Life Choices, Challenges and Changes

Part I Chapter 3 A Not So Happy New Year

Part I Chapter 3

A Not So Happy New Year

In September, while Rory was traveling on the bus across the country, Finn returned to New York City and immersed himself in his studies. He heard from Logan and would see Colin and Steph. He was enjoying his coursework at NYU, and his father was giving him more responsibility. On New Year's Eve of 2007, he invited Logan to come to the New Year's party he was having at one of his father's new clubs. His brother Angus had designed the club and he was given the responsibility to hire, decorate, and manage the club.

When James called Rory and told her that he was coming to New York the next week, she invited him to come to Stars Hollow. When Rory got the call from James, she was visiting with Lane and Zach. They were telling her about a new club in the city that was great for drinking and dancing. It was called OMNIA. Rory figured it would be a great place to celebrate New Year's with James. She had wanted Steph and Colin to meet James but hadn't heard from them. She was disappointed, but she figured that they must have gone to a warmer climate to spend their winter break.

Lane's band had played at the Omnia a few times. Knowing how popular the club would be on New Year's Eve, Zack called the owner, and he was able to get VIP passes for Rory and James. Originally, they were going to join them, but one of the twins was sick, so they decided that they both would spend the evening home together. Rory went shopping with Lorelai in Hartford and bought herself a new designer dress. It was a black mini dress with a stand-up collar and short sleeves. She paired it with a pair of red high heels and red cape.

James arrived on December twenty-ninth, and she picked him up at the airport in Hartford. Lorelai got him a room at the Dragonfly and the next day Rory showed him around Stars Hollow. James found the town quaint, and since it was his first time seeing snow, she took him outside and threw a snowball at him. They had fun playing in the snow, building a snowman and going for a ride in the horse and carriage that her mom made available for them to use while he was visiting at the Inn. Both Luke and Lorelai liked James and they all spent the evening on Dec. 30th at the house having a Gilmore Girls movie night.

The next morning, they left for New York City. James had reserved two rooms at the Park Central Hotel. They arrived early on New Year's Eve and did the typical tourist activities in the city. Rory took James ice skating at Radio City Hall, they walked through Central Park and took the tour bus around the city, laughing and talking about the possibilities of them both moving here and working for the New York Times.

After the bus tour, they returned to the hotel for an early dinner and returned to their rooms to change. When she came out of her room, James whistled. Rory had her hair pulled back in a low bun and left a few tendrils of curls around her face.

They hailed a taxi and gave the driver the address for the OMNIA. When Rory and James arrived at the club, they saw the long line of people waiting behind the ropes to enter. Grabbing James by the hand, she led him to the front of the line and handed the bouncer their passes. Suddenly, memories of Logan doing this to her came flooding back. The bouncer admitted them, and they walked into the elegant club. The music was blaring, looking around they saw that there were three dance floors. James placed his hand on the middle of her back, and they walked towards one of the bars. He ordered their drinks, a Champagne Cocktail for her and a Bourbon on the rocks for him. They found a quiet table not far from another room and sat and talked. The DJ was playing the top billboard hits of 2007, and they sat at the table drinking and talking.

Rory and James were sitting at the table next to a private room at the edge of the dance floor. She turned and noticed a group of people talking and drinking in there when she heard a familiar accent. She smiled, it was Finn. All her old friends from Yale were in the room with Finn celebrating. It was the first time they had been together since May. Rosemary and Juliet had flown in from Florida where they were attending graduate school. The gang was almost complete except one person was missing, and that was Rory. She was just about to ask James if he would like to go and meet some of her college friends when she noticed Logan and a beautiful blonde with him. There was no way she was going in there; her loss was still too great.