`*~ 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." Jess whispered.

She didn't answer and he assumed she was already asleep. They've been talking endlessly for a couple hours and during the silent pauses in their conversation, Rory slowly grew sleepy. She finally couldn't fight it anymore and welcomed the great slumber.

Once again Jess found himself in another somewhat intimate night with Rory. How he ever ended up in these situations were beyond him- to be this close to a girl whom he had honest feelings for. He was going to milk this opportunity to the fullest. Finally, he had a chance to actually feel her closeness without having to shy away at the slightest touch, to look at her without having to worry about who was watching. The last time he was with her in her bed like this, he was asleep- not able to study her and actually feel her next to him. With his elbow cushioned comfortably on a pillow, he rested his head on his hand so that he could watch her sleep. She looked so peaceful and so beautiful. He enjoyed being around her, especially like this. Basically because he was free to look at her without her knowing. She was so intelligent and smart… and very odd too. He laughed at the thought. He loved it all, the whole package… especially her quirkiness.

He began to study her face- so innocent and flawless, her nose- small and cute, but he was drawn to her lips- those pouty lips. Her lips drove him crazy, partly because he yearned to kiss them every time he was close to her. If Rory only knew how he constantly thought about her. Was it wrong to think of her like this- being that they were just good friends? He couldn't help it, he really liked her.

He didn't want to make a move in the beginning because she and Dean had just broken up. He wanted to give her some time, but if it was any other girl he would have already made his move. Except this was Rory, she wasn't just another girl. She was special; someone whom he had grown to deeply care about. It was only right to give her some time. But now, a month has passed since she called it quits with Dean and he didn't know what he was waiting for. Dean was finally out of the picture and he slowly wormed himself into her life. Exactly that, he wormed himself into her life somehow.

It still amazes him how she let him into her picture perfect life. She was too good for him. Maybe friendship should be all he should ask for. After all, their friendship was important to him, but he would never let anyone know that. She was the only one in this pleasantville town that saw him for who he was. She saw past his rebel image and gave him a chance.

If she rejected his feelings he wouldn't know how to handle it. Not very likely of him because he led people to believe that nothing could phase him, but when it came to Rory… it was different- she had implanted herself in a part of him that he knew never existed. And he didn't want to lose that. If anything, if she felt anything towards him maybe she'd make the first move.

He looked at her… not very likely. He didn't want to think about it anymore. All the different emotions he was feeling were very new to him and he didn't know whether he should hate them or welcome them.

The morning hours were beginning to take a toll on him. Trying to fight the urge to look at the rest of her, he found himself looking anyways. What guy wouldn't? She slept in a fitted long-sleeved shirt and pj bottoms. Her breathing was hypnotizing and he started staring at the steady rise and fall of her chest and suddenly paid close attention to something he wasn't supposed to be looking at.

Paying homage to the moon for the sufficient light-age in the room, he was able to see the slight rise of her nipples. He started to throb as NC-17 rated scenes with Rory played in his mind. He shook his head at himself and covered her with the quilts and lay back down with his hands entwined on his sternum. He took a breath, several breaths actually. He laughed at his raging-hormonal self and later sleep overtook him.

'**~// Saturday Morning \\~**'

Lorelai gleefully bounced downstairs, welcoming the start of the weekend. Just when she was about to go into the kitchen, she did a double take of the living room. The couch was seemingly empty and Jess was nowhere to be found.

"Huh." She assumed he must have gotten up early and decided to go home.

She made her way to the kitchen and made a fresh pot of coffee. While she waited she sat down at the table and flipped through yesterday's mail.

"Huh… look at that… all junk." She got up and tossed them in the garbage. She sat down again and began looking around the room for something… anything to keep her occupied. She couldn't find anything, so she stared at the coffee pot. It seemed to take forever for the elixir to brew. Dying of boredom, she started to drum her fingers on the table and even began humming a tune. She couldn't take it anymore; she was bored and lonely and in need of someone to play with. She got up and went to Rory's room to wake her up.

What the hell? This is not happening. "Boy, have you no shame?! What did I tell you last night?!" She said loudly, poking agitatedly at the boy sleeping extremely close to her only daughter. She was somewhat relieved that he was over the covers while Rory was fully under them and they had their backsides at each other. This bed is waay too small. Mental note: Buy Rory a bigger bed… no wait… that can't be good either, drat… ok nix bigger bed.

