AN: Christopher pays for Yale. Lorelai and Rory go to Friday night dinner just so they can keep in touch.
Chapter 4
It had been a long week and it was only Thursday night. Monday she had an exam in English that she needed to do good on. She didn't want her A to turn into a B. Tuesday she had to turn an article for Doyle in. She knew for sure that was one of the worst articles she had ever written. Tuesday night she got a call from her father and those calls always drained her. They were long and there was always fighting and yelling. Wednesday she had two papers do. One in history and one in psychology. The one in psychology had caused her a lot of trouble. She stayed up till two in the morning the night before. This morning, Thursday, she had a class that was moved to eight in the morning meaning she had to get up at 6:30. That was too early for a Gilmore girl.
When she walked into her room that night, she saw an envelope with her name on it taped to her window. Curiosity taking over, she opened the envelope and read,
Lorelai Leigh Gilmore,
You are invited to the October meeting of the Life and Death Brigade. If you decide to join us, then you must promise to keep quiet on what you see and hear. You may use some information in your article but no specific details. You will have to let a member of the Life and Death Brigade read it before submitting it. Since you are a guest, you will need to be blind folded and then meet us outside the library on Friday at four. Someone will come and get you but they will not get you if you don't have the blind fold on. You will not be allowed to know where the meeting is taking place. This will be and overnight trip. So come prepared with things you will need for overnight (tooth brush, tooth paste, etc.). Bring casual clothes and the rest will be provided for you. You will be back by Sunday afternoon. This is a once and lifetime experience. Not many are allowed to come to a meeting but since you are a Gilmore, we are allowing you to come. It's your decision.
Life and Death Brigade
P.S. This is one of my ideas. I thought you would like it.
Logan. He was right. She liked it. It sounded interesting since the Life and Death Brigade must be a secret organization. Rory went online and typed in Life and Death Brigade. What she found proved that she was right. It was a secret organization that had been around since the beginning of Yale. It was just like the Crimson Brigade she was going to be in if she decided to go to Harvard but she didn't. I guess no Friday night dinner. Mom will be happy.
The next thing she knew she was in front of the library with a blind fold on waiting for Logan or whoever was picking her up.
When Logan saw her, he stopped. She looked beautiful even though she was wearing light blue hip hugger jeans with a simple sweater. He was getting annoyed with the feelings he had when he was around her. He never asked the Life Brigade if he could bring a guest. They were reluctant at first but once he told them she was Gilmore, they allowed her to come under certain circumstances. He was glad that she decided to go along. She was biting her lower lip. You could tell she was nervous. Well, I guess he would too if he didn't know what he got himself into. It was going to be one interesting weekend.
"Hey Rory," he whispered in her ear. She jumped.
"God, Logan don't do that."
"Sorry and how did you know it was me?"
She gave him an 'are you serious' look, even though he couldn't see it because of the blindfold. "I recognized your voice." Saying it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Oh, well let's get this show on the road." Logan said while taking Rory's bag.
"Thanks, you didn't have to do that." Rory said as they started to walk away from the library.
"Well, I was raised to be a gentleman. It's like second nature. It would feel weird if I didn't."
"Don't take offence but it seems that people always think that rich boys are always snobby and don't treat people right but in reality you guys are probably more of a gentleman than most guys." She said remembering what happened with Jess. Jess never took her bags or opened the door for her and then there was the number one reason she thought he was a jerk. It caused everyone who knew about it to think he was a jerk. It caused Luke to hate him. Only her close friends and family knew what that was. She still couldn't believe it. Andy always did those things for her and here Logan was doing the same thing as him. They never came close to being like Jess. Guess rich guys are nicer than what they seem to be.
"None taken. I actually take that as a compliment. Thanks."
"Just stating the truth." Rory said while still wearing the blind fold.
"Why do you think that rich guys are nicer?"
"Well, I'm not saying it applies to all guys because I know some nice guys that aren't from society. It's not like me to judge people before knowing them but from past experiences, it seems that guys from society are nicer…even though our first encounter could prove my theory wrong," she said smirking.
Logan wanted to ask what those past experiences were but they were already back at the SUV.
"Ok, step up and watch your head." Logan said while taking her hand so she would have some balance.
"Thanks"
"No problem." Logan shut the door and went to the other side to get in. "Ok, let's go."
"Logan, are you sure she can't see through the blindfold?" Colin said.
"Hi Colin." Rory said.
"God Logan why didn't you make sure she couldn't see, you were suppose to make sure she couldn't see!"
"Colin I recognize your voice."
"Oh."
