Is it just me, or have I been gone forever? I'm sorry. Being a first semester senior is hard on the brain and free time of a person. But now that I have everything sorted out, and I know where I'm going to college, I have time to write! I've been wanting to dive back into the FF pool for a while, but I was really scared that I'd lost my ability to write. I still think so because in my opinion, the chapter below sucks (insert expletive here). But... an update is an update and only practice makes perfect, right?
Actually, I have an idea on how to tie together the loose ends on this story, so this chapter is kind of a filler, but necessary at the same time.
So..this is my first update and I'm officially back! =)
Please do review.
"So," said Rory, smoothing out the napkin on her lap, "What did you want to talk to me about?"
Summer smiled, clearly nervous. "What, a friend can't have dinner with another friend?"
Rory sighed. "Summer, you said you had something to tell me about Tristan, so just tell me."
She raised her eyebrows, "So we can't even have a pleasant, friendly dinner anymore now that you're…whatever with Tristan?"
Rory slumped and instantly felt guilty. Summer was right. Ever since her and Tristan had been hanging out ,or whatever you wanted to call it, she'd basically been ignoring her friends – especially Summer.
"I'm sorry," she said, guiltily "You're right. We never do see each other anymore and it's my fault."
The rest of the dinner went relatively smoothly, and Rory genuinely did enjoy Summer's company. She was a sweet, funny girl who had certainly had a personality change from her time at Chilton. They talked, really talked about their lives. It turns out Summer went to University of Connecticut and studied broadcast journalism, but then found that she liked being a reporter for a newspaper better than for a TV station. After applying for a job at WHYY and finding out the only reason why she got the job was because of her looks, she decided to make a career out of being a reporter where her writing was read and she would be taken seriously.
But after meals had been eaten, drinks had been served and desert had been devoured, Rory was dying to know the real reason why Summer wanted so badly to schedule this dinner.
"So, aside from us being friends, there was an actual reason why you wanted to have dinner with me…" began Rory.
"What is going on with you and Tristan?" asked Summer softly.
"I…" Rory paused. "I'm not really sure. I do know that I spend a lot of time with him, but he has changed since high school. I can't put a label on what we are, because truthfully, I myself don't know."
"I'm honestly just trying to look out for you. See, Tristan and I had sort of a thing before. It ended 4 months before you arrived for the job, but it went on for about a year or so; and it was great at times, it really was, but Tristan can get…moody. And at first I thought he needed his space, but it really takes a toll on you when your boyfriend doesn't call or text you and goes MIA from work for weeks at a time."
Rory leaned over and grabbed Summer's hand, "I'm not really looking to get into a relationship with Tristan. I just got out of something…interesting myself and I don't think I'm ready for that. I have too much baggage. But I really do appreciate your concern."
Summer smiled and squeezed her hand. "All I wanted was for you to know what you're going to get yourself into."
Right as Rory was about to ask why she would assume her and Tristan would be together, Summer's phone rang.
"Sorry Rory," she said, "I have to get home, but I'm really glad we had this chance to talk."
"Yeah," she said, still confused, "I enjoyed it too. Be safe getting home!"
x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x
Rory sat on the edge of her bed and looked at her phone. Three missed calls. One from Tristan, one from Lorelai, and one from a blocked number. She sighed, not wanting to think about why in the world Jess would be calling her again. It had been four months since they had seen each other and Rory would be perfectly happy if that was the last time she ever saw Jess.
"Rory!" he said, chasing after her. "Rory!" He grabbed her arm and she tensed up.
"Let go of me Jess, or I swear I'll scream rape." She said, clearly pissed off.
"Just hear me out, please!" he let go of her arm and backed up, but his eyes held a pleading look.
"Why?" asked Rory bitterly, tears pooling in her eyes. "There's no explanation necessary, really. You leave in the middle of night, and when I so graciously appear at the Hartford airport to pick you up, you're kissing another woman. On top of that, she has a kid that looks just like you. What the hell did you want me to think?"
She turned around and left, and this time, Jess didn't stop her.
Wiping the tears from her eyes, Rory picked up the phone and called her mother.
"Hey kiddo."
"Mom, I think I need to come home for a few days." Rory was trying so hard not to let her mom know she was crying, but her sniffling gave her away.
"Of course babe. Luke and I are happy to have you. "
"Thanks," she said, feeling better at the prospect of seeing her mother. "I think I'm going to go to bed now, I'm feeling pretty dead."
"Alright babe. See you on Friday."
Putting the phone on the cradle, she opened the drawer on her nightstand and pulled out a simple diamond ring. It had been four months since it was on her finger.
