Chapter Fourteen: Knock, Knock… Are You Decent?
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Rory walked out of her bedroom, adjusting her white, off the shoulders sweater, and slipping on a pair of cozy white clogs. She yawned, and glanced around her dorm room, expecting to see the back of Finn's head, as he sat on the couch. Furrowing her eyebrows, she took a long, full glance around the common room, letting her eyes take in everything that had changed in a little less then two weeks.
Paris was gone, and she had taken everything that had belonged to her. Rory glanced remorsefully towards the spot where Asher Flemming's printing press sat for a day and a half, to the place where Rory had the unsettling imagery of Doyle walking around in Paris' short, flowery robe.
"Rory, love?" Finn said, walking in through the common room door, carrying a tray of four coffees, and a bag of donuts. "Are you hungry?"
Rory turned to look at him, tilting her head to the side, and wondered when she'd changed from the girl she was at the end of last year. She'd slowly broken herself down, and turned into someone she didn't know anymore. She wasn't confident, and as sure of herself anymore. She… was, well… different.
She looked at Finn, and had decided right then and there that she had changed over the summer while vacationing with her grandmother in Europe. She lost herself there, in their culture—their landmarks. She wasn't the socialite she'd grown into, and grown to love anymore.
She was just.. plain and simple Rory Gilmore, who didn't use her family to her advantage. She didn't have everything handed to her while she was this Rory Gilmore – and for some strange, unaccountable reason, she didn't like it.
Her cell phone went off, and she went to answer it before she could process that Finn had spoken to her. She walked back into her bedroom, dropping onto her bed, and grabbing her cell phone off of the nightstand, thankful for the interruption of her self-hating thoughts.
"Hello?" she said, her voice cracking towards the end.
"Rory? Hi, it's Stephanie Vandercamp. We went to Chilton together."
"Oh, hey Stephanie," Rory smiled lightly, and sat up on her bed, staring at her empty doorway, feeling badly that she had left Finn standing in the common room, "What's up?"
"Well," Stephanie started, a noted smile in her voice, "I'm Yale bound."
"Oh, that's cool."
"Yes, and since it's halfway through the semester, and I've heard through the Hartford Society grapevine, that your roommate, Gellar, was transferring to Harvard…"
"Well, the grapevine is never wrong," Rory laughed.
"Do you think I could move in with you? I'd rather room with someone that I somewhat know from Chilton then with some gothic girl that wants to worship the Devil."
"Yes, of course. I'd love to room with you."
"Great," Stephanie breathed, "So, I'm flying in from New York tomorrow, do you think we could meet up for a coffee or something?"
"Sure, sounds great. Give me a call when your plane lands, and I'll pick you up."
"Alright, I'll talk to you tomorrow. Bye Rory."
"Bye Stephanie." Rory closed her phone and smiled, slipping it into her jeans pocket, and hopping off her bed. She skipped into the common room, and wrapped her arms around Finn's neck, giving him a toothy smile, "Finn!"
Finn rose his eyebrow, and smirked, planting a kiss on her forehead, wrapping his arms around her waist, "What's gotten you so chipper?"
"My friend Stephanie from Chilton is coming to Yale," she grinned, pulling away from him, and walking around the couch, grabbing a coffee out of the tray, taking a long, savoring sip of it, "And she's going to be my roommate."
"Ah, see?" Finn laughed, dropping onto the couch, taking a bite out of a donut that he pulled from the bag, "Now you're not alone, and Colin, Logan and I have a new lady to corrupt with our partying ways."
Rory narrowed her eyes, and shook her head, "Men," she sighed, sitting down next to him.
"You couldn't live without us, kitten."
"You want to bet?"
"No," Finn said, swallowing a bite of donut, "I don't want to find out if you can or not."
"Sounds like a good idea."
Finn glanced at her, and took into her appearance, his smile growing, before he reached over and took her hand, "Rory?"
"Hmn?"
"Would you.. perhaps, like to go on a date with me?"
Rory's heart beat quickened as she turned to look at him, his face had grown serious, and his eyes made her melt. He looked so vulnerable, and afraid to be rejected that she would hardly be able to bear his pain if she said no. She laughed, and squeezed his hand slightly, "Well, we've already kissed – so why not?"
Finn let out a breath he knew he'd been holding, and leaned over, placing a kiss on the corner of her mouth, "Thank you…" he sighed, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her into a soft hug.
"Your welcome," she said, smiling, "But just to let you know, I'm not going to dye my hair red."
He let out a long, cheerful laugh, and planted two kisses on her temple, "I wouldn't want you too in the first place."
She turned her head, and met his eyes, giving him a silent message. She smiled when he leaned his face closer to hers, before he could barely stand the distance anymore, he crushed his lips against hers. She groaned slightly, letting her hands slightly fist in his hair, before reciprocating his actions.
