Oneshot about Annie having an adventure! Enjoy!
Annie looks at the ticket in her hand. Tonight, she and Lucy are going to New York to see their favourite band. They are taking the train after Lucy's mother leaves and will get back by midnight. Annie stuffs a change of clothes into her bag, glancing furtively behind her. Her parents don't exactly know about tonight's plan. Annie jumps as her phone lights up with a text from Lucy, asking if she's ready, and then jumps again as a voice behind her asks, "What are you up to?"
Annie turns to see her brother in the doorway and haughtily replies, "You ever heard of knocking?"
Richie holds his hands up in mock-apology and repeats, "What are you doing?"
"Nothing. Just getting ready," Annie says evenly but she knows her cheeks go pink as her brother says, "Whatever you're up to, it won't end well."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You're sneaking out somewhere, right? Big party?"
Annie throws a pillow at Richie which he ducks, but the second hits his back as he calls, "Like anyone invites you to parties!"
Annie stomps over to pick the pillows up once her brother has retreated to his bedroom. She doesn't think Richie would say anything to their parents, but this night is secret, and she doesn't want him say it's stupid. Annie is fourteen but Lucy is fifteen, and New York isn't that far away. She's gone there on the train plenty of times – only with her parents, but it's simple enough. It's no big deal but Annie knows that if she asked her parents they'd say no in an instant. It wouldn't matter that this is the last night the band is in the area and Lucy scored the tickets online, they'd shut the whole thing down, as would Lucy's mom. So really, Annie reasons, she and Lucy have no choice. Annie goes to grab her toothbrush from the bathroom and jumps as her mother comes up the stairs.
"Hey, sweets," Rory smiles. "You looking forward to the sleepover?"
"Yeah…"
"Just yeah?"
"It's going to be great – we'll watch a ton of dumb movies, well I don't know if they're dumb but they've got this actor in it, and he's so cute, I mean, kind of cute, and – and….." Annie pauses as she hears herself babble and her mother laughs.
"Sounds like a fun night. Is Lucy's cousin hanging out with you?"
"I don't think so," Annie says honestly. Frances, Lucy's cousin, is supposed to be in charge of them, but had no problem with the plan. She's a senior and has hopes of her boyfriend coming over.
"Her name is Frances, right? Reminds me of someone I knew called Francie."
"Were you friends?"
"Not quite," Rory says, rolling her eyes. "You nearly ready? Dad's going to drive you when you are."
"Okay," Annie says, trying not to feel guilty as her mother gives her a quick kiss. "I'm be down in a sec."
Her mother passes her to go into the bathroom and Annie hastily grabs her things, hurrying downstairs where Jess is reading in the kitchen, using his spare hand to scribble some notes in the book. He puts pen and page down as his daughter enters and smiles, asking, "You about ready?"
Annie nods as her brother brushes past her and Jess, pulling a bag of chips out of the cupboard. He turns as Jess says, "I guess we're off. Say goodbye to your sister."
"Bye," Richie says, raising his eyebrows as he waves, and Annie quickly looks away, feeling that rush of guilt. She's always been terrible at keeping secrets. It stays with her in the car as her father chats cheerfully to her, saying to try and go to bed at least before dawn breaks. Annie nods and tries to laugh as Jess adds, "But I'm guessing the sugar coma will have kicked in by then."
"Right."
Annie unclicks her seatbelt and is about to get out of the car when her father says, "Hey, no goodbye?"
"Goodnight, Dad," Annie says, trying to ignore the guilt that rises as her father kisses her cheek.
"Goodnight, Annie-girl. I'll pick you up in the morning."
The guilt disappears as Annie runs up to the house and Lucy lets her in. The girls grin furtively as Lucy's mother gets ready to go, double checking that they have her emergency number and reminding them she'll be back at one, after they've gone to sleep.
"In theory," she teases. "I know no one actually goes to sleep at sleepovers. I'll be asleep before you girls are – I hardly ever work nights."
"Have fun, Mom," Lucy says and her mother rolls her eyes in reply.
"Not likely. Don't bug Frances too much, okay? She's got that test on Monday."
Frances waves from the sofa, where she sits with a notebook and phone, not raising her head. Lucy's mother says goodbye once more and, after her car drives away, Lucy lets out a long breath of air.
