Hello again. Sorry it took me so long to get this up. I was having
trouble with the writing process. Plus, I realized that I do have homework
over the break. Well not homework, per say, just that stuff, that if you
don't do it, you'll have to do it later, but there's so much of it, that if
you do it later, it won't get done. (Does that make sense to anyone else
but me?)
FYI: This is the sequel to "How Rory Spent Her Christmas Break."
Let's see…anything else to say. Oh yeah, I still own nothing, and I still enjoy reading reviews. (Hint! Hint!) : )
~
One more class. Rory wasn't sure she could make it. It was Friday. It was the last day before spring break. Her mental state was one of instant gratification: She wanted spring break now! She'd worked hard she deserved the break. This was obvious. And eventually the said break would come, but she wanted it now! Thus, explaining the instant gratification. Frankly another 50 minutes, or even another 1 minute, was just too long. Who could blame her? Everyone was anticipating the break. They all had that same itchy feeling, which for the most part is beyond description. But as a future writer, Rory mentally accepted the challenge and thought out the definition of "itchy." This is not a physical itchy, it's an itchy in the sense of "I can not hold still and may never be totally still again." It's similar to being one cup over your limit of coffee. Itchy is where your knee bounces as you stare at the clock, and then have to mentally think to stop your knee, then unconsciously have some other part of your body begin to move. Rory's fingers would usually start to swing against her desk. There was a problem with the pencil swing though; it could be irritating to other people. So, she would mentally stop that. And her knee would begin again. Viscous cycle. Rory was within an inch of screaming, it was that or possibly running from the building. Or, worse yet, running from the building while screaming. That was so not the dark mark she needed on her official "Student personality evaluation" that the other students probably made of her. No, actually the running screaming thing could actually be the high point of such a factious evaluation. It would be on Paris's.
Rory got a mental image of Paris writing in a black journal on a page with the heading "Rory" under it would be all the things Rory had ever done to poor Paris, followed by sad face after sad face, then at the bottom would be "Runs out of school screaming" followed by a smiley face. Knowing Paris it would somehow be color coded too. "Why just be organized when you can color code to?"
Ugh. You see this! Do you see how easily distracted Rory is right now? What was she even trying to talk about? She so needed spring break right now. Instant gratification. There's another viscous circle in her life.
Rory sighed. Her second to last class was over. There had been a test. The hell test. Seriously that's what everyone called it. Mainly because it was on Dante's Inferno, but also, because it was Hell. (I.E. very hard) So hard, it had used up all her brain cells, leaving her with the itchy feeling and the need to be on spring break so she could start to forget the hell-ness of the test.
Rory headed toward her locker. Trying to stop her mind from calculating the exact number of minutes and seconds until it actually would be time to leave. Of course, she could always go for the running and screaming option. Tempting, but no. Rory wouldn't want to give Paris the satisfaction of writing in her black book.
Rory began to consider her surroundings; Tristan was leaning by her locker, waiting for her. She sighed again. Not because of Tristan, but because it seemed to be the only way to get oxygen to her brain right now. "Help me! I need break! I need it now! I'm going insane! I can feel the saneness leaving my body. I haven't been truly relaxed since Christmas!" Tristan smiled at her comments. While going through the process of opening her locker, Rory imagined Tristan's smile having most to do with her mention of Christmas. She had spent the best parts of break with Tristan. Of course it could be her heart, which did a crazy tickling flutter on occasions when she was near Tristan, only hoping that Tristan was happy about Christmas break memories. In all actuality he could be thinking, "Rory is insane. Just smile at the crazy person then begin to back away." She had no idea what was going on inside his head. And considering some of the ideas Tristan expressed, especially before military school had conditioned him not to express them, this was, decidedly, a good thing, because Rory couldn't help but expect Tristan to still think many evil, guy- like thoughts.
Even though Tristan had hated the military school, enough to want to come back to Chilton, Rory had noticed some positive changes. His obnoxious flirting had ceased, as had his dating every pretty girl in sight. Actually, as far as Rory knew, he hadn't dated anyone since his return. Which was fine with her. She'd imagine the pain of seeing someone you like dating someone else would be worse than being a friend to the single person you liked. She couldn't help but imagine the former was how Paris became Paris.
Really, Rory and Paris were getting along well. Its just Paris had been done with the Hell Test too quickly for Rory's liking. She'd had even been smiling after taking it. Good for Paris, but discomfort causing for Rory.
Rory came back to reality. "So, have you taken the dreaded Hell Test already?" Tristan, who had still been smiling, grimaced, as though he had just tasted something very, very bad. Rory assumed that meant, "Yes, I have taken it." So, at least she wasn't the only one who found Hell to be a bad place.
"Yeah, actually that's one of the many things that I wanted to discuss with you."
"Really?" Rory was feeling psychic now, or maybe that was just a sign of her impending insanity/running and screaming fit.
