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: Hey guys, remember me? It's been a while hasn't it… I'm updating on account of the lovely person who nominated my little story for the P&P Awards. It's the least I can do to say thank you. Definitely turned my frown upside down (I've been in a tiny funk lately). Anyhow, this chapter is dedicated to sarahl…
Make way people. I said make way people! Major fluff ahead…
..…'.' Doosie's – Afternoon '.' …..
Lorelai pondered her current predicament - stuck with the sucky job of having to buy the junk food for Friday movie night. Okay, so… in all honestly, it didn't suck that much. In fact she loved shopping for junk food. Really she did. Having eyes bigger than her stomach meant never leaving something behind, because she bought everything her junk-heart desired. What did suck was the fact that she wouldn't be eating said junk food or partaking in the actually movie watching activities. Somehow she was left out of the usual threesome equation. This time willingly. One minute she was all excited that today was Friday. Dinner with the parents – blah, followed by movie night with Rory and Jess - yay right?...wrong. She still couldn't erase that god-awful image of Jess foreplaying Rory.
Augh GetoutgetoutGETOUTLooking around, she was relieved to see that no one witnessed her pounding her head senselessly with a box of Ding Dongs.
She made up a totally unbelievable lie excusing her from the movie night and fed it to Rory. She hated lying to her daughter. So selfishly, to make her feel less guilty, she offered to buy the goods.
Her daughter wasn't stupid. Rory knew she lived for Friday nights with her and believe it or not Jess. He actually mocked at the Gilmore level of mocking which was a very difficult feat to accomplish. Yep, they had a grand ol' time together. All three of them… until stupid Jess decided to go full hormonal on her daughter.
Stupid Jess and his stupid hormonal tendencies.
"Oo marshmallows." She grabbed a bag of Jett Puffed marshmallows, mentally reminding herself that she needed to get a box of graham crackers and a couple of Hershey bars. She headed straight for the candy aisle, her favorite aisle…
"Oof!"
"Ow!"
Luke and Lorelai, both in their own little worlds collide with brut force as they rounded the same corner.
"Watch it!" They both say at the other as they bend down to pick up the items that had dropped to the floor.
"Lorelai?"
When his voice registered, she looked up and grinned. "Luke."
Luke…what a lovely surprise…
"You haven't been by the diner in a while." Luke finally said after a few odd seconds of unbearable silence. He offered his hand to help her up.
"Yeah. Been kinda busy. With the Inn and all."
Luke nodded. "Right, right. How's that going?"
They both knew they were stalling the inevitable. It had been a few days since Lorelai discovered Luke's reply plastered all over the town. Where and When? She had yet to answer him. But now… here he was … in person… standing right in front of her…
Enough with the games Gilmore! She proclaimed to herself.
"Luke?" Here goes nothing…
"Huh."
"Are you by any chance free this Saturday?"
Luke began to nod, not even thinking whether or not he really was. She was asking him out…
"Uh, yeah."
"Let's do something."
"Do something?"
"Dinner."
"Dinner?'
"Stop that."
"Stop what?"
Lorelai glared at him funnily.
Luke laughed. "Yeah let's do dinner."
..…'.' Gilmore Home – Saturday Night '.' …..
Where is it?
Drawer after drawer Rory searched for the t-shirt she stole from Jess a week ago. It had lost its Jess scent only a couple days after she had acquired it and she wanted to switch it out for another. This little obsession of hers had managed to manifest itself into a secret routine.
The first time it happened was purely by accident. Being her usual clumsy self one hilarious night at Luke's place where one minute she was lounging on the brown leather couch, enjoying her two scoop chocolate chocolate chocolate ice cream in a cone when next she found herself drowning in a sea of chocolate syrup.
She blamed Jess. Never indulge a Gilmore with more chocolate. Things tend to get very ugly and Jess had to learn that first hand. After all the laughing and mocking on Jess' part, he decided to be nice and help her out. He gave her one of his shirts to change into, one that she wore home later that night. She slept in it, not even thinking twice about it. Unleashing the delicious sleeping powers one simple t-shirt could hold. A completely different dimension was discovered. One she found to be very addictive.
And so began her secret obsession. At least once every three to four days, she had herself a new Jess shirt.
"Mom." Rory called out from her bedroom.
Lorelai came bouncing down the stairs, brushing her newly shampooed hair. "Yeah?" She responded, meeting her in the kitchen.
