Title: Debutante
Author: Lady Eliza
Characters: All Characters
Rating: PG-13/T
Summary: Rory is in her sophomore year at Chilton and she is also coming out into society like a proper young lady. But there's a hitch, her boyfriend Dean and good friend Jess are not approved to be escorts. Her grandmother brings in a replacement, one Logan Huntzberger to the rescue. Her very own Knight in Shining Armour.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls or any of its characters.
AN1: This story takes place in the second season with just a few minor adjustments. Basically, the coming out ball is going to be the main part of this fic. After the coming out party I'm going to skip from season 2 to season 5 'Written in the Stars' episode. That will probably be a different fic, which of course will continue from the end of this fic. Hope that wasn't too confusing (lol).
AN2: This fic is AU even though some parts might go along with the show the majority of the fic is a game of 'what if' by me, the author. I've been writing this story more so than 'Grown Up' but I'm still writing that fic so don't worry I'll get around to posting a new chappie soon. I hope you guys enjoy this fic, let me know what you think.
-GG-
Rory was pacing Luke's diner while her mother sipped coffee and looked at her daughter with a hint of amusement. Today was the day that Rory was going to tell Dean about him not being eligible to be her escort. The Gilmore girls had thought long and hard about this decision.
Rory knew that he would be happy until the part about another boy taking his place came up. Dean had issues with other guys and Rory. He didn't think that a guy could be friends with his girlfriend and not want to date her. Exhibit A: Tristan DuGrey. Exhibit B: Jess Mariano.
She didn't know what to expect from him and that was a surprise to her since Dean was usually very easy to read. Her mother had tried to reassure her with the fact that if worse came to worse Rory could blame Emily. Then of course there was the fall back plan, getting out of the Debutante ball altogether.
Rory had vetoed the latter suggestion, since one way or another she was going to be coming out into society. Lorelai was way too amused by her daughter's incessant pacing to make her sit down, but Luke had had enough.
"Rory, for the love of god please sit down. I think I might have to cut you off today."
Rory gasped, "Luke I'm going through a crisis today and you want to take away the one constant in my life that helps when I'm in need. How can you be so cruel?"
"Oh…man…don't talk like that. I want you to sit down and eat something nutritious instead of the gunk you usually have for lunch," said Luke.
"Sure, I'll have a double cheeseburger instead of the usual hamburger, thanks," said Rory sweetly.
Luke just grunted and went to put in her order. He didn't bother taking Lorelai's order since he already knew what she wanted. He had done his civic duty by making the world a better place by convincing Lorelai and Rory to eat something green, but so far he wasn't having any luck.
"I wonder where he is," said Rory looking at her watch for the fifth time in so many minutes.
"Hon, sit down. You're going to exhaust yourself over something that might not happen. Dean is a great guy. I'm sure he'll understand that he can't be your escort. Just relax," said Lorelai.
"Your right…of course, your right," said Rory taking deep breaths.
Dean Forrester was a happy guy this sunny day and was walking towards Luke's to meet his girlfriend Rory. He loved her so much and was even willing to escort her to some fancy thing that her grandmother talked her in to. Dean didn't want to go, but he would do anything for Rory. He just wished she had more of a backbone when it came to her grandparents. He would rather be spending some alone time with Rory than doing whatever it took to get ready for the fancy party. Oh well!
He walked into Luke's not knowing that whatever time he would spend with Rory, getting ready for the 'fancy party,' was going to be taken away from him. Furthermore, this was going to show Dean another side of Rory that he rarely, if ever, saw. Dean would get to see Lorelai Leigh Gilmore III blue-blooded society girl. Poor Dean didn't know what he was in for.
"Hello Rory…Lorelai," said Dean when he got to the Gilmore's table.
"Dean, hi," said Lorelai.
Rory just smiled at him. Well, here it was, the time to tell her boyfriend the bad news. She just hoped he wouldn't make a scene because Luke was very protective of her and he would throw Dean out on his ass.
"So, what are you supposed to do for the fancy ball that you have to attend?" asked Dean.
Here was the opening Rory needed to tell Dean about the escort business. She didn't even need to bring it up. "Well…about that Dean. You see my grandmother told me there are rules as to who can be an escort," said Rory.
Dean gave her an odd look and said, "What, they don't allow boyfriends to be escorts? So, whom are you going to ask? Jess?" yelled a red faced Dean.
