Chapter 5: Budding and Vanishing Romances
One Year After That in January.............
[Lora]
Lora walked into the library at Chilton on Friday afternoon. It was divided into three sections. One for books of course, one for computers, and one for just quiet studying. No one ever went into the study area. A lot of people were either on the computers or reading. Those areas got very loud, but the study area was the quietest. Lora usually came in during her free period to study or read.
Ross and Chloe would usually be making out in the corner when she came in. The period before was their free period as well. They also, usually came in during their free period. Lora always caught them making out.
Now, both of them were at Yale. There were no problems in their relationship at all. At least none that she knew about. Of course, if there was he would tell her because he told her and their parents everything.
Lora sighed, missing her brother. Sure, he came home a lot over the weekend, but she missed him on campus. But, luckily today he was picking her up from school for old times sake and he was driving her home because he would be staying home over the weekend and she was very excited about it.
Lora smiled and went into her book bag to dig out her book, but she found a thorn less red rose at the top of her bag. She didn't know who put it there, but it was beautiful. No one had every given her a rose before (besides her parents and her brother).Lora put the rose in her hair and then started reading her book. Ten minutes before the period ended, the sound of the door slamming interrupted he reading. She looked up to see Gavin standing by the door.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Gavin said. "Did I disturb you?"
"No, not at all," Lora replied.
"It got kind of loud for me in there," Gavin said. "You mind if I stay in here?"
"No, no at all," Lora said. "Okay, now I'm a broken record. 'No, not at all. No, not at all.'"
Gavin chuckled and took his work out. Lora never really felt stupid around him anymore being that they were friends, but she still liked him. Gavin looked up again.
"Where did you get that?" Gavin asked.
"It was in my bag," Lora said. "How does it look on me?"
"Good," Gavin said. "Except the stem is sticking out the back of your hair."
Lora started fixing her hair, but Gavin got up and sat next to her and took the rose out of her hair.
"Let me fix it," he said.
He broke off half of the stem and put it back in her hair and then fixing it to make sure her hair was covered.
"Cool," Lora said.
"I watched my mom do it when dad gave her flowers," Gavin said. "I sound like a Mama's boy, don't I?"
"No," Lora said. "I think it's sweet."
"It's done," Gavin said, with his hand still in her hair.
Slowly he ran is finger through her hair. Lora looked at him.
"Sorry," Gavin said, softly.
"It's fine," Lora said at the same volume.
Gavin slowly leaned forward and softly, but tenderly kiss her. Lora was shocked, but her shock didn't last long. She was having her first real kiss. It wasn't until Gavin pulled away when Lora realized she was holding her breath.
"Wow," Lora said. "That was a good kiss."
"I'll say the same," Gavin said. "'Wow. That was a good kiss.'"
Lora chuckled.
"So, what now?" Lora asked.
"What do you mean what now?" Gavin asked.
"Do we pretend this never happened or do we not forget it happened and act all weird around each other?"
"There's not a part of that that made sense."
"I'm sorry."
"Look, I really like you, Lora."
"I really like you, too."
"Would you want to..........you know..........."
"Go out with you? Yes. I would love to."
Suddenly the dismissal bell rang. Lora gathered her books and Gavin did the same.
"I'll walk you to Ross's car," Gavin said.
"Okay," Lora said.
They walked out of the library side by side. Gavin slowly laced his fingers through Lora's. Lora looked up and smiled at him. They continued holding hands while walking out to the student parking lot.
"About the person who gave you the rose," Gavin said.
Gavin smiled smugly. Lora knew what he was trying to say. He gave her the rose.
"Thank you for that by the way," Lora said.
[Ross]
Ross waited outside while Chloe walked out of her Calculus class. He had a surprise for her and he wanted to give it to her before they both went home to visit their parents. He kept a smug smile plastered on his face.
"What?" Chloe asked.
"Nothing," Ross said.
Chloe sighed and walked with Ross to her car and the smug smile returned to Ross's face. Chloe noticed it and stopped walking.
"There's that face again," Chloe said. "What are you thinking?"
Ross smiled and took out two tickets to a concert to see Fountains of Wane, another one of their favorite bands. Chloe shrieked and threw her arms around him and hugged him until he couldn't breathe.
"You are the best boyfriend ever!" she exclaimed.
"Running low on oxygen here," Ross said.
"Sorry," Chloe said, releasing him. "So, these are real?"
"No, they're fake," Ross said, sarcastically. "Of course they're real. So, next Friday night, you and I are going to see Fountains of Wane."
