When Rory got back to Yale she dives right back into her classes. A couple weeks after getting back she goes to see her professor to try to find out what she made on her paper.
"Why don't you just wait a moment while I get your paper," the professor says after Rory has tried to convince him she simply wanted clarification on her notes. "Ah, yes, here it is."
"A C, I got a C?" Rory asks incredulously. "How could I get a C?"
"Well, you handled the first part quite well, then you segued into something that had nothing to do with the topic," the professor states simply. "It's as if you padded your paper with information from another course."
"No, that's not what—" Rory begins.
"Look, I've seen it before, an overzealous student takes on too many courses," the professor says.
"But I have to take five classes. My grandfather took five classes."
"I've spoken with your advisor, and she agrees with me," the professor continues, ignoring Rory's comments. "We both think you should drop this course. Look, it happens. You still have time to drop the course and pick it up some other time."
"Um, okay, thank you," Rory mumbles as she turns to leave the professor's office.
When Rory got back to her dorm room she was nearing panic. There was no way she could drop a course. Her grandparents would never understand. She thinks over her options as she sits on the sofa in the common room. A knock on the door brings her out of her misery. Opening the door she's shocked to see Dean standing outside with a big bookshelf sitting next to the door.
"Uh, hi, Dean," Rory stutters. "What are you doing here?"
"Hey, Rory," Dean responds, "Your mom asked me to bring this bookcase to you. It doesn't work at the inn, so she thought you might be able to use it."
"Oh, sure. Come on in," Rory steps aside, motioning for Dean to come in. "We can just put it in my room. See where it fits."
Dean follows her into her room, looking around in wonder. "Um, I don't think it'll fit," he says after a moment.
"Yeah, I think you're right," Rory agrees. "Maybe my mom can put it in my room at home."
"Okay, well, I'll take it back and let her know your suggestion," Dean says as he moves back through the common room. "Uh, Rory, are you all right?"
"Not really, but I don't want to bother you with my petty problems," Rory says while running her hand through her hair. "It's just—nothing, Never mind."
"Rory," Dean begins as he places the bookshelf next to the open door. He turns back toward Rory, running his hand up and down her arm. "I hope you know you can always talk to me, right? We're still friends and I still care about you."
"I know," Rory responds before stepping back into her room. "I'm fine, really."
"Okay, but the offer's still there," Dean says as he bends slightly to lift the bookshelf. "Call me if you need to talk."
"Thanks, Dean," Rory says softly as she closes the door. She leans her head against it for a moment before moving back to her bedroom. She picks up her phone, hovering her hand over the buttons before pressing speed dial four.
She gets comfortable on her bed as the phone rings. On the third ring she hears the voice that always makes her happy.
"Well, well, if it isn't my little Kitten," Finn says over the line. "How are you, Love? For what do I owe this call to today?"
"Oh, Finn," Rory sighs as she finally lets go of her frustration with a quiet sob.
"Kitten," Finn says, more serious now. "What's going on? What's wrong? Tell the Finnster what's got you so distraught this lovely day."
"Finn, it's snowing here," Rory laughs out. Finn somehow always manages to make her feel better about her life. "I've just had a rough day. One of my professors suggested that I drop his course."
"That doesn't sound so bad," Finn responds. "I've had to drop a course or two over my college career."
"You don't understand, I'm a Gilmore," Rory gets out. "We don't quit. My grandpa took five classes, why can't I handle five classes."
"Maybe it's not the course load, but the particular classes you're taking?" Finn suggests.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, what class is it that your professor is telling you to drop?" Finn sighs. "Maybe it's a class you don't really need, or one that should be taken after some other classes to help with this one."
"Oh, it's Game Theory," Rory huffs out as she snuggles further into the pillows.
"Crickey, why are you taking that, Kitten?" Finn asks. "Especially as a freshman? Even senior business majors have a hard time with game theory."
"Well, I'm minoring in business since I'll probably one day inherit my grandfather's insurance company. Not that I want to run it or anything, but I figure having some background knowledge in business will be helpful for me to make decisions when the time comes," Rory rambles.
"Okay, so why did you want to take this class your freshman year?" Finn asks, confused.
