-Stars Hollow High-
Rory Gilmore was trying to find her sister. Stars Hollow High wasn't a big school but when you tried to find someone, it suddenly became enormous. She didn't even know where to begin. They were twin and couldn't be more different. She was a quiet girl who like to read and spend time with her mother while Cath' was always in action. When she wasn't with her friend, she was dancing, cheerleading or running.
They didn't have a lot in common and they knew it. Their relationship was difficult. Actually, her sister relation with every Gilmore was hard. She liked sports and healthy food and it wasn't in the Gilmore Handbook. Sometimes Rory didn't know how they could be related.
She finally saw her twin's best friend. He was with a girl she didn't recognize. Well she didn't know a lot of people in school so that wasn't a surprise. She wasn't good at socialising. He was pressing her against the wall, kissing her with a passion Rory only knew from her books. She felt bad interrupting but she needed her twin.
"-Hey!" She called from behind.
"-Hey! How are you Rory?" Max has always been nice to her. They knew each other since kindergarten but never became close. He was Cath's friend.
"-Have you seen Catherine?" The girl was trying to readjust her clothes. What a shame she thought.
"-Hey Ror'! Ready to go?
-What? But… but… when?" That girl was her sister?! Oh god! "Since when are you two together?
-About two years.
-But why haven't you told me?
-I did. Three times." Rory had a way of annoying her. It was amazing.
"-Oh.
-Yeah. See you later Max." She quickly kissed her boyfriend, took her bag and follow her sister out of school.
-Luke's Dinner-
Lorelai sat alone in the dinner. Luke wouldn't give her anymore coffee. She tried everything she could think to: begging, flirting, ordering, flirting, asking and once again flirting. And still nothing. She was becoming desperate. Finally her daughters were there.
"-Ok girls, what do you want? Coffee?
-Lip-gloss actually." AnswersdRory.
"-I have vanilla, chocolate, caramel…
-Anything who doesn't belong in a candy shop?" Interrupted Cath'. Sometimes she couldn't help it. Who needs so many lip-gloss anyway? She was angry and wanted to show it.
"-Well I have one that is pink and glows in the dark.
-I'll take vanilla.
-Here I'll get you some coffee and orange juice for you Cath'. "
While waiting, she took the time to look at her children. Rory was quiet thought she was a lot like her. She was the mini-me, her best friend. She wore her long hair in a style wise as her sister had them shorter in a cheeky style. Cath' was like her in her independence. They were mother and daughter first. Cath' didn't need friends, she needs a mother and sometimes limits. Sadly, Lorelai thought that in this sense, Max's mother has been more a maternal figure in the teen life than her. She didn't understand her younger child as well as the older one but she loved her as much. She just didn't always know how to show it. Things weren't easy, but for being teenage mom, she thought she did pretty well.
On their side, the twins didn't know what to talk about. Cath' was still angry at Rory for forgetting about Max. Again. The silence was becoming embarrassing.
"-Hi!" A guy was trying to talk to the girls.
"-Wow you really must be desperate!
-What?" Cath took him by surprise.
"-How old do you think we are?
-Hum…
-Hey!" Lorelai was back.
"-Hey!
-Meeting my daughters?
-Daughters? They don't look like daughters. I'm with two of my friends…
-They are sixteen.
-Bye!" Rory was impressed she never saw someone leave so fast without tripping. Her mother and sister were laughing so hard the almost fell off their chairs. They didn't saw it but they were a lot alike.
-Independence Inn, kitchen-
"-Sookie!
-Lorelai!
-Oh my god! You will never believe it!" Lorelai's best friend never saw her like this before. The excitement level was rare.
"-Tell me! Tell me! Tell me!
-She did it!
-What?
-Rory! She did it!
-Did what?
-Chilton! Rory got into Chilton!
-Oh my god! Oh my god! That's wonderful!" They were hugging and screaming when the girl of the moment entered the kitchen.
"-What happened?
-Nothing. I'm just happy." Lore' was trying to keep it cool.
"-Did you do something slutty?
-Not that happy.
-You got into Chilton!" the cook couldn't keep it any longer.
"-Sookie!
-Mom?" asked Rory. She couldn't let her hope up. Chilton was the first step to realize her dream.
