A/N: This part takes place before Rory's graduation. It takes place right after Luke left.
Part 2: Under Wraps
It had been a humid week, making it awful for shutting herself up in her room or the library to study and now that her last exam was taken, she finally had time to pack. Beads of sweat inched down Rory's neck and backbone, making her swat at them like flies as she taped up boxes in her empty dorm room. As usual, she was one of the last on campus; Paris had already left for her internship in New York and Logan had some family obligation.
This was the first summer Rory didn't want to return home. Stars Hollow had changed in the last month and it hurt her to see the magical town of her childhood altered, possibly forever. Dramatic much, Gilmore?
Things had changed, she couldn't shake that. Her mother, who had always been colorful and fun-loving, had barely spoken the last four weeks. She cursed Luke under her breath as she remembered the card she had received two weeks after he left: I'm sorry, Rory.
Sorry wasn't enough. Feeling the ache creep back into her knees, she stood slowly, pulling her hair back into a messy knot as she let her eyes sweep the room. All done. She closed the window and picked up the last two boxes to carry to her car. She struggled out into the hallway, saying a silent goodbye to the deserted dorm.
She'd told her mom she was catching up with Marty over the next few days. The feeling of guilt and nerves bubbled up in the pit of Rory's stomach, but she swallowed and pressed on, pulling into the train station a few minutes later. Squeezing the boxes in her already packed trunk, she threw her khaki messenger bag over her shoulder and headed towards track 8, pulling out her ticket.
"Metro North now boarding," an automated voice repeated as Rory found the first fairly empty car and settled down with a book.
It was 80 degrees and he was wearing a sweatshirt. His presence alone caught her off guard. Yes, she had told him she was coming, but she hadn't expected him to meet her at the station. "Hey," he greeted.
"Hey."
"You doing okay?"
"Yeah. You?"
"Ok. School's out, I guess." Rory adjusted her bag and nodded to his not-quite question.
They walked a block or two to a tiny deli on the corner. "So have you seen him?"
He shook his head. "Talked to him. He sounded horrible."
"Where is he?"
"Why should I tell you?"
"He left my mom, Jess." Her voice broke halfway through the sentence and she took a bite of her sandwich so she wouldn't have to speak.
Jess remained stoic but there was a hint of panic in his eyes. "Maine. He's in Maine with my mom. Bar Harbor, I think." Rory suddenly felt like she was in Charade or North by Northwest, secretly meeting with an informant. She needed an over sized pair of sunglasses. He wrote something on a napkin and handed it to her. It was two numbers, one labeled Liz and the other, well. Jess got up, the chair protesting, shrieking across the floor. "Enjoy New York." Rory felt the heat blow in from the street as he slipped outside. She wiped her eyes on her napkin and pulled out her phone.
"Hey mom. I guess you're out. Or not answering the phone. I'm at Marty's. I'll be home on Monday. We can watch movies all week if you want. Love you."
Back to the train. It was raining now in Connecticut, steam billowing along the pavement as Rory jumped puddles to her car. She slipped in the 80s mix her mother had given her and pulled out of town. The next road sign she paid attention to was the one that declared: Welcome to Maine.
It was later than she thought, almost nine, when she pulled into town. It didn't surprise her that the streets were lined with shops and restaurants much like Stars Hollow. She could see Luke here, but it made her ache for the town of her childhood that much more.
"Liz?"
"Yes?"
"Hi, this is Rory."
"Lorelai's girl?"
"Yeah." There was a hushed whispering. Rory interrupted. "I'm in town. Kind of standing downtown. Where are--"
"I'll get someone to come pick you up. Stay put or go across the street to Morgan's."
"Morgan's?" Rory scanned the street, a dark green building on the corner with a painted wooden sign glowed from within.
"It's a pub. But they have good food. Better than here at the house." Rory smiled at that.
"Okay."
Rory's stomach was growling but she waited ten minutes—it took ten minutes to get anywhere in Stars Hollow—and then crossed the street. She had just ordered when she thought she heard someone say her name.
"Rory?" Luke stood just to her left, dressed in his usual uniform of jeans and a flannel (except this one was unbuttoned, showing the gray tee shirt underneath) and the scruff had grown out to a full beard. Her mother would have laughed, called him Mountain Man and kissed him all the same. Rory's hands shook as she stood up to give Luke a hug. Instead of the bear hugs she had gotten used to, Luke pulled away quickly, managing barely any contact.
"You drove all the way up here? Are classes finished?"
Rory nodded, not wanting to remind him that he should have known that. In fact, he probably did remember.
"I guess I don't need to ask why."
"You left us." She murmured. She hadn't meant it to sound like an accusation, but there it was. Luke sat open-mouthed for a second.
"Rory," he finally sighed. She saw it then. How tired he was. She wondered why: did he miss Lorelai or was he just tired…of them? Rory couldn't fathom that. Luke was just as stubborn as her mother. "It was--"
"What happened?" She choked out. She knew, she just wanted to hear his explanation. Needed to hear it.
"We—I don't—your mom—I'm not so young. Almost 40. And I'm set in my ways and your mom--" He glanced down. "Your mom is too."
