`*~ 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: ~*KATE*~ YOU'RE COOL!!*yes I am screaming* Stories should be begging to be reviewed by you----you are an author's dream come true!! You are too funny and you've definitely made my day!! =D … btw One Powder Blue Pony is definitely in the works!! ~*BROEmEaNtToBe*~ Yay, I have a book. That's so cool!! But we may have killed so many trees in the process =-( oh well! ~*hasapi*~ one literati story coming right up! ~*Naveed*~ I seriously tried to make it long… but it just wouldn't let me… ~*starbelly*~ I love the whole "I'm a whore" sticker idea, you should patent it……….I'll definitely buy one and give it to Shane… ~*tigress33 and laurel*~ I'm glad you like the flashbacks… I like writing them… ~*Heidi and Katie*~ I'm glad someone out there loves it! Thanks everyone who reviewed and helped me decide on this whole Jess/Tristan thingy, you guys are GRRREAT!!

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

~*~

She ran all the way home… running seemed to make her feel better. Feeling this jealous over a boy that she couldn't even call her own was just plain silly. What was she thinking… trying to him talk to him and tell him that she wanted him back in her life? The boy obviously was way too occupied now to play with little ol' Rory.

When she reached her house she headed straight to the bathroom to take another shower, seeing Shane all over Jess like that made her feel dirty. Thirty minutes later she was in her room deciding what to wear on her hanging out session with Tristan. Weird… she still couldn't get over it.

She settled on a light pink top to go with her fatigue colored pants and slipped on her sneakers. Just as she was putting a little gloss on her lips, the door bell rang. She read her watch. It was only eleven thirty and Tristan was early. Crap. She didn't have time to blow dry her hair. She quickly brushed her hair and tied it up in a pony tail. She knew a headache was going to give her grief later.

She opened the door to Tristan leaning on the door jam in his usually leaning fashion.

"Whoa… you don't look too happy to see me Rory. Why I'm hurt." He smirked.

"You're thirty minutes early."

"I thought you wanted me to be prompt."

"Well you see there is a difference between being early and being prompt. And because you're thirty minutes early I didn't get a chance to dry my hair and now I'm going to have a massive headache which will result in me being very crabby and you won't be able to stand my company anymore."

He laughed. He never knew this girl could say so much in one breath, she must have quite a pair of lungs. "You can still dry your hair off." He casually invited himself in. "I'll just wait… no rush." He found the living room, picked up a Cosmo magazine from the coffee table and sat on the couch. "Don't worry, I can entertain myself." He said evilly as he held up the magazine to her.

She stood in the hallway as she watched him make himself at home. "Ok. You know what? You're gross." She scoffed and went to her room to dry her hair.

Ten minutes later and headache free, she was ready to grab something to eat. She was too excited and nervous about her little Jess mission earlier that she had somehow forgotten to eat breakfast. It was almost noon and she had yet to put something in her stomach.

When she came out she saw Tristan holding up the magazine in front of him turned side ways to make it look as though he were looking at a playboy centerfold.

"Ew…" Rory scrunched her face. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Well you caught me; some of these pictures are just… mmmm." He moaned as he ogled the picture in front of him.

Choosing to ignore him, "Let's go, I'm starving." He unwillingly put the magazine down and joined her in the hallway. "Remind me to burn that magazine later."

He smirked. "You're cute. So… where are we going for lunch?"

"The Independence Inn." She knew Tristan was going to take a crack at this.

"Oh really," he looked at her slyly, "You want me as the main course huh? Honestly Mary, I thought you were classier than that." He teased. "I would much rather you have me for dessert. I think you'd enjoy it better." He winked at her.

"Oh shut up. My mom works at the Independence Inn and I called there earlier and told Sookie to whip us up something for lunch."

"Sookie… she's the one that catered that party?"

"Yep."

"Mmm… I can't wait, her cooking is so… how can I say this mildly… orgasmic."

She laughed at him. "Mildly huh? Hey, do you mind if we walk there, I just really feel like walking right now?" Rory was having a hard time blocking away what she saw today and thought some fresh air would help. "I could show you the town better if we walk."

"Yeah… sure." He could sense something was wrong.

"Are you ok, 'cause if you're not… we could do this another time?"

"No, I'm fine… just extremely hungry." She half-lied as she rubbed her stomach.

"Well we better get some food in that tummy then."

"Yes… please."

On the walk to the Inn, Rory showed Tristan the few landmarks and famous spots that Stars Hallow was known for. This quaint little town was beginning to grow on Tristan. He wondered what it would have been like to grow up in a town like this.

