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Chapter 2

"How did I get roped into this again?" Matt groaned as he, Rory and Lorelai walk into the diner after dinner with the grandparents.

"Because you love me and you don't want me to be stuck with one of the rich, snobby sons of one of Grandma and Grandpa's friends." Rory reminded him.

"To be honest, right now that sounds better than me having to dress up and be your escort! It's just wrong!" Matt said.

"I agree." Lorelai said.

"You're meant to be on my side!" Rory exclaimed.

"Rory, I'm just saying if you want to get out of this, I can get you out of it. I don't want you being forced to do it if you don't want to." Lorelai said.

"She's right. They're pushing you into it." Matt told her.

"They're not!" Rory said. She sighed. "They've been so unhappy recently. When I agreed, it made Grandma so happy and...well..." She said.

"You're one selfless kid, you know that right?" Lorelai sighed as they sat down at a table at Luke's.

"So will you help me?" Rory asked.

"If you're really sure about this, of course I'll help you." She said.

"Thanks." Rory smiled gratefully. "Maybe..uh..maybe you could ring dad for me then?" She said hesitantly.

"Your dad? Why?" Lorelai said surprised.

"Because it says in this booklet that the girls' dads escort them down the stairs." Rory said quietly. She glanced up at her mom. "Do you think he'll do it?"

Matt glanced at his mom, knowing their dad's track record. "I'm sure he will." He answered for her.

"You think?" Rory said.

"I'll give him a ring." Lorelai assured her.

"I mean, it's not a big deal. I could always get Grandpa to do it, or Taylor, or even Luke." Rory shrugged.

"Hon, I'll ring him." She said softly.

"Ok." Rory said quietly.

"Coffee?" A voice said.

They looked up to see Jess standing there with the coffee jug. "Oh..yeah..thanks." Lorelai said.

"Fill me up!" Rory smiled.

"Me too!" Matt said.

"You free tomorrow night?" Jess asked Matt.

"Uh..yeah..I think so." Matt said, surprised by the request. "Why?"

"Luke's been getting onto me about doing well at school so I told him I'd meet up with you and we could do homework together." Jess said.

"You? Doing homework?" Matt smirked slightly.

"Well what he doesn't know won't hurt him." Jess smirked.

"Thought so." Matt laughed.

"So are you free?" He asked.

"Should be." Matt nodded.

"Great. You can come here if you want. Luke's going out, I think." Jess said.

"Sounds good." He nodded.

"Thanks." Jess said and then walked off.

"So...you and Jess are going to be studying together huh?" Lorelai said casually.

"It appears so. Although, how much studying there will actually be is still left to be seen." Matt said.

"I didn't know you and Jess were friends." She said innocently.

"Well I wouldn't say we were friends seeing as he's only been here a week." Matt said. "But we go to the same school and have pretty much most lessons together."

"Oh.." Lorelai said.

"Is there a problem?" Matt frowned.

"No, no problem." She said. "I just didn't know you two were hanging out together, that's all."

"He's ok when you get to know him. You caught him on a bad day. It was his first night here. He was bound to be angry and a bit resentful." Matt pointed out.

"Hmm, maybe." Lorelai said unconvinced. "I'm going to go get us some doughnuts." She said getting up and wandering over to Luke at the counter.

Rory glanced at Matt who was watching Jess. "You're actually really smitten, aren't you?" She said.

"What?" Matt said tearing his gaze away from Jess. "No, don't be silly."

"Matt, you forget I know you inside out. I can tell." Rory said.

Matt just shrugged. "So what if I am? Like you said, nothing's ever going to happen, is it? He's pretty likely not even gay." He said.

"What happened to your fighting spirit?" Rory teased.

"I'd rather have him as a friend than nothing at all." Matt shrugged. "Anyway, let's talk about this fan dance you'll be doing at the debutante." He said.

Rory noted his sudden change of subject but didn't say anything. "Apparently, according to mom, it's the most mockable dance ever. You'll love it."

"Just what I want to hear!" Matt grinned.

"Oh, you're actually going then?" Lorelai said as Matt came out of his room with his books from school the following evening.

"Yeah, I told Jess I would." Matt said.

"Oh..well..ok." She said.

"I won't be late." Matt told her. "You don't have to worry about that."

