A/N- I love the fact that I get reviews two weeks after posting. Oh... and I suck because I missed last week. By the end of this weekend, I'll have two posts up. By Monday. Don't be shy and not review both ;) Even though I took forever to update. But keep reviewing.
A/N 2- Questions! I don't know about Dawn and Trey... this is a happy story... That's a lot of drama... I'll see what I can arrange... Also, I don't know what I'm gonna do about breakups. There might be one. But the rest, I like the idea of them being high school sweethearts. There will be more fights in the future, though... The thing about Jess calling Luke and Lorelai "Mom and Dad" doesn't really seem weird to me, if only because he's really not quite the same character. He's lived with Luke and Lorelai for five years. They're the only real parental figures he knows. I feel like it's realistic that he would want to. He's on the right track in this story, rather than like on the show... I really really really didn't mean to make Ryan Dean-ish, and I'm sorry if he seems that way to you. It's just, he's different, too. He's lived a nice life (kinda like Jess), but hopefully he's not like Dean in this chapter...
Dedicated to: Everyone who knew that the movie in the last chapter was Monty Python's Life of Brian. That would be-- Commander Bubbles, CommaSplice, Charlie James, totaltvjunkie, Du Grey, GarniGal (I'm more of a Holy Grail girl, too, but I love them both. I've seen Holy Grail 25+ times.), Fwoukje, controversyqueen, Lonnie, Kate, and kinda KatyDid7186... ((Chelsea, what happened!))
New Challenge: What movie are they discussing in the first scene of the chapter? Rules have not changed.
Disclaimer: I own onlythe sunburn I got on my shoulders from camp. Wanna trade, Amy and Josh?
Revelations
"If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?" Ryan asked, Rory leaning against his chest. She snuggled closer to him and gazed up at the starry late-November sky, pulling her sweatshirt tighter around herself.
"Hawaii," Jess answered definitely from across the circle they'd created as Ally reached for a Pringle from their pile of snacks.
"Why?" Jess opened his mouth to answer, but his sister cut him off,
"If you say 'To get lei'd,' I'm gonna tell mom, and she will mock you for the rest of your life." He closed his mouth again and seemingly reconsidered,
"To enjoy the scenery." Rory laughed,
"Better. But I'm still telling mom. That's worth at least two month's worth of 'smell the roses' jokes."
"I can't win."
"Where do you want to go, Seth?" Seth shrugged noncommittally and pulled Lane closer to him, allowing her body heat to keep him warm,
"Anywhere, as long as I can fly."
"Why?"
"So I can imitate the movie." Everyone except Ally nodded in understanding; she gave him a puzzled look,
"What?" Seth laughed,
"A hospital? What is it?" he hinted. Rory answered, quoting the movie,
"It's a big building with patients in it, but that's not important right now." Three of the other teenagers laughed, though Ally remained perplexed,
"What are you talking about?" Seth gasped,
"You honestly don't know?"
"Surely you can't be serious," Rory continued. Ally shook her head,
"I am serious..." Seth cut her off,
"And don't call me Shirley." Ally giggled nervously, if only to protect herself from ridicule.
"Al, you don't know what they're talking about?" asked Jess, pulling away from her slightly to look her in the eye.
"Not at all." Seth shook his head in disgust,
"Well, that won't do. That won't do at all."
"You'll just have to come over and have a movie day with us during break this week."
"Why?"
"Because it's inexcusable that you don't know what we're talking about."
"I usually don't."
"It's different this time." Ally sighed and looked at Lane pleadingly,
"Help, please?" Lane shook her head,
"Nope. No way. You should know this one. The fact that you don't know 'Captain Oveur, over' makes me sad." Seth smiled proudly and kissed her through her hair,
"That's why I love you." Ally decided to steer away from her lack of movie knowledge,
"So, I assume, if you guys are inviting me over this weekend, you have no Thanksgiving plans." Seth shook his head,
"No, we do. Our Aunt Hailey is coming to visit. And Lane is coming to Thanksgiving lunch... I think?" She nodded and he relaxed, Rory adding,
"And my aunt Liz is coming into town for Thanksgiving," she noticed Jess tense up, but chose to move past it, "She hasn't really seen Hannah and Joshy yet."
"What are you all doing for dinner?"
