-The Crap Shack-

Lorelai was in a hurry. It was Rory first day at Chilton and she overslept. While that wasn't a rare occurrence, she really needed to be up early that day. All her work clothes were at the dry-cleaner. She couldn't meet the principal in her short and cow-boy boots. She could already see the reaction: was the rodeo in town? She picked a pair of jeans from the floor and quickly threw them back. They stank. Her last solution was her youngest bedroom but she was with her boyfriend and Lorelai was afraid of going in.

With a big breath she opened the door. Surprisingly the room was clean. She could see some sports attires and their outfits from the day before on one side of the chamber. The pink walls were coated from pictures, posters and closets. The teens were spread on the bed, fast asleep. She silently went to her daughter.

"-Honey. Wake up… Rise and shine… You're late for school…" Lorelai tried and tried but couldn't wake her girl. She didn't remembered it to be that hard. She was running out of time and ideas. She shook the teenager but it didn't work. In the end it woke Max up.

"-Jeez… Cath'! Wake up! Your mom's here!" He then pulled the blanket off of her. In reaction she fell on the floor.

"-What?" She was having a great dream. It involved sand, sea and her boyfriend… far far away from school, parents and sister. She didn't miss Rory's face when her mom and she were talking the day before. It hasn't been a nice conversation but in the end, she got the feeling that she was understood. Plus it gave good development; now Max could come to her room. He could even stay the night. She wasn't going to miss the chance even if Rory didn't agree with it.

"-Your mom has been trying to wake you up. I'm going to take a shower.

-Hey!

-Sorry mom, I didn't see you. I'm still sleepy, I love my bed in the morning.

-Yeah me too.

-So why the wake up at 6AM?

-I need an outfit. I don't have any clothes left who don't stink.

-Go to the dry-cleaner.

-We need to leave in 6 minutes now.

-Wear what's left in your closet and go on the way back home.

-I'm meeting Principal Charleston this morning. Come on! Help me! You're the only one left in this house who knows how to dress herself properly. Well Max got style but…

-It just won't make it. I have that dress by the door, with the boots and the jacket. I wanted to wear it today but I think you can have it.

-Thank you! I like the dress where did you find it?

-The mall. It's one of my favourite so please take a good care of it.

-Will do! Thank you and see you later." Lorelai quickly left the room to dress herself. With a sight, Cath' went back to her bed. She still had 30 minutes before needing to be up. Well 15 now, she had to find a new outfit for the day. She was going to enjoy what was left of time.

"-Don't you think I'm too old for that dress? It makes me look slutty doesn't it? It's too short no?" Forget it. She was up for good now.

"-Mom! Remember the time when you were feeling weird with me because of my boyfriend? I miss it! Jeez. You're 32 not 50! The dress isn't too short you just need to wear it with stockings. And you need to do something with your hair. And here, take it. The necklace will give the effect you aren't going to high school.

-You miss it? Why?

-I could sleep in the morning. You didn't come to me when you had a crisis.

-Well I rarely have a style crisis so don't worry." Lorelai was a bit hurt. She was trying to include her daughter and share something with her.

"-Sorry. It's just… I'm really not a morning person. I mean last week I hit Max when he played alarm clock.

-Ok. I know you feel like you don't belong in our family and that Rory and I exclude you… but if we want things to get better, we all need to make efforts.

-Alright… You need to make a bun with you hair. Easy and always stylish.

-Ok. See you later sweet.

-Bye."

Cath watched her mother leave the room. She could hear her sister downstairs arguing about something or another with their mom. Rory was excited to begin her new school but she should cut some slack. A school as private as it was was still a school and she was going to be on time. She was sure that she could give her mother a chance and build a relationship with her. But when she saw Rory she had her doubts. They were so different in everything and had never be able to find a common ground. She knew she had her faults but her twin didn't make much more efforts. Sighing she let herself fell back on her bed. She decided she was going to try and see what would happen.

-In front of Chilton-

Lorelai and Rory were sitting in the car looking at Chilton. For both of them it was a choc.

"-I remembered it being smaller." Rory was really worried. She wanted the change but coming from Stars Hollow, the school seemed gigantic.

"-And less…" Frankly Lorelai wasn't much better. It was huge.

"-Off with their head.

-Yeah.

-So how I do I look?

-You look great. You're going to be amazing.

-You think?

