Red Light on the Wedding Night: Take II
Rory Gilmore laughed at something her friend, Lane had just said. They, along with three other girls and Lorelai were at an upscale bar in Hartford for Rory's bachelorette party; all costs paid for by Logan Huntzberger, her fiancé, of course.
"I can't believe you're actually getting married," Lane squealed, fingering her own ring. "When did we get so old?"
Rory grinned, "Hey, you got married before I did. At least I'm finished with college. And I think we got old somewhere in between the whole high school thing and…you know, I don't feel that old."
Lorelai chimed in, already slightly tipsy, "Yeah, she can't be old because if she's old, then I'm ancient. I just got married myself last year, so…" she trailed off taking another sip of her Martini. "We all are just a couple of hot young babes having a fun night, one last time before you're tied down forever." She sighed dramatically and slung an arm around her daughter's shoulder, finishing off the last of her drink. "I'm going to get some more…you guys want anything?"
Both Lane and Rory laughed at Lorelai's antics, "No thanks, Mom. Go ahead, have fun, though."
Lane turned to Rory, a curious look on her face, "I've never seen Lorelai so drunk. What's up with her tonight?"
"She's never really liked Logan. I think she's trying to forget he's going to be her son-in-law tomorrow morning by drowning herself in tequila," Rory answered, frowning. She stirred her drink sadly, and took a sip. "I wish they'd get along better."
"Yeah. About Logan, where is he right now?" Lane asked.
Rory shrugged, "Probably getting plastered with his friends." She muttered something that Lane couldn't hear.
"What did you say?" Lane asked, cupping her hand to her ear and motioning to the loud music.
"Nothing" Rory amended hastily. "Just talking to myself. What do you say about rounding up the other girls and heading back home?"
Lane nodded, "Okay. I'll get Paris and Lorelai. You get Stephanie and Honor."
Rory agreed, heading in the direction she saw the two girls previously. On her way, she pulled out her cell phone and ducked into the empty bathroom. She sighed and pushed the ten numbers she'd memorized, but hadn't used in almost two years.
Taking a deep breath, she held the phone up to her ear and listen to the ringing. By the fourth ring, she was about ready to give up, when he breathlessly answered the phone.
"Hello."
Rory stuttered, "Hey."
"Rory?" came the voice on the other line.
She took a deep breath and leaned against the wall, sliding down to the floor, "Yeah. Hey Jess."
Rory could almost hear his confused smile on the other line, "Nice to hear from you. What's going on?"
"I'm at a bachelorette party," she announced.
"Oh, cool. Who's?" he asked.
She bit her lip, "Mine."
"Yours? Wow." She could hear the surprise in his voice.
"I know. I'm still kinda 'wow' about it myself," she admitted.
She heard him pause thoughtfully for a second, "Well who's the lucky guy?"
"Uh, well… Logan," she told him. "You know, the guy you met that-"
He cut her off, "Yeah. Congratulations, I guess." There was another silence, "Rory, why'd you call me?"
She sighed, "I don't know. One second Lane and I were talking about how old we were getting, and the next second, "Bang'- it hit me. I can't marry him tomorrow," she said, now crying.
Rory wiped away the tears furiously, "I don't know what to do. My grandparents planned everything. It cost so much money, and I do love him, but I can't marry him."
Jess voice softened, "Rory. You have to tell him. You can't go through with it now."
"I know, Jess. I know. I'm just so confused, and everyone's going to be disappointed in me. Well, except Mom and Luke. They never liked him," she said, looking towards the door to the bathroom. An older lady walked in, a small boy on her hand. The lady gave her a sympathetic smile, and Rory realized what she must look like, with mascara running down her face, sitting on the bathroom floor.
"Then go to them. I'm sure they'd be happy to help you."
Rory pulled her engagement ring off her finger. "I miss you," she said suddenly. "Can you help me?"
She heard Jess sigh deeply, "I'm in Philly right now."
"I know. Sorry for even asking, it's just-"
"I can be there in four hours. Is that okay?" he told her, cutting her off.
She smiled slightly, "Are you sure?" At his affirmation, she told him where to meet her and thanked him profusely before hanging up.
The smile soon disappeared, and was replaced with a look of alarm. "How am I going to tell everyone that the wedding's off?" she muttered to herself.
She stood up and walked over to the mirror, amazed at how one phone call could make her look so different; not just physically, but emotionally as well. She grabbed a few paper towels and wiped her face. After a few minutes, she looked presentable, and grabbed her purse, throwing her cell phone inside.
As she walked back into the bar, she noticed Lane, who looked to be searching for someone.
She walked up to her best friend and tapped her on the shoulder. Lane turned around, almost frantically, and a relieved look passed on her face.
"Thank god you're here. I've been searching all over for you. Ready to go?" Lane asked.
Rory shook her head and bit her lip, "Lane, I'm not going."
"What?" Lane questioned, confused.
"I can't marry Logan." She pulled her ring off her finger and dropped it in Lane's hand, "Please tell him I love him and I'm sorry, but I just can't do it."
Lane was shocked, "What happened? You were so happy, I thought?"
"I called Jess," Rory admitted. "How is it that on the night before my wedding, I can't stop thinking about my ex-boyfriend who I haven't talked to in years?"
Lane shrugged sympathetically, "If you're sure…"
Rory nodded, "I am. It's hard, and it hurts, but it's the right thing to do."
"Okay. I'll tell Lorelai and let everyone else know the wedding's off. Do you need a ride somewhere?" Lane asked, concerned.
"No, Jess is coming. It's something I need to do; talk to him, you know?"
Lane shook her head, "Not really, but I guess if you need to do it, you've gotta do it." She wrapped her arms around Rory and hugged her tightly, "I'm sorry."
Rory hugged her back, equally as hard, "Me, too. But it'll be okay." Pause. "I know it."
As Lane pulled away, she pointed her finger at Rory, "Call me as soon as you can, okay? And Lorelai, too."
"I will," Rory promised. She smiled forlornly at her friend before walking towards the doors of the bar.
She sneaked away as unnoticeably as she could and called a taxi company.
Sitting in the back of the taxi half an hour later, she thought back to the events of the night. Within a fifteen minute timeframe, she called off her wedding, phoned her ex-boyfriend to pick her up all the way from Philadelphia, and ran away. But, she knew she had to do it. It wouldn't be fair to either her or Logan to get married tomorrow, especially when she was in love with someone man, even if she hadn't realized it yet.
A/N: I've got to stop starting new stories wihtout finishing my old ones. Eh...So, what'd you think? It's about two years after this current season and a Lit, if you can't already tell. It kinda just hit me this morning, and I wrote it up, hoping it would turn out alright. It was supposed ot be a one-shot, but I think I'm going to have a few chapters with it. Just please tell me what you think! Reviews are like puppies- they get me all happy and excited. Lol...just give me some feedback, please.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, really.