Chapter 12

"What's up, Rory?" Lane asked.

After a few minutes of indecision on what to wear, Rory had finally called Lane to ask for advice.

"I don't know what to wear," she admitted. "I was just wondering if you knew where we were going. Like are we going to someplace like Luke's or Al's Pancake World, or someplace with soft music and a need to dress up?"

"Hold on." Rory could hear Lane whispering to Dave. She came back on the line and told Rory to dress up. "Wear something nice. We'll come get you in about half an hour. Does that give you enough time?"

"Plenty," Rory responded. "But just in case, I better go..."

Lane laughed. "Right. So, we’ll swing by and get you first, then—"

"Oh, Jess is still here," Rory interrupted.

"He is?"

Rory could tell from Lane’s smug tone that she was smiling. "He wouldn’t leave," she said defensively. "Really."

"Right. Well, why don’t you have your date pick out an outfit for you? That would be cute. Anyway, Dave is calling me, so I’ll see you later. Bye!"

Before Rory could even respond, Lane hung up. There was a knock on her door, and Rory turned off the phone, setting it on her dresser.

"Come in!" she called.

The door opened and Lorelai poked her head in the room. "Talking to yourself?" she asked with a knowing smile.

Rory smirked at her. "I was talking to Lane."

"Oh, right. So hurry and change. Don’t keep your date waiting." Lorelai grinned mischievously.

"It’s not a date!" Rory exclaimed.

"Say it a little louder, I don’t think Shea heard you back in New York," Lorelai teased.

Rory scowled. "Out! I need to change."

"Oh, no, let me help," Lorelai begged. "I’ll help you pick out an outfit."

"Fine. I need something nice. Lane said I needed to dress up."

"Hm. I have just the thing, come on." Lorelai grabbed Rory’s hand and dragged her out of the room.

"Nice outfit," Jess commented from the living room.

"I haven’t changed yet," Rory told him.

"Well what were you doing in there?"

"Talking to an invisible friend," Lorelai said, cutting Rory off. "Now if you’ll excuse us, Rory has a date to get ready for."

Jess grinned, motioning for them to continue their way upstairs.

"It’s not a—" Rory started to protest.

"Not a date, we know," Jess and Lorelai said together.

Lorelai reached for her daughter’s hand again and hurried upstairs and into her room, shutting the door behind them. She made a beeline for her closet and threw open the doors, examining it’s contents.

"Aha," she said a minute later, pulling out a long black dress. "Perfect."

"Wow," Rory breathed, taking the dress as Lorelai handed it to her. "I haven’t seen this one before."

"Oh, um...I bought this for Luke’s and my first official date."

"It’s nice," Rory replied, holding the dress up in front of her and looking in the mirror.

"It sure is," Lorelai agreed, walking over to her dresser. She made a ‘hm’ sound, thoughtfully searching through her jewelry box and coming up a minute later with an elegant silver necklace with matching earrings.

Rory was just about to get dressed, when the doorbell rang.

"I’ll tell them you’ll be right down," Lorelai offered, leaving the room.

Rory glanced once more at her reflection in the mirror before changing into the dress, accessorizing herself with the jewelry her mother had picked out, and slipping on some strappy black sandals to complete the outfit. She pulled her hair up into a loose bun, leaving a few strands of hair hanging about her shoulders.

One final glance in the mirror, and she was ready.

Everyone was in the living room making conversation when Rory descended downstairs. Jess was the first to notice, and he felt his heart skip a beat. His mouth dropped slightly, and boy was he glad that Luke had dropped off a change of clothes for him. Or else he would have looked like an idiot next to Rory.

She smiled at them, stopping next to Lorelai to greet Lane and Dave.

"You look great, Rory," Dave complimented, taking the words right from Jess’s mouth.

"Thanks," Rory blushed.

Lane linked her arm through Dave’s. "I agree." She turned to Jess to make sure he was ready, before announcing, "Okay, well, we’re off!"

"Have fun," Lorelai called as they headed to the door. "I won’t wait up!" She winked discreetly at Rory, who gave her a look.

"How is your food?" Dave asked Rory.

She smiled. "Oh, it’s great."

They were in Hartford, at a restaurant that Dave had used to practically live at, or so he said. As a matter of fact, he and Lane had had their first date there.

"Glad you like it."

"And you?" Lane questioned, addressing Jess.

He nodded, taking a sip of his drink. "Oh, it’s great," he said, echoing Rory.

"So how long are you guys staying in Stars Hollow?" Lane asked, attempting to break the almost unbearable silence.

"I’m leaving—"

"We’re leaving," Jess corrected.

"Tomorrow," Rory finished, frowning at him.

"Aw, that’s too bad."

"Why’s that?" Jess wanted to know.

"Oh. You know, the thing that’s coming up."

"Right, the thing," Rory agreed, tilting her head to the side, waiting for Lane to continue. She didn’t.

Dave cleared his throat. "The dance thing," he said.

"The...dance thing," Jess repeated.

"Yeah. Well, it’s not just a dance. It’s more like a carnival. But there will be dancing," Lane babbled. "It’s going to be great. That’s actually the reason we’re here. In Stars Hollow, I mean," she added.