"Have you seen Jess' Deftones t-shirt?"
"Uh… no?"
"Mom..."
"What?"
"You need to work on hiding that guilty look. Your skills are not up to par these days."
"Fine. It's in the laundry room. Neatly folded. On top of the dryer."
"You… washed it?" Rory questioned carefully, not hinting on to her little secret.
"Hey I wash whatever makes it into the dirty pile. And the Delftones shirt was in your dirty pile missy."
Confused, Rory didn't remember ever putting it in her dirty pile. However, she figured it was for the better. Returning the shirt to him laundered instead of not laundered would be more considerate of her… even if he wouldn't know one way or the other.
Flicking the light on in the small room, she immediately saw the neatly folded black shirt. Her heart stopped short, wishing her eyes were deceiving her. Slowly, she picked it up, letting the black fabric dangle. Her other hand held up the other side as she stared at it in disbelief.
Shit.
"MOM. What… did you… do?"
Lorelai was just a few seconds away from escaping out the back kitchen door when Rory rushed out of the laundry room.
She slowly turned around, a myriad of excuses fluttering around in her head.
"I uh… ha… sorry?"
"This is Jess' favorite shirt." Rory said, straining to contain her uneasiness. "He's going to kill me. He doesn't even know I have it."
"Well, just sneak it back in his room. He'll never notice."
Rory held up the shirt to her mother's face. "This shirt fit's a four year old now. I think he'll notice!"
Lorelai's suppressed a smile. "Hey. Didn't I teach you that it's wrong to steal things that aren't yours?"
"I didn't steal it… I merely borrowed it… without him knowing."
"Hun. That's called stealing," she confirmed.
Ignoring her, "I was going to return it."
"Stuff it back in his drawer. He'll blame Luke. There. No more worries."
"You are incorrigible." Rory didn't know what else to do but pace around the kitchen like the true freak she was. Yes. She was the kind of freak who stole her boyfriend's t-shirts and slept in them. "What am I going to do?"
"I told you what to do."
"I'm not gonna let Luke take the blame." Rory said slightly disappointed in her mother for actually suggesting that out loud.
"Why not?" Lorelai said innocently.
"And here I thought you liked Luke."
The two froze when a knock on the front door startled them. The door opened then closed. Four possible suspects who always knocked and walked into their home: Sookie. Lane. Sydney. Jess.
"Anybody home?" A male voice asked.
Rory grimaced staring at the tiny shirt in her hand. She threw it at her mother and quickly walked into the foyer to meet him before they could be discovered.
"Jess?"
Lorelai quickly stuffed the now baby tee into the oven before following after Rory.
"Hey." He greeted her with a soft kiss on her forehead before he settled down on the couch.
Lorelai headed upstairs without so much as a glance in his direction. He watched until her figure disappeared.
"Dismembering me still at the top of her list of things to do?"
"Give it time." She flopped down next to him, arms folded.
"She won't look at me or say hi."
"Can you blame her? You were doing very naughty things to her kid. Of course she won't look at you."
Jess smirked. He stared at his hands, at the large bandage that covered his palm. "Pretty humiliating stuff."
"No kidding."
He leaned in closely to her. "You enjoyed it though right?"
"So not the point but yes. Very much so." Her smile was the most genuine thing he'd ever seen.
"I didn't mean to let things get out of hand." He said in a low tone. "I shouldn't have… here…"
Rory nodded, bringing her legs into an Indian style sitting position.
"We both got carried away… can't let that ever happen again in this house."
He smirked, thinking to himself. Where can it happen then? Luke's place was definitely off limits. He still hasn't let up on coming up to the apartment every ten minutes to check up on them. He didn't even bother to use his lame excuses anymore like forgetting his order pad or oh here's a funny one… his pen. Ten minutes. He could work his magic in ten minutes. He has worked his magic in ten minutes. But this was Rory…
He leaned his head next to hers, his lips only centimeters away from her ear. "So I guess no more DVD nights when your mom's at work?"
She shook her head, ignoring the tingles that started her up in the first place.
"She could come home early again, and I don't think I or my mother would be able to live through another humiliating scene like that."
Rory saw that he was fiddling his hand. She took his into hers and examined it.
"What happened?" She asked.
"Luke heard about the incident and stabbed me."
Rory gave him her stern face. "Seriously. What happened?"
