Chapter 5: Bright Lights

One Week Later..........

[Dean]

Dean was under the sink in the kitchen of the Inn fixing the same pipe that broke three weeks ago. Actually, he only half fixed the pipe three weeks ago because Rory ran in all hysterical and he forgot to finish the job he started. It wasn't until Sookie got sprayed in the face that he remembered that he didn't fix it. Now he was finishing the job and Lorelai was standing over him.

"Did you fix it yet?" Lorelai asked.

"No," Dean said.

He looked at Lorelai's feet. She was wearing high-heeled shoes. The heels looked like spikes so sharp that if she were to step on him, the heel would go right through him.

"How about now?" Lorelai asked.

"No," Dean answered.

"How about now?"

"If you don't stop I may never fix it."

"It can't be taking you this long."

"I'm really close to quitting."

"I'm really close to firing."

"Then you'd lose the best handyman you've ever had."

"You win."

"Thank you."

Dean listened to Lorelai's footsteps fade away. He let his mind wander as he continued to fix the pipe. He had stopped having the mental replays of what he did four years ago. He didn't listen to the tapes, but he gave them back to Luke in secrecy.

But, now in every dream he had, Rory was in it and it kind of disturbed him. It's probably just because I've been seeing a lot of her, Dean thought.

"Dean," said another voice, interrupted his thoughts. "Are you done?"

Dean didn't know who's voice it was, but he was getting irritated real fast.

"No!" Dean said. "First it's Michel, then Sookie, then Lorelai. I don't care who it is now, but STOP BOTHERING ME SO I CAN GET MY WORK DONE! Your bugging me won't get it fixed at all."

"Relax," said the voice. "I'm going to take the rest of the day off, but I wanted to know if you wanted to get some lunch."

It was Rory.

"Sorry I snapped," Dean said. "You know, I'd love to go, but I'm not allowed to leave until I fix this pipe."

"You want me to bring you back something?" Rory asked.

"I'm okay," Dean said.

"Fine." Rory's footsteps faded away.

Dean suddenly felt a little hungry. He wished he could just drop his tools and leave. But, he couldn't. This job is a bust, Dean thought. I shouldn't have dropped out of college. Dean had dropped out of college to work so he and Lindsay could buy a car and a townhouse. Since the divorce, he was never able to go back. Lorelai was a nice boss, but he still hated his job.

"Dean," said Lorelai. "You can take your lunch break."

It was if God had heard him and he was finally back in his favor.

"Thanks," Dean said, getting up and walking outside. Finally, he added, silently.

Dean walked into Luke's and found Rory, sitting at a table by the window with two envelopes in front of her. Dean sat down right across from her.

"Mind if I sit here?" Dean asked.

"You are sitting here," Rory said.

"You could tell me to get up and go away," Dean said.

"Okay," Rory said. "Get up and go away."

Dean got up and walked toward the door. It was a little hostile of Rory to do that, especially after she invited him five minutes ago.

"Dean, come back," Rory said, as if ready his mind. "I was kidding."

Dean sat back down across from Rory feeling a little stupid.

"What are those?" Dean asked, pointing to the envelopes.

"One is my novel," Rory said. "I wrote one during my breaks while I was married and I finally finished it. I think it could end up being on the best-seller list."

"What's it about?"

"I'm not telling. You'll have to buy it. But, I can tell you this much: the title is The Other Woman."

"Intriguing. I'll have to buy it."

Dean somehow got a sense what it was about.

"What's the other envelope?" Dean asked, tipping his chair backward so he was leaning on the back legs.

"It's a resume for the New York Times," Rory said. "I'm considering moving to the city."

Dean's chair came forward with a big crash. Rory was moving? She couldn't be.

"You're moving?" Dean asked.

"Actually, I'm going into the city today to look at the apartment," Rory said. "It seems nice."

Dean couldn't believe Rory was considering this. He didn't expect her to work at the Inn forever, but still, Rory moving to New York City? Not being able to see her? He didn't like the sound of that.

"I might not go," Rory said. "I kind of got into the whole novel thing. I'm going to see if my novel is good enough to be published. If not, then I'm moving to New York. But, I think Stars Hollow is a better environment for a writer. There's inspiration all over town."

Dean suddenly felt a little better. He knew it was none of his business, but sometimes that didn't really stop him.

"I'm glad you have your life straight," Dean said. "I mean, you're going through a rough time now with the divorce, but I'm glad that you have a plan."

"I'm nowhere near getting a divorce," Rory said. "I don't have a lawyer yet."

"You're halfway there," Dean said. "You moved out."

"Where did you get a lawyer?" Rory asked.

"It's called a law firm," Dean said.

"I know what it's called. What firm did you used?"

Dean took out a business card that he kept in his wallet and handed it to Rory.

"Wow, Dobson and Dobson," Rory said. "You went all out."

"My parent's lawyer works for that firm," Dean said. "But, you should try a different firm. The lawyers there are ruthless."

"Ruthless," Rory repeated. "That's a big vocabulary word for you."

"I picked up a Thesaurus," Dean said.

[Rory]

Rory sat at the front of the BMW with her realtor, Leslie. Leslie was a nice person, but she also had other clients, so she was always on the speakerphone in her car. Rory's mind was elsewhere.

She kind of didn't want the apartment as much as she did last week. She wanted to stay in Stars Hollow with the festivals, the comedy, Luke's, her mother, Luke, Lane, and Dean. Whoa! Rory thought. Where did Dean come in? She was sure that she didn't have feelings for him, but why was he in that list?

Still, Rory thought of living in a decent sized apartment with a view of Central Park and then going to work for the New York Times. She could picture herself like that, but then again.........

"Okay, here we are," Leslie said, cutting into her thoughts.

Leslie parked in front of a brick building with a green awning with the numbers 215 on it. It was a nice building. When Rory entered the apartment, the living room was a decent size and so was the kitchen, but the bedroom was closet-sized. That was a huge negative. There were only three windows and they were in the living room.

"So, what do you think?" Leslie asked.

Rory wasn't sure. It was okay, but she needed a bigger bedroom and a window in her bedroom. This apartment wasn't really worth moving away from her mother and Lane and Dean......Why did he keep popping up in her head?

"I'll think about it," Rory responded.

"Should we head back to Stars Hollow?" Leslie asked.

"Yeah," Rory said. "I'm sorry I dragged you out here for nothing."

"It's okay," Leslie said. "It's my job."

Yeah, Rory was being a little picky and spoiled, but she should be comfortable with her living space.

"Baby, baby, baby

when all your love is gone

Who will save me from all I'm up against

out in this world

And maybe, maybe, maybe

You'll find something that's enough to keep you

But if the bright lights don't receive you

You should turn yourself around and

come on home" – Matchbox 20
To be continued.......

A/N: Boring, I know. I also thought the song was appropriate because Rory was considering moving to the city and Dean didn't want her too and it's a whole big city thing. Chapter 6 is coming soon.