Author: Summer

Title: Drain the Glass

Rating: PG-13, for now

Chapter Title: EZ

Summary: When Rory Gilmore's broke, she's desperate enough to do anything- even be the nanny to the family of her roommate. But it's the blonde boy she runs into there that makes the story interesting…

Chapter Summary: Back to Amelie, a lost letter, and some childish interaction

Disclaimer: Don't own Gilmore Girls, obviously. Um, own Jordan and the rest of the Danvers, as well as Sinclair, Amelie, Corina, and Julianna. Also don't own Procol Harum's One Eye on the Future, One Eye on the Past. Nor do I own Pete Yorn's EZ. Basically, I own nothing except my mind's eye. Yes, scary thought. ;)

Author's Note: To Steve.

Feedback is always appreciated. Well, you know the deal. I won't hold back updates, but I love reviews.

It was easy when you were younger / You can put it back together / It was there if you ever wanted it / But you closed the door and said goodbye for good.

"No, no, don't worry about it." Allison Rousseau said lightly, tilting her head so she wouldn't drop the phone. "No, I'm serious. It's just…"

Amelie looked up, rolling her eyes. Allison had been on the phone for over an hour, talking to Max Roberts. Max Roberts, the guy who had trashed her car. "Allison…" she said quietly.

Allison turned to Amelie, gesturing with a finger for Amelie to hold on another minute. "Oh no, it's just my sister. Amelie, you met her."

"I really need to call Tristan," Amelie sighed, checking her watch for the fifth time in the last few minutes. "Like half an hour ago."

Allison glared at her, then turned back to her conversation. "Listen Max, I have to go. I'll call you later… No, I don't think I do. I misplaced it. Can I have it again?" Allison grabbed a pen and jotted down a number on a napkin. "Okay, thanks. I'll call you later."

After she'd hung up, Amelie stood up quickly, glaring at her sister. "What was that about?"

"I was just talking… didn't you think Max was attractive, Ames?"

Amelie's eyes widened. "Um, sure. But Allison… you are aware that he wrecked your car, right? Not exactly prime dating material." She snatched the phone from her sister's grasp, dialing Tristan's cell as she spoke.

"I'm aware. But he did offer to pay for the damages. Plus, he seems interested, and I'm single again. Why not go for it?"

Amelie shook her head as the phone echoed the ringing of the other line. "This is wrong on so many levels."

"This is wrong on so many levels."

Tristan frowned, glancing again at the Caller ID. "What's wrong, Amelie? Did something happen?"

He heard her delicate laugh through the phone. "No, no. I was talking to Allison. She's decided to pursue the guy who ruined her car."

"Romantically?" Tristan asked, leaning back in his swivel chair.

"Unfortunately." Amelie let out an audible sigh, clearly waiting until someone left the room. "I just don't want to see her get hurt again. She never seems to pick the good guys, Tristan."

"Don't worry, Amelie. You've tried to talk her out of it, right?"

"Yes…"

"Then it's out of your hands. You have to let her make her own mistakes."

"I love you. I wish Allison could find a guy like you…"

"I love you too." Tristan paused. "So what's up? I'm thinking you didn't call just to talk about Allison's love life, as interesting as it may be."

"I'm going to be stuck here a few extra days. Rebecca had to go back home, because there was some problem at work. And I promised I'd stay until she got back."

"When will you get back?"

"Hopefully by Tuesday."

Tristan sighed, upset. "Okay. I miss you, Amelie."

"I miss you, too… I wish I could come home sooner."

"I know. Well, have fun with your sisters. I'll keep everything sane here… well, as sane as possible." He picked up the picture of Amelie he kept on his desk, smiling. "Love you."

"Love you, too… I have to go. Allison's making weird faces at me."

Tristan laughed. "Okay. See you soon."

"Bye."

He listened to the dial phone for a minute before setting down the phone. Gazing off into the waiting room of the office, he met Joan's gaze as she dealt with a client. She smiled, shaking her head.

"It's not here," Normandy said seriously, glancing at Rory.

Rory shook her head. "That doesn't make sense. It was just here a couple minutes ago. It couldn't have just disappeared."

Normandy shrugged. "I don't understand why it is such a big deal anyway. It's just a letter. You can rewrite it."

"No, no, no. I can't rewrite that letter. It's not your normal letter."

"Looked pretty normal to me…"

"It's not. I wrote it during junior year. It was like, a collection of memories. It can't be rewritten. And no one else can find it."

