`*~ 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: WHOA!! I didn't expect to get so many ideas! You guys have given me some inspiration… Those of you who haven't written before should definitely try to dabble on your own stories. Such great ideas… funny too! This chapter is dedicated to ~*Max Kitten*~… hopefully all the horrible things she does to me won't interfere with me finishing this fic! Oh and the last little of line of this chapter, I added just for you! ;) I wrote this chapter and the next two a couple of weeks ago, so hopefully Tristan will make his appearance some time after them. Thanks for all the ideas…preeeciate the reviews!!

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

'**~// Stars Hollow Beauty Supply Store – April 14, Sunday Afternoon \\~**'

On the walk to the Beauty Supply Store, Jess contemplated why he was doing what he was doing. This wasn't what he wanted… not in the least. What he wanted was Rory, but obviously she didn't want him in that way, so… this was a good enough excuse for him to explain why he was doing what he was doing… wasn't it? He saw her leaning against the wall of the store. She's got the cute thing goin' for her, he proclaimed to himself making himself want this.

"Hey." Jess said.

"Hey." Shane said.

"You ready." Jess said.

"Let's go." Shane said.

Just a mere hour later they were making out at the bridge.

'**~// Gilmore Home \\~**'

"Mom, I'm home." Rory called out. She waited for an answer. "Mom?" Still nothing. She must be at Luke's.

She saw the light blinking on the answering machine and played it. "Hey babe, it's me. Meet me at Luke's. Sorry I didn't wait, you took too long and… well… you know me… I have the attention span of a two year old. Okay Luke's giving me the evil eye so I'll see you when you get here… byee."

She debated for a while on whether or not she should go. She wanted to avoid Jess for the time being but her stomach was against it. She was starving and there was absolutely nothing in the house that was edible. Luke's it is.

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

Rory sat at the table where her mother was at. "I can't believe you didn't wait for me."

"What, I got hungry." She defended and then showed Rory her pearly whites.

"What? Why are you smiling like that?"

"Oh Luuke, she's here!"

Luke set down a big plate of food in front of Rory. Her eyes grew big when she saw the food and instantly picked up a chili cheese fry and munched on it. "Ok, you're forgiven." She looked around the diner and thankfully didn't see Jess anywhere. But that didn't last long when she heard the bells jingle their certain Jess jingle. She looked up she saw him. He wasn't alone, walking behind him was a blond… the blond. Rory's face dropped. It was like an accident, she couldn't help but stare. Jess briefly glanced her way but to Rory he seemed as though he looked right through her. Jealous thoughts filled her head as the two headed upstairs.

"Whoa… who was thaat?" Lorelai asked watching the two disappear behind the curtain, popping fries in her mouth like they were popcorn and she was watching a really good movie.

Rory sat with a disgusted look on her face.

"Rory, are you okay?"

"Yeah sure. I'm fiine. Juust peachy." She said completely annoyed. "I can't believe him."

"What?" Lorelai was very confused, momentary silence followed.

Rory was going crazy inside. "Oh my god… I have to go." She started to get up from her chair, but Lorelai grabbed her arm.

"Wait a second. Tell me what's wrong. Talk to me."

"It's nothing… god I don't believe him." She said totally pissed off.

"What Rory, tell me. Why are you mad? Is it because he's with that girl?"

"Yes." She said sickened with the said blond.

"Well… hun, I hate to tell you this… but he's not your boyfriend, so why are you acting like this… do you like him, do you like Jess?"

"What?! No… no, I don't like Jess." She was dying inside. She couldn't believe what was happening. Just last night he was kissing me and now today he's upstairs kissing her and probably doing other things besides kissing. She felt sick. Not wanting another run in with the two, "Mom, can we just go," she begged.

"Yeah, sure." She could see how her daughter was feeling. "Just let me pay for this." She got up from her seat and went over to the counter to pay for the bill.

Jess came downstairs and walked over to the counter. He saw Lorelai before she saw him and thought about making a quick move back upstairs, but he held his ground.

"Hey Jess." Lorelai said with a hint of anger in it. She didn't know what was going on between the two of them, but if Rory was mad at him, then there was no question that she would be too.

