Well look at what we have here... Another update. You know what, I've given several attempts at a new chapter but between not having enough time to dedicate to it, moving and getting married, I needed a fresh start.

I'm in bed, missing a day of work for the first time in forever, and totally sick ha ha. I did this one on the fly, inspiration struck while I was browsing through the TV and remembered old re-runs of Gilmore Girls were on.

Let me know what you think of my on-the-fly update?

It was pushing two o'clock, classes had just let out and Rory was suddenly regretting the fact she told her father she'd walk home. She quickly remembered she wasn't much of a walker – or at all in shape - and these blocks were a whole lot longer than Stars Hollow's street blocks. With a heavy sigh, she hiked her backpack's straps and began her trek home... Home, she thought with a small, bitter sweet smile.

Rory wanted to immediately get there to shower and change. With Jess coming over tonight, she had to make sure it was okay with Chris and Sherry; and try to make some room for the extra company to comfortably study. It was for school after all, she couldn't risk starting a new school on a bad note. If she has any shot of getting into Harvard, she knew she couldn't slack off despite the many reasons she easily could have used. No, she wasn't going to be one of those kids in mandatory, weekly meetings with the guidance counselor. "Head up high, Gilmore," she told herself internally.

Opening the door to the complex, Rory boarded the elevator and made her way to her new home. Sliding her key in the lock, she peaked her head in, almost as if she were a stranger intruding on someone else's property. "Dad?" she called out, opening the door all the way and letting herself in. "Sherry? You guys here?"

Slipping her bag off and putting it on the floor near the door, she went towards the phone and started punching in an increasingly familiar number. She forgot they'd probably still be out work and then have to deal with traffic on the way home.

"Hey kiddo," Chris greeted. "How was school? You made it home okay?" after a short beat, "Of course you did. You're calling me from home. Unless this isn't Rory? Rory?"

Rory laughed freely on the other end. "Hey dad, yes, it's me and not a clone. School was... Well, it was okay. I'm actually very glad I went to public school most of my life or this would be a very odd transition."

"It'll get easier," he promised softly.

Rory smiled. "I'm sure it will, dad. Hey listen, I was calling because in one of my classes today, the teacher already has us pairing for a project and my partner is coming here tonight. Is that okay? I can try to navigate my way to a public library if there's not enough room."

He laughed at her ramble. "Sure, of course. Whose the partner? Do I need to hide my valuables?"

Rory rolled her eyes on the other end. "Oh yeah, I'm sure that skull Metallica ash tray that has the removable top is right on his list of things to steal," she laughed. "No, I think your valuables are fine."

"He, huh?"

"Yup. A he. They do integrate sexes now."

It was Chris' turn to roll his eyes good naturedly. "Just inquiring about a boy being my daughter's partner who just might be left alone with her for part of the evening. Got to make sure I'm covering all my dad spots. Speaking of which, what's this boy like?"

Rory's eyes bugged out momentarily. "Alone?" she questioned aloud. "You and Sherry aren't coming home anytime soon?"

"No, sorry babe. I assume she'll be insanely busy and it's my first day here, they higher up have already mentioned after hour meetings. It's just great," he finished a little sarcastically. "Hey, back to the boy question, kid."

She tried to envision his dark eyes. "Oh, sorry. His name is Jess... " A beat passes. "He's not quite like anyone in Stars Hollow, that's for sure."

"Forget the Metallic ashtray, should I be worried about you now? Because if you need me at all, just call." Sudden seriousness laced his voice.

Rory let out a shaky breath. "No, dad, no need to worry. We're just going to study. I'll be in more danger if I trip over a box marked fragile," she laughed.

Relieved, "Good. I'm glad. I mean try not to trip over any boxes. Now listen, I hate to cut this short but I've really got to get back. The working world, huh?" he said with a little laugh.

"Alright, dad,"

"I left a little bit of money next to the coffee maker, should cover a pizza if you get hungry and don't want to wait for us. Get two, that way you both can eat."

"Thanks," she smiled sincerely.

They said their goodbyes and Rory tapped the phone lightly against her chin. She wanted so badly to call Lane but she knew she had a lot of stuff to do between now and when Jess would arrive. With that thought in mind, she quickly put the phone back in its cradle and headed towards her room to find fresh clothes. Pajamas had crossed her mind but Jess did need to see her cherry-clad long sleeve top and bottoms set. Not that she cared what he thought of her, she didn't, but there had to be some sort of clothing boundary. Upon locating a simple blue tee and black jeans, she started for the shower and it calmed her muscles instantly, allowing her to lose herself for just a little while.

