Chapter Five: Rory

It is amazing how one little sentence can affect you.

Like, right now.

It really feels as if I have swallowed about … oooh, say…

- 500 knives

- 12 grenades

- 1000 flesh eating ants

- 87 aardvarks

- and a yeti

Is this what guilt feels like?

Rory took a swift glance at her bedroom door as she heard her mother walk past her room.

She felt another twinge of pain.

Damn it.

Just digested a yacht.

Or was it a yak.

Either way… not good.

She shivered, and pulled her comforter around her for warmth.

Gee, it’s cold tonight…

Outside her room, she heard her mom sobbing into the couch.

Okay. Do you want to shove the Chrysler building down my esophagus or what?!

She hauled herself out of bed and tiptoed to her door.

Opening it a crack she could see her mother crying.

What do I do?

I caused all this so I have to fix this…

…but mom said she didn’t want to discuss this anymore…

Rory chewed her bottom lip as she made her decision.

She walked slowly over to where her mother was – said nothing – and put her arms around her.

Lorelai held Rory close to her as she sobbed into her shoulder. Rory smoothed her mothers hair and rocked her back and forth, “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”

Lorelai just whimpered as her sobs died down.

Rory squeezed her mother and then pulled back, “You want some coffee?”

Lorelai nodded and Rory went into the kitchen.

She put the kettle on and reached up to wipe her eyes.

I didn’t even realise I was crying…

When she walked back in to the living room, she found her mother fast asleep on the couch.

She had a small smile on her face and she was mumbling under her breath, “Thank you, Lukey…best coffee ever… should always have it in bowls…more to enjoy…”

Even in her dreams she obsesses about coffee…

.. hey, so what if I do the same?

A frown crossed Lorelai’s face.

“You what…Rory pregnant…gonna kill Jess… gonna maim him…wait until Chris finds out…”

Oh.

Dear.

God.

This is not good…

“Knew he was bad influence… darn hoodlum…gonna rip his head off…”

She had started making strange growling noises.

Oh hell, oh hell… uhhh what can I do??

Ah hah!

She waved her mother’s coffee in front of Lorelai’s nose.

“Thank you, Lukey… best coffee ever… should always have it in bowls…more to enjoy…”

Rory sighed.

…who knows where that could have headed?  Sheesh!

She put Lorelai’s coffee on the table next to her and went into her own room.

Is that what she really thinks?

That Jess is going to influence me into becoming a rebel? Into having…sex?

Into getting pregnant??

So NOT going to happen…

She collapsed onto her bed.

Not that Jess would even try!

We’re just friends – that’s it!

Nothing more…

Rory chewed her bottom lip again.

At least… I didn’t think so…

ACK!!!!

Not again…

Deandeandeandeandean…

Oh, dear God… okay. Sleep. Sleep is good! Sleep will make me sleep and sleep I shall and then I won’t…

Okay. Sleep.

Right.

She lay down on her bed and pulled the blankets over her.

Squeezing her eyes tight she tried to fall asleep.

One coffee…two coffees… three coffees…four coffees…five Jess’s…six Jess’s…

Crap.

Okay. This isn’t going to work… I’m just going to go check my emails…

She hauled herself out of bed once again and sat down on her swivel chair.

She twirled in it while waiting for the modem to connect her.

Just checking my emails… seeing if he- ANYONE has written to me..

She logged into her AOL when a box flashed up.

Ooh! Cool! Somebody is online!

Dean02: rory!

Oh. It’s him…

I mean… oh! It’s him!

Oompaloompa: Hey Dean! How is Chicago?

Dean02: boring without you…

Oh, just shoot me…

Oh my god did I just think what I thought I thought?

Man. Sometimes I get so weird I even freak myself out!

Oompaloompa: Oh? That’s nice! How’s your grandma?

Well, I’m realllllly scraping the barrel here…

Dean02: she’s fine, rory – look, are you ok? you seem a bit…not you

And the prize for the largest vocabulary goes to…

Ooompaloompa: Yeah, I’m fine – I just have a lot on my mind.

Dean02: Are you sure? It’s not jess, is it? If he’s been hassling you rory, I swear I will make his life a living hell!

Was he always this…vicious when it comes to jess? Had I just not noticed it?

Oompaloompa: No, it is not Jess! Why do you always jump to conclusions? If you must know- it’s my mom!

Dean02: oh…what’s wrong? She’s not hurt or anything is she?

Only on the inside…

Oompaloompa: look, don’t worry about it, ok?

This is going nowhere…

Rory was about to sign off when another window flashed up

Pleasekillme: Well, well, well… Rory Gilmore.

Rory grinned.

Maybe I’ll just stay online a little while longer…

Oompaloompa: You should be in bed, Mr. Mariano!

Pleasekillme: Sorry, teach – I was just waiting to speak to this girl…

Why do I feel like I just swallowed another yeti?

Meh... must be gas…

Oompaloompa: oooooooooo! Jess, has a girlfriend!

Please say no- please say no- please say no – please say no

Pleasekillme: Well, I have a friend who is a girl… that count?

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS TOUCHDOWN!!!

Ok that was weird… a) why am I so happy

                                 b) sports references? Ew!

Oompaloompa: Oh really? And what is this friend like?

Rory grinned to herself once more.

Pleasekillme: Well…she’s about my height, long chestnut hair, these huge blue eyes and a fetish for Oliver Twist.

Ahhh he’s talking about me !!!!!!!

…

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oompaloompa: oh? Do I know this girl?

Pleasekillme: Not as well as you think you do.

What is that supposed to mean?

Dean02: Rory?

Dean02: Rory, are you still there??

Dean02: rory??? Rory? Hello?

Dean02: Rory? Is everything alright?

Dean02: Rory – what’s going on are you still there?

Oh.  Dean.

Oompaloompa: Oh, Dean.  Hey.  Sorry about that.  I gotta go- my mom.  There’s something wrong with her.

Yikes.  I’m so sorry.  You are a great boyfriend… wonderful… magnanimous…

Pleasekillme: Hey, you still breathing over there?

Ooh.  Jess!

Rory sighed as she moved her mouse over to the ‘block user’ button.  She closed her eyes and double clicked.

I’m sorry.  I’m sorry.  Sorrysorrysorrysorry…

…

…

Pleasekillme: I’m starting to feel a bit of that aging process of cheese.

Oh, Jess.

Oompaloompa: so, Jess – I’m thinking we need to study a little bit more… want to meet up, say… tomorrow?

Pleasekillme: I’ll bring the strawberries and champagne.

Hmmmmmm … is temptation always this fun??