`*~ 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 think I should take time out to thank all you lovely, lovely, people who reviewed the last two chapters. ~*GiveMeYourLove*~ Thanks for giving me your love ;p ~*anonymousthinker & tigress33*~ My caring, faithful reviewers, I love hearing from you guys –anonymousthinker (thanks for the cheer ;p) ~*miss.pebbles, Ponderer, Luisa L, Leora, Allyson, faith-jasmine, charlie, True Blue Healer, Special K, Brooke, julia, salamander2, Kate e, Cheri, Linn, Jade-Tessier (almost didn't recognize you ;p) Kati, buttercupbabe, Lara, Krystle Nicole, Kate, peabrain, Stephanie, Gizzella, markie, bumble bee, kudirat Mustapha, EvilEmmy1, Rache, LandonLover, JCtigerwolf4e, Kat, AEROSnowDuckie, someone, Mrs. Mariano, amiboshi no miko2, lilacmoon, Amanda, maya, blurred, stargazer, gilmorelvr, anonomous, JessIsAGod, magic em, Kate_05, Jess, alliegirl, PelicanGoddess, gabby, theatarisrule, santafe, Gabi, NYChica & Sara*~ Thanks for taking the time out to review, it means a lot to me. ~*MahiaLily, Professional Reader & YaYa*~ I love reading reviews like yours. You're too kind. : ) ~*Angel Monroe*~ Another faithful reviewer, sorry for the bad mental picture ;p ~*smile1*~ Yay! A newbie to my fic. I'm glad you liked the Lane/Dave action in the last chapter, I liked writing it =) ~*layla*~ Thanks for not abandoning this story, hang in there! ~*Genevieve10 & nightash*~ More newcomers! I'm ecstatic… your reviews got me writing Lorelai and Luke again! ~*emjai*~ You make my world complete when you review ;p! ~*silver blood & Naveed2*~ You guys are faithful reviewers too, I apologize for my slow updates, thanks for hanging around though ;p ~*kimlockt*~ I'm glad you liked that line, I was hoping someone would ;p
**~// Hartford: Elizabeth Park – Nature Trails \\~**
"Tell me again why we're doing this." Rory griped as she trudged down the trail careful not to stumble over a twig like she did a couple minutes before. She turned her elbow to see how her scratch was doing.
"You said that you felt that all we did was make-out ninety percent of the time we were together… you said you were afraid that that was all our relationship was about and you wanted to prove otherwise," Jess recited. "You thought it would be a good idea to try some stupid out-doorsey type shit such as this. So… here we are."
"Jess…," Rory sighed, "You thought it was a good idea too."
"I was simply playing the part of the good boyfriend and agreed with your insane idea. I'm perfectly content with making-out with you ninety percent of the time. Personally, I wouldn't mind if we bumped it up to a hundred percent." Jess joked.
Rory glowered at him and smacked him on the chest.
"Traveling down nature trails isn't one of the top ten things on my to-do list with Rory." Jess noticed that Rory was staring at her arm. "Do you want me to get the first aid kit out?"
"Yes please."
He shook his head and smiled at her. "You're such a baby." Jess stopped at nearby tree and took a seat. Rory followed suit.
"I'm wounded here Jess, no name calling allowed." Rory pouted.
"You are." He said playfully. "It's just a tiny, miniscule scratch. It's not even considered a scratch. It didn't even break the skin." He opened the back pack and pulled out the first aid kit.
"Hey you guys alright back there!" Lane yelled from a couple yards away.
"We're fine, Rory's got a scratch!" Jess yelled back and at the same time examined her arm. "I just can't find it." He says to Rory, smiling.
She rolled her eyes at him. "There's that humor again."
He opened an alcohol prep pad and resumed to pretend to look for the scratch.
"Jess…"
"Hmm…" His eyes squinted, looking closely for any sign of the said scratch. "Ah-ha there it is… waait, no… that's just your hair." He looked up at her with his big brown puppy eyes.