"Let's do this!"
Frances throws the notebook aside, starting to text rapidly and the girls gobble down quesadillas. They wash down the hastily made dinner with soda, giggling as Annie burps. Frances gets up, requesting with a sigh that they need to hurry if they want to make their train. Running into the bedroom, Annie and Lucy swap their blouses for sparkly tops, dabbing on makeup and smearing their mascara. Showing Frances the tickets and that their phones are definitely charged and in their purses, they race ahead of her to the car, the cold air adding to Annie's anticipation. Soon, they are at the station, waving goodbye to Frances as they step on the train and falling onto a seat as the train jerks into life. Annie laughs out loud as she catches her reflection in the dusky window. She is going to New York, going to see her favourite band and Annie is unable to remember ever feeling so excited, so grown up. Lucy grabs her hands and the girls squeal, ignoring the glares from a fellow passenger.
The venue isn't far from the station but there's more of a crowd than Annie imagined. She stares at it, feeling slightly overwhelmed, until Lucy pulls at her arm, insisting, "Come on." Finding the ticket, Annie hands it to Lucy who passes it to security. There's no age restriction but Annie still feels guilty as they're waved through, as though she's got away with something. Once Lucy has located their seats it fades and Annie settles down, impatient for the band to start playing.
They start late. Annie keeps getting out her phone, biting her lip, and Lucy pokes her arm.
"Would you chill?"
"They were supposed to start like half an hour ago!"
"It's still early. Stuff like this always gets held up."
"What if –"
"Relax and drink your soda!"
Annie drinks her soda but doesn't relax. What makes Lucy such an expert, she wants to ask, but is distracted as the lights dim and the band finally walks onstage. She and Lucy stand up, cheering, and forget about everything else. They sway to the music, arms around each other, and Annie loses herself in the music. She'll never forget tonight. She cheers along with everyone else for an encore and, it's only after the band has obliged and played three more songs that Lucy grabs Annie's arm.
"What?" Annie asks, taking in her friend's pale face, and then knows she must look the same as Lucy says, "It's practically eleven."
The girls fly out of the stadium, racing to the station, but as they approach Annie can see it's too late. The guard shakes his head at them when they pant a question about the train.
"Sorry, girls. Left three minutes ago."
Annie feels a weight drop heavily into the pit of her stomach. They've missed the last train back to Philadelphia. Slowly turning around, the girls walk out of the station and stare at each other.
"What the hell are we going to do?" Lucy groans. "How much money do you have?"
"Not enough for a cab home. I said we should have left sooner!"
"You did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
Annie glares at her friend and then sighs, shivering. The cold air has got even more biting and, instead of adding to the thrill of the night, it seems menacing. Annie has never been in New York at night before, at least, not alone, and the loud noises and rush of the city doesn't feel as friendly as when they arrived. A car honks its horn at them, making them jump, and Lucy says quickly, "Look, it's fine. I'll call Frances and she'll come pick us up."
"We won't get back before your mom comes home," Annie says quietly and sighs as Lucy snaps, "So what's your bright idea?"
Annie shrugs, wrapping her arms around herself, and then an answer slides into her mind so obvious she laughs out loud.
"I'll call Charlotte."
Annie dials Charlotte's number and her sister answers almost instantly, sounding surprised. Annie usually texts first.
"What's up?"
"Hey. Did I wake you?"
"No – studying for the midterm from hell," Charlotte says bitterly. "What's up? It sounds like you're out."
"I am out," Annie says, moving from one leg to the other. "I'm in New York."
"You're what?"
"I went to see a show and I didn't tell Mom and Dad and I missed the last train and now I'm stuck and I don't know what to do!"
"Where are you?"
"I don't know," Annie says, looking around. "By the station someplace."
Charlotte lets out a long exhale and says, "There's a 24 hour café next to the station. Sit there and don't move until I come get you."
"Okay."
"Text me when you're there."
Annie is relieved when they find the café. She orders two coffees as Lucy calls her cousin, ready to beg for to come out anyway. The begging turns into a groan and Annie feels the pit in her stomach form again as Lucy hangs up and says, "My mom finished work early."
"Oh no."
"She's on her way."