"Due to my missing last semester, and thus being totally confused, and staring blankly at teachers when they talk, and them being able to recognize a confused person, I have been offered an extra credit assignment." Rory pictured a confused, sad-looking, Tristan with wide eyes. Yeah, that was a person she'd have pity on…and then hug and possibly kiss. But, that probably wasn't appropriate for the teachers. Instead of going for the hug and possible kiss, she gave Tristan a supportive "You do that extra-credit" grin and began riffling through her locker. She remembered what it was like to play catch-up from when she had first come to Chilton. "Not Fun" was an understatement; a big one.
Tristan continued talking while watching Rory. "So, my project will be due the day we come back from break. No exceptions of course." He paused. Rory looked at him, ignoring the locker filled with books that could fall at any moment. Tristan didn't pause much in conversation. Rory knew it wasn't the "no exceptions" that caused the un-Tristan-like pause, he was used to the stupid "no exceptions" rule at Chilton. Pausing for most people meant nervousness or hesitance, and those were two things Rory didn't think Tristan suffered from. He seemed to like having Rory's full attention. So, he continued. "I am, however, allowed to have a partner of my choosing, who, the extra credit will also be made available to."
"Hmmm." Rory was seeing where this was going. She went back to the arduous task of removing some books from her locker, while preparing to dodge any others that might fall. Tristan just watched her, knowing that if he didn't speak eventually, she would. "What is this spectacular extra credit assignment you've stumbled upon?"
Tristan's posture seemed to relax at that question. Rory knew, that he was assuming by that question that she was interested. "Well, we'd have to construct our interpretation of how Dante perceived Hell to be."
"Oh no! I'm not doing that!" Rory turned from her locker, noting that Tristan's posture had tensed again. "I just took the evil Hell Test. I now have a week to forget about Hell. I will not be lowered to thinking about it and then reconstructing it. It would ruin the whole forgetting process."
"Oh come on Mary!" Tristan leaned in closer.
"My name is not Mary! It is Rory!" Rory gave the automatic response for the millionth time, but with no less venom than she had contained the first time. "Why don't you work with Paris? She'll love you forever for giving her the chance at all that extra credit." Rory turned back to her overflowing locker.
Tristan's eyes rolled. "Paris isn't the one I want to love me forever." There were those stupid heart flutters Rory got. "Besides, I thought you'd jump at the chance to get ahead of Paris. You know," Tristan leaned in even closer, some would say kiss-ably close, "be first in the class."
Rory eliminated some more of the remaining distance. "Appealing. Very appealing. You should be on the debate team. And all the credit sounds good, as does the very thought of spending a whole week with your irritating self." Tristan smiled as Rory took her turn doing the eye roll thing. "But you want to know what's even more appealing? The possibility of not having to think about school or not having to do any of its stupid assignments; now that is a happy thought."
Tristan sighed. "You have no homework?"
"Thus far." There was a big smile on Rory's face.
Judging by Tristan's expression he had more than a little work to do over break. "I bet you'll get homework during last hour."
"No, no bet."
"So, you know I'm right! No, I know that I'm unlucky enough that if I make that bet, then I'll have homework. But, if I'm open to the possibility, it won't happen."
Tristan was silent for a second. "Can I see that book for a second?"
Rory had been about to put one of the many novels she was reading in her bag. "What this one?" She held it out to him, assuming he had some interest in it. No such luck.
Tristan took it. "You'll get this back when you agree to work with me."
Rory took a moment to look exasperated, "That didn't work the last time you tried to take my books and it won't work this time." Rory's mind flashed to the last time. It had been the end of the last school year; Tristan had wanted her to go to a P.J. Harvey concert with him. That had been the day she had finally told Dean she loved him. Hmmm. No more Dean now, he was happy in Chicago.
Tristan also seemed to be thinking, still holding the book he burst into mock begging. "Please, Please, Please! You can pretend it's not Hell we're working on."
"Then what would it be?"
Another moment of thinking, but a small one. Tristan was good at thinking quickly. "It could be a nine story children's daycare."
Rory had to laugh. "A daycare?"
Tristan gave a weak smile. "The worst daycare ever."
Rory gave in. "Okay. But only because I think it might be fun to build the worst daycare ever."
Tristan smiled. It was a real one, a big one, Rory liked it. "I'll meet you back here after school. Then, I'll drive you home; we can begin developing ideas for the daycare there."
"You mean I'll get to ride in your silver sports car?" Rory added some child-like excitement to her voice.
"Yep. You can even sit in the front seat, next to me."
"Okay!" With that said Rory slammed her locker. And was about to leave for class when a final comment of Tristan's made her stop.
"I can't believe you're excited to ride in my car. You're actually making me look forward to it, and I drive the thing everyday."
