me an important question, I better not be wearing sweats." She leaned back into the couch, her heart still pounding from his 'proposal'.
Jess scooted closer to her and she leaned her head on his shoulder. "Next time?" He asked and chuckled. "What makes you think there's going to be a next time?"
"Not now Mariano," Rory elbowed him in the side. "I'm still recovering. Recovery time is not a time for jokes."
"Is it time to talk about what's going to happen?"
Rory thought about it for a while before answering, "After the movie. Let's just wait until then?"
"Okay," Jess agreed and squeezed her close. He used his feet to get the remote since he didn't want either of them to move. Risky Business came on the screen when he pressed play, submitting them into a world of crazy teens, reintroducing them to a time where Tom Cruise wasn't crazy.
Jess focused most of his attention to Rory, who was still curled up against him. Inside he had a hoot about the Yale garb they were both wearing. He was so excited about living with her, somewhere, anywhere…yet it made it even better that it was going to be at Yale. He had three years to get here, and it was worth it.
Rory looked at the TV intently, although she hadn't seen the movie before, she couldn't have told you what had happened. Jess's arm was tight around her, holding her against his body. He was warm; his chest moved with his breath, she could feel his heartbeat. She was happy. She loved not only him, but also being with him. He made her feel special, and not short-bus special. She felt loved.
The movie ended before either of them realized it. They saw the white text of the credits scroll by and both were reluctant to move. Jess wanted to hold her forever, Rory wanted to be held forever. "The movie's over," Jess finally said.
Rory nodded, but the silence continued. The DVD had finally returned to the main screen before she made an attempt to speak. "Where?"
"I don't know yet," he said while gently stroking her hand. "That's why the key's uncut."
"And pink," she giggled, lightening the mood. Rory took her head away from his body and turned to look at him. "This is one of those times I want to see those beautiful brown eyes."
A blush started to creep into Jess's cheeks, but he couldn't help it. He'd have to get used to compliments soon, because Rory could shell them out like a pro. "You know, we might want to clean up before we talk. The food is going to go bad soon." He motioned to the table of untouched takeout and junk food.
Rory grudgingly stood up and picked up some of the Chinese packages. "Well I'm not doing it alone," she joked, referring to the fact that he had just watched her stand up and bend over. "Come on."
"It was my idea in the first place, don't pretend that it wasn't," he said as he got up and picked up more of the containers. Jess followed her to the fridge, wishing she wasn't wearing such loose fitting sweats.
"I know what you're thinking," she said and he blushed again.
They finished putting away all of the food and Rory headed back to the couch. "No, let's go to your room," Jess recommended.
"We have to talk though," Rory whined. "That's not talking."
Jess laughed, "Paris told us to get a room, so we are going to. Plus, you do too talk!"
It was Rory's turn to blush as he headed into her room. "That was so…"
"Right?" Jess finished, laying on the bed. She was standing in the doorway, illuminated from behind. "Come on, the bed's comfy."
Rory shook her head, "I know it is – it's my bed!" she walked over to the side of the bed. "It's just that…"
"You can't be uncomfortable with me in bed, you weren't earlier," he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
"It's not that, you perv. You're on my side!"
Jess laughed again and moved over to the other side. "Are we okay now?"
Rory smiled and leaned against him again. "Uh huh…"
"I thought you wanted to look at me while we talked,"
Rory ignored him and curled up to him tighter. "But this is so much more comfortable."
"Okay…So you asked where,"
"And you said you didn't know."
"I don't know," Jess said and started to play with her hair. "I wanted you to help in that process."
"I do know more about the area," Rory confirmed. "And I've been looking at some places for me and Paris to live."
"Paris?" Jess said, not happy at the thought of living with the commanding woman.
"Yeah, I thought about it during the movie…" Rory explained. "Doyle and Paris have been getting pretty serious. I'm going to suggest that they live together so that I don't have to feel guilty about leaving her all alone."
Jess sighed in relief. "So have you found anywhere good?"
"We can look at them later,"
"I only have a few days to find somewhere, then I have to go back to the Hollow. I promised Luke I'd work full time until I officially moved."
"We'll need the money," Rory said, saddened that he had to leave. "Rent's expensive here."
