A/N: I owe you guys a huge thank you for all the wonderful reviews last week! They really made me grin like an idiot and I've read and reread each and every one, though I haven't had the chance to reply to many reviews lately. I am so incredibly happy with your responses and so glad that you guys enjoyed the prom chapters :) I don't think I would've kept writing so far without all your encouragement and wonderful reviews, so please keep them coming :)

Chapter 22

Jess rolled his eyes and pretended to complain when Rory said she needed to go back to the party for a few last dances with Lane. By then, most people were dancing more animatedly, having lost either their self-consciousness or their sobriety throughout the night. He'd vehemently refused to dance to any pop music and instead found some of his old friends. They talked about nothing much and before long, he found his eyes darting to her as she danced. Her hair was knotted back, but loose wasps were sticking to her forehead. She was laughing as she shared some joke with Lane over the fast-paced, chaotic music. The corner of her dress lifted as she twirled, one hand in Lane's and paused to spin her best friend around too. She radiated energy; it was in the way her hands moved, in the way her face was lit up, in the way she occasionally glanced at him.

He should really contain the smile on his lips, the one that came with the lightness he was feeling. He should also stop staring now or someone might call him out on the sap he was becoming. And so, he pretended to scan the dancefloor with his rehearsed look of boredom, the image of her dancing still imprinted in his mind. He wondered when it was that Rory became his favorite person to watch, when it was that seeing her smile became important. It'd started somewhere between studying her amused reaction to a crime scene prank and the quiet way she greeted guests during that bizarre town dinner at the inn. Then, it became natural to notice the way her lips rubbed together and how she twirled at one particular strand of hair when she studied at the diner. It was a little embarrassing really, when he paused to think about it. Still, when his eyes drifted back to her, he did nothing to control how long there lingered there.

They stayed for another hour, until Jess and Dave had to support their barefooted, exhausted girlfriends by the waist back to the school steps. Dave left to get his car to the school gate, insisting on giving Rory and Jess a ride back to their own car, while Jess left to get Rory's bag, with all her clothes and makeup and made an insincere promise about looking for her shoes.

Rory and Lane leaned back against the banister and then against each other. The evening air was cool against their skin and when they looked at each other, they both giggled a little.

'I'm so glad you're here.' Rory sighed, linking her arm in her best friend's.

'This was amazing. I still can't even believe I'm here.'

'Even back in the third grade, I don't think I imagined it'd be this fun.'

'I definitely didn't imagine it'd be in New York.'

'And the dresses!'

'And the band!'

'But man, these shoes hurt.' Rory flexed her bare toes, wincing.

'And I imagined there'd be better food.' Lane said, as they both crinkled their nose.

'Mmmm. Hot, greasy, fattening food.'

Lane groaned. 'Ugh, stop. I'm so craving a cheeseburger right now.'

'Extra cheese. Curly fries on the side. And apple pie. To go please.'

They both sighed wistfully. After a moment of momentary silence, Lane sighed quietly. 'Hey, Rory?'

'Yeah?'

'Is it weird that I don't feel guilty?'

'For craving a burger?'

'I mean, I snuck out. I just ignored the curfew and the rules and being grounded. I turned into what my mother would call a party girl.'

'Lane, I hardly think going to prom makes you Nicole Richie.'

'If she found out, she'd… She'd ship me off to Korea. In a crate. To a nunnery.'

'Lane –'

'But I don't feel bad for being here. I just don't. I'm not sure if I should. I should feel bad, right? I lied to her and I snuck out the window.' She didn't wait for Rory to reply, instead she went on. 'Dave told me he's going to college in California. He told me last week actually.'

'What? California?'

'It's his dream school and his sister lives there, ever since she got married anyway. He told me and I just – this is gonna sound so terrible, I know it's terrible – but I was so jealous. That he's going there, that he has plans and he's going places and I just…' She broke off, looking at her hands. 'I want him to stay, but I also don't, you know? He'll hate me if I ask him to. So we were just avoiding it. He didn't bring it up or anything, but then I don't know if it was the lights or the music or just being here, I just started having this daydream that maybe… I could go with him.'

