"Rory, you made it!"
"Of course! I would never miss this for the world!" Rory leaned in and gave Sookie a quick hug. "Sorry I'm a bit late."
"Not at all, we've barely started. You look great!"
Rory turned in a circle, showing off her flapper dress and hair she'd pinned into a bob. "I went all out! You look cute too."
"Thanks sweetie. I just threw this together. You're mom's back there trying to get Michel to crack."
Rory gave her a questioning look. "All the guys have a pin, and they're not allowed to talk to any of the girls all night. If they do, they have to give up their pins. The girl with the most by the end of the night gets a prize. Your mom already has five."
"She is very determined when she wants to be. Poor Michel." They both laughed as Michel threw his pin at Lorelai and started into a loud rant. "Thanks so much for organizing all of this, Sookie. I know I wasn't much use being so far away this whole time."
"Hey, as the honorary maid of honour, it was fun! The party planning is the best part, and it means I don't have to stand up there in front of everyone on the big day. I get all flustered in crowds. I get shaky and start saying things that really shouldn't come out of my mouth..." Sookie looked off to the side, embarrassed, and her eyes fell on the table of goodies next to her. "Oh, here! Your bachelorette package!" She handed Rory a bunch of cards with numbers on them, stickers in the shape of kisses, and one that said hitched on the back. Rory picked it up and examined it.
"What's this?"
"Oh, sorry, I'll take that. My mistake!" Sookie took the card back quickly and popped back up with another deck saying Loose. She shuffled through them, giggled, and then handed one to Rory. "Here you go! They're dare cards. You have to do what it says on the front at some point during the night, and give the card away, or your mother decides your fate with some embarrassing stunt!"
Rory flipped hers over. It read Snog a Sailor. She sighed. There was no way she'd be following those directions without enough alcohol in her system.
"What sort of embarrassing stunt?"
"I don't really know." Sookie looked worried. "It's supposed to be you sing a song or do a funny dance, but your mom's been going at the Kahlúa a bit hard. Who knows what she'll think up. I'd get rid of the card if I were you."
"Good plan. This is all so great, Sookie. Thanks again!"
"No problem, Luke's over there by the poker table if you want to say hi."
Rory wandered through the town hall which had been fully decorated to match the Great Gatsby themed Bachelor/Bachelorette party planned for Luke and Lorelai. The front had tables set up by the stage where Miss Patty arranged for some light entertainment in form of herself and her back-up dancing boys. The back of the place looked like a casino for the 'Bachelors' to enjoy themselves quietly as the girls went about their shenanigans. It seemed to fit the couple well. The guests appeared in various forms of costume. It was all very bright, glittery and classy. Rory couldn't help but smile at all of it coming together.
"Rory, good. Help me out here, will you?"
"Hey Luke! Uh, whatcha doing?"
Luke had himself plastered with his back against the wall by the snack table looking paranoid.
"It's this stupid thing your mom started. I got up to get April some chips, and I think she tricked me into it."
"She's a smart girl tricking her father into getting snacks. I, uh, don't see the problem."
"Your mother put those stickers in that package for everyone with a very mean purpose."
"I don't follow."
A husky voice chimed in from behind Rory. "It's basically pin the tail on the donkey, but the kissy stickers are the pins and Luke's ass is the target." Rory and Jess laughed as Luke looked more uncomfortable and hid his behind more firmly against the wall.
"Will you be quiet? Don't go spreading the word here."
"Has anyone been successful yet?" Rory asked.
"No!" Luke growled, "But Babette's been watching me like a hawk all night. She tried to swoop in when I got up for snacks. I saw her pass April something earlier, I should have known it was a set-up."
"Ungrateful daughters and their betrayals. The world is so unjust."
"Tell me about it. Hey, you're almost my daughter. Give me a hand. You can make up for the bad seed over there," he nodded towards April. "I've been standing here forever. I need to sit. Give me cover or something."