"Dean, I think you should hear her out before you start making accusations," said Lorelai calmly.
Dean looked at Rory menacingly.
"Apparently, an Escort must have a female member of his family in the DAR, or a membership with the Hartford Country Club. Now do you have any of the above?" asked Rory rudely. She didn't like the way Dean jumped to conclusions and didn't feel the need to soften words for him. He was a big boy; he could take it.
Dean looked at her incredulously and asked, "Are you kidding me?"
"No I'm not. There are strict guidelines as to who can and cannot be an escort," said Rory in a haughty manner.
Lorelai who had lifted her coffee cup to her lips stopped midway. She had a sense of foreboding where her daughter was concerned. What Rory had just said was something that could've come out of the mouth of her mother, Emily Gilmore. That alone was cause for concern.
"What a stupid rule. Your grandmother is in the DAR why don't you get her to let me take you," spat out Dean.
"You want me to ask my grandmother to break a rule that has been in place since the beginning of the DAR, so that you can get your way?" asked Rory waspishly.
"Well…I thought you wanted me to do it. Besides, whom are you going to get to escort you in such a short time? I mean, won't most of the guys be taken?" asked Dean.
"My grandmother has already found me an escort. He is the son of one of her DAR friends," said Rory.
Dean looked like he was going to say something quite rude, but Lorelai interrupted his tantrum.
"Dean the only reason there are strict rules concerning escorts is that the families want their daughters on the arms of the most eligible bachelors in town. Young women from wealthy families were historically pushed towards men that were a part of the same social circle. Coming out into society says 'Hello my name is Lorelai Gilmore and I am of good breeding and marriageable age.' It's an archaic tradition that is still held in high regard among families of old money, with families of new money trying to emulate them."
"I can't believe you would put yourself through this Rory. From what your mother says it goes against everything you believe in," said Dean.
"You're just saying that so I won't have to be escorted by some other guy. I want to do this, not only for my grandmother, but it is something different," said Rory.
Before anyone could speak Rory's cell phone went off and she excused herself from the table.
Lorelai looked at Dean and said, "Word of advice, don't jump down Rory's throat about this. She really wants to do this. Rory wants to please her grandmother, but deep down this is something she'll experience that I've never done. I ran from my parent's world, but Rory fits into it perfectly. Please don't stick out like a sore thumb."
"I just don't understand why she couldn't have refused. I mean she does whatever her grandparents ask her to," said a whining Dean.
"Of course she does. Rory is like that and you will just have to accept that side of her," said Lorelai.
The two stopped talking when Rory came back into the diner with an odd look on her face.
"Who was that sweets?" asked Lorelai.
"Carrington," said Rory.
"Who the hell is Carrington?" asked Dean.
"Carrington Murdock?" asked Lorelai.
"Yeah," said Rory.
Dean looked between the two Gilmore girls and asked, "WHO?"
"Carrington Murdock is the butler of the Gilmore Estates in Somerset, England," said Lorelai.
"Gilmore Estates?" asked Dean whose eyes were getting round.
"Yeah…so what did he want Rory?" said Lorelai.
"He phoned me, Miss Lorelai Leigh Gilmore III, to inform me that I was expected to have tea with great-Gran, Mrs. Lorelai Beatrice Gilmore I, this coming Monday at the Country Club tearoom," said Rory.
"Did you just repeat what he said?" asked an amused Lorelai.
"Yes," giggled Rory.
"I never knew Gran was in town."
"Well…she's not."
"I'm sorry, I don't understand. Didn't you just say that you were summoned for tea on Monday?" asked Lorelai.
"She's flying in tomorrow," said Rory.
"What's going on?" asked a rather confused Dean.
"My grandmother Lorelai is apparently coming into town," said Lorelai with an evil gleam in her eyes.
"Grandma isn't going to take this well," said Rory looking worried.
Dean watched the two of them talk; it was like watching a tennis match. He had no idea that Rory's great-grandmother was named Lorelai, or for that matter, that she even had a great-grandmother. He didn't understand how the girl he had been dating for over a year had a whole other world that she was a part of and he knew nothing of it.
"I think I'm going to go now," said Dean. He had no choice but to leave with his wounded pride.
"Yeah…okay," said Rory in a distracted manner.
Dean left in a huff and neither of the Gilmore Girls seemed to mind at his departure.
Edit: December 31st, 2007
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