'Oh wow, Lane.' Rory stared at Lane, trying to meet her eyes. 'Did you tell him?'

'No, of course not. I can't really do that. California, me?'

'You should tell him.'

'There's no way I'll ever actually go to California. I wouldn't know what to do, I can't just go live in a cardboard box.'

'But isn't that what you want?'

'It's just a silly daydream. Being here in New York just makes me wanna do something crazy, you know?' Lane dismissed with a headshake.

Her most recent adventure in the library crossed her mind as she said. 'Oh, believe me. I know.'

Lane smiled knowingly at the blush. 'You and Jess, right? Yeah, I noticed you were gone a while.'

She shook her head with a smile, trying not to get distracted. 'Lane, Dave cares so much about you. Maybe if you tell him, you guys can figure something out.'

'I don't think I can …' She drifted off as she saw Jess come back through the door.

'We'll finish this later.' Rory promised.

'Am I interrupting something?' Jess stepped next to Rory, kissing her cheek.

Rory took his hand in hers. 'We were just saying we should go for burgers.'

Lane nodded. 'I'm starving.'

Jess turned to Rory. 'You should know first that your mom was very clear about curfew.'

Rory deadpanned. 'Sure, she was.'

'2 am.'

'Pretty generous.'

'I feel so weird not having to worry about curfew.' Lane quipped.

'Seeing how long it takes to get home, technically we should get moving…' Jess checked his watch. 'Well, about a half-hour ago.'

She grabbed his watch, checking the time again herself. 'We don't have to go for another 45 minutes.'

He grabbed Rory's hand. 'Excuse me, with your driving, we'll need four hours.'

Lane crossed her arms, shaking her head at Jess. 'Don't steal away my best friend 'cause you wanna do dirty stuff in the back seat.'

'I'm offended you would even think that, Lane.' He said in mock-disappointment, while giving Rory's hand a squeeze.

Lane raised her eyebrows. 'Well, if you think she drives too slow, maybe you could ride with Dave and I could ride with Rory.'

'I think you're being hostile.' Jess said to Lane.

'And I think you're full of it.'

He widened his eyes, pleading innocence. 'Hey, I'm worried about making curfew.'

'Since when do you care about curfew?'

'Since I might end up homeless if I don't get her back on time.'

'Oh, please…'

Rory tuned out of the conversation, enjoying the light banter of her two favorite people. But as she looked out onto the street, watching Dave's car pull up, she heard a familiar buzzing from her bag.

She grabbed her phone, flipping it open in surprise. 'Mom?'

'Oh, finally. I now know why Luke hates cellphones. They're the root cause of all temporary insanity. Can you think of anyone who wouldn't go insane after listening to their daughter's voicemail 25 times?'

'Oh.' Rory looked embarrassed, as she turned to wander away from Jess and Lane, who were still arguing. 'I left my phone in my bag. This dress didn't have any pockets, I'm so sorry.'

'And then said person also calls said daughter's boyfriend 25 times and he doesn't pick up. And then they call her best friend's boyfriend, but even his phone is off. God, I thought all four of you just vanished off the face of the earth.'

'I don't think there was any reception at the school.' Rory said apologetically, then continued, her voice getting more animated. 'But we're all fine, more than fine. Amazing. Really, today was so great.'

'And the prom?'

'It was perfect. And, oh God, mom, thank you so much for the dresses and the makeup. It was beyond terrific, all of it.'

'And the hoodlum?'

'He was a perfect gentleman.'

'So you're sitting in a cop car right now, with Jess handcuffed next to you?' Lorelai teased.

'No, actually we're now waiting for the nice lady at the station to take our mugshots.' Rory deadpanned.

'Well, in that case, make sure you scowl. A smile will just ruin the mugshot.'

'Duly noted.'

'I'd say pass that on to Jess, but I think Holden Caulfield's already got plenty of experience.'

'Not tonight. Holden Caulfield's not making an appearance tonight.'

'Oh yeah?'

'He was really, really great, mom.'

'I see, so he's now dragging you to a motel room while carrying three bags of stolen bank money.'

'No, I think his bank job days are behind him.' She said lightly, then explained. 'We're outside the school.'