"Yes sir."
Rory and Jess walked on either side of a very paranoid Luke who kept looking over his shoulder. Babette caught Rory's eye and gave her a big wink. Rory stealthily pulled out a sticker and took aim. Luke jumped into his chair at the last second, dodging the attempt.
"Geez, not you too, Rory! That is just so wrong!" Luke glared.
"Hey! Hands off my man!" Lorelai giggled, stumbling over to them. "I just love saying that. I don't think I'll ever get tired of it. Hey sweetie," she said, giving her daughter a hug. "Mommy's a bit drunk. But I'm the bachelorette, so I'm told it's allowed."
Luke growled up to her, "Did you really have to put the kissy stickers in? Don't you have enough games? I can't sit here all night avoiding people, you know."
"See, I was really banking on that. I hear Babette and Miss Patty have a bet going to see which one can get the most stickers. I think I even overheard Kirk cutting in on the action. Quite a feat too, since he's still got his no-talking pin."
"This is just ridiculous, you know that?"
"But sweetheart," Lorelai batted her eyelashes. "You keep telling people to 'kiss' your 'ass', so I thought you'd enjoy them taking action for once!"
"She does have a point there," Jess chimed in.
"You are not helping," Luke glared at Jess. "And you-" he pointed to Lorelai.
"You love me and think I'm adorable and want to marry me despite my devilishly charming qualities?" She grinned widely, completely unashamed and sat on his lap.
"Well, yeah." Luke mumbled, hiding his smile. "Something like that I guess. Don't think this is over though!"
"Never," Lorelai leaned in and gave him a kiss.
"And, I think that's our cue," Jess said, taking Rory's arm and steering her away from the happy couple.
"Good call. I'll give her a proper hello later, I think." They wandered over to the bar to order drinks from a determinedly quiet Kirk.
"So, you managed to get away for a night?" Jess asked.
"Yeah. It was hard to convince my boss to give it to me with the election so close, but he came around in the end. Gave my assistant a night alone for once. We'll see how she does for note-taking."
"Sounds like you trained her pretty well in the last few months. She should be up to it."
"It's still nerve-wracking giving something you've worked so hard on to someone else. Even if only for a night."
"Ya, I think I understand that." Jess smiled at her, "You look very festive."
"Thank you. I grabbed this from a costume shop in New York the last time I was there. It's a bit silly, but exactly perfect for the occasion."
"Frills look good on you," he winked. "I was going to go with a fedora, myself, but I figured there would be enough of them around."
"Aw, you should steal one! You'd look so dashing."
He looked up and held her gaze for a minute, mouth locked in a crooked smile, "Well I might have to now."
"So, where's Allie?" Rory asked, suddenly feeling a little uncomfortable. "I didn't see her when I came in."
"Oh," Jess looked down. "No, she couldn't make it."
"Oh, that's sad. I was looking forward to seeing her again. Was she busy working?"
"Uh, ya, I guess." Jess shoved his hands in his pockets.
"Hey kiddo! I missed you!" Lorelai jumped over and gave her daughter a big hug. "Now give me a proper hello." She made Rory spin on the spot, examining her. "Is it really you? You're still all in one piece? No terrorists stole your wallet on the trail?" Lorelai grabbed her daughter's arm, touching her on the face to check the reality of her.
"It's me, all in tact! No wallets stolen by any terrorists." Rory shrugged out of her mother's clutching grasp and pushed her arms down. "I missed you too, mom! You look fabulous!"
"Ya, well," Lorelai showed herself off half-heartedly, spinning in her red sequinned dress. "I'm the bride, so you're supposed to tell me that. Now tell me everything! When did you get in? How are the polls? Did you have to kill anyone?"
Jess smiled as the two women began to bubble in each others' presence "I'm gonna let you two catch up." He wandered over to the casino side to play a game with April.
