37 - Unexpected Company

"So what you're telling me is that he doesn't remember any of it? Like, nothing at all?" Sarah said, seeking confirmation to all of what Rory had just told her. Rory simply nodded as she sat down limply beside her roommate, who wrapped an arm around her to console the depressed reporter. "That sucks, buddy."

"Yeah, it really does," she sighed, laying her head on Sarah's shoulder. "I just wish I knew what to do next. I mean, how exactly do I tell Marty that we slept together without it becoming completely awkward and uncomfortable?"

"Hate to break it to you, Gilly, but I don't think there is a way to bring it up without things becoming crazy awkward and uncomfortable."

"I know, I'm just wishing that there was," Rory lamented, still leaning against her friend. They sat like that for another moment or so until the reporter decided to change the subject. "So how's your relationship with the other Harrison coming along?"

"You know how long distance relationships are," the other girl answered with an annoyed sigh. "Not that what Dan and I have can actually be called a relationship, mind you. Hell, other than that one time we met in person, all of our conversations have been either through Facebook or Skype." Sarah paused. "By the way, I fixed the webcam on your laptop."

Rory leaned away in order to look her roommate in the eye. "My laptop has a webcam?"

"Yup, it's built right in," Sarah nodded.

"Huh, you learn something new everyday."

"This is true," her roommate agreed, rising from the couch. "Anyway, I should be heading over to Sutton's to pick up our supper, otherwise we'll both starve."

"While you're doing that, I'm going to see if I can get my mom or Lane to Skype with me," Rory said, pulling herself up to her feet. "Maybe I'll even get to talk to my little brother, if he's still up that is."

"All right, say hi for me," Sarah told her before rushing out the door.

"Will do," she answered, once again alone. Not wanting to dwell on her thoughts of Marty, Rory decided to attempt contacting her family and friends back east. She had just retreived her laptop from the kitchen table and finished placing it on the coffee table in front of her when there was a knock at the door. That dumbass probably forgot her keys again, thought the journalist with a snort, only to go completely still at the realization that it could be Marty outside her apartment. That fear was quickly quelled though when a familiar female voice could be heard saying her name. Rory quickly opened the door. "Lexie?"

"Hey, Rory," the band manager smiled uneasily. "Long time no see, eh?"

"Uh, hey," she nodded. "What brings you here?"

"I actually came by to ask you a favor," Lexie answered. "But first I need to use your washroom because I've been holding it in since Dearborn Park."

"Be my guest," she stepped aside to allow her former rival's best friend to enter. "First door past the kitchen."

"Thanks, you're a lifesaver," the grateful band manager said while dashing into the apartment to use the washroom.

"No problem." Rory closed the door, then returned to what she's been doing before Lexie had shown up out of the blue. She had just completed creating a Skype account when her unexpected guest rejoined her. Lexie took the space that Sarah had vacated earlier, the band manager silently observing Rory unsuccessfully attempt to get her webcam working. "I thought Sarah fixed this," she muttered under her breath. "Some tech wiz she turned out to be."

"Where is that giantess of a roommate of yours anyway?" Lexie asked in an almost snide tone.

"I hardly think Sarah qualifies as a giantess at 5'10", Lexie," Rory scoffed, briefly pausing to wonder if there was any animosity between the two. She shook her head at the thought.

"That's five inches taller than me, so I'm sticking with the label," her guest returned. "So where'd Gigantor go?"

"Well, 'Gigantor' went to grab supper from Sutton's since it's her turn to buy," the journalist glanced at Lexie with an inquiring eye. "Do you have a problem with Sarah?"

"No, not really," sighed Lexie in what sounded like defeat.

Rory glanced at her in concern. "Lex?"

"It's nothing," the other girl assured. "Anyway, never mind about that and let's talk about that favor I mentioned earlier."

"Okay, shoot," she nodded, curious to see what this favor could be.

"I need you to tell me how Marty is doing since, well, you know," Lexie blurted out, inadvertantly causing Rory to wince. "Oh, that bad, huh?"

"Um, how's Andy doing?" Rory changed the subject, not wanting to think of Marty right now.

Lexie sighed. "She sounded miserable last time I talked to her."

"Oh? She's not in Chicago anymore?"

"No, she's back at her grandmother Marianne's home in Charlotte," Lexie rolled her eyes. "That woman is such an odious snob. It's a complete mystery how she's related to Andy."

"I can relate," Rory conceited, thinking back on meeting some of her less than friendly relatives whenever the Gilmores congregated.

"Well, now that I have the status report on Marty and checked up on you, I should be heading over to the boys' place for dinner," the band manager stated. "I'm not looking forward to telling them how the label might be dropping them now that Andy's quit the band."

"Andy quit the band?" Rory raised an eyebrow, shocked at the news.

"Actually, it would be more of an indefinite hiatus, but that's pretty much the same thing in the music business," explained Lexie, rising from the couch. "Want to meet for lunch sometime?"

"Yeah, sure," Rory agreed before her attention was drawn to the intercom buzzing again. She glanced over to where the phone was situated and noticed her roommate's keys there. "Huh, so she did forget her keys."

"Well, I'll get out of your hair and let you guys eat," her unexpected guest said, her hand patting her pockets while Rory walked over and hit the button that would allow Sarah to enter the building. "But first I need to grab my phone, which I...probably left in your washroom. Be right back."

Alone again, Rory sighed, wondering if she should invite Lexie to stay for dinner, even if her presence was an indirect reminder of what had happened between Marty and herself. She was just about to follow after Lexie to do that when there was a knock at the door. Rory shook her head. Oh, that's right, Sarah forgot her keys.

"You have really got to stop forgetting your keys home whenever you leave," Rory chided while opening the door, only to go silent at the discovery of who was standing there. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Dun dun dun!