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The girls start walking to go to their cars when Rory's phone starts to ring. Rory answers her phone to find no one on the other end so she hangs up. Lorelai shoots Rory a questioning look just as Rory's phone rings again. She answers it again to find nobody answering her on the other end.

Rory: Hello. (Pause) Hello.

Rory walks away from her mother and heads into the school.

Rory: Jess. Is that you? Please answer me. (Short pause) Fine don't talk but I will. You should have told me about everything. I thought I was your girlfriend, I guess I was wrong. I'm done. I'm not going to wonder or worry about you anymore. I'll get over you just like I did with Dean. I guess this is goodbye.

Rory hangs up just as Lorelai approaches her.

Lorelai: Hey. You ready to go?

Rory: Yeah.

Lorelai: Ok let's go.

They leave Chilton with their arms around each other ready to start the party back at their house.

Chapter 5: A Special Gift

Lorelai and Rory walk out to the Chilton parking lot and get into their cars. Lorelai starts her car and calls Rory on her cell.

Rory: Hello.

Lorelai: Let me get in front of you, ok?

Rory: Why?

Lorelai: Because I want to announce that the newest high school graduate has arrived from her graduation ceremony.

Rory (laughing): Ok, bye.

Lorelai pulls out of her parking space and pulls up in front of Rory's car. She waits until Rory gets behind her, and then pulls out of the parking lot with Rory right behind her. The drive to Stars Hollow went rather quickly and as they entered the town, Rory noticed there weren't many people on the street as there normally were. She wondered about this until she turned onto their street and saw a lot of people in the street. As soon as people saw Lorelai's jeep, they started clapping and yelling out congratulations. Lorelai and Rory pulled up to the house. As Rory got out of her car, she looked around surprised at the decorations and the people around her.

Rory: Wow! Oh my God! (She turns to her mother.) I didn't realize it was going to be this big.

Lorelai: Well word spread fast and everybody wanted to come and see you.

Rory smiles.

Rory (Looks at everybody around her): Thank you. This is great!

Everybody smiles and call out congratulations.

Lane walks over and hugs Rory

Lane: Hey!

Rory: Did you help organize this?

Lane: Of course I helped. This would be the kind of party I would have liked to have, but instead I got more Bibles than I know what to do with. But enough about me, you have a ton of presents to open. (She points to a large pile of presents on the porch. Rory's eyes widen at the sight.) Come on let's go party.

Both girls head off together and start to mingle with everybody.

About twenty minutes into the party, Luke arrives. Rory sees him get out of his truck and she waves to him. He waves back to her and then goes into the house to find Lorelai. He spots her in the living room talking with Barbette and Miss Patty. He waves to get her attention and nods his head toward the kitchen. A few minutes later, Lorelai excuses herself and joins Luke in the kitchen. Quietly so no one can hear their conversation, he starts to tell her about his conversation with Nichole.

Luke: I called Nichole and talked to her.

Lorelai: Yeah. What did she say?

Luke: She wasn't that surprised about me canceling the cruise considering I never told her whether or not we were going to go. But I believe I stunned her with everything else. She tried to talk me out of breaking up with her, but I told her that I didn't see a future between the two of us. I think I hurt her when I said that. She asked me if it was you that caused this sudden decision and I told her yes. I told her about the feeling that you have for me and about the feelings I have for you, and that that was what led to my decision to break up with her.

Lorelai: What did she say when you told that?

Luke: She was just silent for a few seconds and then she said ok. She told me that as much as she hated to admit it, she also didn't believe that there was a future between us. She told me that she hoped I would be happy and then she told me goodbye and hung up the phone.

Lorelai: Wow.

Luke: I just wanted to tell you what happened, I knew you would want to know.

Lorelai: Thank you for telling me. Now lets go back inside before people start wondering where we are.

They head inside and start to talk to everybody.

About two hours later the party is starting to wind down. The large pile of presents has been opened and an assortment of gifts is lying around. Many of the guests have already left and pretty soon everybody has left except for Luke and Lane. Rory and Lane approach Lorelai and Luke.

Rory: Hey, mom. Can Lane spend the night?

Lorelai: Sure, as long as it's ok with Lane's mom.

Lane: I'll call her now. Can I have the phone please?

Lorelai: Sure. (She hands the phone to Lane and Lane walks off to call her mom.)

Rory (looking at Luke): Thanks for coming Luke.

Luke: You're welcome.

Lane comes back to the small group in the hallway.

Lane: My mom said yes. I'm going to go home and pack a bag. (Turns to Rory) Is there any CD that you want to listen to?

Rory: Just bring whatever you want. We can listen to whatever.

Lane: Ok. I'll be back in a little while. (Lane leaves)

A few minutes of silence pass over the small group. Luke breaks the silence by talking to Rory.

Luke: Rory, you may or may not have noticed that there wasn't a present from me in that pile over there. That's because I didn't want to give you your gift with everybody here. I wanted to give you it when it was calmer around here. Here. (He hands a small package wrapped in blue.)

Rory: You didn't have to get me a present.

Luke: It's tradition to give a graduate a graduation present.

Rory: Well, thank you.

Rory tears the wrapping off the box and opens it. Inside lies a beautiful locket with a pink and purple flower on the front of it.

Rory (Gasps): Thank you. It's beautiful.

Luke: It was my mother's. She gave me several pieces of her jewelry and told me who to give them to. (He takes the box from Rory and takes out the locket. He stares at the locket for a few seconds before continuing.) She told me to give this locket to somebody special, specifically a daughter. (He glances at Lorelai and sees tears in her eyes. He looks back at Rory and continues.) You may not be min, but you are like a daughter to me. You're that somebody special I want to give this locket to. (He hands her the locket.)

Rory glances at the locket and then back at Luke.

Rory: Will you help me put it on?

Luke: Sure. (He takes the locket and puts it on her. Rory smiles at her reflection in the mirror.) It looks beautiful on you.

Rory turns around and hugs him.

Rory: That means a lot to me. You have always been like a father to me more than my own dad. I mean you didn't have to come to my graduation today but you did. My own father couldn't even get out of a stupid meeting to attend my graduation ceremony. I'm really glad you were there today. It made it easier for me. Thank you.

Luke: You're welcome. Well I guess I'm going to go. I have to get up early tomorrow to open.

Rory (Hugging Luke again): Thank you for the gift. I love it. Goodnight Luke.

Luke (Hugging her back): Goodnight Rory.

Lorelai: I'll walk out with you.

Luke and Lorelai walk out the front door and over to Luke's truck.

Luke: Well today's been an interesting day. (He smiles at her.) It was a good party.

Lorelai: Yeah, it was a good party. Rory really loved that necklace you gave her. I love the fact that you think of her as a daughter and that she thinks of you as a father. It made me want to cry.

Luke: I know. I saw the tears in your eyes. I meant every word I said to her. (A few second pause) I wish we could talk more, but I need to get up early.

Lorelai: Yeah so do I. Rory and I have to get ready for that big trip to Europe.

Luke: Oh yeah. I almost forgot about that with everything that has happened today. (Pauses) Hey, are you doing anything tomorrow night?

Lorelai: No.

Luke: Why don't you come to the diner after I close and we can talk more?

Lorelai: Ok. That sounds good.

Luke: Great. Well I need to get going. ( He leans forward and pecks her on the cheek.) Goodnight Lorelai.

Lorelai: Goodnight Luke.

Luke gets in his truck and starts the engine. As he starts to back out he waves to Lorelai and she waves back. Lorelai watches his truck until it disappears from sight. As Luke's truck disappears, Lane appears at the edge of the lawn and together she and Lorelai go into the house.

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