Chapter 16
Six months later...
From Around The Corner
She saw him walking around the bend before she realized who it was. Recognition sank in as he rounded the corner by the big rooster, more commonly referred to by townsfolk as Rusty.
It had been six months since their last meeting by the bridge when she had told him to go back to his wife and leave her alone.
The wind suddenly whipped up and tossed his wavy brown hair around, flopping it into his face. This was the key to the recognition of her ex-boyfriend.
She thought briefly of hurrying in the opposite direction.
But it was too late.
He had already seen her and was quickening his pace toward where she now stood, frozen solidly to one spot.
Why wouldn't her feet move?! Come on. Now! Move!
Shit, she thought. She wasn't ready for this. Not now. Not after all that had happened. Time had passed too quickly. She was back at Yale for her sophomore year. She was dating someone new. She didn't want to think of past mistakes. But here he was. She knew it was inevitable that she would run into him sooner or later. This was a very small town, after all. It was surprising that this seemingly chance meeting had not occurred earlier. So she stood there. Still frozen in one spot, wanting to run ... though curious, at the same time.
"Hey," Dean called out breathlessly.
"Hey," Rory answered in her most monotone voice, staring at a point just beyond where he now stood, trying not to make eye contact.
"So," he started.
"How have you been?" she finished quickly for him.
"Fine," he answered, "You?"
"Likewise."
An uncomfortable silence ensued as Dean scuffed his shoes on the sidewalk, all the while with his fists stuffed in his pockets trying as well not to make eye contact with the woman who had just walked away and refused to make things work six months ago when the world fell apart again and again.
"Well, I better get going, Mom is waiting at Luke's and I am already late," she finished quickly to try and get the hell out of there.
"Okay, well ... bye...Rory?"
"Yeah?" She only half-heartedly asked, having turned her head toward him as she started to hurry past."
"You look good." Dean stared at his shoes.
"Uh-thanks..." she said nervously.
Rory quickened her pace and hurried, on her way to Luke's, to where lunch would most likely be waiting as well as a very impatient and hungry Lorelai.
Besides, there was other news to be told. Dean was ancient history now.