He looked up at her and noticed her glaring at him… the same way she used to glare at him when she hated him. Not this again.

"Ms. Gilmore." He said smartly. He casually picked up a plate and placed two muffins on it. He accidentally glanced at Rory. He couldn't help it. She looked away the second he caught her eyes. But she wasn't quick enough. He saw the anger in her eyes… and quite possibly hurt. He wasn't sure if he imagined the latter. He shook his head and went back upstairs.

Luke noticed the whole exchange. "What was that about?"

"I don't know yet, but I will find out. If that little ferret hurt Rory, I'm gonna-" She didn't bother to continue when she saw Rory walk out of the diner. "I'll see you tomorrow Luke."

'**~// Gilmore Home \\~**'

Rory didn't utter a single word on the ride home from Luke's. She just stared out the window. Once they reached their house, she went straight to her room. Lorelai was worried about her but she wanted to give her some alone time.

Rory peeled her clothes off and slipped into her pjs. She turned the lights off and lay down on her bed, pulling her quilt up over her head. She thought up reasons as to why Jess was with that girl, but then she remembered what Lane had told her. This sucks.

After a long while, she finally fell asleep.

'**~// Monday Morning \\~**`

She woke up to the blaring whir of her alarm clock. She hit the snooze button and stayed in the warm confines of her bed a little while longer. Thoughts of yesterday came flooding into her mind and she was unhappy all over again. God this sucks. Her alarm clock sounded again and this time she turned it off. She really didn't want to go to school today but she knew that wasn't an option so she pulled herself right out of bed. She took a shower, dressed in her uniform and went into the kitchen. Her mother was at the table, coffee in one hand and a newspaper in the other.

Lorelai looked up at her daughter sympathetically. "How you feeling?" She didn't look like she got enough sleep last night.

"Just great." She answered sarcastically. She grabbed a thermos from the cupboard and poured some coffee into it. A pop tart would go perfectly with this. She was starving; she didn't get to finish her food last night.

"There're some pop tarts in the toaster if you'd like."

Rory took the two pop tarts and placed them in a napkin.

"Do you want to talk about it?" She dared to ask. Rory looked so sad.

"Maybe later ok?"

"Yeah… yeah sure, we can talk about it later. Um, I've got some free time before work. Do you want me to drive you to school?"

"No that's okay. I'll take the bus." She hurled her backpack on her back, grabbed her thermos and headed for the front door.

"Bye mom."

"Bye sweetie."

Rory left her house early so that meant she was going to have extra time for some bench reading at the bus stop. She took off her backpack and sat it next to her and opened it up. She had about four reading books to choose from and as she flipped through them she came across the book that Jess had given her. She ran her finger along the top of it wishing she could go back in time to when Jess had kissed her. She wished she would have kissed him back. I'm sooo stupid… what is wrong with me!

"Jess, give it back!" Shane squealed.

From behind she heard the blonde's voice. She knew it was her, even though she'd never heard her speak, she could tell by the way she said Jess' name. She mustered up the courage to turn around. She saw the two walking towards Stars Hollow High, their backs toward her of course. Jess was holding something in the air playing some kind of keep away game with her and Shane was jumping up and down all girlishly, purposely bouncing her buddies in front of him. Rory scrunched her face in a sour expression at the two and turned back around. "Bleech."

Somehow Jess felt the need to turn around and wasn't at all surprised to see Rory waiting for her bus. On many mornings like this, he would be waiting with her until her bus came. Sometimes he would even take the ride to Chilton with her, against Rory's protests of course.

'**~// Flashback \\~**'

"Jess… what do you think you're doing?" Rory stopped on the bus' steps when she heard Jess behind her.

"I'm trying to get on this bus, but you see… there's this girl in front of me… who's holding up the line." There was no line behind him.

"Why are you trying to get on this bus?"

He stepped on the first step and was at eyelevel with her. She was on the second step. "Can't a guy take a ride on a bus without being harassed?" He mocked as if he was supporting an important cause.

She felt hot all of a sudden. He loved toying with her like this, the flushed look turned him on every time. She quickly composed herself, "Jess, go to school," trying to keep her smile hidden.

"That's what I'm trying to do."

"Jess… Go. To. Your. School."

