`*~ These Are Days ~*`

Author: Genevah

Rating: R

Pairing: Rory/Jess

Disclaimer: I claim to own nothing.

Summary: Tweaked 'Teach Me Tonight' to my own likings. *Warning. Insane amounts of fluff o'nutters in this story… please read with caution* Oh… and it's definitely a Literati, anything else would be uncivilized!

A/N: I've revised some chapters… just makes me feel better. They're subtle changes, mostly in the writing, not necessarily the storyline.

"Rory… Rory…," He pleaded struggling to hold in his laugh. He wanted her to stop hiding behind her hands.

"I hate you." She mumbled, hands still covering her face. This was a monumental embarrassment, one that she would haunt her for the rest of her life, one that she could add to her ever-growing list of monumental embarrassments. This was up there with the time that she ran around the house naked. She was six years old at the time and her mom and Luke walked in the house and saw little Rory running up the stairs… butt-naked. She was completely mortified. She couldn't step foot in the diner for almost a month. To this day, she still can't figure out what possessed her to do such a thing. So yeah… this moment would constitute a place on her list. It was truly embarrassing.

He walked up to her. "Come on Rory. Don't be embarrassed… I didn't see a thing," he said trying to stifle a laugh.

She peeked at him through her opened fingers and when saw the big fat smirk plastered on his face she closed her fingers again. "You are such a bad liar… I soo loathe you right now."

"You do not."

"Yes. I do." She wailed.

"You could never hate me."

"I can too… I'm hating you right now aren't I?"

He attempted to remove her hands away from her face and when he did she shut her eyes so she didn't have to look at him. Rory was twenty different shades of red and he amazed himself at how much this appealed to him and the feelings of wanting to kiss her swarmed his mind. He wet his lips unconsciously when he saw how pink hers were. They looked ripe enough for kissing - very pouty.

"Rory, would you open your eyes."

"No." She said in a little girl way.

"Please." No response. He tried a new tactic. He started to tickle her.

"Hey! Stop!" She ran behind her bed to get away from him, holding Colonel Clucker in front of her for protection. "Okay, I'm finished being embarrassed."

"Ha ha, I knew that would work."

She walked passed him to her dresser. "I despise you," she scoffed finding some navy sweat pants and a gray baby-tee.

"Hey, I was just an innocent bystander enjoying a show." He defended.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "I thought you said you didn't see a thing?" She questioned, she knew deep down that he lied.

"Ok… so I lied… it was a great show by the way." He teased.

"Go home."

"What… alright I'll stop. I'm sorry… will you forgive me?" He asked, his crooked lips pouting sweetly at her.

"That face is not going to work this time."

"Please Rory, can I stay?" He asked batting his eyes at her, his pout perfected. "I promise I'll be good for the rest of the night."

"Fine, you can stay! But you better be good." She playfully narrowed her eyes at him when she passed him on her way to the bathroom. He followed.

"What do you think you're doing?" She asked suspiciously, stopping in mid stride.

"I didn't want to miss the next show." He said faking seriousness leaning against the entrance of the bathroom.

"Jess!"

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Geeze, don't get you're panties in a bunch."

She glared at him. "Guess what we're having for dinner?"

He knew it was coming.

"Indian food," and with that said she slammed the door in his face.

"Ah, come on Rory. You specifically told me we could have Thai tonight."

"I lied."

He shook his head and rolled his eyes.

Ya gotta love this girl. She's so easily rattled and he liked baiting her. He remembered the look on her face at the comment he made. Priceless. He loved it.

He waited for her to come out leaning sideways against the wall with his arms folded. She opened the door and as she walked out she jumped at seeing Jess still there.

"God!" She shrieked hitting him playfully on his arm.

"Sorry." He apologized, holding his hands up, walking into the bathroom still facing her. "Was waiting for the bathroom." He said nonchanlantly but was laughing on the inside.

"I hate you." She scrunched her face at him.

He closed the door and said loudly, "you don't hate me."

She shook her head. Nope. I sure don't. She loved the way he played around with her.

'**~// A Little While Later \\~**'

They finished up their dinner and went into the living room to watch the movie. Jess popped the movie into the dvd player while Rory laid down- hogging the whole couch.