"I was cutting a bagel with a rather super sharp knife. Sliced right into my hand. The bagel sopped up most of the blood. Kirk fainted. It was ugly."
"Oh God." She winced, feeling a little faint at the thought. "Are you alright?"
"Luke drove me to the hospital. The good doctor stitched it up. I'm all pretty again." He said with his crooked smile reassuring her.
"Why didn't you call me?"
"It was no big deal."
"You could've called me." She sounded a little upset. "Anything involving blood and you warrants a phone call to me. Okay?"
He nodded only to get her off his back.
"You must've been daydreaming about me again." She joked, grinning up at him.
His eyes widened and he laughed. He wanted to say something smart, but nothing left his mouth. He was speechless. Shaking his head, the only thing he could come up with was, "Whatever." There was a 99.9% chance that she was right.
They sat in silence, each thinking their own private thoughts. The house was quiet for the most part except from the shuffling Lorelai made from upstairs.
"So I talked to Tristan last night."
Jess inwardly flinched, though no show of immediate jealously took full form on his features. Even though he and Tristan got along, the sound of his name coming from Rory's lips will never stop irritating him.
"Huh."
"Sydney's birthday is two weeks after school starts and he asked me to help plan a party for her."
"Oh yeah…doesn't he have people he could pay to do that stuff for him?" He started messing with the wrap on his hand, lifting it up to assess the damage underneath.
Rory watched as he took his hand back. She quickly drew it back with a scolding look on her face.
"Don't do that."
He sighed, his head hanging, rubbing his brows with his other fingers. He hated being babied. It's a paper cut compared to the stab wound on his thigh. Now that was painful. Just a few inches to the left… he could have bled to death… but that's a whole 'nother story for another time…
"I know what Sydney likes."
"So does Lane," he pointed out a little too quickly.
"Mrs. Kim wouldn't let him near her. Sadly, past bad boy reputation has followed him to Stars Hollow."
Jess remained silent.
How is that comforting?
It wasn't in his nature to be this blunt with jealousy, so he didn't stress it any further.
"So is the party in Stars Hollow or at one of his many estates."
"He's thinking his pool house. There'll be swimming, barbequing, your basic summertime birthday party."
"Huh… I don't swim."
"What?"
"I don't swim."
"You don't swim as in you can't swim or you don't swim as in you can swim but too cool to mess up your hair."
He rolled his eyes. "I… can't swim."
"You're kidding me."
"Nope."
"You're kidding me." She smiled, amazed. "Everyone knows how to swim. Mrs. Kim knows how to swim…You don't know how to swim?"
Giggling, she thought of Jess with floaties around his arms.
"Stop."
"What?"
"You're picturing me with floaties around my arms."
"I am not."
"I know how you think." He pointed a finger at her warningly though the smiles on her face never faded. "Stop Rory."
"Aw. My little Jessie doesn't know how to swim." She paused, grinning bigger, "It's too cute."
He suddenly got up, untangling himself from her hands and stood before her.
"Stop or I leave." He was all serious on the outside, but she knew he really wasn't.
She looked up at him as adorable and as cute as she possibly could and grabbed his good hand.
"Come on. Sit."
"Only if you stop."
"Sit." She ordered and yanked him down next to her. "So, are you telling me you won't go swimming with me at Sydney's party?"
"Yup."
"Oh come on. I'll stay with you at the shallow end. Or… if you prefer the deep end, I have no problem hanging on the wall with you."
He sighed loudly, clearly frustrated with her antics. "No."
"Jess…" She whined.
"No."
"Yes." She said boldly.
His eyebrows rose at Rory putting her foot down. Where did that come from? He's never heard that out of her. It… turned him on…
"You will wear your sexy tiny swim trunks and we will wade in the pool's shallow end."
… and turned him off…
He shook his head at her.
"End of discussion." Rory ordered.
"Wha-"
"I said end of discussion."
"You know what? I wanna break up."
She smiled widely at him, teeth and all. She slipped her arm through his and rested her head on his shoulder…
"I don't own tiny swim trunks. I'm not Dean."
She picked her head up and glared at him. "Well it's a good thing we have a good a month to search for some hmm."
"I choose my own trunks." He said forcefully. It's about time he acted like a man for once. Geeze.
She smiled again. He gets softer and softer each day. Slowly letting his walls down, allowing her in. No matter how degrading.
