Life and Times of a Socialite
Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls. It belongs to WB/CW and Amy Sherman Palladino.
Chapter 5: Be Anywhere but Here
Rory was relaxing in the back of Logan's limo with Frank driving up front. She was on her way to Stars Hollow to meet up with Lane and have their usual girl talk. She would have driven her own car, but Logan had insisted that she take his car and driver.
She was meeting him at the airport afterwards and he didn't want her wasting any time trying to find a parking space. He was a thoughtful chap wasn't he?
She wished that Logan could have come with her but she knew that if they happened to run into Lorelai the situation would escalate to disastrous proportions. Besides he would have been bored sitting around while she and Lane discussed the topics that all girls inevitably talk about. So in the long run he was better off hanging out with his two best friends Colin and Finn.
Rory considered both Colin and Finn her friends as well because they would go out of their way to help her out and vice versa. When she started dating Logan she had inherited his group of merry men and Stephanie. They were a rambunctious lot and she absolutely adored all of them, even with their wide range of quirks and eccentricities.
She was thinking about all the mischief that the whole lot of them, including her, had gotten into over the past nine months that she didn't notice the limo had stopped in front of Doose's Market. She was brought back to the present when Frank opened her door and announced that they had arrived.
She gave him a sheepish smile and said, "Thank you Frank."
"Your welcome Miss Gilmore."
Rory had specifically asked Frank to park in front of Doose's Market so Luke didn't get irritated that the limo was parked in front of his diner. She just wanted to have a nice visit with Lane before she had to meet Logan at the airport and go to Chicago for her interview with Oprah.
She opened the door to Luke's diner and saw Lane going around filling up people's coffee cups and taking orders. She waved to her best friend who came over and gave her a big hug. "Rory you're early I still have another ten minutes to go before I have to take a break."
"Well in that case I'll have a cup of coffee and a piece of cherry pie," smirked Rory.
"It'll be coming right up. You can keep me company while I work," replied Lane. "So was that you I saw riding up in the limo?"
"Yeah Logan talked me into taking his car and driver even though I have my very own car. He made a good point about the lack of parking space at the airport, but secretly I think he just wants to drive my Jaguar. He was a little put out that I wouldn't let him drive it when I first got it."
"Doesn't he have a Jaguar of his own?"
"Yeah he has many, but he was just mad that I wouldn't let him drive mine."
"Huh…that is some odd logic. So how are things with you guys?"
"Oh! There great. He's the best and he understands me so well as well as the situation I am currently in. How are things with you and Zach?"
Lane walked around to the other side of the counter and poured Rory a cup of coffee and cut her a piece of pie. Rory was sitting on the stool so it was easy for Lane to serve her food.
"I'm glad that Logan is good to you. He's good for you as well. Yeah Zach and I are great…he actually introduced me to his parents the other night," gushed Lane.
"Oh my god! That's so great! It's about time you got to meet the parents and I'm sure they loved you," replied and ecstatic Rory.
"They were so nice to me and they accepted me. They are such cool parents. His mother actually told me that she would love to see her Zachary settle down with a nice girl like me. Can you believe that I have his mother's approval?"
"That's fantastic. I'm so happy for you Lane."
"Ok so enough about the boys. I can't believe that you're getting interviewed by Oprah. That's so awesome."
"I can't believe that she actually wants to write an article about my life. I mean I had a pretty normal life except of course the inheritance part, which was pretty unexpected."
"Yeah the inheritance part is probably why she wants to interview you so badly. Plus the fact that you're dating the son of a media mogul probably has something to do with it. Oh by the way, can you get me an autograph?"
Rory laughed thinking about the absurdity of the request. Lane was her best friend she could ask for anything she wanted, yet all she truly cared about was the autograph from Oprah. "Sure Lane, anything for you. But I think I'll get you some other things from Chicago as well."
"Thanks Rory, I can't wait to tell the guys that I'm going to have Oprah's autograph."
Rory chuckled and started to eat her pie. Lane went back to serving her customers. Rory knew she didn't spend as much time with Lane as she should but she never took the time they spent together for granted. Her best friend was the only one who didn't blink an eye when she had started dating Logan or when she had inherited the Gilmore Fortunes. Lane still treated her like the Rory she had grown up with.
Lane was serving her customers and went back and forth from the counter to the tables around the diner. She loved her times with Rory and she knew that they were a rarity nowadays but she still talked to best friend on the phone at least three or four times a week. Lane had always known that Rory loved her grandparent's world and she didn't blame her for it because it was a world she was born to be apart of.
Lorelai had run from that world but Rory had thrived in it. So when Rory told her she was dating Logan Huntzberger Lane had said congratulations and when she was named Heiress to the Gilmore Fortunes Lane had said good luck.
