29 - Uncomfortable Invitation

"Thanks again for giving my homeless butt a place to stay," said the taller brunette walking beside Rory, the pair of new roommates now in the produce aisle of the grocery store located three blocks from their apartment. "Because if you hadn't, I'd be back in Omaha living with my family. Ungh!"

"Omaha isn't that bad, Sarah," Rory defended, her mind drifting back to the brief time she'd spent there during the Obama campaign. "I actually found it to be rather pleasant."

"Oh, it is pleasant, but my family is not," a smirking Sarah amended. "Don't get me wrong, Rory. I love my family to death and all, but those people are insane!"

"I'm the grand-daughter of Richard and Emily Gilmore, so you're preaching to the choir, sister," the reporter chuckled.

"Ooh, kiwis! I love kiwis," her new roomie cooed, all of a sudden changing directions to head directly towards the fruit in question.

"You have the attention span of a five year old, you know that, right?" Rory chided while following Sarah around the corner, just to stop suddenly when her gaze fell on the fairer half of a certain couple she'd been trying to avoid. She quickly ducked behind a display, sincerely hoping that Andy hadn't taken notice of Rory's presence.

"What the hell are you doing?" Sarah inquired, clearly bemused.

"Oh, nothing," she lied, one of the display products now in her hand. "Just wondering if I should buy some of this-" Rory glanced at the item in her grasp. "Cottage cheese."

The other girl quirked a skeptical eyebrow at Rory. "Really? Since when do you enjoy the luxurious taste of cottage cheese?"

"Since...now?" Rory said, completely unconvinced as the other brunette appeared to be. After sneaking a quick peek to find that Andy was gone, the journalist decided to change the subject. "So, did you get your kiwis?"

"All eight of them," Sarah grinned, a clear plastic bag held up with her prizes displayed inside for all to see. "I love the way these things taste, even if they do look like-"

"Please don't finish that analogy," begged Rory.

"Fine, but only if you tell me who you were hiding from," she said.

"I don't have any idea what you're talking about," Rory denied.

"Man, I can't wait until we get home to have these big, hairy ba-" Sarah began loudly, only to have the reporter clap her hand over the taller girl's mouth. Delighted amusement lit up Sarah's bright blue eyes, who knew she had Rory trapped.

"You suck," she muttered, dropping her hand away.

"And very well, I've been told," her friend deadpanned. "Now quit stalling."

"People have actually told you that?" Rory asked in surprise, azure blue eyes wide.

"Honey, I need you to focus," Sarah growled and fixed her steely blue gaze on her friend in mock annoyance. "Because I am very close to kicking your bu-"

"Rory?"

Oh, man, the journalist thought, turning to face Marty's tall blonde rocker girlfriend. No, she's his fiance now, Rory reminded herself for the umpteenth time before greeting the woman who had unknowingly beaten her soundly for a certain architect's affections. "Hello, Andy."

"You been quite the stranger lately," Andy remarked while stepping forward to embrace the reporter in a one armed hug, a blue plastic basket hanging from the other. "How you been doing?"

"I've been alright," said Rory, awkwardly returning the blonde's hug. "Just busy with work and stuff. You know, the usual. And you?"

"Crazy busy lately, what with the wedding planning, magazine interviews and all," the musician smiled. "Did you get your invitation yet?"

"Oh, yes, it came in the mail a few days ago," Rory nodded. "The design is gorgeous."

"I know, Marty has quite the eye for that sort of thing," Andy replied, her smile faltering slightly for the briefest of moments. It was so quick though that Rory had almost missed it. "Anyway, I'm glad I ran into you."

"Oh?"

"Yes, Lexie and a few friends from our college days are throwing me a bachlorette party this Friday and I was wondering if you'd like to join us?"

"I don't know," Rory said, reluntant. "I mean, they're your friends. I'd feel like I was intruding."

"Nonsense, but if you feel that you need more than two familiar faces present, you can bring your friend along if you like," she stated, her emerald gaze now turned to the slightly taller brunette who'd been surprisingly quiet this entire time. Usually Rory couldn't get the girl to shut up. "Help me out here, will ya?"

"I'm always up for a party," Sarah agreed with a smile. "I'm Sarah, by the way."

"Hi, I'm Andy," the blonde replied. "Pleasure to meet you, Sarah,"

"Likewise," said the other woman, who then nudged the reporter. "Come on, Gilly. It'll be fun."

Traitor, a defeated Rory thought before finally relenting to the bride-to-be's invitation. "Fine, if you insist, I'll come."

"Well, now that we have that settled, I really should get back to my shopping," Andy segued, her smile bright. "Marty's making his famous lasagna for dinner tonight and since I couldn't cook my way out of a paper bag, I decided to help by gathering the ingredients while he's still at work."

"Why would you try cooking if you were inside a paper bag? Sounds kind of dangerous," joked Sarah, which brought a laugh from the blonde musician.

"Anyway, we're going to head home, too," Rory said, lightly grasping her roommate and friend by the elbow. "Say goodnight, Gracie."

"Goodnight, Gracie," Sarah waved, allowing the reporter to lead her away.

"See you guys Friday," Andy called after them.

"See you then," Rory confirmed curtly as they departed.

After buying their own groceries and leaving the market, the pair of friends entered Rory's Prius in relative silence until Sarah broke it.

"So what the heck was that all about?" Sarah asked.

"I'll tell you when we get home," sighed Rory while shifting her car into gear.

Thanks for reading and please feel free to leave a review.