Chapter 3

It was spring again, and the trees were brightly in bloom. Rows upon rows of chairs stood in front of a portable stage. Students in black caps and gowns stood lined up alongside the buildings along the way to the stage. Parents started filing in, taking their seats and getting their cameras ready. However, one man was not found in a seat, rather, he was leaning against a tree, behind all of the chairs, far from the stage.

He didn't know why he was there exactly. He hadn't been invited, he wasn't a family member of anyone graduating that day. But, when he heard the date for Yale's graduation, he somehow found himself on a plane to Hartford. He felt like he needed to be there, like Fate had decided that this was his next course of action. So, he came. He packed an overnight bag, flew to Connecticut, checked into a B &B, and found himself leaning against this particular tree. Out of sight, out of mind.

His eyes scanned the crowd seated in front of him. He wasn't sure what he was looking for exactly. It would be nearly impossible to find her amidst the sea of people. But still, he couldn't help but look for a tangle of dark brown hair, slightly curled at the edges, seated next to a man wearing a backwards baseball cap. Not surprising, he did not find what he was looking for. That did not matter, however, as the graduates were crossing the stage and the name he wanted to hear was coming up.

"Paris Eustace Gellar", the Dean called and a tall, blonde figure walked confidently across the stage. Paris had grown so much that he couldn't believe his eyes. He had heard that she had gotten into numerous medical and law schools and was heading towards great things. He squinted to get a look at her. She looked softer, somehow, as though she had finally come into herself, allowed herself to have friends, to take in love. He wished her nothing but the best.

"Lorelai Leigh Gilmore," the Dean called next. He snapped his head back to the stage and squinted his eyes again to watch the young girl, now a woman, accept her college diploma. She had not changed much. She had grown her hair out again and when she turned around to face the crowd of family and friends, her ocean blue eyes pierced him. He saw two figures stand and applaud, and he knew the figure of the one. She had not changed, at least not from behind. The other figure, however, he did not recognize. It was a man, surely, but it did not look like Luke. This man had short, cropped hair and was built much lankier. He was not sure how he felt about this mysterious man, only that he wished it were him. Five years had gone by, and it had not gotten any easier.

The ceremony was over now, and the grads were meeting with family. He retreated further behind his tree, but not losing sight of the family he wanted to investigate. He knew that anyone who saw him act like this would think him a total creep and have him removed from campus. However, he also knew that anyone who had loved and lost like he had would agree to his momentary bought of spying. The little group moved towards him to a nearby tree to take pictures and he was easily able to make the group out more clearly. Two older figures manned the cameras, and he assumed that they were the grandparents. They looked so proud of their granddaughter, as if she could do no wrong, and she never would. The two other figures, the one he knew and the one he didn't know were talking with the grandparents.

"Dad, come on," the girl stated, showing the impatience he had not seen in a while. The man, clearly her father now, gave her a smile while handing the camera to her grandfather.

"Alright, kiddo. But, Lorelai, you need to get into this one too. This will be the parents shot, right, Richard?" the man said.

"Absolutely, my boy. Christopher, Lorelai, my dear lady of the afternoon, over here if you please," Richard said, taking the camera in hand.

He noticed, with slight glee, that the mother and father seemed slightly awkward with each other, the new awkwardness that normally appears after a recent, though mutual breakup. He knew that feeling well. The mother looked the same as always, with her dark hair gleaming in the sunlight, putting her arms closely around her daughter, the daughter who looked just like her. The father looked somewhat out of place, like he wanted to be there, but didn't feel like he belonged. The daughter turned and looked at the camera, and for a moment it almost seemed like she knew he was there, leaning against the tree. She smiled slightly in his direction, and he knew that she had definitely noticed someone standing there watching them. He also knew that, Yale graduate that she was, that she would figure it out. He knew he had to leave, before she dragged him over for awkward hellos, to be in the company of the family he never had.

He sighed quietly and took in the family one more time. The grandparents, looking as stoic as he had always pictured they would be. The father looking like he himself felt. Like he had loved a Gilmore Girl and still lost. The daughter looking preoccupied, almost as if dreading making a final decision upon something. Still, she looked happy, as if her whole world was open in front of her. The mother, well, as always, she was the most beautiful of all. Still the same woman he had fallen in love with. He caught the daughter beaming at him and saw her say something her mother.

"Mom? I am just going to go see if I can find Paris for a picture. I will be right back," the daughter said. He took that as his sign to leave. He turned around quickly and began walking towards the gates of Yale. He knew that he would be gone by the time Rory got to the tree. And maybe she would even believe that she had imagined him standing there. But, he still wasn't ready. He wasn't ready to see Lorelai. To feel the fresh pain of talking to her, knowing that nothing he did would ever be enough to earn her love. A part of him wanted to go see her, especially if his instinct was right and she was currently single. Maybe she would feel differently. But, he also knew that humans were creatures of habit. If she couldn't love him then, she couldn't love him now. Sure, she could settle, but that wouldn't be healthy for anyone. So, he left.

Max, again, stood alone, outside the entrance to Yale. He was glad that he had come, that he had witnessed Rory's graduation day. He hoped that she would imagine he had been there as a dream, so as not to be upset by his sudden departure. He knew that would be it. It had been comforting knowing the last two years that Rory would be here, if Fate ever brought them face to face again. Now, with Rory going off making a name for herself in the world of journalism, he knew that they would never meet again. Well, he wouldn't say never, Fate had made a fool of him before. Still, he did not want Rory to be upset at this last parting. He could tell that she had experienced more pain and he did not want her to feel any more. So, with that, Max got into his car, and drove away, this time for good. He had no intention of letting Fate bring him back here again. He felt good about his decision, almost light. Maybe time could heal everything. But, to heal his heartache, it may take a lifetime.