Title: A "Fork" In The Road
Rating: PG (for now…will not go higher than PG-13) mild language and possible mature, deep themes
Pairing: R/J (probably); Lorelai/?; Paris/Jamie; Lane/Dave;
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the basic story line. Amy Sherman-Palladimo and the WB and other people I don't know own it.
A/N: This will be an intro chapter as well and it will be shorter. For those who wanted romantic controversy…. Sorry there won't be any yet. I'm bringing in this character because; I want her to be a source of advice for Rory, Lorelai, and Sookie. The romantic problems will be mostly in Rory's heart, and if I continue this for a while I might bring in a person to cause some romantic problems. Thanks so much for Reviewing. R&R. (and enjoy!) : ^ )
Chapter 2: Hellos, Good byes, and more Hellos
They both began kiss each other.
A voice breaks the peace, "Rory…?"
Rory was so surprised by the owner of the voice.
It was….
"Mia!" Rory exclaimed as she ran and hugged her good 'friend.'
"Rory," Mia said as she examined the girl, "How are you?"
"I'm fine. Mia, what are you doing here!"
"I need an excuse to visit now," Mia said in a joking-offensive-way.
"No…it's just you…" Rory strayed off her comment as she saw Jess, who was becoming uncomfortable. "Mia, this is Jess, Luke's nephew…and…um…uh…worker of the diner…" Rory strayed off as she gestured toward him. "And Jess, this is Mia, owner of the Independence Inn and my really good friend."
"Hi," Jess said in a tone that was not that Jess-like.
"Hello Jess," Mia responded in her 'Mary Poppins- like-voice."
"So…Mia what are you doing to day?" Rory asked.
"Well, I was going to check on the inn but, everyone is busy, so I decided to take a walk. Then I planned to go to Sookie's since she's off today and I wasn't here for her wedding." At that, Rory and Jess exchanged secret smiles, which were unnoticed by Mia.
"Well, do you mind if we join you," Rory asked looking at Jess for approval, he nodded.
"Of course not," Mia said.
(Cut to Sookie's lawn)
"Mia, You can go in…we'll be right there." Rory says talking to Mia. Mia nodded. "Okay, do you really want to be here?" Rory asked Jess, out of earshot of the elder women.
"You really want be to answer that?" Jess responded.
"See ya, later?"
"Bye," Jess says right before he gives Rory a quick kiss.
"Bye Jess."
(Cut to inside Sookie's)
Rory entered to find her mother, Sookie, and Mia sitting in the living room.
"Hi," Rory said to the three women.
"Hey, Hon," Lorelai responded.
"Where's Jess?" Mia asked Rory.
"Oh…he had to go to work," Rory responded truthfully, for she knew he had to work then, anyway.
"Well, what a shame. I guess it we'll be a girls' afternoon." Lorelai snickered at the 'what a shame' comment and Rory gave her the evil eye.
"Ah…I sorry but I've gotta bail. I have a meeting in Hartford," Lorelai announced.
"Yeah me too. I have an appointment." Sookie said.
"I guess it's just Rory and myself," Mia replied. "Let's go Rory."
"Where?" Rory questioned.
"Anywhere. We can just walk and talk like we did when you were younger."
"Sounds very enjoyable," Rory said with true enthusiasm.
(Cut to town square/ streets of Stars Hollow)
"So Mia, tell why are you back in town?" Rory asked.
"Well, I planned to announce this tomorrow but…I moving back."
"Really?" Rory shrieked. Mia nodded. And gave Rory a hug. "Why?" was Rory next question.
" I hate Santa Barbara and love Stars Hollow. So why not move back."
"Taylor," was Rory's only answer.
"Yes, but I'll survive." Mia said laughing.
*About 15 minutes later*
"So tell me about this Jess," Mia asked.
"He's my boyfriend…I think."
"You think?"
"Well we've only been together for a few days. So…"
"You're not sure yet," Mia said finishing Rory's sentence.
"Yeah. But I hope."