Out of the blue, she placed several kisses along his jaw line, receiving a puzzled look from him, and again rested her head on his shoulder.
"We'll see." She whispered, patting him on his forearm.
He couldn't help but smile.
..…'.' Later that night '.' …..
Lorelai rushed down the stairs, struggling with the back zipper of her dress.
"Rory!" She searched the living room for her favorite brunette. "Where the hell are you?!" She yelled out entering the kitchen. Still no Rory. Suddenly she stopped in front of her daughter's bedroom door.
Oh god… please god…no more repeat performances okay?
She knocked firmly on her door.
"Rory? Are you in there hun?" Seconds ticked loudly in her head. No answer. "I'm coming in."
Hesitantly, she opened the door. Her eyes closed, prepared this time to expect the unexpected. Once in the room, after a lengthy number of seconds, hearing no protests, she finally opened her eyes. The rapid beating of her heart slowly returned to normal with just one loud sigh of relief.
Rory innocently looked up from her book and removed her headphones. Jess shifted in her lap at the sudden movement, but didn't wake up.
"Hi." Lorelai said with an uneasy smile.
"Uh hi."
"I take it you haven't heard my frantic cries for help."
"No, I'm sorry. My music must've been louder than usual." She slowly stood up, successfully moving away without disturbing Jess. "What's wrong?"
"Can't…" Lorelai pointed awkwardly at her back, turning around and around like a cat chasing it's tail. "…zip the stupid zipper." She said all exhausted.
"Aw…" Rory's head tilted slightly as she regarded her mother. "You're freaking out about your date with Luke."
Lorelai scoffed at the idea. "Ha! I am not freaking out!"
Both Gilmore girls focused on the boy on the bed. Jess absently grabbed one of Rory's pillows and suffocated his head underneath it. Just as he would when Luke yelled at him in the mornings to get his lazy ass out of bed.
Rory turned back to her mother as she started to speak again.
"Ha! I am not freaking out!" She repeated, only this time in a whispered tone.
Rory headed into the kitchen with Lorelai hot on her heels.
"You are too, freaking out."
Lorelai plopped herself down on one of the kitchen chairs. Her hands dug into her hair as she rested her elbows on the table.
"I'm freaking out." She admitted.
Rory took a seat next to her mother, smoothing her back. "There's nothing to be nervous about mom. It's just Luke. Luke whom we've known for forever. This is not some random blind date."
"That's exactly why this makes it more nerve wracking. I have a date with Luke! Whom we've known forever! This'll be totally different from seeing him at the diner. We've never been out together. Just the two of us…"
"Well… just think Thanksgiving, minus me and Jess. See? You've already dated." Rory smiled.
"I'm sorry hun, but that doesn't help at all."
Ding. Dong.
Rory felt her mother's hands tighten around her arm. "Quick, answer the door and tell him I'm not here."
"What? You're crazy." Taking her mother by the arm, she struggled lifting her dead weight. "Come on." In one swift movement, Rory zipped the back of her mother's dress. "Go upstairs and put on those dangly earrings I love. I'll stall."
Lorelai stomped upstairs, glaring at her daughter in the process.
On the other side of the door was Luke. Equally, if not more nervous than her mother.
"Hey Luke."
"Rory."
Rory stepped aside. "Come in, come in." She said lightheartedly, almost taking too much pleasure in the two love-bird's edginess. "Aw Luke, you old softy. You bought her flowers."
Luke uncomfortably scratched his clashing backwards wearing hat head. "Uh yeah. You think she'll like these."
"She'll love them." She said reassuringly, as she led them into the living room. "Have a seat and I'll go get mom."
He wished the couch would swallow him whole. Here he was, sitting on Lorelai's couch, waiting for her to come down to him. For their date. Idly, he laid the flowers on the coffee table and rubbed his hands on his slacks.
"Sweaty palms and flowers. I knew it."
Nope. This day would not have been complete if his nephew wasn't there to mock him.
"Shut up."
"Aw, Uncle Luke…" Jess made himself comfortably on the chair adjacent to him. "… would you like me to get you a Corona?" He taunted, thumbing in the direction of the kitchen.
"What the hell are you doing here anyway?"
"My girlfriend lives here." He answered, stating the obvious.
"I'll never understand what she sees in you." Luke teased.
