Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls, characters, or any original dialogue from our lovely ASP — this is for fun!

Rated M for mild language & adult themes

…

Chapter 11: Fashion Choices, Book Teases, and Just Maybe

Soundtrack: Brass In Pocket - Pretenders 1979 | Crash Into Me - Dave Matthews Band 1996

…

The following day, Rory donned her Chilton uniform as usual, but she paused when she lifted her tights out of her dresser drawer. She dropped them and reached for the knee-high socks she hardly ever wore. Then, Rory stepped into her worn Doc Martens — she knew they were against the dress code, but she had seen Madeline & Louise get away with far worse, so she took a risk. As she stood, the hem of her skirt rested on her fingertips, and she lifted it along the outside of her bare thigh, watching her movement in the mirror. She undid the braid from yesterday, and her hair held soft waves, so she left it to pool around her shoulders. Rory assessed herself. For the first time, she felt not just pretty but sexy.

Rory was amazed that Lorelai didn't question her choice but instead said she looked 'super cute today.' On the way to the diner, Rory made an odd but familiar conversation with her mom about whether kids should say 'potty' or 'restroom,' but all the while, Rory was contemplating being near Jess again. Finally, they walked into the diner and sat down at the counter. Lorelai smiled lasciviously at Luke as he walked over, "Hi."

Luke was stoic, "I'm working."

"Come on. This is the beginning of a relationship. You're supposed to act stupid."

"I'll do the chicken dance on my lunch break. Anything you want — on the house," Luke said, feeling generous.

"I can't believe you won't flirt with me in front of my daughter. She's gonna think there's something wrong with me."

Rory huffed playfully, "Please. I got that confirmation letter a long time ago. Scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese and half bacon, half sausage."

"I'll have the same and put it on her tab."

Luke corrected her mischievously, "You get your own tab."

"Oh, thank God you don't have a Latin accent, or you'd be completely irresistible."

"Coffee will be ready in a minute."

Rory looked around but didn't see Jess, "Hey Luke, where's Jess?"

"I couldn't rouse him this morning. He was sleeping like the dead. I want to be sure he's not late for school — he can't afford it. I'd tell you to take the marching band with you, but the boy sleeps with Tool playing, so I doubt it would work." Rory didn't try to hide her excitement. She couldn't wait until Jess told Luke about school. But right now, she couldn't sprint up the stairs fast enough. After Rory disappeared from the table in a Roadrunner cartoon cloud of dust, Luke turned back to Lorelai, "Those jeans are really working for you."

"Oh yeah?"

"They're working for me, too."

"You're flirting with me."

"Something like that."

"Finally. Do it some more."

"Your shoes work well with that… shirt."

"Gee, Carson, thanks."

"That's all I can do right now. People are watching. But tonight, I will give you my extremely positive views on other aspects of your being. Are you free?"

"Yeah, I'm free."

"Good. 7:30."

"What are we gonna do?"

Luke cut his eyes at Lorelai, "I've got some thoughts."

"Alright, but no taking me to an art museum after hours and then to an empty Hollywood bowl where you give me a pair of diamond earrings that you bought with your college money when all the time you're really in love with your best friend, the drummer, who's posing as our driver for the evening."

Luke shook his head at her, "Okay, I'll think of something else."

...

Upstairs, Rory slipped into the apartment without knocking. She was hoping Jess was still asleep. She wanted the chance to see him and observe him unguarded. Luckily, Jess was on his back with one arm thrown behind his head and one knee raised under his sheets. At the angle she was standing, she didn't realize until she walked beside his bed that he was shirtless. He was well-defined but not bulky — lean and muscular. She bit her lip and wanted to lay down atop him. Jess' abs flexed — most likely from his dream. Rory followed the v-shaped lines downward until he shifted in his sleep, and his knee fell sideways flat against the bed. Her eyes landed on his contours under the sheet, and her face flushed.

Rory dreamily walked forward and gently sat beside Jess on the edge of the bed. Thankfully, he didn't stir, so she continued surveying his form. Her eyes drifted down his chest muscles and nipples, and she recalled him touching hers. Her breathing became heavier as she continued down his abs to the top of the bedsheet, covering all but a few 'Calvin Klein' letters on the band of his boxer briefs. Following this, she saw the arch of his length and curiously reached to feel him. He moved under her hand as soon as she made contact, and she pulled back. She paused to ensure he was still sleeping and then brazenly reached to quell her interest.