"We're all eating together. You're welcome to come if you want." She shrugged,
"I'll check with my mom." There was silence for a moment before Ryan spoke up,
"Anyone have the time?" Rory pulled out her cellphone,
"11:33."
"And seventeen seconds," Seth mocked.
"I like punctuality, Seth."
"It's too precise."
"Not for me."
"There is no parking in a white zone." Rory laughed; her parents often marveled at the way she and Seth could verbally spar without batting an eye. All of their arguments were in good humor; she hadn't ever fought with her friends to the point where it was true anger that lasted for more than twenty-four hours.
"We should probably go in," Lane mentioned, yawning; she was sleeping over at Rory's house.
"Yeah. It's getting late." Rory giggled and went in for one last movie quote,
"Besides, the fog is getting thicker." Everyone else (with the exception of Ally) answered,
"And Leon's getting laaaarger!" Ally shook her head,
"I wish I knew what you were talking about an eighth of the time."
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Rory rocked gently with her sister on the bench in the enclosed porch that her father had added before the twins were born. Hannah sucked on a bottle that Lorelai had prepared; their mother was upstairs getting ready for Thanksgiving. As she showered and got dressed, Luke had instructed Rory to keep an eye on the food; he didn't trust Lorelai, and even though Rory hadn't inherited any cooking premise from watching him cook over the years, he still trusted her more than his wife.
"Where's dad?" asked Jess, plopping down on the rocking chair next to the girls.
"Picking Liz up from the bus stop."
"You didn't go with him?"
"I volunteered to keep an eye on Hannah."
"Because Josh is quite competent enough to take care of himself?"
"No, smartass. Because Josh just fell asleep and he's like mom. He'll sleep for hours on end, given the chance," Jess sighed and Rory noted his apparent angst, "Hey, you ok?" He shrugged,
"Yes and no."
"What's wrong?" she asked, shifting Hannah (who was quickly becoming a doppelganger of her older sister) to burp on the rag on Rory's shoulder.
"It's confusing for me," he admitted, "I mean, Liz is my mother. Technically, legally, she has the right to sign the 'mother' dotted line. But emotionally? She's not my mom. She's one of the other million people who gave up on me before Luke and Lorelai. They're my parents. I never know what to do when Liz is here. Do I act normally around mom and dad? Can I act normally around you and Hannah and Joshy? Can I say, 'There's my baby brother' when I see him? It's a weird situation. Plus, she said she has some 'big news to announce'. That never ends well." Rory nodded understandingly and smiled up at him,
"It'll be fine. If all else fails, use first names for everyone. Mom and dad understand. They even encourage it. They don't want to hurt Liz's feelings."
"Because she's so considerate of everyone else's feelings?" he asked sarcastically.
"Jess," she scolded softly.
"It's fine," he sighed, leaning back on the comfortable chair, "I just need some time to think."
"K," As if on cue, she heard her name being called from next door. She whipped her head around to find Ryan standing in his backyard waving feverishly, "I'm gonna go visit Ryan."
"You want me to take Hannie?"
"No. You need to think. She's all bundled. She can come for a walk."
"Ok," he shrugged, "Be back by the time Hell visits the Danes' home."
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," she called back to him as she strode towards her boyfriend.
"Hey," Ryan greeted, kissing Rory gently on the lips.
"Hey."
"What's going on over there?"
"Jess is being a drama queen. He'll be fine. No worries. How's it going here?"
"Not terrible. Lane's met Aunt Hailey."
"Think she'll stick around for much longer?"
"Lane or Aunt Hailey?"
"Take your pick."
"Yes to Lane."
"No to Aunt Hailey?"
"Aunt Hailey never stays in one place for long."
"She'd get along well with Aunt Liz."
"Probably will." Rory sniffed at the air,
"What's cooking?"
"Mashed potatoes. Some brisket. A bit of corn." She eyed Ryan skeptically,
"Which parent is wearing the 'Kiss the Cook' apron and matching oven mitts?"
"Dad. At your house?"
"Please. Mom's not allowed within forty feet of the turkey. Daddy's orders." Hannah began to fuss in her arms and she held her out to Ryan, "Hold her, please."
"I don't know, Ror..."
"She's not gonna bite, and you've held her before."
"With parents present."
"It'll be fine. I'm here. Just let me pull the binky out of my pocket."