"You know, Rory I'm always here if you need advice." Mia said noticing Rory was slightly stressed.
"I know."
"Well I have to go…but I'll see you soon. Okay?"
"Yeah. Bye Mia."
Rory is walking through the streets of Stars Hollow remembering the events of the past months. The kiss. The break up. Her vice-presidency. Her mom and dad. She realized that she had to talk to Dean.
(Cut to Dean's window A/N: Yes she did climb the tree to talk to him but the conversation will be different.)
Rory knocks on the window and Dean opens it.
"Dean… I need to talk to you."
"Yeah…," Dean responded.
"I'm sorry I hurt you. I didn't mean to…It just happened. I did love you Dean. But I lied to you: Our breakup was my fault…not yours. Yes you do get jealous…but that's no reason for me to kiss someone else. I don't regret what we had…at all.
"Neither do I Dean replied."
"I hope you find someone that will make you happy." Rory said remembering the girl and him at the gazebo.
"Does Jess make you happy?" Dean asked.
Rory nodded then continued, "I hope that one day you won't hate me and can forgive me."
"Me too." He pauses for a while before he sighs then continues. "Do you regret kissing him?"
"No" Rory said "…but I regret hurting you."
"Good bye Rory."
"Good bye Dean."
(Cut to Gilmore household; it's the morning of Rory's first day of school)
"Rory wake up!" Lorelai shouted from the living room.
"I am up," Rory shouted from the kitchen.
"Then let's go to Luke's."
"Why?"
"A…duh… I can't cook."
"Good reason. Mom is are fight over?"
"Yep. Let's go."
(Cut to Luke's)
Mia is sitting at a table sipping coffee as the Gilmores walk in.
"Hi Mia. Can we sit with you?" Lorelai asked.
"Of course," Mia responded.
"Hi Mia." Rory said.
Luke walks over to the table. " What you want?"
"Food," Lorelai responded.
"Waffles and bacon for Lorelai. Rory?"
"Same, please," Rory answered.
"Mia?" Luke asked.
"Pancakes and scrambled eggs."
"Coffee?" Luke asked.
"Yes!" both Rory and Lorelai shouted in unison.
Luke leaves the table and Rory turns to speak to her mother.
"Mom…I'll be right back." Rory says right before she goes up stairs.
(*Cut to Luke's apartment)
"Jess!" Rory shouts from the hall as she knocks on the door.
"Yes," he replied as he opened the door.
"Hey," Rory said right before she kissed him passionately.
"Hey. So your first day back?" Jess said gesturing to her Chilton uniform.
"No, I just like the plaid." Rory responded jokingly.
"Well, here's to good luck." Jess said and gave Rory a kiss very similar to her's moments before.
"I've gotta go." Rory said when she finally broke away from the kiss.
"Bye, Rory."
"Bye, Jess."
Rory's POV-
God…why do I feel so weird. I care for Jess. Yet, I miss us just being friends. And I love us dating, but….shut up Rory you have to get to school!
(Cut to halls of Chilton)
"Rory," Paris said coming up behind Rory, startling her.
"Paris!" Rory said trying to catch her breath. "Are you trying to kill me?"
"What?" Paris said dumbfounded.
"Never mind. What's up?"
"We have a meeting after school."
"Okay."
"What no questions?" Paris said.
"None. Why?"
" 'Cause everyone has been asking questions. No one even knows what the meeting is for."
"I do," Rory said defensively.
"Well…Rory, your competition isn't that tough."
"Right. One question though."
"Yes?"
"Have you heard from Jamie lately?"
Paris blushed slightly. "Yeah…he called last yesterday."
"Good."
"Would you do me a favor?"
"Sure."
"Could you keep this thing between us? The second Louise and Madeline here about it, I'll never here they end of it."
"Okay."
"Thanks."
Louise and Madeline walked over.
"Paris, some guy is looking for you outside." Louise said.
Paris and Rory exchange looks. "Really," Paris asked.
"Yeah he's quite a catch," Louise stated.
"A home run," Madeline stupidly adds.
"So…?" Paris trails off.