"Reeally funny Rory," he snickered at her when he turned around and saw her current position.

"What?" She said innocently, giving him her doe eyes.

He went over to the couch, lifted her feet up and seated himself under them. The movie started.

"Aw… I've always wanted to rent this movie." She looked over at him. "I didn't know you were into anime."

"I'm not actually, but I heard great things about Princess Mononoke."

"Yeah, I love Claire Danes. I was so depressed when they canceled My So Called Life."

"Can't say that I've seen that." He stated.

"Great show."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yup, it was one of the first teen dramas that were mildly believable. The storylines weren't too lame and the characters weren't sickeningly beautiful."

"Huh."

"It also helped market the whole flannel fashion of the 90's."

"I'm sure Luke was ecstatic."

They continued to watch the movie.

"Hey, can I ask you something?" Jess asked mischievously.

"What?"

"Are you… ticklish?"

"No." She tried to lied, but he could tell. She saw that he didn't believe her and tried to move her feet away, but it was too late. He beat her to it and grabbed her by the ankles and tickled her feet.

"Aahh! Stop it!" She screamed through her laughs. She wiggled around as he moved up over her and started tickling her on her sides. She desperately tried to cover herself with her arms. But Jess saw every opportunity and tickled it. "Jess! Pleease!" She laughed struggling to breath. He let up a little.

"Only if you tell me you don't hate me." He laughed.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "I hate you!" She dared and he began tickling her again. "Aaahh! Ok, ok, ok!" He let up again, waiting for her to say it. "I don't hate you!"

"That wasn't believable Rory." He sang.

"I don't hate you Jess."

There was something different in her eyes. He couldn't explain it. He stopped and sat over her, putting most of his weight on his knees, trying not to crush her. They were both silent, hearts pounding from all the laughing and squirming. He realized his current position and immediately got off of her.

"We should…" He cleared his throat. "… watch the movie." Jess said trying to ignore that suggestive position.

"Yeah… we should." She agreed, sitting up, straightening her clothes.

'**~// Hours Later \\~**'

Lorelai opened the door and was overcome by a powerful smell. "Aah… Indian food."

It was about one thirty in the morning when she walked in and noticed Rory and Jess asleep on the couch. Jess was in the utmost uncomfortable sitting position, and knowing he wasn't going to enjoy the effects of it in the morning, she decided to wake him.

"Jess… Jess," Lorelai said, tapping him.

"Mmm… huh." He opened his eyes a little to see who was disturbing his sleep.

"Hey sleepy head." She waved. "Hi… how ya doin'"

He looked confused not knowing where he was at.

Lorelai could help but think how innocent and boyish he looked. "I'll tell you what… you can sleep over tonight… on the couch… because it's waay too late and too cold for you to walk home. I'll call Luke and let him know that you're staying. I'm sure he's worried."

"Mm," he closed his eyes and tried to get in a more comfortable position, resulting in him lying down next to Rory's hip.

"Oh no. No-no-no-no, nooo. Nice try, wise guy." Pulling him off Rory, "Up."

"What?" He muttered harmlessly.

Rory started to wake. "Hey," Lorelai greeted her daughter, "I see you got over your stomach problem," her nose still not adjusted to the smell in the house. Rory grinned sleepily at her mom. "Come on, let's get you to bed."

When she got up from the couch she saw Jess leaning over the arm of the couch with his eyes closed. Lorelai caught the panicked look on Rory's face.

"It's okay. I told him he could sleep on the couch tonight." She thoughtfully smiled at her mom. Lorelai went to the linen closet, gathered a quilt and pillow and tossed it on him. "G'night Jess," she said, "I am going to remember your position tonight and tomorrow morning you will be in that same position. Now hurry up and find a comfortable spot for you will be forever frozen until I unfreeze you in the morning. Understood?" She sarcastically warned.

"Mmm…," he mumbled to her as he lay down on the couch, covering his whole body including his head with the quilt.

Both Lorelai and Rory went into their respective bedrooms.

Rory changed into her pjs and slipped under her covers.

'**~// Thirty Minutes Later \\~**'

Jess got up to use the bathroom. When he finished, he found himself peering in Rory's bedroom. The door was half way open. She looked like she was sleeping peacefully, which explained why him jumped when she called out his name.