"I don't know, I guess I just thought it would be a challenge. Ya, know?" Rory says, picking at the edge of the decorative pillow her mother insisted she needed for her bed.
"There are other ways to challenge yourself, Kitten," Finn says shuffling around his room to finish getting ready.
"You're probably getting ready to head out for a night of debauchery. I should let you go, "Rory says after a few moments of silence. She's able to hear him shuffling through things, assuming he's looking for the right outfit to catch some redhead's eye.
"I've got all the time in the world, Kitten," Finn says as he settles back onto his bed. "My clothes are ready to go, and it'll take me but a few minutes to shower. I'm here for you."
"That's sweet, Finn, but I don't want to bother you," Rory says as she continues playing with the edge of the pillow. "I know my problems probably seem silly, especially since you're not in school this year. I'm sorry to bother you."
"Okay, Rory," Finn says sitting up, "Listen, you're not a bother. If I didn't want to talk to you I wouldn't answer. I gave you my number for a reason, Kitten. You intrigue me and I want to be friends. Be there for you."
"Thank you, Finn," Rory sighs. "I've been feeling so lost since spring break. And this professor suggesting I drop his course is just one more straw. I'm afraid I'm going to break."
"You won't break, Kitten. I won't let you," Finn assures Rory. "Listen, I have a friend who took Game Theory last year. I could give him your email, or phone number and maybe he can help you. Just don't fall for his charms," Finn adds, laughing a little.
"I'm on a guy hiatus," Rory reminds Finn. "And any help I could get for this class would be most welcome. I'm not a quitter."
"Okay, his name is Robert. Do you want me to give him your personal email, or your school one?" In a previous conversation the two learned they both attended Yale, or would in the fall when Finn, Colin, and Logan were back on campus.
"School email, definitely. I try to only give friends my personal email. Not that a I don't think Robert might become a friend, but it's school related, so might as well keep it organized in that way," Rory begins to rant. She pauses, taking a deep breath to keep from rambling even more.
"Okay, Kitten, I'll give Robert your email and ask him to help you out," Finn says. "So, tell me what you're going to do this weekend for fun. You need to take a break from the books and enjoy the college experience."
"I'm actually going home for the weekend. There's a festival I want to go to," Rory admits.
"You're town seems to have a lot of festivals. You'll have to bring me home with you next year when I'm back on campus," Finn responds. "I'll let you go so you can start packing. Talk to you later, Kitten."
"Later, Finn," Rory says. "Don't get so wasted that you can't find your way back to your room," she adds, giggling at the thought of Finn wandering around looking for the right hotel.
"One time," Finn grouses. "You get lost one time and no one lets you forget it."
"Never," Rory retorts. "Night, Finn."
"Night, Kitten."
"'Lo?" Rory answers her phone, half asleep. She glances toward the clock and groans when she realizes it's four in the morning.
"KITTEN!" Finn yells into the phone.
Rory moves her phone away from her ear, wondering how drunk Finn is. She talked to him earlier, well the previous evening, she thinks since their conversation took place before midnight. "Finn, where are you?" She asks worriedly.
"Don't worry, Kitten, I'm safe in my room," Finn slurs. "The boys put me to bed, so to speak, before going to their own rooms with their dates for the evening."
"And where's your date, Finn?" Rory asks. Several times Finn had called Rory when he 'wasn't feeling it' as he put it. She often wondered if he was as promiscuous as he said he was.
"Oh, she left me for another high roller," Finn wines. "Something about my accent was off-putting."
"Idiot," Rory says with a laugh. "Obviously she doesn't have any taste," she adds.
"I like the way you think, Kitten," Finn says. "I'm sorry if I woke you up," he adds as he glances at the clock. "I forget it's later for you than it is for us in Vegas."
"When did you move on to Vegas?" Rory asks. "I thought you were going to stay in Florida until you boys had to go work for your fathers."
"Well, that was the plan," Finn mumbles.
"What are you doing, Finn? You suddenly sound far away."
"Just getting ready for bed, Kitten, nothing to worry about," Finn says, his voice once again becoming clear.
