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

A/N: Does anyone even remember this story? :0) Anyways, Happy Easter!

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..…'.' '.' …..

Jess eyed Rory closely as he slipped his shirt over his head. She stood next to the door (which incidentally was the farthest spot away from him) with her arms crossed and her stare fixed on a small lit candle in the corner. It wasn't a particularly nice feeling to be on the receiving end of Rory's cold shoulder. In truth, he fucking hated the feeling.

He was fully dressed now as he stood silently, waiting… hoping she'd realize how ridiculous the argument had been and tell him to stay.

Before he knew it, he was standing before of her, mentally preparing his self for any type of reaction she'd bless him with – be it positive or negative. He silently begged her to show him some kind of emotion.

He was so intimately close, so close that she could feel his warm breath flit over her cheek. The sensation alone made her insides tingle despite their current situation.

He stared down at her, willing her to look at him, but she wouldn't give. Not even a little.

The anger and disappointment in her eyes were still fresh in his mind and he never thought he'd be so intimidated to touch her. Yet, he lightly palmed her elbow as if it was the most natural thing for him to do with her… because it was the most natural thing for him to do with her. And to his surprise she hadn't pulled away from his touch.

His softened features and sad brown eyes would have melted her heart if only she had the decency to look at him when he whispered her name. But she shook her head once and closed her eyes and that was all it took to silence him completely.

She wanted him to leave – and so he did.

..……..

He chose not make a run for it for it seemed rather pointless because within two seconds of walking out the door he was drenched to the flesh with the weight of his clothes heavy against him, instantly consumed by the cold and stinging rain. The wind swirled around him, like a giant hand and carried his unwilling body away from the tiny shed… away from where he truly wanted to be which was back inside with her in his arms for as long as time would allow them.

But the rain seemed as unforgiving as Rory had just been.

It pounded on him and showed him no mercy.

..……..

Her emotions where consumed by anger and sadness to the point that it confused her. She couldn't seem to think straight. Bitterness swelled within her... at least for the part of him that made her hurt so much.

What in the world just happened?

She lied down on the tiny mattress after she kicked off her slippers for the second time that night and turned her body to rest on her side. It was a painful picture to see - One of teenage girl hugging her knees into her chest like a small sad child, staring blankly at the drops of rain as they collected on the small window. She watched mesmerized as it ran down the glass, her thoughts jumbled.

Vivid flashes of them being so intimate filled behind her now tightly closed eyelids, no longer able to ignore the lingering feel of him inside of her or the ache of wanting him next to her, holding her close to him. All things aside, her first time couldn't have been any more perfect.

It had all the makings of a perfect first time. It had been with a boy she was crazy in love with.

All rationale had left her with the thought of him with Shane together. Jealousy ripped her heart and before she knew it, she was doing and saying things she never would have if she was in the right state of mind.

Jealousy was an ugly ugly thing.

The situation had gotten out of hand. She realizes that now. She over-reacted, she finally admitted to herself. She was being utterly stupid. It wasn't like he had cheated on her. He wasn't even hers. Who was she to claim him in such a way and then accuse him of things that she had no right to accuse him of?

He wasn't even hers! … (at that time)… for Christ's sake - she herself had a boyfriend.

He was allowed to have sex with whomever he pleased.

And so what if he wasn't a virgin. Did she really think-believe that he could be? He was a 17 year old, aptly named 'bad boy' and from firsthand experience of his vast knowledge of ways to turn a girl inside out… she knew deep down that he was no virgin. No virgin could kiss like him. No virgin could touch like him. And no virgin could make her feel or bring her to edge like he did.

The boy was too skilled in mastering the art of knowing the female body to be a virgin.

But that was beside the point now, how could she send him out in the midst of a terrible storm?

..……..

As Jess neared the warmth and safe haven of the diner he stopped in the middle of the street, clearly not caring to go inside.

He stood frozen, letting the rain pelt away at every inch of his body, like he deserved to be punished or something. He hadn't meant to hurt her, but it somehow always turns out that way.

Jess nearly dropped down on the wooden panels that lined the inside of the gazebo. He lied down on his back. His normally crazy hair was straightened by the rainwater, stuck flat against his forehead. He stared off into the rain pouring around him then stared down at his pruning fingers, realizing that not only was he sopping wet but he was cold too. The numbness of the situation slowly wore off and his body succumbed to the human need to be warm.

He began to shiver.

He thought back to that night. The night they had fought about just moments ago. They were both sitting on her bed sharing their pasts with one another… in the act of getting to know the other… It started out as a stupid joke at first- telling her a far-out story of why he was a virgin. The not so funny thing though, she believed him. Her curious, innocent, and trusting eyes were staring into him. She had believed him, apparently loving the idea that someone like him was still a virgin. He saw it in her eyes. And as insane as it may sound, he wanted her to believe it… a tiny piece of false information that made him good enough to be with someone like her. He wanted to be that person… for her.