"And why haven’t we heard about this?" Rory asked, glancing at Jess. He looked just as confused and clueless as she was.

"Beats me." Lane shrugged.

"I wanna go," Rory cried. "When is it?"

Lane grinned. "Next Friday."

"Oh. Hm. Maybe I’ll invite Shea," Rory thought aloud.

Jess rolled his eyes. She had been going out with Shea for about a week, and she was already...acting like she had when she was with Dean. He wondered if she had been like that with Dean, too.

Was she trying to make him jealous? Because, as much as he hated to admit it, she sure was doing a damn good job.

"Oh. Well, that’ll be fun," Lane replied unenthusiastically.

Jess had to work hard to keep a smile from spreading across his face. It seemed that Lane was even less enthused with the idea of Rory and Shea as a couple than he was.

He just wondered how long Rory would be in denial this time. All he knew was that he sure as hell wasn’t waiting as long this time around, but then again—he wasn’t just giving up, either.

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"Uh huh. So tell me. What are you doing today?"

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"So is that a yes?"

Rory was on the phone with Shea. The double date, if you wanted to call it that, ended a little over an hour ago. Rory had planned to call Shea as soon as she got home, but of course Lorelai was right there by the door, demanding details.

And so now, an hour later, Rory was asking Shea if he wanted to join her the following week at the carnival festivities.

"It sure is, unless Jess decides not to come back."

"Jess?"

"Yeah. He said he had somewhere to be, right before you came in. And he never came back in yesterday, so I called over at his place and he wasn’t there. I don’t think he’s been home. So anyway, I’ve been pulling some double shifts."

"I’m sorry, I thought he told you."

"Told me what?" Shea asked.

"That he came to Stars Hollow for the weekend," Rory said slowly.

"Stars Hollow? Where you are?"

"Yeah. We’re coming back tomorrow, though."

"Oh."

"What?"

"Is there something going on with—"

"Oh, Shea, I’m sorry but I have to go. My mom needs my help with something. See you tomorrow?"

"Alright," Shea replied uncertainly. "Bye Rory."

"Bye!"

Rory hung up the phone, falling onto the couch with a sigh. Now that was a close one.

Lorelai bounced into the room just then, holding a to-go cup of coffee from Luke’s.

"Is he coming?" she asked.

"Uh, yeah. He’s coming."

"Great!" Lorelai regarded Rory with a raised eyebrow. "Isn’t it great?"

"Huh?" Rory snapped out of her daze. "Oh, yeah. Great."

"What time are you leaving tomorrow?" Luke asked Jess.

"What, already in a hurry to get rid of me?" Jess grinned.

"I was just asking," Luke stated, pulling back the covers on his bed.

Jess made up the couch, settling onto it and shifting around to get comfortable. "We’re leaving in the morning, I think."

"Okay. I’ll make you breakfast before you go," Luke called to him.

"Alright, thanks."

Luke nodded, closing his bedroom door and shutting off his light, plunging the apartment into darkness.

Jess raised his arm and clasped his fingers, putting his hands behind his head. He stared at the ceiling, thinking about the carnival-slash-dance.

He remembered all of the town’s past fundraisers and functions, and he figured this one would be equally dreadful. He wasn’t even sure he should come, at first, but then he thought of Rory inviting Shea. Shea in his hometown, befriending all the crazy people like Miss Patty and Babette and Kirk. Shea was his best friend, sure, but did he really need to come to Stars Hollow?

Maybe he should just tell Shea about Rory. About how he felt—how he had always felt—about her. He knew Shea would most likely step aside, because that’s the kind of friend he was.

But Jess couldn’t bring himself to do that to him. He knew he was being selfish. When was the last time Shea had found someone he really liked who liked him right back?

He just couldn’t do that to him.

"It seems like you’re always leaving," Lorelai complained the next morning as Rory hugged her goodbye.

"I know, and I didn’t even get to see Miss Patty, or Babette or anyone this time."

"Oh they all went on some big trip together—no joke. Taylor’s been busy doing interviews for Doose’s, even though he knows everyone in this town, so it should be easy to tell who’s qualified and who’s not. And Kirk is sick; his mom is taking care of him. He somehow got Taylor to look after Cat Kirk Jr. for him."

"You’re kidding," Rory laughed.

"Nope. Taylor’s not too happy about it, either. Kirk bit him at least twice—Cat Kirk, not human Kirk—and Taylor claimed he was dying."

"Sorry I missed it."

Lorelai glanced at her watch. "Oh, look at the time."

"Yeah, so? What time is it?"

"Time for breakfast. You need to eat before you go."

"Okay, well come on then." Rory moved to get in her car, but Lorelai stopped her.

"Let’s walk!" she suggested.

"Why?"

"Because it’s nice outside and I need the exercise."

"You do not," Rory told her.

"Sure I do."

"But—" Rory stopped herself. There was really no point in arguing with her mother. Lorelai almost always won—she had a comeback for everything. "Okay, I give. Let’s walk."

And so they did.

They were so wrapped up in the conversation/mock debate over the last movie they had watched, that they didn’t notice someone stop in front of them until they literally ran into him.