Chapter 2: Harvard:
"So anyway, my mom has finally let me go out on a real date with Dave… but it wasn't all that fun," Lane said to Rory as Dean was driving the two of them to Harvard.
"Why was that?" Rory asked Lane. The two friends were both sitting in the backseat.
"Music turned out to be the only thing we had in common," Lane replied a little sad about that, "But I still like him. I just don't know if we have enough common interests."
"So you're still going to try and date him?" Rory asked.
"I think so. We like each other but I don't know how long we can last with only one common interest," Lane remarked, "Is that enough for a long distance relationship to last?"
Lane and Rory talked more about Dave before Dean interrupted their conversation to ask Lane a few questions.
Rory and Dean refrained from talking at all because their last onversation had been somewhat weird for both of them. Dean and Lane talked occasionally, and Rory and Lane talked the whole way there, but any kind of conversation ceased to exist between Dean and Rory.
Finally, when Dean pulled up to the entryway to Harvard and Lane got out, he initiated conversation between himself and Rory again.
"I don't want to say goodbye, Rory, so I'm not going to. I'll just say later," Dean said.
"How come we used to always have something to talk about, and today we have nothing?" Rory asked frowning.
"I don't know, Rory. I guess that is just the way life works," Dean replied.
"I have to go. See you later, Dean," Rory said abruptly before grabbing the rest of her stuff and leaving.
'I hate myself now!' Dean thought as he started up his car and started his drive back to Stars Hollow so he could grab his stuff and leave for hicago.
Rory caught up with Lane, but didn't say anything until they got to their dorm room.
"He's really gone now, Lane." Rory said as she dropped onto the nearest bed.
"You know he will still visit. He said so." Lane said trying to comfort her friend.
"It won't be the same. I've seen him everyday, well almost everyday, since we started dating. Now I'll only see him when he comes to visit and even then it won't be as my boyfriend." Rory said, starting to break down.
"You know he'll probably never love anyone as much as he loves you. Even if you two don't get back together." Lane said.
At that her best friend began to cry and Lane betrayed herself for saying that. She truly felt sorry for Rory. Lane was the one that watched Dean and Rory's entire relationship develop.
"Sorry, Ror. I wasn't thinking. Maybe you both need some time away from each other. It could be good for you both," Lane said.
"Its okay Lane, it's just he's always been there… Well, almost always been there," Rory said, "I can't even begin to think what life without him around all the time is going to be like. Not to mention life without being his girlfriend.
"He's the only guy I've ever loved and now he's not even my boyfriend anymore. I mean, at least you and Dave are trying the long distance thing."
"Dean wouldn't even think about that?" Lane asked.
"No, which makes everything worse," Rory replied, "He just said it would be easier this way."
"So you're just friends?" Lane asked with slight disbelief. She was starting to get angry with Dean, and he wasn't even here for her to yell at out of loyalty to her best friend.
"Yep, things couldn't get any better huh?" Rory replied with sarcasm, "I suddenly want more coffee than I've ever had in my entire life."
"Well we can go downtown and get some coffee," Lane said.
"How? Dean drove us here, we have no way to get there," Rory said.
"Paris drove up here today, didn't she?" Lane asked.
"Yeah, as far as I know she did," Rory replied.
"Well we can find her and invite her to come with us. She can drive," Lane said, "Aren't your parents supposed to bring your car up tomorrow and drive back together tomorrow night?"
"Yeah, so I'll have my car then. Only problem is that it's the car Dean made me," Rory said, disappointment reappearing on her face.
"Too many memories?" Lane asked quietly.
"Yes, way too many memories," Rory replied, "It is the car Jess crashed, but it's not. You know what I mean?"
"Yeah, Jess crashed your other one and then Dean made you another one of the exact same kind," Lane replied, "About that coffee thing though? You still want more coffee then you've ever had?"
"Not right now. I think I'll just have one cup and wallow in my misery while unpacking," Rory sighed.
Another reposted chapter that has been betaed.