We walked along the sidewalk together, chatting and waving our arms and hands in wild gestures. We were on our way to Luke's, Mom and I.

"We NEED to have a victory dinner!" She had said ten minutes before at the inn.

"Okay, how about Luke's?" I had said.

Mom had frowned at this, "But we always go there! How about that Italian restaurant, Mario's?"

"Mom, the last time we went there you threw a fit because they only had white pizza."

"Scratch that, who doesn't have regular pizza anyway?"

"How about Luke's?" I had tried again.

"What about the Storm Café?"

"Nope. They serve snails."

"Yuck. Okay, I have an idea!"

"What?"

"Luke's!"

I had grinned, "All right, let's go."

So now we were on our way to Luke's. I search the dinner for him, but he's not there. We arrive just in time to grab out favorite table by the window, soon after Luke comes to take out order.

We both grin up at him as he scowls down at us.

He raises his eyebrows, "Why are you two so chipper?"

Mom turns to me, "Should we tell him?"

"Hmmm, is he worthy?" I ask.

"He does serve coffee." My mom points out.

Luke sighs as we completely ignore him.

"Okay, I guess we should." I say.

Mom throws her arms in the air, "Rory's going to Harvard!"

I blush but grin all the same.

Luke smiles at me, "That's great Rory! I know you've wanted that for a long time." He ruffles my hair. "Coffee on the house for you tonight!"

"Yay!" I clap giddily. I look up at him, "Is Jess around?"

Luke nods, "He's upstairs."

I look at my Mom whose face is somewhat tight at the mention of Jess, but she nods.

"Can I go up?" I ask.

Luke shrugs, "Sure, go ahead."

"Be back." As I leave the table I hear my mother already badgering Luke for free coffee.

"I'd like some coffee on the house please." She says.

"You don't get any. Only Rory." He answers.

"But I'm her mother!"

"Did you get in to Harvard?"

I smile as I take the stairs up to their apartment two at a time. I was becoming quite the athlete today. I knock on the door but no one answers, so I let myself.

I step into the apartment of man. That's really what it is. Dirty clothes are strewn everywhere, dishes are left in the sink forgotten and there's a stale stench of I don't want to know what.

I search the kitchen and living room, which weren't really two separate rooms at all. There's a book on the couch face down, open to the marked page. I pick it up and read the front, The Catcher in the Rye.

I jump as I feel two arms slide around my waist, I drop the book.

"Jess!" I exclaim turning around to face him, "You scared me!"

But Jess is looking at the fallen book, "You lost my page."

I follow his gaze, "Oh, sorry." I pick it up and hand it to him. "How many times is that now?"

He shrugs, "What can I say? Holden Caufield is my hero."

I grin, "Well, I would think so."

His eyebrow raise, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're both rebels."

"You think I'm a rebel?"

"I like rebels."

"Then I think I'll be one." He holds my face with a hand and lightly kisses me. He leans his forehead against my own, "What was that this afternoon? You're little race by the dinner? I've never seen you move that fast, hell, I've never seen you run."

I blush slightly, "I had to tell my Mom something."

"Oh yeah?" He pulls away and throws the book on the counter, "What's that?"

I put my hands in my pockets, will he be mad? Upset? "I got my letter." I look away, towards the dirty dishes. They must've had pancakes this morning.

"Oh." He says looking straight into my eyes.

I can't look at him, but I should, I really should. His gaze pierces me straight to the core, I know he wants me to look at him. I don't. I am such a coward.

He takes a step toward me, "What's the verdict?"

"I'm in." I look to the floor. Do they ever vacuum?

There's a moment of silence. I hope he's not mad. What if he's mad?

"That's great Rory." His voice sounds empty, no emotion.

Is he not upset at all? Not even one bit? I'll be leaving and he doesn't even care?

I finally look up, his face his blank, not even his eyes are sorrowful. "Yeah." I say, "I've been waiting a long time for this."

"I know." He smiles and takes my hand. "I'm happy for you."

Happy for me? Happy for me?! He is NOT supposed to be happy. I don't want to lose him, does he want to lose me? I kiss him almost awkwardly on the cheek, "My mom's waiting downstairs. See you tomorrow?"

He nods, "Yeah."

I feel his eyes on my back as I walk out. I felt like crying but all he could do was say he was happy for me.



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