Disclaimer: See prologue page. I also don't own You and Me -- that belongs to Lifehouse.
Chapter 9: And in What Month?
Joie and Rory were sitting on the front porch eating watermelon. Tristan had already eaten lunch and left with Jordan, checking again to make sure that Rory knew she needed to be ready at five for the town's annual Dance Under the Stars.
Joie looked at Rory. "Have you ever had watermelon?"
Rory shook her head. "Any sort of fruit or vegetable is forbidden in my mother's house."
"And how do you still look like a toothpick?" Joie asked.
Shelly walked outside with a small piece of watermelon. "The coffee gives us high metabolism."
"Speaking of," Rory said. "You haven't had any coffee today, are you feeling alright?"
Shelly shrugged. "I don't know. I got sick this morning, but other than that I'm fine."
Joie looked at Shelly. "Do you think you're…"
Rory dropped her watermelon and looked at her sister. "You're pregnant!"
Shelly smiled. "Oh, my God! I am pregnant!"
Rory jumped up and hugged her sister. "Oh, my God!"
Shelly hugged Rory. "How am I pregnant?"
"Are you serious?" Rory asked.
"I mean, I know how," Shelly responded. "But, how?"
Joie looked at the two girls. "Well, when a man and a woman love each other very much…"
Rory looked at Joie and started giggling. "Or, when Shelly decides she wants some good booty…"
Shelly shook her head. "I don't want to hear this."
"Are you even sure you're pregnant?" Joie asked.
Shelly looked at her sister. "We Gilmore's have a sixth sense."
Rory nodded and smiled. "Yeah."
Shelly smiled and let go of her sister. "I'm going to go find Jordan."
"Okay," Rory responded, picking up the pieces of watermelon on the porch.
Joie looked at Rory. "Have you heard from Jess?"
Rory looked up at Joie and smiled. "He misses you. He really enjoyed spending time with you. He said he'd be here soon."
As if on cue, Joie and Rory saw Jess driving a rental up the dirt driveway. Joie jumped out of her seat and ran out to the car, where Jess was getting out.
Rory watched as Joie threw herself into Jess's arms and smile. Jess held her close. Rory smiled, thinking of the million times she'd done that to Tristan.
Jess, with his arm around Joie, made his way up to Rory.
"Shelly's pregnant," Rory stated.
Jess looked from Rory to Joie. "What?"
Joie shrugged. "I don't know. Shelly said she hadn't had any coffee and she'd felt sick. Rory dropped her watermelon and told her she was pregnant."
Shelly walked out onto the porch with the phone to her ear. "Mom! I know!"
Rory gave Shelly a questioning look. Shelly put her hand over the receiver and smiled.
"Mom called and asked if I was pregnant," Shelly explained.
Jess shook his head and rolled his eyes. "You Gilmore's are batty."
Shelly flashed a smile at Jess. "Yeah, Mom, it's Jess. He's still the same."
Jess smirked at Shelly. "So are you."
"So, besides Shelly getting knocked up, what's been going on?" Jess asked.
"I ate watermelon," Rory said.
Jess nodded. "Congratulations."
"Did you know it was the first time Rory's ever eaten watermelon?" Joie asked.
Jess nodded. "Yeah. Rory's never been one to eat anything that's good for her."
Rory smiled. "You love me."
Jess rolled his eyes. "Yeah."
"I have all of my stuff packed," Rory stated. "That way we can leave early Sunday morning and hopefully get to Harvard by Wednesday or Thursday."
"I can't believe I have to ride in a car with you for that long," Jess responded.
"We'll bond," Rory joked.
"I put in the request for you and I to room together," Jess stated.
"Really? You really want to room with me?" Rory asked.
Joie looked at Jess. "How old is she?"
Jess shrugged. "Good question. I'll tell you when she turns eighteen."
Rory rolled her eyes at Jess. "I have exactly two hours until Tristan gets off from work. I get to hang out with my best friend and his lady pal."
"Let's get you some coffee," Joie offered, guiding Rory out to Jess's car.
Rory turned around and looked at Jess. She winked and followed Joie to Jess's car.
"I can't believe how fast this summer went," Rory said, holding a cup of Starbuck's coffee in her hand.
Joie nodded, looking at Rory intently. "Yeah."
Rory noticed Joie's staring. "Do I have something in my teeth?"
Joie laughed and shook her head. "No. It's just, you two are identical."
"Who?" Rory asked.
"You and Tristan," Joie said. "He said that like three or four times yesterday when he was getting your going away present."
"He told me he didn't want me to stay here," Rory whispered.
Joie shook her head. "It's not that he doesn't want you to stay here. He just wants you to go to Harvard. He knows it's your dream school."
Rory sighed. "I wish life could just be simple."
"You have no idea how many times I've said or thought that," Joie responded.
Rory smiled at Joie. "How much did you miss Jess?"
Joie smiled. "More and more everyday. I can't believe he's back right now. Then, he's gone again."
"Have you two talked about what happens when we leave?" Rory asked.
Joie nodded. "Some. The only thing we can really say for sure is that this summer rocked."
Rory smiled and moved her legs to sit Indian-style. She saw Jordan's truck pull into the driveway and then saw Tristan pulling his truck into the driveway behind Jordan. She got up and walked over to Tristan, who was grinning madly.
"What happened to you?" Rory asked. "Did you get some?"
Tristan rolled his eyes and shook his head. "No. I didn't. How was your day?"