"What can I say? I'm easy on the eyes." Jess took in Luke's attire. "Speaking of which, you look dapper. Finally wean yourself off flannel?"
Luke threw him a 'fuck you' glare. "Lorelai bought this for me a while back, something about being a gazillion percent off."
All of a sudden Jess busted a laugh.
"What now?"
"Lose the hat."
That's what he'd forgotten.
Luke hurriedly removed his cap, folded it and stuffed it in his pant pocket, its tip sticking out like a sore.
Jess shook his head.
Luke ran his fingers through his hair, hopping he didn't have hat-hair. He searched around the room for a mirror. None was in immediate sight so he settled for Jess. "How's it look?"
The answer came in the form of a comb being trusted into the air, hitting him in the chest.
"You know where the bathroom is."
Picking the comb from his lap, Luke stood up and walked towards the bathroom. Not without shoving Jess upside the head as he walked passed him.
"Abusive I tell you!" Jess bellowed.
"Mom will be down in a-" Rory said coming down the stairs as she noticed Luke had turned into Jess. "Where's Luke?"
"Bathroom."
"Did you tell him to take off-"
"-His stupid hat? Yeah. I did," Jess finished.
Rory smiled and patted him on his head. "Good boy," she praised.
He quickly grabbed her wrist, pulling her squealing form onto his lap. Unable to free herself from the hold he had around her waist, she settled into him, letting her legs dangle off the side of the arm rest.
"Will you be keeping me company tonight?" Rory asked.
"Nope. And if Luke and your mom decide to keep seeing each other, I'll most likely be stuck at the diner, leaving you home all alone."
Rory pouted. "Maybe this whole 'my mom and Luke dating' thing isn't such a great idea after all."
His lips brushed against her ear and whispered huskily into it, "I'll close early tonight. You could stop by."
"I may have made other plans by then." She joked.
"Oh yeah?"
She nodded playfully.
Lorelai slowly emerged from the top of the stairs. At the same moment, Luke walked towards the living room. As she neared the bottom of the last couple steps, she saw Luke. And Luke saw Lorelai…
The house was ridiculously quiet for what seemed like hours to Jess and he felt the urge to remedy that…
Rory's hand flew over Jess' open mouth, covering it before a smart remark left his lips. He and Rory watched the two unable to speak much less tear their eyes away from the other. It was sweet.
Rory had to admit, she was a proud daughter. Her mother snapped out of whatever trance she was stuck in and returned to her normal confident self. The smile said it all. Her mother had the most beautiful confident smile. And it made Luke melt.
"Hi Luke."
"Lorelai. You look… you look nice." Luke stammered. Nice wasn't the word he wanted to use.
The sound of a snicker from his nephew reminded him that they weren't alone. Only seconds later he heard his very nephew mutter an irritated 'ow'. He offered Rory a smile of thanks for reprimanding Jess for him.
"I mean you look… you look very… pretty." Pretty wasn't the word he wanted to use either.
"Ow!" Jess said loudly, interrupting any kind of moment Luke and Lorelai were having.
Feeling all eyes on him, Jess did the only thing that came to mind.
"Ow! Jess!" His girlfriend yelped at the stinging pain he so graciously inflicted on her side. Yep… he pinched her. What of it?!
"Hey guys. Could you keep it down? You're kinda ruining the moment here." Lorelai said smiling tightly at the two teenagers. "Thanks."
"Right." Rory said glaring at a smirking Jess. "We're sorry. Continue."
Lorelai reached the bottom of the stairs and stood in front of Luke, her drop dead gorgeous smile still in place.
Luke actually felt self-conscious as her eyes traveled up and down his body like a piece of meat.
Sexay
Her blue eyes focused on the left pocket of his slacks.
"Just couldn't leave home without it huh?" She teased, plucking the hat out of his pocket.
"Give that back." He said snatching it out of her hands and stuffed it back in his pocket.
"Yeah 'cuz that's real sexy." Lorelai deadpanned.
Finally. They were back to their normal selves.
"I brought you flowers." Luke remembered, motioning to the coffee table.
"Aw, Luke…" she paused, picking up the bouquet of pink tulips, "They're beautiful. Thank you."
Luke nodded slightly, "It's nothing."
"Don't be silly. That was very thoughtful of you. You really now how to charm a girl." Lorelai grinned.
Luke rolled his eyes.