"Oh Tristan, you're just excited about what we could do if we parked the car." Tristan looked surprised. Normally such a comment was his department. But what could Rory say; it had been there, begging to be said. She could always blame it on the craziness of anticipating spring break.
~
"It does not."
"Does too."
"Does not."
"Too."
Tristan and Rory had just entered Luke's diner. Tristan decided to get some help before he was forced to resort to giving a reply of "not." "Hey Luke."
"What?"
Rory made an "ugh" noise. "Luke is going to be on your side. Don't ask him. You picked the one guy in the entire world who will side with you." The way Luke was looking back and forth between the two teens; Rory knew he wanted to know what they were talking about. Of course, she also knew he would never admit it. She decided to let him wonder. Served him right, because if he knew he so would have sided with Tristan. Tristan directed his attention to Jess, who, was in leaning in the back corner of the restaurant. Rory noticed. "Okay, so Luke is one of the two people other people who would agree with you, Jess is the other." Rory brought her attention back to Luke. "We have a big favor to ask of you." Rory decided to be direct. Luke looked ready for whatever the youngest Gilmore had to say. "We need to construct Dante's version of hell, and we were wondering if you could build a wooden frame for us." Rory handed Luke the sketches she had made in the car. He was Luke, so he didn't seem too shocked. Maybe, he had to fight the usual impulse he got when he didn't want to know something. But he didn't walk away. He actually stood and even took the sketches.
"It's kind of like a miniature book shelf, but the shelves can be pulled out, and it's kind of an upside-down triangular shaped. I would do it myself, but you've seen me with tools, and we want this to be good."
Luke examined the sketches. "Yeah, no problem. When do you want the thing by?"
"Tomorrow afternoon if at all possible." Rory gave a hopeful look.
Luke did one of those things where the person sucks in a breath quickly, and it makes an almost whistling noise. "Yeah okay, now get out of here."
Tristan and Rory did as they were told. Tristan gave an evil grin. "Not."
As they left the restaurant Rory explained, "Cut your hair! I understand your desire to get rid of the military cut. But eventually you'll just look weird."
~
They were in Rory's living room. "Let's watch a movie."
Rory, as usual, found herself in the position of responsibility. "No we still have some more planning to do for Hell, ummm, the daycare."
"So? It's spring break. I can't think for this long!"
"It's only Friday, you'll have plenty of time to not think. Besides, after the planning, and the figuring out how to get most of these materials, we'll be doing mainly brainless work anyway."
"I can't wait that long." Moaned Tristan. Rory just gave an "I'm sorry, but this is the way things are" shrug.
"Okay, what time does your mom get home?"
"In about an hour. Why?"
"Okay, so we watch a movie for forty minutes, then we start working." Tristan was giving a tempting smile.
Rory shook her head. "You know, for Lucifer, we should just put in your picture."
Tristan's smile clearly indicated that he was interpreting that as a "yes" to the movie idea. Tristan had been over to the Gilmore house enough to know how to operate the VCR. (An impressive feat) He started the movie, all the better Rory figured. Now she had the ability to place all the blame on the Evil one himself. They watched an old Superman movie and naturally made fun of it the whole 40 minutes that they watched.
Surprisingly, it was Tristan who ended the mocking-movie session and insisted on the return to work. "Oh no, the day you keep in on a few minutes longer is the day your mom comes home a few minutes early. Trust me. We resume work now. Besides, we won't be able to work too long; you have to drag your mom to your grandmother's. That will take effort, you won't be able to design hell with me. Plus, we have a schedule we're going to have to keep. I will not suddenly realize we have a million hours worth of work to do on the last of break. I've done that before. I will not do it again. Especially with you; you look like the kind that gets really cranky if you're worried about making a deadline." All this came in response to Rory's single moan that had clearly meant she didn't want to work.
Twenty minutes later the planning was done. It all looked simple enough, but there were still doubts swimming through Rory's head. "I still don't know where you're going to find rubber snakes small enough."
"Well, I'll look, and if worst comes to worst we'll think of some way to make the snakes."
Just then Lorelei entered. She didn't seem to be in anyway shocked by Tristan's presence, as he was often here ever since he had come back to Chilton. "Hey, what are you two up to?"
"Nothing." Rory supplied in a singsong voice. "Just trying to decide how we're going to get snakes for our Hell."
"You mean you're letting snakes loose in Chilton? Cool! I want to watch."
"No mom were building Dante's version of Hell for extra credit."
"Hmmm, can we do the idea I suggested too?"
"Yes, of course." Tristan answered before Rory could.
"Suck up." Rory insulted. Tristan gave an "I don't care what you think shrug" with a smile to match.
"Hey, Tristan, as much as I would love for you to stay, I have to kick you out. I don't want you to witness the terrifying sight of Rory dragging me to my parents' house."
"See, all that sucking up and all you got was kicked out." Rory smiled.
