A/N: So I decided to start a collection of oneshots, because that seems to be all I'm capable of with this couple. Each one will precede with a lyric that inspired me. I hope you enjoy them!

Standard disclaimers apply.

Sometimes you run and hide

Your foolish pride's

What keeps me from giving you more

- Joshua Radin

You Got Growing Up To Do

Rory cries, still sitting on the box filled with neatly stacked books, feeling a mixture of disbelief and unbearable sadness. His words still echo in her head:

And I'm ready. I'm ready for this. You can count on me now. I know you couldn't count on me before, but you can now, you can.

She wanted to believe him, she really did, but she couldn't, she can't. There's no way he's ready, or she's ready for that matter. And there's no way she can count on him, not until he can say those words without his voice cracking in desperation. He's still running away from his problems (or maybe he's trying to fix them?) and she can't help but think that if she were to go away with him, one day she'll wake up and she'll be alone in some shabby motel, clutching paper-thin sheets.

She wipes her eyes and forces herself to breathe evenly. This is for the best. She can't just drop everything for him – it's ludicrous! But what's even crazier is that she actually considered running away from it all: Yale, her mother, her grandparents, Stars Hollow…everything. Just so she can look into his dark eyes, talk about books until the sun comes up, and…

Stop. That's not going to happen. He clearly can't handle that kind of relationship for more than a few months. He needs to stop being angry at the world and grow up. Yes, he needs to grow up. This thought allows her to stand up and continue her packing.

But a small voice in the back of her mind whispers, "You have to grow up too."

A/N: I hate the dorm scene, and this is the closest I'm ever going to get to it.

Please review!

MissGoalie