"Lucky for me, I should be getting financial aid," Jess said happily, trying to lift her spirits. "The Renaissance Fair doesn't produce much money for Liz, and Jimmy's a bum, so the government takes pity on me. They did for SUNY. I just want to help Luke out, so he doesn't worry about me up here."
"I understand,"
"Plus, we'll be going back a lot, and we want to be on good terms with everyone in that crazy town,"
Rory smiled, "Do you think we'll still be the center of controversy by next weekend?"
"Naw, Kirk will have done something crazy by then,"
"Good ol' Kirk," Rory said groggily.
"Ror?"
Rory murmured, snuggling up against him.
"I love you," Jess said and pulled the covers up over them. He continued playing with her hair, enjoying the small movements she made in her sleep.
Finally, he thought, we're going to be together.
XXXXXXXXX
Rory woke up in a tangled mess of blankets and Jess. The sun was shining through the window and her alarm was going off on her nightstand. It was the beep, beep, beep that took her out of a heavenly sleep. She had fallen asleep sometime while talking to Jess – she felt bad but was sure he understood.
The room was quiet after she detangled her body from his and turned off the alarm. It wasn't early by a normal person's standards, but it was for her. She ignored the mirror on her way to the common room for coffee.
Paris was sitting on the couch, holding the box from last night. "Well," she said when Rory entered, looking completely disheveled. "Were you going to tell me?"
"Paris," Rory said on her way to the coffee pot. "It's not what you think. Open it." She walked over to the couch, sipping her gracious caffeine fix. "See?" she said when Paris opened the box to reveal the uncut key.
"What is this?" she asked, confused.
"We're going to live together. He decided to ask me by giving me a heart attack,"
"Oh," Paris said, snapping the box shut and returning it to the coffee table.
"Paris, we've been living together for two and a half years… I know you're probably pretty sick of me,"
"Stop trying to make me not want to live with you. I'm going to get stuck with some freshman who won't shower, doesn't read, and probably watches MTV,"
"Or…"
"What?"
"You've been with Doyle for a while," Rory hinted. "Maybe?"
"I don't think so," Paris said quietly.
"Have you thought about it before?"
"No," she admitted.
"Do you think you could be ready for it?"
"Obviously not as much as you," Paris said, jealous. "I'll think about it."
"If not, remember," Rory said, getting up and walking back to her door, "You can always turn the freshman into your slave." She saw Paris smile before she closed her bedroom door quietly behind her.
"Did I hear Rory Gilmore say I could turn her into my slave?" Jess asked, sitting up in the bed. "I think I like that idea."
Rory wiggled her finger at him and leaned against the door drinking her coffee. "No, you didn't. I think I just got Paris' OK on moving in with you."
"Well now that we have the Godfather's permission, all we have to do is find somewhere,"
"After class," she walked over to him and handed him the rest of her coffee. "I have to make up for not being there Friday." Rory went to her closet and took out a pair of black pants and a button down top.
Jess relaxed on the bed and drank the rest of the coffee. "Why don't you give me the addresses you have and I'll find a few others while you're in class?"
"They're in a file on my computer, have at it," she said as she packed up her notes and books. Rory changed in front of him, not embarrassed anymore. She brushed her hair and put on a bit of makeup. "Why don't you meet me at the Yale Daily News office at two? Bring my laptop, and you can watch me work for a while before we head out."
Jess nodded, he wanted to see the office where Rory spent a lot of her time. "I'll be there."
"I love you," Rory called out as she was leaving her dorm – causing Paris to gag and Jess to grin with delight.
XXXXXXXXXX
Oh I just opened myself up to a whole bunch of possibilities! Yay!
We probably won't see Stars Hollow for a while (just phone stuff), because I have Yale things to take care of. Sorry to everyone who thought they were going to get engaged (silly!). It's wayyy too early for that, he JUST came back! Many people did guess it right though, so I don't feel too bad. :D
I love the reviews, you guys gave me twice as much as I asked for yesterday! I'm so happy I took a break from studying to do this, but unfortunately I must resume my learnin' or I fail. Stupid being a good student, this shit is hard.
Please review again, I'd like to get to 160 (shouldn't be hard, since I'm at 152 right now). Have a good day/night/whatever, hope your weekend and next week aren't going to be as shitty as mine!
