The smell of a fresh pot of coffee fills the house faster than a track star can run a mile. Lorelai pours her husband a cup and hands it to him on his way out the door. He would normally wait and take the kids to school with him but on this particular morning he has a staff meeting.
"Thanks honey," he says.
"No problem," she replies. As he reaches his car she calls out. "We're out of milk."
"I got it." He reassures her. She blows him a kiss as his car leaves the driveway. Lorelai smiles to herself feeling like the luckiest woman to have such an amazing and sexy husband and three amazing children.
As she hurries up the stairs to prepare for her own job she passes their family portrait. Noah was just a baby then, she thinks to herself. They all looked so happy. All five of them together. Lorelai smiled and continued to her room only stopping to knock on the door of her oldest son.
"Braden, come on." She yells over the blaring stereo. "It's after six." And then heads into the bathroom.
He, of course, doesn't stir. Braden a young man of almost sixteen sleeps through his wake up call. No worries, only the first of many. His sister, however, in the bedroom downstairs is already up, showered, and dressed in her Chilton preparatory uniform. Being the complete opposite of her twin brother she's the early bird while he is the night owl.
Lorelai finishes getting dressed and goes to wake up her oldest son for a second time. "Braden." She knocks. "Six thirty." She pauses for a moment. "Are you awake?"
She hears a groan. It's not much but it'll do for now. "Come on you got to catch your bus." She hits the door again.
Across the hall sleeps her baby. Her little Noah, the spitting image of her father. She opens the door quietly to see him still wrapped in his Elmo sheets thumb perfectly placed in his mouth. Walking over to his bed she whispers his name.
"Noah," …. "Noah." she shakes his shoulder gently. "Wake up, little man."
The boy opens his eyes a little and then closes them again. "Come on," she says pulling the covers back and helping her semi conscious four year old out of bed.
"I no want to wake up mommy," Noah says sleepily and rolls over, pops his thumb back in his mouth, and closes his eyes. He's not really asleep, just pretending.
Lorelai pauses for a moment and then, "Well Noah if you're going to be a sleepy head then the tickle monster is going to come to wake you." She raises her arms, her hands ready to tickle attack, and smiling she begins to tickle her sweet angel.
Noah laughs and thrashes his legs around kicking his Elmo sheets off him, and he begs his mom, the "tickle monster" to stop. But Lorelai keeps tickling him for another minute to make sure he's awake. When he is awake, Lorelai helps him put some clothes on and tells him to go in the bathroom and pee. He does as he's told and when he walks downstairs he finds his mom wrapping a warm pop tart, fresh from the toaster, in a paper towel, his eyes light up in delight and his grin is huge. He loves pop tarts.
Lorelai hands Noah the paper towel wrapped pop tart and grabs his backpack and her purse and keys. She is going to drop him off at Miss Patty's while she goes to work at the Independence Inn, and as they are walking out to the tan jeep, Lorelai tells her older children goodbye.
"Have a great day at school! Learn a lot!"
Rory smiles at her mom as she carries her travel mug of coffee. And Braden mumbles, "Thanks mom." He really does love his mom, even if he doesn't show it.
"Braden, don't skip any classes today, please," Lorelai warns.
Braden simply rolls his eyes and walks with his twin sister to the bus stop. As they are waiting for the bus, Rory takes out her bus book and reads, while Braden sits on the bench impatiently.
"Be still Braden, gosh," Rory admonishes him, like a mother would a small child, without looking up from her book.
"Can't help it. The bus is just taking forever."
"Sorry bro," Rory says with a small smirk of enjoyment on her face.
The bus ride to school wasn't a long one but it seemed that way to Braden. As soon as it stopped in front of Chilton he ran off to find his girlfriend, Louise, leaving Rory to be bombarded by Tristan.
"Hello, Mary!" Tristan says popping out seemingly from nowhere with a huge smile plastered on his face.
Rory, still carrying her bus book, doesn't look at him and keep a completely straight face. "What do you want Tristan? I have a name, you know!"
"I know. What was it again?" Tristan asks feigning amnesia, still smiling. And Rory quickly glances at him, hoping he won't notice her staring at his short golden locks, spiked up, and his dazzling green eyes which he fixates on her.
"You can't be that ignorant! What do you want?" Rory rolls her eyes in mock annoyance.
"I wanted to know if you'd like to go out with me!" Tristan is now walking backwards so he can face Rory since it is clear she's not going to stop walking long enough to talk to him. His charming grin never disappears from his boyish face.