"Boxers or briefs?" Rory asks, sitting up in bed, propping her pillow behind her back. "Or are you more the feety pajamas type of guy?"
"Now, Kitten, you know I'm not that kind of boy," Finn replies. "Just a sec. Okay, now I can just focus on you."
"So, if you're not in feety pajamas, are you a boxers or briefs kind of guy?" Rory asks again. This was a continuation of their twenty questions game, though Rory thinks he may not remember they started the game during their last conversation. Even though it had only been a few hours.
"For daily wear? I'm more of a boxer brief kind of guy," Finn answers. "For sleeping? I like sleeping in the buff. Less restricting."
"Oh, well, okay then," Rory manages to get out. Thinking about her friend being naked on the other end of the phone was doing weird things to her head. "So, um...right now you're—"
"Naked as the day I was born. Does that excite you, Rory?" Finn's voice drops an octave. "I can prove it to you."
"No, that's, I mean, well, um—" Rory stumbles. Before she can complete a thought, telling Finn she didn't need a picture she heard him laughing.
"Just teasing, Kitten," Finn says with even more of a slur. "Has Robert been treating you well? I told him if he was his usual ass-hat self I'd pound him next time I saw him, so he better be treating you like fucking gold!"
"Finnster, you big softy," Rory giggles. She talked to Finn enough when he was drunk that she was no longer embarrassed when he used such rough language. "Robert has been an absolute gentleman and a godsend in relation to Game Theory. I've managed to pull my grade up to an A-, so I owe you and Robert big time. What can I do to repay your kindness?"
"Well, if you were here," Finn starts before shutting his mouth, realizing too late that this was his 'friend' Rory, not some random girl he's picked up for the night. "Sorry, Kitten, habit," he adds.
"I was thinking more along the lines of a bottle of scotch, or some imported chocolates," Rory stutters. She tries not to think 'dirty' thoughts about her friend. Yeah, he was majorly hot, but he had become a great friend since March and she doesn't want to ruin that.
"For Robert, scotch is the best way to go. Have your grandfather get you a good bottle, I'm sure he won't object when you tell him what it's for," Finn says. "I really am sorry for waking you up, Kitten. Want me to sing to you while you go back to sleep?"
"Why did you call me, Finn?" Rory asks as she snuggles back into her blankets. Her voice is soft as she's starting to fall back asleep.
"I just wanted to hear your voice," Finn whispers. "You calm me in a way I don't understand."
"You too, Finn," Rory whispers back. "You always know what to say, or what not to say when I'm freaking out or having a bad day. Thank you for being my friend."
"Yeah, right back at ya," Finn manages to get out. Rory smiles as she hears Finn's little snores. She closes her eyes, letting the sound lull her back to sleep.
"Finn?"
"Rory? Is that you?" Finn asks as he moves off from his friends to try to find a quiet place to talk.
"Um—"
"Rory, what's going on? Are you hurt?" Finn asks, worried when he only hears quiet sobbing coming through the phone. "Kitten, you've got to talk to me. You're worrying me."
"I, oh god, Finn, what have I done?" Rory sobs through the phone.
"Are you physically hurt, Kitten?" Finn asks as he gets Colin and Logan's attention and pointing toward the balcony.
"I—I'm fine, I'm sorry, I didn't know who else to call," Rory says.
Finn hears her taking in ragged breaths, trying to control her tears he thinks. "Are you safe? Take a deep breath for me," Finn suggests. "In...out...in...out." After a few more deep breaths he hears Rory quit sobbing, merely snuffling here and there. "Okay, Kitten, tell me what's going on."
"My mom had her opening of the inn tonight with the town and she asked me to run home to get some CDs so people had music if they wanted it," Rory begins.
"That doesn't sound so bad, Kitten," Finn responds.
"Well, earlier today I ran into Dean in the hallway of the inn. We started talking, and he was asking how I was feeling after the horrendous non-date I went on with someone my grandmother introduced me to. The jerk left me stranded at the pub, I couldn't get a hold of my mom, so I called Dean to see if he could come pick me up because I didn't have money for a cab, and he did. Come pick me up I mean. It was nice having dinner, on the stupid guy, with him and, like I said, Dean asked how I was after that, and we almost had a moment. If Tom hadn't called him away, I'm sure he would have kissed me, and part of me wanted that. You know, just to feel something nice and comfortable."