Rory snatched the alcohol pad from him.
"I'll do it thank you very much." She glared.
Jess sat back and watched her wipe the spot where her supposed scratch was. He laughed as she winced from the stinging alcohol.
"Quit laughing at me."
Jess mocked holding in his laughter. He held her wrist, bringing it towards him, gently turning it over to examine the stinging skin. He locked his eyes with hers for a moment before softly blowing on it.
Rory rolled her eyes at him. "I never knew you to be so romantically cheesy."
"Ah come on Rory, just admit it . . . you want me." He teased in a husky voice.
It was true. She did want him and she wanted him right then and there. She didn't care if she was reenacting some tacky love scene, but she didn't want to ignore the tingles she felt when he looked her dead in the eyes and blew his cool air against her skin. Never mind the fact that it was meant for the scratch, but she knew he had ulterior motives.
"Yes Jess, I want you and I want you right now. Take me please. Rip my clothes off and make sweet passionate love to me right here-" she paused and looked around the ground, "right here on this very tree stump." She scoffed. What would happen if she told him she meant it, every single word of it?
"Kiss me."
She looked up from the tree stump. "I thought we agreed… no kind of lip action." She was weakening by the minute.
"Kiss me Rory." He moved closer to her.
Her eyes darkened with lust. "I want to." She said in a whisper, almost afraid to say those words.
"Then kiss me." His face just inches away from hers.
"We can't Jess." His beautiful brown eyes were tempting her, making her heart beat a mile a minute.
"For Christ's sake kiss me... please?" His breath was hot against her lips, and suddenly her lips were moistened unconsciously when she sucked in her bottom lip.
"Well…," she faltered, "… since you said please." She said quietly and somewhat hesitant to fulfill his request… hesitant only because of their agreement.
The next thing she knew she caved, their deal long forgotten.
He guided her so that she was leaning against the tree. They started off slowly, both trying desperately to hold on to any ounce of self control they had left, but as their hands forged ahead, feeling on clothed and unclothed skin, the meaning of self control was completely lost upon the two. So caught up in the other, neither cared where they were or who was around.
**~// A Couple Yards Ahead of Rory and Jess \\~**
"I hope she's alright." Lane told Dave.
"I'm sure she's fine."
"And where the hell did Tristan and Sydney disappear to?"
"They probably took the other trail back."
"You don't think it was a bad idea pairing them together like that."
"Nah… they looked like they were enjoying themselves."
"I hope so. Do you think we should go back and check on Rory and Jess?"
"I think we should keep going. As much as I love spending time with you, I'm not much of a nature person. I'd like to get out of here as soon as possible." At the finish of his sentence, he swatted at a mosquito having its feast on the back of his neck. "I need to get out of here Lane." He begged, seriously.
"Aww Davey," she smiled at his helplessness. "Why didn't you tell me this before?"
"Well I thought I could handle it. I'd do anything to spend some time with you."
"You're such a sweety."
He flashed his boyish debonair smile making her melt right before her very eyes.
Lane grabbed a hold of his arm giving an affectionate kiss on his shoulder. "Let's go."
**~// Somewhere Else in Elizabeth Park \\~**
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"
At the sound of Tristan's, Rory immediately detached her lips and hands from Jess. She noted the look of irritation on Jess' face.
"You really know how to kill a moment don't you." Jess told Tristan.
"Hey, we were just walking along when we saw what looked like two people in a very heated situation."
"And instead of doing the proper thing and keep on walking, you chose to watch." Jess snapped.
"You make me sound like a pervert."
"Well if the shoe fits…"
"I just thought it would be funny to see the look on Rory's face when she'd been caught in the act." Tristan turned to look at Rory and smirked. "And I must say… that look will be one that will be etched into my mind forever… Priceless Mary. Thank you."
Jess silently winced at the sound of Tristan's pet name for her.
