Alright guys, I am trying to keep this going!
09/04/09
Max was sitting in his office at Stanford. It was office hours, but since classes had just started, he was just sitting at his desk, watching the minutes slowly tick by. He decided to check his emails in hopes of finding something new in his inbox. He was delighted to find an email from none other than Rory Gilmore. He opened the email and began to read:
"Dear Mr. Medina,
I hope that this is the right email. How are you? I would like to wish you greetings from Stars Hollow! My portion of the campaign trail is over, and I am now once again unemployed and living at home. I am currently looking for a job on the East Coast (I am still hoping for the New York Times), but I may be looking into California papers too.
Everything else is going well. Logan and I have patched things up and we are giving long distance another go until we see where we end up. Logan visits a lot, whenever he can line up meetings on the East Coast. It's been much easier than we thought it would be. To 'earn' my keep, I've been submitting some freelance articles to some newspapers and magazines, and working at the local bookstore. Mom and Luke are back, and it is weird having a guy around the house. It's great, it's just strange that it's not just mom and I anymore. So I've been spending a lot of time with Lane, remember her? She has twin boys and just found out that she is expecting another little bundle of joy. Paris and her boyfriend Doyle got engaged. She is going to Northwestern Medical School. No date has been set yet, she doesn't even really seem that interested at all!
I guess there isn't much else to report. How are you? I hope you are doing well, I know that your classes should be starting soon. I hope you are finding something to occupy your free time. Keep in touch!
Sincerely,
Rory Gilmore"
Max looked at the letter and didn't really feel anything. No loss, no longing, no tension. It was an email like any other, an email from a friend. Of course, that may have been because he wasn't actually looking at her and seeing Lorelai's face instead. He contemplated this thought for a time, then hit "reply".
"Dear Rory,
I am so pleased to hear that all is well on your end. Take this time to relax as I am sure that you will get a job soon. I will keep my ears out for any openings here, but, I am sure that Logan is already doing that. Congratulations to Lane and Paris. It has been years since I have seen either of them, but I remember them clearly, especially Paris. Wish her the best for me. Classes have started and none of my students seem to be challenged yet. So, I am sitting here, during office hours and typing to you.
I am doing well, same old story. I did take up your advice and I rescued a dog. I named him Jack. He is at least always happy to see me. Thank you for your email. I hope things keep looking up for you. Keep me posted.
-Max
3/25/10
Max was at home, sitting in his darkening house. Jack was lying beside him on the couch, fast asleep. It was a typical Friday night. Max and Jack on the couch, a cold pizza in front of him, with nothing to do. He decided to check his emails and then continue the syllabus for a new class he was going to teach in the fall. He was surprised to find a new email from Rory in his inbox. He had not heard from her since her first email over six months ago. He opened it and read:
"Dear Mr. Medina,
I am so sorry I have not written in so long! So much has happened since I last wrote. First news, first. I have a job! I finally got a job as an opinion writer for the New York Times! It's not the position I wanted, but, they said that if I keep going at the pace I am, I could have any job I want. It's reminding me of when Paris made me write all of the unwanted articles in The Franklin all those years ago. Speaking of Paris, she finally got married! She was a beautiful bride. Lane also had her baby, this time a little girl, she named Lily. Now, for my big news.
I'M ENGAGED!
Logan proposed yesterday! Yesterday was the first time one of my articles was going to be printed in The Times. I drove home to Stars Hollow so Mom and Luke could read it with me. When I got home, Logan was also there waiting for me, with the paper in his hand. We all sat down and I went to reach over to get the paper from Logan.
"No, Ace, start from the beginning," Logan said.
"Yeah, Rory, let the suspense build," my mom agreed.
"Alright, alright," I consented. "Freaks." So, we all got close and I began turning the pages. The others didn't know what page it was going to be on, but they seemed more and more anxious the further I went. I was not two pages away, so I turned another page. There! The page before my article was an ad:
'Ace,
Congratulations on your dream!
Will you make mine come true?
Love,
Logan'
Logan had done down on his knee beside the couch, a box in his hand. He opened it and an engagement ring was glittering at me. It was smaller, and less gaudy than the previous one had been. It looked more like me. I looked at mom and Luke. Mom had tears in her eyes and Luke just nodded to me, his eyes tear-filled as well. I looked back at Logan.
"Ace, I have loved you since we jumped at the Life and Death Brigade. You have made me a better man. I don't ever want to live without you again. Will you marry me?" Logan asked, looking extremely nervous. Of course, after the last time he proposed, I couldn't blame him. Before I could even think about it, I said, "yes!" This time it felt so right. He slid the ring onto my hand and it looked perfect. A lot of hugging occurred, and we almost forgot about the main reason we were all together in the first place.
"Um, hate to break up the emotion, but, Rory, is this it?" Luke asked, holding up a page from the paper with my byline on it.
So, there you have it. Now, I don't know if you'd want to, but I'd like to invite you to the wedding. If you don't think it would be a good idea, I completely understand. Even still, I would like to send you an invite, I just need your address. I really hope you can come. It's going to be June 20th. I know it's soon, but we want it to be a semi-private affair. Please let me know. I will talk to you soon and I hope everything is going well for you.
Sincerely,
Rory Gilmore
Max looked at the screen with a sad smile upon his face. Rory Gilmore, little Rory Gilmore, who once exploded when he couldn't allow her to take the test, was getting married. And, she had invited him to come. He didn't know what to do about that. He loved Rory, and wanted to be there for her. However, he wasn't sure if he could handle seeing and talking to Lorelai again. He did wonder what Lorelai would think when she saw him there. He was curious on if Rory would even tell Lorelai at all before the wedding. He really did want to go. Rory was the closest thing he had to a daughter, and he felt like he should be there. He sighed and patted the top of Jack's head. It looked like it was time to face Lorelai.