CHAPTER 7
Friday night. Rory rounded the bend to her grandparents' house when she saw her mother standing in front of the door. She was dressed in a knee-high skirt and a long sleeved flowing shirt. Her mother, someone she emulated, was acting like a child ready to throw a temper tantrum. Rory parked her car and stood by her coffee drinking mother.
"So, hang out here a lot?" Rory asked without looking at her mother.
"Service is sub par but the entertainment is mildly interesting. Sometimes, the food is great but it usually gets ruined by a fight or two," her mother commented.
Both of them stared at the door.
"You think we should actually ring the doorbell?" Rory asked again.
"Not yet. I'm still honing my Jedi skills. I am close to perfecting the mind-moving thing," Lorelai informed her daughter.
Rory let out an impatient sigh and rang the doorbell. Lorelai gave her daughter the evil eye when footsteps were heard from the other side.
They were both surprised to see the housemaid of the week answer the door.
"Yes, may I help you?" the maid asked.
"Yeah, is Emily Gilmore home?" Lorelai asked.
"No, she is not. She regrets to inform you that she had a prior engagement with the DAR," she informed the pair.
"How about Richard?" Lorelai asked again.
"He is in Philadelphia. He won't be back until later next week," the maid said.
"Wow. What a way to be stood up!" Lorelai said, upset.
The maid closed the door on them, leaving the couple alone again.
"So, what are we to do now?" Rory asked her mom.
"You hungry?" Lorelai questioned her daughter.
"Some," Rory answered.
"How's a trip to Stars Hollow sound to you?" Lorelai asked.
"Anything but dining hall food," Rory responded, rubbing her belly.
"Then let's go," Lorelai said as she walked to her jeep.
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"Hey Tristin, who are you rooting for this weekend?" one of the guys down the hallway called out.
"Pats all the way, baby!" Tristin yelled back over his shoulders.
"How could you say that in Eagle country?" another guy yelled to him.
"Until the sky turns green, I think New England will whoop ass," Tristin mocked.
Someone else down the hallway yelled, "Dallas all the way, baby!!!"
Tristin chuckled. One thing he learned in life was how his gender trash talked over sports they just pretended to play. Monday morning quarterbacks are the worst but he cannot deny that he had his moments of being one.
"We're renting out one of the TV rooms this Sunday to watch the game. We're charging twenty bucks for the pot. You in or out?" another guy in another room asked him.
"Nah, man. I'm going to be out of town for the weekend," Tristin apologized.
"Seeing the old woman?" another guy asked.
"Dude, if he had a woman elsewhere, the other girls he's been shacking up with would be upset," the third guy in the room mentioned.
He cringed. If everyone knew about his indiscretions, he might as well had been back in Chilton. He needed to shape up.
"I'd be visiting my cousin," he admitted. "But if I'll be back early, sure. I'd be in."
"Great, man," the first guy who presented the invite said. "We'll be in Room 2."
"Later," Tristin responded.
He appreciated the laid back atmosphere at Butler College. It was loud and rowdy but the people were generous and friendly. And the fact that it is the biggest college in Princeton he enjoyed the feel of familiarity and the sense of some anonymity. Now if only he could keep his form of entertainment confined amongst the boys of the dorm, he'd be safe.
He walked into his room and pulled out his duffel bag. He can't wait to see what the weekend offered him. He stared at the picture that he laid on his table a few days ago. Rory. He ran his fingers over her face. He can't wait to see and touch her again. He just hoped she won't be offended with his presence.
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The familiar scents of Luke's Diner titillated Rory's nostrils and she loved it. However, her stomach didn't care much for it. She wondered how people who wrote prenatal books would say that morning sickness only happened in the mornings. It seems to happen to her at any time, all the time.
"You alright, babe?" Lorelai asked as she stood behind her daughter who stopped short in front of the diner door.
"Yeah," she responded, non-committed.
"Hey, my favorite Yale student!" Luke said from behind the counter, beaming Rory a smile. "Welcome home."
"Luke, I've missed you!" Rory responded as she walked toward them man with outstretched arms.