Jess tried to shield himself from her manic poking. She was really digging into him. Rory started to wake and realized what was happening, "Mom it's okay," she said trying to calm her mother down.

"What?! Okay my ass!" She scoffed. She didn't mean for it to sound so harsh.

Rory grew a little nervous. Jess was finally sitting up with his feet on the floor, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

Seeing how uncomfortable Rory was, Lorelai tried to compose herself. She knew it was completely harmless or at least she hoped it was. "Okay you two, get up, we need to have a talk." She walked out of the room and waited for them in the kitchen, heavy in her own thoughts. She was formulating ways on how to handle the mutilation of Jess and more importantly what to say to the two.

Jess looked at Rory and smiled, "Ooo somebody's in trouble." He said quietly.

She glared at him, "Yeah… when this is all over… at least I'll still have my limbs." She countered smiling sweetly.

After the two freshened up, they sat at the kitchen table watching Lorelai pace in front of them immersed in her own thoughts.

"Ok," as if she finally figured out what to say to them and sat down in front of them.

"I cannot have you guys sleeping together in the same bed, even though you guys were just sleeping… right guys?" She focused on them, looking each of them in the eyes trying to get some reassurance and when she got it she continued. "I mean, I know you two think you're just good friends casually sleeping in a bed together, big deal right?"

She turned to look at Jess, "I mean I know I'm a cool mom and all," she half-joked, "but I just feel uncomfortable having you in my seventeen year old daughter's bed. Do you understand?" He nodded. "I need you to respect me on this. No more sleeping together, especially in her bed."

"Look, I'm sorry. It won't happen again." Jess apologized.

"I mean, I don't think I'll mind so much if you accidentally fall asleep on the couch together… but no bed. Understood?" She looked at both of them agreeing. "It just creeps me out a little."

"I'm really sorry mom." Rory added.

They sat in complete silence for five long agonizing minutes.

"Ok… let's go get some breakfast. All this drama is making me hungry," Lorelai said trying to alleviate the tension in the room.

'**~// Luke's Diner \\~**'

When they arrived at the diner, Jess kindly declined breakfast with the Gilmore's and went upstairs. The two girls took their seats near a window. Rory found herself staring out the window when suddenly something caught her eye across the street near the gazebo. It was Dean. He was talking and laughing with a pretty blonde. A twinge of jealousy hit, but quickly passed. She was happy for him. They had slowly drifted apart. It was just too weird being friends, besides they hardly talked anymore and for that matter they hardly hung out. She thought to herself that maybe it was her fault. She did spend most of her free time with Jess these days.

Lorelai saw that her daughter's attention was focused on something outside. She looked too. Understanding, she gently rubbed her forearm.

"So the town decided on having a pre-wedding bash for Sookie and Jackson next weekend." She informed.

"Really?" She loved the town's parties. "What kind of bash?"

"Kinda like the one Max and I had." It had come out so easily, but inside the hurt still lingered. "You know, music, dancing, insane amounts of cool presents and of course food… what's a bash without food?" She asked rhetorically.

Recovering from her own thoughts of Max, she simply offered a "Yeah." Rory felt the same as her mother. She really did want Max to be her step-father. "I bet it's going to be great. Sookie's catering her own bash isn't she?" She said with a hint of laughter.

"That she is."

'**~// The Gilmore Home: A Week Later – April 13, Saturday Night \\~**'

The weekend had gone by so fast. And the week that followed it went by even faster. Rory hadn't talked to Jess all week because she was too busy catching up from the one day she skipped school. She promised herself never to skip school ever again. She was sadly mistaken when she thought that she wouldn't have missed much. The teachers loaded the students with work and she wondered if they did it because they knew she was skipping. She even missed two pop quizzes that she won't be able to make up. If it wasn't for Paris being such an expert at note taking, she would have been completely lost.

