Disclaimer: I do not own anything affiliated with Gilmore Girls
Previously:
"You'll never guess what happened last night," Paris exclaimed and grabbed Rory's hand, leading her to the couch.
Rory just stared at the look of happiness on Paris' face and decided then and there that Colin was good for her friend. Paris needed someone like him. So she allowed Paris to gush about every detail of her evening, making her skip over the sex parts of course, for the next three hours.
Rory kicked the door shut as she balanced two coffees on her poli sci text book, while racing to pick up the ringing phone. With a victorious smile, she placed the unharmed nectar of Gods on the coffee table and grabbed the phone.
It was Friday afternoon and she hadn't received a call from Finn yet. Hoping that this was him, she answered the phone, waiting expectantly for the melodic tones of Finn's accented voice to fill her ears, but instead came the very unwelcome and shrill voice of one Emily Gilmore.
"Rory darling, I am just calling to remind you of dinner tonight. Some friends of your grandfather and I are going to be joining us, so please try and get your mother to behave herself. God knows she won't listen to me. Oh and make sure you wear something blue tonight, it brings out your eyes. I'm late for a hair appointment, so I have to run darling. See you tonight." And with a click, Rory was left listening to the dial tone.
Rory slowly took the phone down from her ear, turning it off. She threw it on to the couch, and grabbed one of her coffees, downing it immediately. After she threw the cup away, Rory sat down on the couch, thinking about tonight's dinner. As she sat there contemplating who the guests would be her phone started ringing again. Rory grabbed the phone from beside her, excitement once again coursing through her, hoping that it was Finn this time.
"Hello," she said as she answered the phone.
Rory heard a gasp come from the other end and then her mother's caffeine induced perky voice flooded into her ear. "Lorelei Leigh Gilmore is that any way in which to answer your phone! Have I taught you nothing!"
Rory chuckled at the mock outrage pouring from her mother's lips. "Sorry mom. I was expecting a call and I didn't want to make a bad impression by saying something like 'Gilmore's House of Kink. Press 1 for whips, 2 for chains, or 3 for cuffs.' Plus I just got a call from the all mighty Emily Gilmore and I didn't want to take the chance of it being her again. Now if you had called my cell like you usually do, you would have been on the receiving end of a proper hello as caller id is a beautiful thing. But you didn't, so you'll just have to settle for a plain old hello."
"Ooh I like that one. How bout 'Gilmore's Escort Service. For Candy's services, press 1. For Kitty's, press 2. For Naomi's, press 3.'?"
"Naomi? Really?"
"Of course! It's 'I moan' backwards. Who wouldn't want an escort whose name promotes their vocal prowess?"
Rory broke into giggles. "That is a good one mom. So," she said after her and her mom's laughter subsided, "to what do I owe this call?"
"Is it a crime to call my favorite daughter? Do I have to have a reason? Can I not just call to speak to my long lost child, the fruit of my loins, who is all the way at Yale, getting too smart to associate with us small town people anymore? Do I have to have an ulterior motive?"
"Yes. There's always an ulterior motive when it comes to you. Oh, by the way, Grandma wants me to remind you to be on your best behavior tonight as they're having guests over. She didn't say who though and hung up before I could ask."
"I resent that! I am always on my best behavior! Is it my fault that it falls short of her expectations? The guests must be some real hoity toity people; I'm so glad I won't have to be there."
"What! You can't leave me all alone with the grandparents and their snobby friends! What happened to one for all and all for one; never leave a man behind? You can't feed me to the sharks mom! Get me out of dinner too."
"Jeez. It's no big deal babe. One night with the Hitler's and their friends; you won't die."
"So in other words, you're not going to get me out of dinner?"
"Sorry hun, but it's an Inn thing and I'm sure mom won't let you go anyways. They love nothing more than showing off their perfect granddaughter. You can't deny them the chance. Plus it'll be a big ego boost."
"As well as a big boost to my suicidal tendencies."
"Don't worry. You'll be fine. One night Ror, just one night. And think of this: the sooner you go to dinner the sooner you leave and the sooner it's Saturday night, the official start of "The Week of Finn." Has he called yet with details?"
"Not yet. I'm expecting his call soon."
"Well then don't let your beautiful, young, amazing mother keep you from talking to the supposedly charming, entertaining, and gorgeous Aussie. Go, go. Ooh wait! I need a favor first."
"No, uh uh, no way. You want out of dinner, YOU call grandma."
"Rats! Are you sure there is nothing I can do to convince you?"
"Absolutely nothing. Now go and call her. I've got a gorgeous Aussie to talk to."
"Yeah, yeah. Have a great night babe."
