Rory lay down on the couch in the living room of the house in which she had grown up in. It was late in the afternoon but she was still in her pyjamas. She wasn't sick, it was just the kind of day were nothing in the world sounded better then relaxing with a pile of sugar packed junk food, and reading a good book. A book, that was for once, not on an assigned reading list.
Rory felt that she deserved such indulgence. It was the summer, the last month of summer to be exact, a summer in which she had vowed to do nothing. She felt she owed herself such a time. She had been at Yale for a long two years. Two years were study had come first. It had been an adjustment from high school, even a high school like Chilton, but she had managed by putting it first in her line of priorities. So now was the summer of Rory. She wasn't going to get a job, or go on a whirlwind trip of Europe or even berate herself for not managing to acquire a much sought after internship, as Paris had, she was going to relax in her home town, with her mom and watch the world go by. Until now at least;
"Rory, get of your ass and do something" her mother's voice interrupted her as she crashed into the room at a million miles an hour, laden down with shopping bags.
"Hi, to you too" Rory shot back sitting up.
Lorelai collapsed on the couch next to her.
"I'm sorry, but seriously, it's three o'clock in the afternoon and you've been sitting there, for two months"
"I thought you were on board with the whole summer of Rory, schools been hard and…" Rory stated exasperated, before being cut of.
"I know, and believe me I was on board. I've been telling you to take it easy for the last five years, but enough is enough. Live a little or at least move a little"
"Fine" Rory stated getting up grudgingly, "So Luke's?" She added feigning enthusiasm and heading to get ready.
"That's going to be a big trip for you honey, sure you can make it" Lorelai shouted after her, "Want me to pack a suitcase".
***
Rory and Lorelai entered the diner and grabbed a table by the window.
"So how was the mall?" Rory inquired.
Lorelai ignored her, and started digging around in her purse, which was as usual overflowing with useless junk.
"What are you looking for?" Rory continued unperturbed.
"Nemo" her mother shot back.
"Very funny" Rory replied half-heartedly.
"I shall call him squishy, and he shall be mine" Lorelai continued, looking up.
"Enough with the Finding Nemo references, it's all I've heard for the last month and a half. I should never have gotten you the DVD" Rory sighed.
"That's why I love you, and that's why I got you these!" Lorelai informed her triumphantly, holding up two tickets.
"What are those?"
"Tickets"
"I can see that, but what kind of tickets"
"Concert tickets"
"What is this, twenty questions?"
"Yes"
Rory stared at her, starting to lose patience.
"Well I was walking by the record store, thinking, how am I going to get Rory out of the funk she had been in"
"I have not been in a funk" Rory said indignantly.
"Regardless of your funkiness…hey is that a word and if it is a word it sounds dirty…anyone back on topic, I thought a concert, what a great way to get Rory out of the house and then I saw that Idlewild…"
"Oh"
"Were opening for Longwave…"
"Oh oh"
"Who were opening for, drum roll please…Ash"
"I love Ash"
"I know"
"And Lane loves Ash"
"I know that too, hence the two tickets"
"You didn't want to come"
"I thought I'd pass…because I got two tickets for…the Violent Femmes, on the same night, thankyou" Lorelai informed her pulling another two tickets out from her purse.
"Wow, that purse is just filled with amazing things today" Rory concluded.
"It is my magic purse" Lorelai replied, before pausing for a minute and then continuing, "I shall call it squishy…"
"Mom" Rory yelled, interrupting her and blocking her ears.
***
Lane and Rory walked down the street towards the music store.
"So remember to thank your Mom for me"
"I will" Rory replied.
"It's kind of a shame that we couldn't see the Violent Femmes too" Lane mused.
"Believe me after a week of hearing, Blister in the Sun twenty four hours a day, you wouldn't want too"
"I'll take your word for it" Lane replied.
"Rory" a voice called out. As Lorelai came running over from across the street
"Come come come" She added, grabbing her by the arm.
"I guess I'll see you later" Rory waved at Lane as she was dragged off across the street.
After they had run half a block they stopped in front of a store window.
"Look" Lorelai stated.
"At what" Rory shot back in confusion.
"The Jacket" Lorelai replied awestuck.
Rory looked at a long jacket with fur trim, which was very bright, very long and very Lorelai.
"I need it" Lorelai informed her.
"You pulled me all the way here, and made me abandon Lane in the middle of the street for a Jacket?" Rory stated disbelievingly.
"Not any jacket, The Jacket" she stated dramatically.
"I have no words" Rory replied.
"I know that this might sound crazy but I have a feeling that Saturday night is going to be a big night for both of us and I need the prefect outfit".
"Why is this going to be a big night?"
"Well you have to admit we've both been in a bit of a rut lately"
"I don't know what you're talking about" Rory replied feigning ignorance.
"Come on, when was the last time you went on a date"
"That guy um...you know the one… with the hair" Rory replied exasperated searching for the guy's name.
"See you don't even remember his name it was that long ago" Lorelai stated triumphantly.
"Like you can talk" Rory shot back.
"Exactly, so this is just what we need"
"It's not like I don't want to meet someone" Rory replied softly, "I've just been busy".
"I know and believe me; the law of averages was destined to even out for you. This is payback for those high school years were there always seemed to be two guys going after you at once"
"There weren't always two…" Rory began defensively before stopping her self, "Well I guess there was, but that wasn't my fault".
"I know, I'm just saying it's time to get out there. Were not going to meet someone in the trip from our house to Luke's"
"Well there is always Lu…"
Lorelai interrupted her, "Not another word out of you or I'm not letting you borrow my coat".
"Kirk" Rory continued laughing as she followed her Mom into the store.
To be continued.