A/N: I know it took me quite awhile for this one. Not because I've forgotten about, I assure you. This chapter is a little bit different from the others. The first part of this chapter seems useless, but I promise, it's not. I know exactly what I'm doing. I also apologize in advance for the cliff-hanger you are about to read. Enough said. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. Happy reading, and as always, R/R!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything I've mentioned. I don't own Gilmore Girls. I don't own Jack Johnson or his beautiful song Flake which is on his extraordinary album "Brushfire Fairytales" which I highly recommend that you pick up. Then again, Milo is in my bed, and he's calling. Sorry, Alexis.
I know she said, "It's alright. You can make it up next time." I know she knows its not right. There ain't no use in lying. Maybe she thinks I know something. Maybe . . .Maybe she thinks its fine. Well, maybe she knows something I don't. I'm so tired. . .so tired of trying. It seems to me that maybe pretty much always means no. So don't tell me you might just let it go.
- Jack Johnson, Flake
Before moving there, Rory had only been to New York twice. Once with her mother when she was young and once the day she had skipped school to visit Jess before they had even begun dating. Now that she lived there and was slowly but surely learning her way around, she understood why Swift had once called it a dirty city, especially at that very moment. This area of the lower, numbered streets on the East Side was a slum. The homeless dotted the alley-ways with grocery carts searching for food and a warm place to sleep for the night. One the corners were scraggly, bearded men selling bootlegged CDs, bad souvenirs, and an assortment of hemp jewelry, which was the only thing at the tables that Rory even considered authentic. There were people above their heads, yelling obscenities from window to window, and the passers by didn't seem to mind. Nevertheless, Rory liked it because it was real.
As she, Jess, Rob, and Ana walked down the sidewalk, the buildings seems much smaller and less intimidating than those surrounding 5th, 42nd, or Broadway. When they reached Carter's building, it was a surreal moment. She had always held these picturesque still-frames in her mind; those of New Year's Eve in Times Square, Central Park in early spring, or the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, never the ugly scenes before her. When they entered the agone building, with its worn brick stained with smoke and molded graffiti, a surly, tattooed man sneered at them from the front desk. He was quickly quieted by Rob's mutters. Why had she not thought of this before? She was the only one who had never been here before.
When they reached Carter's apartment, Rory was in awe. As soon as they entered, she knew that he and Lane would get along. He was obviously an avid music fan. She thought that Carter might have been the one who taught Jess to organize his music by genre. CDs and vinyls laid haphazardly on mismatched pieces of furniture and uncleaned carpet. Posters plastered his walls and ceiling. Some even in frames — the originals. ("He's especially proud of the Sex Pistols one. It's a signed God Save the Queen," Jess had told her, "It's worth a freakin' fortune!") There were classics — Zeppelin. The Who. Bowie. Lots of Punk — Clash. Ramones. Cramps. Stiff Little Fingers. Alternative stuff — Nirvana. Tool. Even Nine Inch Nails. He even had your typical Emo shrine — Ben Folds, Modest Mouse, John Tesh, and Death Cab. Of course, He had posters and CDs of obscure bands Rory had never heard of before. Like Jess is with books, this guy is with music.
As they walked into his darkened room, stepping over piles of records, dirty laundry, and take-out boxes, the sound of a loud, nasal snoring and the Dead Kennedy's hit them in the face, not mentioning the torrid stench. This is definitely a bachelor pad. She then looked over to the other three who were smirking, especially Jess — Carter was in bed with a woman.
Rob walked over to the stereo, turning up the volume. "Dude, It's almost noon! Time to get up."
The snoring seemed to get louder, but the girl sat up straight at the noise, covering her naked chest with the sheet. "What?" She replied, groggy and confused. "Who are you people?"
Rob chuckled. "We are the goon squad." He then snorted with laughter, covering up his nose, almost doubling over.
