7 - Early Snow Leads To A Short Fall

Rory shakily placed the cordless receiver down, letting out a relieved breath in the process. She ran her fingers through her hair, wondering when she had become such a babbling idiot. She shook her head before walking to her little walk-in closet, unsure of what she wanted to wear on this non-date with Marty.

"Too slutty," she muttered at one choice, tossing it aside and grabbing another. "Ugh, too formal."

This carried on for several minutes, her choices and opinions shifting between each extreme, until she finally found a suitable choice. In the end, Rory chose her favorite dark blue cashmere sweater that hung a little loose, a black skirt that came down halfway on her shins, along with her matching one inch heeled black boots. She gave herself one final look in the full length mirror, gazing at her reflection with an appraising eye.

"Looking good, Gilmore," Rory said, then glanced at her watch. "Crap, I'm going to be late!"

She rushed out of the bedroom, then turned back to grab her bag off the dresser. She slid her coat on, then headed out the door. After stepping out of the apartment and locking the deadbolt, Rory hurried down the stairs at a breakneck speed that she wouldn't have dared attempt under normal circumstances, especially considering her current poor choice in footwear. The boots were certainly stylish, but they weren't designed for running, that was for sure.

"Should've worn my sneakers," she muttered, only to realize then that it had begun snowing outside. Rory smiled, remembering what her mother always said about the first snowfall of the year. Magical things happen when it snows...I wonder what sort of magic the snow has in store for me?

It was some minutes later when she finally arrived at Sutton's, hoping that Marty wouldn't be too put out by her tardiness, that it hit Rory like a ton of bricks. She had unintentionally allowed herself to get all worked up over this impromptu dinner (which she had suggested in the first place), all for a guy who was no longer available. And not just any guy either. This was Marty of all people, the boy who just wasn't exciting enough for her back in college!

"Idiot," she chided herself, wondering if it was too late to cancel. Maybe I can just slip out befo-

"Wow, I can't believe you beat me here," a familiar voice said from behind her.

"Hey, Marty," she greeted, turning to face him. So much for that idea!

"I suddenly feel a little under-dressed," he joked, removing his coat to fold over his arm.

"Funny, because I'm feeling the exact opposite over here," Rory muttered under her breath, pulling her own coat off.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

"Table for two?" A waitress in her teens asked, displaying a brilliant smile that showed off the girl's braces.

"That'd be great, thanks," Marty nodded, then turned to Rory. "Shall we eat?"

"Let's," she replied, trying to ignore the queer fluttering in her stomach.

"How weird is it that it's snowing in September?" Marty asked after they were seated.

"Honestly, I don't know, this'll be my first winter in Chicago," Rory shrugged, then decided to clarify when she noticed Marty's quizzical expression. "I only just moved here at the end of March."

"Trust me then, when I tell you it's weird," he chuckled, looking down at the menu in his grasp.

"Didn't you just move to town last month?" Rory asked, confused by the statement.

"No, we just moved across to this side of town last month," Marty corrected, glancing up. "Andy and I lived in the same apartment building before we got the townhouse."

"So what you're saying is that the two of you just recently moved into together?" She leaned forward, her interest piqued.

"No, we've been living together for almost a year now, but I got a promotion at work and we decided to get a bigger place since the apartment we were at was little more than a closet," he explained, returning his attention to the menu. "Hmm, I know I'm getting the Greek ribs, but I can't decide if I want the baked potato or some rice on the side."

"I vote for the potato," Rory suggested, then continued with her inquiries. "So which of you moved into the other's apartment before the townhouse?"

"I moved in with her," he answered, seeming not to mind that Rory was asking so many questions. "Believe it or not, I had less stuff, so it was an easy thing to decide."

"I see," she nodded.

"So what's been going on with you, Rory?" He asked, turning the tables on her. "Last I heard, Logan wanted to make you his trophy wife."

"Says the rock star's boy-toy," Rory retorted with a smirk.

Marty laughed, "No, seriously though, what've you been up to since graduation?"

"Well, after dodging the Huntzberger bullet, I followed Obama around during his campaign," she said in a slightly joking tone, earning an amused chuckle from her dinner companion. "Then I headed back to Stars Hollow for my mom's wedding, which was followed by a stint with the Hartford Courier that lasted until I moved here. And that's pretty much it."

"Are you ready to order now?" The waitress asked, the same brace-filled smile plastered on her face. Her eyes seemed to be glued on Marty, who shifted a little uncomfortably under the teenager's adoring gaze. Though she would've laughed under normal circumstances, Rory felt like telling the girl to back the hell off. She frowned at this notion, a little confused at the sudden possessive streak. She pushed the thought aside for now, deciding to deal with it later.

"I'll have the Greek ribs with the baked potato, please," he ordered with a polite smile.

"And you, miss?" The waitress asked, turning to Rory.

"I'll have the veggie pasta," Rory replied, ordering the same thing she had last time.

The non-date continued at a smooth pace, and Rory soon forgot about her earlier missteps and inappropriate feelings of jealousy. Marty told her about his promotion at the architectural firm where he'd been working at for the last three years, and Rory told him about things that had happened during Obama's campaign and her stint at the Courier. It was going so well in fact that they'd lost track of time.

"Whoa, it's getting late," Marty said, glancing at his watch.

"Really?" Rory asked, copying his actions to find that it was indeed late. "Wow, it's nearly ten!"

"We should probably go before they kick us out," he joked, rising from his chair.

"I'll buy," Rory declared, remembering that she still owed him for the ice cream and coffee.

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I haven't paid you back for Park's, remember?"

"Well, if you insist," he shrugged, pulling his coat on. "But only on the condition that I walk you home, because there is no way I'm letting you go by yourself. Way too dangerous, especially after dark."

"Such a gentleman," she said with an exaggerated snort, though on the inside Rory was touched by his concern.

"And on that note, let's go," he replied in his usual monotone.

After paying for their meals, the pair exited the restaurant and walked down the street side by side. The scene took Rory back to her freshman year at Yale, when they'd walk in the same fashion on their way to classes or the cafeteria together. She glanced sidelong at the young man beside her, wondering if he was remembering that time in their lives as well. She shook her head at the thought. Probably not.

"This is me," Rory declared, her voice sounding strange to her ears after their mostly quiet walk.

"Guess this is good night then, Rory," he nodded, about to turn away.

"Good night, Marty," she returned as he walked away. She stood there on the top of the steps, watching him until he was out of sight before heading inside. Rory leaned back against the stairwell wall, staring up at the ceiling. A moment later it dawned on her again, only this time more clearly than earlier. The reason why she'd been acting so irrational the entire night. It was no use denying it any longer. She was attracted to Marty, who just so happened to be deeply in love with another woman.

Rory let out a deep sigh, while palming her forehead. "I am so screwed."

Silly Rory, Marty's for Andy!