Chapter 4: Emails & Phone Calls:

About two weeks later, Rory was in the library researching something for American History when a box popped up saying she had an e-mail.

To: Rory Hayden
From: Dean Forester
Subject: (no subject)

Rory,

I know you probably really hate me, and you're probably really hurt. I know I said I'd email you but I have been really busy with school. I know you wouldn't have emailed me first but I actually kind of hoped that you did. Then I realized that I hurt you and you aren't going to email me by your self. I know you are probably really busy with school 'cause I can guess what Harvard is like. Chicago College is hard but probably not anywhere near as hard as Harvard.

Anyway the point of this email is that I really miss you. I do realize that I'm a complete idiot. And I know I can't change what happened but I would do anything that I could to change things. I would actually go back in time to the night of your going away party and not break up with you if I could. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I miss you…again. I know I was the one who decided we would be better off as friends but I was wrong. Really, really wrong. I said we'd be friends but that's not going to be easy after being boyfriend and girlfriend for a while… and with me being completely in love with you.

The only way I can explain breaking up with you is to say that my brain got messed up and I broke up with you instead of even contemplating the long distance thing. I know we could've made it if we'd tried but my brain could only think one thing: break up. I know that I should've given us a chance to do long distance but I didn't and I'm really sorry for that. I called you earlier but Lane said you were gone from the room. She also told me that your parents drove your car up two weeks ago. The one I built you. I really hope having the car around isn't that bad. It probably brings back a lot of memories and if you want to you could sell the car, but I hope you won't. You said that your grandparents almost gave you a car for graduation. Maybe they still will. That is, if you're so mad at me that you just have to get rid of the car. I'll understand. I know what went on with that car. The original and the one you have now. I got a black eye and had to rebuild the car but you probably don't really want it around any more.

Please email me back, even if it's just to say that you totally hate me and are never talking to me again. I could actually handle that. I saw the look on your face when I dropped you and Lane off at school. You looked really hurt and I know I was the one that caused it, obviously. All I can say is that I'm sorry and hope it doesn't last too long.

I know this is early but if you're headed to Florida for spring break, we may see each other there. And it would be really awkward, but that's life. Maybe after a little time we'll actually get back together. I really hope so. I cannot live my entire life without you. And anyway we'll definitely run into each other in Stars Hollow in the summer. Unless you decide to completely avoid me and stay in Boston.

Miss you,
Dean

Rory read the email over and over again and then showed it to Lane and Paris before she actually replied. Lane and Paris were in the room when Rory wrote the reply.

To: Dean Forester
From: Rory Hayden
Subject: RE: (no subject)

Dean,

I'd be lying if I said that you breaking up with didn't really hurt. I'd also be lying if I said that having the car around now doesn't bring back a million memories. It brings back memories that have nothing to do with the car. Since you made the car, it reminds me of things that have absolutely nothing to do with it. No matter how much it hurts though, I cannot sell it. I don't really drive it much but you can see why.

I don't know what my plans are for the summer or spring break yet. There's no way on earth Mrs. Kim would let Lane go to Florida. It was a big thing just letting her come to a college with co-ed dorms.

How's college going for you? Things are good here. As you guessed I'm busy, but lately being busy has been a good thing. Paris, Lane, another girl, and I share a suite here, and Paris and I got paired together for a dorm room. Lane is stuck with the other girl. She's Korean too, so she gets the whole strict parents thing, although hers aren't as strict as Lane's. But they get along pretty well. This is a good thing because we're all stuck with each other for the rest of freshman year. How is your roommate?

Rory

Two days later there was another email from Dean. He avoided the whole 'them' issue and talked all about his roommate and the friends he was making. The only thing that even related to Rory and Dean in this email was that his roommate had also broken up with his girlfriend before leaving for college and regretted it. The only difference was that his girlfriend wasn't talking to him and had stated before she left that she hated him immensely and that there was no way whatsoever that they'd ever get back together. There were a few sentences in that second email that kept coming back to Rory. 'I don't want that to happen with us because it would kill me. Maybe not literally but you know what I mean. Not seeing you but emailing you is already killing me. Without you my life would be completely different.' She couldn't get them out of her head. One day while she was having coffee with Lane, Paris and Katie, their other roommate, her cell phone rang.

"Hello?" Rory asked.

"Hi, Rory," Dean replied, "How are things with you?"

"Good. Great actually," Rory replied, "What about you?"

"I'm ok," Dean replied.

"That's good. Anything new happening there?" Rory asked.

"Well I went to a concert with my roommate the night I e-mailed you. It was pretty fun. He met a girl and he's already completely over his ex girlfriend," Dean replied, "Anything new in Boston?"

"No. Not really," Rory said.

"Sounds fun," Dean responded.

"Not really. It's a little boring actually," Rory remarked, "So why'd you call?"

"Well, 'cause you didn't e-mail me back and I kind of figured that maybe you got busy… So I called just to make sure," Dean answered weakly.

"Yeah, I did get busy. School; I had a bunch of tests and they kept me busy," Rory said.

"What classes?" Dean asked.

"American History and English Lit.," Rory replied.

Rory and Dean talked some more but it was short and a little awkward considering it was their first conversation on the phone and they were actually hearing each other for the first time since he dropped her off at school.

The second beta version of a chapter in a day.