When they reached Chloe's car, she put her books in the car and gave Ross a hug.
"You are so sweet," she said. "I love you."
That was the first time someone said that to Ross. Not even Monica said that to him and she was his first serious girlfriend. He tried to say it back, but for some reason, he couldn't. His heart started to pound. Say it back, he yelled at himself. Say it. But, he couldn't. Chloe pulled away. Ross knew he had to say something.
"Thank you," he said.
What the hell? His brain screamed.
"Thank you?" Chloe asked.
"Chloe, I-"Ross started.
"Don't love me?" Chloe cut him off.
"I'm sorry," Ross said. "It's a very hard thing for me to say."
"Harder than what you just said?" Chloe said, angrily.
"I never said that to anyone. I mean I said it to my sister and my parents, but that was different."
"I never said that to anyone either! Do you know how many times I had to practice it before it actually slipped out?"
"So you were practicing this?"
"Don't change the subject!"
"I'm not trying to change the subject. Look, Chloe, just because I didn't say 'I love you' doesn't mean-"
"You know what? I'm done! Go to the concert by yourself!"
Chloe opened the door to her car and turned on the engine.
"Chloe, wait!" Ross said, but Chloe drove off campus and out of his sight.
Did we just break up? Ross thought.
[Rory]
"Mom, stop worrying," Rory said to Lorelai on the phone. "You'll be fine."
"How do you know?" Lorelai asked. "How do you know it won't make up my marriage?"
"Because Luke's snoring is only temporary," Rory said. "He has a cold. When he gets better he'll stop."
"But, what if it's just a small seed for divorce?" Lorelai asked.
"How often do you guys fight?"
"Not that often."
"So, no. It's not the small seed for divorce."
"Well, it's still worrying me."
"Okay, if you're that worried about it, then in my old room."
"No! Our bedroom was mine first. I'm not giving up my bedroom to Luke."
"Then get ear plugs."
"I don't like ear plugs."
"Well, then you have to come up with your own solution."
"Thanks, Shecky."
Rory heard a car pull in the driveway. It was the kids.
"Mom, I have to go," Rory said. "The kids are home. I'll see you tonight."
"It's my choice tonight, right?" Lorelai asked.
"Right, bye," Rory hung up the phone and rolled her eyes. She loved her mother, but lately she had been making a lot of mountains out of molehills. Ross walked through the door before Lora did and he did not look happy.
"Welcome home, kiddo," Rory said.
Ross grunted.
"You okay?" Rory asked.
"No," Ross said, taking off his shoes and leaving them by the door.
"You want to talk about it?"
"Not now. Later."
Ross walked upstairs, but then he came back down and took his coat off and then went back upstairs. At that point, Lora came through the door and tripped over Ross's shoes.
"ROSS, CAN YOU NOT LEAVE YOU'RE SHOES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DOORWAY?" Lora yelled. "PEOPLE ACTUALLY WALK HERE!"
"Hey, Sweets," Rory said.
"Hey," Lora said, with a huge smile on her face.
"You look happy," Rory said.
"I am happy," Lora said.
"Why?"
"Guess."
"You got an A on the test you thought you would fail on!"
"Better."
"You found that book you've always wanted!"
"Better."
"You're graduating early?"
"Um...........not as good as that."
"You got tickets to see the White Stripes."
"Oh, I'm just going to tell you! You'll never get it! GAVIN ASKED ME OUT! AND HE KISSED ME!"
"He didn't!"
"Yes, he did!"
Rory and Lora shrieked and jumped up and down as if Rory was a teenager again. Rory suddenly felt a wave of déjà vu from when Dean had kissed her and how she and Lane flipping out.
"So, tell me about it!" Rory said, pulling Lora on the couch. "And I want every little detail!"
"Okay, I walk into the study area," Lora said. "And I walk in on Ross and Chloe making out-"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Rory held up her hand. "I don't want to hear about that right now."
"You said you wanted every detail," Lora said.
"About the incident," Rory said.
"Okay, so anyway," Lora said. "Earlier he had put a rose in my bag-"
"Aw," Rory interjected.
"-ten minutes before the period is over he walks in. Now, I have the flower in my hair and the stem is sticking out the back, so he fixes it and then he leans in and kissed me."
"What did you say after?"
"Wow, that was a good kiss. So then we decided we would go on a date so, we have a date for tomorrow night!"
"That's great!"
