Chapter 7
Lorelai hesitated outside of the Diner. Would Luke still let her come in? Jess had been a prick to her but Luke's friendship meant everything to her. Max had driven Rory to school they had come early to the Diner letting Lorelai sleep in. Max would be hearing about it later good intentions and a note would not suffice. "It's open." Luke grunted opening the door. He was sick of watching the silent debate. "Oh thanks Luke. How are you?" Lorelai asked. "Well last time I checked I'm alive and have a pulse. Babette calls this morning and tells me someone stole her Nome. I ask her why she thinks it's Jess because he has a look about him. So I go and check the closet and sure enough a Nome is there. Have I mentioned I hate kids!" Luke said. "You love Rory." "She's like a big kid like an adult so it's easy to love her." Luke said as he got behind the counter. "You helped when she had the chicken pox." "You my friend needed help and of course her father was nowhere in sight." Luke said. "Ouch." Lorelai said. "Sorry. It's been a rough morning three calls about Jess one from the school. I'm going to put him in a box and ship him back to Liz." "Give it time. He's adjusting." Lorelai said. "I wonder if that excuse will work with his parole officer. What can I get you?" Luke asked her. "Luke I'd like – "Shut up Kirk I was asking Lorelai."
Rory had taken the bus back to Stars Hallow. Dean was waiting for her at the bus stop. "Hey handsome." Rory said kissing him. Dean smiled. "A charming proper young lady will you curtsey?" Dean said joking around. "Look it's the brady bunch but without the kids." Jess said behind them. "You know what is it about you that makes you such a hard ass? Is it because you don't know you're father?" Dean asked. Jess raised his fist at Dean. "You and Tristan jeez ya'll need to be more careful." Rory stood between Jess and Dean. "Jess stop it! Go back to Luke's." Rory commanded. "Fine. I just wanted to give you your book back." Jess said. Rory took it inside there were notes on the bottom of pages and Jess had highlighted certain areas. "I thought you didn't read much." Rory said. "Well what is much." Jess said. "All right Dodger." Rory told him. "Dodger?" "Think about it." Rory said. "Rory come on let's go." Dean said. "Oliver Twist." Jess said. Rory smiled. Dean escorted her back to the house .
"Max wanted to stay late at Chilton to grade some papers mom." Rory said coming in. "Good because I bought Luke's home from dinner. Hey Dean." Lorelai said. "Hi Lorelai." "Dean are you hungry?" Lorelai asked. "Yes well I've got a few more minutes before I have to get back to Dose's market Taylor can wait." Dean said. "Goody." Rory said putting her homework in her room.
"Hey hon I have an idea let's go on a road trip." Lorelai said fixing them up all plates. "With Max?" Rory asked. "No by ourselves." Lorelai said. "And we're just going to leave Max?" Rory asked. "No we'll let him know. Sookie and Michelle can run the Inn for a couple of days." Lorelai said. "Are you sure mom?" Rory asked. "I'm positive it'll be a chance for girl time." "Or you're upset that we didn't wake you up for Luke's and this is your way of getting back at Max." Rory said. "Not true! Start packing. I'm hurt that you'd say such a thing." Lorelai said shocked. "Okay if it's not about that then you call him and tell him right now while I'm watching with Dean as my witness." Rory said. "Oh whoa it's getting late and I'd promise Taylor I'd sub for him. Okay bye." Dean kissed Rory and left. Lorelai dialed Max's cell.
"Max honey?" Lorelai said. "Yes dear?" Max asked. "Rory and I want to go away to Harvard for the weekend." Lorelai. said. "Just a girls thing right?" Max asked. "Yeah just the two girl pals going away." "Well I have plenty at Chilton to keep me busy and I can excuse Rory okay?" Max said. "All right see you Monday." Lorelai said. "It's a go ahead?" Rory hugged Lorelai. "Yep go pack you're stuff cause baby we're leaving." Lorelai said. Rory laughed and went into her room.