"-Yes honey. The have a spot, you start on Monday." She finally could see Harvard. She hugged her mother like never before. She was so happy!
"-I must go tell Lane!" She ran to her best friend, even if Gilmore didn't run.
-Max's car in front of STH-
"-So what do you want to do tonight?"
Max and Cath didn't have a lot of time together between all of their activities. So when they could, they were ensemble. Their parents were comprehensive about that. They just needed to keep up with school and don't abuse the thrust. Usually they were at his place. Being the younger of a brotherhood of 5, his parents knew all the jazz. Plus they really like her. Cath loved the Powter's house. She felt more at home there than at her own place. His parents always made her feel welcome even when she came at 10 PM after her dances lessons. Like every Wednesday, they had the night together. She didn't need to go to Hartford for her dance company. They had just finished their extracurricular activities. She was a cheerleader and he played basketball.
"-I don't know… do you want to watch a movie? It has been a long time since I was home.
-I'm in."
-The Crap Shack-
"-Hey Mom!" Rory had her new uniform on. The blue skirt reach her ankles.
"-I didn't know the school was playing in the new Britt's music video.
-Mom!
-I could hem it a little if you want.
-Thanks. But just a little."
Rory was standing on a chair when her sister came in. Half the skirt reach her knees. Unfortunately it wasn't the half that the younger Gilmore could see.
"-Who made you go to the Covent?" Lorelai snorts trying to hold back a laugh. Max wasn't as good.
"-Cath'! I'm going to Chilton!
-Congrats! You're going to kick their asses!
-Congratulations Rory.
-Thank you both.
-So guys, what do you want for dinner? You're staying Max?
-Yes Lorelai. Thank you.
-It has been a long time since my youngest and her boyfriend were home for dinner. I'm glad.
-Sorry mom.
-You knew!" exclaimed Rory.
-Knew what?
-That they were together.
-Of course I did. How come you didn't?
-I forgot.
-Again?
-Again." Answers Cath'. "So what's for dinner?
-What do you want?
-Max, is pizza good with you?
-Yes, don't worry.
-Mom pizzas?"
The evening ended with laughers and discussions while watching "The Breakfast Club". Lorelai wouldn't let Max spend the night even if she knew that nothing was going to happen.
-STH-
"-I can't believe you're leaving Stars Hollow High." Rory and Lane were cleaning the ex-student of STH's locker.
"-I know. I can't believe it either. I mean, come on, I even dress for sports today!
-I saw. You were awful!
-Thank you very much. Never mind. No argument on what to wear or on who is sleeping with who or… Everyone is there to learn and there is a uniform so we are all equals and…
-Ok. There's academic minded and then there's Amish.
-Once again… thank you!
-You're welcome."
Cath and her friends were walking behind them. Max had is harm around the Gilmore shoulders. They were talking with their friends but couldn't keep their hands to themselves. Lane sights.
"-I'm so jealous.
-What do you mean?
-Cath and Max. What they have… I just so want the same.
-I know. Me too. I spent the evening with them yesterday. They were totally cute but not in a sickening kind of way.
-They already left that stage, I think.
-Maybe. It made me think. Am I going to have someone one day? I know school is my priority but it must be nice. You know?
-I know. By the way… the hayride?
-Yeah.
-I have to go to that.
-You're kidding right?
-My parents set me up with a business associate. He's going to be a doctor.
-How old is he?
-Sixteen.
-So he's going to be a doctor in a hundred year!
-My parents like to plan ahead. I need to go, bye.
-See you."
Rory leaves behind her, all her books in one box. She drops one of them and bends to pick it up. Cath saw her and came to help. Half-way she noticed a guy from her English class beside her twin. She smiles and returned in the arms of her man. It was time the girl found someone.
"-Rosemary's baby.
-Yeah.
-That's a great movie. You've got good taste. Are you moving?
-No, just my books are.
-My family just moved here from Chicago.
-Chicago. Windy. Oprah.
-Yeah. Yeah. That's the place. I'm Dean.
-Hi… Oh. Rory. That's… That's me."
Cath' couldn't hear them anymore but she thought it seems to go nicely. She was going to ask later. She likes gossip.
-Luke's Dinner-
"-So you were home late today.