"I'm gonna put them in a vase right now." Lorelai headed to the kitchen, leaving Luke alone with two smirking teens.
"Shut up Jess."
Jess' eyes widened and he shrugged, pretending to be innocent. "What? I didn't say anything."
"Just shut up."
"But-"
"I mean it Jess… you too Rory."
The two teens continued to smirk.
"Okay," Lorelai said as she walked back into the living room, "shall we go?"
"Let's go." Luke agreed.
"Wait. Just…" Again she pulled the hat out of his pocket and threw it to Rory. Before he could protest, "It'll be fine Luke. Charlie's in good hands. Rory will take good care of him. Right Rory?"
Rory nodded, catching the hat, and started petting it.
"Your mom named Luke's baseball cap." Jess said when he finally figured out what the hell Charlie was.
"She names all inanimate objects." Rory said, placing the beloved hat carefully on the coffee table.
"Huh."
"Bye guys." Lorelai said pushing Luke in the direction of the front door.
"Oh yeah. Almost forgot." Luke stopped, turning to Jess. "You've got the rest of the night off. It was pretty slow when I left. Caesar should be able to close by himself."
Jess nodded containing any emotions he might have. Lorelai on the other hand showed how she felt. He didn't miss it either.
"We'll be back as soon as we can." Lorelai managed to say before she closed the front door.
"Yeah she's subtle." Jess muttered. "Ow. Rory! Enough with the pinching!" Jess spat out, getting really annoyed.
"That was for pinching me!"
"Hey you pinched me first!"
He stood lifting her up with him, walking over to the couch and playfully dropped her.
"Hey!" She cried.
He walked into the kitchen paying no attention to her.
"Jerk!"
"Love you too."
She met him in the kitchen and watched him search the fridge for something edible. He should've known he'd find nothing but spoiled leftover takeout. Closing the door to the fridge, he entwined his girlfriend's hand with his and led her out of the house.
"Where are we going?" She questioned.
"Shhh."
Rory smiled, happy with the idea of spending the rest of the night with Jess when she previously thought she would be alone-ing it tonight.
She rested her head on his shoulder as they walked to wherever Jess led them.
..…'.' Doosie's Market - Night '.' …..
"What do you feel like eating tonight?" Jess asked once they entered the market.
"You mean real food or junk food?"
"Real food."
"How 'bout ramen noodles?"
"You're kidding right?"
"You said real food."
Jess rolls his eyes. "Wait here."
Jess grabbed a basket and went down the aisles that had the ingredients he needed. Rory waited by the check-out counter, occupying herself by reading the tabloids.
After Jess gathered all that he needed they stood in line to check out. He noticed Rory's confused stare at the contents of his basket. Her eyes reached his and he knew what was coming next.
"Aww, Jess… you're cooking for me?"
"Shh."
She slipped her arm through his, locking him to her, and kissed his cheek.
…
Once in the house, Jess deposited the bag of groceries onto the kitchen table. Arms folded, he stared at Rory, who made herself comfortable by taking a seat.
"Out." He ordered, pointing in the direction of the living room.
"But I wanna-," she started to protest.
Jess silenced her when he stressed the direction of the living room once more.
Crossing her own arms, she stalked out of the kitchen. She grabbed the phone and the remote before she made herself comfortable on the couch. Agonizing minutes passed and she still couldn't find one thing to watch. She turned the television off and stared at the phone, thinking of someone to call.
"Hey Lane."
"Rory? Hey!"
"Whatcha doin'?"
"What I always do on Saturday nights. Daydreaming about Dave. You?"
"Waiting…"
"For…"
"Jess to finish."
"Finish what?"
"Cooking."
"Jess is cooking for you?"
"Yep." Rory smiled.
"Aw that's so cute."
"Yeah… It is isn't it?"
…
Knowing the Gilmore way of life, Jess checked out the oven before he preheated it, prepared to see anything that shouldn't be in the oven. It was a good thing he did because as suspected he found a shoe box with actual shoes in it and a kid's Delftone's t-shirt. Wait a second…what the hell?
..…'.' A Little While Later '.' …..
"Jess? Are you finished yet? I'm hungry." Rory called out from her lazy position on the couch, rubbing her stomach. The smell of lasagna woke her from her nap. Not to mention the grumbling of her stomach.
"Yeah just about."
A few minutes later, he came into the living room and stood before her.
"Take your shirt off." Jess said simply.
