Pairing: Literati
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I am, in NO WAY, affiliated with Gilmore Girls, Amy Sherman-Palladino, the WB, or any of the other big names. I am just a big fan of the Gilmore Girls, Milo Ventimiglia, and Chad Michael Murray. :)
Spoilers: Possible spoilers from Season 3.
Distribution: Please e-mail me first at rgilmore03@hotmail.com -Thank you very much.
Author's Note: Hopefully, the layout of this chapter comes out as intended. This chapter was actually written last week, but I wasn't able to upload it onto the site. I hope you guys like it!
A big thanks to all of my reviewers! Anonymous, coffeeluver, coffeechick87, silver blood, alely7, ammoura, tigress33, Katie, and Caitie
Thank you so much!
Lorelai and Rory are sitting at a table in Luke's Diner. They are eating burgers and fries, and drinking coffee – a signature Gilmore meal. Rory is also reading a book.
Lorelai: What are you reading?
Rory holds the book up, showing her mother the cover.
Lorelai: Writing College Application Essays…sounds like a riot.
Rory: It is.
Lorelai: It's like naming a restaurant, "The Restaurant". If this guy's such a great writer, can't he come up with something more creative? I mean, come on. Writing College Application Essays?
Rory: The world has pondered that for years.
Lorelai: What are some essay topics?
Rory: Name a fictional character you admire.
Lorelai: Charlie Bucket.
Rory: Charlie Bucket.
Lorelai: He is who I hope to someday be.
Rory: Good luck.
Lorelai: What about you?
Rory: I can't think. It feels like someone depleted the contents of my brain overnight.
Lorelai: Welcome to my world. It's actually not such a bad place to be.
Luke comes up to them, a coffeepot in his right hand.
Luke: I assume you'll want more coffee.
Lorelai: You assume right.
Luke shakes his head, and pours coffee in their mugs. He looks at the book on the table.
Luke: College application essays, huh?
Rory: Yeah.
Luke: How's that going?
Rory: A daunting task, but I'll manage. Hopefully.
Lorelai: Hey Luke, which fictional character do you admire?
Luke: Which fictional character do I admire?
Lorelai: Why does it seem like everyone is my echo?
Rory: It's one of the possible essay topics.
Luke: I'm not too big on fictional characters. Sorry about that.
Lorelai: It's a Trekkie, isn't it?
Luke: Oh my gosh.
Lorelai: Who is it?
Luke: You ask a simple question…
Lorelai: James T. Kirk?
Luke: I wouldn't admire anybody with the name "Kirk".
Lorelai: Spock?
Luke: Good luck on your essay Rory.
Rory: Thanks.
Luke heads towards the kitchen.
Lorelai: That was fun.
Rory: Famous words from a bully.
*
Lorelai and Rory are outside, cleaning the Jeep.
Rory: I'm glad we're finally cleaning it out, before the Health Board pays a visit.
Lorelai: I didn't think it was this bad.
Rory: What's this?
Rory picks up what looks like a dinner roll. It was underneath the driver's seat.
Lorelai: Looks like a dinner roll. I wonder if it's still edible…
Rory: It's turning a nice shade of green.
Lorelai: Nice being the keyword.
Rory: Gross.
Lorelai: Darn. A perfectly good dinner roll going to waste.
Rory: There will be dinner rolls at tomorrow night's dinner.
Lorelai: Not these dinner rolls.
Rory: And why is that?
Lorelai: Mom fired Liliana, remember? All because of the walnuts.
Rory: Oh yeah.
Lorelai takes the roll from Rory, and looks at it.
Lorelai: We need garbage bags.
Rory: I don't think we have anymore.
Lorelai: So we have to buy some?
Rory: Evidently.
Lorelai: Have I mentioned how tired I am?
Rory: No, you haven't.
Lorelai: Because I am.
Rory: I'll go get the garbage bags.
Lorelai: Ah, thank you.
*
Rory is inside Doose's Market, about to buy garbage bags. She is standing in one of the aisles, looking at the shelves.
Jess: Hey.
Rory turns around, smiling.
Rory: Hi.
Jess: How's it going?
Rory: Good.
Jess: Good.
Rory: I have to buy garbage bags.
Jess: What?
Rory: Mom and I are cleaning the Jeep, which we haven't cleaned in a tremendously long time. Come to think of it, I don't know what enthused us to do so. We were just sitting there drinking coffee, and Mom suggested we clean the Jeep.
Jess: Ah. Hence the garbage bags.
Rory: Yup.
Rory and Jess exchange a small smile. Jess takes a couple steps forward, and picks up a bag of garbage bags. He hands it to her.
Rory: Thanks.
They are both unaware that Dean is in the next aisle.
Jess: No problem.
Rory: You weren't in the diner earlier.
Jess raises his eyebrows, surprised that she noticed. Rory blushes, and looks away.
Jess: I was working in the back.
Rory: Oh.
They are both quiet for a moment, just looking at each other.
Dean: Sorry. Did I interrupt your little revelry?
Rory and Jess both look at Dean. Rory stares at the bag of garbage bags intently. She looks up at Dean after a moment.
Rory: Dean.
Dean: I should just leave you two alone.
Rory: Dean…I didn't know you were working today.
Dean: Is that supposed to make me feel better?
Rory is looking around, obviously embarrassed. Several shoppers in the Market are listening to Dean's outbursts.
Rory: No. I can explain…
Dean: But I don't want to listen. I don't want to hear anything.
Rory: Dean! We were just talking.
Dean: I don't want to hear your pathetic excuses. It's over, Rory.
There is a moment of disbelief. Rory is staring at Dean, shocked. Jess is looking at Rory empathetically.
Dean: It was over a long time ago. I was just too stupid to admit it.
Rory: Dean…
Dean: It's over.
Dean angrily walks away, glaring at Jess as he does so. Rory is unsuccessfully trying to hold back her tears. Jess starts to say something.
Rory: I'm sorry. I have to go.
Jess nods understandingly.
*
Rory arrives home, to find her mother sitting on the front porch drinking coffee. Rory is crying, and holding the bag of garbage bags.
Lorelai: Honey, what's the matter?
Rory: It's over, mom.
***
End of Part Three