`*~ 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: ~*Julia*~ Wow. Thank you for your thoughtful review, it's hard to brush negative comments away even if it's not so negative. Thanks for your kind words! ~*emjai*~ I don't know… Rory's Beavis! Hehehe! I just wanted to call Jess Cornholio… he was acting corny… so, corny Cornholio, I don't know! Beats the hell outta me! =p ~*tigress*~ Sorry for the cheese, I saw the opportunity and it was begging me to sneak it in! ~*Dawnmeister, Angel Monroe, dodgerluv~* Hope this chapter fulfills your literati needs! ;) ~*To everyone else*~ Thanks for reviewing!

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

`**~// Stars Hollow Town Square: Night \\~**`

After the movie the group scattered around in front of the theatre. This was when Dave saw the open opportunity to talk to Lane alone.

He surprised her by coming up from behind.

He stooped to her level and poked his head next to hers, his lips inches away from her ear. "I'm glad you were able to make it tonight." Lane startled a bit and turned her face to see Dave's lips just inches away from hers now and the first girly thought that came to her mind was Kiss me!

"You scared me," she opted instead.

He stood next to her grinning. "Yeah, sorry about that." He replied, scratching the back of his neck. "So, you had fun?" He asked rocking back on his heels, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his pants.

"Yeah." Lane nodded thoughtfully. "This was really fun Dave." I could just stare at you all day and I'd still be having fun.

"How about we do this again sometime." He told her, unknowingly flashing his trademark make-a-girl-melt smile- an innocent yet potent smile that he was unaware of.

"What?" Did he just say what I thought he said? Don't jump to conclusions Kim, he said we should do this again sometime—as in not with just you but everyone else too. "Uh, yeah we should."

"I mean… just the two of us…" He said warily.

Man, I hope my mind isn't jumbling up his words to come out the way I want them too, cause tha-

"…if that's alright with you." Dave interrupted the senseless jibber-jabber going on in her head. He looked at her expectantly.

Wow. I did hear that right, she said ever so calmly in her head, not fully registering. But seconds later everything finally clicked. Lane desperately tried not to seem too eager, but she failed. Her smile was too huge and no words were available for her to speak. OH. MY. GOD. If only Rory could be in her mind to celebrate with her- all would be right in the world.

Dave chuckled at her expression. "I guess I can take that as a yes?"

Lane nodded speechlessly. Finally her voice decided it was time to speak. "Yes!" Whoa Lane, calm down, she scolded herself. "I mean, yeah we could do that," she said semi-coolly.

He chuckled again. "Great. I'll be sure to give you a call… soon."

"Okay."

"Well I should get going, so…" He said uncomfortably.

"Oh okay." Lane thankfully fought off the disappointment trying to take over her face.

He spotted Zack and Brian talking a few feet away. "Okay, uh…" Dave shocked her by pulling her into a friendly hug.

Rory caught the them and met eyes with her deliriously cheesing best friend.

He pulled out of the hug. "Okay… so… I'll call you." He said in more of a questioning way.

"Alright." Lane's voice didn't falter this time.

"I'll see you later." He started walking backwards away from her and accidentally bumped into someone behind him. He quickly glimpsed behind him, giving a quick apology to whoever it was and turned back to Lane and waved, smiling foolishly.

Before he joined his friends, Dave said his goodbyes to Rory and Tristan.

The two walked over to Lane.

"What was that about?" She said teasingly nudging Lane's arm.

"He asked me out." Lane told them.

"Really?" Rory was excited for her; she knew she saw a spark between the two.

She threw her arm around Lane's shoulder giving her a friendly squeeze as the three walked away from the movie theatre in the direction of Lane's house.

`**~// Gilmore Home \\~**`

After walking Lane home, Tristan and Rory headed to her house. Once they were in the vicinity of it, she took off running and left him behind.

"Gotta pee!" Rory cried out to Tristan as she darted for the house. The large coke she had at the movies finally caught up to her.

Just as he was making himself comfortable on the couch, the doorbell rang.

"Hey Tristan, can you get the door?!" Rory yelled from the bathroom. She was having one of those never-ending pees.

Tristan got up from the couch and strolled to the front door and opened it.

Jess didn't know why or how he ended up at her front door. He was casually walking past her house when he saw a black Mercedes G500 seemingly sitting out of place on the Gilmore driveway. He figured it belonged to Rory's 'boy friend' and felt the urge to make an appearance.

Jess smirked. He was in luck. Someone was home.

What the hell is Tristan doing answering the Gilmore's door?

"Hey." Jess said void of any kind of friendly tone. "Where's Rory?" He bit somewhat demandingly. He peered in behind Tristan.

"Jessie right?" Tristan taunted. "She exposed at the moment, but-"

Before he could finish, Rory's voice echoed as she came up from behind him.