"Oh I know you won't be. I'm not worried about that." She said.

"So what are you worried about?" Matt sighed.

"What?"

"Mom, I know you. You're worried about something." He said.

"I just...don't think Jess is someone you should really be hanging out with. That's all." She admitted.

"Why?" He frowned.

"I just don't think he's a very nice person." She said.

"You don't even know him." Matt said.

"Neither do you." She pointed out.

"I know he's been brought here without even being asked about whether he wants to. I know he's trying to get used to this town which we all know has its quirks. Who else would not be a bit on edge about coming to a strange town to live with someone you barely know?" Matt said.

"Luke's family and Jess should be grateful he's taken him in." Lorelai said.

"Yeah I know and I'm sure he is. But we've never met Jess before and he's our age. How often do we think Luke and Jess have interacted? It must be a bit weird for him. That's why I'm making the effort to be a friend. Is that so bad?" Matt frowned.

Lorelai sighed. "No but..."

"But nothing. I won't be late." Matt said leaving the kitchen and leaving the house.

"Rory doesn't seem like someone who would want to get involved in these debutante sort of things..." Jess said as he and Matt were sat upstairs in the diner flat.

"She isn't." Matt said. "But she's doing it for our Grandma. That's who Rory is. Doing things she's not exactly comfortable with to make others happy."

"And now you've been roped in." Jess smirked slightly.

"I'm only doing it because it's Rory." He said. "I wouldn't normally be seen dead at these sort of things."

"What, does it not go with your style?" Jess said.

"What?" Matt said surprised, glancing up at him.

"Come on, you think I don't know. You always dress a bit out there at school. You think I haven't noticed?" He said.

Matt glanced down at the floor. "I try not to flaunt it that much." He admitted.

"Why? It's who you are, isn't it? Why hide it?" Jess said.

Matt looked up at him. "You don't care that I'm...?"

"Gay? Nah, doesn't bother me." He shrugged. "So long as you don't get off with me, I'm good." He joked.

Matt laughed nervously. "Right..." He said.

"So...another soda?" Jess asked.

Matt gave him a small smile. "Sure." He said quietly.

Matt was smirking watching Rory partake in the humiliating fan dance at the debutante ball when he noticed someone walking up to him and standing next to him. "It's gone well, hasn't it?" He said.

Matt glanced up at his dad standing there. "Rory was really happy you made it." He nodded.

"And you?" Chris asked glancing at him.

Matt shrugged. "I'm happy that Rory's happy." He said.

Chris sighed. "I do try, Matt..." He said.

Matt sighed and glanced at him. "I know." He said. "It was good you came today." He repeated. "And thanks...for the new soccer kit." He said.

"Your mom said you were really getting good at soccer at school so I thought you'd like it." Chris said. "Although I was surprised you were into sports."

"What, because I'm gay?" Matt said raising his eyebrows at him.

"What? No! That's not what I meant!" Chris said quickly.

"It's cool." Matt smirked, showing him he was joking. Despite all his dad's flaws, he was as supportive as his mom and Rory were when he finally came out to him. He had been nervous to tell his dad, not knowing what his reaction would be but when he finally plucked up courage to do so, his dad's reaction had surprised him. His dad had told him he loved him just as much and that if anyone had a problem with it to send them to him. He resented his dad for not always being there for him and Rory over the years but he had always appreciated his support towards his sexuality. He had needed that. "Guess I'm not your stereotypical gay." He joked.

"Guess not." Chris chuckled. "So...any boys on the horizon?" He asked.

"Nope." Matt said.

"No? None at all? I find that hard to believe." Chris said. "There must be someone you like."

Matt shrugged. "Maybe. But they're not gay so what's the point?"

Just then, Rory came rushing over. "So go on then, mock!" She said.

Matt grinned. "You look like a cotton ball."

"Thanks." Rory rolled her eyes.

"I thought you were great." Chris chuckled giving her a hug.

"I just wish Grandma was happier. She was so looking forward to this and she ended up being so miserable." Rory sighed.

"She will have appreciated what you did for her." Matt assured her.

"Absolutely." Chris nodded.

"Hey! I thought I told you two not to leave me alone! I got stuck with some snobby parents!" Lorelai said appearing next to them.

"Sorry." Matt smirked.

"Hey hon, you were great! You only nearly fell once!" Lorelai grinned.