-I went to the library"
Like most nights, it was just Rory and her mother. Every day, after school, Cath had her cheerleading practice then four times a week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning) she went to Hartford for dance lessons. She was in the Company, with all of the best dancers. On Wednesday and Saturday afternoon she taught ballet and jazz to kids from 4 to 8 years old. How she could keep up with school was a mystery for Rory who was a perfectionist.
"-I forgot to tell you, we're having dinner with your grandparents tomorrow night.
-But it's September.
-So?
-What's holiday in September?
-It's just dinner ok?
-Fine. Sorry.
-So I finished your skirt today… An acknowledgment would be nice.
-I don't understand why we're going to dinner tomorrow. What if I had plans? You didn't even ask me.
-If you had plans I would have known.
-How?
-Well you would have told me.
-I don't tell you everything! What if Cath' has plans?
-She cancelled the first part. She is going after. I called to let her know since she's coming back late tonight.
-Back to topic! What if I had plans? I had my own things you know.
-Fine. You have things. Jeez! What's with you tonight?
-I'm not sure I want to go to Chilton.
-What?
-It's just… The timing's really bad and…
-The timing's really bad… I can't believe what I'm hearing.
-Plus it's going to cost a lot of money.
-Oh you have no idea.
-All of your money should go…
-I have to get out of here!"
The girls left the Dinner in a hurry, both angry. On the way home they passed in front of Miss Patty dance studio. Miss Patty taught dance and was a known gossip town. Her and Babette, the girls neighbour, always knew everything about everyone and told everybody.
"-Oh Rory! I think I found a job for you male friend." Earlier that day, she went with Dean. He was looking for a job and she thought Miss Patty was the best to help him.
"-What male friend?
-They need someone at Doose's Market.
-Thank you Miss Patty. I'll let him know." Rory quickly went home. She didn't want her mother to know. It was embarrassing.
"-What male friend?" cried Lorelai after her.
-The Crap Shack-
"-I should have known. You have something going on with a guy and now you don't want to leave school. God! You're so like me! Why didn't I see that coming?
-I'm not like you!" Cried Rory before slamming her room door.
-In front of the Gilmore residence-
Catherine was tired of her mother and sister. Since she went home last night she could feel the tension and no one wanted to tell her the story. They weren't talking. It has been the longest car ride of her life.
"-What's up with you two?
-Look. You and I are having a hard time here. I know you hated me but I need you tub be civil, at least through dinner. Deal?" Lorelai ignored her youngest. She needed to calm things down before the door opened. Unfortunately, Cath didn't see it that way. It was always Rory first.
"-Fine don't answers me.
-Fine.
-Later Cath' ok.
-Whatever."
Emily opened the door and let the girls entered, happy to see them.
-During dinner-
"-So grandpa, how is the insurance biz?
-Oh people die, we pay. People crash, we pay. People lose a foot, we pay.
-Well at least you have a new slogan." Cath' has to laugh at that one. Only her mother could say this kid of things in the house and just obtain a blank face in response. Since the beginning of dinner, she wondered why she was there. Everything was about Rory. All they said to her was: "Hello, your dress is to short". She totally wasn't coming next week. During her little introspection the conversation continued. Why was her mother leaving the table?
"-I'm going to…" Rory began.
"-No. You stay here and keep your grandfather company. I go."
Lorelai and Emily were in the kitchen but you could still hear them from the dinner room.
"-I wasn't too proud to come here begging for money, was I?
-No, but you're too proud to let her know here you got it from aren't you? Well fine. You have your precious pride and I have my weekly dinners. Isn't that nice? We both win."
Rory looked at her sister with big eyes. Cath rolled hers. The reason of the dinner was obvious. How come the bright twin didn't guess? She was so naïve. Sometimes she didn't know what do to do with her sister.
-In the car on the way back home-
"-So nice dinner…
-How much did you hear?
-Snippets." On the back seat, Cath rolled her eyes, music blasting through her earphones. They were unbelievable.
"-Snippets?
-Snippets.
-So basically everything?
-Basically yes. I think it was brave asking them for money.
-I so do not want to talk about it. Cath'! Where do I drop you?
-Max's please. And by the way, I'm so not coming next week.
-Don't worry. So… tell me about the guy!" she asked turning towards Rory.
"-You what so great about our relationship mom? The total understanding of one privacy.
-So tell ME about the guy!
-Cath'!"
