I'd Rather Be Anywhere But Here

Chapter 6

Disclaimer: I don't own it. It's a bummer but...well, I'll live, as long as you don't sue me. Thanks! :D

Spoilers: Not really, unless you haven't seen Season 3.

Rating: PG-13 for mild cussing

Pairing: Read and find out! :P

Summary: Rory is at Yale. Jess is in California. Rory is over Jess...or is she??? Jess is not over Rory. Please read and review. Thanks!

A/N: I love all of my reviewers! Thanks for your support...and keep on reviewing!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Previously....

Lorelai stepped in front of the door and peered in the window. Luke looked up and they made eye-contact. Lorelai started to turn the door-knob, but stopped suddenly, turned and began running away from the Diner, in the direction of the gazebo.

Luke watched her for a moment, and then he too ran from the Diner and began chasing after her.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Lorelai, stop!" He yelled after her.

She turned around and stopped, "What do you want?"

"I, um, I, uh....I'm sorry that I didn't tell you about Jess," he said sighing.

Lorelai's face grew red. "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU GAVE HIM HER NUMBER!" She screamed at him.

"Oh, you uh, found out about that?"

"Yeah Luke! You thought I wouldn't talk to my daughter ever again or what?"

Luke shrugged.

"Why would you do that?"

"Well, I uh, warned him not to hurt her again."

"But why did you give him the number Luke?" She asked wide-eyed.

"I wasn't going to..."

"But...?" Lorelai asked.

"Well...he said that he wanted to apologize to her, and I hoped that would maybe make things better."

Lorelai sighed, "How can you even hope that they'll make things better between them?"

Luke heaved his hands into his pockets before answering. "Why don't you want Rory to be happy Lorelai?"

Lorelai jerked her head up and looked at him, "I do want her to be happy!" she yelled, "That's what I want more than anything! That's why she went to Chilton and that's why she's going to Yale! And I don't want that, that...hoodlum to ruin it, and her! I don't want to see her hurt..."

"And you don't want to see her grow up and separate herself from you" He finished for her.

Lorelai didn't say anything, she just stood there shocked.

"I know it hurts Lorelai, but you've gotta let go. You've gotta let her make her own mistakes and learn from them. You've gotta trust her to make the right choices."

"...But I'm not ready Luke," Lorelai said softly, her voice shaking. She stepped forward, wrapped her arms around him and began to cry into his shoulder.

He put his arms around her and led her to a bench where they sat down. He patted her back, "It's okay Lorelai," He said reassuringly.

She looked up. "No it's not Luke. I don't want to lose her," She said as she clutched his shirt.

"You're not going to lose her. You could never lose her. You guys have the best relationship that I've ever seen. You've just got to let her grow up."

"But I don't want her to make the mistakes that I made," Lorelai protested.

"She's a smart girl Lorelai."

Lorelai sighed, "I know....and I want her to be happy, really I do..."

"I know," he said stroking her hair.

She continued, "...but I just don't trust Jess."

"I know that it's hard to believe but he's different around her, and she's good for him. You know what he told me on the phone? That he's finishing high-school, he's got good grades...plus he's working part time at Jimmy's hot-dog stand. I really think that he's trying to clean his act up."

Lorelai and Luke were silent for a few minutes before she finally spoke.

"I still don't like him."

"I'm sorry that I gave him her number. I really wasn't going to at first, but then he said that he was going to apologize, and I thought that maybe it would be a sort of closure for both of them."

Lorelai laughed, "She hung up on him....I think that she's moved on...In fact she has a date tonight."

"I'm glad," Luke said sincerely.

"Well, I accept your apology.....just don't let it happen again I had horrible pancakes for breakfast."

"Okay," Luke said nodding, "So can I walk you home?"

"Yeah," Lorelai said standing up. "So my butt was showing?" She asked smirking.

"Wh-oh...yeah," Luke said laughing,"...or your 'bottom' as Kirk says."

They continued talking until they arrived at the Gilmore House, where Luke left Lorelai and began walking back to the Diner. Holding her felt so natural... No. Get those thoughts out of your head. You don't like her and she doesn't like you. You're just good friends...and that's all you'll ever be.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Yale, Night

Rory got out of the shower and put on a pair of sweats. She began blow- drying and straightening her hair. When she finished, she started going through her closet, trying to find something to wear.

"To short! To skimpy! To fancy!" she yelled as she tossed each item onto the floor.

She soon gave up and flung herself onto her bead. Shortly afterwards the phone began to ring. She groaned before reaching over and picking it up.

"Hello?"

"Hey hun," Lorelai answered.