The music sped up to a lively swing number, and though it was late and only half the guests remained, they were all having a fantastic time. People danced and chatted merrily, drinking sodas and cocktails and munching on chocolate cigars. Rory danced with Lane and Zach at the front to one of Miss Patty's scat-filled jazz numbers.
"May I have this dance?" Jess said, sneaking up behind Rory.
She gasped, smiling. "Are you drunk?" She asked suspiciously.
"Why would I be drunk?"
"You're asking me to dance. You don't dance."
"I've been known to dance once in a while," he laughed as she glared more suspiciously at him. "And yes, I am a little drunk." He pulled his hand out from behind his back, flipping a fedora onto his head, grinning.
Rory laughed, "I knew it! And yay, you found one!"
"I may have spotted it lying all alone by Taylor's table. Looked like it needed a home," he grinned as he grabbed her hand and tried to copy what she was doing. "Okay, I really am drunk. I have no idea how to do this stuff."
"It's the Charleston. Here, like this," Rory laughed, swinging her legs back and forth.
"No. No way am I doing that," Jess stated, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Hey, you're the one who asked, now get to it."
"It was on my freaking dare card. How about you just take it and say it happened. People will believe you."
"Ah, maybe, but there are rules for these things! And I am a stickler for rules. Shake those hips, Mariano!"
Jess rolled his eyes and took a few steps, looking around to see if people were watching. "It couldn't have been a slow dance? Those I can do. Just stand there and sway a little. A monkey could do it."
"You're such a romantic, you know that?"
Of course, just then, the quick song ended and slowed down. Miss Patty announced her big number and took the mic for the classic Gershwin ballad, Someone to Watch Over Me.
The music started soft and steady.
Rory and Jess smiled awkwardly at each other, "Well, look at that. It's like you planned it that way." Rory smiled.
"Ya, looks like it," he shrugged. "Uh, shall we? I still owe you that card, don't I?"
"Um, sure, why not?" Rory smiled.
Miss Patty sang, deep and melodic, reaching everyone with her strong voice.
There's a saying old, says that love is blind.
Still we're often told, seek and ye shall find.
So I'm gonna seek a certain lad I've had in mind.
Jess pulled her close, holding her hand. They looked into each others' eyes first, smiling softly, but Rory suddenly felt too exposed. She moved closer and looked over his shoulder.
Lookin' everywhere, haven't found him yet.
He's that big affair I cannot forget.
Only man I'll every think of with regret.
The scent of him overwhelmed her. Suddenly she was seventeen again. She closed her eyes, trying to remember how happy she had been with him at times. Their first kiss. Their first 'date', if you could call it that.
I'd like to add his initials to my monogram.
Tell me where is the shepherd for this lost lamb?
How had it gone wrong? They were always meeting each other at just the wrong time in their lives. Sort of like Luke and her mom. But they'd made it work somehow.
There's a somebody I'm longing to see,
I hope that he turns out to be,
Someone to watch over me.
She opened her eyes, realizing that their cheeks were touching. She pulled her head back to look at him. He smiled, his eyes dark. Her breath caught in her throat.
I'm a little lamb who's lost in the woods,
I know I could always be good,
To one who'll watch over me.
"So, uh, I guess this means you earn giving your card away," she whispered.
He grinned crookedly. "I think it was worth it."
"Ya," she looked down. "I think so too."
And though he may not be the man some
girls thing of as handsome,
To my heart, he carries the key.
Her heart was beating very quickly. She was sure he could feel it. "I guess it's only fair if I give you mine too."
Won't you tell him please to put on some speed,
Follow my lead, oh how I need
She closed her eyes and moved her head inches closer. Their lips met as the song came to a triumphant close.
Someone to watch over me!
Someone to watch over me.
They parted, breathing deeply. Miss Patty made an announcement over the microphone, "Congratulations to Luke and Lorelai for finally figuring it out!"