The shower was a great relaxer but with all the boxes she had started to unpack and re-arrange for the next several hours had her questioning why she didn't just do this first. Then she began to question why Jess wouldn't be arriving until six-thirty. Wasn't that a little late to be beginning a project? After all, she did want to be in bed by ten tonight. With a shrug of her shoulders, she glanced at the clock and saw that Jess was due any minute. She looked for the few take-out menus they had been mailed and started to gather her books to place on the kitchen table. That's where something caught her eye, something wedged between the cushions of the couch. Upon further inspection, she caught a closer glimpse of it and knew right away. "Howl," Rory whispered to herself. "I was looking for this," she smiled and placed it on the edge of her dresser.

Not a moment later and there was some knocking at the front door. Surely it's Jess yet she still made use of the peephole on the front door.

"Hey Jess," she tried to be polite.

He stares at her, the hint of a small smirk. "Miss Gilmore." Jess makes no attempt to enter the threshold.

Rory feels awkward, wondering if Jess notices. "Come in," she stutters. "I've got my stuff set up in the kitchen and if you're hungry, I can order a pizza," she turns around to see him silently observing the few framed photos Sherry and Chris unpacked. "Because I'm always hungry, I could eat tons of pizza! Maybe two pizzas would be better?" she rambles to cut the tension. "It's so good, who would have thought dough, tomato sauce and some cheese would be such an addicting combination but it is and I could totally go for some tonight. I haven't really had a chance to really savor that New York pizza."

Jess couldn't contain the smirk if he tried. "So, you like pizza, huh?" She blushes a hot shade of red and internally chastises herself. "I hear it's the water that makes New York pizza top all the others," he supplies.

They stood for a moment, both completely aware of the awkwardness now, and Rory turns to go fully into the kitchen. "Want a soda?"

Jess saunters in after her. "No thanks." He sees some Heineken on one of the refrigerator shelves over her and resists the urge of snagging one without her looking. Something tells him she wouldn't be okay with it. He vaguely wonders why he doesn't just do it when she suddenly shakes him from his thoughts.

Pulling a chair out from the table, Rory looks around the room with a slow smile gracing her face. "So... You sure you don't want a soda?"

Jess shrugs. "I thought you just wanted to study and get this over with? Didn't seem very thrilled at school today," he maintains eye contact.

Rory's cheeks begin to flush in mild anger. "Hey, I'm trying to be somewhat polite. I don't know you but I do know your friends were jerks this morning and you said nothing. You know what that tells me? That tells me you must be a jerk also, so yes, I was not thrilled being forced into being your partner but here I am, here you are, and I'm trying to make this situation a little bearable so if you'd like to join me in being a little grown up, that'd be great. If not, then I can play that game too but I am absolutely serious." She's fuming now. Enunciating each word, she says through her teeth, "Do not expect a free grade!"

Jess was somewhat taken aback for a moment but was just as quick on his feet as Rory. "I don't need your help, I don't care if we pass this damn project or not!" He snarls back at her. "The fact I even showed up tonight was a bit of effort for me so don't expect me to be as studiously involved as you are! You could do half of it or we could just put our names on a sheet of paper, it really doesn't matter to me."

Rory was seeing red. "Oh no-"

"And yes, those guys can be jerks," Jess cuts her second wind off. "But you weren't exactly miss manners either, Rory! What would you have expected me to say? 'Hey, that's the new girl that I met the other night making extremely unnerving, totally inappropriate noises while eating her hot dog', she's a little odd but leave her be?"

Rory was quiet for a moment, slightly mortified. He sighed and put a hand through his hair.

"Look, I-"

Rory cut him off this time with a defeated sigh. "Look, we're really starting this out on the wrong foot. This is exactly what I was trying to avoid. You may not care about getting good grades or this project but I care about mine and regardless, we've been thrust together. If you really want, I'll do the whole project myself. If we can't manage to even talk civilized, there's no way we'll get a good grade. I have plans for my life and I don't want to start my first major assignment at a new school with a failing grade."

This is it, Jess could easily take it. He could back out, she'd do the whole assignment herself and he could leave. But something made him hesitate, something pulled at him and he didn't know how to feel about that.

"Okay," he said simply, his face softening.

She looked at him quizzically. "Okay?"

"Okay, I'll stay," Jess let out a dramatic sigh. "I can't guarantee you'll like what I bring to the table, if much of anything, but I'll make an attempt. Deal?" He held his hand out to seal the agreement.

She walked a little closer to shake his head. "Deal."

Jess went to pull out a chair when he caught Rory's glance. "Yes Miss Gilmore, I did bring my books."

She let out a small smile, shaking her head. "No, it's not that. Although I'm glad you brought-"

"Pizza is good," he supplied. "Pepperoni, especially."

Rory let out a heavy breath with a full blown smile. It made Jess shiver despite how warm his insides were suddenly feeling for completely different reasons then a few moments ago.

"Did you really hear me make noises when I ate my hot dog?" Jess lightly dropped his hands to the table top's smooth surface and stared at her. Embarrassed, Rory says something about looking for the menu and when she turns her back to him, he lets out a wide smile of his own.