GGFic: Secret Desires and Nameless Fears (4/12)
Jewels, I thank you yet again for your amazing dedication and diligence. The 12’s are all for you QT.
Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3,
Aftermath
Rory stormed through the deserted hallway at Branford College as she stewed over Mitchum and his so called ‘words of wisdom’. She yanked her keys out of her pocket and jammed them into the lock, only to have the door swing open forcibly as she came face-to-face with a feral looking Paris.
“Oh, it’s you. I thought you were one of those annoying people from upstairs who have been going around asking for everyone’s leftover booze.” Paris’ eyes narrowed when Rory failed to reply. Instead she shoved past Paris and navigated her way through the obstacle course of packing boxes that lay before her.
Paris followed. “Hey, what’s with the little Miss Perky act?”
“Don’t even start with me, Paris.”
“Seriously, what is your issue? I thought you’d be all happy, happy, joy, joy about summer break like the rest of the idiots around this place.”
“Well I’m not, okay?” Rory pushed open the door to her bedroom and slammed it in Paris’ face. She trudged over to her bed and dumped her bag onto it before sighing and surveying the half-packed boxes that dotted the floor. She really needed to finish packing and take her last load home tonight so she wouldn’t have to come back in the morning.
She looked up as the door opened again and Paris entered.
“Hey, ever heard of knocking?” Rory glared at her. God, Paris is annoying today.
Paris ignored her. Instead, she marched over to Rory’s desk, pulled out the chair and pointed to it. “Sit,” she ordered in that no nonsense tone of hers.
Rory plunked herself on the chair and stared back at Paris stonily as Paris settled herself onto the corner of Rory’s bed. “Talk,” she demanded.
Rory gaped at her. “What makes you think there’s something to talk about?”
“Oh, for crying out loud. Stop being such a big baby and just spill about whatever it is that’s bothering you so that I can do the friend thing before I have to go have sex with Doyle.”
Rory wrinkled her nose. “Ewww. That falls under the category of too much information, Paris.”
Paris nodded, filing the information away somewhere. “Noted.” She looked at Rory pointedly.
Rory sighed. “Fine. I had a chat with Mitchum Huntzberger today. He told me he thinks I don’t have what it takes to be a journalist and -”
“What? That wealthy, inconsiderate, jerk. Your writing is almost as good as mine … or Doyle’s,” she added as an afterthought.
“Um… thanks, I think.” Rory rolled her eyes at the typical backhanded compliment.
"So what's our plan of attack here? Should we key his car? Send a pipe bomb? Do I need to call in some of my religion beat connections?"
“Uh, no, don’t do that. I kinda freaked at him. Went all ranty, kind of like that day I flipped out on you in Mr. Medina’s English class back at Chilton.” Rory was reliving the rant in her head. “Oh man.” She buried her face in her hands. “What have I done? I shouldn’t have been so rude to him. He’s a big name in the industry. What if this comes back to haunt me? I’m never going to get that summer internship now.”
“Hey! Snap out of it.” Paris yanked on Rory’s elbow, forcing her to sit up properly.
Rory looked at Paris miserably, her list of what if’s continuing internally.
“Listen to me, Rory. Yelling at Mitchum like that took guts. I’m impressed.”
“You are?” Rory was incredulous. It took a lot to impress Paris.
“I am. That man could easily ruin you forever, but you told him off and put him in his place. I was wondering when you’d get more backbone. No offense, but you’ve been kind of wimpy lately. I miss the Rory who arrived at Chilton late and managed to be the only competition I truly enjoyed losing to. That Rory wasn’t afraid to fight for what she needed. Welcome back, my friend.”
Rory stared at her, clearly stunned. “Have I really changed that much?”
Paris shrugged. “You’re back now, that’s all that matters.”
“Am I really? What if he was right? Maybe I’m not cut out to be a journalist. Maybe I don’t have ‘it’.” Rory slumped in her chair. “What else can I do? I have no other marketable skills. What would I study? I have to drop out of Yale.”
“Oh please. Don’t be dumb. You’ve always been the golden child, sheltered in little hicksville. In the real world, people suck. Mitchum is one man, with one opinion. And the wrong one at that. You’re a good writer, Rory. Dropping out of Yale is a stupid idea. You’re the kid who was behind at Chilton, caught up, earned my respect, became my equal, beat me out of being valedictorian, and got into Harvard. You’ve proven that you can do whatever you set your mind to. So quit being annoying, and buck up. Go for that internship and kick some butt. Show Mr. Huntzburger that he’s messed with the wrong girl.” Paris’ cheeks were rosy and flushed by the time she gasped out the last words.
Rory stared at her, still processing the torrent of compliments, insults and encouragement that Paris had just thrown at her.
Paris stood up and gestured to the boxes. “I suggest you finish packing, and get ready to take your last load home as quickly as you can, because Doyle is going to be here soon and I don’t intend to be quiet. It’s our last night together before summer break.”
