September 10, 2005
Bridgeport Municipal Courthouse
2248 hours
Rory heard the cold bars slide closed behind her as she wearily dragged herself to sit on one of the narrow benches along the wall. She could hear the guys carousing down the hall but it was dead silent in her nearly empty cell. She sighed trying to figure out where it had all gone wrong, she knew that stealing the yacht was a bad idea when she had suggested it, but felt she needed an outlet for her frustration and heartbreak.
"You don't have 'it.'" The voice of Mitchum Huntzberger rang in her head, while on some level she knew it wasn't true, she couldn't help but take it to heart. The man owned nearly half of all printed and broadcast news organizations in the country and knew what it took to be a first class journalist. If he didn't see potential in her, there wasn't any to begin with, she allowed herself to accept the lie because it was easier than fighting for herself.
Somehow over the year or so that she had been dating Logan Huntzberger, she had lost sight of herself, her mom knew it, her dad knew it, her friends knew it, hell even she knew it but she had been taken in by the charismatic party boy. Life with him was exciting, from the seemingly constant parties to the stunts he pulled on a near daily basis either with his friends or the Life and Death Brigade. The Brigade was how they'd first met, or at least how they first got to know each other; like most Yale students, Rory had heard the whispers about the thrill seeking secret society and wanted to do a story on it. It seemed to be entirely populated by the children of the elite who could afford the travel and set up for each, increasingly ridiculous stunt.
Knowing that she would need an in, she begrudgingly allowed her editor, Doyle, to pair her with the Huntzberger heir who was only on the paper due to who his father was rather than any true interest in journalism. The man had annoyed her to no end to that point, aggravated further by the fact that he was the socialite that kept her friend Marty's tuition paid with his constant partying. She found him arrogant, rude, and all around abhorrent; yet over the time it took to fully entrench herself in the Life and Death Brigade, she found herself focusing on some of his better qualities. He could be charming when he wanted to be, generous to a fault when the situation warranted, passionate when motivated, and a damn good writer when he actually got down to it. He had the talent needed to be a good journalist, but lacked the desire to be a newsman.
Before she knew it, they'd become friends. She felt a strong attraction to him, but knew that he wasn't interested in anything more than casual hookups with other women. Even knowing this, she allowed herself to be pulled into his world and his influence, to the point that she eventually found herself entertaining the idea of being friends with benefits with him. To that end he wound up being her first; for as self-centered as he could be most of the time, she was surprised at how gentle and patient he was with her at the beginning, especially their first time. She found herself smiling softly at the memory of the concerned look on his face as he checked on her every few moments to make sure she was okay with what was going on. She appreciated the fact he seemed to realize that it would be uncomfortable and slightly painful for her at first, although she didn't want to think about how many virgins he'd deflowered over his lifetime.
They'd continued their casual relationship for a while before Rory realized that she couldn't deal with the jealousy that came from sharing Logan's attention with other women and ended things with him. A couple weeks and several attempts at wooing her attentions later, Logan did the one thing that no one expected of him, he asked Rory to be his girlfriend. Things were going well for them, and they had eventually moved in together to the spacious apartment Logan owned near campus. They ran into a bit of a snag when it came to their respective families, however. While the elder Gilmores loved the fact that Logan and Rory were together, the rest of their families were less than impressed.
Luke and Lorelai worried over Logan's influence on their daughter between the partying and the wild lifestyle, she seemed to have lost her focus on the future. Her drive seemed to be gone, and she wasn't getting published as often as she once was in the paper. It was like she was, over time, being reformed into the perfect society girlfriend who would eventually become the perfect society wife who did nothing but plan parties and keep the bed warm for her man, and that worried her parents who were so used to her singular focus when it came to all things journalism.
The Huntzbergers on the other hand didn't like the relationship for another reason. While they admitted the Gilmores had a place in society, they felt that Rory was beneath them. Not only because she wasn't raised in society but because as powerful as the Gilmores were, they held nothing close to the influence that the Huntzbergers did. A point that Logan's mother and grandfather made abundantly clear the one time the couple had joined the family for dinner. As a mia culpa for the events of said dinner, Mitchum had offered Rory an internship at one of his papers.
The position had been nothing more than being a glorified gofer, at no point did Mitchum ever review her writing ability before pulling her aside and telling her that she didn't have what it takes to make a good journalist. His judgement of her seemed to be the straw that broke the figurative camel's back. That evening she and Logan were supposed to be attending an engagement party for Logan's sister, Honor, however after hearing a great many stories, and participating in some of Logan's exploits, Rory found herself stealing a yacht along with Logan, Colin, and Finn which ultimately led her to where she now sat.