"I know! He's coming here for the date, too. We're going to eat at Luke's and then go see a movie and then I'm taking him on a tour of the town!"
"Let me repeat myself in saying that's great!"
"I know!"
Rory and Lora giggled, but they stopped when Ross came down the stairs still looking depressed. He had changed out of his uniform into sweats. That was never a good sign. He took a soda out of the fridge and went upstairs.
"Don't want to talk about it yet?" Rory called after Ross.
"No," Ross called back.
Rory and Lora stared up the stairs.
"What happened?" Rory asked.
"I have no clue," Lora answered.
Rory continued to stare up the steps. She wanted to go upstairs and try to talk to Ross, but she didn't dare. She didn't want to push him. Rory looked down at Lora who looked like she was holding something in.
"GAVIN KISSED ME!" Lora burst out.
Rory and Lora shrieked and hugged again.
"Okay, now tell me about your first kiss," Lora said.
"Why?" Rory asked.
"I want to compare and contrast."
"Again I have to ask: why?"
"Because it sounds like fun."
Rory smiled and got ready to tell the story for the ten thousandth time in her lifetime.
"Okay," Rory began. "I got off the bus from school and go in Doose's Market........."
[Dean]
Dean got out of the car, taking the warm pizza box with him and went inside, tripping over a pair of shoes blocking the doorway.
"I'm home with pizza!" Dean called.
Dean took his coat off and threw it on a chair in the kitchen. Lora ran down the stairs, kissed Dean on the cheek, and then opened the pizza box.
"I'm starving," Lora said.
"Are Luke and Lorelai here yet?" Dean asked.
"No," Lora said.
"Then, no," Dean said.
Lora pretended to pout as Rory came into the kitchen and kissed Dean on the cheek.
"Did you guys go to Doose's earlier?" Dean asked. "Or should I go?"
"Ross went," Lora said. "And then he threw it on the table and went up to his room."
"We were just about to start setting up," Rory said. "ROSS, CAN YOU COME DOWN NOW?"
Ross trudged down the stairs and started laying out the food, slamming down every bowl on the coffee table.
"We're lucky those aren't glass," Lora said.
"What happened?" Dean whispered to Rory, hoping that his son wouldn't hear.
"We're not sure," Rory whispered. "But, we're hoping to find out."
"Just to let you know," Ross said. "I can hear you."
Lora skipped passed Dean and started helping Ross with the food. He noticed Lora smiling and a gleam in her eyes.
"You look happy," Dean said.
"I am happy," Lora said. "I've been smiling so much my face hurts."
"Then, stop," Ross said.
"I can't," Lora said.
"Why not?" Dean asked.
"Gavin kissed her," Ross said.
Lora shot her brother a death glare. "Thank you," she said.
Dean didn't know what to say. He didn't want to get sentimental and yell that she was too young. She wasn't. But, to him she was still the five-year-old girl playing tag with Ross.
"Gavin kissed you?" Dean asked.
"Yup," Lora nodded.
"That's great," Dean said. "And who's Gavin, again?"
"You're not serious, are you?" Lora said. "I've been talking about him since the first day of September and now he finally kissed me! He kissed me! I can't believe he kissed me!"
"Oh, god!" Ross said. "Shut up!"
"What's wrong with you?" Lora asked.
"Nothing!" Ross shouted. "I'm just sick of hearing about your stupid kiss! You've been talking about it all day! Just shut up about it!"
Ross started to go up the stairs, but Rory caught him by the arm and pulled him back down and sat him down on the couch.
"Talk," Rory said.
Ross sighed. "Chloe and I broke up," he admitted.
Everyone was shocked. Lora sat down next to Ross while Dean and Rory sat on the edge of the coffee table across from him.
"Why?" Lora asked. "I mean, when I saw you guys this afternoon not even a giant can opener could separate you two."
"She told me she loved me-"Ross started.
"And you didn't say it back," Dean finished.
"Yeah," Ross said. "Well, I said thank you, but that doesn't count. Did you do that, too?"
"No," Dean said. "You inherited your mother's fear of saying 'I love you.'"
"I'm leaving you," Rory said, turning her attention to Ross. "When we were sixteen your dad said he loved me and for some reason I couldn't say it back. So he broke up with me."
"I hope I didn't inherit that fear from you," Lora said.
"Thanks, honey," Rory said, sarcastically.
"So, what did you do?" Ross asked.
"Well, I tried to get over him, but I couldn't," Rory said.
"She found me too irresistible," Dean joked.
