"Yes, Grandma, I understand. I will be there on Friday night at 7:00. Yes, I will wear the blue dress you bought me in Rome. No, I don't need anyone there to do my hair and makeup. Are we really doing this again? Fine. I'll see you Friday. Goodbye, Grandma."
Rory sighed as she hung up the phone with Emily Gilmore. It seemed that her grandma's insistence on finding an appropriate potential husband for Rory had intensified as of lately, and she was none too amused.
Hartford society or not, heir to the Gilmore and Hayden fortunes or not, she was only 20 years old and in her second year at Yale. She wondered how much worse her Grandma's stunts would be had her parents not made such a point to raise her with one foot in Hartford society and one foot firmly planted in the real world. She was so grateful that her Mom and Dad had made the decision to raise her differently than she had been raised.
Picking up her phone, she dialed her mom.
"Lorelai's house of ill repute," her mother answered after only one ring.
"Have I told you lately how much I love you and Dad, Mom? Because seriously, I do. Thank you for never going Emily Gilmore on me."
"Uh-oh. This doesn't sound good at all, kid. What's Ava done now?"
"Just roped me into another Friday night event at their house. I've been ordered to wear that blue dress that clings to all my curves and be on time and on my best behavior to meet some friends of Grandma and Grandpa's."
"Ouch. No fun at all. Are you going?"
"Of course I'm going, Mom. You know that I try to keep the peace there and make an effort to do the reasonable things that they ask me to do."
"You're a good kid, Ror. You know that you don't have to do anything that they ask you to do though, right? You can always say no."
"Of course I know that, Mom. It just seems easier sometimes to pick my battles. I don't enjoy being constantly shown to suitable young men like a prize to be won, but it keeps her off my back. Sometimes it's worth the peace. Know what I mean?"
"I do know that feeling well, kiddo. Speaking of…"
"I don't like that tone of voice, Mother."
"Now, now. Don't go mothering me just yet. Look, I might have an idea of what they want Friday night, okay?"
"Spill, now," ordered Rory.
"They want to introduce you to another one of their choices for the future Mr. Rory Gilmore-Hayden. Their first choice, actually."
"That's nothing new. I can smile and be polite and get the heck out of there as soon as possible."
"Sweetie, there's a little more going on here. They want you to start dating this one."
"What?! That's ridiculous, Mom! How could you let them do this?"
"Rory, your Dad and I don't control everything. They made it a condition of you getting your trust fund, but they're giving you the choice. You say no, it's forgotten."
"Seriously, Mom. How? Just...how could you let them?"
"I'm not letting them do anything other than present you with the choice. From there it's all in your hands. You will get your trust fund either way, although the lucky bachelor isn't quite as fortunate. Expect some pressure from him, because his financial situation will be drastically changed if he doesn't do this."
"This is so archaic and sexist, Mom."
"I know, sweetie. I really do. But you can say no, Rory. Despite their ridiculous ideas on things, they love you, and they'll still love you if you say no."
"What exactly will they be asking me to do?" Rory asked with an eye roll.
"Date this man, exclusively, until he graduates. He's a year ahead of you."
"Seriously? Mom! What about what I want?"
"Like I said, kiddo. You can say no. Hell, your Dad and I will have your back and support you completely."
"It's really my choice?" asked Rory.
"It's really your choice, kid. Don't let anyone take that away from you. Okay?"
"Do I at least get to know who he is before Friday?"
"Don't tell Ava that I told you, but sure. It's Logan Huntzberger."
"His reputation proceeds him, Mom. That's disgusting."
"Just say no and it's all forgotten, sweetie. Just tell them no and then call me after, okay?"
"Sure. Love you, Mom."
"Love you too, kiddo."
Rory was in a mood as she went through the next two days. Really, nothing should surprise her from her grandparents anymore, but it still did.
She had finally dragged Marty and Paris to the pub for a few drinks to take the edge off, hoping to forget the situation for the night, only to see the eligible bachelor there partying with his friends and hitting on anything with two legs. Finally arriving back in her room in an even worse mood than before, she shut her door, kicked off her shoes, laid down on her bed, and dialed one of her best friends.
"Hello?"
"Tristan! How are you?"
"Hey, Mare. I'm good. How's my favorite Yalie?"
"She just came from the pub and is in an even worse mood now. What does that tell you?"
"That sounds serious. You almost never drink. Care to talk about it?"
"Actually, I do. You'd better sit down first, though. I wouldn't want you to hit your pretty head when you faint."
"Not good at all," he replied. "Okay, I'm sitting."
Rory exhaled deeply before she began. "Ava and Adolf have demanded my presence at a dinner with an eligible bachelor and his parents this Friday night."
"That's nothing new, Ror. I mean, it's not as fun as spending Friday evening hanging out with me, but it could be worse," replied Tristan.
"Oh, I'm not finished. It definitely is worse. Apparently, they want me to date this idiot until the end of my junior year as part of a business deal."
"That is definitely worse. And if you don't?"
"Well, it sounds like I have an actual choice in the matter, and I can say no without consequence other than facing their wrath. He, however, apparently loses a big 'ole chunk of his precious trust fund if we don't."
"Not your problem, right?" asked Tristan.
"No, not really. Can I ask you something?"
"Of course, Mare. You can always ask me anything."
"When your parents sent you to military school, was it worth it?" asked Rory.
"Are you thinking about enlisting, Ror?"
"No, it's just...answer the question, Tris."
"Okay. It was hard, but it was good for me. It made me grow up and did me a lot of good, and it also got me out of their house and out from under their thumbs. As long as I towed the line and didn't get kicked out, I didn't have to worry about hearing from my parents. That was worth a hell of a lot."
"So you don't resent them for sending you?" she asked.
"No, I really don't. I was happier there than I ever was living in their house. The peace and lack of hovering was worth it. Why?"
"No reason, really," replied Rory. "I was just curious. Alright, I'm buzzed and exhausted, so I'm going to bed. Night, Tris."
"Night, Mare. Sleep tight."
Rory had slept fitfully and had barely been able to focus through her classes on Friday. She had fielded a record-breaking number of phone calls from her grandmother during the day, her grandmother wanting to ensure that she hadn't forgotten what time to be there or what she was supposed to wear. It was quite infuriating. Her grandmother had even insisted on sending a car to pick her up, probably to ensure that she was at her mercy, but it wasn't a fight that Rory was willing to fight right now. She needed to save her energy for the big fight she would have on her hands.
She finished her hair and makeup, having decided to leave her hair down in loose curls and go with light makeup, and pulled her dress on. She frowned when she looked in the mirror, realizing that her dress was so clingy and so fitted that it showed everything.
"Mom!" Rory wailed. "Help!"
Lorelai came running into Rory's room. "Is everything okay, kid?"
"No, everything is not okay. Look at this! How am I supposed to wear this dress when it clings like this?"
You're gonna have to go commando, kid," answered Lorelai.
"What? You can't be serious!"
"I'm afraid I am, Ror. It's the only way. By the way, the car is here to pick you up."
"Fine! I'll be out in just a minute," Rory said with a pout.
Emerging from her room a minute later with her clutch, her parents both whistled when they saw her.
"Whoa there, kiddo. I don't think this dad is okay with his little girl looking like that."
"Sorry, Daddy. Emily's orders."
"Ror, remember what we talked about. Just say no and then call me when you get back to your dorm, okay? We've got your back. Right, Chris?"
"Absolutely," said Christopher.
"Bye, guys! Love you!"