"Well, then who am I love?" Finn said.
"Finn you're the only one I know who has an accent and calls me love." Well except for Matt she thought.
"Well, then who am I?" Stephanie said.
"Even though we haven't been formally introduced, I have to guess you're Stephanie Vanderbuilt. You sit next to me in Psychology."
"You're good." Stephanie said amazed that Rory knew who she was without ever being formally introduced to her.
"Thanks."
"I heard what you said to these three stooges." Stephanie said.
"What did they say I said?
"They said that you told them that they were complete asses for thinking that you were some slut that tries to get guys into bed with you. You also said that if you ever found out that they pulled something like that again, you would call their mommies. And I just want to compliment you because no girl besides me has put them in their place. And for doing that I was hoping we could be friends."
"Uh, sure"
"It's going to be so cool having a girl to hang out with. I always hang out with these three and the girls that hang out with us are completely stupid that have a brain the size of a pea. You on the other hand, seem like you have a brain and are smart because I have psychology with you. I also like you because you put the guys in their place. Like I said no girl has ever done that. They usually try to get in bed with them. You on the other hand aren't."
"Well, I'm looking forward to spending time with a girl other than Paris. Where are we going?" Rory said pouting.
"Nice try but it's not going to work." Logan said secretly hoping she would stop because if she didn't he would end up telling her. Logan could tell that she could get anything she wanted if she just pouted. It was going to be the death of him.
"Fine, but how much longer?"
"Colin, is it fine if I tell her?" Logan asked.
"Yeah, it's fine to tell Reporter Girl but that's all she gets to know. Don't fall for her pouting. I know it's getting to you because it's getting to me. Gilmore, you do know you have a very strong power when you do that?"
"Yes, I do and I can't believe you guys didn't fall for it."
"Trust me I was very close to telling you and I am probably the least likely person to tell you." Colin said.
"Good because I thought I was losing my touch."
"Trust me, you aren't." Logan said.
"So, how much longer?"
"About one and half more hours."
The next thing she knew the SUV was pulling to a stop. The rest of the ride was filled with Rory debating back and forth with the guys, especially Logan, while Stephanie listened, enjoying what she was hearing. She had to admit Rory wasn't just smart. She was funny, witty, and boy did she know her pop culture.
Logan went to open the door for Rory. "Can I take the blind fold off yet?" Rory said while getting out of the SUV.
"Just one more second." Logan replied. He knew she was getting anxious.
"Ok, you ready?"
"Yeah."
"So what do you think?" Logan asked while taking her blind fold off for her.
They were in the woods. One of the first things she noticed was a tree house. She couldn't believe where she was. She knew exactly where they were. Out of all the places she could have been she ended up here. She was smirking in the inside because Logan and his friends didn't want her to know where they were but secretly she knew. But she wasn't going to let them know because if she did they would know about her hidden past and the secret she had been trying to keep from them since the beginning.
They were in her dad's back yard. They were at her old house. She couldn't see the house from where they were. She wondered where they would be sleeping.
There they were. Six nine year olds in a tree house. They were the best of friends.
"Why do we have to sleep out here?" Rory complained.
"Yeah why?" Natalie said agreeing with Rory.
"I already told you but I'll tell you again. One it's something different and two we are away from our crazy parents. Plus if we get scared or need anything the house is just right over there. So enjoy yourselves." Mike explained to his sister and his friend.
"Yeah, loves, enjoy yourselves." Matt said.
"Come on Mary. Just for tonight." Andy said.
Rory could never say no when Andy called her that. Hopefully, he never found out because he always called her that. It was his nickname for her. She had had it since she was five and he was the only one allowed to call her Mary. They even made a promise to each other that he would never call anyone else Mary and she would never allow anyone else call her Mary.
"Fine"
"What?" Natalie said.
"Well, it's just for one night. How bad could it be?"
"I guess you're right. So, what are we going to do?"
"I don't know." David said
They all sat there until Rory said, "Hey, are we going to be friends forever?"
"What?" They all said.
"We've been friends since we were born. I don't think that's going to stop anytime soon." David said.
"It seems that friends always grow apart and I don't want us to."
"I agree with her." Natalie said.
"How about we make a pact? Friends Forever. We never leave anybody out. We do everything together. We always help one another no matter what. It we pull a prank and one of us gets in trouble, we all get in trouble. We do things together. Once we start to date, none of our boyfriends or girlfriends come between us. If they have a problem with us hanging out together then they're not worth it. We tell each other the truth even if it will break someone's heart or cause a fight. We will get through it. There are no lies between us. We're friends till the end and no one is going to stop that. Nobody will destroy this friendship." Matt said, while the rest didn't believe what he was saying. He never felt so strongly about something before in his entire life. They had never heard him talk like this. They never saw this side of him. He was always the one that was happy, stress-free, crazy, and in his words, exotic person since he was from Australia, that could always put a smile on your face. He was never serious about anything in life but for once he was and it was about their friendship. Did they all feel the same way?
