Chapter 1: Born to be Wild

Rory jolts awake and struggles to regain her senses as "Born to be Wild" blasts through her alarm clock CD player at 4 in the morning. She remembers setting her alarm last night, but to wake up instead to the familiar sound of default beeping noises.

Mom! Rory yells in frustration for Lorelai, but her tired brain can't yet get the message to her mouth and the sound is only heard in her head.

Eyes closed, she struggles to turn off the blaring music, slapping her hand down in its general direction. After several failed tries, she hits the right button and the room falls silent.

Rory props herself up, leaning against the headboard. She recalls her restless night. Minutes ticked by in slow motion. Her eyes were wide awake, and she rationalized that she could make up for the lost sleep on her flights, ignoring the fact that all attempts on previous travels proved unsuccessful.

When she and Lorelai flew to Europe for their backpacking trip more than five years ago, Rory was so jealous that her mom could fall asleep before the plane reached the sky. Rory was alert at takeoff, anticipating the gain in acceleration. While in the air, she thought it'd be rude to sleep if there was a chance the flight attendant would ask questions, like if she'd prefer pretzels or peanuts. And when landing, she always felt that somehow her alertness would keep the plane from nose-diving into the neighborhoods below.

This time she's flying to Europe alone. Her usual twinge of sadness over the thought doesn't surface at the moment, as her ears are still ringing from Lorelai's Steppenwolf prank. Rory figures she must have slipped in the CD when she was getting ready for bed last night.

"Because 'Leaving on a Jet Plane' wasn't energetic enough?" Rory mumbles, leaning against her bedroom door and rubbing her eyes.

"You totally get me!" Lorelai says, pointing with dramatic pride toward her daughter. "Did you notice its references to adventure and travel? Pretty good, huh?"

Rory groans and stumbles toward the bathroom, slamming the door.

In triumph Lorelai calls through the crack, "Born to be wild, baby!"

The irony is not lost on Rory, as she was one of the most mild-mannered and well-behaved kids. But she muses that she probably was "born to be wild," based on her mom's history and temperament. Somehow it just didn't translate to the next generation.

She brushes her teeth and considers how her ex-boyfriend Jess Mariano would have fit much better into that description – a few years ago, that is. Now he's matured, becoming much more level-headed, and made much more of his life than anyone would have believed during their high school years. His first novel in his new book trilogy hit the shelves three months ago. Even before it was released a film distribution company anticipated its success and snatched up the rights to the films, the first of which will premiere in theaters in a few months.

Born to be wildly successful, she thought.

Rory remembers that her one-way ticket to Dublin, Ireland, stops off on a several-hour layover in Philadelphia, where he now lives.

She insists to herself that she planned the extended layover so she wouldn't miss her connecting flight, but she can't shake the thought that she wanted enough time to visit with Jess, if he is even available.

Besides for the occasional date on the campaign trail, her love life's been dry since she finished college and ended things with Logan. She and Jess were somehow able to recover from their wounded relationship and continue to keep in touch.

Although they haven't talked much since the movie deal went through, she is so proud of the way he's worked hard and accomplished so much. She smiles, thinking about the part she played in helping him to make more of his life. But when she compares his status in life to hers the happiness subsides, replaced by a haunting pang within. But Rory's jealous feelings are fleeting, and in seconds she bounces back to rejoice again in his good fortune.

Besides for the impending layover, most of her thoughts rest on the exciting opportunity before her. A couple of months ago she returned from her job in political journalism and can't believe she's already heading out again.

Rory's trip to Europe was spurred on this time by the human interest angle that touched her on the campaign trail. Realizing how very different people and cultures are throughout the United States, she wondered at the great differences she'd find on the other side of the Atlantic.

Rory's mind flits back to the near-constant debate she's had with herself since booking the plane ticket a few weeks after returning from the campaign trail: to text or not to text.

Why would Jess want to see her now that he is rich and famous?

"What is this?!" Luke yells from the living room, interrupting her agonizing thoughts.

"What?" Lorelai calls back from the kitchen.

"This pale imitation of a coffee."

"It's pale, my Love, because it's a latte."

Luke and Lorelai's banter had increased since they married six months ago and Luke moved into the Gilmore house.

"What are you doing buying drinks from another diner? Last I checked Luke's was the only one owned by your husband. Is that how it is? You get married and all the vows are forgotten?"

Just another loving morning at home. Rory smirks.

Lorelai replies, "Um, I'm pretty sure our vows did not include beverage-purchasing establishments."

As Rory opens the door she hears Luke's gruff voice come through clear. "It was implied!"

Lorelai smiles at Rory as she says to Luke in her sweetest tone, "It's for my loving daughter. I must do my utmost to provide for her caffeine needs, and Luke's just isn't opened this early."

"So the first 24-7 coffee shop opens in town and the diner's forgotten in a month? Why can't you just make coffee here? You have enough to keep a small country awake for weeks," Luke says, walking into the kitchen and slamming the drink down on the counter.

Wrapping an arm around her daughter's shoulder, Lorelai says, "Luke, our dear Rory is traveling to Europe alone for the first time. I refuse to have her last memory of coffee in our homeland come from expired packaged grounds from Doose's Market."

Turning to Rory, Luke replies, "May you enjoy the taste of betrayal."

"I'll miss you too, Luke," Rory smiles.