Finn ran his hands down her spine, letting them rest on the small of her back, before tracing her lip line with his tongue, gently probing her mouth open, and slipping his tongue inside her mouth. His action elicited a moan from Rory's mouth into his own, so he continued, running his hands over her stomach, slowly, and gently lowering her onto the couch, hovering over her.
He broke away from her mouth, placing kisses along her jaw line, down her throat, and across her left collar bone. "Finn," she breathed, arching her back upwards, greeting his chest with her own.
He groaned, and swallowed roughly, fingering the hem of her sweater with his fingertips, before going for the gold, tugging it up; over her head, tossing it to the floor. His breath caught in his throat, as his eyes glazed over her bare torso, excluding her bosom. He grazed his fingertips under the wiring of her bra, placing gently kisses between the valley of her breasts. "Rory," he whispered, halting his fingers, and kisses, "Do you… want me to stop?"
"No," she moaned, pulling his face up to meet hers with her soft hands, pulling him down to kiss her. She pulled back slightly after a moment, "I don't want you…" she whispered, kissing his Adam's apple, before lightly sucking on it, "to stop.." Running her hands over his back, she fisted his shirt in her hands, before quickly pulling it upwards, Finn raising his arms to allow her to take it off of him, and throwing it to the floor.
"Good, because I don't think I'd be able too…" He reached his hands around her, caressing her shoulder blades, before making to unclasp her bra.
Knock, knock.
They both groaned, and Rory pushed up at his shoulders slightly, letting a frown over come her features, "Sorry." She whispered.
"Can't we ignore them?" he whispered back.
Rory shook her head, adjusting her bra, before grabbing her sweater, and pulling it over her head, slipping her arms through the sleeves. "No," she said, handing him his shirt, watching him pull it over his head.
Knock, knock.
"One minute," Rory called, standing and straightening her jeans out, walking towards the door, and almost tripping over her clogs. She couldn't remember ever kicking them off. She twisted the door knob, and opened the door. "Tristan.." she groaned, raising a hand to her forehead, "what are you doing here?"
"Did I catch you at a bad time?" he asked, moving to walk in, but she held the door closer towards the frame, blocking him. "Err.. can I come in?"
"No," she said, fixing him with a look. "What are you doing here?"
"My break started yesterday," he said, leaning against the door frame, "and I thought I'd come visit you."
"Why?"
"Because I missed you."
"Ugh," Rory groaned, frustrated at him and his timing, "What don't you get Tristan?"
"What are you talking about?"
"We broke up."
"And we've had our break—I just don't understand why you won't get back together with me!" Finn walked to the door, hearing the escalating voices, and wrapped his arm affectionately around Rory's waist, opening the door wider to come face to face with her visitor. "Who the hell are you?" Tristan yelled, looking at Finn, before turning to Rory, "Who the fuck is he, Rory?"
"Hey," Finn said, barely raising his voice, "there's no need to swear in front of a lady, mate."
"Shut the fuck up," Tristan growled, clenching his fists, "who the hell is he, Rory?"
"It's really none of your business," Rory snapped, narrowing her eyes at him, and crossing her arms over her chest.
"I do think it's my business," Tristan hissed, glaring at Finn with more hatred for the guy then he'd had for even Dean. He looked to Rory, and stepped forward, his eyes softening only notches, "What is going on with you? Why… Rory, seriously. What the hell is going on?"
Rory shivered involuntarily, and stepped backwards, gripping the door knob, "Go away." She hissed, slamming the door closed, and locking it, before turning to look at Finn with a rueful smile, "That was my ex."
"Seems like he doesn't know it yet."
Rory laughed bitterly, and shook her head, "We broke up in November – he's just choosing to ignore it."
"What happened there?"
"It's a long, long story."
"We have the entire –" knock, knock – "day."
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"Hello?"
"Hey, Rory! It's Stephanie."
"Hi Steph." Rory replied, locking her dorm suite door, cradling her phone between her shoulder and head, slipping her keys back into her pocket. "Did your plane land?"
"No, I'm just in the boarding line now, but I forgot to tell you which airport I was flying into. It's totally out of your way."
"Which one?"
"Bradley."
"Oh, that's not bad at all," Rory said, walking into the brisk, winter air towards the courtyard coffee stand, "I'll just stop by at my mother's house and visit for a while. When does your flight land?"
"Eleven forty seven."
"Well, I'll make sure to be there by eleven forty five. I'll even make you a 'Stephanie' sign."
Stephanie laughed on the other end of the phone, and handed her ticket to the stewardess, "I'll see you soon. Bye."
"Bye Stephanie," Rory said, taking her phone from between her shoulder and ear, snapping it closed and shoving it into her pocket, "One large coffee, please. Black."
The coffee tender nodded, pouring a large amount of coffee into a Styrofoam cup. He placed a plastic lid over the top, and set it in front of her, "Three dollars and seven cents."
Rory handed him four folded dollar bills, and grabbed her coffee, "Keep the change," she told him, sipping her coffee cautiously, as she headed towards the student parking lot.