"Ew," Ryan commented as Rory thrust Hannah into his arms. She pulled out a plastic baggie with a small lavender pacifier thrown haphazardly into it,
"It's clean and covered. I know what to put in my sister's mouth, thank you very much," Ryan raised his eyebrows, "Ok, that came out wrong. But you know what I mean."
"Sadly, I do."
"So, what did your mom buy for dessert for tonight?" Ryan shook his head,
"Something that looks nice." Rory groaned,
"If it looks good, it won't taste good."
"I know. We were together when we decided that... Hey, is Ally coming tonight? Did Jess tell you?" Rory shook her head,
"Her mom wanted her home for Thanksgiving dinner. She's coming over tomorrow."
They both turned their heads when they heard Rory's name being called.
"Rory! Ror!" her mother yelled across the backyard, her wet hair up in a towel, "There's a whole bunch of bells and whistles going off and I don't know what any of them are and the Thanksgiving day food restraining order prevents me from going near any of them!"
"It's the timer, mom! Just turn it off and turn off the oven!" Lorelai nodded confidently and disappeared into the kitchen, reappearing only two seconds later,
"How, exactly, would I do that?" Rory sighed and turned to Ryan,
"Watch her for a sec?"
"Me?... uh... uh... her?... Just... me and Hannah?" Rory nodded,
"I'll be back in five minutes. Just take her inside. If you lay out a blanket, you can put her on the floor."
"But, uh..."
"I'll be right back." She kissed him lightly and ran off towards her house. Ryan sighed and looked down into Hannah's hopeful blue eyes,
"Your sister's a nutjob," Hannah fussed a little bit and Ryan nodded, "No smile? No laugh? No acknowledgment? Babies don't know humor when they see it." He turned inside and wandered into the den, slowly sitting on the couch, making sure not to jostle the baby. He sat and bounced her gently, but was startled when a woman's voice spoke directly next to his ear,
"Who's the kid?" Ryan's head whipped around,
"Aunt Hailey! Geez, I feel like I just ate a cow."
"What?"
"It's Seth's way of saying that I had a heart attack. I really need to stop hanging out with him so much."
"He's rubbing off on you," she said as she sat next to him on the couch, "Again-Who's the kid?" Ryan pointed up at the picture of himself, Seth, Lane, Rory, Jess, and the twins on the mantle,
"My girlfriend's baby sister." Hailey smiled at the baby and held out her arms for Ryan to pass her,
"What's her name?"
"My girlfriend? Rory," he answered, deciding whether or not to pass the baby to his aunt.
"I meant the baby."
"Oh. The baby? She's Hannah."
"Hi Hannah," Hailey cooed, "You're a cutie. Yes, you are," she looked up at Ryan, "Ry, let me hold her." He strained,
"Uhhh..."
"You don't trust me?"
"Not my baby to loan out."
"Will you stop? You're not loaning her out. You're letting me hold her."
"But Rory said..." he tried to remember what Rory said; none of it included his aunt not being allowed to hold the baby.
"Just give her to me."
"Aunt Hailey..."
"Nephew Ryan..." He glared at her, deciding what to do. After a momentary staredown, he gave in,
"Ok. Just support her head." Just as Hailey took Hannah from Ryan's arms, the back door opened,
"Ry?" Rory entered the living room to find Hannah being passed from Ryan to Hailey, "Ryan! You couldn't hold her for five minutes? You were that afraid of a five-week-old?" Hailey giggled,
"Yeah, Ryan. You were scared she was gonna gum you to death?" Ryan, flustered, stammered again,
"But... Rory... Hannah... Hailey... uhh... want... hold..." Hailey used on hand to smack Ryan on the arm,
"Breathe, boy," she turned to Rory, "I wanted to hold her, so Ryan was kind enough to let me."
"Oh, ok... I assume that you're Aunt Hailey?" She nodded,
"The one and only. My guess is that you're Rory?"
"Yeah. It's nice to meet you," she reached forward to take Hannah, "I actually have to get home."
"Lorelai tried to cook?" Ryan regained his voice, standing up from the couch.
"No. She tried to open a can of Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup. Never have I seen such a mess."
