Dean's Returnal
Chapter 2
Rory awoke at 11:00, the next morning and read the note taped to her door.
I had to go check on things at the Inn for a little. Luke's home and there's coffee in the kitchen. I'll be home by 2ish.
Love ya,
Lorelai
After Rory had some coffee, grabbed a pop tart and got dressed, she went for a walk around Stars Hollow. She was really just hoping to run into Dean. She went into Doose's, but he wasn't there. At 1:00, she went to Luke's for lunch and there was Dean. "Duh," She thought. "Hi." Rory said.
"Hi." Dean said, and his smile was an invitation to sit down.
"So what are you doing here?" Rory asked in a friendly tone.
" I moved here, just a few days ago. Lindsey and I got divorced a while ago, and I don't know I guess I just missed it here."
"I'm sorry about Lindsey. What happened?"
"It just didn't work out."
For a moment there was an awkward silence.
"It's ok, it was all very civil. So do you live here now, or just visiting your mom?"
"Actually I'm still at Yale. I took a year off last year."
Dean just look at her like he was asking for more. He couldn't come up with any reasons why Rory Gilmore would "take a break" from Yale. Rory continued, " It's a long story. I got a journalism internship with my boyfriend's father and he told me that I could never make it in journalism. I stole a boat. I dropped out of Yale. My mom and I got in this huge fight. Then as a punishment for the boat thing, I had to do 300 hours of community service. Then we found out that the whole thing, with Logan, my boyfriend's dad was all a plot to break us up, and that I really still had a shot to be a writer. It was stupid I had ever listened to him and I went back to Yale, and my mom and I are friends again."
"Wow."
"Yeah. I don't know what really happened there, but I'm definitely doing better."
"And Logan?"
"We got engaged but last week, I broke up with him. Oh yeah, and Luke and Lorelai are engaged."
"Well, at least something turned out the way I expected."
"So how about you, what have you been up to."
"Actually, I went to night school and graduated last year. I managed to get a job in advertising. After Lindsey and I broke up, I really wanted to come back here and they have a branch in Hartford. As you've proven that's not too bad of a daily commute."
"But… what about Doose's."
"Oh…" Dean said with a little laugh. "One of Taylor's bag boys quit unexpectedly, and he asked if I'd fill in. So I did just for old times sake."
Dean and Rory talked and talked, not realizing how much time had flied by. At a little after 2:30, Lorelai walked in knowing she'd find Rory there. Lorelai could easily see that she shouldn't interrupt, their conversation and sat by the counter to talk to Luke.
"So how long have they been here?" Lorelai asked.
"I'd say it was about 1 and a half hours, and 3 cups of coffee ago." Luke said.
"Really, only three, well she's losing her touch." Lorelai said.
At 3:15, Dean said, "Well I better go. Hartford is only about 45 minutes away if you want to do something when you're done with classes. I could come by."
"That sounds great." Rory said. ". I'm driving back to Yale, tonight. But you know, I only have a few classes Monday, I'm done at 3:30."
"I can't get out of work until about 4:45, but I'd love to come see Yale and maybe grab a bite to eat. See you around 5:30."
Rory stood up and they gave each other a friendly hug. Dean walked out of the diner and Lorelai sat down with Rory. "Is that a date?" she asked.
"I'm not sure." She replied and smiled.