"Hey, if he hadn't sucked up I might have dragged him with us. He certainly would take some of that disapproving attention away from me."
"It's okay." Tristan stood and stretched, taking his notes. "I'll see you tomorrow at 2."
"I'll find the paint before you come, and I probably will have already gone to Luke's for coffee, so I'll bug him about the frame."
"Okay, until tomorrow. Bye Lorelei." With that said, Tristan showed himself out.
The two Gilmore girls were silent for a minute. Rory read the twinkling look in her mother's eye, and the slight almost laughing smile on her face. "Don't say it."
"You'll never get together if you don't let him know that you like him."
"What did I say about not saying that?" Rory questioned from her sitting position.
"You told me not to say it. He likes you. I can tell." Lorelei was giving a motherly "aww, how cute" smile.
"Mom. Besides, he already knows I like him from the last time YOU told him." Lorelei had told Tristan that Rory liked him over Christmas break, after Tristan had rear-ended them. Then, Lorelei had threatened to kill him if he hurt Rory.
"I thought you weren't holding a grudge about that." Lorelei looked pained.
"I thought I wasn't, but woops, there it is."
"Okay, I understand." Lorelei did her best to look like an ashamed little child. "Commence the dragging to see your Grandmother now."
~
"So Rory how are you planning to spend your spring break? You could always go to the club with your Grandfather. I know Richard would love that, wouldn't you Richard." Emily questioned her husband.
"Yes, of course." Was Richard's simple reply.
Rory gave a closemouthed smile "I'd loved to, but I'll actually be working on an extra credit project for most of the break."
"Well, I'm sure you can manage to organize it so you can spend a day away from your work." Emily's voice, to the casual observer seemed nice and friendly. But to those trained to hear it, which included all of those around the table, could detect the twinge of iciness that voice possessed.
"Actually, I have a partner. And we've already scheduled all the times were going to work on the project, which will include everyday, except the last Sunday of break. And then, I'd like to review my notes for all my classes, so I'll remember everything when I get back."
Lorelei made a slight noise, but actually managed to restrain herself from saying anything. Rory thought her mom was learning.
"That's very nice that you and your partner have such a high degree of organization." The iciness was still in Emily's voice.
Rory attempted to calm the storm. "I would ask him to rearrange a day, but before he was ranting about how he didn't want to end up doing all the work last minute."
"Now that's a Chilton boy. Way to take the initiative." Richard seemed enthusiastic. "Who is this boy? You've just been saying he or him?"
"Actually Grandpa, you met him at my sixteenth birthday party. It's Tristan Dugray."
"Ah yes, I remember him, Janlen Dugray's Grandson. Janlen always was a good businessman. But, I got the impression you didn't like him much."
"I didn't then, but he's kind of growing on me." Rory admitted.
"Oh, that's nice." Richard smiled sincerely.
"Oh, I know, you could invite your friend Tristan over to dinner next Friday." Emily suggested. At least the coldness was gone.
"Ummm, Mom." Lorelei tried to interject.
"It will be fun. Lorelei, you could bring a friend too."
Now Lorelei just looked scared. This was a new twist in Emily's style. "No, I think most of my friends are busy on Friday evenings. That really seems to be the night to do stuff." Emily gave her daughter an "Oh please" look. Like we're always here." Lorelei motioned to the room. "And my friends are always out and around there." Lorelei waved her arms around a little.
"Lorelei, have you been drinking?"
"Ummm, no Mom."
"Don't say "ummm," that's an atrocious habit it to get into. Public speakers lose respect for other public speakers if they say things like ummm."
"Thanks Mom, I'll keep that in mind if I ever decide to speak publicly."
"So, it's all settled then, Rory, you will invite your friend for dinner next week. You can tell us about the big project you're working on."
"Well you know, Mom, Rory is the one who has to worry about the ummm's and the public speaking. Not that she has to worry, because she is good at all that. But, you know, she does know about that project. She doesn't need anyone to help her explain it." Rory got the impression Lorelei was reliving one of her own battles with her mother in her head.
"It's okay Mom, the details of the model still aren't certain. It would be okay to explain it next week." She smiled at Lorelei, trying to bring her back to reality.
"But, you could explain a lot of it now, couldn't you?"
"Yeah, I could if it was necessary."
"But, your grandfather and I would like to wait for next week." Emily quickly retorted.
Rory's only thought to all this way "Oh boy." She had no idea what this was about. But it seemed to be one of those things her mom would refuse to talk about later. She only hoped that they would all make it through the night.
Rory's hope was fulfilled. She followed her grandfather's example and remained silent in the background as Lorelei and Emily fought out whatever there was to be fought out. Instead Rory concentrated on how she was going to get some of the materials for their project and the fact that she would be seeing Tristan tomorrow, even if it was just to work on building "the worst daycare ever." With Tristan, work often turned out to be fun. This fact gave Rory something to look forward to.
