8 years in the life

Chapter 1 May 2008

Rory was still on the Obama campaign trail but as it began to get to a close, she didn't know if she would keep on working for Hugo afterward. Therefore, she was applying for jobs. Things were going quite well for her, and she had been requested by the Boston Globe to write some articles as their reporter was on an extended maternity leave. She met the Obamas several times and bonded with Michele Obama and her staff. She loved being a journalist, it wasn't the Yale Daily News anymore, it was the real world. She had been used to the constant traveling and her goal to become the next Christiane Amanpour was still wandering in her head. The people on the campaign trail were actually quite nice and she had made some good friends that she was pleased to hang out with to avoid the homesickness. She only had been home once but even though she'd miss Stars Hollow and her mom it wasn't as painful as she'd expected. Moreover, she didn't think of Logan that much anymore. At least she didn't have ample time to. For a while, she hoped that he would have tried to reach back to her like he always did after their few breakups, but after a few months, she came to the conclusion that he had moved on and that this page has been turned for her too. Of course, she had thought of calling him but maybe her pride or the care of being rejected prevented her from simply press the phone button. She also cut off from any relations with all the Yale friends that they had together. It was way too painful of a reminder and anyway, they were his friends first. Moreover, they were scattered everywhere. Colin stayed at Yale for law school, Rosemary entered the Sotheby's Institute of Art and Juliet the Cornell MBA program. Finn got into his family's company, GMO a global investment management firm. Robert and Stephanie graduated a year before Logan as they hadn't taken time off during their college years. Robert went to grad school to follow the Harvard political science program and Steph worked in a public relations agency in New York. For a while, she attempted to keep pace with Rory, but they finally lost touch. Sometimes she would get some crazy texts from Finn whenever he was too wasted. The only person from Yale that she still had regular connections with was Paris, who was at Harvard Medical School, still living with Doyle who got a reporter job at the Boston Herald.

Rory was finishing her piece in her hotel room in Portland when she heard her phone ring. She looked at the caller ID and saw it was the Boston Globe chief editor. She wondered why was he calling. Usually, she was contacted by Carol, the section editor... She cleared her voice and took the call.

"Rory Gilmore"

"Hi Rory, it's Bill from the Globe."

"Hi Bill, is everything OK with my piece?"

"Sure, everything is fine. It's not the reason why I'm calling. I've just got out of a meeting with the editorial board and we are thinking about offering you a regular reporter position. Would you be interested?"

"Sure!" The wheels were turning insanely fast in her head. Oh my God!"

"We thought you could come to meet us by the end of the primary campaign in June."

"I'm sure I can manage that. I'm looking forward to meeting you. Thanks, Bill for this opportunity!"

"Don't thank me yet, we are meeting other candidates but you're definitely among our favorites"

"Wow, could you offer me any details? Do I have to prepare anything?"

"Well, it's not definitive yet but we need another person to handle the interviews in the New England area and we really liked the one that you did for us the last couple of months. Basically, it's a reporter job on politics in the Metro area, but you might have to still work a bit to help on the campaign at least until the elections" Rory was over the moon. Looked like all this hard work was ultimately paying.

"It would be great. I'm really excited".

"I'm very confident you can get the job. My assistant will provide you with the details. So, see you next week Rory".

"Thanks, Bill"

Rory was so excited and started to wonder who she should tell the good news first.

"Hey, Paris do you think I could crash at your place around June 4th?"

"When? Why? Of course, you can. Even if I have a night shift Doyle should be home. Anyway, I'm done with my finals."

"Great I don't have the details yet but I have a job interview for the Globe on the 4th."

"Boy! You mean next month? We could even be roommates again!"

"We'll see, I don't have the job yet and I don't think that Doyle would be willing to have a roommate again. See you in two weeks then."

Paris has always been there for Rory. She helped Rory a lot to get over Logan. Of course, for most people, Paris was hard to handle, but she was a rock to Rory and paradoxically since they left Yale they'd become even closer to each other. When she felt down and depressed on the road in the lousy hotel rooms, she used to call her friend even more often than her mother probably because she didn't need the cheering up, just someone to listen or telling her stories that involved unknown people. She now became very well acquainted with all Paris' teachers and classmates even if she has never met them. She still has her tight relationship with her mother though and used to call her quite often.

"Hey kiddo, what's up?"

"Hi! Mom, you'll never guess. I've got an interview for a job at the Boston Globe"

"Wow! It's great, would you be traveling?"

"Only in New England so I would be living in Boston"

"Oh! My baby is coming back!"

"Not yet, mom, I have to pass the interview next week"

"And when will you start?"

"I don't know, I still have to talk to Hugo"

"I'm so happy, at least you're starting to get job interviews. Will you be able to come to Stars Hollow after your interview?"

"I don't know yet mom, in depends on Hugo. I'll do my best, you know I miss you"

"I know hun, me too, it's been so long"

"I have to leave, bye mum. Love you"

A/N: The song is "A Beautiful Mess" by Jason Mraz