"What happened with dinner at the mansion?" he asked, hugging Rory back and eyeing her mother.
"We got stood up," Lorelai responded, flipping her hair. "So, can we be seated?"
"Of course! I'll bring your burgers and coffees over," Luke said.
"Oh, no coffee for me. How about some tea?" Rory asked.
Luke had to do a double take. Lorelai had a heart attack.
"You are definitely in dire need of food, my child," Lorelai responded, shaking her head.
"I say, "Hallelujah"," Luke said, winking at Rory.
Rory braced herself for her mom's inquiry. She knew her mother was not going to let this die easily.
"Cutting on caffeine?" Lorelai went for the jugular.
"Had enough today. I've been shaky," Rory lied.
"Oh," Lorelai responded. She looked at her daughter oddly. She wanted to ask Rory another question but was interrupted by Luke.
"Here's your coffee," he said to Lorelai, "and your tea. So, what's new with you, kiddo?"
"Not much," Rory answered, putting a sachet of sugar in her tea. "I will be on cable access tomorrow."
"You are? Why?" Lorelai asked.
"Oh, I have to do this thing with the Congress group at Yale," she blew it off.
"That is so great. Why didn't you tell me about it?" Lorelai asked in surprise.
"I was propositioned for the event sort of last minute," she responded, smiling.
"Wow, someone I know is on TV," Luke said, grinning at Rory.
"Well, it's public access. It's not like 'Must-See Friday'," Rory chuckled.
"Well, I'll make sure that I tape it," Luke said before heading back to the kitchen.
Lorelai and Rory just looked at each other quietly. The awkwardness prompted Rory to speak.
"How's the Dragonfly?" Rory asked.
"Great. We've gotten settled for the most part. Business is thriving," Lorelai enumerated.
"Great, great," Rory responded, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"And Luke and I..." Lorelai stated, "are going out."
"What?" Rory responded, her eyes bugged out. She stood up and grabbed her mother by the wrist and dragged her outside the diner doors.
"When did this happen? How could you overlook telling me this?" Rory questioned in rapid-fire successions.
"Uh, we've started, uh, dating I guess is the word, during the Dragonfly's dry run," Lorelai responded as she shifted her weight between her feet.
"Mom, Luke's our pusher. You can't date our dealer!" Rory said in frustration.
"But it sure makes getting the goods a lot easier!" Lorelai indicated.
"Seriously, mom. If you and Luke ever break up, we're going to have this awkward thing and we'd be forced to eat at Al's Pancake World," Rory informed her.
"Well would you prefer me dating Al?" Lorelai insinuated.
"No, that's also career suicide. That's like proclaiming that Taylor is a saint. You can get stoned for that!" Rory responded, walking back and forth in front of her mother.
"I'm sorry for not telling you sooner," Lorelai apologized quietly.
Rory stopped pacing and faced her mother. She smiled. "I'm sorry for biting your head off." She gave her mother a hug.
"So, does this mean we're friends again?" Lorelai asked.
"We're always friends, mom," Rory mumbled. "You owe me details."
"Let's see. Hmm, how about I start when I told you last that I thought Luke and I are dating," Lorelai suggested.
"Yes, let's," Rory said, hooking her arm around her mother's. The got seated back inside the diner.
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"Tristin, you made it!" Graham greeted as he met his cousin outside his dorm room. "Didn't think you were arriving until tomorrow."
"Thought I'd beat the traffic. I hope that's okay," Tristin asked as he returned his cousin's hug.
"So how was the drive? I'm sorry the place is a mess. I just got back from class," Graham apologized.
"You're fine, man. No apologies," Tristin said as he checked the room out.
The clock on the wall ticked at nine forty-eight. "Have you eaten yet? Wanna grab a bite?" Graham asked.
"Sure? Why not?" Tristin said.
Before they could step out, a ball of energy opened the door. It was Rory, all smiles ready to share some information with Graham.
"Hey, Graham, guess what? Mo-," she stopped on her tracks.
"Hey, Ror," Tristin greeted her.