"I kept trying to tell him I love him and finally I did," Rory said, ignoring Dean.
"Should I tell her that?" Ross asked.
"Well, she was a little out of line," Rory said. "You should say, 'Chloe, I'm sorry I didn't say I love you, but we shouldn't break up just because I didn't say that. Give me some time and I will.'"
"Did you say that to dad?"
"I tried, but he cut me off," Rory said. "He just took me home and wouldn't even look at me until I actually said 'I love you.'"
"Wow, dad I didn't know you were capable of being a jackass," Lora said.
"And I didn't know you were capable of being a girl who talks to much," Dean said.
"I got kissed today," Lora said. "I'm going to be talking a lot."
"Shut up about the kiss!" Ross exclaimed.
"Ross," Rory said. "Give Chloe time to come around. If she doesn't, then talk to her."
Ross nodded. "Thank you, Mom," he said.
At that moment Luke and Lorelai walked through the door tripping over Ross's shoes.
"Who leaves shoes in the middle of the doorway?" Lorelai asked.
Rory and Dean turned to Ross.
"All right, I'll get them," he said, sighing.
That night Dean put down the paper and turned to Rory who was reading.
"I didn't mean to be a jackass," he said, for the tenth time that night. Since Lora made that comment about him being a jackass, he felt kind of bad from the way he acted back then.
Rory quickly turned to Dean and then back to her book. "Relax, Dean," Rory said, without looking at him. "You got me. I'm married to you."
"I'm really sorry," Dean said. "I know I was out of line. I'm sorry."
"I'm turning off the light," Rory said.
"You have to understand," Dean said, once the light was turned off. "I was sixteen. I was stupid."
"Dean, you were forgiven a long time ago," Rory said.
"Well, I still feel rotten."
"Okay, let's review. When we first met, you carried my books. You made me a car. While I was in the hospital recovering from that car crash, you brought me food so I didn't have to eat the hospital crap. You took me to the hospital and stayed with me after that guy whacked me with my own cane. You took me down to Times Square to propose to me. When the kids were born you took all the night shifts. You payed for more than half of Ross's tuition......"
Rory trailed off. When she said the last sentence she sounded choked up.
"Rory?" Dean asked.
"That was nice," Rory croaked out.
"Come here," Dean said, taking Rory in his arms.
"I love you," Rory blubbered.
"I love you, too," Dean whispered.
After calming Rory down, Rory stayed in Dean's arms in silence. Before Dean drifted off to sleep Rory spoke again.
"You think Ross will be okay?" she asked.
"Yeah," Dean said. "He's got your ambition."
After a pause, Rory said, "I can't believe Lora got kissed today. She's growing up so fast."
"I know," Dean said. "Seems like just yesterday when she had a crush on Prince Charming from Sleeping Beauty."
"Runs in the family," Rory said. "Thanks for dressing up as him by the way."
"No problem," Dean said.
"Good night," Rory said.
A moment of silence passed before Dean spoke again.
"By the way," Dean said, jokingly. "You're paying for all of Lora's tuition next year."
"Fine," Rory said, matching his joke tone. "But, I'm going to start charging you to live here."
Dean chuckled. After a few minutes, Rory fell asleep and Dean thought about when he had to dress up as Prince Charming for Lora's fifth birthday. Like her mother, she was in love with him.
"I want Prince Charming to come to my party," Lora had said when her parents asked her what she wanted for her birthday.
Rory told her that she would see what they could do. Later, she had begged Dean to dress up as him, but Dean couldn't do it. He would have been too humiliating.
"If you do this," Rory had said. "I'll wear that black night gown that you love so much."
Of course Dean couldn't say no to that. So at the party, Dean had the full costume: the red cape, the sleeves that puffed around the shoulders, the sword, the shield, and the boots.
Dean hated wearing it, but it was worth seeing the smile on Lora's face when he came into the room. She was so happy. She asked him to dance with her and he did. She was having fun and so was he.
That seemed so far away now and Prince Charming was replaced with Gavin West. Lora wasn't a five-year-old girl anymore, but a seventeen-year-old girl who was growing up way too fast. Dean decided to accept things the way they were now and drifted off to sleep.
To Be Continued.......
A/N: I hope it wasn't too mushy or again sex-deprived. I hope I made it somewhat funny. Oh, and for the record, when Rory's crying you have to picture her crying like the episode of Will and Grace and Grace was at her ex-fiancé's wedding and was crying in the bathroom going "I miss Danny!" Chapter 6 is coming soon.