Finn hears her start to cry again, so he gives her a few moments to collect herself. "But you didn't kiss him, right?" he asks.
"No, we got interrupted, but then when I came home to get the CDs he must have followed me, or something, but we were in my room, and there was all this tension from earlier, and when he leaned in, I just got lost for a moment. He kissed me and I kissed him back. We fell onto my bed, messing it up a bit, but then I heard my mom come in, and I pushed him off. His belt, or something must have gotten stuck on my blanket, because it fell off the bed onto the floor, and when my mom came into the kitchen she saw us standing in my doorway looking guilty, and she thinks I slept with him, but I didn't. I swear. I'm not sure if we would have or not if we hadn't gotten interrupted, but I didn't. But she doesn't believe me, and Dean just ran off, not even trying to explain, and now my mom thinks I'm a slut, and maybe I am because I did kiss him back and we were on my bed—"
"Okay, Rory, calm down," Finn starts. "That's a lot of information to take in at one time. So, deep breath. In…out…in…out." Finn listens as Rory breathes through her panic, one again managing to stop the tears. "Where are you?" Finn nods to Colin and Logan when they come through the doors leading to the balcony. He motions with his hand for Colin to call the jet and get it ready. He's not sure why, but he feels this overwhelming need to go to Rory, to make sure she's really okay.
"Finn?"
"I'm right here, Kitten. Are you somewhere safe? Can you maybe go wash your face and lay down?" He's hoping she's still at her house. "I'll stay on the phone with you as long as you need me to."
"Oh, Finn, what would I do without a friend like you?" Rory asks. Finn hears her close a door, hopefully her front door. "Okay, I'm washing my face. Give me a few minutes."
He hears her put him on speaker. Water's running in the background and he covers the mouthpiece of his phone for a moment. "Is the jet ready?" he asks Colin when the two men walk closer to him.
"Yeah," Colin whispers. He's not sure what's going on, but knows it's probably not a good idea to let the other person on the phone know he can hear. "We just need to tell the pilot where we're going so he can file the flight plan."
"Hartford," Finn lets the guys know before turning his attention back to the phone. "Kitten, what are you doing now?"
"I'm laying down, snuggled up with that koala bear you sent me last week for surviving my freshman year."
"Okay, do you need me to stay on the phone with you until you fall asleep?" he asks. He sees Colin nod toward him out of the corner of his eye.
"No, I think I'm okay now, Finnster. Thank you for letting me freak out on you." Rory's voice gets softer at the end. "I'm just going to take a little nap then go back to the inn and try to explain what did and didn't happen to mom. I hope she believes me."
"She'd be a fool not to, Kitten," Finn says, trying to comfort her as best he could. He isn't sure how much Lorelai knows about the non relationship between Rory and Dean. Rory has told him repeatedly how hard it has been to catch up with her mom, so there was a chance that the older Gilmore would believe what she saw instead of what she should know about her daughter.
"Thank you, Finn. In case I haven't said it enough, you are one of my best friends. I love you," Rory whispers as she falls asleep.
"I love you too, Kitten," Finn whispers back, pretty sure Rory was already sleeping and didn't hear his declaration. "I'll see you soon," he adds before closing his phone and going over to his friends.
"Why are we going back to Hartford?" Logan asks, a put upon look on his face. "We still have a week before we have to go work with/for our fathers man. I don't want to see Mitchum until I have to."
"You don't have to see the Dark Lord if you don't want to," Finn explains as he leads the two men out of the party. "You can stay at my apartment. I just need to get back to help out a friend."
"A girlfriend," Colin says, thinking about the many times he's walked in on Finn talking with his 'friend' from spring break.
"She's a girl, yes, but she's just a friend. She's having a tough go of it at the moment and could use some support." As he slides into the waiting car he continues, "You two can do what you want in Hartford, hell, go to New York if you want. I can always get a room at one of the hotels, but I'm going to help my friend."