"Mom?"
"Mmmm?" A distracted Lorelai asked. She turned into the driveway and stayed in her seat, while turning to face Rory.
"I don't feel well...umm...I have...cramps."
Lorelai raised her eyebrow quizzically. She knew her daughter better than that, "You don't want to go tonight do you?"
Rory's head snapped up, and she could feel the rosy red blush creeping up to her cheeks, "No, I don't."
"And you don't have cramps, do you?"
"No, I don't..."
"Why? What's wrong with Jess?" Lorelai tried injecting some humour, "and after I made such exceptions to allow you guys to be together! Come on, tonight's dinner will be great! I know I haven't exactly been supportive about you guys till this point, but Jess and I spent some time together when we were discussing the dinner and he's really not that bad! Come on," Lorelai made a face, "If your old bag of a mom can learn to appreciate him, I'm sure you can make the effort!"
"But...I'm not really hungry...can't we just postpone the dinner or something?"
Lorelai looked as if she was debating something, and then sighed, "Well..." she began uneasily, "I promised Jess I wouldn't tell you, but seeing as this is jeopardising the whole of tonight, I think I'd better. Do you know where he got the money to pay for tonight's dinner?"
"No..." the sinking feeling in her stomach was growing as Rory avoided her mother's gaze.
"He's using his savings - all his savings from working at Luke's to bring you to Choo's tonight - why, he already made the reservations!"
"Choo's..."
"Yes! I told him not to, but you know, ragamuffins those days! And it is for pampering my favourite daughter!" Lorelai winked, "It's settled then, okay? You and Jess are going tonight and you're gonna have the time of your life!"
Rory managed a weak smile.
