[Anima Sola]

(Fortsetzung von Kapitel 9)

Around six p.m., Rory sat on her bed, slipping into her shoes, when she heard a chain of knocking sounds on her door. She got up and opened the door to see Finn leaning against the doorframe, his knuckles still in the air.
“Oh, love, you disturbed me playing We Will Rock You on your door.”
She grinned. “I’m sorry! I’ll never again stand between you and your talent”, she chuckled, grabbing his hand, pulling him inside.
“I can only see one way you’re repaying me, love”, he said, before he pulled her into a tight embrace, kissing her hungrily.
“Finn!”, she laughed as he gnawed on her earlobe.
He let go of her and grinned. “So, ready to go to Hellville?”, he asked.
“Sort of”, she replied, before her gaze fell onto his clothes. “Wow! Will you look at that?”, she gasped and examined his tuxedo. “Ooh and I love the tie!”, she added, stroking over the red fabric.
“Thank you”, he said, watching her over. “And I can say, you look adorable tonight as well”, he added, placing his hands on her hips, making her move left and right, watching the skirt of her dark-red dress flow to the movements.
“Thanks”, she whispered and cupped his face. “Hey, the cute band-aid is gone!”
“Well, I couldn’t go to your grandparents with that thing on my nose. They would think I’m only hanging around bars, getting awfully drunk and then fighting about nothing at all!”
“But aren’t you, except for the last part?”, she laughed.
He tilted his head smirking. “You better not mention that in front of your grandparents!”
She stuck out her tongue to him and he pursed his lips, before he grabbed her and tickled her, until she, squealing loudly, raised her hands in surrender, begging for his mercy. He let go of her and placed his hands on the lower part of her back, locking eyes with her.
“You look beautiful”, he whispered, tilting his head. “And I still can’t believe this.”
“Me neither”, she muttered, putting her hands on his chest, feeling his heart beat behind the fabric of his tux.
“You ready to go?”
She nodded and lowered her hands, grabbing his, hooking her fingers into his.
“Oh dear”, she laughed, looking down at the nail polish on his fingernails.
He just shrugged, grinning. “Don’t ask, love.”
“I would never dare”, she replied, leaning up to kiss him. “I like this about you, my little MysteryMan.”
He smirked at the nickname she gave him. “So how do I call you from now on?”
“Be creative”, she suggested.
“Hmmm”, he said, thinking with his forehead furrowed. “What about – no. But maybe – ah, better not. And –“
“Oh stop that, I can’t stand that!”, she shrieked, a grin on her face. “Don’t begin saying something and don’t finish. My mother does the same. I hate that!”
“And I don’t want you to hate me, love”, he winked. “My lovely Tequila Girl!”
“Oh no, you can’t call me that”, she laughed. “At least not in front of my grandparents.”
“Speaking of which”, he said, looking at his watch.
“Oh dear, let’s go”, she said, grabbing her purse and pulling Finn after her out of her dorm, her heels echoing through the halls.