"And that's Ms. Patty's Dance Studio… I took ballet lessons there once upon a time, but I totally stunk… so any dreams of becoming a ballerina were shattered. I was heartbroken…," pretending to be in deep thought, "I still don't think I'm over it." She playfully frowned.

"Yeah, I know how you feel."

"What?" She grinned.

"Ok, what I'm about to tell you… must not be repeated." Rory's eyes began to glisten as she waited to hear Tristan's deep dark secret. "Promise me Rory… I'm not kidding either." He mocked seriousness.

"Promise, cross my heart," she crossed her heart with her hand. He looked hesitant. "C'mon… tell me."

He looked around them making sure the coast was clear. "When I was four my mother made me take ballet lessons and I have to admit… I kinda enjoyed it. But like you, I also had two left feet. Plus, when my father found out about it he wasn't too keen on the idea."

Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped.

He smiled appreciatively. "I knew you'd enjoy picturing me in leotards Mary… but don't let your imagination keep you away from the real thing."

She was quiet for a moment as she pictured Tristan wearing leotards and then she busted out laughing at him. He started laughing too, but when he stopped she was still laughing and he noticed she had tears in her eyes.

He became a little embarrassed. "Well it's not that funny Rory."

"Oh yes it is!" Still laughing, her sides and her cheeks were beginning to hurt.

"Hey that's enough out of you."

Catching her breath, "Sorry," She tried to straighten her face. "I'm not so sure you should have trusted me with this information."

"Rory." He playfully threatened.

"It's way too juicy to keep to myself Tristan, I have to tell someone… I need to tell someone… As a matter of fact, I must tell someone." She looked around for someone, anyone…

Tristan wasn't having it so he swiftly picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.

"Hey wha- put me down Tristan!"

"You promised Rory." He said coolly. "And if you can't keep your promise you're just gonna have to suffer the consequences."

"You honestly think that I can keep a promise. You obviously know nothing about me Tristan." She teased. "Put me down." She said calmly.

"No." He said simply as he was looking for somewhere to throw her. "Where's a good mud puddle when you need one?"

"Tristan! Put me down now!" She started wriggling around.

"Nope." He recalled from her short tour of the town- the lake with the bridge and headed straight for it.

"Tristan, where do you think you're going?" The path started to look familiar and she began to panic. "Tristan, seriously. Put me down."

"Oh, I will Mary." He laughed.

He neared the start of the bridge and suddenly stopped.

Jess and Shane were making out on the bridge when Jess heard Rory's voice. He quickly stopped kissing Shane leaving her all agitated again. When he looked in the direction it was coming from, he saw Rory being carried by a familiar boy.

"Tristan this is sooo not funny. Put me down now!"

Jess started to stand up; briefly thinking that maybe she needed his help. Shane huffed loudly.

"Looks like we've got ourselves an audience." Tristan smirked.

"Wha-" Rory looked behind her and saw Jess with Shane. She whispered to Tristan. "Please put me down."

He heard the seriousness in her voice and put her down.

Jess caught her eyes and they were instantly glued to each other. For a brief moment, it felt as though they were the only ones on the bridge. Both feeling the same gut wrenching feeling of seeing the other with someone that wasn't them. Rory broke the gaze and Jess felt empty again.

Rory began fiddling with the hem of her shirt and then started tucking imaginary fallen strands of hair behind her ear. She felt awkward. Why did she feel like she was cheating on Jess? She began to compose herself as she remembered the sight she saw earlier this morning when she walked in on Jess and Shane. Her confidence came back and she now had a smug look on her face.

"Hey Jess." She turned to Tristan. "You remember Jess right?"

"No." He said not caring to remember him.

Rory stared at Tristan giving him a warning look. He didn't know what was going on so he just agreed silently… to help her out.

Pretending to think, "From the party right?" He said in a monotone voice.

"Yeah… the party," A flash of Jess kissing her suddenly popped in her head. She looked Jess in the eyes… he still hadn't said a word and she couldn't read him.

Tristan noticed she needed some saving since the third and fourth wheels in this party were obviously mute. He glanced over at Rory. "So I thought you said you were starving."

"Oh… right, yeah… let's go." Out of nowhere, Rory surprised herself but not more than she surprised Tristan. She held on to his arm bringing herself closer to him as they turned and left behind a confused Jess.

Jess felt a twinge of jealousy seep out from the deep, deep, deep depths of his soul. Since when did Rory start hanging out with this guy? She never mentioned she was friends with him and from what he gathered from her, she detested the guy… and Tristan had a thing for her; at least that's what she told him Dean had said.

Once out of Jess' sight, she released her grip from Tristan's arm. Tristan didn't say a word on the way to the Inn and neither did Rory.

