Jo's POV
I'm at the Crap Shack with Rory, Lane and Dean eating pizza. Lane is calling Dave again.
"Well?" Rory asks.
"Still ringing," Lane says.
She hangs up.
"He's home," Lane says.
"How'd he sound?" Rory asks.
"Homey," she replies.
"Nice," Rory says.
"I know this is a stupid question, but why can't you just talk to him?" Dean asks.
"Because yesterday he called to say that they were still looking for a rehearsal space and that he'd call when he had more news, so now I have to wait until he calls about the band. And in between, I call and hang up on him. pathetic," Lane replies.
"Not so pathetic. I used to hang up on Dean all the time," Rory says.
"You did?" he asks.
"I remember that," Lane says.
"When did you hang up on me?" he asks.
"Right when we first met," Rory says.
"You should have just said something," he tells her.
"I couldn't do that," she replies.
"Why not?" he asks.
"Because then you would've known that I was calling and therefore that I liked you," she says.
"Yes, but I liked you too," he tells her.
"I know that now," she says.
"And you could have known that then," he replies.
"Dean, please, this is a girl thing," she tells him.
"Ok, tell me when I'm supposed to pay attention again," he says.
"I'm gonna love him forever and he'll never know it," Lane says.
"What if you coughed?" Dean says, smirking.
"Dean," Rory says, getting on to him.
"Or sneeze," I add.
"Jo."
"I'm not sorry," I replied, also smirking.
"At least he's at home and not out with a girl," Lane says.
"Very true," Rory responds.
"He could be home with a girl..." Dean says.
"Dean!" Rory yells.
"Sitting here, staring at my pizza," he says.
"You think he was at home with a girl?" Lane asks.
"No, I don't," Rory tells her.
"I'm gonna call again," she says.
"Good idea, and pay attention to the background noise this time," Rory tells her.
"Girls are weird," I tell Dean.
"Oh, cool. Pizza," Lorelai says, walking in.
"She's calling Dave to see if she can hear a girl in the background," Rory informs.
"Oh," Lorelai replies.
"I voted that she actually said something," Dean says.
"You're a boy. You know nothing about this," Loreal replies.
"But I'm a girl, and I agree," I add.
"Hush child," she tells me.
"What'd you hear?" Rory asks Lane.
"Quadrophenia," Lane replies.
"Classy, but not date-like," she says.
"You think?" Rory asks.
"Definitely."
"What if he met a girl, who's a major Who fan?" Dean asks.
"What?" Lane asks.
"Why are you causing trouble?" Rory asks.
"Cause it's fun," I tell her.
"Rory, can I talk to you in the kitchen?" Lorelai asks.
"Oh, sure. Be good!" Rory tells us.
Lane sits on the couch, taking Rory's spot. Dean and I look at her.
"Go ahead," he tells her.
We watch as she calls Dave again.
We watch as she calls Dave again. When they come back they tell us Rory is going to be Lorelai's dance partner for the dance marathon.
--
I'm up early and I'm not happy about it. Taylor convinced Luke to set up a coffee stand at the marathon. Lorelai and Rory walk up.
"Hey, we're dying. Load us up," Lorelai says.
"It isn't ready yet," he states.
"What?"
"Mommy?"
"What do you mean it isn't ready? It's six in the morning. Nothing says coffee like six in the morning," Lorelai says.
Luke looks around for a second and then turns and grabs a thermos from behind him.
"You did not get this from me," he says as he hands it off to Lorelai.
"Then who do we send our kisses of gratitude to?" she asks jokingly.
"The eternal question asked yet again," he says as he goes to keep setting up.
"Thanks Luke," Rory says as she smells the coffee.
"Strong," she says looking at Lorelai.
"Yeah? Hello!" she says after also smelling it.
They walk to the dance floor as Taylor gives the two-minute warning. They do a countdown from ten and then the music starts. Twenty-four hours starts.
Though I wasn't dancing I was also dressed up. I went shopping with the Gilmores and got a blue version of Rory's dress, that has black dots instead of white.
I Dorothy braided my hair and secured them with red ribbons tied into bows. I was also smart enough to bring stuff with me.
I brought a small pillow, a blanket, a book, snack, and my own smaller thermos of coffee.
Since it's going to be a while until people need coffee I go to sit with Dean when he shows up. Not long after Jess comes in with Shane and they sit a couple rows in front of us.
Dean's POV
"Are you going to sit with your brother?" I ask Jo.
"No. He's not being very nice, and Shane doesn't like me," she replies with a pout.
"Coffee?" she asks a couple minutes later.
"No, thank you."
She sits and reads her book. She ends up scooting to the row behind us, laying down and going to sleep.
--
A few hours later she wakes up to help Luke.
"Are you gonna help?" she asks Jess after climbing down the bleachers.
"No," he replies, not even looking at her.
Wow, he really isn't being nice to her. Jess is an ass, but I know for sure he almost never does, or says anything to hurt Jo.
It gets kind of boring until the run. After the song is over everyone is on the ground, almost dead. Rory comes to find me and we go to the sandwich table.
Jo's POV
"Are you going to get food?" Luke asks.
"I was smart enough to bring my own," I tell him.
I keep helping fill cups. Lorelai walks over and asks if we've seen Sookie and Jackson.
"Nope."
"I've looked everywhere for them."
"Have you tried the insane asylum, where everyone in this room is supposed to be?"
Jackson walks up and they get into an argument, which I end up leaving in the middle of because Luke no longer needed my help.
I sit on the bleachers and snack on the things I brought with me.
"To hell with the contest! I'm quitting the contest! This is, if it's okay with Lorelai or Luke, or that strange man in the corner who I've never met! Excuse me, strange man in the corner! Is it okay if I quit this contest!?" I hear Jackson yell.
Then the dancers get called back to the floor and Dean comes to sit back down with me. I ended up falling back asleep, so I didn't see Lorelai's heel break.
I didn't wake up until I heard Dean yelling. I sit up and rub my eyes. By the time my brain registers what is happening Dean rushes off.
Dean and Rory are no longer together. Dean hates Jess even more now. I have three friends and I think I just lost one.
What if Rory is mad? That's two. Lane is Rory's best friend. That's all three. I pack my stuff and start to leave.
I start crying, and my breathing quickens. Luke catches me before I can leave.
"Are you okay?" he asks.
"I think I might have lost all of my friends," I say through sobs.
\\ AN // -- All grammar, punctuation, and spelling corrections are helpful, encouraged, and greatly appreciated.
Thank you
-- Izzy