'Good.' Lorelai paused, then sighed. 'Well, I need you home.'

'We won't be late, we were just going for a burger with Lane and Dave. The food at the prom was –'

Lorelai cut her off. 'I need you to come home now.'

Rory rolled her eyes. 'If this is another spider in the bathtub, I won't –'

'No, Rory. This is important.' There was a sudden urgency in her voice.

'Why? What happened?'

'I'll tell you when you get here.'

'Is everyone okay? What's going on?'

'Everyone's fine… Don't panic, but just… get here as soon as you can, okay?'

Three hours earlier

While her daughter was no doubt dancing at a prom in New York, Lorelai was slowly but surely wishing an anvil would drop on her head. She'd had exactly 53 minutes of peace and quiet at the Gilmore house before all hell had broken loose. In hindsight, she should've anticipated that Emily Gilmore's return meant something very, very bad. She should've barricaded the doors. Or staged a suicide. Or called the fire brigade. Most importantly, she should never have answered the door.

'Are your daughter's safety and well-being of no regard to you? Have you lost your mind?' Her mother started thunderously, storming into the house.

'Mom, what are you –'

'And did you think I was some big fool, Lorelai? Or did you really think I wouldn't find out that you're letting that abhorrent lowlife sleep in your house, in the same house as your teenage daughter? Are you insane?' Emily Gilmore's voice was shrill.

'What? Oh, God. Mom, look –' Lorelai winced.

'Imagine my surprise when I go over to the local high school to ask about a photographer for my granddaughter's prom only run into the town selectman who oh-so-casually informs me my granddaughter's never dated a boy named David. She's been fraternizing with that other mutant. Right under her mother's eye.'

Oh, Taylor. Lorelai shut her eyes, hoping she'd wake up from what had to be some horrific nightmare.

'Are you purposely trying to destroy that girl's future? What kind of life do you want for her? Allowing her not only to see that boy, but to… live with him under the same roof? What kind of mother are you?' Emily's face wrinkled in fury.

'Mom, back off.' She warned.

'Lorelai Gilmore, you have done some questionable things in the past. But just what on earth were you thinking with this? Her and that boy? That thuggish criminal who showed up with a black eye?'

'Jess is a complicated kid, mom. He's trying his best to –'

Emily cut her off, starting again in a tantalizing tone. 'Now, I'm aware of how much you despise me and your father and the life we live and any signs of social propriety, but I would've expected you to at least uphold some basic moral decency, some proper rules, for the sake of your daughter.'

'Hey, I raised Rory right. She's a good kid and you know that and that's because I raised here, in this house with my rules.'

'Please. We should've fought you for custody a long time ago.'

Lorelai ignored her words. 'She's top of her class at Chilton, she's going to Yale and she's responsible and smart and disciplined and she has been raised right.'

'Oh, yes, you raised her so right she goes around vandalizing the town.' Emily said, as Lorelai rolled her eyes and headed to the kitchen to make coffee. Emily, of course, was on her heel. 'Oh, don't you roll your eyes at me. I saw the damage. That Taylor of yours said every town sign was replaced with some inn advertisement. He said every street sign in this town has been wrecked.' Emily was indignant.

Lorelai, who'd found leftover coffee in the pot, was now rummaging the cupboards for a clean mug. 'Okay, wow, big exaggeration there, Taylor. The town signs weren't wrecked, they were just taped over with some paper—'

Emily had her hands tightly curled around the back of the nearest chair. The veins on her neck looked ready to pop. 'Of course, it's no surprise it was none other than that delinquent. Is that the sort of influence you want on your daughter? He's already getting her into vandalism, petty crime and God knows what else–'

Lorelai slammed the half-full coffee pot, making the liquid splash out. 'Mom, he's not getting her into vandalism. Believe it or not, he's not the devil reincarnated. And you have no right to–'

'He belongs in a correction facility or… in juvenile prison. Not in your home. And not around your daughter.'

'Do I get to speak here?'

'Speak? Oh, yes, please tell me what kind of hallucinogen you were on when you agreed to this atrocity.'