The whole room broke out into applause. Rory and Jess stayed locked where they were for a moment before turning and joining in clapping to the happy couple.
Luke and Lorelai gave each other a quick kiss, and then bowed to their audience. Babette took the opportunity to run up with her sticker, getting Luke square on target while he was bent over. He cursed and tried to turn after her, but Lorelai held onto him. She gave him another deeper kiss to distract him, trying not to laugh as she did.
Rory and Jess laughed with the crowd and then turned to each other, smiling. The spell broken, Rory pulled the card out of her bag and handed it to Jess with a wink. "Here you are, sailor."
Jess looked at it and smiled. "A deal's a deal I guess." He handed her his dare card as the music jumped up to a quick tempo again. "Now please, let's get off the dance floor so I never have to re-live the Charleston again."
"Deal!" They both grabbed a drink from Kirk and found a table at the side of the room. They settled in, watching the room bop and sway to the cheerful music. Rory felt giddy.
"Hey, did you get a chance to look at that last chapter I sent you?" Jess asked, taking a sip.
"I did, actually!" Rory said. "And I have lots of notes! I mean, it was great, but you have a habit of using too-short sentences," she pointed accusingly at him, laughing. "I brought it on my computer since I didn't get a chance to email you back yet."
"Show me," Jess insisted.
"Right now?"
"Sure, why not? We did our time, and the party's slowly dying down. Show me."
Rory met the mischievous twinkle in his eye, and felt a twinge of adventure through her drunken haze.
"I'll need a power cord," she said, taking another sip.
"I've got one at Luke's apartment." He grinned, leaning closer.
She pretended to consider. "Well I am only in town for a little while, so..." She smiled and held out her glass to him. "You've got yourself a deal, sir! I'll grab my laptop. Meet me out front!"
The cheerful bleeping tune cut through Rory's head like a knife. She opened one eye angrily and reached for her phone to stop the awful noise.
"Hello?" She answered groggily. The voice on the other end sounded angry and spoke far too quickly. "Hold on, slow down," she murmured. "What did Lauren do with the notes?" Rory sighed, resigned to her fate. "Okay, okay. I'll get started and I'll be there as soon as the quickest flight lands." Sometimes she hated having such a demanding job. "Mmhmm. Bye." She turned off the phone, pushing it under her pillow and closing her eyes again.
The person next to her shifted in the bed, and Rory's eyes shot open again. She turned carefully. It was Jess.
Jess, of course it was Jess! She thought as her memory slowly came back to her. She tried to slink out from under the covers carefully and grab her dress that had been tossed by the side of the bed.
"Who was on the phone?" Jess mumbled behind her. She froze and silently swore to herself.
"Um, my editor. I have to finish a story and head back as soon as possible," she whispered as she searched the dark for her undergarments.
Jess groaned and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her back down, "No. Too early. Stay. Sleep."
Rory tried not to laugh, but struggled out of his grip. "I can't," she said, pulling her things on. "I have to go." She turned on the light, trying to find the rest of her stuff. Her head throbbed at the sudden brightness.
Jess moaned his own pain from the bed. Rory looked around at the mess they'd left. Her computer was tossed to the side, barely looked at. Clothes were everywhere. Suddenly, she stopped and sat on the edge of a chair and burst into tears.
Jess sat up, more awake now. "Rory?"
"No, sorry," she sniffed, trying to make herself stop. "I'm leaving."
"You don't have to-"
"I'm sorry, Jess. This was a big mistake. I can't believe I did something like this again. I'm so stupid. I thought I'd- Well, whatever. I have to go."
"What? No, don't go. Why are you-?"
"Allie?" Rory said.
Jess stopped and looked down. "Oh. Rory, it's not what you-"
"Ya, I know. It never is." She pulled her bag over her shoulder, crossing her arms over her chest. "I have to go."
"Rory, wait!" Jess called after her, but she was already out the door.
He sunk down and held his head in his hands.