So it's been awhile, huh? Someone told me it's a shame that my story's don't get finished and that it isn't fair to my readers and that person was right. So here we go...I'm Sorry. Do you forgive me? I hope so and I hope you haven't given up on me because I've got a lot of good stuff up coming. School is out, Sophmore year is over and I am done with tests, and essays, and homework for the next two months (although I do have a reading list) so I have sometime to devote to my writing. I hope you stick with me. -Jacey.

The Story of A Girl

Jenna's POV

I pull my jacket tighter around me as the wind blows. It's getting colder.

"So," I start finally breaking the silence. "Why did you want to come with me so badly?"

Chrissie shrugs. "I don't really know," she returns, "I've never done anything like this before."

I'm not surprised. I never took her for a risk taker in the first place. "Yeah well," I shrug. "Impulse isn't for everyone."

Her face reads pensive, "I guess not." She stops walking.

I stop too, "What?"

She looks up at me and her blue eyes are far too familiar. "Let's go back."

She has got to be kidding me. "What? No!" I protest. "We're almost to the bus station."

"I know but…" she throws her hands up. "Please, Jenna, just hear me out."

I huff, "10 seconds." I look down at my watch to start her time.

"Okay," she takes a breath. "Maybe, you know, we could try and be like family, me and you."

I have no idea where she is going with this, "5 seconds."

"What I'm saying is… okay, Mom and Luke and my Dad, they planned this, right?"

"Yeah, so?"

"So, that has nothing to do with you and me."

I shake my head. "I'm sorry I'm still not following you, what does that have to do with us going back?"

"So we don't have to run away. What I'm saying is, that you can come back with me and hate them if you want to but that doesn't have to stop us from being friends…sisters…twins…and we won't get in trouble," she adds timidly.

"You're afraid of getting in trouble?"

She shrugs, "I've never done this before." She's said it enough, I think it's redundant. I shake my head. "Look I'll make you a deal," she tries.

Hmm. "A deal?"

"Yes," she smiles. "Here it is, you give living with us a chance…two months… and then if you still hate it I'll let you go, I won't tell and I won't bug you about it."

This could actually work to my advantage. I mean I could get so much farther without her as a stowaway. "You'll let me go, no questions asked?"

She nods her head and puts out her hand, "Deal?"

I sigh and turn my head in the direction of the bus station. What is two months anyway…and maybe if I wait it out Luke will come back and I won't have to waste the effort. I roll my eyes at her. "Deal."

She looks almost delighted. "Should we shake on it, or something?"

Now she is moving into territory that is a little too touchy feely for me. "Um, why?"

She shrugs and turns around. I speed up to walk beside her. We're quiet for a while. I wonder what she's thinking about. I wonder if this was her plan all along, to get me to stay. I wonder why I gave in so easily.

"Whose is that?" I ask as we walk up the driveway. There is a shiny silver convertible parked in front of the garage.

"Gigi's graduation present," Chrissie says. "She has one here and one in California where she goes to school."

"Lucky girl," I say sarcastically.

Christina shrugs. "She worked hard for it… you know making good grades and stuff."

"Hmm."

We go back in the house and start up the stairs, "You wanna start getting settled in my room?"

"I guess." As if I have a choice. It's sorta weird, the way we're falling into this twin thing. I mean… how we've been apart for most of our lives and now we're, I don't know… talking, I guess.

"Okay, just get your stuff and put it in my room I'm going to go tell G, we're back."

I nod and trot up the stairs but instead of following her into Gigi's room I head to the sewing room, which has now become my room and I gather my belongings to move in with my sister. That sounds so weird. My sister. It shouldn't be weird…right? I mean I have four of them. It should sound natural.

As I carry my bags across the hall I hear Gigi and Chrissie laughing, reminding me again that I am a stranger in their home. I look around at the lime green walls that I was forced into, and it makes me long for my own light blue ones. It's amazing to think that not twelve hours ago my life was solid.

I had a dad, and although he kept to himself most of the time, he was a good man. You know…paid his taxes on time, that kind of stuff. I lived in a nice house in a small town. I went to a good school and had friends.

And now, everything is just up in the air. Who knows what will happen? Who knows when Luke is coming back for me? If he ever comes back.

Chrissie hasn't come back yet so I decide to do a little exploring. A tour redo if you will. Their house is pretty big, larger than the Twickham house, but I suppose they need more room. There are pictures of them everywhere, all over the wall beside the staircase, and I recognize a few of them. A few of them around holidays, me and Chrissie on our first Christmas and third Easter. There's Rory through the ages: kindergarten, sixth grade, graduation, wedding. Gigi's christening and one of her at a ballet recital. And a few of Bella. Actually there are a lot of Bella. Several of Chrissie doing her thing.