"Thanks." Rory smirked.

"So...you guys ready to head back?" She asked.

Rory and Matt went into Luke's to grab a burger when they arrived back in Stars Hollow, leaving their mom behind with their dad to catch them up.

"Back from the ball huh?" Luke asked them coming up to the table.

"Yep." Rory nodded.

"Do I look the part?" Matt grinned, gesturing to his tuxedo.

"Oh absolutely." Luke smirked. "No one else would pull it off."

"And that is why you're my favourite diner own in Stars Hollow." Matt grinned.

"Thanks." He said dryly. "You guys want food?"

"Three burgers please. Mom's coming in a bit." Rory smiled.

"Coming right up." Luke smiled walking off to the kitchen.

"Thanks for coming today." Rory told Matt.

"Like I had a choice?" Matt teased.

"You did. You could have said no. But you didn't." She pointed out. "I know it wasn't really your thing but..."

"Hey, anytime I get to dress up is my thing." He joked. "You don't need to thank me. You know I'd do anything for you." He smiled.

Rory smiled softly. "Yeah I know. Thank you."

"It actually ended up being fun. And seeing you dressed up as a cotton ball was just a bonus." He grinned.

"Shut up." She smirked. She glanced at him. "So did you hear dad's got a girlfriend?"

"Heard the rumour yeah." Matt nodded.

"I think it's good. Don't you? He seems happy." She said cautiously. She knew her brother and dad didn't have the best relationship.

"It does look like he's finally getting his life together." Matt nodded.

"Which is good." Rory said.

"Sure." Matt nodded.

"Oh god, look!" Rory smirked gesturing over to Jess who had appeared downstairs but he was dressed in one of Luke's plaid shirts and baseball caps.

"He's something else." Matt shook his head, laughing.

"So you think this is funny huh?" Luke said.

"I'm sorry. I thought this was the uniform." Jess said.

"Sure." Luke said. "Well you have your fun. It doesn't bother me at all. You just tidy off those tables." He told him just as Lorelai came in and sat down with Matt and Rory.

"What's going on?" She asked them.

"Jess being Jess." Matt said smirking slightly.

"Right that's it! Get up and change!" Luke exclaimed, not being able to take it anymore.

"Whatever you say Uncle Luke." Jess smirked, glancing over at Matt and Rory. "Thought it was a nice style." He commented.

"Get upstairs and change." Luke repeated. "And it's Luke! Not Uncle Luke, just Luke! In fact, don't address me at all!" He called up the stairs as Jess went.

Lorelai noticed her son's and Jess' little look exchange but didn't say anything. "So have you guys ordered? I'm starving!" She exclaimed.

"You're always starving." Luke said as he walked past them.

"In which case, you'll get me a doughnut before the burger!" Lorelai grinned following him to the counter.

"Doughnut before burger? Seriously?" Luke said.

Rory glanced across at Matt. "You are so smitten, I don't care what you say." She said.

"Ror..."

"Well how do you know he isn't gay? I could be wrong!" Rory said.

"I know." Matt said.

"But how?"

"Because he told me not to get off with him ok?" Matt exclaimed.

"What?" Rory said surprised.

Matt sighed. "He knew I was gay. I thought I was hiding it but guess I'm not great at that." He said. "He joked that as along as I don't get off with him, we were good." He said. "So you were right ok? He's not gay and I'm never going to find anyone."

"Matt.." Rory said softly.

He shrugged. "It's no big deal. It was a long shot anyway."

"But you like him..."

"I will just have to deal with us just being friends." Matt said.

"Matt..." She said softly.

"Please...can we just leave it?" Matt insisted, giving his sister a pleading look.

Rory sighed but nodded. "Ok." She said quietly. "Sorry."

"I'm happy with us being friends ok? Anyway, could you imagine mom's reaction if Jess was gay and we ended up hooking up?" Matt joked.

Rory had to laugh at that. "I would definitely need a camera for that." She joked.

"Exactly." Matt smirked. He glanced over to the curtain leading up to the flat as Lorelai came back with their food and then glanced back at Rory, gave her a small smile before tucking into their food. He was with his mom on this. He was starving.

So I hope you liked it! :) Please review and let me know what you think! I love reading your comments and I really do appreciate them so thank you! :)