Author's Note: Short chapter.

December Bells Chapter 4: I'm Not The Desperate Type

The familiar sound of the bell hanging over the entry way to Luke's Diner rang as Rory stepped outside into the late summer air. Rory looked down at her cell phone to see who it was that was calling her, but the screen said that the number was restricted. She picked it up curiously, "Hello?" No answer. "Hello?" she said again. No answer. Then she heard the dial tone, telling her that whoever it was had hung up. She closed her phone and walked back into the diner. She sat down at the counter, where she'd been sitting before, and continued to eat her cheeseburger.

Jess came over to the counter, wiping his hands on a towel. "Was that your mom?" he said, gesturing to Rory's cell phone.

"No, whoever it was listened to me say hello twice and then just hung up."

"Probably a prank." he said.

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Rory!"

Rory turned around at the sound of her voice being shouted, even though she knew it was Lorelai. "Hi, Mom."

Lorelai came over to the counter and sat down, kissing Rory on the forehead.

"What's the matter? You look like you just ran a mile."

"Well, it's nice to know that if I ever want the brutal truth, I'll just come to you."

"I mean you look tired," Rory said.

"Yes, well.. I am tired."

"Where's Luke?" Rory asked.

"Oh, he's paralyzed from the neck down and can never walk again. Thanks to Emily Gilmore."

"What? What happened?"

"My mother is evil, that's what happened," she shifted in her stool, "She still can't accept that fact that Luke and I are getting married. She looks at him like he's a bug. It's disgusting." She looked out the window and saw Luke walking toward the diner. "Shh, here he comes."

"So," Rory started, "How did the wedding plans go?"

"Oh, that was a disaster too. The woman who usually helps us whenever we go over there was sick today."

"Oh, scary substitute?"

"Uh.. yeah! This woman was wearing an eye patch!"

"No way!"

"Yes way," Luke said, reassuring Rory.

"Well, was she at least nice?"

"Yeah, she was nice," Lorelai said, "But she was old. And I couldn't help staring at her eye patch. She reminded me too much of a pirate. And I kind of think that she noticed that I was staring at it because she started giving me dirty looks and directing all of the questions at Luke."

"Well," Rory said, laughing, "Maybe she had a thing for Luke and wanted him to realize that he doesn't need a young, beautiful woman like you, but an old, eyeless woman like her."

"You two are terrible," Luke said, as Jess nodded his head in agreement.

"Well," Lorelai began, "You have to admit that you'd rather be marrying me, a woman of, let's say, good direction, than a woman with an eye patch."

Rory and Lorelai began laughing so hard that they had to clench their sides from pain. Their comical moment was interrupted by Rory's cell phone ringing. She looked up at Luke who was already directing her to the door. "Oh, come on Luke," Lorelai said, "She's almost your step daughter, shouldn't family get special exceptions to rules."

"Hey, I don't talk on my cell phone in here, so either should you."

"That's because no one ever calls you." Lorelai said in a baby voice."

"Nice," Luke said.

"It's okay, I'll just go outside."

"Hey, if it's someone pranking you again, tell them you'll call the cops or something the next time they do it, it always gets them to stop."

Rory got up and walked outside again. She quickly flipped open her phone and answered it, "Hello?"

There were a few seconds of hesitation, then, "Hello? Rory?"

"Yes, this is Rory. Who is this? I can't hear you."

"It's..." the static cut out the name.

"Hello? Who is this?" Rory said

"It's Logan."

Rory didn't answer him, from shock.

"Hello? Rory? Are you still there?"

"Uhm, yeah, I'm.. I'm here."

"Listen," Logan paused, "I know that it's weird for me to call you, but I just needed to talk. Do you think that we can meet?"

"Not now," Rory said, as she saw Jess coming toward the door. "I can't really hear you well," she lied, "I'll call you back later."

"Okay, just don't forget."

"I won't, bye." Rory hung up the phone just as Jess came outside.

"Who was that?" Jess asked her.

"Oh uhm, it was just Paris."

"Oh, what did she want?"

"Just talking to me about arrangements for school. She was able to get us a dorm together already."

"Oh, alright." Jess said, and took her hand. "Do you wanna maybe catch a movie when I get off work?"

"Sure, sounds good."

"Alright." Jess kissed her forehead and went back into the diner.

Rory drew in a deep breath, closed her eyes, and prayed that that was the last time she'd have to lie to Jess about Logan.