Annie and Lucy look nervously at each other as they drink their coffee. There doesn't seem to be much to say, but Annie can imagine there won't be any sleepovers again soon. The awkward silence is broken by Charlotte coming in, a look of frustration in her eyes.
"Come on."
The girls meekly follow her to the car. Lucy tells Charlotte that her mother is coming to pick her up and Charlotte nods, stonily saying, "Check the time the next time you pull something like this."
It's crowded in Charlotte's dorm room. Making coffee for both of them, Charlotte fires off questions about what else transpired that evening, and shakes her head.
"I think you both get how dumb you were."
No one talks much after that. In what Annie is positive is half the time it should take, Lucy's phone is going off to alert that her mother is there. Charlotte and Annie walk Lucy down where her mother is waiting, utterly irate, and as she orders Lucy to the car the words grounded for life are clearly audible.
"Um," Annie says in a wobbly voice, "Have you called my parents?"
"You can believe I'm about to!"
"Hey, I can call them," Charlotte cuts in. "I'll take it from here."
"You're this one's sister?" Lucy's mother asks dismissively. "I've heard trouble runs in your family."
Charlotte narrows her eyes, replying, "I don't know what you're getting at, but this isn't Annie's fault. Not all her fault anyway, and she's my sister, so I'll deal with our parents. Goodnight."
Lucy's mother glares at them for a moment longer before slamming the car doors shut and driving away with a screech. Annie swallows, feeling worse than when they missed the train. She always thought Lucy's mother liked her but now she's not so sure. Her thoughts are shaken by Charlotte gently taking her hand.
"Come on, kiddo."
Annie follows Charlotte upstairs and, once inside, Annie asks anxiously, "Are you going to call Mom and Dad?"
"No," Charlotte says, turning to face her. "You are."
"I can't call them!"
"Annie, they're going to find out. You don't think Lucy's mom's is going to keep this adventure to herself?"
"They'll kill me!"
"No, they won't. They'll be mad at you but they'll take it better if you tell them."
"I don't want to," Annie says honestly. "I can't tell Mom and Dad."
Charlotte looks at her sadly and Annie looks away. It's not that she's afraid of them being angry, it's knowing they'll be upset. Charlotte sits next to her, pushing some hair from her eyes, and says, "It's going to be okay, I promise. I'll talk to them after you, okay?"
"Okay," Annie says quietly. She gets her phone out from her purse and slowly selects her mother's number. Honestly, she thinks her father would take it better, but he's bad at answering his cellphone. Her mother answers almost instantly, asking in surprise, "Annie?"
"Hi Mom."
"It's late. What's wrong, sweets?"
"Mom, I did something dumb…I went to see a concert in New York and I missed the last train home. I'm at Charlotte's place."
There's a stunned pause and then, "What?"
Annie repeats the story and adds, "I'm sorry, Mom."
"Are you okay?" Rory asks. Her voice sounds like it's shaking as she repeats, "Annie, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I swear."
"Okay," Rory says, letting out a breath. "Put Charlotte on."
Annie hands the phone to her sister, tucking her knees up as Charlotte starts to talk. Reasoning with Rory, and then presumably Jess as Annie hears her saying Dad, Charlotte seems to appease them as she passes the phone to Annie.
"Mom wants to speak to you."
Annie swallows as she takes the phone and as she answers, Rory says, "I can't believe you, Annie."
"I know."
"We'll get to the details in the morning, young lady," Rory goes on. "But the most important thing is that you're safe. We'll pick you up tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
"You can spend the night at Charlotte's. I'm very mad at you right now but I love you."
"I love you too. I'm sorry."
"Your dad wants to say goodnight," Rory says and Annie hears the phone being passed over and Jess say, "So a sleepover, huh?"
"Dad –"
"Go to sleep," Jess says. "We'll talk tomorrow. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," Annie says quietly, hanging up. He didn't say he was mad but Annie knows he was, and somehow it's worse. He didn't say Annie-girl or even Annie. Staring at the phone in her hand, Annie looks up as Charlotte hands her a cup of coffee.
"They're mad."
"Yeah. But they'll get over it."
Annie shrugs and Charlotte asks, "Can I ask what prompted this adventure?"
"We couldn't miss the band!"