I wonder why my mom excluded me from so much from her life. There isn't one picture on this entire wall of me by myself. I sigh and shake my head thinking that this is never going to work as I turn away from the past and continue down the stairs.

As I aimlessly wander around my mother's home I think about my life back home and the people who took care of me while my mother was off raising her family and my father was building his business. You know I may not have had traditional, always around, always there for you, parents, but I did have a family, and they loved me very much. They took care of me, and taught me things.

Morey started teaching me to play the piano when I was three, around the same time I started taking dance lessons from MissPatty.

Mrs. Kim had me quoting scripture right along with her grandchildren before we were potty trained.

Andrew helped me learn to read right after I started kindergarten.

I got bronchitis the winter I turned eight and Kirk kept me entertained.

Gypsy taught me Spanish, and how to change a tire by the time I was ten.

Sookie taught me to cook.

Zach taught me a little guitar.

When I got my first period at thirteen, it didn't even cross my mind to call Lorelai, I called Lane….

Not to say that my biological family never did anything for me. April came around as often as she could, living in New Mexico and applying to college and things of that nature. And I had Doula, my cousin, going through everything with me, along with my uncle TJ and Aunt Liz. And Jess who could quite possibly be the coolest big brother substitute to ever be given the title. I mean sure, yes, I had them too. They never abandoned me. Never forgot to call. Never had fake smiles or cold hugs. I miss them already.

Christopher and Lorelai have a nice formal dining room but it doesn't look like it ever gets used. It's spacious and big enough for the whole family.

When we were both home around the same time Luke and I would eat dinner together, it happened a lot more often when I was younger though, back when he still tried and I still cared. Then he started being gone more and more and he'd be home later and later. And our little "family dinners" became an afterthought, but when they did happen, I don't know, it was nice.

Moving on, back into the kitchen. The refrigerator that first captured my attention is decorated from top to bottom in weird little kid artwork that no one would ever know how to decipher and little hand print colleges. I roll my eyes and open it to see how these people eat. Lots of take out containers and carry out boxes. Some other odds and ends but not much. The freezer is made up of ice, batteries, ice cream, and popsicles and that's about it. It's amazes me that they aren't all 700lbs.

"There you are," a voice from behind me says causing me to jump straight out of my skin.

"Oh my god, Christina you scared me," I blurt trying to catch my breath.

"Sorry," she apologizes and then points to the open fridge and freezer. "Are you hungry or something?"

"Um, no. I was just looking."

"Oh, okay," she walks past me and further into the kitchen mumbling, "I could use a snack." She opens the pantry and pulls out a Pop Tart wrapper. "Sure you don't want one?"

I shake my head declining the offer. "No thanks."

"Mkay," she shrugs. "So I still have to write my paper for Mr. Harts class, that was my plan for the day."

I nod. "Cool well, I already wrote mine and I was up all night so I am going to take a nap if that's okay."

"Sure," I follow her back upstairs to her room. As she takes a seat at her desk I sit down on her queen sized bed. "I'll wake you up at dinner time…if you want," she offers.

"Okay," I mutter as I lie down.

My eyes flutter open awhile later to an empty room. The sun is setting outside the window but I have no idea what time is. Thinking back on the weird dream I just had I pull my cell phone out of my pocket.

Five texts from Jordana, 2 from Doula, 1 From Stevie.

I exit my inbox without reading them and scroll through my phone book. I know it's in here somewhere. Eureka! I push that call button and raise the phone to my ear. It rings…and rings…and rings…and just when I'm sure it's going to go to voice mail… he answers.

"Hello," I close my eyes and savor the sound of his voice. I've missed him so much.

"Hey," I reply softy.

"Jenna?" he asks. I stay quiet and he panics. "Hello!"

"I'm here," I say. My voice is still at a whisper.

"I'm glad you called," he says. "I've been trying to get a hold of you for a couple weeks."

"Yeah I know, I've just been…."

"Avoiding me?"

"Pretty much," I laugh a little. "But only because I miss you, and I thought that talking to you would make me miss you more."

"I miss you, too. That's why I called so much."

"I'm sorry, Davey."

"S'okay."

"I almost got on a bus today," I confess.

"What?"

"Today I almost got on a bus and came to see you."

"What happened?"

"It's a long story," I start.

"I've got time…."

I sigh and roll over onto my back. "Luke's leaving."

"Where is he going?"

"West."

"West?"

"Yeah, you know, California, New Mexico, Washington."

"I know where west is," he says.

"Well," I continue slowly.

"Are you going with him?"

"Not quite."

"Jenna."

I can tell that he's getting frustrated with my lack of details so I let go of a long breath, and get to the point. "He's sent me to live with Lorelai."

"Your mother?"

"How many Lorelai's do you know?"

"Well there's your mom and your sister and your niece…."