"Who is it Tristan?" When she saw Jess her stomach dropped and the awkwardness reared its ugly head yet again. "Jess," she felt the strongest urge to smile when she saw him, but she kept it hidden remembering their current nonexistent friendship.

"Hey Rory." Jess smirked at the both of them, but mainly pointed it to Tristan. Exposed my ass.

"Uh, Tristan you remember Jess right?" Hm…, that sounds vaguely familiar.

"Oh that's right. It's Jess, not Jess-ie. Sorry man, you can understand the confusion right?" Tristan returned Jess' smirk with a smirk of his own.

Rory quickly gave Tristan a warning look when she put her hand on his arm giving it a hurtful squeeze, "Why don't you go watch some TV and I'll be there in a minute."

"Okay." He gave her a look of longing to help her cause and made sure Jess saw it. "Nice meeting you again Jessie." He looked back at Rory. "You won't be long?" He asked sexily. Rory wide-eyed him, not believing he just said that the way he did. Was he trying to make Jess jealous?

Rory closed the door behind her and stood outside with Jess. "What are you doing here?" She asked suspiciously. She saw his reaction when Tristan said his last words before he left them alone. Jess couldn't possibly be jealous of Tristan…right?

"I came by to get that cd you took from my room." Huh, would you look at that, I did come here for a reason. He completely forgot about the cd until seconds before he had said it.

"Right… the cd, uh… I'll go get it." She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. She needed that cd.

She didn't bother to invite him in. He and Tristan didn't seem to want to play nice.

She went back inside and closed the door behind her. Tristan appeared from out of nowhere.

"God don't do that!" She whispered loudly.

"Did you see the look on his face?"

"Yeah. I think I did." A smile slowly formed. "I can't believe you said that." She told him, playfully hitting him on the chest.

"So what's he doing here anyway?"

"He wants the cd that I stole from him that night he kissed me."

Tristan smiled. "Oh yeah?"

"He claims he came here to get it back… I bet he saw your car outside and got so unbelievably jealous that he had to come over here and fight for me," she said sarcastically, part of her wishing it was true. She laughed at herself; she couldn't believe she had said that aloud. It was Tristan's fault for putting the notion that Jess was jealous in her head.

Tristan could tell Rory had a thing for Jess and Jess had a thing for Rory. He first noticed it at Sookie's Pre-Wedding Bash.

"If there's anything else you'd like me to do for you…" His eyes twinkled at her. He didn't mind helping her out. A girl like Rory deserved to be happy. And if this Jess character did that for her then so be it.

"No, I think you've helped enough." She gave him a hug, "… but thank you." She tried to release him from the hug, but Tristan was insistent in it being longer.

He finally let go when he felt it was right and he acted uneasy when he saw Jess standing in the doorway. He saw him when he first opened the door, but Jess didn't see Tristan see him.

Rory was confused by his reaction and when she turned to see who Tristan was looking at, she knew why he wouldn't let go when she wanted to.

"I'm sorry. Was I interrupting something?" Jess disguised his hurt with sarcasm.

"Uh no, I was just going to get your cd." She pointed in the direction of her room, turned and left quickly before Jess could see her smiling. She knew it was mean, but she couldn't help it. Jess was even cuter when he was jealous. It was genuine jealousy. It was quiet endearing to see that on a hard ass like Jess. She'd have to thank Tristan for making that possible.

Tristan smirked at Jess and went back to the living room. Jess shook his head in disbelief and went back outside wishing he had a cigarette on him. He thought he was too late. Rory had already jumped into a new relationship and his chance had slipped away. He knew he shouldn't have come to her house. He thought he must've had some weird fetish in seeing Rory with someone else. It seemed to be the only explanation as to why he was always putting himself in these painful situations.

Rory came out of her room looking for Jess. "Where'd he go?"

"Lover boy's waiting outside I think."

She bounced towards the door and composed herself before she opened it.

He was leaning his back against the porch railing. She walked out the house and closed the door behind her carefully approaching him.

"Here." She said evenly handing over the cd.

Jess looked at the cd in her hand and then at her. He took it from her. His hands purposely feeling hers, thinking this would be the last time he'd ever… he shook his stupid thoughts away. The cd seemed to be the only link they had left. No more excuses to use in order to see the other again.

"So… how are things going with the new boyfriend?" Jess asked.

"What?" Rory couldn't help but think how adorable he looked.

"Your new boyfriend… how are things going?" He tried to sound as neutral as possible, but his emotions tainted his voice with raw jealousy.

"He's not my boyfriend Jess." She told him, half-smiling.

"Huh. Sure seems like it." Of course he didn't want her to know he was jealous, but the way words kept flying out of his mouth, he was sure it spelled J-E-S-S is J-E-A-L-O-U-S in huge, great big neon flashing lights. Almost Vegas worthy.

"You're jealous."

God I hate that word. "What?" He said it like being jealous was the farthest thing from his mind.

"You… are jealous of Tristan." She smiled, obviously making light of the situation.