"Didn't realize that they have the new easy-open tabs?" Rory shook her head,
"What's weird is that my mom is so smart when it comes to everything but cooking. In the kitchen, she just goes Seth at softball." Hailey's eyes narrowed,
"Seth at softball?"
"It's our way of saying that you act like you've been hit in the head one too many times by a ball. You act stupid."
"Yeah," Rory added, taking Hannah, "And I have to go home before Jess has a nervous breakdown from mom trying to open the canned peas in the shelf. Could be a massacre," She shifted the baby in her arms and shook Hailey's hand quickly, holding Hannah to her body, "Nice to meet you, Hailey. I'll see you at dinner tonight," Hailey nodded, and Rory moved to Ryan, "I'll see you later," she said, kissing him goodbye before she heard both her mother's and brother's screams from next door, "Gotta go." She bolted out the door, careful not to jostle her sister. Ryan collapsed back onto the couch, Hailey sitting next to him,
"So... that's Rory?"
"That's Rory."
"She seems nice."
"She's great."
"How many brothers and sisters does she have?" Hailey asked; she had been intrigued as soon as Rory had mentioned Jess earlier in the conversation.
"Three. Jess is two months older than we are, and Hannah and Josh, the twins..." Hailey cut him off,
"Twins? There's two babies?"
"Yeah. Josh was probably sleeping, though. He and Hannah are about a month now." Hailey nodded,
"Wow. She's from a big family." Ryan shrugged,
"They're a package deal." Hailey smiled at her nephew,
"You ready for that?" she asked, winking and walking away, leaving Ryan utterly perplexed on the couch.
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Seth and Lane sat on the floor in his bedroom, fingers interlaced.
"So, what do you think of Aunt Hailey?" Seth asked.
"She seems nice. A bit eclectic and crazy, but nice." Seth laughed,
"That's Aunt Hailey to a T. We always get in trouble with her here."
"Doesn't bother you?"
"Nope. It's too much fun to bother me..." They were silent for a second before Seth asked, "What do you think Liz's surprise is?" Lane stared intently at the floor,
"No idea. It worries me, though. Remember the last time she brought a surprise?"
"Oh, right. Her new boyfriend." They'd all met Liz a few times, and eaten dinner with her most of the times she'd been in town.
"Alan. The guy was a jerk. No table manners. No manners. Kept staring at Lorelai the whole night. Kept referring to Jess as 'the kid'. Told Rory that she'd make a great dancer when she grew up. He was creepy."
"Luke threw him out..." Seth mentioned.
"Still. It's probably not a good surprise." Seth shook his head and leaned in to kiss her,
"It'll be fine. You worry too much."
"You don't worry enough."
"It's why we balance out so perfectly."
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"They're here!" Lorelai called from the den, Joshua sucking intently on a pacifier in her arms. Rory emerged from her bedroom, and Jess from his. Jess picked Hannah up from her swing and nestled her in his arms, planting a kiss on her forehead,
"Keep me sane here, kiddo." Rory opened the front door to find her father and aunt stepping out of her father's truck. Liz smiled up at her,
"Rory!" Liz ran up the stairs and threw her arms around her niece, "Look how big you've gotten!"
"I know! We're having them all studied at the clinic downtown. They're all freakishly huge." Liz laughed,
"Are those the twinnies?" Luke cringed,
"Please, for the love of all that is holy, don't call them that." Liz shook off the comment,
"This is Josh?" She asked, tickling the baby in Lorelai's arms.
"No. That's Hannah. We dress her in blue sports clothes because we want her to know an open lifestyle," Jess muttered under his breath. Everyone heard; Rory and Lorelai stifled giggles, Liz ignored it, and Luke glared at his eldest.
"Hey, Jess," Liz muttered, meeting his eyes.
"Hey, Liz..." Their eyes remained locked and no one said a word for another moment, before Liz announced quietly,
"I brought a surprise. I'll show you later, though." She patted her purse to reassure herself and Luke pushed her gently through the door,
"C'mon. Dinner should be ready shortly."
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The Cohen and Danes families (along with their guests) sat around the dining table in the Danes' living room. They fit comfortably, Luke and Sandy at either head of the table, each doling out a certain food to their families.
