Author's Notes:
Wow, it's been a long time! I'm very sorry about the delay. First there were finals, then my summer job, then fall semester has been keeping me insanely busy. I hope there are people still reading this! Thanks to everyone who's reviewed this, and special thanks to Marissa who let me know that there were people who were hoping for another chapter, and inspired me to finally update this. I hope the long delay hasn't made me lose my touch, and please let me know what you think!
From the Diary of Rory Gilmore
September 29, 2003
I'd heard the stories. Of course I had, everyone who's ever been to college has either experienced it, or known someone who has. It's something you joke about, walking in on your roommate in a slightly compromising situation with a member of the opposite gender. It's practically a staple of college life, along with the bad cafeteria food and the professor with the voice that never fails to put you to sleep.
The concept wasn't unfamiliar to me. But it didn't prepare me for actually walking in on Jackie and a boy. I didn't see enough to tell exactly what they were doing-the last thing I wanted to do was hang around to find out. I considered myself lucky that I was able to stammer an apology and make a hasty retreat.
I spent the next hour wandering around campus and trying to forget what I'd just seen. There could have been any number of explanations, really. Jackie and I are sharing that small room for the two of us, and we hadn't really talked about what rules we wanted in terms of having boys over. Maybe her boyfriend was visiting from California, and I hadn't exactly told her when I would be back today. It could have all been a simple misunderstanding, and she was as embarrassed as I was.
When I finally found the courage to return to my room, Jackie was sitting on her bed and the boy was gone. I told her how sorry I was about what had happened, and that I didn't mean to make her feel embarrassed or awkward. She stood up and said, "Yeah, you should be."
My jaw dropped. "What?"
"Rory, haven't you ever heard of knocking?" she demanded. "What made you think you could just come barging in here?"
I blinked, unable to believe what I was hearing. "Jackie, I live here."
"Yeah, but so do I!" she retorted. "I don't think a little common courtesy is too much to ask!"
"I'm sorry!" I yelled. "I just didn't expect my roommate to be bringing boys over without telling me!"
Jackie rolled her eyes. "What, I need to ask your permission first?"
I took a deep breath, fighting to keep my temper under control. "Look, Jackie, we're both going to have to learn to live together, and that means making compromises. I know we haven't had much of a chance to talk, but I think it's important that we set aside some time to establish some room rules."
She sighed. "Rory, I'm really not in the mood for this. I'm going out right now, and I'd like it if you just left everything alone."
I watched her leave, feeling utterly frustrated with her and with myself. Why did I have to get stuck with a roommate I hated? What was wrong with me that it had only been a week and we already hated each other?
I couldn't stand being in that room another instant longer, so I took my suitcase over to Paris's dorm. She was in, fortunately, and when I told her my story, she wanted to march over to my room and give Jackie a piece of her mind. While I was sorely tempted to unleash Paris's wrath on my roommate, I told Paris that I needed to work this out on my own. She told me I was being a pushover, but let me spend the night on the couch in the common room of her suite.
I'm not looking forward to facing Jackie tomorrow, but I can't think of any way I can put it off. In any case, I can get a decent night's sleep before having to worry about it. Thank God today is over, and at least tomorrow can't get any worse.
Wow, it's been a long time! I'm very sorry about the delay. First there were finals, then my summer job, then fall semester has been keeping me insanely busy. I hope there are people still reading this! Thanks to everyone who's reviewed this, and special thanks to Marissa who let me know that there were people who were hoping for another chapter, and inspired me to finally update this. I hope the long delay hasn't made me lose my touch, and please let me know what you think!
From the Diary of Rory Gilmore
September 29, 2003
I'd heard the stories. Of course I had, everyone who's ever been to college has either experienced it, or known someone who has. It's something you joke about, walking in on your roommate in a slightly compromising situation with a member of the opposite gender. It's practically a staple of college life, along with the bad cafeteria food and the professor with the voice that never fails to put you to sleep.
The concept wasn't unfamiliar to me. But it didn't prepare me for actually walking in on Jackie and a boy. I didn't see enough to tell exactly what they were doing-the last thing I wanted to do was hang around to find out. I considered myself lucky that I was able to stammer an apology and make a hasty retreat.
I spent the next hour wandering around campus and trying to forget what I'd just seen. There could have been any number of explanations, really. Jackie and I are sharing that small room for the two of us, and we hadn't really talked about what rules we wanted in terms of having boys over. Maybe her boyfriend was visiting from California, and I hadn't exactly told her when I would be back today. It could have all been a simple misunderstanding, and she was as embarrassed as I was.
When I finally found the courage to return to my room, Jackie was sitting on her bed and the boy was gone. I told her how sorry I was about what had happened, and that I didn't mean to make her feel embarrassed or awkward. She stood up and said, "Yeah, you should be."
My jaw dropped. "What?"
"Rory, haven't you ever heard of knocking?" she demanded. "What made you think you could just come barging in here?"
I blinked, unable to believe what I was hearing. "Jackie, I live here."
"Yeah, but so do I!" she retorted. "I don't think a little common courtesy is too much to ask!"
"I'm sorry!" I yelled. "I just didn't expect my roommate to be bringing boys over without telling me!"
Jackie rolled her eyes. "What, I need to ask your permission first?"
I took a deep breath, fighting to keep my temper under control. "Look, Jackie, we're both going to have to learn to live together, and that means making compromises. I know we haven't had much of a chance to talk, but I think it's important that we set aside some time to establish some room rules."
She sighed. "Rory, I'm really not in the mood for this. I'm going out right now, and I'd like it if you just left everything alone."
I watched her leave, feeling utterly frustrated with her and with myself. Why did I have to get stuck with a roommate I hated? What was wrong with me that it had only been a week and we already hated each other?
I couldn't stand being in that room another instant longer, so I took my suitcase over to Paris's dorm. She was in, fortunately, and when I told her my story, she wanted to march over to my room and give Jackie a piece of her mind. While I was sorely tempted to unleash Paris's wrath on my roommate, I told Paris that I needed to work this out on my own. She told me I was being a pushover, but let me spend the night on the couch in the common room of her suite.
I'm not looking forward to facing Jackie tomorrow, but I can't think of any way I can put it off. In any case, I can get a decent night's sleep before having to worry about it. Thank God today is over, and at least tomorrow can't get any worse.