"I agree." Mike said.
"Same here." David said agreeing strongly on what Matt just said.
"Friends forever." Rory said.
"I can't even imagine what my life would be like without you guys, so I strongly agree with what Matt said." Natalie said.
"I feel the same way." Andy said.
"Friends Forever?" Matt asked.
"Friends Forever." They all said.
"How about truth or dare?" Matt asked.
"Ok, I'll go first. Rory, truth or dare?" Natalie said.
"Dare."
"Ok, I dare you to kiss Andy."
"What?" Rory said not believing this was her dare. She thought her dare would be something like go down the tree and stay down there for five minutes.
"Kiss Andy."
"Fine." And with that she kissed Andy. There had always been something between them, even though they were nine, but now there was more because when she kissed him they both felt something and they both knew that eventually their relationship was going to be more than friends.
And that's where and when she had had her first kiss. In this same tree house with her first boyfriend, Andy.
"Rory?...Rory?...Rory?" Logan said starting to get scared. Why did she keep staring at that tree house?
"What?"
"You ok, you kept staring at that tree house. You were starting to scare me."
"Sorry. I was just thinking."
"Okay, well we will be staying in the house." Logan said but was cut off.
"What about the person that lives there?" Rory asked. Where was her dad? Does he even know? Of course, he knows. How couldn't he. If they weren't welcomed then the police would have already been there.
"He knows we're here. He use to be in the LDB, so he is always letting us use this place if we have no where else to go. So we asked. He said sure."
"Is he home?" Her dad was in the LDB. How did she not know that?
"No, gone away on business with his girlfriend."
Of course she thought. He was always gone. And of course the girlfriend. How could she have forgotten Stacey? She hated Stacey. She was just some gold digging slut.
"Ok, well the outdoor pool is right here with the bar inside it. There's another bar right over there in the lounging area. Right next to it is the hot tub. The 4 wheeler/dirt bike track is right there. There's the ultimate mini golf course. There is an indoor pool with a hot tub, sauna, and tanning beds. We're using the ballroom later on for the main party. We're pretty much using the entire grounds. So, if you want to swim, you can swim, if you want to play miniature golf, then you can play miniature golf, if you want to go 4 wheeling or dirt biking, then you can go 4 wheeling or dirt biking. The basketball and tennis court are over there. There is a library if you want to read, but please don't read the entire time we are here. This is a chance to go outside the box and do something different."
If only you knew. Her life had been different when she lived here. She was more outgoing and did more daring stuff. She pulled pranks. She was nothing like she was now. She was in fact the exact opposite. She was different. If only you knew, Logan, if only you knew. She thought.
"Well, let me show you to your room." Logan said interrupting her thoughts.
"Lead the way." When she walked in she noticed the maid. She could tell that Lauren was surprised and wanted to talk to her but Rory put a finger up to her mouth showing that she didn't want to talk right now. She had always liked Lauren.
"This room belongs to the daughter of the guy who lives here."
"Does she care?" she asked wondering what his answer was going to be because she would have cared. She had left a lot of stuff here. She didn't want people to be going through her stuff. If they got on her computer, they would know exactly who she was.
"The guy who lives here said she wouldn't have a problem with it."
"So how rich is this guy because…"
"I know what you mean. This house is huge compared to mine, granted the family is three times richer than my family. I hear they are worth around 900 million. I'd tell you why they are rich but that would be way too much information."
He's close Rory thought. But with what she was inheriting from both the Hayden's and the Gilmore's, she would eventually be worth way more than a billion. Try two or three billion.
"Ok, here's your room." Logan said interrupting her thoughts once again.
He didn't know how true those words were. This was her room. It was exactly like she left it.
"You like?"
"I love it."
"Good. I know this room is huge but what do you expect when this family is outrageously rich."
"It's perfect."
"Good… so I'll see you downstairs?"
"Yeah." And with that he closed the door.
