Kissing Ringo
Chapter 2
Disclaimer: Thanks ASP!! And Chev, you're a legend!! Thanks for beta-ing!
Lorelai watched out the window in amusement as Lane ran up and down the steps of her front porch, getting closer to knocking on the door each time she reached it. Deciding to put Lane out of her misery, Lorelai got up and opened the door just as Lane was raising her hand to knock for the fifth time.
"Lorelai! Hi." Lane spat out in shock as the door swung open before she could knock.
"Hi." Lorelai smiled at Lane's apparent nervousness.
"Huh. Is Rory here?" She asked in a high pitched voice. Nervousness really did nothing for her persona.
"No, she's out. She'll be back in a hour or so." Lorelai told her calmly.
"Okay." Lane sighed, turning around and retreating to the street. Sensing all was not right in Laneland, Lorelai called after her.
Lane though about it for a millisecond before turning around and running inside where she balanced herself precariously on the sofa. Closing the door and taking a seat next to Lane, Lorelai said nothing and waited for Lane to start talking. Then, like a volcano exploding with lava, Lane spewed out the secret that had been killing her for the last week
"Ikissedjesswellactuallyhekissedmeandthenhecalledmeringoand-"
"Lane. Stop." Lorelai interrupted firmly. "It was just a bad dream. Say it with me. Reality. Nightmare. Now tell me about this dream and explain the Ringo part."
"Uh-uh. This wasn't a dream. I went to New York last week and I went to Jess's apartment and told him to come back and steal her back from Dean, 'cause she's not meant to be the other woman and then he kissed me. He told me it was to shut me up and it worked. And I slapped him. Then he said 'Later Ringo,' Lane told her, imitating Jess's voice badly. "And then I left." Lane was sounding more and more upset with each detail she handed out.
"If I tell you something you might not like will you slap me?" Lorelai asked jokingly before taking a deep breath and continuing. "It sounds like you like Jess."
"Oh no!! No! I definitely do not like Jess! That is the most ludicrous thing I've heard since Kirk pitched his latest movie idea to me. Oh God, I think I do. I like Jess! And Rory's going to hate me!" Lane admitted, freaking out slightly.
"Rory's not going to hate you. She'll probably be a little weirded out at first but, she'll get used to it." Lorelai offered as a small token of comfort.
"And what about you? Do you hate me? Are you mad? 'Cause you can be mad at me if you want."
"I'm not mad." Lorelai interrupted. "Well not at you. I could kill Jess a little more dramatically than I've been imagining, but I'm not mad at you. You can't help who you like." Suddenly Lane threw her arms around Lorelai and smothered her with a hug of appreciation. After detaching Lane from herself, Lorelai spoke.
"So you slapped him huh?"
"Yeah." Lane replied almost regretfully.
"How'd he take it?" A grin immediately spread across the teenager's face. A tell-tale sign that a girl was in love.
"He told me I didn't strike him as a slapping kind of girl. Left-hook maybe, but not slapping."
"Oooh! Lane's in looove!" Lorelai teased. "Coming from Jess Mariano that's a pretty big compliment."
"It is, isn't it?" Lane smiled.
"And the Ringo part?" Lorelai inquired once more.
"He called me Ringo. After the drummer."
"Right. And this is a good thing?"
"Still undecided, because Ringo was a good drummer and all. But the hair? And the clothes?"
"Take it as a compliment. Unless you find out otherwise. That way you won't feel crappy wondering."
"Done. Thanks for everything Lorelai." Lane smiled, feeling much better. "I have to get to work. But you'll tell Rory for me right?" Without waiting for an answer, Lane ran out the door.
"Bye." Lorelai called after her wondering how she was supposed to tell Rory that her best friend now wants to date her ex boyfriend. Yay for me.