Rory narrowed her eyes warningly at him. "Tristan-"
"It was a joke Rory. I'm sorry. It was wrong of me to interrupt." He half-apologized.
Rory looked at Sydney.
"He couldn't be stopped, believe me I tried." Sydney smiled apologetically.
"Well, it'll be dark soon, so it's just as well." Rory stood up and dusted off the seat of her pants. She saw the look of disappointment and sheer annoyance on Jess' face. He looked like a frustrated puppy. She held out her hand for him and he took it, only half using it to hoist himself up. With her other hand, she gently cupped the side of his face, offering him a contrite pout to let him know that she too was feeling frustrated. They shared a simple chaste kiss.
Tristan and Sydney had already started down the trail.
"Ready to go?"
He nodded once. "Okay."
**~// A Couple Yards Ahead of Rory and Jess \\~**
"So tell me… how long have you had a thing for Rory?" Sydney asked out of the blue.
Tristan immediately jerked out of his reverie. He casually laughed, not letting her words show true. "I don't have a thing for Rory…"
Sydney smirked.
He saw that she didn't believe him and quickly looked away. "…anymore." He continued.
Sydney nodded but still didn't completely believe him.
"I don't." He said reassuringly.
"Okay."
Tristan picked a couple leaves from a passing tree and started absentmindedly tore it to pieces, letting it fall to the ground. "I used to have this thing for her, but she chose him…" He smiled at her. "In a way I'm glad she did choose him because if she hadn't then I would've never been able to get to know you… like I am now."
"You said she chose him… so I'm assuming she knew that you had this thing for her?"
He shook his head and smiled a small smile. "Nah… she never knew." He looked at Sydney pointedly. "And she never will. She's happy with Jess. Everyone can see it. They have this certain connection that's unique to only the two of them. And… I've accepted that and moved on." He stopped her from walking down any further and intertwined her hand with his. "So please… could we just concentrate on us? I'd really like for there to be an us." He told her honestly.
"I'd like that too."
"And if you think that I'm still waiting for that day to be with her, I'm not. So don't let that get in the way of you letting there be an us."
She nodded.
"I like you Syd… and I'd like to keep seeing you."
She nodded again, grinning sweetly at him. He didn't have to explain himself to her. She liked him. And the fact that once upon a time he liked Rory didn't really bother her. And for him to profess how much he wanted there to be 'an us' made him all-the-more worthwhile.
**~// Back in Zack's Mom's Stationwagon \\~**
"You never told me how you got Zack to let us borrow his mom's Stationwagon."
"It was easy really. Just a simple mentioning of Rory's mom coming to watch us practice… and Zack will do just about anything I ask."
"And Lorelai agreed to this?"
"Simple pleasures really… She made me promise that when we're famous we would let her accompany us to those illustrious Hollywood celebrity parties."
There was a comfortable momentary silence between the two as they let the sound of the crickets and other night crawlers fill the car. Dave covered the steering wheel with his arm and laid his cheek against it facing Lane and peacefully watched her. His free hand reached out towards her thigh where her hand rested and folded her petite hand with his.
She felt a little uncomfortable by his staring. She pushed her glasses up before she looked back at him. "What?" She smiled bashfully. She really wasn't the bashful type, but when Dave openly gazed at her she always felt that she had a booger hanging from her nose or something equally embarrassing.
"Nothing. I just… like looking at you." He firmly squeezed her hand.
She blushed slightly. "Don't stare too long, you might realize that I'm really not all that cute."
He laughed. "You're really beautiful Lane." He told her sincerely. "I could stare at you all day and you'd get more beautiful-er by the hour." He scoffed at himself. "That's not even a word is it?"
"It was a creative effort." She nodded and smiled.
"Come here." He said quietly. He helped her slide across the vinyl seat and wrapped his arm around her waist. He stared into her dark brown eyes and slowly leaned in.