-I know.

-Ok.

-You ready?

-No." Rory took a big breath.

"-You ready.

-Yes."

They made a tour of the school seeking the headmaster office but couldn't find it. Rory was beginning to lose it. They were lost and almost late! Finally a man came to them.

"-Hello. You're new?

-Yes it's Rory's, my daughter, first day. Do you know where the principal office is?

-Yes at the end of the hall on your right.

-Ok thank you.

-You're welcome. So Rory, my daughter's going here too. Maggie Davidson. Maybe you'll be in her class. Anyway have a good first day.

-Thank you M. Davidson."

They found the office right on time. One inside they were surprise by the presence of Emily. Why she was here was a mystery for both girls but kept it for themselves. After some basics introductions, Lorelai and her mother left. They parted ways in the parking lot, the grandmother leaving with a compliment on her daughter outfit. She had to remember to bring her kid a thank you orange juice, it was her favourite she thought.

-Principal Charleston office-

"-You seem to be a bright girl miss Gilmore. Good grades, the teachers like you.

-Thank you.

-The social activities aren't a priority I see.

-Well… Living in Stars Hollow is a social activity in itself.

-Nothing in you school appealed to you?

-I was on the journal and the German club. But we were three and two left after seeing "Schrindler's list" and no one reads the STH journal so it got cancelled. I work at my mom's inn sometimes.

-What are your aspirations?

-Harvard. To study political science and journalism.

-To be…

-Christiane Amanpour.

-Really?

-Yes.

-And why do you wish to be her?

-I don't wish to be her. I want to do what she does.

-Which is?

-Travel, see the world close. Reporting on what's really going on. Be a part of something big.

-I've know your grandparents for quite some time" Said headmaster Charleston after looking at his papers. "In fact, I was at a party at their place just last week. I golf with your grandfather every Sunday. But none of it will help you here. Chilton has one of the highest academic standards of any school in America. You may have been the smartest girl in Stars Hollow, but this is a different place. Bigger pressure, stricter rules and higher expectations. If you make it through you're going to have one of the finest education and I don't see any reason for you to not achieve your goals. But you start late and aren't use to that kind of environment, thus there are great chance of you failing. That's alright failure is a part of life but not a part of Chilton. Remember it. You can go. Give those documents to miss James."

Later that day, Rory would still be thinking about that speech. It wasn't as welcoming as what she would have like but she would have to do with it and prove them wrong.

-Weston tearoom-

Cath and Max were enjoying their breakfast at Weston. It wasn't that they didn't like Luke's dinner but they preferred the little tea-room. It was smaller and less haunted by the gossip queens of town. Plus they were more tea drinkers. The place offered a calmer spirit and allowed more relaxed discussions. Max wanted to benefit from that and talk with his girlfriend. They didn't have the occasion to do so the night before. He worried, from a few days she had been quieter than usual.

"-So how are you really?

-What do you mean? We see each other every day…

-I know but we didn't have the occasion to talk about your family for some time and a lot has changed. So I was wondering. How do you feel?

-I don't know. When we were kids I wanted a mother. I wanted someone I was able to talk to but not in a friend kind of way. A person who would tell me what I could do and not do, what to eat or not or someone who wouldn't compare me to my sister. I was wilder but not an impossible child and yet I always felt as if I was failure beside the perfect child that was Rory Gilmore. But at sixteen, my mom knew more about being a friend than being a mother. I feel sad that I am more at ease to speak to your mom than mine. Yvone took me to dance lessons, help me with my homework or taught me how to cook and what was a good alimentation. When we got together it's her I wanted to tell and when we were ready to make love, it's her I asked for pills. I was used of speaking about lighter topics with my mother and now she wants to be a bigger part of my life. I don't know how to let her be my mom. For example, this morning… I had to restrain myself, I would have scream… Who … never mind.

-I know you look at my mom like she's yours and I don't mind. I like to share with you. But I also know you want your mom to be your mother. It's your dream for as long as I remember. So maybe you just have to give her a chance to become one. Her first step was to accept our relation and what comes with it. She was cool before but not as cool nor as much open about it. She talked with you and tried to see your opinion. It's great, don't you think? It won't be easy, but you still have us if you want to talk about it. Don't forget.

-Yeah… Maybe.

-And I think you should speak about it with mom.