She had always loved this room. It had a small kitchen, living room area, huge bathroom, huge walk in closet, a balcony, a huge room for her DVD's(she collects DVD's, she has over a thousand) and a secret way out of her house. There was an elevator behind her book shelf. Her Hayden grandparents had built the house for their parents as a wedding present. So they took the opportunity too be the cool grandparents and put an elevator in each of Mike's and Rory's room. That way when they became teenagers they could sneak out without using the balcony and have the chance of breaking their arm or leg. When her and her mom moved out, she asked her if she knew about it and Lorelai's exact words were, "No! Why did you get the cool grandparents and parents for that matter? I would have died if I got one in my room when I was your age."
Looking around, she came across so many memories. She was about to cry, it was too hard to think about her past and it was worst when she came home. There was a reason she only came here once a year. All of a sudden her speaker buzzed. The house was so big that there was a phone in every room just so you could talk from room to room without walking all the way to the other end of the house to talk. She picked it up and realized it was Lauren.
"Ms. Hayden what are you doing here? You only come here once a year. Why didn't you say hi? Why did you want me to keep my mouth shut?"
"Ok slow down and to answer your questions, I'm writing an article about this secret society. They don't know I'm a Hayden and that I use to live here. They know me as Rory Gilmore who lives in Stars Hollow. I don't want them to know about my past. So, I decided not to say hello because they might have gotten suspicious."
"Oh, well I have missed you so much. I can't stand your dad's girlfriend a minute longer, she's the reason I seriously think about quitting."
"I missed you so much but I have to go. Maybe we can talk later. Try to act like you don't know me."
"Will do Ms. Hayden."
"I told you to call me Rory."
"See you around Ms. Hayden." And with that she hung up.
She realized there was note on her desk.
Where what's under the bed tonight. Supper at seven in the ballroom. Don't be late.
That did not give her much time considering it was already 6:00. She opened the box and there laid a light blue dress. She pulled it out to see what it looked like. It was gorgeous.
It was spaghetti strap with heavy beading at the top. She decided to wear her hair down and curled. She remembered she had left some jewelry here. She decided on the dangling light blue circles with a necklace to match. To sum it up she was gorgeous.
She made her way to the ballroom. When Logan saw her, he stopped what he was doing. She was drop dead gorgeous. Finn and Colin noticed. He's starting to fall for her. They noticed.
"Man, she looks hot." Finn said.
"Damn."
"Mate, you ok?"
"Yeah just seeing how pretty she is." And with that he went off to meet her.
"Glad you found it, the ballroom and the dress. You look gorgeous by the way."
"Thanks for the dress. Somebody has an eye for dress sizes."
"That would be me. So Ace how much information have you got?"
"Plenty but I know I'm probably going to get a lot more. What's with Ace?"
"It's my nickname for you. You're the Ace reporter."
The rest of the night was spent eating and dancing with Logan, Colin, Finn, and Stephanie. She had to admit she had a lot of fun, the most fun she had had in over two years. The party was still in full swing when she decided to head to bed around one in the morning. She was drop dead tired. The next morning she woke up and needed coffee but she didn't feel like going all the way downstairs to the kitchen. Then she remembered, she had a little kitchen in her room. She looked in the cabinet and there it was, right where she left it. Lauren must keep this place stocked just in case she came home. She still cleans it because there isn't a trace of dust at all.
She noticed a note on the TV. How could she have missed this note last night? She had looked all over room last night just thinking about her past. How could she have missed it?
Ace,
The LDB has changed their mind. We are now leaving tonight…late. The main event will take place tonight at 7:00. Wear what's in your closet. Until then, you can do whatever you want.
Logan
After her shower, she walked out into the backyard to see the party in full swing.
She didn't know what she wanted to do. She could play miniature golf but she had mastered that course when she was eleven. She could swim, she had her swim suit on underneath her clothes but she didn't feel like getting wet yet. That left four wheeling, dirt biking, basketball, tennis, or reading. She was going to listen to Logan and not read. She didn't do anything that involved exercise, so it was between dirt biking or 4 wheeling. She headed over to the course. She noticed that her name was still on her own 4 wheeler and dirt bike. There were several more of each but five of each had the names Mike, Andy, David, Matt, or Natalie. Her and her friends always raced together. So, they decided to each have their own and put their name on it. Hopefully, the LDB wouldn't find the connection.
Logan, Colin, Finn, and Stephanie were all over by the bikes. She went over and asked,
"Anyone want to race me?"
"Now, Ace do you even know how to operate one of these?"
"Just because I'm a girl you don't think I know how to operate one?" she started yelling. Why did he always assume?
"No, it's just I don't know you that well."
"Ok, so again does anyone want to race me?"
"Well, we would or at least I would if we could find the keys." Logan said.
Crap. She knew where they were but she didn't want them to know why she knew where they were.