~
Well, that's it for now. Thanks for reading it. If you're willing, I'd appreciate a review. I'll write again as soon as possible. : )
FYI: This is the sequel to "How Rory Spent Her Christmas Break."
Let's see…anything else to say. Oh yeah, I still own nothing, and I still enjoy reading reviews. (Hint! Hint!) : )
~
One more class. Rory wasn't sure she could make it. It was Friday. It was the last day before spring break. Her mental state was one of instant gratification: She wanted spring break now! She'd worked hard she deserved the break. This was obvious. And eventually the said break would come, but she wanted it now! Thus, explaining the instant gratification. Frankly another 50 minutes, or even another 1 minute, was just too long. Who could blame her? Everyone was anticipating the break. They all had that same itchy feeling, which for the most part is beyond description. But as a future writer, Rory mentally accepted the challenge and thought out the definition of "itchy." This is not a physical itchy, it's an itchy in the sense of "I can not hold still and may never be totally still again." It's similar to being one cup over your limit of coffee. Itchy is where your knee bounces as you stare at the clock, and then have to mentally think to stop your knee, then unconsciously have some other part of your body begin to move. Rory's fingers would usually start to swing against her desk. There was a problem with the pencil swing though; it could be irritating to other people. So, she would mentally stop that. And her knee would begin again. Viscous cycle. Rory was within an inch of screaming, it was that or possibly running from the building. Or, worse yet, running from the building while screaming. That was so not the dark mark she needed on her official "Student personality evaluation" that the other students probably made of her. No, actually the running screaming thing could actually be the high point of such a factious evaluation. It would be on Paris's.
Rory got a mental image of Paris writing in a black journal on a page with the heading "Rory" under it would be all the things Rory had ever done to poor Paris, followed by sad face after sad face, then at the bottom would be "Runs out of school screaming" followed by a smiley face. Knowing Paris it would somehow be color coded too. "Why just be organized when you can color code to?"
Ugh. You see this! Do you see how easily distracted Rory is right now? What was she even trying to talk about? She so needed spring break right now. Instant gratification. There's another viscous circle in her life.
Rory sighed. Her second to last class was over. There had been a test. The hell test. Seriously that's what everyone called it. Mainly because it was on Dante's Inferno, but also, because it was Hell. (I.E. very hard) So hard, it had used up all her brain cells, leaving her with the itchy feeling and the need to be on spring break so she could start to forget the hell-ness of the test.
Rory headed toward her locker. Trying to stop her mind from calculating the exact number of minutes and seconds until it actually would be time to leave. Of course, she could always go for the running and screaming option. Tempting, but no. Rory wouldn't want to give Paris the satisfaction of writing in her black book.
Rory began to consider her surroundings; Tristan was leaning by her locker, waiting for her. She sighed again. Not because of Tristan, but because it seemed to be the only way to get oxygen to her brain right now. "Help me! I need break! I need it now! I'm going insane! I can feel the saneness leaving my body. I haven't been truly relaxed since Christmas!" Tristan smiled at her comments. While going through the process of opening her locker, Rory imagined Tristan's smile having most to do with her mention of Christmas. She had spent the best parts of break with Tristan. Of course it could be her heart, which did a crazy tickling flutter on occasions when she was near Tristan, only hoping that Tristan was happy about Christmas break memories. In all actuality he could be thinking, "Rory is insane. Just smile at the crazy person then begin to back away." She had no idea what was going on inside his head. And considering some of the ideas Tristan expressed, especially before military school had conditioned him not to express them, this was, decidedly, a good thing, because Rory couldn't help but expect Tristan to still think many evil, guy- like thoughts.
Even though Tristan had hated the military school, enough to want to come back to Chilton, Rory had noticed some positive changes. His obnoxious flirting had ceased, as had his dating every pretty girl in sight. Actually, as far as Rory knew, he hadn't dated anyone since his return. Which was fine with her. She'd imagine the pain of seeing someone you like dating someone else would be worse than being a friend to the single person you liked. She couldn't help but imagine the former was how Paris became Paris.
Really, Rory and Paris were getting along well. Its just Paris had been done with the Hell Test too quickly for Rory's liking. She'd had even been smiling after taking it. Good for Paris, but discomfort causing for Rory.
Rory came back to reality. "So, have you taken the dreaded Hell Test already?" Tristan, who had still been smiling, grimaced, as though he had just tasted something very, very bad. Rory assumed that meant, "Yes, I have taken it." So, at least she wasn't the only one who found Hell to be a bad place.
"Yeah, actually that's one of the many things that I wanted to discuss with you."
"Really?" Rory was feeling psychic now, or maybe that was just a sign of her impending insanity/running and screaming fit.