Completely surprised by what he was requesting, she had to blink a couple of times and make sure she heard him right, "Excuse me?"
"Take your shirt off."
"What?" Apparently, she still couldn't believe her ears.
"Take. Your. Shirt. Off." He repeated for the third time, only this time stressing every word.
Rory thought this was something new. She couldn't deny that it excited her in a diirty way... But her grumbling stomach was unrelenting.
"Jess," she practically purred, "How about we eat first? I'm starving."
Jess raised his brows in amazement. "I want you to try something on for me." With that certain sly glint in his eyes, she realized it could only mean one thing...
Shit.
He found the stupid shirt.
Shitshitshit
The scared guilty look on her face earned a laugh from her boyfriend.
"I'm not mad."
"You're not?" Rory asked, completely taken aback.
"Nope."
"It really isn't my fault. My mom did it." She said childishly placing blame.
"I'm just curious as to why you have my shirt in the first place… I know I never left it here."
Shit.
"I took it."
"You took it."
"It helps me sleep better." She explained simply.
Jess wasn't expecting that. Not at all. He figured she just really liked the damn shirt and stole it.
"It helps you sleep better?"
"You're scent… I just… I found out that I sleep ten times better with it," she blushed, she was actually telling him. "Stop smirking. It's very ugly on you," she lied, pouting at the fact that she was found out.
"You always said it was sexy." He said it so seriously and he looked so offended. It made her laugh.
"You are taking way too much pleasure in my embarrassment."
"I am aren't I?" He paused. "What other dirty secrets are you hiding from me?"
"Shut up." She rolled her eyes at him and headed towards the kitchen.
He grabbed hold of her from behind in a bear hug, pushing his body against hers, invading as much of her personal space as he could as they walked towards the kitchen. "Seriously." He swept her hair to the side, revealing the pale skin of her neck and rested his mouth against her bare skin and mumbled, "I'd like to know."
She had to remember to breathe…
She shrugged away from his grasp, not really wanting to, but needing to.
"Leave me alone," she groaned and sat down at the table. She hid under her arms, hoping against hope that he would stop teasing her… or for that matter making her unbearably aroused.
Thankfully he left her alone. Physically. When she looked up to see what he was doing, he was already taking two plates out of the cupboard and setting them down next to the lasagna on the stove.
"My toothbrush is missing. Care to explain?" He ragged, his back turned to her, missing her stick her tongue out at him.
"I hate you," she spat out playfully, glaring at his backside as he cut a piece of the lasagna and set it on a plate for her.
"Here." He placed the plate of piping hot yummy homemade lasagna in front of her. "Eat up."
"Mmmm. Smells sooo good." Any thought about being embarrassed or worked up all gone with one whiff. Gilmore's were easy that way.
"I'll save a piece for you to sleep with." He teased, licking the meat sauce off his fingers.
"That is the last comment you are allowed to make about that particular subject for the rest of our lives. Understood?"
He smirked, sitting down in the seat next to her with his own plate of lasagna and stared at her.
"The rest of our lives?" He asked, curious.
"What?" Puzzled, she looked up from her plate. Suddenly realizing the implication of what she said. Her face grew warm.
"You said for the rest of our lives." He pointed out.
"Yeah so?" So much trying to look unfazed. Her cheeks screamed embarrassed.
"You plan on being with me years from now?"
"I didn't mean… I meant... I was just saying," she paused, to figure out what the hell she wanted to say, "Well… yeah… I do." She admitted truthfully. "Don't you?" All of a sudden she felt a pang of hurt within her.
He looked straight into her eyes, not letting on that he was doing back flips in his mind. So this is where their relationship becomes real and serious. This is where they talk about the future. Them and the future. The future with them together. As a couple. In a monogamous relationship…
Huh. Monogamous.
Suddenly, he was no longer doing back flips.
"Jess?"
"Huh?" He mumbled, coming out of his thoughts.
He was thinking a little too long making Rory feel very uncomfortable.
It took him that long to decide whether or not he saw a future with her?
"You don't do you?" She stood up.
"Rory-"
"So what am I to you?" God this hurt. Make way for the tears…
Jess sighed. "Don't do this Ro-"
"Tell me. Am I just a girl to pass the time with before you get bored or before you find someone who actually puts out-"
"What?" He asked in disbelief. Is that what she thinks of him? "You did not just say that." He exclaimed, truly offended.