-Yeah. It's just sometimes I really feel like I'm not good enough for the Gilmore family.

-Well your grandparents seem to like quiet kid without social life.

-Like my sister?

-Yeah. You are different. You know that you only live once. You enjoy life as it comes. And we can't say that you're not good at school. If you tried more your sister wouldn't stand a chance.

-Maybe. But I like having stuff outside of studying.

-Well it's not exactly like if you were studying your ass off.

-It's not exactly as if WE were studying our asses off. Point.

-It's not as if we were studying. Point." At this point, the teens looked at each other and went into a giggle. They couldn't stop. It was the kind of laugh you only had with special people. When it was time to go to school they left the shop with a smile for Fran. She was a grandmother for them. They had always went there since as long as they can remember. Yvone loved the place and used to take them there every Wednesday afternoon.

"-By the way, did you really asked my mom about pills?

-Oh look! Hey Sarah! Wait for me girl! See you later Max." The Gilmore girl didn't even look back. She ran off to her friend. Her guy totally hilarious behind.

-Chilton-

Rory wasn't having a good day. First three girls of her class already hated her and she didn't even know why, then she was so behind in school she wanted to cry, plus her locker didn't seem to open and finally some guy kept forgetting her name and calling her Mary. It was midday and she was ready to go home. She was frustrated. Difficulty wasn't a thing she was used to.

"-Hi. I'm Paris.

-I'm Rory.

-Oh I know who you are Lorelai Leigh Gilmore from Stars Hollow.

-You can call me Rory.

-Are you going out for the "Franklin"?

-The what?

-Don't play innocent you don't do it well. The school paper, are you going out for it?

-I have to able to open my locker first.

-I'm going to be editor next year.

-Well good for you.

-I'm also the top of the class and I intend to be Valedictorian when I graduate.

-Ok. See you later.

-You'll never catch up! You'll never beat me! The school is my domain. The 'Franklin' is my domain. Don't forget about that.

Rory couldn't believe her eyes! Who did that girl think she was? Godzilla?

"-Hey Mary!" Turning on herself she pointed her chest in the common gesture 'who? Me?' "Yes you!

-The name's Rory.

-I'm Tristin.

-Nice to meet you.

-So you met Paris.

-Yes. She seemed…

-Intense? Don't worry Mary, you'll get used to it. Remmy's class is hard.

-Yeah.

-I could lean you my notes if you want.

-Really? That would be great.

-How great." Tristin kept getting closer and closer, she was becoming nervous. "I could even help you study.

-Thanks but I kind of view studying as a solitary activity.

-See you later Mary!

-It's Rory!"

-Independence inn-

In the parlour, a women was playing harp, entertaining the customers. Lorelai was trying to calm down a guest. His car had been damaged. It wasn't an easy task as it seemed to be a new one. Those kind of things happened. She gave up and offered him a meal at the inn.

She had a lot on her mind that day. A part was about Rory and the rest was about Cath. She wanted to have a real relation with her but to achieve that she needed to be the mother first. She didn't know how to do that. Rory was easy, she practically raised herself, letting the time to her mother to grow up. The pair ending more friends than anything else. Her youngest wasn't like that. She had friends outside and made a difference with her mother. Now Lorelai was ready but she didn't know if her daughter would be. She also had to talk about it with her oldest. Things were going to change. It was a family of three not two. She thought it was time she showed it.

-STH-

It was lunch time at STH, Cath and her friends were outside of school. They found the park nearby much better than the cafeteria. They were laughing their asses off. Once all the girls were together, Sara didn't miss the chance to tell the others about Cath's mishap. Normally, Max and she talked about everything so the fact that he didn't knew about the pills story was a total fluke. It amused the girls grandly. Especially since Maw had fun teasing his girlfriend all morning. Only Cath would ask her mother-in-low about something like that.

However they all stopped when they noticed Lorelai Gilmore heading their way.

"-Hello girls. Cath could I talk with you a minute?

-Hum… Yeah sure.

-Ok. So I was wondering if you would like to do something together this afternoon.

-This afternoon I can't. I have cheerleading practice and then dance lessons. I come back around 10 tonight. But we can do it tomorrow afternoon if you want. I'm totally free before 5 PM. Coach cancelled practice so I just my jazz lesson.

-Ok. Let's say 2PM at Luke? And we chose what to do then?

-Let's do it.