"Why's that?"

"Because it mentions… people."

"People?" Normandy grinned, suddenly understanding. "People… as in my brother?"

"Among many others, yes."

"What does this letter say about my brother?" Normandy crossed her arms across her chest, biting her lip.

"Um. Not very nice stuff. Let me leave it at that," Rory pleaded, dropping to her knees to look under a bookcase.

"Okay, okay. But it isn't going to be under there." Normandy's gaze turned to the door, and within a minute, Emilie appeared there.

"Normandy, phone for you," she said, dangling the phone from her tiny hand.

Normandy waited until she'd reached her room to talk. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," Ethan responded. "I just wanted to talk. Is your vidphone on?"

"No…" Normandy stood up from where she'd been sitting on her bed, crossing her room to turn it on. "Now it is."

"Okay, cool. Let me change my settings…"

Normandy watched the screen as the pixels came together to form an image of Ethan's face. "That's better."

"I love this thing."

Normandy smiled. Ethan had just gotten his installed a couple months ago for his ninth birthday, and he'd often call just to use it. "I don't have a lot of time."

"That's cool. Have you started the Science project yet?"

"No…"

"Do you want to be in my group? Me and Anna are working together, but a group can have four people, so I was thinking us and you and Scott."

"Um, sure. Do you have any ideas for it?"

"Not yet." Ethan sighed. "What are you being for Halloween?"

"I'm not sure. I was thinking Mona Lisa."

"You're going to be a painting?" Ethan furrowed his brow. "How are you going to be that?"

"Fairly easily. I think I can make the costume myself, too." She paused. "Emilie's coming with me, though."

"That's cool. What's she going to be?"

"I don't know. A princess probably."

"Wasn't she…"

"That last year. Yep." Normandy leaned back on her bed.

"Your birthday's coming up," Ethan said suddenly.

"That it is…"

"Are your parents coming home? They haven't been home in a while? It's been like, over a month, hasn't it?"

"Almost two. And I'm not sure." Normandy glanced at her calendar. It was October 24th, and her birthday was just over two weeks away. "I guess I'll now by whether or not there's a delivery on the 6th."

Ethan frowned. "Your birthday's the 8th."

Normandy grinned. "Try telling them that."

"I don't need to be a voyeur when you're all over a guy who, by the way, will be history by Friday."

Jordan frowned, flipping over in the bed to look at Mike. "Hey."

Mike grinned, kissing her lightly. "We really have to stop making a habit out of this."

"Out of what?" Jordan asked, confused.

"Making love in the middle of the afternoon. I have a class in half an hour."

"Um, yeah, about that…" Jordan sat up, pulling the sheet with her.

"I don't have to go to the class, Jordan. I can stay here with you. We can take a nice shower, and go out to dinner, and…"

"I don't need to be a voyeur when you're all over a guy who, by the way, will be history by Friday."

Jordan winced as she once again recalled Normandy's statement. "I want to break up," she said quickly.

Mike stopped in the middle of whatever he'd been saying, his eyes widening. "You want to… break up?"

"Yes." Jordan bit her lip, knowing what was coming.

"What the hell did I do wrong?"

"Nothing, it's not you…"

"I don't need that line, Jordan. Just tell me… am I bad at it?"

It was all she could do to hold back a laugh. Bad at it? What? Were they back in 6th grade?

"No, it's not that. I just… I don't want to see you anymore."

"Oh, um, okay. I'll leave."

"Yeah. I'm going to go shower… have a nice life, Mike." She dropped the sheet and headed toward the shower, Normandy's words repeating in her mind.

"You're all over a guy who, by the way, will be history by Friday."

It was almost 11:30, and Emilie still couldn't fall asleep. She crawled out of her bed and crossed the room to her desk. Sitting down in the desk chair, she opened a drawer and pulled out a few pieces of paper, crinkled and worn with age.

Flipping on her desk light, she placed her finger against the first word, reading along slowly with the flowing words. She paused when she reached a point about halfway down the letter.

Tonight… I wasn't sure what to think. I'm happy with him, I know that. But for a second, I almost wished he wasn't there. I almost wished I could've gotten that goodbye kiss. I know it's stupid because I'm completely in love with Dean, and I hate him, but I did think it. Not for long, but the thought did cross my mind. Well, it's too late now.

So this is a mistake / Try to find a better way / You were never fond of anything I said / Can we begin again?