"Shut up David. They don't count! None of them go by Lorelai."

He laughs, "so then what happened."

"Jordana spent the night with me last night, and left early this morning, and when I walked her out I noticed Lorelai's jeep in the driveway, so…I went back in to investigate."

"Because you're suddenly a secret agent."

"Are you going to let me tell the story?"

"Sorry," he says, not sounding one bit sorry.

"Anyway, I found them talking and, that's when Luke told me."

"Wow."

"Yeah, wow indeed. So I packed enough to get through Monday and then she brought me back here."

"Here?"

"Hartford?"

"Right…Hell."

I laugh, "When are you coming home?"

"Jen, I just got to school like two weeks ago."

"Thanksgiving seems so far away," I say, trying my best not to whine.

"I know, but it'll seem shorter if you stop dodging my calls."

"It's a deal, I honestly don't think I can get through this without you…."

"Good, so what are you doing?"

"Laying on my sister's bed."

We talk on the phone for another half an hour before he has to go. I don't know what came over me. I just felt so lonely for him. I sigh and pick up the phone again to respond to my texts before going back downstairs.

Jordana: WHT HAPPND?

I respond: LONG STORY, WE'LL TLK MON.

Stevie: PLNS?

I respond: WITH MOM

Jordana: DNT IGNORE ME!

I respond: NOT IGNORING U! FELL ASLEEP. SRY.

Doula: SAW LUKE DINER!

I respond: NO COMMENT

Jordana: FINISH UR PAPER?

I respond: DAYS AGO

Doula: WDID?

I respond: IDK

Jordana: WHR R U?

I respond: Hartford

Jordana: CALL ME! ASAP

I respond: L8R. btw…FML.

Now that they've all been contacted I slide my phone back in my pocket and stand up. All is quiet but I can't help but wonder where everyone is. I walk over to the window and peek outside. The silver convertible is still there and Mom's jeep is parked beside it. Oh joy. And another car I don't recognize. I sigh and walk into the bathroom. I've had my hair like this for about twenty hours now and I think its starting to grow on me….yeah I like it. My dark curls tumble everywhere and I wonder if Lorelai has ever experienced a bad hair day. Rolling my eyes at my reflection I wipe away the sleep and traces of runny make up from my eyes before turning to the door to face the music.

As I glide down the stairs I can hear talking and laughing from below. I wonder who's here but I suppose I'll find out soon enough. I slowly enter the living room. Standing in the doorway, unnoticed, I watch the scene in front of me. Lorelai is on the couch with her legs spread over Rory's lap. They look so comfortable with each other. It's weird. I've never seen a mother and daughter behave the way they do. It's kinda nice, and I don't mean that in a why can't that be me sorta way. So, insert heavy sigh here, …Rory is here. Anyway, Bella is dancing with Gigi, and Chrissie is sitting in the recliner laughing at them.

It's amazing how happy they look together. Three generations of woman from my family. It's just…wow. Content in just watching them it never occurred to me that I could be a part of their fun. I wasn't even paying attention until the youngest of the group called my name.

"Aunt Jen," she yells excitedly. I come out of my daze and look down at her. You look at a face like that and you just can't help but smile. Back home, they call it the Rory face. Ironic? At least she comes by it honestly. "I thought you were sleeping?"

"I just woke up," I tell her. She grabs my hand and pulls me into the large room and suddenly all eyes are on me.

I don't know what to do or say, luckily the tot talks for me.

"Lala," she says to my mother. That's another thing I've always wondered about. Was 'Grandma' just too normal for her? "Aunt Jen, can watch the movie with us, right?"

Lorelai smiles, "Of course she can!"

The child beams. "Yay!"

"Don'tcha wanna watch the movie with us?" She asks turning to me.

"Um, sure," I say hesitantly.

Rory and Lorelai share a look. "Have you ever seen Pippi?" My oldest sister asks.

I laugh, "Pippi Longstocking?"

"The one and only," Mom answers.

Still laughing at my own memories, I reply, "Um, yeah, I've seen Pippi."

They are staring but I just can't stop laughing. It's just so ironic that they would show this movie, tonight of all nights.

Mom looks amused, "What?" she asks when my cackling dies down. Rory, Gigi, Chrissie, and Bella, also look interested.

"It's just…" I take a deep breath as tears form in my eyes. "Luke!" Another fit takes over and I'm laughing so hard my side hurts. "He….and Pippi…Al…big red…"

"Did she just say Big Red?" Rory asks our mother.

"I…uh…I think so," she answers but I can't explain yet. I'm laughing too hard. It's actually starting to hurt and I even though I can't see them through my tears I just know they are looking at me like I'm nuts. Somehow I ended up on my knees and for the first time in a few seconds I am able to take a breath allowing oxygen to my brain so I don't pass out. My laughter dies down to just giggles and a huge smile.