"And you didn't ask Mom and Dad?"
"They wouldn't have let me go."
"They might if they'd let an adult go with you. I'd have gone with you."
"I didn't think," Annie admits. "I know I was dumb, but Charlotte, it was so awesome….right before everything got messed up it was the best night ever."
"I'm glad," her sister says, smiling. "But what if I wasn't here, Annie? What if you lost your purse and couldn't call me or Mom or Dad? What if you and Lucy got separated?"
"I didn't think."
"If you're going to sneak out, at least know you're not going to be late. That's Sneaking Out 101."
"You know something about that?" Annie teases and Charlotte laughs.
"Not too much. A little. At least you didn't sneak out for a guy."
Annie grins and Charlotte says, "Didn't think it was your thing."
"I think that's it. Mom and Dad will never let me out again."
"Then you'll need to know how to sneak out even better," Charlotte says seriously, but after her sister doesn't smile she says, "Hey, that was a joke."
"I know. I just…Mom and Dad are so mad."
"They're upset, but I've done worse. Remember the time I went to New York to see Logan?"
Charlotte does remember. She manages a watery smile and Charlotte kisses the top of her head.
"Let's watch a movie. I've got a new a haul of candy."
It's late but Annie is wide awake. As Charlotte pulls out an old shirt for her to sleep in, Annie goes into the bathroom to wash her face. The makeup has run into smears around her eyes, but Annie looks at it for a moment longer before washing the night away.
There's time in the morning to enjoy breakfast. Charlotte is making Annie laugh with stories about her class as they drink coffee, and the new, goofy guy.
"Do you like him?" Annie asks and Charlotte smiles, looking embarrassed.
"Maybe a little."
"You do!"
"Yeah, yeah. What about you?" Charlotte asks pointedly. "Any guys on the horizon?"
"The guys at my school are all idiots."
"They'll grow out of it."
"I don't think anyone will ever like me that way," Annie admits and Charlotte shakes her head.
"They will, little sister. Trust me."
Annie shrugs, her thoughts interrupted by Charlotte's phone buzzing. Annie's cheerfulness disappears as Charlotte reads the text and tells her, "Dad's outside."
Annie doesn't know if it's better that her father's there rather than Rory. Charlotte walks her downstairs as Jess gets out of the car. He waves at his daughters and says to Charlotte, "I've got it from here, kiddo."
"Thanks," Annie says awkwardly, hugging her sister goodbye, and waits at the car as Jess hugs Charlotte. As their father moves away Annie hears Charlotte say, "Don't be too hard on her," and can see Jess indicate his head, either in nod or dismissal. Annie can't tell. Silently, she gets into the car, waving at her sister, and Jess gets in beside her, simply saying, "Put your seatbelt on."
Annie obliges and it's only until they're on the highway that Jess says, "That wasn't exactly high on the list of phonecalls I wanted to get last night."
"I'm sorry."
"You lied to me," Jess says, looking at her. "You lied to me, your mom and Lucy's mom. I don't think you've ever lied like that before. I'm disappointed."
"I'm really sorry."
"It's not good, Annie. When you say you're going for a sleepover I never feel like I need to check on you, because you've always told us the truth. Guess that's changed."
"I never did that before."
"It's not just that you lied," Jess says. "You went to New York, by yourself, and anything could have happened to you!"
"Nothing happened!"
"But something could!"
"Dad, I'm sorry," Annie interrupts. "I am, I mean it, I just – it was my favourite band!"
"You don't think your mom and I don't understand good music?"
"So if I'd asked if I could go to New York to see the concert you'd have said -?"
"No," Jess says and sighs as Annie says, "That's why I didn't tell you!"
"I'd have said no to going by yourself," Jess says. "Not when you're fourteen. But I'd have said yes to me or Mom going with you, or Charlotte going with you. You could have run it by us."
"I know," Annie says quietly. "And I'm sorry, but Dad, it was so great – the concert was so amazing."
Annie feels awkward after saying it, guessing that might not have been the best thing to say, but when she looks up Jess is almost smiling.
"Everyone should have a concert like that. I'm glad you did."
Annie nods but her father goes on, "That doesn't make it okay though. You scared the hell out of us."
"But didn't you go around New York by yourself when you were younger than me?"