"Whatever." He said in a failed attempt to brush her off.

"Why are you jealous of Tristan?" She pressed playfully.

"Whatever Rory, I am not jealous of Richie Rich in there." He looked away. He was afraid she could read his eyes 'cause God knows his mouth told on him.

"Look at you… you're squirming… it's very becoming," she said matter-of-factly.

He playfully rolled his eyes at her. "Whatever." He looks to the ground, searching for a better retort and in finding one he looks her dead in the eyes. "Well… you're jealous of Shane. Why don't you tell me why you're jealous of her?" He turned the tables on her, however childish it may have been. Who's squirming now?

"Oh please. I am in no way, shape or form jealous of Shane… you are so far off base Jess." I hate Shane.

She had to do it, she had to say it and before she knew it, she blurted it out. "Why'd you kiss me?"

Jess was completely taken aback. "What?" What the hell's gotten into her, two bold questions in one night?

"The night of Sookie's Pre-Wedding Bash… you know… up in your room, you kissed me…" She saw the puzzled look on his face. "God, if you say that you don't remember I swea-"

"I remember Rory." He said quietly.

"Then… why'd you do it?"

He looked away searching for the right thing to say, but stupidly said, "I don't know." He seemed to not work well under pressure… around Rory.

She thought her heart was going to jump out of her chest at any moment, it was beating at a high-speed and her breathing was so unsteady.

She slipped her arms around Jess' waist and kissed him like she's always fantasized. She wanted to turn the tables back on him and that was the only thing she could come up with. Either way she won. She finally fulfilled the many desires of kissing Jess and had the satisfaction of having Jess at a loss for a witty comeback all at the same time. Ain't life grand?

Jess was lifeless. His brain commanded his arms to wrap around her and hold her tight and his lips to kiss her back, but they appeared to be out of working order. He unexpectedly pulled away from her. It shocked Rory, but not to the extent that it shocked Jess. What the hell was he doing… not doing? He hated when his body did things they weren't supposed to be not doing.

"Rory." He could feel the saddened look on her face.

"What?" Her heart stopped. "I thought that this was what you wanted?" She felt stupid. What was I thinking, he wasn't jealous… I'm going to kill Tristan.

"No… I mean… yes." He started to smile as his senses resumed to working mode again. "I was just surprised that's all." He never in a million years expected Rory to make the first move and kiss him… and like that no less. He could sense all the pent up passion in those lips, he wished he was able to return it.

He could finally feel his body becoming his own again, regaining full control. He leaned towards her, timidly placing his hand on her waist, pulling her towards him. Her hands slowly moved up his arms and unsurely rested them there.

They stared awkwardly at the other in silence, both uncertain about the current closeness they had gotten themselves into.

"Just to warn you… I'm going to kiss you now, and if you run away from me again, I will run after you… and I will catch you Rory."

She smiled coyly, thoroughly embarrassed by her past actions.

He inhaled silently parting his lips and slowly brushed them against hers, not waiting this time to actually kiss her, he moved his lips gingerly against hers. His heart was beating fast, full of want and anticipation. He hoped she wouldn't pull away this time; he wrapped his other arm around her with his hand on the small of her back as an added precaution to make sure she wouldn't. Feeling and tasting her lips-so soft and so sweet, he didn't think he could ever stop. He kissed her slowly and delicately, basking in every fluid motion their lips made, and when he came to the realization that he was in fact kissing Rory, he started to lose control and his lips glided over hers as though he couldn't get enough of them. It finally got to the point where he couldn't breathe, so he unwillingly pulled away slightly, silently catching his breath.

He slowly opened his eyes to hers… her beautiful blue eyes. He missed getting lost in those eyes.

"Wow," he breathed. It was better than he'd ever imagined.

She was thinking the same thing too. Her face lit up at his reaction. She placed a tender kiss on his lips. She carefully disentangled his hands from around her and ran down the porch steps.

His face fell, but when she turned around and smiled at him, he knew she was toying with his emotions and he ran after her.

`**~// Gilmore Home: Minutes Later \\~**`

Lorelai stepped foot into her house, took her coat off and hung it on the coat rack. She laid her keys down on the hall stand and walked into the living room where she heard the television.

"Tristan… um, wow you're here." She looked at him and then the door and then at him again.

"I'm waiting for Rory, she still out there talking to Jess?"

"Uh, I saw them leave," she said slowly. "Well actually, I saw them running down the street."

He looked at her confused.

"Hey kid, don't ask, I'm just as confused as you are. You want some coffee."

"Nah, that's alright." He started to get up. "Could you tell Rory I'll call her tomorrow?"

"Oh you don't have to leave, I'm sure they'll be back shortly."

Tristan knew that he was long forgotten. "That's okay; I've got to get going anyway."

"Well alright."

"Bye."

"Bbyee."

A/N: Phhew! Finally huh! REVIEW!!! please… =)