"Rory," She lifted her head at her mother's voice, as cool as the steel bars that surrounded her, "Let's go, your father's waiting at home."
Rory simply nodded and walked through the door when the warder opened it for her. She silently followed her mother as they went through the process of checking her out of the jail, signing for her belongings, and receiving information about when and where the arraignment hearing would be.
The drive home seemed to last an eternity, both women refusing to speak to the other. Lorelai, who was so mad that she could spit nails, didn't want to say something she didn't mean and Rory was too embarrassed over the situation to say a word. The entirety of the drive was spent deep in thought, Lorelai's head was spinning trying to figure out what needed to be done next to deal with the situation, one she never thought Rory would ever have to deal with. Rory was reevaluating her choices and trying to figure out what to do from here. Stuck in a hopeless spiral, Rory came to a decision as they pulled up to the nearly dark house.
Luke was sitting in the kitchen when the women arrived home, contemplating the situation they found themselves in and debating drinking the contents of the mug he played with on the table. He looked up as he heard the door creak open and two of the women he loved more than his own life trudged through the door. Taking a quick look at his daughter, he sighed sadly, she looked as if she'd just been put through the ringer. He stood and wrapped his arms around her.
"Oh Daddy," Rory sobbed into his t-shirt.
"Shhh," He soothed her, "We'll discuss it in the morning."
Rory silently nodded and headed up the stairs to her own room while Luke turned his focus to his wife whose eyes were rimmed in red with unshed tears, her face a mix of anger and sorrow.
"C'mere," He pulled her into his arms as she let the emotions waring in her go. Luke held the crying woman securely in his arms as all the pain and tension flowed out of her, "It'll all be okay, you'll see."
"I never…" Lorelai started before shaking her head, "Why her, why this?"
"I don't know," Luke ran his hand lightly up and down his wife's back, "We'll figure this out just like we've figured out everything else."
"But it's Rory," Lorelai protested, "Of all of us, she is the one I would least expect to wind up being arrested, and for grand theft no less. I don't know what we're going to do."
"First things first, we're going to go to bed and try to get some sleep," Luke gently guided her toward the stairs, "Then tomorrow we'll sit down and discuss this rationally and calmly."
"How do you expect me to sleep at a time like this?" Lorelai challenged.
"Likely the same as me, very difficultly." Luke sighed as they entered their room. "This has been a long day for all of us, we're all tired, a little rest would do us a bit of good."
"Okay," She sighed as she stripped off her jeans and t-shirt, exchanging them for her favorite flying coffee cup pajamas, and slid into bed and into the arms of her husband.
As dawn broke the following morning, Rory stirred, the memories of the night before rushing over her. She dreaded having to go downstairs and confront her parents who were no doubt still livid over having to get her out of jail the night before. With a weary groan, she got dressed, pulling on a pair of comfortable jeans and an old Yale sweatshirt before heading downstairs.
Luke and Lorelai were already sitting at the kitchen table by the time Rory came down the stairs. "Sit, I'll get you some coffee," Luke instructed, walking toward the coffee maker and pouring some of the dark liquid into an oversized mug before setting it down in front of his daughter who now sat across the table from her mother. "So you want to tell us what happened last night?" He queried, taking his seat at the head of the table between the two women.
"I did something really stupid," Rory admitted, answered by a derisive snort from her mother.
"Lorelai," Luke warned.
"I let something that Mr. Huntzberger said get to me," Rory spoke softly, "Later when Logan and I were heading toward Honor's engagement party the idea, dumb as it was, struck me that we could take a yacht for a joy ride. I knew Logan and the guys had done it before, and I was feeling a little rebellious I guess. Before I knew it the police had boarded and arrested us."
"What did he say?" Luke prompted.
"Who?"
"Mr. Huntzberger," He supplied.
"He pulled me aside yesterday after my internship ended and told me that while I was 'A lovely girl,' I didn't have what it took to make it in journalism and that I would do well to figure out what I want to do with my life." Rory sighed.
"Has he ever read anything you've written?" Lorelai finally spoke.
"Not to my knowledge, although he may have read some of the articles from the Daily News, but I doubt it. He's more of a Times and Wall Street Journal type, if he read anything in my paper it would be the occasional article that Logan wrote." Rory shrugged.
"Then it's entirely possible that he has no idea what he's talking about." Lorelai proposed.
"I don't know, I mean, he didn't get to where he is today by not knowing what he's doing." Rory sighed, defeated, "Maybe he's right, maybe I don't have 'it,' maybe I should find something else to do with my life. Dad you're hiring aren't you?"