Her heart beat quickened as the feel of his soft lips brushed deliciously against hers. His right hand moved to the back of her neck, urging her closer. Both welcomed the intensity of the kiss. His fingers mingled with the soft tendrils of her hair. In her mind, she wanted to touch him, to feel him, to make sure he was real.
She held on to his right forearm, as if using it to hold herself up.
They both pulled away at the right moment and smiled at the other. His hand still played with her hair and her hand still held his forearm. He ended their perfect first heated kiss with an innocent and pure one.
They heard some rustling and voices nearing the car and released their hold on the other.
Sydney was the first to open the door to the back seats.
"-I hope it's not illegal to pick these Tulips." She said sitting down. "Hey guys."
"Hey." Lane and Dave greeted back in unison.
"Tristan opened the opposite door to the back seats and sat next to Sydney. "I don't think they'll miss one tulip Syd." Tristan replied.
He chose to ignore the huge wooden sign that read 'PLEASE DO NOT PICK FLOWERS' and plucked a pink tulip and gave it to Sydney.
"We weren't interrupting were we?" Sydney asked. She and Tristan seem to be doing that a lot today.
"No… we were just talking." Lane answered. "Did you guys run into Rory and Jess?"
"Yeah, but we left them at that bridge overlooking the pond. They're trying their hand at rock skipping."
**~// Somewhere in Elizabeth Park \\~**
"Ha! Six skips. Beat that." Rory dared.
"Easily." Jess smirked. Rory didn't know that he was a rock skipping expert. He tossed his rock skillfully, bouncing about 10 times off the water below.
"And you made it look so easy. What other skills do you have you haven't told me about?"
"You'll find out when the time is right."
"Jess?"
"Hmm." Jess was already in the process of trying to beat his first skip.
"About this whole sex issue…"
The rock skipped a mere three times.
He turned around, eager to hear what she had to say about the subject.
"I know you're ready…" She looked deep into his eyes, seeing that was she said was true, "… and I know I'm ready…"
He smiled. "I kinda figured that from that kiss back there."
"Exactly. If Tristan and Sydney didn't interrupt when they did, Jess… I would have let you…," she looked away. "…right there," she looked back into his eyes, "…right there on that bumpy tree stump." She laughed lightly.
"I'm flattered." What a stupid thing to say. He regretted the words as soon as they left his lips.
"Jess-" She pinched him at his side.
"I'm sorry, that came out all wrong." He leaned against the stone wall of the bridge. He held her at her hips and drew her closer to him. "You know that I want you… all the time… and I would've gladly taken you on that bumpy tree stump if you wanted me too." He kissed the tip of her nose. "But you and I both know that that wouldn't have been right." It wouldn't have been right for her. He didn't have any qualms about having sex with Rory in the park.
She smiled in agreement. "So how do you propose we resolve the 'all we do is make-out' issue?" Her fingers played with his unruly thick hair.
"Rory… you have to know that we are more than that..."
She nodded.
"This constant making-out thing… it's because this is a new and exciting step up in our relationship- the added perks of us becoming more than just friends. We will always be the way we were before we became… what we are now. It's just been lessened for the time being because… well… because we can't get enough of each other. " He smiled wickedly.
She grinned. "You always say the right things." She kissed him.
"I've been known to do that from time to time."
She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him close. "I love you." She said quietly into his ear.
He affectionately kissed the hair that covered her ear.
"We should be getting back." She told him and took his hand and led him in the direction of the car.
They reached the station wagon and noticed that they were the last ones to arrive.
"Hey guys." Rory greeted as she quickly approached the four in the car. "Have you been waiting long?" She furrowed her brows, ready to apologize if they said yes.
"No." Sydney answered for the four.
The back trunk door was open and ready for Jess and Rory to hop in.
"It looks like it's our turn in the trunk Rory."
