Finally the Gilmore girls made it home. Lorelai had a headache from all the events that day. No matter how much she thought about it, nothing made sense. Except for what Jess had said at the diner, but deep down she really didn't believe Jess could kill someone. She ran a hot bath and decided to try to ease her mind about everything.

While Lorelai was taking her bath, the phone rang.

"Rory!" she called. "Can you answer that?"

Rory walked into the living room and answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Rory?"

"Yeah?"

"It's Luke."

"Oh." Rory replied. "Hi."

"Hi." he repeated. "Is your Mom around?"

"She's taking a bath." Rory answered.

"Oh..." Luke sounded sad.

"Is something wrong?"

"I just.." he paused. "I just wanted to tell her I was sorry for the way I talked to her earlier."

"I can have her call you back when she's finished." Rory suggested.

"Sure. That'd be great." Luke replied. "Hey, Rory..." Luke added quickly.

"Yeah?"

"Who do you think killed Taylor?"

"I have no idea." Rory admitted honestly.

"You don't think I did, do you?" Luke asked fearfully.

Rory laughed. "Of course not."

"What about Jess?" Luke added. "Do you think Jess could kill someone?"

"No.." Rory replied. "Do you?"

"No." Luke answered. "Well... I guess I'll talk you later."

"Guess so."

"Bye."

Rory hung up the phone. What a strange conversation. About that time Lorelai came walking out of the bathroom in a bath robe.

"Who was that?" She asked running her hands through her wet hair.

"Luke." Rory answered. "He wanted to say he was sorry for the way he acted today. He wants you to call him back."

"Well there's no reason to call him back. You just told me why he called." Lorelai turned and walked towards the kitchen.

"You should still call him back. Let him say it himself."

Lorelai poured a cup of coffee. "It's not a big deal."

"To him I think it is. He sounded really sad."

"He'll be alright." Lorelai replied. "I'll see him at the diner tomorrow."

Rory bit her tongue. So desperately she wanted to ridicule her mother for the way she was acting. Instead she left the kitchen and walked back into her room. A couple of minutes later Lorelai peeked her head through the doorway.

"I'm going to bed." She spoke softly. "Are you coming up?"

Rory gazed up from her homework. "No." She replied barely above a whisper.

Lorelai paused. "Sure?" she asked again.

"I'm sure." Rory replied in the same tone as she had the first time.

"Okay. Well, good night." Lorelai remarked.

"Night."

Lorelai climbed the stairs and headed to bed.

(The next morning)

Lorelai sleepily walked into the kitchen. She was aiming to make a pot of coffee, but was distracted by something else.

"I can't stand it here any longer." Rory spoke quietly into the phone. "Everyone's acting so weird. Even Mom. It's like we've been thrown into a really bad soap opera. I just need some time away." A pause. "Are you sure?" Rory asked. "Okay. Thanks Grandma."

Was Lorelai dreaming? Did she actually here a conversation between Rory and Emily? Lorelai quickly walked back into the kitchen. Rory came walking out of her room. She immediately spotted her mother.

"Hey." Lorelai greeted. "Want some coffee?"

"No Thanks. I'm late for school." Rory replied as she placed the phone on the charger.

"Who was you talking to?" Lorelai asked casually.

"Grandma." Rory honestly replied.

Lorelai was impressed with Rory's forthcoming. "Oh, did she call?"

"I called her." Rory exhaled deeply. "I asked if I could stay with her and Grandpa for a few days."

This caused Lorelai's heart to ache. She suddenly felt the urge to cry. But she held back. "How come?"

"Just to get away from all of this for a few days." Rory answered. "It's really nerveracking"

"So you're going to leave me here alone?" Lorelai asked offensively. "With a murderer roaming the streets?" she added.

Rory knew that Lorelai wouldn't take kindly to her wanting to leave Stars Hollow for a few days. "You could come with me." she offered.

"Come with you? To live in my parents house?" Lorelai asked. "Are you nuts?"

Rory was hurt by her mother's hurtful comments. "Fine. I won't go." Rory replied. She grabbed her book bag. "I'll see you later."

"Rory wait." Lorelai said stopping her. "Let's not do this." She remarked sympathetically.

"It's fine."

"Sweetie.. I'm sorry if I've been neglecting you."

"I never said that." Rory replied.

"Then what is it?" Lorelai asked. "What have I done?"

Rory's eyes began to tear up. She hated moments like this when her mother put her on the spot. "Nothing... I'm just tired of the way everyone's acting."

"So am I." Lorelai agreed.

"I don't want to hear about Taylor anymore."

"Neither do I."

"I just to want to block it all out of my head." Rory wiped away a couple of tears and calmed herself down.

"I understand that." Lorelai said gently. "But, please, don't leave me Rory. I can handle everything else, but if you left me here alone, I couldn't handle that."

Rory suddenly felt evil and selfish. "I'm not going to leave." Rory answered.