"Due to my missing last semester, and thus being totally confused, and staring blankly at teachers when they talk, and them being able to recognize a confused person, I have been offered an extra credit assignment." Rory pictured a confused, sad-looking, Tristan with wide eyes. Yeah, that was a person she'd have pity on…and then hug and possibly kiss. But, that probably wasn't appropriate for the teachers. Instead of going for the hug and possible kiss, she gave Tristan a supportive "You do that extra-credit" grin and began riffling through her locker. She remembered what it was like to play catch-up from when she had first come to Chilton. "Not Fun" was an understatement; a big one.
Tristan continued talking while watching Rory. "So, my project will be due the day we come back from break. No exceptions of course." He paused. Rory looked at him, ignoring the locker filled with books that could fall at any moment. Tristan didn't pause much in conversation. Rory knew it wasn't the "no exceptions" that caused the un-Tristan-like pause, he was used to the stupid "no exceptions" rule at Chilton. Pausing for most people meant nervousness or hesitance, and those were two things Rory didn't think Tristan suffered from. He seemed to like having Rory's full attention. So, he continued. "I am, however, allowed to have a partner of my choosing, who, the extra credit will also be made available to."
"Hmmm." Rory was seeing where this was going. She went back to the arduous task of removing some books from her locker, while preparing to dodge any others that might fall. Tristan just watched her, knowing that if he didn't speak eventually, she would. "What is this spectacular extra credit assignment you've stumbled upon?"
Tristan's posture seemed to relax at that question. Rory knew, that he was assuming by that question that she was interested. "Well, we'd have to construct our interpretation of how Dante perceived Hell to be."
"Oh no! I'm not doing that!" Rory turned from her locker, noting that Tristan's posture had tensed again. "I just took the evil Hell Test. I now have a week to forget about Hell. I will not be lowered to thinking about it and then reconstructing it. It would ruin the whole forgetting process."
"Oh come on Mary!" Tristan leaned in closer.
"My name is not Mary! It is Rory!" Rory gave the automatic response for the millionth time, but with no less venom than she had contained the first time. "Why don't you work with Paris? She'll love you forever for giving her the chance at all that extra credit." Rory turned back to her overflowing locker.
Tristan's eyes rolled. "Paris isn't the one I want to love me forever." There were those stupid heart flutters Rory got. "Besides, I thought you'd jump at the chance to get ahead of Paris. You know," Tristan leaned in even closer, some would say kiss-ably close, "be first in the class."
Rory eliminated some more of the remaining distance. "Appealing. Very appealing. You should be on the debate team. And all the credit sounds good, as does the very thought of spending a whole week with your irritating self." Tristan smiled as Rory took her turn doing the eye roll thing. "But you want to know what's even more appealing? The possibility of not having to think about school or not having to do any of its stupid assignments; now that is a happy thought."
Tristan sighed. "You have no homework?"
"Thus far." There was a big smile on Rory's face.
Judging by Tristan's expression he had more than a little work to do over break. "I bet you'll get homework during last hour."
"No, no bet."
"So, you know I'm right! No, I know that I'm unlucky enough that if I make that bet, then I'll have homework. But, if I'm open to the possibility, it won't happen."
Tristan was silent for a second. "Can I see that book for a second?"
Rory had been about to put one of the many novels she was reading in her bag. "What this one?" She held it out to him, assuming he had some interest in it. No such luck.
Tristan took it. "You'll get this back when you agree to work with me."
Rory took a moment to look exasperated, "That didn't work the last time you tried to take my books and it won't work this time." Rory's mind flashed to the last time. It had been the end of the last school year; Tristan had wanted her to go to a P.J. Harvey concert with him. That had been the day she had finally told Dean she loved him. Hmmm. No more Dean now, he was happy in Chicago.
Tristan also seemed to be thinking, still holding the book he burst into mock begging. "Please, Please, Please! You can pretend it's not Hell we're working on."
"Then what would it be?"
Another moment of thinking, but a small one. Tristan was good at thinking quickly. "It could be a nine story children's daycare."
Rory had to laugh. "A daycare?"
Tristan gave a weak smile. "The worst daycare ever."
Rory gave in. "Okay. But only because I think it might be fun to build the worst daycare ever."
Tristan smiled. It was a real one, a big one, Rory liked it. "I'll meet you back here after school. Then, I'll drive you home; we can begin developing ideas for the daycare there."
"You mean I'll get to ride in your silver sports car?" Rory added some child-like excitement to her voice.
"Yep. You can even sit in the front seat, next to me."
"Okay!" With that said Rory slammed her locker. And was about to leave for class when a final comment of Tristan's made her stop.
"I can't believe you're excited to ride in my car. You're actually making me look forward to it, and I drive the thing everyday."
"Oh Tristan, you're just excited about what we could do if we parked the car." Tristan looked surprised. Normally such a comment was his department. But what could Rory say; it had been there, begging to be said. She could always blame it on the craziness of anticipating spring break.