Rory slipped into her Range Rover, and stuck the key in the ignition, and her coffee into the cup holder. She wiped her steering wheel off with her hand before looking in her rearview mirror. She remembered when she had just bought it, and couldn't wait to show it off at Chilton.
She shivered unknowingly, and bit her lip. She and Tristan had made love in the back seat. She sighed, and grabbed her purse off of the passenger seat where she had just ceremoniously just thrown it, and pulled out her wallet. Her American Express black card shined at her, and she smirked.
So, perhaps she wouldn't visit her mother just now. She turned her rover on, and glanced at the clock, "Eight o' one," she read, and smiled.
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"You bought a new car?" Lorelai gasped, walking onto the Dragonfly Inn's porch, watching Rory close the driver's side door
Rory shrugged, and locked her white 2005 Escalade, and smiled, "I needed a change."
Lorelai laughed, and tightened her jacket around her, stepping down the steps, and meeting Rory on the pathway. "I like it," she confirmed, nodded, "It's even bigger then the range."
"I know," Rory said, "And it'll hold more of our bags when we take our huge shopping trips."
"Yes it will," Lorelai agreed, turning to look at Rory, "So, what brings you here?"
"I'm on my way to Bradley," Rory said, following her mother inside the Dragonfly, letting a yawn escape her mouth.
"Why?"
"To pick up my new roommate," she said, sitting in one of the sitting room chairs, "You know her—Stephanie Vandercamp."
"Ooh, she's your new roommate? Where'd she go before?"
"I don't know," Rory said, "but I told her I'd pick her up from the airport at around eleven forty five." Biting her thumb nail, she glanced around at the guests, "what time is it?"
Lorelai looked down at her wrist, and adjusted her watch so she could tell her daughter the time, "Ten seventeen. Want something to eat? I could have Sookie whip something up."
"Cup of coffee," Rory said, standing.
"Well, you know where the kitchen is. Say bye before you leave." Lorelai said, kissing Rory's forehead, and walking towards her office.
Rory made her solo walk through the dining room, pushing open the swinging kitchen doors, and allowing the heat from the kitchen over take her as she made her way towards the coffee pot. "Mmm," she said, shivering as she poured herself a steaming cup of coffee, "Hey Sookie."
"Rory," Sookie squealed, rubbing her stomach, and rushing over to Rory, pulling her into a huge. "I haven't seen you in so long!"
"It's been a week, Sookie," Rory laughed, taking a long sip of her coffee. "How's the baby?"
"Good, good." Sookie said, pulling out a stool, motioning for Rory to sit down. "Can I make you anything? Pancakes? Waffles? Muffins? Cookies? Cake?"
"I'm good, Sookie."
"Oh, please let me make you something!"
"I guess I could go for a muffin."
"Good," Sookie clapped her hands together, and pulled out a bowl, "Chocolate chip? Raspberry? Blueberry? Strawberry? Ooh, corn muffins?"
"Chocolate chip is fine, Sookie."
"I'll make you a batch and you can take them back to Yale!"
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"Nice sign," Stephanie laughed, dropping her carry on's in front of Rory in the center of the airport crowd. "I like it – it's pink, and has glitter."
Rory shrugged, and laughed, "I would have made it better, but this was all my mom had at the Inn."
"Pink and glitter are a girl's best friend," Stephanie smiled, picking her bags up, and moving towards the bag belt. "I'm sorry this was so out of your way."
"Don't worry about it, I had nothing going on today anyway. I was just going to shop, but I can do that tomorrow."
"Shopping? I love shopping!" Stephanie grinned, grabbing a bright pink suitcase, with a matching duffle bag off the belt. "I hired movers for everything else," she explained as Rory grabbed the duffle bag from her.
Rory nodded, and fixed the duffle bag on her shoulder, "I would have done the exact same thing," she confirmed, leading Stephanie out of the airport. "I hate moving my stuff from my house to Yale, and vice versa. It's… stressing."
"I don't watch… I just sit back and relax."
"I go shopping with my mother while the movers do it."
"That sounds even better then relaxing!"
The two girls laughed, and flipped open the trunk of Rory's escalade, placing Stephanie's things in with minor difficulty. Closing the trunk, they both made their way to the front, as Rory unlocked the car with the remote. "Oh, sorry about the muffins," Rory mumbled, sitting, and closing the driver's side door, picking up the tray off muffins on the passenger seat, "Sookie made them for me."
"What's a Sookie?"
"My mom's best friend," Rory explained, setting the tray on the floor behind the passenger seat, "She's a chef, probably the best in the entire state of Connecticut, if not the country."
"That kind of makes me hungry – taking about chefs, and smelling those muffins."
"Want to go to lunch?"
"Sure."
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Authors Note: Tehehe, did you all like it? Because I liked it – those knocks seemed very… oh I don't know, well placed, perhaps?
Psh, and yes, I am expecting knives to be thrown at me at any given second, and yes, I will be locking my dorm windows, and door tonight.
Review, please!