"That'd sound a lot more sincere if you weren't struggling to contain laughter. Don't think I'll forget this Lorelei!" Rory threatened seconds before she ended the call.
Rory relaxed back onto the couch, resting her head on the back. Talking to her mother was so tiring; she had way too much energy. Rory closed her eyes and fell into a light sleep, immediately waking up when the phone cut through her dreams.
"You just woke me up from a very good dream involving the, how did you put it? 'supposedly charming, entertaining and gorgeous Aussie.' This better be good Lorelei." Rory said into the phone, thinking it was her mother again.
"I'm hurt!" a very masculine and very accented voice exclaimed through the phone, making Rory's eyes pop open. "'Supposedly' love! 'Supposedly'! There's no supposedly about it. I am charming, entertaining, and absolutely gorgeous, doll. And don't you forget it." Finn laughed and then dropped his voice to a husky pitch and continued, "Now about this dream. Did it involve me doing extremely naughty things to you? Or was it you doing naughty things to me?"
At his words Rory's cheeks flamed with embarrassment, but the teasing tone caused a wicked gleam to shine in her eyes and she said, "Sorry, neither of those is the correct answer. We were looking for 'Heath Ledger doing incredibly naughty things to one Rory Gilmore'. You lose the year supply of red vines and pop tarts. Too bad. See Mr. Jones for your consolation prize."
"You're absolutely crazy love!" Finn replied while trying to catch his breath after his episode of laughter. "But I wouldn't have it any other way."
"It's fun to be crazy. Crazy people get the best meds."
"True, true. So the reason behind my call, is to tell you to dress casual tomorrow, no sandals, skirts, heels etc. Jeans sneakers and a sweater are preferable. And I'll be picking you up at four. This is your mission if you wish to accept it," Finn said, in the Mission Impossible voice.
"Sir, yes, sir!" Rory clipped, laughing at his tone.
"Excellent love. Now I have to go and make myself pretty."
"Going to the pub?" Rory asked, with a hint of disappointment in her voice.
"I wish!" Finn exclaimed, "No, not the pub doll. I have to play the role of dutiful son tonight. My parents are dragging me to dinner at a friend's house. Doesn't it sound extremely dull compared to a night spent getting completely nailed?"
"I think you're asking the wrong person Finn. The one time I even got drunk didn't end well. I'd take a dinner over a hangover any day."
"You aren't serious, are you love? You've got to be joking. Please tell me you are joking!"
"Nope, no joke."
"We'll I'll just have to change your perspective. And don't think I can't do it. I could break a nun's abstinence pledge."
Rory broke into laughter. "I wouldn't put it past you Finn."
"You agree with me? You are so much cooler than my other friends. They'd just laugh at that. You, love, are awesome."
"Thanks Finn," Rory said with a soft chuckle.
"My pleasure doll. So what are your plans for this fabulous Friday night?"
"I am spending my night at my grandparent's. Weekly Friday Night Dinners are mandatory with them. But this one if going to be even worse. My mom's not coming, so I have to spend my whole night alone with my grandparents and some friends of theirs, who no doubt have a wonderful son around my age, that I'd get along famously with. It's gonna suck, but at least I only have to stay for three hours at the most. Then it's on to a Bogart movie night."
"Well have fun love, and don't along too famously with the 'wonderful son'. The Week of Finn is starting tomorrow. You know," He said after a pause, "you could always join me at the pub after our dinners instead of going home to an empty dorm and Bogart."
"It is you, darling Finn, who must be certifiably insane. Why would I give up a whole night of watching such a man as Humphrey Bogart for the pub? That's just crazy. You'll have to try harder next time, or just give up."
"Morgan's do not give up! I'll crack you sooner or later, count on it."
"Whatever you say Finn, whatever you say," Rory said in a placating tone. "Well I must bid you adieu and go get myself all gussied up in something blue. Apparently my grandmother thinks it is necessary to bring out my eyes. I'm sure you need to be getting ready too, so I'll see you tomorrow."
"At four."
"At four."
"Till tomorrow then."
"Have a good night."
"You too love."
"Rory turned off the phone, releasing a long sigh. A smile was fixed on her lips, and her heart was loudly beating in her chest. She sat on the couch for a few minutes, finally willing herself to get up and get dressed.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Rory stood in front of her grandparents' mansion, pulling her coat tighter around her, as she gathered the courage to ring the doorbell. After a few more minutes, Rory reached her hand out and pressed the bell.
She was late, not too much, but the guests were already there, the strange cars announcing the fact. She thought that it was just going to be her grandparents, herself, and three other people tonight, but by the number of cars, there were at least eight guests. With so many people waiting for her, Rory knew that her grandmother would be upset at her tardiness, so she took one long, deep breath, readying herself for the night that was to follow.