Rory pressed into him. She conjured the image of him as an Italian Renaissance statue again — smooth stone warmed under the sun. In his sleep, Jess bucked into her hand and moaned. She pressed again as he had done for her. She enjoyed the power she wielded in making him feel good even as he slept.

Jess awoke suddenly, sat up, and seized her wrist. As he focused his eyes through the blur of sleep, he saw Rory's distressed face and lessened his grip on her arm. Jess realized she was tangible — not part of his dream. He grabbed her face in both hands and kissed her as he had in his dream. Fantasy and reality blurred into one another, and his head spun. As sleep dissolved away, Jess realized he was getting too excited and suddenly pulled away.

Rory began an apology, "I'm sorry. I just wanted…."

"Wanted… what?"

Rory thought about what Jess had told her and echoed his words back, "…to make you feel." Then, she sheepishly lowered her head and rethought her wardrobe choice.

Jess saw Rory turn inward and quickly tilted her chin up so that he could see her eyes again, "I'd give anything for that, believe me. But you have to get to school, and I am guessing everyone is downstairs waiting for us, right?" She nodded.

Jess glanced down and saw that Rory was not in her typical tights but knee-socks and Docs. Holy Fuck. She was going to be the cause of his untimely end. Ruin him. Kill him. La petite mort. He eagerly reached for her thigh to quell his interest. His palm radiated heat against her skin, and she shuddered. He threaded his fingers into her hair with the other hand and pulled her into another kiss. She wrapped her arm around his bare back and returned her other to its previous exploration.

...

In the diner, Luke brought the food from the kitchen and placed it in front of Lorelai, "Hot plates."

"Ooh, is that my new pet name? I like it! I'll call you Broadway Baby!"

"Please don't. Speaking of Broadway, though, I got a great book for us. It has walking tours of old historic Manhattan. You know, before Disney got a hold of it. The Soho one's pretty good."

"Oh, I love stuff like that."

"It's upstairs in the apartment if you wanna run up and grab it."

"Ginchy, I'll run up and grab it while my hot plates cool down," she winked at him, "and you can watch me walk away."

Luke shook his head, but he wasn't an idiot — he'd take her up on her offer.

...

Lorelai swung the apartment door open flippantly and was greeted by her daughter and boyfriend in a heavy make-out session, the latter mostly undressed, "Oh!" She shielded her eyes as she assessed the scene, "Oh!"

"Mom!" Rory stood up from the bed, smoothed her skirt, and wiped at her lips, which she was sure were bright pink.

Lorelai tried to make the uncomfortable situation better, "Surprise."

"What are you doing here?"

"I came up for a book."

Jess had leaned forward and propped his elbows on his knees under the sheet to conceal as much of himself as possible while still appearing nonplussed, "A book?"

"Yeah."

Jess snickered, "Got a lot of books here. Anything in particular?"

"It's one of Luke's."

"Well, if it doesn't have Encyclopedia Brown in the title, that narrows it down a lot."

"Walking tours, New York."

He points to the other side of the room, "On the coffee table."

Lorelai walked over and found it on the top of the stack, "Oh, good, here it is, okay, so, thanks. Sorry about this."

Rory tried to remain unfazed, "It's okay."

Lorelai thought back to the night Rory had opened the front door to a similar scene starring herself and Luke, except he was far more clothed, "We should probably come up with a system or something. Déjà vu, huh?"

Rory wished that her mother's gift for gab would short circuit, "Déjà vu."

No such luck as Lorelai continued, "Although, why I'd be walking into Luke's apartment like this in the future, I don't know, so put the system on the back burner. Mmkay. Carry on…" Lorelai's eyes widened as she realized the connotation of her decree, "…er, I mean, see ya."

...

Lorelai nearly fell down the last few steps as she reentered the diner, "Dude!"

Luke met her back at the counter, "Hey. Find it, okay?"

"Yeah. I found everything — including a couple coupling."

"Oh yeah, Rory and Jess?"

Lorelai looked at Luke incredulously, "No, Ben and J. Lo. Yes, Rory and Jess."

"Well, that's normal."