...…..

The rain had died down for some time. Rory had to get home before the town awoke and saw her sneaking home from her late night tryst with her boyfriend. If seen, her town would have had a field day with it. The questions and assumptions of why she was out at this hour would spread like wildfire, before she even slipped back into her own bed and had fallen asleep and dreamed about the boy who now owned the rights of being her first.

No one ever forgets their first.

She arrived home unseen and completely dry.

...…..

The night sky was in the middle of changing. All around Jess the darkness was subsiding revealing the rain's handiwork on the tiny storybook town. Morning had peaked through the dark clouds with the sun's rays straining to penetrate them. Birds hidden high atop the branches of trees and buildings chirped their morning song.

There was activity at the Kim's house across the street. Mrs. Kim was out in front, fully clothed in her modest pajamas with a robe tightly wrapped around her. Her intent was clear- to retrieve the soggy newspaper at the end of her driveway.

It was definitely time to go inside.

Luke's snoring greeted him when he stepped inside the apartment. He headed straight for the bathroom already removing his damp shirt and slinging it over the shower curtain rod. He did the same with his pants and boxers as well… Without a second thought he went to his room locking the door behind him and slipped under warmth of his blanket… completely naked with every care in the world heavy on his shoulders - his ruined relationship with Rory plaguing his every thought.

..…'.' Gilmore Home '.' …..

"Morning hun."

"Mom? You're up? It's early." Rory wondered how long her mother had been sitting at the kitchen table signing paychecks. Did she have any inkling to her whereabouts in the wee hours of the morning?

"I'm turning a new leaf." Lorelai declared.

"Is that so?" The younger Lorelai asked, pleased that she was in the clear. She took a seat across from her mother, wrapping her fuchsia robe around her.

"No more procrastinating for me. No-siree-bob. Procrastinating gets you nowhere. You're just stuck with wanting and waiting for something to happen and I'm not doing that anymore. I'm going to make things happen from now on."

"Oh yeah?" Rory asked, not completely believing her. After all, her mother wasn't known for following through on the ideas that would pop into her head out of nowhere.

"Luke and I waited so long to do this -whatever we're doing- and it was such a waste of time. Don't you think?" Rory nodded, agreeing with her. Then again, maybe her mother was turning a new leaf. "I mean we had such a great time last night… such a great time. I mean I always knew there was something there… but I just never-"

Her mother was happy. So unbelievably happy that she could see it spill out into her features, pure joy radiating through her eyes. Rory found herself craving for that again.

"Honey, you look tired, did you not get a good night's sleep?" She asked, finally getting a good look at her.

"Wha- oh… yeah… the rain kept me up. But… so you and Luke?"

Lorelai grinned and Rory thought it was the most beautiful smile she had seen on her mother in a long while. "Me and Luke hun. I know it's waay too early to feel this way, but god-" she sighed blissfully, "I feel all school-marmy and excited." She got up and headed towards the front door. Rory followed. "I want to see him."

"Mom?" Rory said before her mother walked out of the house. "You're in your pj's."

Lorelai looked down at herself. "Hah. Would you look at that?" She smiled idiotically. "I'm just gonna run upstairs and put something more appropriate on."

"Uh-huh. Yeah, you go do that."

..…'.' '.' …..

Lorelai frowned when she saw Rory comfortably spread across the couch, her legs covered with a chenille throw and her arms tightly hugging her pillow as if it were her comfort bear from her childhood.

CNN was on the tube in the background.

"You're not coming?"

"And watch you openly flirt with Luke?" She smiled happily. "No thanks."

"Aw you're no fun. It's your loss. I was giving you the perfect opportunity for you to gather ammunition for which you could mock me with."

"Always thinking of others, thank you but I think I'll pass. I'm not feeling up to it right now. I think I'll stay here and catch up on the news."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"Do you want me to send Jess over with some breakfast?"

Rory's eyes widened. "Nooo…Um… no that's okay-"

"You know he'd jump at the chance to be your delivery toy." She pretended to clear her throat. "I mean boy."

"Mom!"

"What? Come on Rory, I know he waits on baited breath for me to get out of this house so you two can-."

Rory's cheeks tinged at the implication. Her mother could be so incorrigible sometimes. She threw a pillow at her only to hit her on the shoulder.

Lorelai smirked and laughed. "You didn't let me finish… I was going to say so you two can read. God Rory, it's way to earlier to have your mind in the gutter." She teased then headed toward the front door. "I'll bring back Danishes!"