"I did, but it's different."
"Why?"
"For one thing, Annie, I know the city. You don't. You could have gotten lost. Secondly, half the reason I wandered around was because my mom didn't care where I was going. That's not a preferable scenario."
Annie feels a little bad now as her father adds, "No one cared where I was until I lived with Luke. I care about you, Annie-girl. I nearly drove out here the second you called."
"I'm sorry," Annie says seriously. "I know I messed up."
Her father nods, but says, "I'm glad you called Charlotte. That was a smart thing to do."
Annie nods back but stares as Jess asks, "Did anything else happen? Did you drink, did you take anything, did you do anything warranting a PSA?"
"Dad, no! We just went to the concert - that it, I swear."
Her father nods, exhaling.
"Good. Okay, I can relax a little now."
They drive in awkward silence until the turning for their house appears. Jess slows the car, looks at his daughter and says, "I'm mad because I was worried. You're my kid. I love you."
"I love you too, Dad," Annie says quietly. "I'm really sorry."
She and Jess hug and Annie feels a little less awful before, even as Jess tells her, "You're still seriously grounded."
Annie's relief abates as they enter the house. Rory is sitting at the kitchen table, a cup of coffee in her hands and angry expression on her face. Jess makes some excuse about talking to Richie and leaves mother and daughter alone. Before Rory can speak, Annie says, "I screwed up. I know I screwed up."
"Good," Rory says. "You bet you screwed up – how could you be so irresponsible?"
"I really thought we'd make the train –"
"It's not about the train!" Rory exclaims. "It's about lying to me and your dad and giving us a heart attack when we hear you're in New York!"
"Mom –"
"I'm joining a gym tomorrow, that's how hard my heart was beating in my chest!"
"I'm sorry," Annie says, feeling bad all over again at the look on her mother's face. "I am – I didn't want to scare you. I just had to see that band."
"I get that," Rory says. "But I don't get you lying about it."
"You and Dad wouldn't have let me go."
"That's not the point," Rory says angrily. "I don't want to think about what might have happened if Charlotte hadn't picked you up."
"I know…"
They eye each other for a moment and then Rory's voice softens as she asks, "So the concert was good, huh?"
"The concert was amazing," Annie admits and Rory almost smiles.
"I went to see The Bangles in New York when I was sixteen. I went with Mom and Sookie and Paris and two girls from school, and it was great. At least, aside from Madeline and Louise leaving with some guys to a party. Mom found them and let's just say I'm being pretty mellow compared to her right now."
Annie swallows, staring at her hands. "I didn't leave with anyone. I didn't go to a party."
"You still lied about it. Annie, it's not that I don't get wanting to go to concerts and experience stuff – I do, and I want you to – it's that you didn't tell us where you were, and you're too young to be sneaking out to New York! Not that I want you sneaking out anywhere."
"I'll never sneak out again," Annie says seriously. "I swear."
"Oh, don't swear," Rory says wearily. "You are your mother's daughter."
Annie looks at her unsurely and is surprised when her mother gets up and hugs her.
"The most important thing is that you're okay and you called your sister. I'm glad you did that. But you're extremely grounded, young lady."
"How grounded?"
"I'll have to talk to your dad about that."
"I'm sorry," Annie says sincerely, looking into Rory's eyes. "I am, Mom."
"I know you are. We all screw up. I took a surprise trip to New York myself once."
Annie knows that story. She smiles, guessing the conversation is over, and goes upstairs. She throws her jacket on the bed and turns to see Richie in the doorway. Wearily, Annie says, "I know, I know, I didn't get away with it. Stupid plan."
"I didn't say that."
"You were about to."
"Nah. I think it shows you've got some moxie."
"Moxie, huh?" Annie asks, amused and her brother says, "Maybe you're not totally uncool."
"Just maybe?"
"One adventure does not a totally cool sister make."
"What would you know?" Annie teases. Her brother sticks his tongue out, wandering away, and Annie pulls back the curtains, filling the room with sunshine. She catches the ghost of her reflection in the window, her blue eyes catching the light. They are Lorelai's eyes, the Gilmore eyes, and this morning Annie feels a little more of her namesake. She can have adventure, even if it does go awry. She's a Gilmore.