Dismissed: Gilmore Style
Summary: Two guys, two dates, one decision: What's a girl to do? Star's Hollow launches its own version of 'Dismissed', with surprising results
Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls or Dismissed
Timeline: Set during Season 2. Canon so far. Set after 'A Tisket A Tasket' but before 'Teach me Tonight'.
A/N: I know I shouldn't be starting yet another story but I got inspiration for this one and have already written a few chapters. Plus it is not going to be a very long fic. You all know I love reviews so do it! And, most importantly, enjoy!!!
Chapter One: Stars Hollow discovers MTV
"People! May I have your attention please!" Taylor Doose banged his gavel impatiently, glaring at the chattering crowd.
"Coffee, for you, you and me." Lorelai announced as she shuffled along the row, handing flasks to Lane and Rory. She took her flask from Luke and smiled sweetly at him before turning her attention back to the two teenagers. "Chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate covered peanuts and gummy bears."
"Basically, anything that will lead you to an early grave." Luke said heavily.
"Oh well, at least my death will have been brought about by something tasty and yummy, as opposed to a nasty and depressing disease. A much better way to die, I think." Lorelai quipped back, giving him a charming smile.
Luke shook his head wearily and slumped into a chair behind the girls, next to his nephew Jess whose head was buried in a book.
Rory glanced behind. "I didn't think town meetings were your thing." she remarked pointedly.
He glanced up. "I was bored. Besides, I wanted to see what they were like firsthand, since Harper Lee makes them sound so great." He looked around the room. "Now, which one these is our Boo Radley?"
"People! Please!" Taylor boomed, causing the noise level to subside quickly. Rory eyed Jess with a mixture of suspicion and interest, and turned back around.
"Thank you." Taylor sighed. "Now, before we can proceed to town announcements, Kirk wants to say a few words. Don't be long," he cautioned as the lanky man took his place upfront.
"Thank you Taylor. Now, as you all know, Stars Hollow prides itself on its fundraisers and charity events – the Bid a Basket fete, the 24 hour dance marathon, the annual limbo competition, you get the idea. How many of you have seen the popular MTV show 'Dismissed'?"
A few tentative hands were raised.
"Good. For those who aren't familiar with the show, basically a guy or a girl goes on a date with two people competing for said guy or girl. Each of the contestants has to come up with a date that will impress the object of their affections, except that their competitor also comes along on the date. At the end of two dates, the guy or girl has to choose only one person to win. The person who wins goes on a special date with the person they are competing for. What I propose is a Stars Hollow version of Dismissed. Of course, we will have to tweak it slightly to make it appropriate for the town but the main concept will stay the same. We've decided it will be a women deciding between to male dates to keep things simple. Whoever gets chosen will win a prize kindly donated by some of our local establishments, and there is a trophy for most original date idea, and best way of dismissing the guy."
The crowd immediately broke into excited (and slightly confused) chatter causing to Taylor bang his gavel yet again.
"I, for one, have strong objections to this so-called event. It is a waste of time that could be used doing decent, wholesome activities that will not encourage anyone to expose themselves indecently…"
"What's wrong with it Taylor?" Babbette called out, interrupting Taylor mid-flow. "It's just a bit of fun."
"Yeah Taylor," Miss Patty chimed in, "I think everyone could really get into it."
"And I'd hate to miss out on an opportunity that would allow me to indecently expose myself" Lorelai said innocently.
"I think it's a good idea." Andrew said firmly. "And it's for charity."
One by one people began to voice their opinions, approving the event, until Taylor relented.
"Ok, fine." He rolled his eyes. "Well will put this to a vote, as is tradition. All in favour say 'aye'."
Nearly the whole crowd raised their hands and called aye at the irritated Taylor. He banged the gavel. "Motion approved. Now, can we please move on?"
"Sign your names on a sheet of paper at the end of the meeting to take part and ladies, your dates will be posted at Miss Patty's on Thursday," Kirk called, before quickly sitting back down again after a death-glare from Taylor.
"Ooh, this is going to be so fun!" Lorelai exclaimed as the meeting ended.
"I know. Stars Hollow is getting surprisingly modern." Lane agreed.