"I am going to your school." He smirked at her.

"Jess."

"What?" He laughed.

"You can't miss school."

"I'll just be missing Homeroom. No big deal." He then pouted at her. He knew that would get her every time.

"Fine… but just this once."

That wasn't the last time. Jess talked and pouted his way onto her bus every time.

`**~// End Flashback \\~**'

On the bus ride to Chilton, Rory thought about her relationship with Jess. She wondered if they had any kind of relationship left. It had been two days since she last talked to him, and she was really missing him. She couldn't believe their friendship had ended so fast. She figured she couldn't call him anymore or hang out with him. She was so confused.

'**~// Gilmore Home \\~**'

"I'm home!" Rory yelled as she came in through the front door.

"In here." Lorelai called out from the living room. She was lying on the couch flipping through a magazine.

Rory walked into the living room. "I'm ready to talk." She sulked.

Lorelai patted the seat next to her and Rory told her everything that happened. She even told her that she liked Jess.

"Oh sweetie…"

`**~// Later that Night \\~**'

"… yeah so we'll meet at the music store… ok… bye." Lane hung up the phone.

"So what did Dave say?"

"Well, he said the rest of his band is really excited to meet me. Apparently Dave made me seem more colorful than I really am."

"I bet everything he said about you was right on point."

"I'm so nervous and excited all at the same time."

"Me too. When do you guys meet?"

"This Saturday… we're gonna make it our first official band practice and we'll see where we should go from there."

"Eee!" They squealed together jumping up and down.

Lorelai was just in time and joined in on the festivities. "Eee! Why are we so happy?!"

"Lane's in a band!"

"What?!" Lorelai was so happy for Lane. They stopped jumping. Lorelai placed her hands on Lane's shoulders. "This is going to be sooo cool! You are my ticket to finally meeting Bono!" She said like the true drama queen that she is.

Lane grinned at her. "I'm glad I could be of service!"

"Hey, let's go celebrate… " She raised her arm in the air and commanded "To Luke's!" She moved onward and noticed that her army wasn't behind her. The two just stood there and stared at Lorelai. She remembered- oh right, Jess is the enemy. She tried again and raised her arm in the air and commanded, "To Al's!" The two giggled and followed their leader.

`**~// Al's Pancake World \\~**'

Of all the places in Stars Hollow to eat, Rory and Jess still managed to eat at the same place at the same time. Neither of them noticed the other throughout their whole meal, luckily for Rory. Last time she wasn't able to finish her food.

"I hate to eat and run, but mama's probably wondering what's taking me so long. I told her that I left my Biology book at your house and I needed to pick it up."

"Well, where is your biology book?"

"Oh, it's in the mailbox."

"Of course. Where else would it be?" Totally not questioning it because she was talking to the one and only Lane Kim whose life was anything but ordinary.

She took one last bite of her General Tso's Chicken and took off. "I'll call you!" She yelled to Rory.

"You better!" She yelled back.

This was when Jess realized Rory was a couple tables away.

"What are you looking at?" Shane asked a little annoyed.

"Nothin'… you done?"

"Yeah."

"Let's go." They got up and the only way out was to pass Rory and Lorelai's table. Lorelai caught sight of Jess before Rory did and tried to distract her, but it didn't work.

Rory's could feel her heart stop when she saw Jess… with her. They both planned on playing the ignoring game. She tried to play it cool and acted like it was nothing. And out of nowhere came "Hey Jess." Everyone was shocked including Rory. Did I just say that? She wished she hadn't said anything. She wanted to be invisible.

Jess and Shane passed their table but Jess turned around slightly to look at her and decided it was only right to acknowledge her back, "Rory" He replied and continued to walk on.

"Rory." Lorelai was flabbergasted. Rory smiled at her mother. "I'm so proud of you." She said dramatically.

"Mom." She groaned.

"No seriously, I'm glad you're not letting them get to you."

Ha… she wished the sight of those two together didn't bother her so much, but it sure did… to the point where she wanted to do horrible things to Shane!!

A/N: Ssshhh… don't tell anyone this, but I heard that if you click the Go button you might actually see the next chapter… seriously… it'll magically appear… no lie… try it… come on… you know you want to…