She took a breath, though it didn't help her organize her thoughts. 'Yes, mom, yes, I made the decision to give a troubled, outcasted kid a second chance when no one else would, okay? And believe me, I'm not on the Jess fan-club here. You won't see me holding pompoms and cheering for him. In fact, I'm on the verge of smacking his gelled-up head with a sharp object half the time. So, heaven knows I thought I'd be the last person to say this, but here I am saying it. I see something good in that kid. He did some stupid things and he's rude and he acts out. And it drives all of us around here crazy, including me, but I truly believe that he's not a bad kid.'

'Oh, please, Lorelai –'

'And he may be 18, but he's still just a kid, mom. And I know what it's like to be 18 and have everyone around you think you're an adult when you have no clue what you're doing. He's got the whole town against him, his whole family's given up on him and he deserves to have someone give him a chance.' Lorelai continued, before Emily could respond. 'And this is for Rory's sake. This is me setting a good example for her. I'm trying to raise a daughter who's compassionate and kind and who takes chances on people. I know Rory and I know how much this relationship means to her and–'

'Relationship? Lorelai, for heaven's sake. They're in high school. You're her mother and you're perfectly capable of putting an end to this ridiculous relationship they think they're in.' Emily stormed out, into the living room again and Lorelai had no choice but to follow.

'Rory's moving out in less than half a year. I can't control her anymore and I won't try to. In fact, I never have. Yes, she's in high school, but this relationship is real to her and we need to respect that.' She continued, despite Emily shaking her head fervently. 'If I broke them up now, if this thing with Jess ends without proper closure, this will just be a wound that'll keep bleeding. She won't move on and it'll ruin every future relationship she gets into.'

'Are you listening to yourself? Those high school hormones never last. This is completely childish of her and of you. It's your job to tell her that, not let her control this household.'

'We make decisions together in this house, mom. Us. Me and Rory. No one else gets a say in this.'

'What if she sleeps with that boy? Do you make sure her bedroom's locked at night? Or do you sit around drinking your coffee and reorganizing your clothes while she makes the biggest mistake of her life?'

'Mom, stop.'

'My God, she's gonna end up pregnant.'

Lorelai shook her head resolutely. 'No, she's not.'

'Pregnant and alone.'

'NO, she's not.' She yelled again, though a part of her mind had been harboring this exact fear from the moment Jess had walked in. That part was now going into a full-fledged panic.

'And you, of all people, you should know how that destroys one's life.'

'Having Rory did not destroy my life!'

'You're allowing her to follow in your exact footsteps before she can even start the best part of her life. Do you want her to end up like you? Is that what you want for your daughter?'

'She's not going to end up pregnant.' Lorelai repeated. She wanted to sound sure and definitive, but instead, it sounded more like she was trying to convincing herself.

Emily picked up on that and gave her a look. 'None of this would've happened if her father was around. You think she would be cohabitating with her boyfriend if this were a proper home, if she was being raised as a Gilmore? Don't give me that look. A child needs a mother and a father, exactly so decisions like these don't fall into your hands.'

'Oh my GOD. Leave Christopher out of this.'

'Does he know? Was he involved?'

'Who? Christopher? Are you seriously asking me that? Are you forgetting the screaming match I had with him a few months ago? It was at your house. Maybe that'll jog your memory. If it doesn't, well, here's a quick rundown. Christopher hasn't called in months. I make the decisions because I've always been the one making the decisions. Because I'm the one who's always been here for Rory and that's the way it'll always be. We don't need anyone else.'

'She's with that boy right now, isn't she?'

'This conversation is over. You need to go.'

'You've completely lost control over this, Lorelai.'

Lorelai's eyes were hard. 'This is my daughter. Stay out of this.'

'Where are they? Wandering around alone, unsupervised? He could be getting her drunk. Or arrested. They could be in a police car, on their way to prison right now.'

'Didn't you hear me? You need to go. Mom, get out.'

'You've completely failed as a mother, Lorelai, do you hear me?'

'Get. Out.'

A/N: I think the next chapter might be a bit delayed, since I'm still figuring out how to write the next bit of drama... But please, please leave me a review!