"No, you're not going to waste your life away working at the diner." Luke shook his head.
"Why not? You work at the diner," She challenged.
"I own the diner, it's different. Besides, I've already had my chance to make my mark on the world through the Marines and WitSec, and now through Jess and you and your brother and sister." Luke gave her a gentle look, "Now my job is to encourage you all to do your best and make your own impact. I'm not going to let you take the easy way out of this."
"I want to take some time to figure out what I want to do with my life." Rory looked at both her parents.
"Sure, I get that, just finish your classes for the semester and you can dabble with others come Spring." Luke nodded.
"No, I mean I want to drop out of Yale so I can think this over." Rory sighed.
"Like Hell you are," Lorelai's voice rose. "You are not dropping out of school, you love school."
"Not anymore," Rory shook her head, "I mean what's the point? I'm never going to be a journalist."
"There are other programs, well over a hundred on campus alone," Lorelai protested, "No one forced you to go into journalism, but that has been your passion since you used to watch Kermit give those news reports on Sesame Street. I know your pride has taken a hit because of that idiot who can't see past the tip of his nose, but Rory it isn't you to quit."
"I quit ballet," Rory offered.
"That's different, you had no aptitude for it." Lorelai countered, "You do have what it takes to make it as a journalist, if you didn't have some kind of potential, do you think all those newspapers would have picked up the article you wrote after 9/11?"
"You don't get it Mom," Rory stood, nearly shouting, "I am dropping out of Yale, at least for a few months until I can get my head on straight."
"Sitting in class looking directly at your teachers should straighten it out well enough." Lorelai's voice rose to match her daughters.
Luke looked between the stubborn women who continued to bicker, not knowing how to settle the argument. Both had their stubborn faces on and he knew there was no getting between them when they were like this, he just hoped it would blow over soon. He was shaken from his own thoughts when he heard his wife issue an ultimatum.
"If you drop out, you can't stay here." Lorelai yelled.
"Fine." Rory shouted, "I'll go pack, I'll stay with Grandma and Grandpa until Logan gets back. He's leaving for a trip tomorrow." With that the younger woman stormed up the stairs followed closely by the sound of her door slamming.
Lorelai broke down, slowly sitting back into her seat. "What just happened?"
"It's not going to happen." Luke assured her, resting his hand on hers, "She'll calm down and see reason in a little bit, just watch she'll be back in classes come Monday. If she's not, I will make her go to class, sit with her, make sure she doesn't leave. We could rotate even you take her one day and I'll take her the next. It'll all work out."
The sound of the front door slamming echoed through the house, the couple looked up just in time to see Rory's Prius pull off and head toward the highway toward Hartford.
"You sure about that?" Lorelai asked.
"I doubt your parents will let her get away with it either," Luke spoke softly, silently praying he was right, "She'll be back before you know it."
"I hope you're right." Lorelai sighed.
About an hour later the phone rang, "Danes." Luke answered.
"Lucas," Came the voice of his mother-in-law, "Would you please put Lorelai on the phone?"
"Just a sec," He responded before calling for his wife and handing her the receiver, "It's your mom."
"Mother?"
"Lorelai," Emily's no-nonsense voice came over the line, "I just wanted you to know Rory is here, and she's safe. We got her calmed down and settled in the pool house. She said you kicked her out."
"We didn't kick her out, per se," Lorelai sighed, "She was talking all this nonsense about dropping out of school, and I got mad and told her she had to go to school or couldn't stay with us. I didn't mean it, but the words were out before I could stop them."
"Well, she'd entitled to some time off, she's worked so hard in school." Emily countered, "Your father and I discussed it with her and we've come to an agreement that she could take some time off to deal with the little incident from last night and any repercussions spawning from it while she gave some thought as to her future. You are, of course, free to see her whenever you want, but we ask you give her a little time."
"Just who do you think you are?" Lorelai demanded, "I am her mother, I can see her whenever I damn well please."
"I am her concerned grandparent and your mother," Emily responded, "And you will do as I have requested. Good bye, Lorelai."
"Ugh!" Lorelai screamed as she slammed down the phone.
"Bad news?"
"Yeah Eva and Adolph have decided to take her in and have requested we leave her alone for a few days."
"May not be a bad idea to just let her be." Luke shrugged. Lorelai gave him a death stare, "I'm not saying forever, but maybe she just needs a few days to calm down and reflect on what all's happened over the past 48 hours."
"I guess you're right," Lorelai deflated, "She'll hate living with them if she's anything like me, I doubt she'll last a week there before she comes back begging to move home and go back to school."