"So, guys, what's your new school like?" Hailey asked the teenagers, all of whom glanced at each other, silently nominating Ryan to be the spokesman,
"It's alright. Some of the kids are terrible, and I look weird in the uniform..." Rory cut him off,
"I second that." He forged on,
"But the school itself isn't bad. It's challenging. We all work together, though. We pull through." He pulled Rory closer to himself and kissed her temple. Hailey looked to the end of the table and leaned over to her nephew,
"Ry, you're getting the death glare." Ryan looked up,
"Oh, Luke? I get that sometimes. He's protective of Rory, is all," He looked up at Luke, "Luke," he nodded, smiling.
"Ryan," Luke nodded back. Sandy shook his head, laughing; he knew that Luke had nothing against his son; he was just protective of Rory. They actually got along really well if the girls were out and they were having a guy's day.
"So, Rory, Jess, what's it like having the twins around all the time?" asked Liz, digging into her turkey.
"It's stressful. They cry a lot. They're always hungry and spitting up. But they're a lot of fun. I love shopping for clothes for them and playing with them. Jess loves to hold them." Liz looked to Jess, who only shrugged, keeping his eyes on his plate. He hadn't said much all night- only a few 'pleases' and 'thank yous' when given his food. Soon, Joshua's cries came through the baby monitor. Lorelai looked up from the corn she was passing out,
"Jess, honey, could you go get him?" It would be good to show Liz how he was with the twins.
"Yeah, mom," he let slip. He threw his hand over his mouth, "I'm sorry," he apologized to Liz. She shook her head and stuttered,
"No, no. It's ok... I understand... It's fine." Makes what I'm gonna do make that much more sense. He smiled graciously at her and ran upstairs to Josh.
"Hey, buddy," he said quietly, careful not to wake his sister, "What's the matter?" he turned down the baby monitor and rocked his brother as he calmed down, "You know, pal, everyone's downstairs eating. I got sent up to get you. Not that I mind. I ate all my turkey. Next year, you'll be ready to eat Thanksgiving dinner with us. But, for now, you can't chew turkey with those gums," he told him, tickling the baby's stomach, smiling at him. Jess was taken aback as Josh's tiny mouth twisted into a smile. Jess gasped; neither twin had ever smiled before, "Josh... are you... did you... You can't answer me... MOM! DAD!" Within ten seconds, most of the party was bounding up the stairs.
"Jess, honey, what's going on?" Lorelai asked, pushing into the room.
"Josh! He just smiled!"
"He just what!" Lorelai motioned for her eldest son to hand her her youngest, and she bounced him gently, "Joshy boy, did you smile? C'mon, baby, smile for mommy." Luke gently pushed Joshua's few wispy strands of hair away from his face,
"C'mon, buddy. Mommy and daddy need a smile, pal."
"Dad?" Rory called; Luke looked up just as Rory smiled at him.
"Funny," he said sarcastically.
"I thought so."
"He's not smiling," Lorelai whined, "Jess, what did you do?" She handed the baby back to Jess, who bounced the baby a little and tickled his stomach again, producing another smile.
"Awwww," everyone cooed together.
"That's so cool," Liz commented.
"Very," agreed Hailey. Jess passed the baby back to Lorelai and smiled down at him. Liz, breathing heavily, seemingly worked up the courage to do something she'd been waiting to do,
"While we're all together up here... I have an announcement to make."
"The surprise?" asked Jess quietly.
"Yeah. Everybody c'mere." They obeyed, leaning against the wall and turning to face Liz.
"What's up?" asked Luke, lifting Hannah from her crib.
"Well, the surprise is... mostly for Jess. But it's for you guys, too. Now... Jess, you've been living here for..."
"Five years," he answered hastily, glancing at Rory.
"Right. You've been living with Luke and Lorelai for five years. You've done great. You've managed to stay out of any real trouble. You're in an expensive school that you're doing great in. You know how to take care of people. And it's all thanks to Luke and Lorelai," Luke and Lorelai blushed, "I know you call Luke and Lorelai 'mom and dad' sometimes. It doesn't bother me," Jess restrained himself from blurting out Most of the time. His parents wouldn't approve, "in fact, it makes me happy. Jess..." she pulled out an envelope from her purse, "These are for you."
"What is this?" he breathed, ripping gently at the corners of the small white envelope.