"Did you ask the maid?" Rory asked.
"No. Good idea." Finn said and with that he was off to ask her.
A couple of minutes later he was back and said that they were in the box on the wall.
"Ok, what do we want to race dirt bikes or 4 wheelers?" Colin asked.
They all decided on 4 wheelers.
"Well, Rory, I guess you want the one that has you're name on it?"
"Sounds good."
"That's weird that they have one with the name Rory on it. There aren't many Rory's. You sure this isn't yours, Ror?" Stephanie said joking.
"Trust me, I would know if it was mine since it would mean that I'm freaking rich."
This was weird. She hadn't raced since her and her mom left. It was weird seeing other people riding her friends 4 wheelers. Was it unfair that she had raced on this track over a hundred times?
By the time they got the 4 wheelers to the starting line, the rest of the LDB had gathered around. It was only her and the three stooges racing.
"Ok, when the light turns green, we go." Colin said.
"We know mate, we're not stupid." Finn said.
"Ok, then let's go." Colin said.
Red, Yellow, Green. And with that they were off. In the end, Rory won. It wasn't even a close call. Logan was second, whereas Colin was third and Finn was last.
Steph came running up and hugged her. "Congratulations, Ror. You beat the three stooges."
"You're good. How are you so good?" Logan said.
"I grew up racing 4 wheelers and dirt bikes." Thank God the questioning ended there.
The main event was that night and it was to take place outside. When she got to the place where the event was going to take place, she saw a scaffold that was around seven stories high with four people already up there. That's when Logan walked up.
"What is this Logan?"
"They're going to jump off it."
"Are you guys crazy?"
"Most would say we are but personally I don't think we are any different than anyone else. "
"They're going to die."
"We're all going to die one day."
"But those four are today."
"Six."
"I see four."
"I'm heading up."
"Of course you are."
"And Finn was supposed to do it, but few of us figured he'd make it
this far, so there's an extra space." Logan looks at her.
'No!"
"And we're not going to die. No one in the Life and Death Brigade has
ever died. Only old ones have.
"I am not going to jump!"
"We're all set." A guy that Rory didn't know said.
"This is Seth, he's the genius behind all this."
"It's very safe. We did a dozen successful test drops, every potato
came through without a scratch."
"Potato?"
"You can't test using people, that'd be dangerous!"
"Look, thanks for the offer, but I'm here as a journalist. An observer. Journalists do not participate."
"Since when?"
"Since forever."
"George Plimpton never participated."
"What?"
"His best stuff put him in the think of it. Fighting Sugar Ray Robinson, quarterbacking for the Lions, skating for the Bruins."
"So he participated."
"Bill Buford lived with soccer hooligans in Among The Thugs. Ernie Pyle was so deep in the action in World War II, he was killed by a Japanese sniper, not that you gotta go that far."
"Buford, Pyle. I know."
"Richard Hottelet was four months in a Nazi prison working for the U.P. Hunter Thompson lived with the Hell's Angels. Got in the muck, didn't just orbit around it, and it drove his writing. He put you in those biker's parties. He put you in those biker's heads."
" All right, all right, so, those guys participated. I got it, but I.." Rory said but was interrupted.
"Jumpers to their places, please!"
"You're scared."
"Well, yeah!"
"And that stops the greats?"
"It's stopping this great!"
"Come on, you look like you need a little adventure."
"What does that mean?"
"You're just a little sheltered."
"Why? Because I haven't spent time in a Nazi prison, been stomped on by hooligans and beat up by Hell's Angels? And Plimpton got banged up pretty good too."
"It'll be fun, it'll be a thrill. Something stupid, something bad for you. Just something different. Isn't this the point of being young? It's your choice, Ace. People can live a hundred years without really living for a minute. You climb up here with me, it's one less minute you haven't lived.
"Let's go."
"Let's go!"
"But I am not a fan of ladders."
"They scare the crap out of me, too."
"High. We are very high."
"I've been higher."
"I meant distance from the ground."
"That, too."
"This is totally safe. And it goes with your outfit. Nice."
"Why do they look so worried?"
"We're low on champagne. You can back out, you know. No one's forcing you."
"I know."
"You trust me?"
"You jump, I jump, Jack."
" In Omnia Paratus!" everyone in the crowed said.
"I really should have confirmed that those potatoes were okay."
"Oh, thank God." Seth said.
"You did good, Ace!"
"Once in a lifetime experience!"
"Only if you want it to be."
And with that he kissed her.
Sorry, I haven't updated for so long. I've been on vacation and once I got back I had work. So I've been busy.
