A/N: THANKS for the reviews! I loved them! They're what's keeping this story alive! Thanks! Agh! I'm so happy! Did I say thanks already?
Chapter 3
"Somehow I don't think that the kangaroo was supposed to jump into the truck with the blonde." Rory said thoughtfully as she came out with Logan's arm wrapped around her.
"Yeah. It also kinda seemed out of place when it started singing 'You are my sunshine'."
"Or maybe the killer threw the kangaroo in to distract us."
"Well, it worked."
"Sufficiently!"
He smiled at her and kept on walking. Rory smiled back and walked with him when she saw a glimpse of the time on Logan's wristwatch.
"Oh, my gosh! It's three o'clock? It's three o'clock?"
"No, my watch has been coded to have different numbers than they appear. If you have the proper deciphering tools, you'll find that 'three' actually means 'eight'. Yes, it's three o'clock. What's the big?"
"Nothing! Only I am about to be late for work – or... you know, my internship work! My iork!"
"I don't think my dad's about to fire you from your iork if you're fifteen minutes late."
"Well, you never know, do you?" She glanced at his walk again and moaned. "Oh, no, Manny likes to have his coffee at 3:04. I am leaving a potentially catatonic man without his coffee and that, my friend, could bring on Office War I and it would all be Rory Gilmore's fault!"
"You're overreacting." He said amusedly. "I'm sure Manny can keep his fuse in order for another fif –" He glanced at his watch. "Well, 16 minutes."
"16! That's horrible!" Rory began running for the street, waving her hand for a cab. Logan watched with a thoughtful expression, putting his hands in his pocket. Before he knew it, Rory had rushed back to indulge in a 10-second kiss with him. When their lips released, she immediately said "Bye!" and dashed off into the yellow cab before he could react.
(cue commercial break)
Lorelai and Sookie sat on Lorelai's couch, slouching to their furthest extent. Sookie's hand was on her bulging stomach and Lorelai's expression resembled that of a stoned crackhead. Lorelai's purse fell off the couch, but neither of them noticed.
"That," Sookie said slowly. "was quite a lunch."
"How were we supposed to know that ordering shrimp on the opening day came with a complimentary Caesar salad – in a bowl the size of the Coliseum, may I add --; a whole-sized chicken and steamed potatoes?"
"Don't forget the biscuits."
"And the biscuits."
"They're out of their minds." Sookie said wearily. "The cooking staff should be boarded into an asylum for the criminally insane. They should be charged with..." She took a second to think about it. Then looked up in an 'aha!' way with her index finger raised. "with overfeeding!"
"Yes, and thus fore leading to the implosion of our kidneys."
"I don't think the law likes people who cause kidney implosions."
"No, I don't either."
They both remained quiet for a few seconds when Lorelai jumped up and headed for the kitchen. "Want a Klondike?"
"Yes, please!" Sookie sang.
Lorelai came back with two Klondikes in her hand. She held one out for Sookie but pulled it back when she reached for it.
"What would you do for a Klondike bar?"
"I'd strip down to my undies and do the Macarena!"
"Mmm, yeah, let's not test the integrity behind that statement." She tossed her the Klondike. They smiled at each other then proceeded in indulging in their ice creams.
Rory rushed into the newsroom and clutched her bag with both hands as she zigged and zagged past the crowd of employees. Manny began to approach her, opening his mouth.
"I'm sorry, Manny. I'll get your coffee in a minute. A minute and 15 seconds, tops!"
He soon disappeared as she made her way to Logan's father's office. She knocked and tried to catch her breath. She exhaled deeply and puffed her chest a little. She straightened as the door opened and Logan's father looked out at her.
"Hello there, Rory." He said cheerfully.
"Hi, Mr. Huntzberger, I just wanted to come by and apologize for being so late it will never happen again and if it does I give you full liberty and right to chop off my head and parade it around Stars Hollow and New Haven so that people know not to mess with you because that's what they did back in 16th century England they put victims heads on pikes as a warning to other people to not mess with them and so I thought maybe it's time to bring back the whole 'Revolution' era and have fun with that – "
"Rory, Rory. It's called breathing."
She obeyed.
"You came to my office to tell me you were late?" He smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling in the same way his son did.
"Um... yes." She said feebly, looking down.
"You've got some cajones, kid. Nobody would do that around here. But I'm glad you told because actually, I have some errands to run in New York. I won't be back in a few days. I have to take my assistant with me, because... well, cool people do that when they have important business meetings to attend. All the staff here who are minimally qualified for the temporary replacement are either load-high on caffeine or an inch close to skipping around the world in hectic joy, so I thought..." He opened his arms towards Rory in a ta-da! way. "Hey!"
Rory stopped for a second, forgetting to breathe again. He noticed. He grabbed her shoulders and repeated, "Breathing."
"Right. Yes. I momentarily forgot. I'm sorry... Mr. Huntzberger, are you asking me to take charge?"
"Not permanently, of course! Although, if you're too good and my employees decide to rebel and anoint you the manager of the newspaper... "
"Oh, my gosh!" Rory said excitedly, a smile spreading across her face like peanut butter. "Oh, my gosh. Mr. Huntzberger! I will... I will do my duties, sir! I will not lounge around doing nothing; I will get out there and make a difference! I'll – "
"I know you will." He said genuinely, then glanced at his watch. "Oh! The time. You have immaculate timing, young lady, but right now I have to catch my ride. You're in charge, don't forget!" He straightened his tie and walked out of the room and past Rory. She turned around and waved slightly as he left.
"Don't you worry, Mr. Huntzberger! If a single file is out of place in the cabinets – "
"Iwill restsafely assured I can put your head on a pike. I got it. Good luck, Gilmore!" The door shut behind him and Rory stopped. She took a minute to bask, then started jumping up and down in joy. She continued jumping as she turned around to see Manny glaring at her.
"Oh, Manny! Coffee! I got it!" She turned and fled for the coffee machine.
