Author' Note: Thanks again for all the reads and reviews. Criticism is always welcome. Enjoy! P.S. Just a couple of direct lines from the show this chapter. Nothing major.
Chapter 7
Rory spent the rest of the week getting back into life in Stars Hallow. She spent her time watching bad movies with her mom, hanging out with Lane (who as it turned out completely agreed with Lorelei about the whole Dean thing), eating at Luke's, and browsing at Andrew's. She had gone to checkup on the Inn a few times, but thankfully had yet to run into Dean. Rory suspected that was somehow her mother's doing but she wasn't complaining. After their talk Rory had finally got some perspective on the situation and was in no way looking forward to the inevitable confrontation. Other than yet another awkward dinner at the elder Gilmore's which only served to strengthen her resolve, Rory's week had been pretty much perfect.
Today was the test run, and Rory couldn't be happier for her mother. Everything she had been working towards for twenty years was finally happening. Rory was helping out the best she could, arranging the keys and setting up the dining room. Not to mention trying to calm the nerves of her insane mother, an angry Frenchman, and a neurotic chef.
When the guests finally arrived Rory watched the look on her mother's face and felt a surge of confidence. Her mother had built all of this out of nothing. She had taken the bull by the horns and come out better for it. When Rory heard Tom mention Dean she made a decision then and there to end this weird situation she had fallen into once and for all.
"I'll be right back."
"Make sure the keys are ready." Lorelei replied.
"Ok!" Rory answered as she headed back inside.
She found Dean almost immediately, carrying a door through the back hallway.
"Hi"
"Hey" he snapped.
Gotcha, still mad. I guess this just proves that this has to be done. Rory straightened herself up ready to get this over with.
"Dean we need to talk."
"I'm working."
"Technically you're working for the Inn, which kind of means your working for me. Well my mom, but I'm pretty sure I get her shares in the will, so yeah let's step outside for a second."
Dean was about to respond when Tom walked by.
"How're those doors coming Dean?" he said.
"Actually Tom I need Dean's help outside for a few minutes. It'll be quick."
"You're the Boss." Grunted Tom.
"See, alright follow me."
Dean practically slammed the door down and followed Rory out towards the employee parking lot.
Once they were a suitable distance where Rory felt they wouldn't be overheard she stopped and turned to face a very disgruntled Dean. Looking at him now Rory's confidence began to ebb. This wasn't going to be an easy conversation, but she knew it had to be done.
"Look Dean, this is really hard for me to say, but I think it's best if we stop being friends." She said as plainly as she could.
Dean snorted.
"So what, now that your back with that jackass he wont let you be my friend?"
" First off, I'm not back with Jess, and second he's not a jackass!"
No matter how much Jess had hurt Rory or how much she had hurt him, he was still her friend. She knew it might take a long time for those wounds to fade, but she still had hope that someday they would be able to sit down together and talk about anything and everything like they used to. She knew in her heart that no matter where they currently stood with each other, Jess would never allow anyone to talk about her the way Dean was talking about him.
"And this has nothing to do with Jess. This is about the fact that Lindsey doesn't want us to be friends and I'm not ok with going behind her back anymore."
"So you're not with Jess?"
Is that all he got from that? Nothing about his wife?
"No, I'm not with Jess."
Dean looked at her intently for a second and began to lean forward.
Rory froze for a moment. He could not be doing what she thought he was doing. Dean's face continued to get closer, causing Rory to snap out of her disbelief.
"What the hell do you think your doing?" she screeched.
"Come-on Rory! We've been doing this dance for months now."
"Dance? What dance? I've been the town from Footloose! Dance free!" she ranted.
"Calling me from Spring Break?"
"That was Madeline." she mumbled
"Crying on my shoulder?"
"I was having a breakdown!"
"Calling me to save you from that date?" Dean went on.
"I was stranded!"
"We've never been friends Rory! You always do this! Lead me in then pull back!"
"I thought we were friends Dean! I needed a favor so I called a friend. I'm sorry if you thought it meant something more, but it didn't."
Rory went to turn away only to have Dean yank her arm back.
Luke had pulled up to the employee parking lot, there was no way he was riding in that stupid little golf cart. Today was his day. Flowers in hand he was ready to finally woo Lorelei. He knew it was a long shot, but he was tired of wasting time.
He heard a scream and turned to see Dean's hand on Rory's wrist. His little girl. Luke reacted without thought and sprinted towards the two. He grabbed Dean by the shoulder, afraid to disrupt the jackass lest he do more damage to Rory.
"Let go now."
Dean immediately released Rory's wrist.
Rory stepped back cradling her abused wrist to her chest and stepped behind Luke.
"You will never look at her again. You will never talk to her again. If you find yourself in the same space you will walk in the other direction. You are never to enter my Diner or anywhere else in town. In fact I recommend that you relocate completely, Because not only will this town tear you apart but her grandparents will have more than enough to say. Leave now.
.
"