"Can't sleep?" She whispered.

"Nope… you?" Mimicking her tone.

"No."

She patted the bed. He took his cue and lay down next to her. They talked for a while about everything and anything.

"You know my mom's going to mutilate you when she sees you in my bed in the morning."

"I'll take my chances, that couch is waay too uncomfortable to sleep on. I've already got a crick in my neck." He said, rubbing the said sore spot. "Besides, you'll still love me without my limbs."

"Don't count on it." She joked.

"Hey, that's not very nice," He replied, giving her his perfected pouty face.

She smiled at him. "Aw… did I hurt the bad boy's feelings?" He stuck his tongue out at her.

"Ok, are you all of a sudden four now?"

"Ha. Ha."

"Hey, you know what?

"Huh?"

"This is like having our own little sleep over. Can I put curlers in your hair and put some make up on you." She teased. "Ooh ooh and whoever falls asleep first gets their bra put in the freezer," she giggled.

Jess raised an eyebrow at her and suddenly she realized what she said, already feeling the effects of her embarrassment. She was thankful for the darkness- it hid her rosey cheeks.

"Yeah sure, and afterwards we can hold hands and skip." She nudged him in the ribs a little too hard. "Ow. Okay that hurt."

"Oh, I'm so sorry." She apologized and sat up to look at the spot where she hit him and on instinct she started to rub it." She was totally unaware of how this was affecting him.

"Rory… it's okay, you don't have to…," gently pushing her hand away, hoping she didn't notice how aroused he got. He didn't know what came over him. He blamed it on the morning hours.

She lay back down, completely oblivious.

She caught him off guard by asking him the eternal question: "Are you a virgin?"

He laughed, ruffling his hair to ease his uneasiness. "Wow. That was real blunt Rory. Where did that come from?"

"What? It's customary at sleepovers to ask each other personal things. So, are you a virgin and if not, how many?" She continued.

"Hey, not fair… you tweaked your original question." He laughed.

"Just answer the question Jess." She griped, not letting him get off so easily.

"Only if I get to ask you the same question too." He stalled.

"The answer's yes. I am a self-professed virgin. Now you," she spat out.

"Huh."

"I don't see how you would think otherwise."

"Well, you and Dean were together for a long time, so I just figured you guys…"

"Nope. We didn't…"

"Huh."

Jess thanked the higher powers of the earth that she didn't sleep with Dean. Deep down he knew she and Dean didn't have sex, but now that it was confirmed, he somehow felt relieved for some unknown reason.

"It just… it was never…" She didn't continue. "Okay you're up."

"Ok…, it's kind of embarrassing. You're going to have to read between the lines here… I kinda am, but sorta not."

"What kind of an answer is that?" She questioned, incredulously.

"Question answered, let's move on."

"Whatever. Spill."

"Alright… but no laughing."

"I promise. No laughing." She already started grinning.

Noticing it, "Hey, I'm holding you to that."

"What?" She said innocently trying to control her mouth's urge to curve.

"Ok, well I was at my girlfriend's parents' apartment and we were… you know… making out in her parent's bedroom."

"Was her name Jen Lindley?"

"What?" He asked totally confused.

She smiled at her own joke. "Nothing, continue."

"Anyway, one thing led to another and I was in position, and just when I was barely in, her dad walked in on us and well… there it is… I kinda am, but sorta not."

Rory could no longer suppress a laugh and just busted on him.

"Hey, you promised!" He exclaimed, playfully pointing a finger at her.

"What?" She cried in between laughs. "You have to admit, that was too funny and totally deserved to be laughed at."

"You're being mean again." He said boyishly, flashing her his pouty face again.

"Okay, okay… done laughing now." Still slightly laughing, half a minute later, "Okay, okay. Now I'm done… so you never had a second opportunity?" She asked.

"Nope, her parents shipped her off to some place, they wouldn't tell me and I never heard from her again."

"Aw, that's so sad. How long were you with her?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"How long Jess?"

"About a year."

"No way," she said in total disbelief.

"Yup… why are you smiling like that?"

"I just never thought of you as a one girl kinda guy," she replied, loving this new found information.

"I never cease to amaze you do I?" He joked.

"No… you don't." She said seriously.