From the corner of her eye, Rory sees Lorelai wipe away a tear. She sniffs and recovers her excited expression, saying, "Come on, Kiddo. Time to set the world ablaze with your awesomeness."

"It's just Europe," Rory corrects, thinking her humble clarification still sounds pretty amazing.

Grabbing the latte, Lorelai says, "Well, that's just for starters. Once Europe realizes how brilliant you are, they'll know they can't keep you for themselves. And then you'll go off and conquer the world. All hail Queen Rory!"

Lorelai clutches Rory's arms, their eyes lock. Full of intense drama, she says, "Just promise your mother one thing. Promise me that Luke and I will have a fabulous villa in the south of France." Lorelai's eyes shoot to the ceiling, considering her options. She adds, "Preferably in Saint-Tropez, if it isn't too much trouble for your Ladyship."

"I hate France," Luke says.

Lorelai looks at him in exasperation. "You've never been to France."

"I don't need to have a root canal to know I'd hate it."

"Come on," Lorelai says, walking into Rory's room to grab her backpack. "Until you're famous, the plane won't wait for you. Of course, then you'll have your own personal jet to whisk you away to Rome whenever you're craving a panino or to Paris when you're dying for a pain au chocolat."

Luke hands Rory her coat, saying, "The jet's not staying in the driveway."

When the trio arrives at the Bradley International Airport Luke pulls to the curb at Departures and hands Rory her backpack. Giving her a wide smile, they hug, and he says, "Be safe." She loves his care for her, even if he doesn't express it all the time.

Luke pulls the car away to head for the parking lot. Lorelai walks in with Rory, making the goodbye linger on to the security checkpoint.

Rory sees Lorelai struggling to counter impending tears by raising her excitement level from happy to ecstatic, but it comes off awkward since it doesn't fit with the situation.

"I love you, Mom. I'll see you soon," Rory assures her, even though they both know it could be two months to a year before they'll meet again, as Ireland is only her first stop of several.

"Drink a pint or two of Guinness for me in Dublin," Lorelai says, drawing her only daughter into a final, prolonged embrace.

Rory fights back tears as she takes reluctant strides into the security line.

Lorelai calls out one last pleading request as the gap between them grows. "And tell Bono I say, 'Hi!'"

Rory smirks and shakes her head. She knows her mom is crazy but she loves her for it.

In a few minutes Rory is sitting at her gate, waiting to board the plane for Philadelphia. She turns her phone over and over again in her hands.

I shouldn't text him, he's too busy. …

Of course, he doesn't have to hang out. It'd be nice for me to mention it. After all, it would be uncomfortable if he finds out later that I was in Philly and never said anything. ….

Who am I kidding? He doesn't think about me. He's got his movie coming out soon. Probably many interviews too. …

As the see-saw of arguments rages on inside her head, Rory realizes her sweaty palms are making the phone slippery. She stops playing with it before it can slip out of her grasp and onto the floor.

When the gate agent announces her zone number for boarding, Rory clutches her phone in one hand and her boarding pass in the other as she moves closer to the door that will lead her to the plane.

Once aboard, she makes it to her assigned seat, begins staring at her phone, and exhales with a heavy sigh. Rory taps to a new text message and types Jess' name into the recipient field.

A few words into her message she hesitates, considers an alternative, and deletes what she wrote. Rory repeats this process several times, striving to string together the perfect set of words, as if her text message is headed out to an editor for publication.

Her final message reads: Hey Jess. Hope you're doing well. I have a five-hour layover in Philly in about an hour. Just boarded my flight. It'd be great to hang out if you have the chance. If not, no biggie. I understand.

Her finger hovers above the Send button for a full minute.

Rory bites her lip, mulling over the options of sending or deleting the message. Her mind wanders to his thick and gorgeous curls that resist laying in any proper fashion. She remembers his teasing but alluring smile. No matter how well she works to hide reactions or feelings from him, his soulful eyes always see right through the pretense, and he knows what's going on inside of her. She considers how he seems to understand her better than any other guy ever had. With these thoughts encouraging her on, she hits Send and shuts down her phone for takeoff.

The one-hour flight to Philly feels like the longest trip of her life. She stares out the window and tries to forget about her stupid layover, embarrassed that she's more focused on a minor flight in the States than on her exotic month in Ireland.

Over the intercom Rory finally hears, "Please fasten your seat belts as we make our final descent into Philadelphia," making her feel both relieved and queasy inside.

When the plane touches down Rory hesitates to turn her phone back on, working up the strength to accept whatever she may find after it powers up.

With a deep sigh she starts her phone and hurries to stuff it back in her purse before she can see any messages, rationalizing that there's no point in looking at it until she's at the gate.

Rory finally sets foot in the Philadelphia International Airport and knows the inevitable can't be put off any longer. She opens her phone and looks down.

One new message.

With excitement and nervousness she taps into it and sees who it's from: Lane. Her heart sinks in disappointment.

Guilt follows, as she would have been thrilled to get a message from Lane under any other circumstance. It reads: Have a safe trip. Miss you already!

With a heavy sigh she resigns herself to a boring and very long layover. As she starts writing back to Lane another text pops up. She systematically checks that one as well, assuming it's her mom asking if she's landed yet. Instead she finds it's from Jess. The text reads: Waiting at security.