Lorelai lowered her voice, "On his bed? That's normal?"

"Well, no, usually on the couch. They come up for air every so often."

"And you just allow this? Luke!"

"Settle down. When they are up there, I go up every ten minutes, pretending to get something to keep them from doing something we don't want. 'Oops, I forgot my pocketknife.' 'Oops, uh, I'm out of ones.' 'Uh, hey, you see a case of mustard up here?' I put the stuff in a box. I take the box upstairs every couple of days and start all over again."

"And you think that suffices?"

"Look, it's better that they're safe and upstairs than someplace else. And you going up there just now saved me a trip, so thanks."

"Glad to be of service."

"I got a good system. It works."

"Every ten minutes?"

"Like clockwork, never a minute more."

"Even if you're serving a customer, it's every ten minutes?"

"If I'm in mid-pour, I stop and go up."

Lorelai looked to an imaginary far-away place, "Ten minutes. Yeah, that's pretty much the time it took to create Rory. That included getting dressed and freshening my lipstick."

Luke's face dropped. He did the math in his head, "What?"

"And Jess wasn't even dressed, so…" Lorelai dug into her breakfast.

Luke's eyes went wide, and he yelled, "Caesar, cover for me!" But as he stormed toward the stairs, Rory & Jess met him head-on.

...

After Lorelai had left the apartment, Jess had fallen back on his pillow and rubbed his hands over his face.

Rory watched him nervously. She was mortified. How can we come back from this? But she listened as a low chuckle escaped him. It quickly turned into a full-bellied roar. His laugh exaggerated his crooked mouth, and Rory was captivated. She transformed from mortified to mesmerized.

Jess swung his legs off the bed and hopped to his feet. He scooped her up and spun her around, still laughing. It was infectious, and before long, she was giggling too. As he sat her down, she brushed along his length, and the fire warmed her inside. He kissed her forehead while inhaling her scent. She let her hands brush down his chest and planted a kiss below his collarbone. His head fell backward, "You're killin' me, Smalls!" He chuckled again and stepped back, "Okay, you're going to stay right here, and I'm gonna get dressed."

Rory nodded once and held her hands behind her back. She tapped the toe of her boot on the floor as she watched Jess get dressed. He tried to keep from looking at her — it would only hinder his process — but he couldn't help it and glanced up periodically. Jess felt her watching him and had never felt so desired.

Rory had studied Jess on more occasions than she could count. She would have earned a certificate of concentration in Jess-ology. Her favourites were observing him read and work in the diner. Now she had new favourites. He deftly stepped into his grey cords and jumped as he slipped them up to his hips. She was delighted to still see the top band of his boxer briefs. Jess turned around to reach into his dresser. Rory gazed at the twisting muscles in his back as he agilely threaded his studded belt through the loops, buckled it, and then dragged his baby blue The Strokes ringer tee over his head. He grabbed a pair of socks and his Vans and padded barefoot past her toward the bathroom.

In the few minutes Jess primped in the bathroom, he silently berated Lorelai for her interruption and, in turn, thanked her for providing an alternative to a cold shower, which he would have needed after what his dream and Rory had started. He emerged groomed & bright-eyed and layered a hoodie & blue jean jacket over his shirt. As he presented himself to Rory, he scanned her attire from head to toe, "You know, those socks and boots are really working for you."

Rory stuck one of her legs out and twisted it back and forth, "Oh, yeah?"

"Oh yeah, "Jess exaggerated, "They're working for me, too."

"Good," Rory said proudly as she walked around Jess and swaggered toward the door, swishing her plaid skirt widely. She looked back to see Jess grab his heart and feign an attack but then lunge for her. They scrambled down the stairs giggling and nearly ran into Luke.

Rory pulled Jess around Luke to the counter beside Lorelai. Rory grabbed her fork, quickly shoveled half of her eggs into her mouth, and then picked up her bacon. While chewing, Rory confidently repeated Lorelai's words from earlier, "This is the beginning of a relationship, Mom. We're supposed to act stupid." Rory waved the bacon, "Gotta go to school!"

