Gilmore Sisters

Chapter 14 ~ The Better Party

  * * * The next morning * * *

  "Hey Sookie." I say as I walk into the kitchen.

  "Morning, popcorn." Sookie replies. "Do you happen to know where Rory went?"

  I grab a mug from the cupboard and pour myself some coffee. "Um.." I take a sip of my coffee. "I think she went to the college fair."

  "Why?" Sookie asks, putting some of the unpacked groceries in the fridge. 

  I sit down at the table. "To get a Harvard brochure."

  "Doesn't she get one every year?" 

  "Yep. Every year she goes to see if they've changed the pictures." I tell her. "But every year, they never change." I gulp some coffee. "Where's Mom?"

  "She went to get some more stuff for the party." Sookie says.

  "Oh. Okay." I drink the rest of the coffee. "Hey, did she say if I could invite anyone else?"

  Sookie turns around. "I don't think she mentioned that. But you could ask her to find out."

  "Okay." I put down the mug and walk into the living room to call Mom. 

  Mom: "Hello?"

  Me: "Hey, did you say I could invite someone?"

  Mom: "Uhh..yeah. Why not?"

  Me: "Thanks. I'll talk to you later."

  Mom: "Not so fast."

  Me: (pauses) "Yea??"

  Mom: "Who are you inviting?"

  Me: "Breanna."

  Mom: (pauses) "And??"

  Me: (hesitates then sighs) "Asher.."

  Mom: "Aha!"

  Me: (groans) "Why do you and Rory do that?"

  Mom: (laughs) "It's a mother-daughter thing." (continues laughing)

  Me: (silence)

  Mom: (still laughing)

  Me: (clearly but quietly) "I've gotta go. Can they come?"

  Mom: "Yeah. See ya later."

  Me: (wobbly) "Bye."

  I hang up and try to hold back my tears. I slowly count to 12 in my head, then backwards from 12. Feeling a bit better, I walk back into the kitchen.

  "You call her?" Sookie says without looking at me. 

  I clear my throat before answering. "Yeah. Yeah."

  "Well? What did she say?" Sookie asks, turning around to look at me. "Oh no..did she say no?"

  I survey the kitchen. "Y-Yeah, sort of. Hey, we need to get cooking here. Nothing is ready yet." I point out, going to the counter to examine the recipe book.

  Sookie appears confused at first, but she goes along with what I'm doing. Eventually, me and Sookie are making mac-n-cheese, tater tots, garlic bread, onion rings, and chocolate cupcakes. Rory comes back home about 10 minutes later and helps Sookie with the food, even though she's not really supposed to be helping us.

  I give up, and let her take over for me. It's only 11 AM, so I take the phone from the living room and rush upstairs into my room. I dial Breanna's number then lay on my bed.