"It was only a matter of time. Soon Miss Patty will be teaching street dance classes and Taylor will be using words like 'hip'." Rory joked. "So, are you going to sign up?"
"I wish," Lane sighed. "You know that the instant my pen hits that paper I will be shipped off to Bible Camp with a dozen Koreans praying for my soul. What about you? You have no crazy relatives ready to damn you to eternal hell."
"No, but I do have a boyfriend. And I doubt he be thrilled to know I'm signing up to go on a date with other guys."
"So put his name on the sheet too. Miss Patty will see to it that you two are together, it will a great excuse to go on a romantic date."
"Maybe, but we'll still have to go on the date with another guy."
"Yeah, but it's only a few hours and you'll choose Dean in the end anyway. I don't see what the problem is." Lane persisted.
"Yeah Rory, what gives? You love town events." Lorelai jumped into the conversation.
"No, you love town events. I get forced to participate in them by you."
"Which you end up loving, thus proving my point. This sounds like it could be really fun kiddo."
"Remember what happened at the Bid a Basket festival?"
"Ah," Lorelai paused. "Good point. But maybe we could persuade Dean to do it. Where is the floppy haired Romeo anyway?"
"Babysitting Clara. I promised to go over and see him so I better go."
"I'll walk out with you, I've got to get home before my Mom sends out a search party." Lane rolled her eyes. "Bye Lorelai."
"Bye Mom, see you at home." Rory called as the two girls went out, still discussing 'Dismissed'.
"Please tell me you're not actually signing up for this madness?" Luke groaned as Lorelai skipped to the front and grabbed the sign-up sheet.
She turned to him, eyes wide in mock-astonishment. "Of course I am. You didn't think a town event would go by without me participating in it did you?"
"I guess I forgot who I was talking to," Luke muttered. "And I suppose this is solely for DIY help, like the Bid a Basket thing?"
"Yep. I'm hoping one of my dates is Peter Stevenson so I can get my windows fixed. Plus I love the idea of winning the trophy for best dismissed speech." She grinned mischievously. "And, you never know when you might meet a nice handsome man. Which is why you're signing up too."
"So I can meet a nice man? Hate to break it to you, but I don't really swing that way. I do know a guy who might be interested though…wait, Lorelai. What are you doing? Stop!" he exclaimed as she proceed to first write her name and then his underneath.
"You need to get out more." she told him sternly.
"I do get out," he protested feebly.
"Oh yeah?" She raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "Name one time in the last month where you went out, and tonight doesn't count."
"I – uh, there was that thing that I went to…" he floundered.
"My point is proven." Lorelai looked satisfied.
"I can't go. I have the diner to look after, a business to run in case you hadn't noticed."
"It's one day. I'm sure Caesar can take care of it." Lorelai paused for a moment before adding Rory's name to the list. "She thank me for it later. Better add Dean's too. Maybe this date will help set things straight between them, things have been a little weird lately. I think this could be exactly what they need." She grabbed Luke's arm. "Now how about you being a fabulous diner owner and getting me some coffee?"
"Wow, this is so exciting," Lane squealed on Thursday afternoon as she and Rory made their way to Miss Patty's to see the Dismissed list.
"How are you so excited about this?" Rory wondered.
"I don't know, I'm not even in it. And it's not like your dates are going to be predictable, we all know that you are going to get Dean."
"Especially since I asked Miss Patty to fix it so we got put together."
"You're so lucky you have a boyfriend that you can fix contests for." Lane sighed dreamily. "How did Dean take it when you told him?"
"He wasn't that pleased at first, but after I explained to him that it was Mom who had put our names down, and that we would definitely be put together and it would be an excuse to spend a whole day together, he started to like the idea. He even said he hoped we get Kirk as my other date."
"Um, Rory? I think you better take a look at this." Lane said worriedly, as reached the door of Miss Patty's.
Rory joined her at the list. "Hey look, Gypsy got Kirk and Andrew. That Miss Patty is evil! But wait, if Gypsy got Kirk, who did I…?"
"Rory, look at your name." Lane interrupted.
Rory scrolled down until she got to her name, and then paled. The list read Rory Gilmore – Dean Forester. Jess Mariano.
"Oh. No." she whispered.