One Year After That in January.............
[Lora]
Lora walked into the library at Chilton on Friday afternoon. It was divided into three sections. One for books of course, one for computers, and one for just quiet studying. No one ever went into the study area. A lot of people were either on the computers or reading. Those areas got very loud, but the study area was the quietest. Lora usually came in during her free period to study or read.
Ross and Chloe would usually be making out in the corner when she came in. The period before was their free period as well. They also, usually came in during their free period. Lora always caught them making out.
Now, both of them were at Yale. There were no problems in their relationship at all. At least none that she knew about. Of course, if there was he would tell her because he told her and their parents everything.
Lora sighed, missing her brother. Sure, he came home a lot over the weekend, but she missed him on campus. But, luckily today he was picking her up from school for old times sake and he was driving her home because he would be staying home over the weekend and she was very excited about it.
Lora smiled and went into her book bag to dig out her book, but she found a thorn less red rose at the top of her bag. She didn't know who put it there, but it was beautiful. No one had every given her a rose before (besides her parents and her brother).Lora put the rose in her hair and then started reading her book. Ten minutes before the period ended, the sound of the door slamming interrupted he reading. She looked up to see Gavin standing by the door.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Gavin said. "Did I disturb you?"
"No, not at all," Lora replied.
"It got kind of loud for me in there," Gavin said. "You mind if I stay in here?"
"No, no at all," Lora said. "Okay, now I'm a broken record. 'No, not at all. No, not at all.'"
Gavin chuckled and took his work out. Lora never really felt stupid around him anymore being that they were friends, but she still liked him. Gavin looked up again.
"Where did you get that?" Gavin asked.
"It was in my bag," Lora said. "How does it look on me?"
"Good," Gavin said. "Except the stem is sticking out the back of your hair."
Lora started fixing her hair, but Gavin got up and sat next to her and took the rose out of her hair.
"Let me fix it," he said.
He broke off half of the stem and put it back in her hair and then fixing it to make sure her hair was covered.
"Cool," Lora said.
"I watched my mom do it when dad gave her flowers," Gavin said. "I sound like a Mama's boy, don't I?"
"No," Lora said. "I think it's sweet."
"It's done," Gavin said, with his hand still in her hair.
Slowly he ran is finger through her hair. Lora looked at him.
"Sorry," Gavin said, softly.
"It's fine," Lora said at the same volume.
Gavin slowly leaned forward and softly, but tenderly kiss her. Lora was shocked, but her shock didn't last long. She was having her first real kiss. It wasn't until Gavin pulled away when Lora realized she was holding her breath.
"Wow," Lora said. "That was a good kiss."
"I'll say the same," Gavin said. "'Wow. That was a good kiss.'"
Lora chuckled.
"So, what now?" Lora asked.
"What do you mean what now?" Gavin asked.
"Do we pretend this never happened or do we not forget it happened and act all weird around each other?"
"There's not a part of that that made sense."
"I'm sorry."
"Look, I really like you, Lora."
"I really like you, too."
"Would you want to..........you know..........."
"Go out with you? Yes. I would love to."
Suddenly the dismissal bell rang. Lora gathered her books and Gavin did the same.
"I'll walk you to Ross's car," Gavin said.
"Okay," Lora said.
They walked out of the library side by side. Gavin slowly laced his fingers through Lora's. Lora looked up and smiled at him. They continued holding hands while walking out to the student parking lot.
"About the person who gave you the rose," Gavin said.
Gavin smiled smugly. Lora knew what he was trying to say. He gave her the rose.
"Thank you for that by the way," Lora said.
[Ross]
Ross waited outside while Chloe walked out of her Calculus class. He had a surprise for her and he wanted to give it to her before they both went home to visit their parents. He kept a smug smile plastered on his face.
"What?" Chloe asked.
"Nothing," Ross said.
Chloe sighed and walked with Ross to her car and the smug smile returned to Ross's face. Chloe noticed it and stopped walking.
"There's that face again," Chloe said. "What are you thinking?"
Ross smiled and took out two tickets to a concert to see Fountains of Wane, another one of their favorite bands. Chloe shrieked and threw her arms around him and hugged him until he couldn't breathe.
"You are the best boyfriend ever!" she exclaimed.
"Running low on oxygen here," Ross said.
"Sorry," Chloe said, releasing him. "So, these are real?"
"No, they're fake," Ross said, sarcastically. "Of course they're real. So, next Friday night, you and I are going to see Fountains of Wane."
