Chapter 50
"So, what's ya doing?" Lorelai asked, calling her daughter to catch up. She had a couple of Twizzler in her mouth, hence her pronunciation wasn't that great.
Rory, who was currently curled into a comforter on Logan's couch, Logan's laptop on her lap, inhaled deeply, bracing her for what she needed to tell her.
"Oh, just browsing…," she replied, having taken on the task of compiling a list of all the things they needed for their new apartment - a bed, a sofa, and a thousand other little things. They were signing the papers and getting the keys already next week, and at the very least they wanted to have a brand new bed ready and waiting. Sure they had things at either of their dorms they could've technically used, but neither wanted to strip their room-mates bare this late in the semester either and the styles weren't really matching all that well either.
"What are you browsing? I heard Bloomingdales is running a sale," Lorelai replied hopefully.
"Actually… I am looking at..," Rory began, deciding to rip the bandaid off, but retracted and started again. "Okay, I am going to tell you something. But when I do, you cannot say a word," she said.
"Why not?" Lorelai asked, becoming very apprehensive right about then.
"Because I don't want to hear it," Rory said.
"Hear what?" Lorelaid asked.
"What you're going to say," Rory replied.
"But how do you know what I'm going to say?" she asked.
"Trust me. I know," Rory said.
"Hey, I have been known to say some very surprising things. 'Hugh, I know you're with Elizabeth Hurley, but how about picking up a hooker tonight?' That was me," Lorelai gave her an example.
"Mom!" Rory objected, knowing she just needed to get this out.
"Okay, fine," Lorelai agreed, though wanted to point out that as a phone conversation this would be turning into a monologue.
"Logan and I are moving in together. We've been staying at each-other's dorms like six days a week anyways and it just doesn't make sense living apart anymore. I love him, and he loves me, and I think it is the right step. We were originally talking about doing this starting from next semester but we found this great place and we're moving in possibly as soon as the end of next week," Rory spit out almost on a single breath, not that she'd been counting. She took a deep breath and continued, "And I was just putting together a list of everything we need. This place has all these great book shelves so we'll be coming over to pick up my books next weekend."
Rory was beginning to realize this one sided this conversation was getting old and how she was actually expecting some response from her mother. In person she would've at least been able to see her impressions.
"Mom? You still there?" Rory asked.
"Uh-huh," Lorelai said, sounding baffled.
"You can speak now. Just… don't make me feel bad about this. I am happy, I'm really happy…," Rory replied.
"Why would I...?" Lorelai began feeling a tad offended.
"You know what I mean," Rory said.
"Wow, big news!" Lorelai tried to sound enthusiastic, but Rory could still hear her hesitance.
"Yeah," Rory responded.
"Well, jeez… tell me about the place. Is it nice?" Lorelai asked.
"It's really nice," Rory assured.
"Where is it?" she asked.
"The Taft Building, right off campus. Top floor," Rory replied, holding her breath, just waiting for the money question to come up.
"Top floor? Cool. Good view?" Lorelai asked instead, but Rory could just tell what she was thinking.
"Great view," Rory replied. "Logan's dad's company is paying for it, I'll just cover some smaller costs," Rory said, biting her lip, hating lying to her mother. But she just knew that her mother would be mad both at her and her grandfather for dealing with financial stuff behind her back.
"Right," Lorelai reflected, trying to sound indifferent to that arrangement.
Rory could figure her out - no Hester Prynn references?
"So, what do you think? What do you really think?" Rory just had to ask, going back on her earlier request for her not to say anything. She would just keep imagining things she could be thinking otherwise.
"Okay, well.. Moving in, that's pretty big. And fast," Lorelai said.
"I know," Rory agreed.
"I mean, I don't know. I never lived with a guy. There's that whole things about the cow and the milk's free. I guess I would hate to think that you're moving in with him just because he wants to get a place and you're looking for his approval or something. I guess, I just don't really get why there's a rush, you know?" Lorelai discussed.
"I love him," Rory said.