Rory pulled her car onto the place in front of her grandparents’ house and killed the engine, staring up at the large, dark house. Sighing, she turned to Finn. He watched her with a smile.
“Ready?”, she asked.
“If you are.”
She kept staring at the house.
“Are you ready?”
“I don’t know.”
“Let’s find out”, he said, opened his door and got out.
Rory didn’t move, until Finn opened her door and leant nearer to kiss her on the cheek. She woke up slightly and turned her head to him.
“Come on, Mystery Man will save you from the monsters of Hellville”, he said with a grin.
She replied his grin and kissed him quickly, before getting out, hooking her fingers into his as they walked towards the front door.
“They do know I’m coming, right?”
She nodded. “I called them.”
“So they know I am coming.”
She turned her head. “Yes, they know you are coming.”
“And who am I?”
She raised an eyebrow.
“What did you tell them?”
“I said I’m bringing over a special friend.”
“Special friend?”, he repeated with a frown.
“I didn’t want to tell them over the phone.”
“I see”, he said and looked at the door again. “Nice door. Do you think we’ll ever see the other side?”
“We have to ring for that.”
“So let’s ring.”
“I can’t reach the bell.”
“You’re standing closer.”
“My arm’s not long enough.”
“Rory?”
“Finn?”
“What’s wrong?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why are you so nervous about this dinner? Do you think I won’t behave or tell dirty stories or get drunk and embarrass you?”
“Are you?”, she asked, looking at him.
“Oh, love, now I am really hurt”, he said, putting his free hand on his heart. “I would never dare to embarrass you!”
“I want to believe that.”
“You know, I read somewhere, that, being in a relationship, the boyfriend and girlfriend have to trust each other.”
“I so want to borrow that book”, she grinned. “Alright, I am sorry that I even assumed you of embarrassing me. I know you won’t, I believe you, I’m just –“
“What, love?”
“Maybe they won’t approve you.”
“That’s what you fear?”
“Sort of.”
“So what? What if they won’t approve? Do we have to break up then?”
“No! No, of course not.”
“So what?”
She watched him, how he looked at her, in his black tux and the red tie, and his fingers hooked into hers, with his fingernails covered by shattered nail polish. She had never before seen someone like him, he was special and he always surprised her.
“You’re right, so what!”, she said and leant up to kiss him.
With that she bent forwards to ring the bell.
After the maid had opened, they walked into the living room, their hands still entwined. Emily and Richard Gilmore sat each in a chair and looked up at they approached.
“Rory”, Emily smiled and got up to greet her granddaughter.
“Hello, grandma, hi, grandpa”, she smiled at them. “This is Finn”, she said, turning her head to Finn.
“Good evening Mr and Mrs Gilmore”, he said and again Rory was surprised.
He let go of her hand and moved towards Richard and Emily to shake their hands. They smiled at him and then watched how Rory and Finn sat down on the couch. Finn then casually grabbed Rory’s hand again, causing Rory to throw him a smile.
“So this is your special friend, Rory”, her grandfather said, looking at Finn.
“Yes”, she replied. “My boyfriend, grandpa.”
“You are friends with Logan Huntzberger, is that right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Fine friend, you have there”, Richard continued, before he got up. Rory and Finn exchanged short glances. “Do you like anything to drink?”
Rory watched Finn. “A soda for me, grandpa.”
“And a scotch, please, if that’s possible.”
“It is. Good taste, my boy”, her grandfather said, making their drinks.
Now it was Emily’s turn.
“So, Finn.” She pronounced his name rather carefully. “You are going to Yale as well?”
“Yes, Ma’am. I’m in my junior year.”
“I would have guessed you were older”, Emily said, watching him closely, while Rory squeezed his hand a little. “I thought you were at least two years older than Rory.”
“Well, I am”, Finn replied. “I just began college a little later.”
“I see.”
“So you are from Australia, am I hearing that right?”
It was Richard’s turn again. He handed out their drinks and sat down again.
“Yes, sir”, Finn nodded.
“Since when are you here?”
“I moved here when I was sixteen, sir. My father is a pilot in the Royal Navy.”
“And your mother is in the DAR, am I right?”, Emily chimed in.
“Of course, Ma’am.”
The evening continued with more questioning and answering, and when the maid announced that dinner was ready, Rory shot Finn a sympathetic smile, mouthing: “I am so sorry!” He just nodded and threw her a smile. They sat down next to each other on the table, facing the empty plates in front of them. Rory used the moment that Richard and Emily settled down to lean closer to Finn.
“We leave right after dessert”, she whispered. “I guess Tequila Girl has to save you today.”
He grinned at her, before straightening himself again when the salad was put onto their plates. They ate more of less silently. And after a little more small talk, Rory and Finn stood by the door, ready to leave.
“Thank you for this lovely dinner, Mrs Gilmore”, Finn just said, shaking her hand. “It was delicious.”
“Take care, son”, Richard said when Finn shook his hand.
Finn nodded, smiling. “Good night, sir.”
“Good night, grandpa, grandma”, Rory said and pulled Finn gently after her through the open door.
Once the door had closed behind them, Rory pulled her arms around Finn’s neck.
“Oh my god! Was that awful or what?”, she muttered against him.
“I expected worse things to happen, love”, he replied, causing her to stare at him.
“But I’m still sorry they asked you so much”, she whispered, leaning against him.
“It’s alright, darling.”
“I don’t understand why you are so calm.”
“Well, I just answered their questions. What’s the big deal?”
“And apparently they liked you.”
“Apparently.”
“This is odd.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because you are not the type of guy they want to be at their granddaughter’s side.”
“Not?”
“No, you are –“
“Hmm?”
“Yes, I don’t care what you are for them. For me”, she began, locking eyes with him. “For me you are special.”
“Right back at you”, he muttered, before leaning in to kiss her.
They stumbled back to Rory’s car, still holding and kissing each other. Rory unlocked the doors and they almost fell into the car, if Rory hadn’t pushed Finn away in time.
“Not here”, she mouthed and shoved him around the car to the passenger door. He got inside unwillingly, still holding her hands, kissing her passionately. She backed up after a while and closed his door before she got in on her side, starting the engine. His hand wandered over her knee to her thigh, but Rory just giggled and threw him a grin while driving off her grandparents’ front yard.
“Where are we going?”
“To a better place”, she replied, her eyes on the road.
“But I’m too young to die”, he whined.
“You don’t have to die for this”, she smirked, shooting a quick glance at her.
“But where is this better place?”
“Right here”, she just said, pointing at the entrance sign of Stars Hollow.
“What’s Stars Hollow?”
“You are about to discover that. You survived the dinner with my grandparents’ so amazingly, so you can easily cope with my mother as well.”
Finn just stared at her. “Your mother?”
Rory drove onto another front yard and parked right behind a jeep. She then turned to Finn and smiled. “Welcome to my life.”


...to be continued... (ja, es geht wirklich noch weiter^^)