Rory covered her ears. “Jeez, Paris. Be more blunt or something!” She stood up and began throwing the last few items into random boxes. “I’ll be gone in 20 minutes,” she called as Paris left the room.
xxxx
Luke pulled into the alleyway behind the diner and adjusted his towels before checking to make sure the coast was clear. Deciding it was safe, he hopped out of the truck and hightailed it through the backdoor. He was just about to dash up the stairs to the safety of his apartment, when he crashed into Miss Patty who was just exiting the Ladies’ Room.
“Oh jeez,” he muttered under his breath as a giant grin spread across the robust woman’s face.
“My, my, my,” she breathed. “What have we here?” She looked him up and down as he shifted uncomfortably and tried desperately to think of a way out of the very compromising position he was in.
“Err… Hi Patty… I was just … um… on my way…” He gestured to the stairs.
“By all means, sweetheart. Carry on. Don’t let little old me stop you.” She tilted her head to admire his backside as Luke scampered up the stairs trying his best to hold the second towel around his back and chest so she couldn’t see anything. “Mmm… he really is fine to look at,” she mused after he’d vanished and she’d turned back toward the main part of the diner. “Mighty fine indeed.”
xxxxx
Luke slid into his apartment and leaned against the door with a sigh of relief as it clicked shut behind him.
Damn you, Kirk, he thought as he strode across the apartment and flung one of the towels over the back of a kitchen chair. First you try to steal my house and then you steal my clothes. And Patty saw me. He groaned imagining the rampant rumours that were sure to be spreading at that very moment.
As Luke moved toward the bedroom to get dressed, he spotted the flashing light on the answering machine. He veered towards it and frowned when he saw that it was flashing the number 12. Who the hell would call me 12 times? Curious, he pressed the play button and headed to the closet.
He tossed the second towel onto the bed and pulled out a clean pair of jeans and a fresh flannel as Lorelai’s voice filled the apartment. “Hi Luke, it’s me. I just wanted to let you know that I’m on my way to the hospital. Sookie is in labour. I’ll call with an update when I can.”
The machine beeped and he began to dress as the next message started. “Luke, it’s me again. Sookie’s still in labour, nothing to report yet. Can you call me? I know we left things kind of awkward this morning but I really need to talk to you, and Caesar said you’d stepped out. Call me as soon as you get this.”
Luke frowned, wondering what was so urgent.
Worry began to rise in the pit of his stomach as he listened to the next several messages. Her intensity and anxiety seemed to increase with each message as she stressed the need to talk to him, and he could tell she was trying not to cry. Damn it Kirk, why’d you have to mess things up today of all days? She obviously needed me and I let her down.
Luke slumped miserably on the couch as he listened to her tell him about Sookie’s daughter in a high pitched voice that betrayed her panic. Something had happened at that hospital today and he needed to know what. He sensed that it was somehow related to the unfinished baby talk but he wasn’t quite sure what the connection was. She sounded so spooked.
He stood up, grabbed his keys and was ready to head straight to the hospital to find her when the twelfth and final message began to play. “Luke, where have you been all day? Sookie is sleeping now and I’m on my way to Friday Night Dinner. Rory called to say she isn’t coming, so I’m going to try to get out of it early. I really need to talk to you. I’ll meet you at the diner at 9 o’clock. I really hope you get this.”
Luke dropped his keys, his lips pursed tightly as he contemplated the tension and weariness in her voice. He glanced at his watch: 8:00 PM. He had an hour to kill.
He pulled on his shoes and returned to the diner, deciding that helping Caesar close up would keep him busy enough to hold his concern at bay until she arrived.
xxxx
At 8:25 the bell above the door jingled. Luke looked up hopefully from the table he was cleaning, and when Rory stepped into the deserted diner, his smile faded only slightly. Luke quickly flipped the chairs upside down onto the table before heading to the counter to meet her.
He grabbed a mug and poured Rory’s coffee before she’d even had a chance to plop herself onto the stool.
“Thanks, Luke,” she said as she breathed in the warm, sweet scent and took a careful sip. “Just what I needed.”
“You okay?” Luke leaned on the countertop and studied her carefully. She seemed upset about something.
“Not really. This day has sucked. Really, really sucked.” Rory took another sip of coffee. Luke plated a piece of cherry pie and slid it toward her.
“Pie usually helps in these cases, I’ve learned.”
Rory smiled at him gratefully. “Thanks, Luke.”
They were silent for several moments as Luke tidied up behind the counter and Rory savoured the delicious pie.
Rory was the first to break the silence. She told Luke what had happened at the paper that day, and conveyed her concerns about what to do next. “Paris says I should just suck it up and prove that he’s wrong. But it hurts, you know?” At Luke’s nod she continued, “I mean, I know that I’ve still got a lot to learn, but I really thought I was doing a good job and now, I just feel so lost. I told Paris that I think I should just drop out of Yale until I figure this out.”
Her eyes filled with tears and Luke felt the urge to go to her and comfort her. He walked to her side of the counter and pulled her into an awkward hug. “Rory, you’re the brightest kid I’ve ever met. You’re also the most inquisitive. If you want to be a journalist then you will be a journalist. Of that I have no doubt.” Rory began to sob against his chest. He was furious with this Mitchum guy for hurting her and if he could have, he would have jumped in his truck right then and there and gone to punch the guy. Instead, he gently patted her back and let her cry.