Rory and her mother dressed up in their pretty party dresses. Rory spent a little extra time than normal dressing up for this bash. She secretly wanted to look good for Jess. She wore a light blue top that had only one strap with a slightly flippy sleeve. Her skirt had somewhat of a retro design to it that matched perfectly with the same flippies on the hem of it. She had her hair up in a loose, fairly messy bun that looked like it was from a picture in a magazine. She completed the outfit with a pair of silver strappy heels.

"Come on already!" Lorelai hollered from the living room. She had been sitting on the couch flipping through the same magazine for almost a half hour and she was getting antsy.

"Coming." She walked out of her bedroom and into the living room to join her mother.

Lorelai looked up at Rory. "Wow… hubba hubba." She said comically.

"You really think so?" She asked and like a little girl she twirled in her dress letting the flippies flip.

"I should be a good mother and make you change."

"Mom," she groaned.

"Just kidding, you look great sweetie. Now be a good daughter and remember to send all the cute rejects my way." She teased.

"Whatever, let's go." She said in true Rory fashion and pulled her mom up from the couch.

"Maybe I should change into something skimpier… It's not fair. You're going to get all the guys tonight!"

Rory dragged her mom out the front door. "Oh come on!"

'**~// Stars Hollow Town Square: Sookie and Jackson's Wedding Bash \\~**'

Everyone in Stars Hollow was out that night celebrating the happy couple. There were even people from other towns there too. The night was perfect. The weather was beginning to warm up a little but left the nights airy and cool. From a passerby's point of view the town would have looked like a place that could only be imagined. These people evoked a worry free atmosphere that everyone dreamed they could be a part of.

Lorelai and Rory were at the food table where Sookie was arranging and rearranging dishes.

"Wow Sookie… what a great turn out," Lorelai said taking in the sight around her.

"Yeah I know, isn't it fabulous? I don't even know half of these people," she giggled.

Rory was in her own little world discretely searching for Jess, when all of a sudden she saw a familiar blond over by the refreshments table. She could never forget that head of hair. She walked in his direction.

"Tristan?"

He turned around.

"Rory." He was hoping he'd run into her.

"Oh my god, how are you?" She said taking him into a friendly hug and he in turn hugged her back. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be off at some military school?" She continued not giving him enough time in between her questions to answer them. "When did you get back? God, it's so great to see you."

"Well, well, well, I never thought I'd hear those words come out of your mouth Mary." He taunted. They both smiled. It didn't bother her when he called her that. When he left they were on fairly good terms.

From afar, Jess caught the whole exchange. He saw her earlier at the food table and was about to walk up to her until she went over to some guy. He decided he'd catch up with her later and walked off in the other direction.

"I came back a week ago. Military school finishes up a month before regular schools."

"That explains why you're not at Chilton, so are you just visiting for the summer or… "

"My father thought it would be best to finish senior year at Chilton."

"Mommy and Daddy dearest missed you that much." She felt bad after she said that, it had come out sounding so wrong.

"Yeah, you know I'm just a miss-able guy."

"So what are you doing here… in Stars Hollow? I didn't know Sookie knew you."

"Well she doesn't. I'm sorta crashing." He said ruffing up the hair on the back of his head.

"Oh… well how did you hear about it?"

"Well, I know this guy from military school that lives in the next town over and he raved on and on about the food at these bashes, and well… I decided to check it out."

"Well don't let me keep you…" She started to back up, but he held her back when he placed his hand on her shoulder.

"No don't go. Stay. Please, I mean… I don't know anyone here and I know you wouldn't want me wandering around aimlessly."

"Um… yeah sure."

He looked around to find a place where they could go sit down and talk. "We can catch up." He said putting his arm around Rory and directed her towards a nearby unoccupied bench. "You look really great by the way." He said looking her up and down.

Rory looked down at her heels. "Thank you... so do you." He really did look great she thought.

They sat and talked about what was going on in their lives, laughed at Chilton memories and rumors, and discussed college choices.

Jess went around looking for Rory again. He hadn't seen her all night and more importantly hadn't talked to her. He missed talking to her, even though it had only been a week, she was the only one in this godforsaken town that he could carry an intelligent conversation with. Or at least she was the only one that he wanted to have an intelligent conversation with.

"Hey, Jess?"

A/N: Let me know what you think! To continue… or to not continue! Either way I think I'll continue… I've got a couple more chapters up my sleeves =)