At Rob's snort, there was finally a sign of life in Carter. He rolled over and pulled his head out from under his pillow-made tent, his limbs flying all around his head. After tossing in his sleep, Carter then sat up in bed, squinting one eye and slightly opening the other as if it were the most difficult task in the world. Cyclops-like, he looked around the dim room.
"What the hell!" He exclaimed, rubbing his squinted eye. "Whoever touched my stereo has a death wish!"
"What if it was me?" the unknown brunette finally spoke. Carter looked over to her, with two eyes, and the color drained from his face. Jess then leaned in and whispered into Rory's ear, "He doesn't remember her name."
"Ana, I told you that key was only for emergencies!"
"She has a key to your apartment."
He looked at Whatsername, serious as a heart attack, "Jill, she's one of my oldest friends."
And Whatsername scoffed. "My name is Jennifer!"
As Jennifer got out of my bed, gathered up her clothes, and slipped on one of Carter's random concert tees, Jess, once again leaned into Rory's ear. "Told you."
It was the first Friday night she had off in what seemed like ages. No Dragonfly. No Parents, and sadly, no Rory. Sure, she had talked to Rory earlier that day. She, Jess, and the rest of the posse she had heard so much about were in the Soho shopping district, and Rory had found these terrific vintage pumps. Rory had said, "These shoes scream 'Lorelai'" Naturally, she quipped, "Did the sole actually say my name, or was it just a random yelp?" "I'd say it was more of a wail." And sitting their on the old sofa, making out with the pint of Rocky Road and mocking Glitter, She desperately missed her banter sessions with her favorite daughter. As she spooned another hunk of ice cream into her mouth, there came a knock at the door.
When she opened the door, a leather-jacketed Christopher Hayden stood before her.
"Hey, Lor." He greeted, and sounded somewhat angry.
"Chris, what's up? Where's Sherry or GiGi?" Lorelai couldn't quite channel his frustration or the reason for his late night visit.
"Where's Rory, Lorelai?"
"Probably at home. Studying, sleeping, reading, or something along those lines."
"In New York, right?" He spat out the name of the city like it had done him wrong in a previous life.
A look of confusion spread over her face "How did you know about that?"
"Lorelai, how could I not know about something like that!" He exclaimed, throwing his arms for added emphasis. "I'm her father for God's sakes!"
"Chris, you've never been a solid figure in her life, especially after GiGi was born. She didn't tell you because she didn't think it was necessary. How did you find out? Did Emily accidently drop something about it to Francine at the DAR meeting, or did Richard casually mention it to Strove on the thirteenth hole at the Club!"
"Of course not . . ." He paused, unsure of whether or not he should tell, but then yelled it. "I went to see you, Lorelai! I went to see you and Rory at Friday Night Dinner. You weren't there. I asked why. Emily told me."
She shook her head in displeasure. " Why, Chris?"
"Because . . .Because Sherry and I are getting a divorce! I wanted to tell you." His voice softened. It was obvious to Lorelai that this was something he did not bring about.
She frowned. "I'm so sorry. What happened?"
"I don't know. Apparently I'm working all the time and not spending enough time with Georgia. But she works just as much as I do. I just don't know, Lor. I needed someone to talk to, and now, this thing with Rory. I've never even met the guy! Is he right for her?"
She really didn't know what to say. She knew what she wanted to say. Hell, no! However . . .
"Yes. They are so right for each other."
Chris smiled. "So, you like him?"
"Absolutely not."
He could read her like a book. "So, lots of less than admirable qualitites?"
"You could say that. Uses sarcasm as a defense mechanism, has a CD collection that rivals yours, monosyllabic, too intelligent for his own good, proud New Yorker, reads a lot, wears a leather jacket, loves Rory. Basically the Italian version of you."
He smirked. "I like him already."
"You wanna meet Jess Mariano?"