~
"It does not."
"Does too."
"Does not."
"Too."
Tristan and Rory had just entered Luke's diner. Tristan decided to get some help before he was forced to resort to giving a reply of "not." "Hey Luke."
"What?"
Rory made an "ugh" noise. "Luke is going to be on your side. Don't ask him. You picked the one guy in the entire world who will side with you." The way Luke was looking back and forth between the two teens; Rory knew he wanted to know what they were talking about. Of course, she also knew he would never admit it. She decided to let him wonder. Served him right, because if he knew he so would have sided with Tristan. Tristan directed his attention to Jess, who, was in leaning in the back corner of the restaurant. Rory noticed. "Okay, so Luke is one of the two people other people who would agree with you, Jess is the other." Rory brought her attention back to Luke. "We have a big favor to ask of you." Rory decided to be direct. Luke looked ready for whatever the youngest Gilmore had to say. "We need to construct Dante's version of hell, and we were wondering if you could build a wooden frame for us." Rory handed Luke the sketches she had made in the car. He was Luke, so he didn't seem too shocked. Maybe, he had to fight the usual impulse he got when he didn't want to know something. But he didn't walk away. He actually stood and even took the sketches.
"It's kind of like a miniature book shelf, but the shelves can be pulled out, and it's kind of an upside-down triangular shaped. I would do it myself, but you've seen me with tools, and we want this to be good."
Luke examined the sketches. "Yeah, no problem. When do you want the thing by?"
"Tomorrow afternoon if at all possible." Rory gave a hopeful look.
Luke did one of those things where the person sucks in a breath quickly, and it makes an almost whistling noise. "Yeah okay, now get out of here."
Tristan and Rory did as they were told. Tristan gave an evil grin. "Not."
As they left the restaurant Rory explained, "Cut your hair! I understand your desire to get rid of the military cut. But eventually you'll just look weird."
~
They were in Rory's living room. "Let's watch a movie."
Rory, as usual, found herself in the position of responsibility. "No we still have some more planning to do for Hell, ummm, the daycare."
"So? It's spring break. I can't think for this long!"
"It's only Friday, you'll have plenty of time to not think. Besides, after the planning, and the figuring out how to get most of these materials, we'll be doing mainly brainless work anyway."
"I can't wait that long." Moaned Tristan. Rory just gave an "I'm sorry, but this is the way things are" shrug.
"Okay, what time does your mom get home?"
"In about an hour. Why?"
"Okay, so we watch a movie for forty minutes, then we start working." Tristan was giving a tempting smile.
Rory shook her head. "You know, for Lucifer, we should just put in your picture."
Tristan's smile clearly indicated that he was interpreting that as a "yes" to the movie idea. Tristan had been over to the Gilmore house enough to know how to operate the VCR. (An impressive feat) He started the movie, all the better Rory figured. Now she had the ability to place all the blame on the Evil one himself. They watched an old Superman movie and naturally made fun of it the whole 40 minutes that they watched.
Surprisingly, it was Tristan who ended the mocking-movie session and insisted on the return to work. "Oh no, the day you keep in on a few minutes longer is the day your mom comes home a few minutes early. Trust me. We resume work now. Besides, we won't be able to work too long; you have to drag your mom to your grandmother's. That will take effort, you won't be able to design hell with me. Plus, we have a schedule we're going to have to keep. I will not suddenly realize we have a million hours worth of work to do on the last of break. I've done that before. I will not do it again. Especially with you; you look like the kind that gets really cranky if you're worried about making a deadline." All this came in response to Rory's single moan that had clearly meant she didn't want to work.
Twenty minutes later the planning was done. It all looked simple enough, but there were still doubts swimming through Rory's head. "I still don't know where you're going to find rubber snakes small enough."
"Well, I'll look, and if worst comes to worst we'll think of some way to make the snakes."
Just then Lorelei entered. She didn't seem to be in anyway shocked by Tristan's presence, as he was often here ever since he had come back to Chilton. "Hey, what are you two up to?"
"Nothing." Rory supplied in a singsong voice. "Just trying to decide how we're going to get snakes for our Hell."
"You mean you're letting snakes loose in Chilton? Cool! I want to watch."
"No mom were building Dante's version of Hell for extra credit."
"Hmmm, can we do the idea I suggested too?"
"Yes, of course." Tristan answered before Rory could.
"Suck up." Rory insulted. Tristan gave an "I don't care what you think shrug" with a smile to match.
"Hey, Tristan, as much as I would love for you to stay, I have to kick you out. I don't want you to witness the terrifying sight of Rory dragging me to my parents' house."
"See, all that sucking up and all you got was kicked out." Rory smiled.
"Hey, if he hadn't sucked up I might have dragged him with us. He certainly would take some of that disapproving attention away from me."
"It's okay." Tristan stood and stretched, taking his notes. "I'll see you tomorrow at 2."