When they reached Chloe's car, she put her books in the car and gave Ross a hug.
"You are so sweet," she said. "I love you."
That was the first time someone said that to Ross. Not even Monica said that to him and she was his first serious girlfriend. He tried to say it back, but for some reason, he couldn't. His heart started to pound. Say it back, he yelled at himself. Say it. But, he couldn't. Chloe pulled away. Ross knew he had to say something.
"Thank you," he said.
What the hell? His brain screamed.
"Thank you?" Chloe asked.
"Chloe, I-"Ross started.
"Don't love me?" Chloe cut him off.
"I'm sorry," Ross said. "It's a very hard thing for me to say."
"Harder than what you just said?" Chloe said, angrily.
"I never said that to anyone. I mean I said it to my sister and my parents, but that was different."
"I never said that to anyone either! Do you know how many times I had to practice it before it actually slipped out?"
"So you were practicing this?"
"Don't change the subject!"
"I'm not trying to change the subject. Look, Chloe, just because I didn't say 'I love you' doesn't mean-"
"You know what? I'm done! Go to the concert by yourself!"
Chloe opened the door to her car and turned on the engine.
"Chloe, wait!" Ross said, but Chloe drove off campus and out of his sight.
Did we just break up? Ross thought.
[Rory]
"Mom, stop worrying," Rory said to Lorelai on the phone. "You'll be fine."
"How do you know?" Lorelai asked. "How do you know it won't make up my marriage?"
"Because Luke's snoring is only temporary," Rory said. "He has a cold. When he gets better he'll stop."
"But, what if it's just a small seed for divorce?" Lorelai asked.
"How often do you guys fight?"
"Not that often."
"So, no. It's not the small seed for divorce."
"Well, it's still worrying me."
"Okay, if you're that worried about it, then in my old room."
"No! Our bedroom was mine first. I'm not giving up my bedroom to Luke."
"Then get ear plugs."
"I don't like ear plugs."
"Well, then you have to come up with your own solution."
"Thanks, Shecky."
Rory heard a car pull in the driveway. It was the kids.
"Mom, I have to go," Rory said. "The kids are home. I'll see you tonight."
"It's my choice tonight, right?" Lorelai asked.
"Right, bye," Rory hung up the phone and rolled her eyes. She loved her mother, but lately she had been making a lot of mountains out of molehills. Ross walked through the door before Lora did and he did not look happy.
"Welcome home, kiddo," Rory said.
Ross grunted.
"You okay?" Rory asked.
"No," Ross said, taking off his shoes and leaving them by the door.
"You want to talk about it?"
"Not now. Later."
Ross walked upstairs, but then he came back down and took his coat off and then went back upstairs. At that point, Lora came through the door and tripped over Ross's shoes.
"ROSS, CAN YOU NOT LEAVE YOU'RE SHOES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DOORWAY?" Lora yelled. "PEOPLE ACTUALLY WALK HERE!"
"Hey, Sweets," Rory said.
"Hey," Lora said, with a huge smile on her face.
"You look happy," Rory said.
"I am happy," Lora said.
"Why?"
"Guess."
"You got an A on the test you thought you would fail on!"
"Better."
"You found that book you've always wanted!"
"Better."
"You're graduating early?"
"Um...........not as good as that."
"You got tickets to see the White Stripes."
"Oh, I'm just going to tell you! You'll never get it! GAVIN ASKED ME OUT! AND HE KISSED ME!"
"He didn't!"
"Yes, he did!"
Rory and Lora shrieked and jumped up and down as if Rory was a teenager again. Rory suddenly felt a wave of déjà vu from when Dean had kissed her and how she and Lane flipping out.
"So, tell me about it!" Rory said, pulling Lora on the couch. "And I want every little detail!"
"Okay, I walk into the study area," Lora said. "And I walk in on Ross and Chloe making out-"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Rory held up her hand. "I don't want to hear about that right now."
"You said you wanted every detail," Lora said.
"About the incident," Rory said.
"Okay, so anyway," Lora said. "Earlier he had put a rose in my bag-"
"Aw," Rory interjected.
"-ten minutes before the period is over he walks in. Now, I have the flower in my hair and the stem is sticking out the back, so he fixes it and then he leans in and kissed me."
"What did you say after?"
"Wow, that was a good kiss. So then we decided we would go on a date so, we have a date for tomorrow night!"
"That's great!"