..…'.' '.' …..

Luke allowed Jess to sleep in that morning after they came to a compromise that left Jess closing the diner so he could take Lorelai out on their second date.

It was almost 3 o'clock when he finally got out of bed and readied himself for another day at diner duty.

It had been unusually busy that night… right up until closing. It kept him occupied for the most part, only giving him a few moments here and there to fully think about her.

He figured she wouldn't call or come into the diner tonight like she normally would. He knew better.

He almost called her… twice. Those two failed attempts left him placing the phone back into its cradle before pressing the last digit of her cell number.

The third attempt three hours later was a success… he at least let it ring until her voicemail picked up. He didn't leave her a message. He only left her with the '1 Missed Call' that would appear on her cell phone screen if she bothered to check it.

He so desperately wanted to throw these people out. It was about ten til 10 when the family of four with the sticky three year old decided it was time to go home. He had given them every hint available that would let them know that it was past closing time. He had swept the floors, refilled the shakers, wiped down the counters, turned off a few lights, and even tallied the register. Of course he could have told them to leave, but he didn't have the stomach to see the displeased look in their eyes.

He had just turned the sign from 'open' to 'closed' and turned off the remaining lights when he heard a soft knock on the door. He was almost at the start of the stairs that led up to the apartment. He was so ready for this day to be over.

He sighed loudly and walked back towards the front of the diner…

"We're clo-." He stopped mid-sentence when he saw her blue eyes through the slats of the blinds.

He hadn't expected her to make this move. It was certainly a surprise.

He opened the door just wide enough for him to fit through. He didn't completely step outside, just hovered at the opening with his hand still holding onto the door knob.

"Hey." He greeted her carefully.

"Hey." She looked at him with a somewhat baffled expression. He seemed very closed-off-ish. "Can I come in?"

"Depends."

She raised her eyebrows. "Depends on what?"

"Depends on what your intentions are."

"My intentions?"

"Yep."

"And what do you suppose my intentions are?"

"Well you're either here to make up or … break up with me." He hadn't really thought saying that last part would affect him as much, but as he heard the words leave his lips it left him with the most unsettling feeling in his stomach. He didn't really believe she would break up with him over this... right?

"Oh."

"So. Which is it?" Jess was the type of person who ripped his Band-Aids off. He didn't fuck around with pain. If it was imminent, why prolong it.

She looked him straight in the eyes, those beautiful espresso colored eyes. Silly boy. "I'm not breaking up with you."

Relief showed in his eyes for the briefest of seconds before he could hide it and it made her heart skip a beat.

He opened the door a little bit more and shifted to the side as a signal for her to come in.

She didn't hesitate to accept the invitation.

She heard him close the door and turn the locks behind her. She stood still and waited for him to direct her where to go. For the most part it was dark in the diner; the only source of light came from the street lamps from outside that snuck in through the gaps in the blinds. She watched his figure move towards a table only a foot away from her and sat against it.

She was able to make out his outstretched hand that reached out for her and she willingly took it. He led her to stand between his thighs.

They stood in silence, both listening to the faint sound of the other breathing…

"I'm sorry I acted the way I did. I guess I was… jealous-" She confessed, fiddling with a random button on his shirt. She forced herself to look at him and lucky for her the dim light hit him just right where she could see his every expression.

He raised a brow and smirked.

"Okay, really jealous… I mean knowing that you had sex with her… it just hurt."

Jess sighed, desperate for her to understand that Shane meant absolutely nothing to him.

"You're the one I want Rory." He told her in his 'no ifs ands or buts about it' way.

"I know. I just…" She frowned up at him. "I hate that you had sex with her."

"Rory-"

"That's all I have to say about that. Let's not talk about her… ever."

"Ok." He agreed.

"Ok."

"So you didn't come here to break up with me." It clearly wasn't a question.

She shook her head no and smiled happily at what he was implying.

"So let's get on with the makeup portion shall we?" Both of his hands came to connect behind her, locking her to him.

He raised his chin slightly to meet her lips and kissed her tenderly. He pulled back a moment later. His face turned serious. "I'm sorry I lied to you."

She accepted his apology with a feather light kiss.

"I'm sorry I threw you out in the rain." Their hands intertwined, playing awkwardly.

He laughed. "I'm sorry you threw me out in the rain too. That was mean Rory, even for you."

"I know. I'm really sorry."

"Oh yea, how sorry?" He spoke quietly as his eyes darkened with lust as she bit her lip.

Her kiss told him just how sorry she was, begging for his forgiveness.

"I think you can do better than that."

She rolled her eyes at him and kissed him again, slowly this time.

"Better?"

"Much."

..…'.' '.' …..

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