"Um…okay," Chrissie says.

Gigi looks at her and then down at me, "Yeah, what was that."

I sober up. "Nothing, just…Pippi."

"What about Pippi?" Rory asks.

Apparently the girls are interested in a story. I shrug and start to tell them. "I've been taking ballet basically since I could walk and when I was in Kindergarten my friend Lane started to pick me up after her boys had little league and I would go and have dinner and do my homework at their house until Luke could pick me up...but one day Steve and Kwan had a stomach flu and Luke was stuck…I don't know…somewhere, and I had to wait outside Ms. Patty's with Kirk because she had a doctor's appointment." I sigh as the memory becomes more vivid. "Anyway, so Kirk took me to Al's PancakeWorld for Chinese. My Dad is a super health nut so I have never been allowed to eat anything that Al cooked. For good reason I guess. So we went back to Miss Patty's to wait for Luke and he showed up awhile later and we were walking home and we passed the BWR which is like the bookstore but it's also a movie theatre. And Pippi was playing. The second he saw it he was paying the two dollars and taking me in to see it…anyway, the evening ended with my puking on this giant red couch." After the sentence leaves my mouth I happen to look up and see Mom and Rory sharing a knowing look. Like there is something else there. "I was just laughing because…I mean we didn't own a T.V. until I was 8 and he was just so adamant on seeing that movie. He was never so excited to do anything with me and then this little kid movie… and then you guys are watching it now." My smile fades. I can't believe I am thinking this… I mean, me of all people, but I really miss Luke. All of a sudden I want to go home. I want my dad. I want to cry. Damn, why do I have to be so nostalgic?

I pick myself up off the floor but I don't look at them. I don't want them to see the tears forming in my eyes. "Um… I'm sorry for messing up your movie… I'm just gonna go to bed." And with that being said I hurry out of the room before anyone can say anything.

The door closes behind me and I sink onto the bed. I want to go home. I want to have breakfast at my father's diner in the morning. I want to go over to Doula's and lie in the grass in her back yard watching the clouds go by. I want to have dinner with my father. I want to blast my stereo and have him tell me to turn it down and proceed to rant on the fact that I am going to go deaf before my 20th birthday. I want to talk to April on the phone like I do every Sunday. I want to fall asleep in my bed. A tear escapes my eye and I let it fall. I want to wallow but a knock on the door interrupts me. I wipe at my face as the door opens a crack.

"Can I come in?" I hear.

What a stupid question. "It's your house," I respond. The door opens more and she comes in.

"You okay?" she asks. I hate it when people can see that you are obviously upset and they still insist on asking you if you're all right.

I shrug putting on my suit of armor. "I'm fine."

She doesn't look like she believes me. "I'm here you know…."

I want to be sarcastic and say something like, "I thought you were just an impressive hologram," but I don't interrupt her.

"…If you ever…wanted to talk… about anything."

I look up at her. "I don't want to talk, Lorelai!" I say and her face goes blank so I assume that it came out harsher than I intended it to so I soften up. "I just wanna go home," and look down at my hands.

Lorelai puts her hand over mine and says softly, "This is home now."

I look up again. Our eyes meet and I open my mouth. "If this is home, then why do I feel like I'm in hell?" Okay, so maybe that was a little mean, but come on. Can you blame me? Her face changes. She looks like I've kicked her dog and I feel bad. She's just trying to be nice. It's too little, too late but at least she's trying…right?

"I'm sorry, Mom, I didn't mean it." I want to say, even though we would both know I did. So, I keep my mouth shut.

"I don't know what to do," she whispers and I have no idea if she is talking to me. "You are my daughter Jenna, it's my job to take care of you, especially when your father isn't around," she says. "I know you don't like this, and I know you are unhappy, but we can try and make it work." Now she sounds like Chrissie. "I want your happiness more than anything, but this is the only option, I'm sorry, I just don't know what else to do."

"I want to be alone!" I tell her. She nods, pats my leg, and then stands up.

"I get that," she says from the door. "You need to process," then she unexpectedly smiles. "You are your father's daughter. She closes the door and I lay back on the bed just as my phone vibrates in my pocket.

"Hello," I answer trying to keep my voice level.

"What's wrong?" he asks.

"Davey?"

"No, the MTV spaceman."

I sigh, "Nothing, I'm just tired I guess."

"Okay, I was just about to crash too, I have to go to the library tomorrow but I'll call you before I go to sleep."

"You better," I warn.

"Goodnight Jenna Danes," he says smoothly.

I giggle, "Goodnight David Belleville."

The line goes dead and I put the phone down and search through my things for my pajamas. I feel weird being here. Not being able to just walk outside and be in the center of town. Yes, this is definitely going to take some getting used to.