"I know! He's coming here for the date, too. We're going to eat at Luke's and then go see a movie and then I'm taking him on a tour of the town!"
"Let me repeat myself in saying that's great!"
"I know!"
Rory and Lora giggled, but they stopped when Ross came down the stairs still looking depressed. He had changed out of his uniform into sweats. That was never a good sign. He took a soda out of the fridge and went upstairs.
"Don't want to talk about it yet?" Rory called after Ross.
"No," Ross called back.
Rory and Lora stared up the stairs.
"What happened?" Rory asked.
"I have no clue," Lora answered.
Rory continued to stare up the steps. She wanted to go upstairs and try to talk to Ross, but she didn't dare. She didn't want to push him. Rory looked down at Lora who looked like she was holding something in.
"GAVIN KISSED ME!" Lora burst out.
Rory and Lora shrieked and hugged again.
"Okay, now tell me about your first kiss," Lora said.
"Why?" Rory asked.
"I want to compare and contrast."
"Again I have to ask: why?"
"Because it sounds like fun."
Rory smiled and got ready to tell the story for the ten thousandth time in her lifetime.
"Okay," Rory began. "I got off the bus from school and go in Doose's Market........."
[Dean]
Dean got out of the car, taking the warm pizza box with him and went inside, tripping over a pair of shoes blocking the doorway.
"I'm home with pizza!" Dean called.
Dean took his coat off and threw it on a chair in the kitchen. Lora ran down the stairs, kissed Dean on the cheek, and then opened the pizza box.
"I'm starving," Lora said.
"Are Luke and Lorelai here yet?" Dean asked.
"No," Lora said.
"Then, no," Dean said.
Lora pretended to pout as Rory came into the kitchen and kissed Dean on the cheek.
"Did you guys go to Doose's earlier?" Dean asked. "Or should I go?"
"Ross went," Lora said. "And then he threw it on the table and went up to his room."
"We were just about to start setting up," Rory said. "ROSS, CAN YOU COME DOWN NOW?"
Ross trudged down the stairs and started laying out the food, slamming down every bowl on the coffee table.
"We're lucky those aren't glass," Lora said.
"What happened?" Dean whispered to Rory, hoping that his son wouldn't hear.
"We're not sure," Rory whispered. "But, we're hoping to find out."
"Just to let you know," Ross said. "I can hear you."
Lora skipped passed Dean and started helping Ross with the food. He noticed Lora smiling and a gleam in her eyes.
"You look happy," Dean said.
"I am happy," Lora said. "I've been smiling so much my face hurts."
"Then, stop," Ross said.
"I can't," Lora said.
"Why not?" Dean asked.
"Gavin kissed her," Ross said.
Lora shot her brother a death glare. "Thank you," she said.
Dean didn't know what to say. He didn't want to get sentimental and yell that she was too young. She wasn't. But, to him she was still the five-year-old girl playing tag with Ross.
"Gavin kissed you?" Dean asked.
"Yup," Lora nodded.
"That's great," Dean said. "And who's Gavin, again?"
"You're not serious, are you?" Lora said. "I've been talking about him since the first day of September and now he finally kissed me! He kissed me! I can't believe he kissed me!"
"Oh, god!" Ross said. "Shut up!"
"What's wrong with you?" Lora asked.
"Nothing!" Ross shouted. "I'm just sick of hearing about your stupid kiss! You've been talking about it all day! Just shut up about it!"
Ross started to go up the stairs, but Rory caught him by the arm and pulled him back down and sat him down on the couch.
"Talk," Rory said.
Ross sighed. "Chloe and I broke up," he admitted.
Everyone was shocked. Lora sat down next to Ross while Dean and Rory sat on the edge of the coffee table across from him.
"Why?" Lora asked. "I mean, when I saw you guys this afternoon not even a giant can opener could separate you two."
"She told me she loved me-"Ross started.
"And you didn't say it back," Dean finished.
"Yeah," Ross said. "Well, I said thank you, but that doesn't count. Did you do that, too?"
"No," Dean said. "You inherited your mother's fear of saying 'I love you.'"
"I'm leaving you," Rory said, turning her attention to Ross. "When we were sixteen your dad said he loved me and for some reason I couldn't say it back. So he broke up with me."
"I hope I didn't inherit that fear from you," Lora said.
"Thanks, honey," Rory said, sarcastically.
"So, what did you do?" Ross asked.
"Well, I tried to get over him, but I couldn't," Rory said.
"She found me too irresistible," Dean joked.
