Life and Death

By blackbirdfree


Chapter Seven

Before Rory went to bed for the evening she picked-up her cell phone to call Jess. Rory and Jess exchanged phone numbers the day that they were assigned the two's Shakespeare project in English class.

"Hello?" said a familiar voice.

"Hi. It's Rory Gilmore."

If Jess was surprised, he didn't show it in his voice. "Oh. Hi. What's up?"

"I'm actually staying in Stars Hollow with my mom and dad this weekend. I remembered that you lived here. I was wondering if you wanted to hang-out tomorrow night?"

"Yeah, sure," he said. "That sounds good. Where do you live? I'll come by tomorrow around eight o'clock to pick you up."

"All right," she replied. Rory told Jess the address to Lorelai and Christopher's home.

"I'll see you tomorrow," said Jess.

"Tomorrow," agreed Rory.


The next day came and went. Lorelai was on at full-force. She chatted on-and-on about the new town that she lived in and her new friends in the town as the day continued.

"That's Babette," said Lorelai as she passed by a short and a plump woman on the street. The woman was talking to the owner of a newsstand. "She lives right next door to us. She loves her cats."

Rory tried to smile and seem interested.

After the two went antiquing, Rory and Lorelai entered Luke's diner for lunch. The proprietor of the diner was a man named Luke like the name of diner suggested. He was gruff sort of man. He wore a baseball cap on backward.

"He's one of my favorites," confided Lorelai to Rory. "Luke! Another round of coffees over here."

Luke arrived moments later. He held a coffee pot. "Should you be drinking this much coffee in your condition?"

Lorelai shrugged. "What do you mean?"

"I heard from Babette and Ms. Patty that you were pregnant. I don't think it's a good idea to drink too much caffeine."

"He has a point," said Rory to her mother.

"Nah," said Lorelai. Luke filled-up her mug with more coffee. She drank it without pause. "I'm pregnant… not suicidal. And that's what I'd be like without coffee."

"I'll have a cup, too," said Rory.

Luke gave Rory a look. "You started out young." He sighed. "But fine. You're the one with a death wish."

Rory sipped her coffee slowly as Lorelai continued talking about the town.

"There's going to be a winter carnival here around Christmastime," said Lorelai. "You should come by and visit me then. I think you'll like it."

Rory brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'll think about it," she said in a vague way.

Lorelai toured Rory around the rest of Stars Hollow that afternoon. They arrived back home at Lorelai's house at around six-thirty that evening.

"I have to get ready for my date," explained Rory when Lorelai wanted her to take a look at the Twickham house, which was a historical landmark in the town.

"All right," said Lorelai in a resigned way.

Christopher was no where to be seen when the two entered Lorelai's home. "He must be working late tonight," explained Lorelai.

Rory got ready for her date while Lorelai prepared dinner for herself and for Christopher. "I'm sure we'll get something when we're out," said Rory to Lorelai. Lorelai looked annoyed. But she didn't make her eat dinner with her and Christopher either. Rory considered that a 'win.'

Rory carefully curled her hair and did her make-up. She wanted something understated-but-sexy. She decided to wear a black low-cut blouse and a black skirt. She wore stockings, too, because she always felt naked when she didn't wear some when she wore something like a dress or a skirt. Her make-up consisted of a neutral eye-shadow and a bright red lip. She made sure to keep the lickstick tube in her purse for any touch-ups during the night.

When Rory stepped out of her room into the kitchen, Lorelai was sitting at the dining room table. She sipped her coffee.

"Wow," said Lorelai. "You look great."

"Thanks," said Rory. "My date should be here any second. Do you think the lipstick is too much?"

Lorelai shook her head, 'no.'" Right then, the door-bell rang.

"I'll go get it," said Lorelai. "You should wait in your room and come out in five minutes. It's good to keep the guy waiting for a while."

Rory agreed. She went into her room and quietly listened to her mom as she talked to Jess. She couldn't hear anything clearly from the shut door of her bedroom.

After around five minutes, Rory left her room. Jess was in the foyer with her mother.

"Hi, Jess," she said in a friendly way.

"Hey, Bambi," said Jess.

"All right, mom, I'll be back later," said Rory as she went to pick-up her coat from the closet.

"Have her back by around ten-thirty," said her mom. Rory realized that it was the first time Lorelai had ever been in a situation where she needed to actually act like a mother. Rory didn't know how to feel about that.

"Will do," said Jess. He gave Lorelai a mocking salute.

The two left the foyer and went out into the night.