As she calmed down he whispered, “No matter what, you are not dropping out of Yale. You worked hard to get there, you deserve to be there and you love it. Dropping out of Yale is NOT an option, even if it means I have to follow you around next semester and force you to go to classes.”
Rory began to giggle softly as she pictured Luke stalking her at Yale. That would be fun to explain. He was right, though, dropping out of Yale would not be the right choice for her. She was just confused now, but she’d figure it out. She always did. Maybe it was time for a ‘pro/con’ list.
She pulled back and looked up at him. “Thanks, Luke. Somehow you always know just what I need.”
Luke blushed slightly as he moved back to his side of the counter. “Sometimes you’re easier to figure out than your mother,” he joked.
“Mom!” Rory yelped in panic. “What am I going to tell her? She’s going to freak out. She already hates Logan and his family.”
“She doesn’t hate him. She just doesn’t like the way his family treated you. And I agree with her. You’re so much better than those people. Just tell your mom what you told me. She would be hurt if you kept it from her.” Luke took Rory’s hand and squeezed it encouragingly. “She’ll understand.”
Rory felt infinitely better and decided to order a cheeseburger. When Luke returned from the kitchen 5 minutes later with her meal, she was smiling and looking much more like herself.
Luke set her plate in front of her and shoved his hand in his pocket. He felt around for the object he’d placed there before he’d come downstairs. Grasping it lightly and clinging to it for courage, he took a deep breath and said in a rush, “While you’re here, there’s actually something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about.”
Rory looked at him quizzically as he fidgeted nervously. “Okay,” she said, wondering what it could be.
Luke glanced around the diner as though expecting eavesdroppers, even though the place was completely empty. He leaned on the counter again so that he was eyelevel with her before saying softly, “I was wondering if you would be willing to give me your blessing to ask your mother to marry me.”
Rory’s squeal was so unexpected that Luke flailed his arms and managed to knock a bottle of Ketchup on the floor. He cursed loudly as it shattered, causing Rory to stop shrieking and lower her voice to human decibel levels.
“Oops. Sorry Luke. I guess I got a little carried away for a moment there. Yes, of course you have my blessing. Mom loves you, I love you, might as well make it official.” She continued to ramble on as Luke bent to clean up the mess. “Do you have a ring picked out already? When do you think the wedding will be? You know what would be perfect for you two? A winter wedding. Mom would love that. She loves the snow. And weddings are cheaper in the winter. Think Mom will let me help with the planning. Oh, I can’t wait. You’re going to become a Gilmore, Luke!”
Luke tossed the last of the ketchup mess into the trash and gaped at her. “Woah, slow down, Rory. You’re as bad as your mother sometimes.” Rory giggled. “
“There’s something else,” he said softly.
Rory’s mouth was filled with cheeseburger so she nodded for him to continue.
“I want to buy her a house.” Luke was watching her, waiting anxiously to know her reaction.
Rory swallowed and took a sip of her coffee before gasping, “A house?” Her eyes were wide with surprise.
Luke nodded emphatically. “The Twickham house, to be exact.”
“Woah, that’s a big house.”
“It’s beautiful though. I’ve always loved it. What do you think?”
Rory munched on a fry as she contemplated for a moment. “Well, I think it’s a really sweet gesture, Luke, but Mom would freak.”
Luke’s face fell and Rory rushed to assure him.
“She’d appreciate the gesture, but mom is funny about things like this. I think it’s because of the way she grew up or something, but she doesn’t like other people making big decisions for her. A house is a huge deal; she’d want to be part of the process.” It was Rory’s turn to anxiously await a reply. She took another bite from her burger, giving Luke time to process what she’d said.
Luke slouched his shoulders as he internally kicked himself. “You’re right. I should have thought of that, Rory. She should be included in the decision. I’m such an idiot.”
This time it was Rory who grasped his hand and squeezed it, reassuring him that it was okay. “It’ll be fine, Luke. You haven’t bought the house yet, have you?”
Luke shook his head. “No, I almost had it, but then Kirk made an offer and… well, it’s a long story but the end result is that the house is being re-listed. I’ll have a chance to make another offer, but it may not be accepted.”
“Okay, so talk to mom, and if you decide to make an offer you can do it together.” She popped the last piece of her burger into her mouth and stood up to leave. “I should go, I have an exam first thing tomorrow and I’m staying here tonight. Talk to Mom, it will all work out, I’m sure of it.”
“Thank you, Rory, for everything. And your situation will work itself out too. If I can do anything to help, just let me know.” Luke poured her a cup of coffee to go and handed it to her.
“You’ve already done more than enough for me, Luke. You have no idea how much I appreciate being able to talk to you like this. Thanks. Oh, and don’t wait too long to propose, I’m not sure how long I can keep it a secret.” With that, she pulled her purse over her shoulder and exited the diner. He watched protectively as she walked to her car and drove away. He was about to clear her plates, when Lorelai’s Jeep jerked to a stop right out front.
Showtime, he thought nervously as he patted his pocket and walked toward the door to meet her.
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