The chair screeched loudly as he slid away from the table to stand up too.
"You know I'm not just about having sex." Jess said firmly.
Rory looked down, losing her momentum. She was a little ashamed she said that. Just a little. She was really angry… and upset…
He didn't see a future with her…
She sat down, staring down at her hands folded on her lap.
"Rory…" She looked sad. "Look at me." Jess sat back down too.
She sniffled the beginnings of hurt away, wiping the water away from her eyes before they dropped down her cheeks in tears. She hated crying in front of him. It felt so girly and stupid. But damnit, it hurt!
"Not gonna look at me huh?" She closed her eyes. "Okay." He reached over wedging his hand in-between her unwelcome ones. "So Rory Gilmore sees a future with me in it...." Just saying that out loud scared the shit out of him and made him want to do back flips all at the same time.
"I changed my mind. I don't anymore." She lied helplessly, pushing his hand away and crossing her arms.
Jess silently swallowed. "I can see myself with you… five years from now," he declared.
She opened her eyes to meet his. "You're lying. You're just saying that to make me feel better."
Jess wanted to pull his hair out. Girls were funny that way. You lie to them and they know it. You tell them the truth yet you're still lying. He knows for his own sake that he has to choose his words wisely or else the whole argument would blow way out of proportion.
He chose to pretend he didn't hear what she said. "I've been thinking about it a lot actually."
She looked at him suddenly, trying to read him. To see if he was telling the truth. Maybe it was just wishful thinking, but from that one look in his chocolate eyes, she knew he was being sincere.
"Really?" Her voice was soft. "You really see us together five years from now?
He nodded. "I want to be with you… as long as you'll have me."
She felt her body tingle and she wanted to smile and kiss and hug the living daylights out of him. It was rare to hear Jess say things like that to her. And she learned that there was only one way to respond to him. Instead of smiling, she smirked. It wasn't cruel or harsh. That was just how they worked. Mush equals mock. When their conversation got too serious they learned to joke, joke and joke again. They both didn't do serious well…
"Wow."
"What?" He asked, confused.
"That was a really great line."
He rolled his eyes at her teasing and pounded his forehead against the edge of the table. Once, twice, thre- his head hit her hand. He slumped back in his chair and before he knew it Rory crawled into his lap with the goofiest smirk of all time. She was happy again and this is how he always wants to see her.
"Say it again." She teased.
"Continue to mock and see what happens."
She wrapped her arms around his neck, laying her head on his chest, balling herself into a child.
"You're way too old to be doing this." Jess pointed out.
"Carry me to my room." She said lazily.
His heart skipped a beat. He wished she would stop doing that… well not really…
Dipping his head closer to hers, he whispered, "As you wish."
Once they were inside her bedroom, with Jess already feasting on her lips, he carefully laid her down on the bed. The full weight of his body against hers only fed her heat.
Control. Where was the control? Didn't they say that this wasn't ever going to happen again? In this house, that is.
The sound of a car pulling up in front of the Gilmore home along with a flash of light lighting the room caused the two to hesitantly pull away. Jess lifted himself off of her and lay beside her. His lips gently brushed against her shoulder.
"I'll see you tomorrow." He said, reluctant to leave her.
She rolled onto her side, her hand reaching across his stomach preventing him from getting up. He looked down at her, wondering why she wouldn't let him go. She pushed her body upwards, softly kissing him on the lips. "Meet me later?" She said softly, her eyes staring straight into his.
His brows raised in confusion. "What?"
"The shed… behind the Inn… I heard you've been spending some time there."
"How-"
"My mom. She said she saw you one night 'loitering behind the Inn'. She followed you. Said something about you redecorating the place?" Her eyes adjusted to the darkness of her bedroom and she could clearly see his face. "There's a bed, right?"
His heart stopped completely.
..…'.' '.' …..
A/N: As you all should know by now, I am a compulsive liar. My last A/N promised a pool party of some sort … yeah… didn't make the final cut… Stay tuned though… enticing, oh I mean, exciting things are underway…
Hugs and smooches to everyone who reviewed and extra hugs and smooches to those of you who reviewed again to give me that added push to update. Look! It worked! No need for a reenactment of Misery! =D
Cinn: Boys and Their Toys – Been adoring it since its birth at the fic exchange… oh and your secret is safe with me ;)
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