"It's adoption papers," she blurted, "They're all signed and everything. I checked with my lawyer. It's all done. You guys just need to sign," Luke grabbed the papers from Jess' hands. Before anyone could say anything, Liz added, "Don't worry about school. I'll still pay for Jess' tuition. It's the least I can do. So... what do you think?" Jess looked from his parents to Liz and back again. Wordlessly, he stood up and pushed past the others in the room out the door.
They all stood in shock as they heard the front door open and shut downstairs.
"Did I do something wrong?" Liz asked.
"No. He needs some time to think," Lorelai answered.
"Mom, do you want us to go find him?" Rory asked, standing up and anxiously glancing at the nursery door.
"No. Give him time to cool off. Take your brother, though. Daddy and I will go find him in a little while." She nodded and took Josh.
"Lane," Luke nodded at Hannah, resting comfortably in his arms. She nodded back and took the baby, following Rory out of the room. Everyone except Liz took the hint and followed the two girls downstairs; Liz stayed back to talk to Luke and Lorelai,
"What's going on?"
"I don't know. He gets this way sometimes. He'll get mad and not tell anyone why."
"Shouldn't we go find him?" Luke shook his head,
"He always goes to the same place when he acts like this. We know where he is."
"Hey... you guys are ok with this, right?" Luke smiled,
"He's been living with us since he was ten. He and Rory call each other brother and sister. You're helping us by doing this."
"You're helping him, too. Right now, he's confused. But, honestly, he's been walking that fine line between son and nephew, and this is going to make it far less confusing."
"Ok... Maybe you should go find him now?"
"A few more minutes. Go have something to eat. We'll go get him when he's ready."
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Jess sat crosslegged on the floor of the Cohens' finished basement. The first time he had run away, he ran here because he assumed that no one could find him. He knew where they kept their spare key, utilized it, and hid in the back corner of the basement, lights off, believing that no one would think to look for him there. Unfortunately for him, they had thought to look there before anyone else. Now, when he ran away or even just needed to think, he would come here, knowing that his parents would come find him when they knew he was ready.
After twenty minutes of sitting there, he heard the basement door open. Without saying anything, Luke and Lorelai came and found him in his designated corner and sat down in front of him,
"Care to talk?" Jess shrugged,
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry. You have every right to need to think. You worried Liz, though."
"Not you?"
"We knew where you went."
"We knew you were fine."
"Well... we thought you were fine. Are you?" Jess shrugged again,
"Yeah. I was just... shocked, I guess... I wasn't expecting it... It's like... she already gave up on me once. She's gonna give up on me completely now?"
"Oh, sweetheart, Liz isn't giving up on you."
"No, Jess, she's not! She wants you to have a full family."
"I do."
"Look, Jess, if you don't want to do the adoption, that's fine. We'll love you just as much as we always have."
"Liz just thought the adoption might... I don't know, make things easier for you. Not so confusing. But, if you like it like this, it's fine." Jess shook his head,
"No. I do." Lorelai smiled and pulled him to her,
"Good. Because we do, too."
"Mom?" he said tentatively.
"Yeah, sweetie?"
"Cutting... off... circulation," he choked out. Lorelai let go,
"I'm sorry."
"It's ok... look... can we just... do this slow? Gimme time to get used to the concept?" Luke nodded,
"Of course."
"Thanks."
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The six best friends sat around in front of the Cohens' house in the dark cool of the December night, wrapped in blankets and winter coats.
"So, I got an A on my test and Paris got an A-, so she walks over and starts comparing papers, going 'Well, it's obvious you had the answers in your shoe or something.'," Rory laughed, "I just walked away. It's too difficult to deal with her."
"It's too difficult to deal with a lot of teenagers."
"Do you think we're difficult to deal with?" Lane pondered. Seth shook his head,
"We're angels. We're awesome. We're every parent's dream child. Well, except for Ryan." Ryan threw a chip at his brother,
"I'm mom's favorite."
"You wish." Rory cleared her throat,
"Get over it. Your mom likes me the best." Everyone laughed and agreed, and Jess began coughing,
"I'm getting sick."
"Why do you think that is?"
"Maybe because we sit out here once a week in the freezing cold?"
"It's fun. It helps us keep in touch."
"Why else?" Ryan shrugged,
"Either because we like being together..." Seth finished his sentence,
"Or because we're just that stupid." Rory and Lane looked at each other,
"Definitely both."