He helped her in and helped himself in before closing the door. Rory leaned up against the pillows that adorned the side window, clasping Jess' hand pulling him to sit next to her.
"Everybody ready to go?" Dave asked. Everyone agreed and he started the car, Radiohead blaring through the speakers.
**~// Gilmore Home – A Week Later - Saturday Night \\~**
Both mother and daughter were seated in their respectable spots on the couch for another night of movie night. Tonight's English sub-titled feature: Amélie.
Amélie: I am nobody's little weasel.
"So… no Jess tonight?" Lorelai asked.
"He's working, he'll probably stop by later on tonight."
Lorelai nodded and they both continued to watch the movie.
Raymond Dufayel: So, my little Amélie, you don't have bones of glass. You can take life's knocks. If you let this chance pass, eventually, your heart will become as dry and brittle as my skeleton. So, go to him, dammit!
"Rory…"
"Yeah…," Rory answered but her eyes were still on the television screen, reading the subtitles.
"I am nobody's little weasel." Lorelai pouted.
Rory took the remote and pushed pause and turned her full attention to her mother.
"Mom… you know that you have to make the first move. It doesn't look like Luke will anytime soon. He's more stubborn and oblivious than you are. You need to show him how you feel."
"I have. You've seen me in action. I'm not subtle when I flirt with him."
"But you've always flirted with him. He's used to that. Maybe you should tell him how you feel."
"I don't know if I can do that."
"Come on mom."
"I'm afraid of rejection." She mocked.
Rory laughed. "You are not. You know Luke won't reject you. He's too smitten by you. Everybody knows it and everybody's waiting for you guys to suck up whatever it is keeping you guys from being together. 'If you let this chance pass, eventually, your heart will become dry and brittle. So, go to him, dammit!'" Rory indirectly quoted Mister Dufayel.
Lorelai grew confident at her words. "Alright. I'm gonna do it!" She stood up psyching her self up.
"Go!" Rory urged.
After a moment of contemplation, Lorelai plopped herself back down on the couch. "Maybe tomorrow." She grabbed the remote and pushed play.
Rory rolled her eyes at her crazy mother and continued to watch the movie.
**~// Gilmore Home – A Week Later – Late-Afternoon \\~**
Lorelai barged into Rory's bedroom without knocking.
"Here." Lorelai handed her daughter their Polaroid camera. "Take a picture of me."
Rory laughed at her mother's Zorro getup. She furrowed her brows at her.
"Mom… I think you've watched Amélie one too many times. Just because we can rent a movie for seven days now doesn't necessarily mean that you should watch it more than two times."
"Come on. Take it, while I'm still amped."
Rory smiled as she realized what her mother planned to do. "Mom are you-"
"No time for questions… I'm starting to lose my nerve again. Will you hurry up and take the picture already?" Lorelai was growing antsy by the minute.
"Okay, okay." Rory dog-eared her latest read and set it on her night stand. She took the camera from her mother and took a picture and handed it to her mother.
Lorelai took the picture and fanned it in the air waiting for it to develop.
"Haha… Perfect." She smiled, pleased with how the picture turned out. She grabbed a white marker from Rory's desk and scribbled something on it. "Here. Give this to Jess to give to Luke."
A/N: I'm finally trying to wind this sucker down… trying being the operative word here. I've only got an idea for the next chapter, but after that I'm not entirely sure how I want to end this baby. I really want to end this story. It needs to be ended. I'm already in the works of writing a sequel… the gang goes to college… there's a lot of sex, a lot of drugs, and a lot of rock & roll… just kidding… maybe not a lot of drugs… probably no drugs… but I digress… If anyone has ideas on how I can end this little ol' project, feel free to e-mail me with some ideas. Shank ya and have a niice day… after you stop to review of course ;p Oh yea… next chapter… hehe… the long awaited scene between Rory and Jess (you know what I'm insinuating, many of you asked for it and yes… I've finally written it… stay tuned… if you dare…