The duo had been standing outside the apartment door for at least twenty minutes listening to the music the couple on the inside had been playing. It was obviously one of Lane Kim's patented mixes. First, it was Coldplay — God Put a Smile on Your Face. Next, it was Tom Waits — Rain Dogs. Then, The Shins — Caring Is Creepy. Bowie — Suffragette City. Now, it was Rachel Yamagatta and her version of Joni Mitchell's River. Just before Lorelai was about to put the key, given to her by Rory, in the door, she and Christopher heard a voice from behind them.
"You know, you just slide the key into the lock, turn it, and push." the New Yorker told them jokingly.
The two turned around to not one but three New Yorkers, and Rob spoke once more, "Do I know you? 'Cause my best friend and his girl live here, and the three of us are the only people I know of that have keys to this apartment."
Then Ana chimed in. "Love, you're forgetting about Jess' uncle. You know, the diner man that's all about the flannel."
"You mean Luke." Lorelai informed them.
Carter smiled. "That's it! Wait, how do you know?"
She smirked and began to speak in her best fake New York accent, mocking Rob, "'Cause, well, I know Jess and his girl pretty well. Rory, right? I should know. I mean, I did carry her for nine months, and boy, did my feet swell!"
Christopher matched her smirk and watched the three jaws before them drop. And after about a 45 second silence, Lorelai spoke yet again, "Hi, Lorelai Gilmore. You must be . . ." And she pointed them out one by one. " Rob Coffax. The smart-ass best friend. Ana Merriman. The fiery, British red-head. Carter Smith. The Garden State's biggest womanizer."
Then, she just turned the key in the door and walked into a familiar sight. Rory and Jess curled up on the couch, her head in his lap, both reading literary masterpieces while listening to the next track on Lane's mix — Jack Johnson's Flake. The two, so engrossed in their books, never noticed the five walk in the door.
Cater snapped his fingers. "Dude, I think we found something that belongs to Rory."
Jess and Rory looked up to the two former lovers. Rory squealed in excitement.
"Mom!" She yelled, putting her book down and running over.
"Mini-me!" She matched Rory's tone and wrapped her arms around her neck. "I wanted to bring you an I heart New York tee shirt, but I decided on your father instead."
Rory then wrapped her arms around Christopher, speechless and shocked at his presence. "Dad, what are you doing here? And how did the three of them figure into the equation?" She asked, pointing over to she and Jess' three friends.
"Well, they found us outside with your mother debating on whether or not to turn the key. What am I doing here? I'd love to tell you the whole story, but for now, I'll give you the Reader's Digest version. I went to see you and your mother at Friday Night Dinner. You weren't there, obviously. You Grandparent's filled me in on the reason. I went to Stars Hollow, and now, I'm here."
Rory pursed her lips, still not satisfied with his answer. "But, Dad, why did you go to Friday Night Dinner?"
He hesitated. There were way too many questions that he did not want to answer. "Well, Ror. . um . . .Sherry and I are getting a divorce."
"I'm so sorry, but why did you want to tell us this? You've never felt motivated to tell us anything like this before. Until it's too late, that is."
He winced. That hurt. "Well, Ror, I've made a decision that since I'm no longer in Sherry's life, and I'm only going to get to visit Georgia. I want to finish up where I left off with you and your Mom. I know that your Mom and I aren't meant to be. I get that, but you are my daughter. My first-born, and I want to make up for all the times that I've screwed up. And I wanna start by helping you pay for school."
The two Gilmore girls went wide-eyed. Rory looked at her mother for understanding. Lorelai just gave her a look back, letting her daughter know that this was truly the first she had heard of it.
Then, Jess, for the first time, spoke. "Ror, that's great."
"Chris, have you lost your mind!" Lorelai was dumb-founded.
Well, what do you think? It's short, I know. It's a cliff-hanger, I know. It took me way too long to update, I know. I know all of this. Anyway, I hope you liked it despite all of these things. This, I suppose, is my desperate cry for reviews, especially constructive criticism. I'm pathetic. Again, R/R. Peace and Love — Caroline.