"You're my hero," Rory said sitting up.

"Hmm...aren't we moody," Lorelai teased.

"What?" She asked frowning.

"Well, the last time I called, you didn't like me, and now you love me," Lorelai explained.

"Oh, well, I need you to help me find something to wear tonight."

"What about that blue skirt with the--"

"Doesn't fit," Rory interrupted.

"Oh...what about that red--"

"Too dressy."

"Oh, hmm...I've got it! The gray dress with the bow thing on the side!"

"Ah!" Rory exclaimed, "It's perfect!"

"Saved by the Mom," Lorelai said smirking.

Rory nodded, "As always."

"Oh, stop, you're making me blush," Lorelai teased.

Rory laughed, "Well...I've gotta go get ready."

Lorelai's face fell. "...Allright, well call me when you get home," She said mopily.

"Okay, thanks for your help!" Rory said standing up.

"Anytime babe, well bye," Lorelai said sadly.

"Bye mom," Rory said and hung up the phone.

She got dressed and put on her makeup. She was just putting on her shoes when there was a knock at the door.

"I'm coming!" She yelled as she grabbed her purse and ran to the door.

"Hi," she said as she opened it.

"Hey, you look great," he said after looking her up and down.

"Thanks," she said blushing.

"So are you ready to go?" He asked anxiously.

"Yeah," Rory said as she shut the door and locked it.

They walked to his car and he opened the door for her.

"Thank you, she said as she got in.

"Sure," he said before closing the door.

How sweet. This should be fun.

He started the car and they left the parking lot.

"So where are we going?" She asked as she put on her seatbelt.

"Adele's," he answered. "It's a little restaurant about 5 blocks away."

"Like from Jane Eyre," Rory said and looked at him. She could tell that he had no idea what she was talking about. "It's a book," She explained. (A/N: DarkAngl! LOL!)

"Oh," he said nodding.

They arrived at Adeles shortly and they got out of the car and walked to the door. They were seated immediately. Rory ordered lasagna and Brian ordered Tri-tip. They talked as they waited for there food.

"So what are you majoring in?" Rory asked before taking a sip of her pepsi.

"English," He answered, "And you?"

"Journalism."

"That's cool," He said fiddling with his napkin, "So do you have any brothers or sisters?"

"Nope, I'm a only child," Rory answered, "What about you?"

"Yeah. I've got an older brother, Jorge, and a younger sister, Megan."

"Well, my mom is like my sister. She's cooky but cool. She had me when she was sixteen and she raised me herself, so we're really close...best friends actually."

"Wow. She sounds neat," Brian said, "I wish my parents were that way...they're way to strict."

Rory smiled, "Yeah, I'm lucky to have her."

There food arrived and they ate in pretty much silence. After they finished eating they ordered coffee and talked for about 30 minutes. They talked about everything from movies, to music, to books and found out that they had a lot in common.

They drove back to her dorm and he walked her to her door.

"I had a really good time tonight," He said sincerely.

"Me too," She said smiling.

He started to lean forward to kiss her, which startled her. She quickly turned her head so that his lips hit her cheek.

"Uh, I don't believe in kissing on the first date," She said blushing.

"Uh, okay..sorry," He said as his face turned crimson.

"That's alright," she said reasurringly.

"So...do you believe in second dates?" he asked smirking.

She smirked, "Yes."

"Good...so can I have your number?"

"Oh, yeah... let me go get some paper," She said as she unlocked the door. "I'll be right back," She said before closing the door. She immediately turned and re-opened it. "I'd let you in but it's a mess," She said lying.

He nodded and she shut the door.

I don't believe in kissing on the first date? What the hell was that all about? She ran to her room and grabbed some paper and a pen. She quickly jotted down her number on it. I guess I was just nervous. Yeah...It HAS been six months since my last date. It's completely normal...I think...well I don't quite know...I've never been in this situation before.

She opened the door, gave him the number and said good-bye. She walked back into her dorm and noticed that no one was home. "Hello?" She yelled. There was no answer. She walked over to the table and found three notes, each of them explaining that the girls Paris and Janet were home for the weekend and that Tana would be home bright and early tomorrow morning. Looks like it's just me tonight.  Maybe I'll go home tomorrow.

She walked slowly to her room, put on her pj's, took off her make-up and sat down on her bed. 12:20. I'll call mom tomorrow. She's probably asleep anyway...wouldn't want to wake up 'sleeping beauty.'

Rory turned off her bedroom light and got into bed. That was fun. Rory smiled. Maybe it's as they say...third times the charm.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A/N: Sorry it took me so long! What do ya'll think?