Jess tacked on, "Yeah, me too. Oh, by the way, I'm passing all my classes now." Lorelai & Luke's mouths dropped open to ask questions. Nevertheless, Jess started one of his dramatic monologues, "You know, I couldn't have done it without my wonderful tutor, Rory Gilmore, who made me keep track of my books and rewarded me with ice cream in cooones… and my uncle, Luke Danes, for warning me about the weird kid in the back of the room singing Steely Dan… and to Lorelai Gilmore who kept me off the sauce." Jess kissed his fingers and gave Lorelai a peace sign. Rory opened the door and pushed Jess backward. He still loudly gave his fake acceptance speech, "And I'd like to thank Principal Merton for not suspending me even though all the baseballs disappeared!"

Luke and Lorelai dazedly watched as Rory and Jess fell out of the diner laughing. Finally, Lorelai broke their bewilderment: "You know, Luke, Broadway is going to have to go all out on Friday to beat that."

...

Rory and Jess lounged at the bridge that afternoon, sharing current reads. They had decided that it would be safer for them to spend a little more time in public. Jess sat with his legs dangling over the side of the bridge and leaned back on one arm while he held a book with the other. Rory laid on her back, using Jess' leg as a pillow. He was perusing the book she had brought, and she excitedly asked him, "Do you love it?"

"It's great."

"The Holy Barbarians. I mean, what a title. And it's by a Venice Beach beatnik about Venice Beach beatniks, and to top it off, the beatnik who wrote it is the father of the guy that does those Actor's Studio interviews on TV."

"The guy with the beard?"

"Yeah, the pointy beard. That's his dad writing at his desk."

"Oh, it's weird that a weird beatnik-y guy would have a conservative son like that."

"Maybe he's not that conservative. Maybe at night, he, like, takes off his clothes and parties."

"Aw, man, now get that picture out of my head."

"Then you should think about me instead," Rory wagged her eyebrows. It's a cool book, you've got to admit."

Jess gave Rory a warning smile, "It is. Thanks."

Rory pulled the book back from him, "Oh, I'm not lending it. I'm not done."

"Well, why'd you show it to me?"

"I like showing you the stuff… I'm reading," Rory grinned at him suggestively.

Jess knew they were having two conversations: "I like seeing the stuff you want to show me. But you knew I'd want to read it. You're a book tease."

Rory shrugged, "You'll get it when I'm done."

Jess studied Rory as she opened the book to the page where she had left off. He had only just fallen in love first the first time, so he was astonished every time he had room to love her more. He was also fascinated that his doe-eyed, demure girl had evolved into a confident, playful woman within days. One that would dangle interesting books in front of him at arm's length, "You're a cruel woman."

Jess leaned forward, brushed his fingers through Rory's hair, and stroked her cheek softly with the back of his hand. Then, unexpectedly, they were spooked by a harsh swan honk. Rory sprung upright and nearly dropped her book in the water but crushed it open-faced to her chest. The pages were slightly crumpled, and she carefully re-smoothed the paper. Jess followed the ripples behind the swan as it paddled away and yelled, "Stahp looking at me schwaan!"

Rory laughed, "Michel hates those things. Maybe he has a point?"

Jess nodded in agreement, "Stupid bird." He stood and offered his hand to help Rory up.

They began their walk back into town, and Rory asked, "So, are you going to work now?

"Back to the salt mines."

"So, you're not tied to the hours you have, right? Luke will let you off?"

"There's some flexibility."

"You got any flexibility Friday night?"

"No, Luke's going to New York with your mom, and I'm supposed to cover the diner."

"I thought maybe you could come to dinner with me to my Grandparents'."

Jess shrugged, "Covering the diner."

"But I already kind of agreed, so I'm kinda jammed here."

"Does she know what I look like?"

"Yes, she saw you at the graduation and Sookie's wedding."

"Find someone who vaguely resembles me and take him. Just don't kiss him goodnight."

Rory gave him a snarky look, "That's not going to work."

"Andy Warhol did it all the time."

"Ooh, I bet I could get Lane to help! Luke would go for it." Jess pretended to contemplate, and Rory handed him her book, "Here."

Jess perked up, "We're just five bucks away from a deal."

After Rory leaned in and kissed him, she stated, "That's worth five at least."

"You Gilmores think a lot of yourselves," Jess was going no matter what. But he couldn't help but tease Rory, "Okay."

Rory kissed Jess with each thanks, "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

"Manipulator."

