Disclaimer: The Gilmore Girls and their world are owned by Amy Sherman Palladino and the WB.
Everything else: See chapter one.
You're looking at the ring with puzzlement – as if I've suddenly told you that I'm in love with Paris or hate music or plan to become a grocer for the rest of my life. Your shock was expected but your confused look throws me off balance.
"You don't have to wear it," I hurry to assure you, hoping that I sound less stupid to you than I do to myself. "I read about them in a book; you wouldn't like it, but it gave me the idea…. I figured Lorelai would skewer me if I proposed before we graduate, but that you could wear this on a necklace or something for a while if you wanted."
"It's a promise ring," you say, with definite pleasure, and tilt your head to the side.
Good. The befuddlement was making me nervous. Now I'm calm again – sort of. "You don't have to wear it," I say again. A mark of how strange a feeling this is for me. I'd wanted to wryly comment that your last eye exam must have went well.
"Maybe I will," but this time you're teasing. Happy, I think. You're beautiful, looking down at the ring and grinning. Now I'm in my element, teasing you, bantering with you. I'd been so afraid of screwing things up with us after all this time; it was a rush, knowing you still loved me, would still toss words back and forth.
"Because you're hopelessly devoted to me, right?"
"No, it's just that pretty of a ring," you correct me.
"Glad I sprang for the real pearls, then."
Nod. Then your brow crinkles – I shouldn't have mentioned money. "Real pearls?" you ask, shooting for impressed but I read you too well, you're worried.
"I stole them off a corpse," I quickly inform you.
"Oh," you say. "Okay, then." It's not the end of the conversation, not by a long shot, but you don't want to ruin the moment any more than I wanted to ruin us. "How will I pick out a dress that will flatter both Mom and Lane?" you wonder suddenly.
Quickly, I remind you that you have a long time to think about it. "Years, even."
"It'll take that long!"
To shut you up, I slide the ring onto your finger and toss the box away, claiming your mouth as mine. We don't talk for a long time.