Rory sat in her room with a copy of HL Mencken's Cretomathy, a collection of the acclaimed journalist's favorite essays. She had borrowed the book from her grandfather from his study a few weeks ago. She finally had time to get to check it off of her reading list.
She laid back on her bed. The sheets were unmade. The mattress was not exactly soft. And she was only a few inches off of the floor. She looked around. There was clutter – her schoolbooks, CDs, posters, etc. – all over the place. And there was a big pile of her laundry on the floor, too. She would have to get to all of this. She put the book down.
Rory thought to herself how much she would rather read the book. It would be so much more of a productive use of her time. But, alas, this would not get done unless she did so. She looked at the book and remembered her weekend. This was the longest she had stayed at her grandparents' house. Her school uniform had been pressed for her. Her bed was made for her. Her food was prepared for her. Everything was taken care of for her.
The first few times at her grandparents' house, she felt so uneasy. And not just around them and the tension with her mother. The thought of a maid and a cook was so foreign to her. She remembered when she was a child how much her mom struggled. How her mom was in that position in life. How she would flinch if someone talked down to her mom, just as Emily did on a near hourly basis.
But Emily and Richard? They did not even bat an eye at the thought of someone tending to their whims. She heard her grandmother mention it once – she paid these people well for their service, and they'd better live up to her standards. This was true. And what was wrong about making sure the laundry was crisp? That the sheets were fresh? Rory's whole life was meeting standards. The standards of Chilton. Her own standards. Standards were indeed important to Rory. She just could not set them for another person. Her grandparents were in a position in life where they could. And only If she had this during the week. Then she could read and study without having to worry about such trivialities. Her time was precious. Reading was her passion. And she had so little time for her pursuits as it was.
She sighed. She put the book down and snatched her laundry basket. Everything had to wait.
***
Lorelei knocked on Rory's door. Rory looked up.
"Hi, honey," Lorelei said. "So… what's going on?"
Rory put down the highlighter from her textbook.
"Well, the usual. Just the whole 'trying to get into Harvard' thing."
"No. I mean with you. You've been so withdrawn this week. Is everything okay?"
Rory batted an eye. She never asked herself that question.
"Oh, yeah. Everything is fine," Rory said. "It's just that school is insane this week."
Lorelei paused.
"Is everything okay between us? After our… our disagreement?"
Was it?
"Oh, yes, water under the bridge. Completely forgotten about."
Lorelei smiled.
"Now, what about you and Dean? Have you made any progress on that front? You probably should, soon, considering he's called six times today."
Rory sighed.
"I… I will. I know I have to talk to him. I just don't know what to say."
"Well, do you love him? Do you want to break up with him?"
"I don't know."
"Then you should tell him just that. You're 16. You're not supposed to know yet."
Rory nodded.
"How about you and Mr. Medina?"
Lorelei smiled.
"I don't know. One minute I think he could be the one. The next minute, I think he's not."
Rory wondered if Lorelei was supposed to know by now.
Rory was walking through Stars Hollow. There was the market. And there was Dean, bagging groceries inside. She took a big gulp and walked in.
"Hey there," she said.
Dean's mouth dropped a bit. He was nervous. "Hey… stranger."
Rory took a deep breath. She knew she deserved that.
"Dean, I am so sorry."
"Well, yes, you should be. You've been ignoring me for weeks now."
She looked down.
"I know. I just don't know what to say."
"Well, I know what you DON'T want to say."
Rory's face turned red. I love you. Those were the words.
Dean gently grabbed Rory's shoulder.
"Look, Rory," Dean said. "I'm sorry about that. I just want to know if… well… if you'll say those words. Or if we're through."
Rory breathed.
"Things are just so confusing for me right now. I want to say those words. I will say those words. I just can't. Yet. But I don't want to break up, either. I need you," Rory said.
She hugged him.
"So where does that leave us, then?"
Rory grabbed his hands.
"If I can't say those words yet, do you want to break up with me?"
Dean took a minute to think it over.
"No, I don't. But I just want to know why you're not ready to say them yet."
Rory looked down. And, for some reason, all she could think about was her grandparents' house.
It was Friday. And Rory walked up the driveway.
She rang the doorbell.
A new maid answered. Emily was right behind her.
"Rory!" Emily gushed. "What a surprise! We weren't expecting you for another two hours."
"Oh, I called my mom. It was just easier for me to come from Chilton. If that's okay."
"Of course, of course," Emily said, giving her granddaughter a huge. The maid took Rory's coat.
"Richard! Rory's here!"
Richard put his paper down and beamed.
"Why, Rory!" She gave him a hug.
"Do you want anything, Rory? A water? A Coke? Juanita, get my granddaughter a Coke now, please."
A shiver went up Rory's spine. The main handed Rory her glass. There was no guilt. It felt deserved. Almost natural.
Richard and Emily began to pepper Rory with questions about school. She sipped her soda.
"I'm sorry, Grandma and Grandpa," Rory said. "Can I be excused? I could really use a nap before dinner."
"Of course. I'll make sure Juanita presses your school outfit for you and has one of your outfits prepared. Go make yourself comfortable."
Rory smiled as she stood up.
"I will." She paused and looked at her grandparents. "I think I'm more comfortable here than anywhere else."
She ran up the stairs. Emily wolfishly smiled as Richard read the paper. Once Rory was out of earshot, she turned to her husband.
"Did you hear that, Richard?"
"I did."
"And what do you think?"
He put down the paper and took off his glasses.
"I think we'd better prepare for dinner. This might be an interesting one."
Emily glared upstairs. What was becoming of her granddaughter?
