Rory woke up the next day on the couch. Her head was still in her mother's lap. There was a box of pizza on the floor, as well as the carton of ice cream. Rory got up quietly and went into the bathroom. She grimaced at her face. It was still red and her eyes were swollen. She washed her face and when she came out of the bathroom, her mom was up and making breakfast.
"How did you like wallowing?" she asked.
"I don't like feeling sorry for myself, but last night was okay. Mom, what are you doing making breakfast? You never make breakfast on the weekends," Rory asked, still tired.
"Well, I wanted to go to Luke's for some coffee, but I figured you'd want to stay home. So, I'm making my world famous pancakes with strawberries," Lorelai said. "Well, okay, its Sookie's recipie - but I made them!"
"Thats great, mom, thanks." Rory sat down at the table and Lorelai served her some huge pancakes.
"So, how are we doing this morning?"
"Well, you and I, we're fine. But I'm still upset."
"Aw, honey. First break-ups are always hard. If he knows whats good for him, he'll come to you, begging you to take him back."
"Mom, in case you forgot, HE broke up with ME. I'd have to be the one crawling back." Outside there was a loud clap of thunder. "Is it going to rain?"
"Well, judging from how loud the thunder was and how dark it got, I would say, yes, its going to rain."
"Funny, mom. It just got dark so quickly. I was kinda hoping today would be bright and sunny so we could do stuff together. I don't want to wallow all day today. Or even part of the day. I just want to get on with my life."
"Well, looks like we're stuck inside all day. Hey, since you can't go out, how about watching some sappy movies and wallowing?" Lorelai asked with a smile. Rory threw a strawberry at her. "Hey, honey, no food fights in this house." She put the strawberry in the sink. Outside, it started to rain, and withing a minute it was pouring.
"Wow, its already raining hard!" Rory said, staring out at the gray sky, which seemed to go with her mood.
"So, tell me about the party last night."
"It was a party."
"Yes, it was. Was it fun? Did you dance with anyone?"
"No. Lane did. A future Korean doctor picked her out," Rory said, smiling at the memory.
"Good for Lane. Did she like him?"
"Yeah. She said her parents would love him. He goes to church and helps out there and wants to be a doctor. She's having a hard time believing she likes someone her parents would approve of."
"Well, thats good, isn't it?"
"Yeah."
"Well, when you're finished eating, help me clean up."
They talked for awhile and then Rory helped her mom clean up. Then she got ready for the day. She and her mom braved the storm to go rent a few rainy-day movies. When they got home, they settled on the couch with popcorn and put one of the movies. About halfway through the movie, the doorbell rang. Lorelai looked at Rory with a half-surprised, half-smug look on her face.
"Fifty bucks says its Dean," she said.
"Deal!" Rory shook her mother's hand. She hoped it was Dean, even if it meant she had to give up fifty bucks. She ran to the door and looked out the side window.
"Mom, you owe me fifty bucks!" she called.
"What? Who is it?"
"Pairs," Rory whispered. Lorelai ran to the door.
"What?" She also peaked out the window. They curtain over the windows shielded them from being seen by Paris. Rory opened the door. There stood Paris, soaking wet. There was something in her eyes that Rory had never seen before.
"I know I'm the last person you'd expect to show up at your doorstep on a rainy Saturday - well, any day, actually. But remember when you said that if I, uh, needed to talk, you'd-ahem-be there?" Paris asked, not looking at either of them. Rory nodded. "Well, I need to talk." Paris saw the surprised looks on their faces and turned to leave. "Forget it." Lorelai nudged Rory, who was speechless.
"Wait, Paris. Come on in," Rory said, opening the door wider. Paris turned back around stepped in.