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I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Be sure to read the note at the bottom.

Disclaimer: None of it's mine. Except (maybe) the plot.

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Chapter Two
Is The Pope Catholic?

The next day was Thursday, the day before the dance. The people who'd fallen behind in getting dates were scrambling around, trying to find one last minute. Rory heard that Tristan had turned down every offer he'd received, which puzzled her, but she didn't focus on it for long.

Paris had confided in her that she and Jamie, the boy she'd met down in Washington, D.C., were going together. He was even coming up from Princeton for the big night. Rory couldn't help but be a little jealous; she missed that feeling of security, of being in a relationship. But she couldn't say she missed Dean; in the end, he turned out to be an overly jealous jerk.

She still couldn't believe the absurdity of the breakup. Apparently, Dean was convinced that she and Jess had a "thing" going on.

Of course they didn't! Rory had nothing but platonic feelings towards Stars Hollow's big-city bad boy. They were great friends, sure, but Rory didn't want to enter romantic territory with him. She wasn't so sure he was a commitment kind of guy.

So maybe she'd be by herself at the dance. Better than Dean, who'd probably end up in a fight with someone. Rory rolled her eyes, a small smirk crossing her face as she rushed out of History when the bell rang.

Rory passed the gym on her way to her third period class and noticed that the gym was decorated to the nines. The two schools' colors were on the walls and draped from the ceiling. She saw parent volunteers hanging up decorations and setting up the platform for the DJ.

Maybe it won't be so bad, she thought, with a shrug, as she entered English.

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Lorelai called Rory's cell while the youngest Gilmore was on the bus.

"What's up?" Rory asked, turning uncomfortably towards the window and away from the people around her listening in like they had nothing better to do.

"Guess what?"

"You learned to tie your shoes."

"You know I have no shoes with laces."

"Okay, then, what?"

Lorelai seemed really excited. "You know how your dance is tomorrow?" she asked. Rory could picture her bouncing up and down. Luke was right; she did drink too much coffee on a daily basis.

"I didn't know that."

"Work with me here, babe."

"Yes, I know how my dance is tomorrow."

Lorelai squealed. "Well, guess what I got BOTH of us out of!"

"Friday night dinner?"

"You got it!" Lorelai exclaimed. "See, my mother thinks that this is a great opportunity for you to meet 'fine young Andover men'," she said, doing an interesting imitation of Emily Gilmore.

"How'd you get yourself out of it?"

"I told her I needed to primp you for the fine young Andover men," Lorelai said. "And she completely bought it!"

"Good for you, Mom," Rory laughed.

"She's probably hoping that you'll meet your future husband there."

"Oh, god, don't even joke about that," Rory groaned, inching closer to the window as Stars Hollow came into view and the bus halted. "I'm at my stop. Are you at work?"

"Yes, but I'll ditch for Luke's! You in?" Lorelai asked.

"Totally."

"Okay, meet me there in twenty. Bye sweets!"

"Bye Mom," Rory said as she got off the bus, heading for her house. She had time to drop off her backpack and change before she had to meet Lorelai.

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"Hey Mom," Rory said, walking into Luke's thirty minutes later.

"You're late. Ten minutes," Lorelai said, pointing at her watch.

Luke came over to their table. "You came in only a minute ago," he pointed out, taking out his notepad to take their order.

Lorelai gave him a withering look, grabbing her daughter and dragging her over to the counter. "We're sitting over here today," she said haughtily, but her face fell when Luke just followed them. However, she brightened up again upon seeing the coffee pot come out.

"Here's your coffee," Luke said, pushing the two cups to the girls.

"Oh, thank God," Lorelai said, taking a sip of the coffee, all anger at Luke forgotten.

"Was Michel hard to deal with today?" Luke asked, anticipating that Lorelai had a rough day at the inn.

"Is the Pope Catholic?" Lorelai retorted, causing Rory to choke on her coffee.

Luke rolled his eyes, shook his head, and went to serve other customers.

"One of these days, he's going to kick us out," Rory observed.

"That'll be a sad day indeed. The day we join the ranks of Kirk and Taylor…" Lorelai sighed dramatically.

"Trust me, you'll never be that annoying," Luke assured, refilling their cups.

At that moment, Taylor strode in, Kirk darting about behind him like a child.

"Speak of the devil," Lorelai said into her coffee, causing Taylor to give her a "look".

"What do you want, Taylor?" Luke asked, not in the mood for Taylor's complaints about how his diner wasn't colorful enough or bull like that.

"You do know what season it is, right?" Taylor asked, like he was speaking to a three year old.

"Let me guess…" Luke said, pretending to think. "Oh, I think I got it. Fall!"

