Title: I Don't Need A Bed Of Roses

Author: Catch Me 04

Summary: Let's go back in time... to the year of 2000; Before Rory and Dean, but after Rory started Chilton...

Disclaimor/Authors Note: I do not own Gilmore Girls... come on, if I did... would I be writing this FANFICTION??!! I only own my idea. I don't know if the title of my story will even have anything to do with the actual story, but... with Lorelai's personality, ya never know....

"Settle down class... settle down." Mr. Medina called throughout the room. The whispers stopped, and 30 something heads turned their attention to the front of the room, every pair of eyes stared at their English Lit teacher. Mr. Medina smiled at his class.

"As it's still the beginning of the school year, I thought our first big project should be fun." he said, with a mischevious glint in his eyes. Something told Rory Gilmore she wouldn't look forward to this project that much.

"First I'll pair you off into your assigned partners, and then explain the project." he told the class. Max proceeded to let his student's know who their partners were. As soon as Rory Gilmore heard who her partner was, she groaned and let her head hit the top of her desk.

"My, my Mary, trying to loose brain cells?" came the voice of non other than Tristan DuGrey, from his seat next to hers.

"My names RORY." Rory cried out.

Tristan just smiled sweetly at her, as she glanced at him, before turning her attention back to Mr. Medina, who was standing at the front of the room, patiently waiting for his class to settle down again, so he could tell them the project. Once he had everyones attention again, he handed out a little booklet of pepers.

"Trading Life's?" Paris Geller asked, out loud, not even raising her hand.

"What does that mean?" Madeline Lynn asked, in confusion, from her seat next to Paris.

"I'm glad you asked, Ms. Lynn." Mr. Medina smiled, "Trading Life's means... just that, you and your partners will spend a month in each other's houses... meaning you go live with your partner's family, while your partner spends a month with yours." Mr. Medina grinned.

Rory's eyes widened and she raised her hand, and once the English Lit teacher called on her, she stood up, shaking her head.

"Mr. Medina, I'm sorry, but whose parent's would agree to that? My mom would never agree to me spending a month living with another person's family, not without her." Rory said, calmly.

"Ms. Gilmore, I appreciate your concern, but everyone's parents have already agree'd to the project... even your mother." Max told the girl. Rory's eyes widened again, in shock, and she sat back down.

The rest of the day went by fast, Rory spent the whole day in a daze. She was scared about the project, of what her partner's family was really like. Of how they might treat her.

"Mom, how could you not tell me?" Rory asked, that night, after getting back home after dinner at Luke's. Lorelai shrugged, an innocent look in her eyes.

"I was asked not to let you know... that Mr. Medina is very persuasive." Lorelai replied. Rory groaned and flopped down on the couch beside her mother.

"When do you start the project?" Lorelai asked.

"After the weekend." Rory answered, sulkily, "On Monday, after school, I come home and get everything I'll need for the month. Then I go live with my new family."

"WHAT?" Lorelai cried, "We only get 3 more days?? Tomorrow night, after dinner with mom and dad, we're having a movie night... until Sunday night!" She exclaimed. Rory gave a small smile, and sighed.