"And here I just thought of myself as a shrewd businesswoman."

...

Friday arrived in an F-5 clothes tornado that decimated Lorelai's bedroom. Lorelai had called for help from Rory because even though Lorelai had improved her planning & packing skills, Rory pointed out that she had forgotten something, "So what are you gonna wear on the drive?"

"Mmm, glass slippers, a backward baseball cap…."

"…and nothing else?"

"Exactly," Lorelai winked at her daughter.

Rory continued with the risqué theme, "Why not your stretchy jeans and your Bunnyranch T-shirt?"

Lorelai lit up, "Comfort and raunch, I love it. Good. So, um, how are you guys working the logistics tonight?"

"I am going to study at school, then I'm going straight to Grandma's & Grandpa's from there. Jess is driving Luke's truck straight from work since you guys are taking the jeep, and then he's driving me home."

"Home? Home here?"

"Yeah, he's gonna drop me off here."

"Well, I guess that makes sense."

"I thought so."

Lorelai anxiously challenged Rory's plan, "Although, hm, I don't know. Are you sure that's the best way to do it?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Well, it just means you're coming home to an empty house."

"Well, that's your doing, not mine."

"Yeah, but it might be kind of lonely here. Did you think about staying at Mom's?"

"Overnight?"

"Yeah. They've got those fancy beds that don't sag, and you're guaranteed a great Norma Desmond-style breakfast the next morning. You don't have school. It works out perfectly."

"I'd rather just come home." Rory snickered, "So would you if you were me."

"Okay, sure. But staying there would also mean that Jess wouldn't have to go out of his way to drop you off at the end of the night. It would be much more convenient for him."

"Our house is two-tenths of a mile out of his way."

"Are you sure he's gonna have enough gas?"

"I'll make sure."

"But if you can't get a hold of him, it might be safer to plan on staying at Mom's. I mean, if you run out of gas, you're stuck. And at the mercy of the Orcs."

"Mom, why are you so freaked?"

"This is not freaked."

"Is it because you won't be here, and he will?"

"Uh, it might've crossed my mind."

"And what are you worried about happening?" Rory knew the answer to this question but hoped her mom would talk herself into an uncomfortable corner.

"Well, what you guys were on the on-ramp for up at Luke's the other day."

Rory nodded because she knew her mom had a point, "Yeah…." She had told her mom that nothing would happen without her knowing, so she had to bite the bullet, "Um, Mom, when I said before that I was too busy to think about it, I realized now that I'm not too busy to think about it," Rory emphasized the last word.

Lorelai understood, "Oh, it."

"Yeah, it."

"Ha, iiiiit."

"We have to stop saying it before a creepy clown shows up and tries to lure me into a sewer. Look, nothing's happened yet, but… it might. Maybe… with Jess."

Lorelai took a deep breath, "Hm, with Jess."

Rory tried deciphering Lorelai's facial expression, "You still want me to tell you everything, right?"

"Yeah. Uh, no. Well… I don't know," Lorelai was not prepared, "I guess, I wanna know, yes, just… tell me before anything happens."

"Mom," Rory hesitated to come out and say I want to have sex with Jess, but if her mom wanted to know the truth, she had to tell her. Rory took a deep breath and exhaled, "Mom, that's what I'm trying to do."

Lorelai's stomach lurched. She wanted to run screaming to Luke that she had changed her mind and wasn't going and that Rory would never leave her sight again, but she didn't want to be one of those crazy Lifetime biopic movie mothers. Lorelai trusted Rory. Frankly, she trusted Jess, too. At least they wouldn't be sneaking, rushing, and slipping up — like she did. Lorelai resolved to be happy for her daughter, "Okay." Lorelai crouched in front of Rory as she was sitting on the bed. Lorelai took Rory's face and squished her cheeks inward — something she had done since Rory was little, "Babe, just be smart and careful… like you've always been."

In turn, Rory took Lorelai's face and squished her cheeks, "I will, Mom."

"Okay, good." Lorelai had already gone through 'The Talk' with Rory, so there wasn't much else to say. "Is that it?"

"For now, yeah."

Lorelai blew out a steadying breath," Good, good." They talked as if their mouths were full, "Like chocolate cake… good."

"Yeah," Rory felt a surge of excitement but kept it contained, "…good."