She took everything in stride and could see that Rory was truly happy with the new developments, except for the paparazzi that hounded her. Lane was even hounded by the paparazzi a few times; they were trying to get the inside dirt on Rory Gilmore through her best friend, it was kind of scary.
The changes that happened to Rory were phenomenal she actually gained a tremendous amount of confidence and removed herself from her mother's shadow. For once in her life Rory Gilmore was just Rory Gilmore and not the shy and gifted daughter of Lorelai Gilmore. Lane knew her best friend was truly happy and so she accepted her, changes and all.
Lane was just about ready to tell Luke she was going on her break when the man himself bounded down the stairs. "Hey Luke, I'm going to go on my break now. Would you cover for me?"
"Hmm…Lane yeah about that…Rory!!…What are you doing here?"
"Hello Luke I'm here visiting my best friend before I have to fly to Chicago. Why do you ask?" asked Rory as she stood up and went closer to him to talk without being overheard.
"Oh well you mother never told me you would be here today so…" replied a very nervous Luke.
"Mom doesn't know I'm here. I tried her cell phone but she didn't answer it and her voicemail was full. Is there a reason that I shouldn't be here?"
"Oh…umm…about that you see…" Luke didn't get to finish his sentence because the bell over the door rang and in entered the person who was going to be the talk of Stars Hollow for the next few weeks.
"Luke did Taylor move up in the world or something because there is a limo in front of his…" Jess trailed off on his smart aleck remark and just stared at the beautiful young woman who stood next to his uncle.
Luke did not want to be here at this moment, he wished he could be anywhere but here. He would even choose to be at the Gilmore Mansion than here. Lane stared open mouthed at Jess Mariano in all his glory and looked at her best friend. Rory could not believe her eyes 'was he actually standing there.'
Luke was the first one to speak after the silence had gone on for far too long. "Yeah… Jess you can fill in for Lane now since she's taking her break."
"Yeah sure," Jess replied not moving from his spot and still staring at Rory.
Rory could not believe that Jess was back in town. She looked at Luke and he quietly said, "He came back this morning Rory and I had no idea you were going to be here. I'm sure if your mother knew you were coming down to visit Lane she would have given you the heads up."
Rory knew that she couldn't be mad at her mom or Luke and that she should just accept that Jess had shown up quite early for his mother's anniversary celebration. So she faced him as she would a bunch of paparazzi with calm, poise, and just a hint of distain. "Hello Jess, how are you?"
Jess stared at the girl who had once called him Dodger and saw a whole different person. He cleared his throat and said, "I'm fine and how are you?"
"I'm doing well," Rory replied back in a curt manner. "I heard that you joined the Peace Corps how was that?"
"Oh…it was…alright," Jess could not for the life of him fathom why he couldn't form a proper sentence. He couldn't think of anything to ask her so instead he said, "How is Yale?"
"Yale is great I'm still committed to Journalism," Rory replied stiffly.
What exactly was one to say to a former boyfriend who had run away after he had professed his love? She looked at him and realized that he looked different; it's as if he'd grown up within the last year. She was acutely aware that every eye in the diner was focused solely on them and she hated it. She just wished she had had advanced notice that Jess was in town so she could have met Lane in New Haven or in Hartford for that matter.
"Listen, Rory I'm really sor…" Jess didn't get to finish saying the rest of his sentence since Rory turned to Lane before he could utter another syllable and said, "Lane do you want to go now?"
Lane looked at her best friend and realized that she was pleading with her to get her out of this awkward situation. So Lane took her cue and said, "Sure Rory why don't we go to my apartment and hang out before you have to leave."
"That's a great idea Lane," Rory replied as calmly as possible.
Lane went behind the counter to drop off her order pad and pen as well as to get her purse. Rory went back to the counter and grabbed her Gucci handbag.
Jess just looked at her, really looked at her, and couldn't believe this sophisticated young lady was the same Rory Gilmore he had dated only two years prior. She was so mature looking and seemed to have an air of sophistication and class about her that yelled 'Old Money.' He looked at her outfit and realized she looked like she had walked out of the cover of Vogue. He didn't remember Rory dressing to the nines before and he surely did not remember her having so much confidence. She looked so sure of herself and her surroundings.
Luke spoke up before things got any more awkward, "Good luck with the interview Rory and have a safe trip."
Rory smiled at Luke and went over and gave him a peck on the cheek, which made him blush and said, "Thank you Luke that's very sweet of you. I'll see you when I get back."
With that Rory and Lane left the diner with a tense goodbye to Jess who was still standing in the same place that he had occupied when he had first stepped foot in to the diner.
Revised: June 9, 2009