"I kept trying to tell him I love him and finally I did," Rory said, ignoring Dean.
"Should I tell her that?" Ross asked.
"Well, she was a little out of line," Rory said. "You should say, 'Chloe, I'm sorry I didn't say I love you, but we shouldn't break up just because I didn't say that. Give me some time and I will.'"
"Did you say that to dad?"
"I tried, but he cut me off," Rory said. "He just took me home and wouldn't even look at me until I actually said 'I love you.'"
"Wow, dad I didn't know you were capable of being a jackass," Lora said.
"And I didn't know you were capable of being a girl who talks to much," Dean said.
"I got kissed today," Lora said. "I'm going to be talking a lot."
"Shut up about the kiss!" Ross exclaimed.
"Ross," Rory said. "Give Chloe time to come around. If she doesn't, then talk to her."
Ross nodded. "Thank you, Mom," he said.
At that moment Luke and Lorelai walked through the door tripping over Ross's shoes.
"Who leaves shoes in the middle of the doorway?" Lorelai asked.
Rory and Dean turned to Ross.
"All right, I'll get them," he said, sighing.
That night Dean put down the paper and turned to Rory who was reading.
"I didn't mean to be a jackass," he said, for the tenth time that night. Since Lora made that comment about him being a jackass, he felt kind of bad from the way he acted back then.
Rory quickly turned to Dean and then back to her book. "Relax, Dean," Rory said, without looking at him. "You got me. I'm married to you."
"I'm really sorry," Dean said. "I know I was out of line. I'm sorry."
"I'm turning off the light," Rory said.
"You have to understand," Dean said, once the light was turned off. "I was sixteen. I was stupid."
"Dean, you were forgiven a long time ago," Rory said.
"Well, I still feel rotten."
"Okay, let's review. When we first met, you carried my books. You made me a car. While I was in the hospital recovering from that car crash, you brought me food so I didn't have to eat the hospital crap. You took me to the hospital and stayed with me after that guy whacked me with my own cane. You took me down to Times Square to propose to me. When the kids were born you took all the night shifts. You payed for more than half of Ross's tuition......"
Rory trailed off. When she said the last sentence she sounded choked up.
"Rory?" Dean asked.
"That was nice," Rory croaked out.
"Come here," Dean said, taking Rory in his arms.
"I love you," Rory blubbered.
"I love you, too," Dean whispered.
After calming Rory down, Rory stayed in Dean's arms in silence. Before Dean drifted off to sleep Rory spoke again.
"You think Ross will be okay?" she asked.
"Yeah," Dean said. "He's got your ambition."
After a pause, Rory said, "I can't believe Lora got kissed today. She's growing up so fast."
"I know," Dean said. "Seems like just yesterday when she had a crush on Prince Charming from Sleeping Beauty."
"Runs in the family," Rory said. "Thanks for dressing up as him by the way."
"No problem," Dean said.
"Good night," Rory said.
A moment of silence passed before Dean spoke again.
"By the way," Dean said, jokingly. "You're paying for all of Lora's tuition next year."
"Fine," Rory said, matching his joke tone. "But, I'm going to start charging you to live here."
Dean chuckled. After a few minutes, Rory fell asleep and Dean thought about when he had to dress up as Prince Charming for Lora's fifth birthday. Like her mother, she was in love with him.
"I want Prince Charming to come to my party," Lora had said when her parents asked her what she wanted for her birthday.
Rory told her that she would see what they could do. Later, she had begged Dean to dress up as him, but Dean couldn't do it. He would have been too humiliating.
"If you do this," Rory had said. "I'll wear that black night gown that you love so much."
Of course Dean couldn't say no to that. So at the party, Dean had the full costume: the red cape, the sleeves that puffed around the shoulders, the sword, the shield, and the boots.
Dean hated wearing it, but it was worth seeing the smile on Lora's face when he came into the room. She was so happy. She asked him to dance with her and he did. She was having fun and so was he.
That seemed so far away now and Prince Charming was replaced with Gavin West. Lora wasn't a five-year-old girl anymore, but a seventeen-year-old girl who was growing up way too fast. Dean decided to accept things the way they were now and drifted off to sleep.
To Be Continued.......
A/N: I hope it wasn't too mushy or again sex-deprived. I hope I made it somewhat funny. Oh, and for the record, when Rory's crying you have to picture her crying like the episode of Will and Grace and Grace was at her ex-fiancé's wedding and was crying in the bathroom going "I miss Danny!" Chapter 6 is coming soon.