Rory thinks about it. The truth is, the thought of dating Tristan makes her giddy, and at the same time revolts her. But there is just something adventurous about him, something exciting that she just can't put her finger on.
"Can I get back to you with my answer?"
Tristan's smile widens, and a knowing look appears in his eyes. It's a look that says he knows she'll go out with him. He nods. "Take all the time you need."
"Thanks Tristan!"
"No problem…Mary!" And with a smile and an eye roll from Rory, Tristan turns and walks in the school.
A wide grin appears on Rory's face and she's thinking about what it'd be like to date Tristan, lost in her daydreams, when she bumps into something…somebody. Paris.
"Watch where you're going," Paris yells at her.
"I-I'm sorry, Paris," Rory says as she bends down to help Paris pick up her dropped books.
"Whatever." Paris rolls her eyes and though Rory cannot see this because Paris is looking at the floor, Rory senses it.
"What is your problem?"
"Are you going out with Tristan?" Paris asks a slight twinge of jealousy in her voice and pain in her eyes when she finally looks up at Rory.
"He asked me. I didn't say yes," Rory answers but adds a silent yet. She wants to talk it over with her mom before forming a concrete solution, also talking to her best friend, Lane, will be in order also.
"He's not your type."
"Why because he's a 'bad boy'?" Rory asks using the air quotes.
Paris smiles, but not a friendly smile, it's a smile reserved for one's enemies. "No."
"Then why?"
"Because he's not a teacher!"
"And what is that supposed to mean, Paris?"
"Oh you know. Your step dad is Mr. Medina, right?"
Rory makes a disgruntled face. "Oh my God, Paris. You are horrible! I am not dating him and I'm not interested in teacher types just because Mr. Medina is my step dad. But if you have nothing better to do than to be so petty, then go for it."
Rory doesn't stand around and wait for Paris to add anything, she simply walks right on by Paris headed to her locker to drop off some books and grab a few more for her first class.
"That's not entirely what I meant," Paris calls after her. "I just meant that you seem to like teacher-y types because you're so much like your mom! And Mr. Medina is your step dad and you do live in a small town; how do I know you don't share him with your mom when you're starved for entertainment."
Paris actually made herself a little sick with that comment, but she's sticking with it. Rory, being the bigger person, doesn't even dignify Paris' statement with a response. She simply keeps walking. But the comment made her mad, and she would like to, if she was the type, go over there and bitch slap Paris.
First period History speeds by much quicker than normal, and soon it's time for English Literature with Mr. Medina where Rory will undoubtedly run into Paris, but luckily Braden is also in the class at the same time so Paris may not give Rory a hard time around Braden. Rory and Braden are both strong, mentally and emotionally, of which they get it from their mom, but when it comes to physical strength then Braden is the one no one wants to mess with, of the twins. Rory has brains over brawn.
Rory walks into the classroom with her yellow backpack on her back, and carrying a binder and some books. She smiles at Max when she sees him and he returns the smile. Rory takes her seat in the front row and after a couple seconds sees her brother walk in, but he goes straight to the back without looking at his step dad. And when the rest of the class files in intermittently, the bell finally rings.
"Good morning class," Max begins, smiling. "Today we're going to discuss Emily Dickinson."
"Snore!" Braden pipes up loudly with his feet propped up on his desk which is not exactly easy considering the desk and chair are connected.
"Excuse me Mr. Gilmore…Is there a problem?" Max asks trying to resist the urge to act fatherly, or step fatherly.
"I just said, snore, as in Emily Dickinson is a snore. You know the same crap you read to Noah before bed sometimes? It puts him right to sleep," Braden explains as his eyes are fixated on his hands that are playing with something.
"I think this is another issue for another time, so moving on. Please open her book to page 254!" Max opens his own book as he tells the class to.
The class reads the poem on page 254 then, and as they are discussing it, Rory and Paris seem to get into a verbal sparring match to see who can beat whom at the "game." And as Paris' face is turning red at Rory's in depth, very creative answer, Braden speaks again.
"Come on, we can all figure out what the poem is about—no offense to you Rory—but this is kid stuff Mr. Medina. Give us a challenging poem at least, if you're going to make us read boring poetry."
"Oh so it's the poetry you have issues with then, not just Emily Dickinson as a person. Because for a moment I was going to ask if you knew her personally," Max retorts, smiling.