"She would change for you, Luke." Rory interrupted. "She would."
"I'm not so sure."
"I am! You didn't see her. It's been a month and--"
"Please, Rory, I can't--"
"Why can't you, Luke?" Rory cried, her voice gaining strength, her brow furrowed. The fire in her eyes was so much her mother, Luke realized. "It won't be easy. I know, we're not easy, but I--" She began to lose her momentum. "I wanted you as part of the family." As a dad, she thought. And I wanted her to have you.
"Rory, I--" Luke choked out. "I wanted that too. You have to believe me. But I—I just need some time."
"I shouldn't have come." Rory stood, leaving money on the table and moving towards the door. Luke sighed and followed her out into the cool evening.
Luke caught her outside. "She doesn't know. Does she?" Rory shook her head, blinking away the tears. "Hey, come here." Rory gave in, taking a step towards him, burying her face in his flannel shirt. "You're welcome to stay," he offered softly.
"No, I should just get back."
"Not tonight," he insisted. "Come on. Liz will kick T.J. out to stay with me. And you can stay at their place."
"Liz doesn't have to kick T.J. out. You have a couch?"
"Yeah."
"Then that's where I'll sleep." Luke nodded.
He watched her as she sat on the couch and fluffed up the pillows, spreading out the blanket out so it pooled around her feet, keeping her toes warm. He pretended to read the newspaper but he couldn't concentrate on the events in Washington or Ghana or even the local sports scores.
"How is she?" He let himself ask, putting down the paper.
Rory didn't act surprised at this request. "She's…not so good. She didn't leave the house for a week." In fact, it had been longer. "I don't know if she's been to the inn." You caused her so much grief, she's given up on her career dream. "I had to be there to pick up the pieces. I don't know if I can--" She shook her head, blinking back tears. I can't fix it by myself.
She tried. She tried to get out of bed and go to the inn and be busy. She tried three days in a row. Once she got out of bed, she needed a hot shower, where she tried to wash everything away. It took her four tries to do that without breaking down, collapsing in the bottom of the tub, or finding herself crying into her robe, wanting him to tell her how she smelled good, like her citrus body wash. He used to twirl his fingers through the tendrils drying on her neck. It took her a week to get up the energy to pick a matching outfit, eat a Pop-Tart, and drive to the inn without turning around and going back to nap on the couch. And even once she passed through the entryway, it only took an hour for her best friend to find her crying at her desk.
It took her even longer to set foot in the diner. If she had to go to Doose's or anywhere else, she averted her eyes or squeezed them shut as she darted safely from doorway to doorway, not looking, not even glimpsing the sign or the glow from inside.
She could understand why Luke had left. Why that was easier. Every place reminded her of him and she couldn't drive through town without seeing something: the gazebo, the sign for movie night, the church, without thinking of him, that sinking feeling returning.
She'd had no sanctuary. Lorelai had endured the grayness of everything until, slowly, things had started to come back into color. She had noticed the greenness of the grass as the snow melted away. It was almost a miracle that it was still alive after all those months, finally discovering the sun after being kept under wraps. Kind of like me, Lorelai thought.
Since she hadn't been attending Friday night dinners at least she didn't have to act fine and happy in front of her parents. Her mother hadn't called, her dad hadn't tried to schedule lunch at the inn; they were at peace. At least, until Emily showed up on the doorstep one Monday afternoon.
"Mom?"
"Don't act so surprised, Lorelai. I'm not dead. You've been acting like it, however." Lorelai didn't respond, she just walked back into the living room and sat down on the couch, pulling her knees to her chest.
"I'm just not—in the best place right now."
"I know." At Lorelai's surprised look, Emily continued. "You do know your daughter picks up on whatever mood you're in. She's been mopey the last three Fridays but she wouldn't say why. What is going on, Lorelai?"
"Did you drive through the square?"
"What on earth does that--"
"Did you drive through the square on the way here?" She demanded.
"Yes."
"You didn't notice anything?"
"Well I thought the diner looked sort of dark but I couldn't--" She froze and her mouth opened slightly.
"Yeah, Luke's gone. You happy?" Lorelai wiped at her eyes.
"No, I'm not. Not if you're upset."
"Somehow I can't believe that," Lorelai shook her head in disgust. "All I ever wanted was for you to realize I was happy. But that wasn't enough for you, was it?"
Emily was quiet for a moment. "What happened, Lorelai? Why did he leave? How could he?"
"Mom, mom," Lorelai held up a hand.
"I'm sorry. I know you probably don't feel like talking about it."
"Not really, no."
"But you can, you know."
"Can I?" Lorelai looked up. "I don't need you judging me, mother."
"I know what it's like, Lorelai. Your father and I had problems not so long ago."
Lorelai studied her mother for a minute and then ducked her head. "Thank you," she murmured.
That had been the unofficial hiatus of Lorelai's absence from Hartford. She didn't attend Friday night dinners every week, but occasionally. Emily knew her daughter had lunch dates with Richard more often, but she tried not to pry. She had her daughter back in her life, which was better than not at all.
tbc...