"Shelly's pregnant," Rory whispered, noting Jordan's close distance to them.
Tristan nodded. "She called him. He didn't believe it at first."
Rory smiled and took Tristan's hand. "Tonight's going to be fun."
Tristan brought Rory closer to him. "Yeah."
Tristan and Rory made their way over to Jess and Joie, who were staring at them impatiently.
"We should leave now," Joie said. "We need to be there when they start the music."
Tristan nodded. "Okay. Rory can ride with me. Joie you can ride with Jess. Jess, you can just follow me there. Joie will help you if you lose us."
"Sounds good to me," Jess responded, standing up and putting his arm around Joie's waist.
Rory smiled and dragged Tristan to his truck. "Let's go."
The first song had started when the Tristan, Rory, Jess and Joie arrived at the town square. Joie dragged Jess out onto the dance floor. Tristan took Rory over to a table with four chairs and they sat and talked for awhile.
"You want to dance?" Tristan asked.
Rory smiled and nodded. "Yeah."
Tristan led Rory out on to the dance floor. They began dancing wildly. Jess and Joie followed suit, just dancing to dance.
Rory saw how clear the stars were that night. She smiled, praying the night would never end.
"I'll be right back," Tristan told Rory as he walked over to the DJ.
Rory watched as Tristan had a conversation with the DJ. Jess and Joie looked to Tristan, too, clearly confused.
"This song is going out to a certain brunette named Rory from Tristan," the DJ said. "He loves you for always."
Rory heard the song start and Tristan walked over to her. "Hi."
Rory smiled and wrapped her arms around Tristan's neck. "Hello."
What day is it?
And in what month?
This clock never seemed so alive
"Do you think this could be our song?" Rory asked.
Tristan kissed Rory. He pulled her closer as the kiss ended.
"Yeah," he said.
I can't keep up
And I can't back down
I've been losing so much time
Joie and Jess looked at Rory and Tristan and smiled at the pair.
"She's found it," Jess said.
Joie looked at Jess. "What?"
"She's found it," Jess repeated. "The whole package. She's found the one she's meant to be with."
Joie smiled and hugged Jess. "I hope so."
"And so have I," Jess said.
Joie looked at Jess, who smirked. "I found it, too."
'Cause it's you and me
And all of the people
With nothing to do
Nothing to lose
"I love you, Tristan," Rory said.
Tristan smiled. "I love you, too, Rory."
"This song," Rory began. "It's us."
Tristan smiled. "Yeah, it is."
'Cause it's you and me
And all of the people
And I don't know why
I can't take my eyes off of you
Jess held Joie close. "I'm coming back every summer."
"I'm visiting every holiday," Joie responded.
"Good," Jess said. "We can't lose this."
Joie shook her head. "No, we can't."
All of the things
I want to say
Just aren't coming out right
"I'm not staying," Rory said.
Tristan felt a lump form in his throat and tried to swallow it. "Good."
Rory nodded and buried her face in his chest, taking in the scent of him. "Sure."
I'm tripping inwards
You got my head spinning
I don'tknow where to go from here
Shelly and Jordan made their way out onto the porch. Shelly held to Jordan's hand as they sat down.
"I can't believe you're pregnant," Jordan said.
Shelly smiled. "I know. It's… wow."
Jordan nodded. "Definitely."
"I'm naming her Shelly," Shelly stated.
"It's a girl?" Jordan asked.
Shelly nodded. "Yes."
Jordan rolled his eyes and kissed Shelly. The infinite night sky shone brightly with stars that Jordan thanked for giving him Shelly.
'Cause it's you and me
And all of the people
With nothing to do
Nothing to lose
Joie and Jess sat down on the grass. Jess held tightly to Joie's hand.
"Don't let Tristan get all depressed," Jess told her.
"Don't let Rory meet another guy," Joie responded.
Jess pulled Joie closer to him. Joie laid her head on Jess's shoulder.
'Cause it's you and me
And all of the people
And I don't know why
I can't keep my eyes off of you
Rory and Tristan made their way over to Tristan's truck. Rory had managed not to cry and Tristan was proud he hadn't burst into tears yet.
Rory held Tristan's hand as he drove to the field.
Tonight it would be just them. Rory's last night in Texas. Her last night with the one person she had always wanted, but had never been able to find.
There's something about you now
I can't quite figure out
Everything she does is beautiful
Everything she does is right
Tristan propped his head up against the oak tree and Rory laid her head on his stomach. Tristan noted they had formed a perfect 'T'.
'Cause it's you and me
And all of the people
With nothing to do
Nothing to lose
"How close do you think Tristan is to heartbreak right now?" Shelly asked.
Jordan shrugged. "As close as I was when I thought I was going to lose you."
'Cause it's you and me
And all of the people
And I don't know why
I can't keep my eyes off of you
Joie and Jess were now sitting in Jess's car kissing. Jess lost himself in the moment -- and the girl he had just found out he'd always been searching for.
'Cause it's you and me
And all of the people
With nothing to do
Nothing to lose
Rory sighed. The stars were so beautiful. The night was beautiful. She didn't want to think about what would happen in the coming days.
Tristan smiled as he heard Rory sigh. He knew there was no question he loved her.
'Cause it's you and me
And all of the people
And I don't know why
I can't keep my eyes off of you
Tristan stroked Rory's hair. He prayed for morning to never come.
What day is it?
And in what month?
This clock never seemed so alive