-Great. See you later kid."

Once her mother has left, Catherine turned back to her friends. They were all speechless. Lorelai Gilmore taking interest in her youngest wasn't an everyday occurrence.

"-I know." Cath would be talking about it with Sarah later but not the others. They weren't as close.

-Chilton-

Rory wanted to cry. Her day didn't get any better. The classes were hard, the people not nice and now everybody called her Mary. One thing was sure: rumours were fast here. As fast as in Stars Hollow.

Her locker was still stranded, to open it, she pulled too hard and fell backwards with the force. Unfortunately, Paris was behind her with what looked to be a castle. Or ought to look like a castle. Rory broke it when she stumbled. It was an accident but she didn't think the other chiltonite would see it that way.

"-Wonderful. Stay out of my way!

-Paris! I'm so so sorry! It was an accident, I swear. My locker… I fell… and then…

-Shut up!" The blonde angrily entered her classroom. It was the same than Rory. Of course they would have all their classes together.

Finally the day reached to an end. The new student ruched to be out of school, she wanted her mom, she wanted to be home. It was with relief that she recognized Lorelai's jeep in front of Chilton. She ran to her arms.

"-So this plaid skirt thing…. My idea?

-My day sucked too.

-Promise?

-On my mother life" The older tried to pulled off the hug.

"-Not yet.

-Still hugging. Still hugging. So I bought us some coffee.

-Why, I'm shocked." Lorelai laughed. She picked Rory's bag pack on the floor but struggled with the weight.

"-Do they expect you to be smart all in one day?

-Oh they expect a lot of things.

-So tell me.

-This girl already hates me and the people are weird.

-Weird?

-They kept calling me Mary.

-You're kidding me! I can't believe they still say that!

-What? What does it mean?

-It means like Virgin Mary. It means they think you look like a goody-goody.

-You're kidding.

-No.

-Well what would they have called me if they thought I look like a slut?

-They might have added a Magdalene to it.

-Wow. Biblical insults. This is an advanced school." They laughed while getting in the car.

-Stars Hollow-

Lorelai still had to talk to Rory about Cath. First she had planned on doing it in the car on the way back from Hartford but when she heard about her kid's day she couldn't do it. So she thought to do it at Luke but then Lane came. It wasn't a conversation you could have in front of friends. So she dropped the matter and focused on the two girls in front of her.

"-It was so weird not having you in class today. I mean, I finally noticed some of the others kids. Let me say, they are a sad lot.

-Yeah. Well add a couple of plaid skirts and you got the Chilton freaks.

-I totally miss you.

-I miss you." Lorelai decided to intervene.

"-How about on Thursday when I have business class, what if Lane comes along? You could spend some time together. You could shop, study, join a cult and shave your heads.

-Really?

-Except the shaving your heads part.

-Oh no! What time is it?

-Lane! You forgot the time again?

-Rory! What time is it?

-6:30PM.

-I need to go!" The Gilmore watched the Korean ran off. That girl was the queen of the double-life.

"-Mom why can't Lane comes to Hartford tomorrow? You have class Tuesdays too.

-I spend the afternoon with Cath tomorrow.

-Why?

-What do you mean "why"?

-Well you never spend time alone with Cath.

-I do it!

-Hum… no. When you aren't with me or with the both of us, you're working.

-Oh God… I screwed up!

-Well with her… not with me. So you still did well.

-I want that to change.

-Ok.

-Ok?

-Yes. I want that to change too. I just don't know how to do it.

-Me neither.

-Well we'll have to learn to know her I guess.

-And accept her life as it is. Somehow I don't think she will accept criticism from us.

-Somehow I don't think too. But...

-What?

-I find it weird that Max spent the night.

-I know. Me too. But it's a part of their relationship.

-I guess. But Cath's not even sixteen yet.

-In two months she will be.

-It's just that I've never even had a boyfriend and she sleep with hers. I find it…

-Well you two are different." Lorelai didn't know how to explain to her daughter that the situation wasn't unusual. Well they were a bit young but it was normal that the teens wanted to spend time together.

"-When you'll have a boyfriend you'll understand where they come from.

-It's just I don't feel at ease with a guy in the house.

-If it makes you feel better, I can always ask Max remains only on the weekends.

-That would be great. Thank you.

-I think you should also speak with your sister.

-Really?

-Really."