Chapter 4
As usual… enjoy the world of fiction!
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Rory usually dreaded Monday mornings. Her phone rang at seven A.M., waking her from her deep, for and for once happy slumber. On a typical morning, it was her mother calling with a random story, like the time she dreamt that Kirk was chasing after her with a machete. Or maybe it would be about something she'd seen on the way to the Inn. This morning was different. She looked at the caller ID, which read Jess. Rory smiled, suddenly full of energy and answered the phone.
"Good morningggg" she let out a stretch as she answered
"Morning." Was his reply
"Were you always so monosyllabic?"
"Well actually Rory, 'morning' happens to be two syllables, so I'd watch what you say."
"Oh shutup, you know what I mean."
He always knew how to make her smile just by being him.
"Busy day today?"
"I have a few things to finish up at the paper today. I'm going to be working from home for the next week or two, so I won't be losing time off, but it might let me take a breather. I can just e-mail my column to my editor. How about you?" she climbed out of bed and went to the kitchen. She put the coffee on and sat at the table in her small apartment.
"So-so, I have a couple of meetings with people who we might be interested in publishing but it shouldn't be too bad. I wish you were still here though…" he trailed off
"Oh listen to you, when did you become so affectionate?" she loved to tease him. She could imagine him turning red on the other end of the line and rolling his eyes.
"Hey, if you could travel four hours to tell me you love me, the least I can do is be a little affectionate."
"Well I miss you already. I wish you could get some time off to stop by mom and Luke's, but I completely understand how much you have going on, it's not like ou could have planned any of it out."
"We will just have to take comfort in the fact that we are waiting for one another. Just don't go around kissing the boys in Stars Hollow."
"And you don't go around kissing any cool hipsters in Philadelphia."
"Promise. My first meeting is here a little early. Can I give you a call later?"
"Sure. If I don't answer my cell you can try me at my desk."
"Got it. Oh and Rory?"
"Jess?"
"I love you."
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Somehow, Rory got through her week. It was scattered with phone calls and e-mails. Only he could make her laugh without even trying to be funny. She hadn't even told her mother yet. Such a big event should not be told over the phone but could wait to be told in person. She expected Lorelai to be happy. She and Luke especially were in contact with Jess and knew how hard he was working and how happy and successful he had become over the last couple of years. Before she knew it, Rory was pulling up to the house she grew up in. The signs of aging seemed to have gone away what with the renovations but it was still home.
Lorelai was immediately outside. "Rory's home!" she shrieked and ran and surprisingly did not trip over her own feet. Lorelai threw her arms around her daughter and gave a good firm squeeze.
"Hi mom! I missed you so much. The house looks great!"
After lugging her bags into her old bedroom, Rory took a look around. Sure the house had changed a little but Lorelai had left her bedroom just as it was. There were so many memories of her childhood. Stuffed animals and books littered the shelves, old awards sat on the dresser.
"Luke wants us to go to the diner for lunch, are you hungry?" Lorelai asked
"I'm a Gilmore, I'm always hungry. I haven't had a Luke's burger in ages."
The twosome set out for the diner. Rory would wait until they were all together to spring the news on them.
"Oh look everyone is here!" Rory exclaimed as she opened the door. The little bell on top gave a welcoming jingle. Inside sat Miss Patty, Babette, Mory, Kirk, and the rest of the Stars Hollow crowd she hadn't seen in some time.
Luke emerged from the kitchen and welcomed her with a hug.
"Good to see you kid. I'll get the food and join you in a minute."
Lorelai started in with "Don't forget the…"
"Coffee. I know." Luke finished her sentence
"Aw, look at you two finishing each other's sentences."
"Hush it you." Lorelai smiled
When the three were seated, they sat and caught up.
"…and then, Kirk came out of nowhere wielding this giant machete and I was running through the town square… it was nuts."
"She doesn't stop. So what's new with you Rory? How's the paper going?"
"Well the paper is good, I'm going to do my column from here and e-mail them to my editor so she can go over them. Thank god for e-mail right? Oh and I also went to Philadelphia and professed my love for Jess. Last weekend. And he loves me too." She added quickly without stopping for a breath.
"I know, e-mail is amazing. I got an address for the inn so we can take reservations online, so convenient, we have twice as much traffic coming in. And did you just say you WENT TO PHILADELPHIA AND TOLD JESS YOU LOVE HIM?" Lorelai went from calm to excited in a matter of seconds.
"Yes."
"And you waited a WEEK to tell us?"
"Yes."
"And he loves you too?" Luke interjected
"Yes."
"I'm speechless. I have no words. When have I ever had no words?" Lorelai had to regain her composure.
"Well I'm really happy for you two." Luke finally managed to find some words himself. "I mean, I always knew you were good for him and if he could just get his act together he could be good for you. And now it's really happened. This is really great. Don't you think this is great Lor?"
"As long as Rory is happy I think it's really great. I'm so proud of you for asserting yourself and going out and finally figuring out what you want. You did me proud." Lorelai smiled
Rory shrugged. "I think something might really be there this time. This could work."
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Rory loved the beginning of summer in Stars Hollow. The sun stayed out longer and made for good reading light in her favorite spot. She had called Jess earlier to tell him she told her mother and Luke.
"I'm trying not to be unhappy without you here. It's hard though."
"In a few weeks when things calm down. I promise. Just hang in there. We went years without each other we can go a few weeks."
Rory hung up and grabbed a few books from their shelf. They hadn't been touched in years and she felt guilty. Books deserved to be read. Rory shouted a quick goodbye to her mother and that she would be home later. She made her way down to the one place that was always good to her. Her thinking place. Her special place with Jess.
As she neared the bridge, she saw a silhouette sitting in the sunset. Who was at her bridge? That was her reflection spot. It was HER spot! Where would she go now? She'd had this incident at Yale once with a certain tree. If she remembered correctly, she lost that fight. Rory Gilmore was about to get tough. She marched down to the bridge, books in hand and got ready to say something to the intruder. She stopped dead in her tracks.
"Jess?!" she cried incredulously as she ran towards him.
"Surprise." He was always so calm. So nonchalant.
"I… what… what are you doing here??" she ran into his arms, almost knocking him into the lake in the process.
"I wanted to surprise you. I think it worked. You seem fairly surprised."
"I am! And happy! I thought you had to work and couldn't get away?"
"Nah, I called Luke the day after you left and asked if I could use his apartment for the week. Told him there was someone special I had to be in town for."
"So Luke knew? He didn't even tell my mom."
"I asked him not to. It was your news to share with her."
He wrapped her in his arms. "I'm glad you are surprised and happy."
She threw her arms around his neck. "You have no idea."
They sat down on the bridge and watched the scenery.
"Read to me Jess, like when we were younger." She put her head in his lap and listened as he began to read aloud.
They read until the sun began to set. The sun had set on their relationship for the last time. She wasn't about to lose him again.
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I thought this was a good break to end the chapter with. Thank you to my one reviewer, it means a lot that someone out there is reading my work. More to come soon!