"I'll find the paint before you come, and I probably will have already gone to Luke's for coffee, so I'll bug him about the frame."
"Okay, until tomorrow. Bye Lorelei." With that said, Tristan showed himself out.
The two Gilmore girls were silent for a minute. Rory read the twinkling look in her mother's eye, and the slight almost laughing smile on her face. "Don't say it."
"You'll never get together if you don't let him know that you like him."
"What did I say about not saying that?" Rory questioned from her sitting position.
"You told me not to say it. He likes you. I can tell." Lorelei was giving a motherly "aww, how cute" smile.
"Mom. Besides, he already knows I like him from the last time YOU told him." Lorelei had told Tristan that Rory liked him over Christmas break, after Tristan had rear-ended them. Then, Lorelei had threatened to kill him if he hurt Rory.
"I thought you weren't holding a grudge about that." Lorelei looked pained.
"I thought I wasn't, but woops, there it is."
"Okay, I understand." Lorelei did her best to look like an ashamed little child. "Commence the dragging to see your Grandmother now."
~
"So Rory how are you planning to spend your spring break? You could always go to the club with your Grandfather. I know Richard would love that, wouldn't you Richard." Emily questioned her husband.
"Yes, of course." Was Richard's simple reply.
Rory gave a closemouthed smile "I'd loved to, but I'll actually be working on an extra credit project for most of the break."
"Well, I'm sure you can manage to organize it so you can spend a day away from your work." Emily's voice, to the casual observer seemed nice and friendly. But to those trained to hear it, which included all of those around the table, could detect the twinge of iciness that voice possessed.
"Actually, I have a partner. And we've already scheduled all the times were going to work on the project, which will include everyday, except the last Sunday of break. And then, I'd like to review my notes for all my classes, so I'll remember everything when I get back."
Lorelei made a slight noise, but actually managed to restrain herself from saying anything. Rory thought her mom was learning.
"That's very nice that you and your partner have such a high degree of organization." The iciness was still in Emily's voice.
Rory attempted to calm the storm. "I would ask him to rearrange a day, but before he was ranting about how he didn't want to end up doing all the work last minute."
"Now that's a Chilton boy. Way to take the initiative." Richard seemed enthusiastic. "Who is this boy? You've just been saying he or him?"
"Actually Grandpa, you met him at my sixteenth birthday party. It's Tristan Dugray."
"Ah yes, I remember him, Janlen Dugray's Grandson. Janlen always was a good businessman. But, I got the impression you didn't like him much."
"I didn't then, but he's kind of growing on me." Rory admitted.
"Oh, that's nice." Richard smiled sincerely.
"Oh, I know, you could invite your friend Tristan over to dinner next Friday." Emily suggested. At least the coldness was gone.
"Ummm, Mom." Lorelei tried to interject.
"It will be fun. Lorelei, you could bring a friend too."
Now Lorelei just looked scared. This was a new twist in Emily's style. "No, I think most of my friends are busy on Friday evenings. That really seems to be the night to do stuff." Emily gave her daughter an "Oh please" look. Like we're always here." Lorelei motioned to the room. "And my friends are always out and around there." Lorelei waved her arms around a little.
"Lorelei, have you been drinking?"
"Ummm, no Mom."
"Don't say "ummm," that's an atrocious habit it to get into. Public speakers lose respect for other public speakers if they say things like ummm."
"Thanks Mom, I'll keep that in mind if I ever decide to speak publicly."
"So, it's all settled then, Rory, you will invite your friend for dinner next week. You can tell us about the big project you're working on."
"Well you know, Mom, Rory is the one who has to worry about the ummm's and the public speaking. Not that she has to worry, because she is good at all that. But, you know, she does know about that project. She doesn't need anyone to help her explain it." Rory got the impression Lorelei was reliving one of her own battles with her mother in her head.
"It's okay Mom, the details of the model still aren't certain. It would be okay to explain it next week." She smiled at Lorelei, trying to bring her back to reality.
"But, you could explain a lot of it now, couldn't you?"
"Yeah, I could if it was necessary."
"But, your grandfather and I would like to wait for next week." Emily quickly retorted.
Rory's only thought to all this way "Oh boy." She had no idea what this was about. But it seemed to be one of those things her mom would refuse to talk about later. She only hoped that they would all make it through the night.
Rory's hope was fulfilled. She followed her grandfather's example and remained silent in the background as Lorelei and Emily fought out whatever there was to be fought out. Instead Rory concentrated on how she was going to get some of the materials for their project and the fact that she would be seeing Tristan tomorrow, even if it was just to work on building "the worst daycare ever." With Tristan, work often turned out to be fun. This fact gave Rory something to look forward to.
~
Well, that's it for now. Thanks for reading it. If you're willing, I'd appreciate a review. I'll write again as soon as possible. : )