"Yes, something along those lines. Who needs all that mushy poetry, or poetry about depression and despair? Life is bad enough." Braden makes an air noose and pretends to hang himself. "Seriously, I'd rather rip out all my toenails."
"Alright Braden, go wait in the hall until after class," Max says. "I've had enough of that attitude, we need to talk."
Braden packs up his stuff, gives Max a smug look, and walks out. But he doesn't wait in the hall. Instead he walks outside and in the parking lot hops into a waiting brand new cherry red mustang convertible. He's off with some friends, friends from Chilton.
Just before the bell to signal the end of class rings, Max explains homework. "Don't forget to read the chapter about Emily Dickinson's life, and writing, because we're not only going to analyze her poems but take a look at her, the author, and she writes with such authority about the world even though she lived as a virtual recluse. Read. And those essays are due on Friday. Those of you just starting, I'll be able to tell. Have a nice day!"
Max finishes explaining homework and the bell rings. Students file out of the room, and Max walks out of the classroom looking in the hall for Braden but doesn't see him, so he goes back in the classroom with the intent of asking Rory.
"Rory, may I speak with you please?" Max asks with a disappointed look in his eyes. His disappointment is not for Rory but Braden.
"Yeah, of course." Rory hangs back.
As Paris is walking out of the room with Madeline and Louise, she turns and looks at Rory and whispers just loud enough for Max to hear also. "Oh going to get it on, huh? Good luck." She turns her nose up in the air, snottily, pleased with what she's done.
Max looks to Rory in confusion. "What was that all about?"
"Nothing," Rory replies. "So you wanted to talk with me…"
"Yes, yes I did. Do you know what's gotten into Braden and where he might've gone just now?"
"He doesn't think you have any right to tell him what to do, as a teacher or our step-dad. And I think he probably went off with some friends."
"Well as a teacher, I do have a right to control what does and does not go on in my classroom, and deserve some respect. And maybe he's right about the other part, the stepfather part, but it's not like you guys' dad is around. You need a father figure, and I love you and Braden as my own…as I love Noah."
Rory shrugs. "Well maybe talk to Braden. And I love having you as my dad. See, the way I figure it… you aren't just a stepdad. I love you and my biological dad equally."
Max grins at Rory, happy to hear her say that, now if only he could figure out what is bothering Braden. He hugs Rory quickly and tells her she can go on to her next class, so she walks to the door but turns back and smiles at Max.
"Don't worry. I'm sure he'll come around sooner or later!"
"Thanks Rory," Max tells her, not exactly feeling more confident but feeling better for the time being.
As the day goes on, Rory doesn't see Braden at school and knows he cut classes. And the rest of the day Rory tries to go about her own business, but Paris keeps popping up to give Rory a hard time, except she's mostly just annoying. Rory just ignores her figuring maybe Paris will wear herself out.
When the day finally ends, Rory walks out to her bus and shows her bus pass. She takes a seat in the back, pulls out her bus book, a novel this time, and begins reading as she blocks all the other passengers out. She sits and reads until the bus arrives in Stars Hollow close to thirty minutes later. Rory steps off the bus still holding her book, but not reading. She walks across the street to pick up Noah from Miss Patty's.
Before Rory even enters the dance studio a little boy with dark hair, a light dusting of freckles across his nose, piercing blue-gray eyes, and a huge grin on his face comes running out. "Rory! Rory!" He yells.
Noah is tall for his age, but he inherited that from his grandfather, who he is the spitting image of, and he has not only great intelligence but a very charismatic personality and radiant sense of humor. He can make anyone laugh on their gloomiest of days. And he is the light of his family's eye.
"Noah!" Rory exclaims picking him up and twirling him around as he had just reached her. When she sets him down he is dizzy but excited. "How was your day? Did you have fun at Miss Patty's?"
"I had fun. Miss Patty letted me skip my nap today," Noah replies enthusiastically talking a mile a minute that trait he inherited from his mother and sister.
"You mean, 'let,' not 'letted,'" Rory corrects him, smiling at his innocence.
"That's what I said," he laughs.
Rory and Noah reach Miss Patty's to grab Noah's back pack and Rory thanks Miss Patty for watching him. In his four years, he adores his older siblings, and he wants to be around them all the time. They walk home and Noah asks question after question.
"Where is Braden?" Noah asks Rory, a quizzical look on his face.
"He's with some friends, he'll be home later," Rory answers hoping that he is, indeed, with his friends. And they walk in the house where Rory fixes Noah a snack and sets him up in front of the TV, his request, and she begins her homework.