"Well…go," Rory tells Paris.
"What?"
"Go talk to him. See who 'some guy' is."
"Fine." Paris replies frustrated.
(Cut to outside Chilton)
"Jamie," Paris said with possibly a little too much excitement.
"Hi, Paris," Jamie responded.
"What are you doing here?"
"I had some time off from school, and I thought I'd visit you."
"You just called me yesterday. Why didn't you tell me then?" Paris said confused.
"I wanted to surprise you."
"Oh."
"Hey Paris."
"Yeah?"
"I wondering if you want to go out for coffee after school."
"I'd say yes, but I have a student council meeting after school."
"Well, how about afterwards?" Jamie asked.
"Afterwards?"
"Yeah. What time does it end?"
"4:00," Paris asked.
"I'll pick you up then. OK?"
"Sure."
"Good bye, Paris."
"Good bye, Jamie."
(Cut to halls of Chilton…Rory and Paris are talking)
"So, Paris, tell me what happened with Jamie," Rory said.
"Nothing. He just asked me to go out with him tonight."
"When are you gonna tell Madeline and Louise?"
"The day after never," Paris quickly answered.
"They may figure it out by then."
"Good point they're not that stupid."
" 'Stupid' may not be the best word." Rory commented.
"Oh my God!" Paris said, then stopped dead in her tracks.
"What?"
"I have nothing to wear tonight."
"What?" Rory asked again.
"I have nothing to wear for the date."
"Just ask him to pick you up at your house."
"How will I get to my house?"
"Take the bus or a taxi," Rory said logically.
"Bus? Taxi?" Paris replied slightly disgusted.
"Yeah."
Paris sighed then said, "Fine."
"Bye Paris."
"Bye Rory."
(Cut to Luke's)
"So how was my baby's first day back at the big, scary, gargoyle filled school?" Lorelai asked sympathetically.
"Better than planned," Rory said.
"Good. Luke! Coffee!"
"Um…Mom I have to ask Luke something."
"He's not here." Lorelai said referring to Jess.
"Luke's right there." Rory said pretending to not know who 'he' is.
"Luke made him get something in Hartford." Before Lorelai said anything else Rory had already went upstairs.
" Oh."
"He'll be back in an hour."
"OK."
(Cut to Gilmore household)
"Rory hurry up or you'll be late for your date," Lorelai shouted to her daughter.
"I'm coming!"
(Phone rings)
"Hello," Rory says.
"I'm in a band!" Lane shouts.
"Really?"
"Yeah and one of the guys in it asked me out and we're going on a date tonight."
"Does your mom know?" Rory asked slightly concerned.
"No."
"Good Luck."
"I need it," Lane said with a sigh.
"Bye."
"Wait."
"I can't Jess and I have a date and so do you and…"
"Dave." Lane said finishing Rory's sentence
"Bye."
"Bye."
(Rory hangs up the phone)
(Cut to living room)
"Mom you have a date?" Rory asked her mom.
"Yep."
"What's his name?"
"Dan."
"Hope he's not like Peyton," Rory commented.
"Me too!" Lorelai shouted.
(Ding-dong)
"Jess." Rory says as she opens the door.
"Ready?" Jess asks.
"Yep." And the two walk out the door and to the car.
--15 minutes later Lorelai and Dan, Paris and Jamie, Lane and Dave, and Sookie and Jackson (they're married) all leave for their dates.
A/N: So how was it…OK? I do know where I'm going, and how these things will affect Rory's decision. The Mia-part will be back soon. And Sookie and Jackson's date will be short. The next chapter will be just dates. And they won't all be at the same place. So I don't now how long it will take me. I will try to have the next chapter if you want me to…but it won't be until after New Year's.
Thanks for reviewing: dodgerluv, Jade, Priyamanavale, Seehoo, swim6516, twinkletoes
~~~~~Please Review…even if you didn't like it, that much.
(changed @ 2:15am on Dec. 31, 2002- last day of this year!!!!!!!!)
Happy New Year!!!!!!