`**~// Independence Inn \\~**`

Rory and Tristan entered the Inn and walked up to the front desk.

"Independence Inn, Michel speaking." Michel was on the phone.

"Hey Michel. Do you know where my mom's at?" Rory interrupted.

Michel held up one finger in front of Rory signaling for her to 'wait one sec.'

"I'm sorry, but we are completely booked… the 21st? Please hold… I"m sorry, but we are completely booked… the 25th? Let me check… I'm sorry, but we are completely booked… the-."

Rory couldn't wait any longer, this was liable to take forever and she was starving. She led Tristan to the kitchen.

Lorelai was standing near the coffee machine fixing her a cup.

"Hi mom."

"Hey Sweetie." Lorelai's face instantly lit up when she saw her daughter. She put her arm around her and gave her a tight squeeze. She looked at the boy standing near the doorway.

"And this must be the elusive Tristan."

"Ms. Gilmore." He took his cue and held out his hand to Lorelai.

Confused, Lorelai looked at her daughter. "And what am I supposed to do with that?" She asked Rory in a lowered voice, but purposely loud enough for Tristan to hear.

"I think you're supposed to shake it." Rory answered, mimicking her mother's voice.

"Huh…" She shook his hand. "Please, please, pleease call me Lorelai."

Tristan smiled finally knowing where Rory gets it all.

"Sook, they're here."

Sookie turned around from the stove. "Hi my little chickadee… oh and her handsome friend." She looked at Lorelai. "Isn't he handsome," she was grinning wildly.

Rory gave her mother a 'make her stop' look "Yeah, Sook he is." She in turn gave Sookie a 'stop you're embarrassing Rory' look.

Tristan extended his hand to her. "So you're Sookie… May I say, that you are the most amazing chef. You're cooking is divine."

Sookie was on cloud nine. "Why thank you." She giggled. "When have you ever tasted my cooking?"

"Tristan was at you're pre-wedding bash Sookie." Rory chimed in sweetly.

"Oh reeally, well thank you for coming… did you get a chance to taste my chocolate raspberry tarts."

"Yes, as a matter of fact I did. And just thinking about it makes my mouth water." He absentmindedly glanced at Rory.

Rory gave him a 'what? gross look' and he quickly snapped out of it. After all, he was in the presence of her mother.

"You two can have a seat in the dinning area and we'll have the food out to you soon." Sookie said.

Rory and Tristan took a seat at the table that was prepared for them.

"Wow, this feels kinda weird doesn't it?" Rory asked.

"Still thinking it's a date?"

"Well, yeah now it really feels like one, I mean I didn't expect them to fix this table up for us. I just figured we'd eat in the kitchen standing up or something." She joked.

"Oh really." He smirked.

He was anxious to find out what the deal was with that guy at the bridge.

"So I guess you're going to make me ask you about that guy aren't you?"

"What?" She asked innocently.

"Rory, I could tell you were trying to make him jealous."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes you do… you… grabbing onto my arm like you actually liked me… I mean don't get me wrong, you can do that any time you'd like… but I'd like to have a heads up on what's going on first."

"Fine. Yes. I was trying to make him jealous… I'm sorry… for using you like that. It was wrong. It's just-." She stopped herself. "Never mind, you wouldn't want to know." She didn't want to bore him with her problems.

"What? Tell me."

"Well you see, me and Jess have this thing, well… had actually. We became really close after I broke up with Dean. He was sorta the reason why I broke up with Dean… Anyway, the night of Sookie's party, after you had left, he kissed me and well… I ran."

"You ran?" Suddenly remembering their kiss at Madeline's party, "Do you have a thing for running after a guy kisses you?"

She started to remember too. She completely forgot. "Oh my god." Silence. "… I'm a freak."

He laughed at her. "Yes you certainly are."

She glared at him.

"What, I'm agreeing with you?"

"I am such a freak. I've had three kisses from three guys in my whole life… and the first kisses with them resulted in me running away." She thought for a bit. "Hey you know what?"

"What?"

"You should feel special, 'cause you're the only one that I kissed and ran out on, but didn't steal anything in the process."

"What?"

"Well when Dean first kissed me, I was holding a box of corn starch and after he kissed me I ran out with it. And when Jess kissed me I was holding his cd in my hand and I ran out with that… so yeah… don't you feel special?"

He laughed at the girl. "You are very odd Rory."

"Yeah… I am aren't I? I'm freakishly odd." She whimpered at her own revelation.

"It's good though, I like you freakishly odd." He assured her.

She smiled sweetly at him. "Thank you."

Nearing the end of their meal Rory's pager started beeping.

A/N: *smiles evilly* REVIEW… please?