"This is no time for your sarcasm, Luke! Your unfestive diner is bringing down this town! Fall Fest is only three weeks away, and your diner is as bland as ever!" Taylor whined, putting his hands on his hips. "It's time you contributed back to this town!"

"What, feeding them isn't enough?" Luke retorted.

"Hit him!" Lorelai cried.

"Who?" Rory asked.

"I don't know, either one!"

"Can't you at least write 'Happy Fall' somewhere?" Taylor asked, crossing his arms.

"If I do, will you get out?"

Taylor huffed and stormed out of the diner, but Kirk didn't leave.

"I was wondering, Luke, if you have any spots in the staff available," Kirk asked, and Rory could tell that Luke wasn't in the mood for this.

"Well, let's see. Is Jess still alive?"

"Yes," Kirk replied.

"What about Caesar?"

"Yes."

"Hmm. Then no," Luke snapped, and Kirk sat down.

"Can I at least have a burger?" he asked.

"Do you have money?" Luke asked.

"Yes," Kirk replied.

"Then yes. What do you want on it?"

"Everything… but hold the hamburger," Kirk said. Rory looked at him; he was being completely serious.

"You want a hamburger… without the burger?" Luke asked, sounding almost disbelieving.

"Yes."

"Get out."

"Right away."

Kirk dashed out of the diner and Lorelai laughed. "Oh how I love this town!"

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"You want to do a movie night tonight?" Lorelai asked, as they walked back to the house. Rory arched an eyebrow.

"I have school tomorrow."

"That's what's coffee's for, right?"

Rory laughed. "Sorry, I gotta get my homework done. You could quiz me on the amendments of the Constitution, though."

"Let's see…" Lorelai said. "Shirtless Patrick Swayze… or Constitution… wow, this is hard…"

"Oh, shut up," Rory said with a laugh. "It was just a thought. I'll study by myself."

Suddenly, her cell went off. "Hold on a sec…" Rory said to her mom. "Don't hang up, whoever you are!" as she searched through her purse. Finally, she found the ringing phone, and looked at the Caller ID. "Oh joy. Paris."

Lorelai began to laugh wickedly as Rory answered.

"Hey Paris."

"Hello Rory… what the hell is in the background?" Paris suddenly asked, sounding slightly alarmed.

"That's just my mom. She's crazy," Rory said, as Lorelai yelled, "And sexy!"

"I'm freaking out," Paris said.

"Yeah, my mom has that general effect on most people," Rory said, walking into the "Crap Shack".

"No, Gilmore!" she snapped. "I'm freaking out about tomorrow! What am I going to where!" Paris shrieked. Rory held the phone a foot away from her ear. "What are you wearing?"

"I don't know. It's only semi-formal. Go with a skirt and a cute top," Rory said, sitting on the couch.

"Okay, here are the options: I have a blue off-the-shoulder top, a green halter top, and a black tank top. Then I have a white skirt, a green skirt, and a black skirt. What should I wear!"

"The green halter with the white skirt!" Lorelai said. Rory noticed for the first time she was sitting right next to her.

"Did you hear that?" Rory asked.

"Yeah. Tell your Mom thanks," Paris said. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Totally. Bye," Rory said, hanging up. She turned to her mom. "I'm gonna look through my closet to find something to wear to the dance… wanna help?" she asked.

"Of course, my dear daughter, my flesh and blood!" Lorelai led the way, and Rory trailed after her. By the time Rory had gotten into her room, Lorelai was already digging through her things.

"Alright. This is an excellent top," Lorelai said, holding up a white halter top. "It'll go with anything else."

"Okay," Rory said, letting her mom do this. Lorelai was best in her element when she was with a full closet.

"And this skirt is excellent!" Lorelai chirped, taking out a black-and-white striped skirt that would reach probably mid-thigh.

"Thanks, Mom," Rory said, not minding in the least that she had nothing to do with her own clothing choice. Her mom was amazing at this stuff.

"And you can borrow my black sandals, too," Lorelai said, smiling at her daughter, who just grinned back, taking a seat on her bed.

"Now, study and be an amazing daughter," Lorelai said, before marching out of the room. She stuck her head back in. "Pizza okay?"

"Everything on it?"

"Damn straight."

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Good? Bad?

Next chapter will be up soon. Sorry if it feels like it's going slowly, my weakness is going much too fast and confusing people, so I'm trying to slow it down a bit. Don't worry, next chapter is part one of the dance.

If you guys wanna see the skirt that Rory is wearing, just let me know, I can post a link in my profile. It's a really cute skirt, I almost bought it, haha.

--Ace