"Well, I want you to be happy," Lorelai assured.
"I am happy, really happy," Rory replied. Logan had raised to the occasion on every little thing these past few weeks. How could she not be?
"Okay, then. Congratulations. Can't wait to come and bring over a housewarming present," Lorelai said.
"Thanks," Rory said.
"You're going to have to tell me how it is living with a guy before I let Luke move in. If it's too creepy, he may have to stay with Babette," Lorelai continued.
"I will," Rory promised.
"I've head horror stories about toilet seats you would not believe," Lorelai added.
"Really? Do tell!" Rory teased. "But there is one thing…," she added.
"What?" Lorelai asked.
"I need your help to figure out how to tell grandma and grandpa. Even if not right now, but eventually… I know it's best if it comes from me," Rory replied.
"Oh, wow, didn't even think of that…," Lorelai chimed, both of them recalling how Richard had already been concerned about Logan's worldly reputation. Thankfully, so far she'd been spared from an invite to dine with the reverend.
At that moment she saw Logan walk through the door of the dorm room, drawing her attention. She didn't have any solutions to the matter that involved telling her grandparents, so there didn't seem a lot of point dwelling on it now. Thankfully they had a few days until next Friday night to think of a real plan, her grandparents being away visiting some friends in Vermont.
"Okay, can we talk later? Logan just got back," Rory added, and said goodbye to her mother.
"Okay," Lorelai replied, letting her go.
"Hey, you're back!" Rory noted excitedly, seeing Logan arrive back to his dorm room, after dinner with his parents.
"Hey," Logan replied, and bent down to give her a peck in greeting.
"How was dinner? Is Josh still alive?" Rory asked, jokingly.
"Josh is alive and well, as is Honor. Mom already had a hold on the Japanese Tea Garden for next spring. So that's happening," Logan said, but Rory could tell there was something more.
"Uh-oh, you don't look too happy about that? What happened?" Rory chimed, suddenly feeling a lot less confident about their plan to move in together. What if the plan was a no go?
"I just want you to hear this from me…," Logan began and exhaled, as if having something serious to tell her. "Mom set me up," he began. "I got there a few minutes earlier than Honor did and she had this girl there, some French girl called Beatrice and I was just force to sit there and make small talk as if I was on a date with her. I'm sorry… but I'd promised Honor I'd be there, if I hadn't, I would've just walked out right away," Logan explained apologetically.
"Okay, well you weren't to blame for that, were you?" Rory asked, not understanding why he was so worried. She was mad at Shira, but didn't know exactly what she could do about it.
"I know, but just.. It's a clear sign that mom is not giving up easily. God, I just hope she won't get to us. I don't want her to hurt you and I am mentally just preparing for war with her, I honestly expect the worst of her now," Logan explained.
"Obviously I'm not thrilled about this but I assure you - I won't let her get to me," Rory assured, trying to sound unshakable.
"I talked to my dad too. The apartment is a go, it's not problem. But..," Logan began.
"But what?" Rory asked.
"I know you're not going to love it… but my dad said that for sake of clarity I can't put your name on the rental agreement or let you make any utility payments because they all need to be traced back to me and just me," Logan explained.
This really wasn't ideal, but in this moment Rory just figured she'd just pay for food or some furniture - surely this would be almost as good.
"But he's fine with me living there, right?" Rory asked.
"Yeah, he actually seems to be on our side. I don't quite trust him on it yet, but at least he knows and said it was fine," Logan said, and went on to explain how Shira had made the setup seem so innocent in front of him.
"But that's good, I guess," Rory agreed, liking the idea of having Mitchum on their side.
"Rory, I promise you - I'm not letting her, them… I don't care. I'm not letting them break us up," Logan assured, already thinking up his own methods to fight this if it came to it.
To Rory his determination sounded empowering and at the same time a little scary - like she was unprepared for what this might turn into. But in that moment all she knew to do, was pull him towards her by his collar and give him a fierce, applauding, kiss of approval.
