Chapter Eight

Lorelai glanced up at the clock – a little past midnight. Looking around she could see only a half dozen couples left on the floor. Even Kirk and Miranda had slowed down.

Zach and Brian were napping while Lane and Gil were playing, but what the song was Lorelai had no idea, and she suspected they didn't either.

Rory was asleep on the bleachers again.

Lorelai held up her yellow card and shouted to Miss Patty, since Taylor was also sleeping.

"Where are you going?" Luke asked. "We just had a break not ten minutes ago."

"I know, but I want to check on Rory, she looks like she's about to roll off onto the floor. I just want to make sure she won't."

"Do you know how stupid I'm going to feel, dancing out here by myself?"

"Oh, stop whining. Nobody's paying any attention to anybody else anyway. I'll be right back."

As Lorelai walked off the floor, Luke continued to move like he was dancing, and felt silly doing it.

Lorelai sat down next to Rory's head, and gently moved some hair out of her face. Rory made a little sound, the looked up at her mother.

"Is it over? Did you win? Are we going home?"

"Not yet. We still have almost six hours to go."

"I didn't hear that stupid horn. Did I sleep through it?"

"No. I just wanted to check on you. You looked like you were might fall. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"Mom, can I tell you something?"

"Sure you can, hon. You know that. You can tell me anything."

Rory sat up and took one of Lorelai's hands.

"I don't know if I'm supposed to keep this a secret or not. He didn't say."

"Who didn't say what?"

"Dean. He told me something, and it really upset me. But then, you knew something was wrong."

"You'd been crying, so, yeah, I knew something was bothering you."

Rory took a breath.

"If I tell you, will you keep it a secret?"

"If you want me to, sure."

"Even from Luke?"

"If that's what you want."

"It'll come out sooner or later, but I don't think it's my place to say anything right now, except to you."

Lorelai waited patiently.

"I was talking to Dean right after Logan left. Lindsey wasn't feeling well and she and Dean were leaving the same time. Anyway, Dean said that . . . that Lindsey's pregnant. She's going to have his baby, and I'm . . . not."

Rory was crying again, and Lorelai put her arm around her so Rory's head was resting on her shoulder, holding her close while she sobbed.

From the floor Luke saw them talking and then Rory laying her head against Lorelai. From the way her shoulders shook he knew she was crying. But Lorelai was there for her, and that was a good thing.

After a few minutes, Rory straightened up, and wiped her eyes.

"You need to go back to the dance. I don't want you to get disqualified because of me."

"I think I should be here right now."

No. I'm okay. You go win the dance. I think Kirk has worn himself out showing off so much. I'm really okay now."

"Okay, but if you want me, you just holler."

Rory nodded and Lorelai kissed her on the top of her head and went back to Luke, who was happy to have his partner back.

"Is Rory all right?"

"She's fine. It's like I thought – she's upset about Dean and Lindsey. But she'll be okay."

For some reason, Luke thought it was more to it than that, but he knew better than to pry. If they wanted him to know, they would tell him.

Brian and Zach relieved Gil and Lane, and the dancing continued.

TBC