Don't Own the Show.

            Rory entered her house and dumped her bag on the floor. "Mom. I'm home and I'm hungry." She found Lorelei lying with her face on the kitchen table and an empty pizza box thrown off to the side.

            "That is the LAST time I ever listen to my bad side."

            "Right Mom."

            The next morning Rory was greeted with Gino's smiling face by her first classroom. She finished her last sip of coffee and threw the Luke's cup away.

            "Ciao (Hello) Mary." The smile on that had matched Gino's left Rory's face to be replaced by a frown. She walked right past him and into the classroom.

            Louise and Madeleine were drooling as they watched him continue down the hall. "He is so gorgeous. He's at least 6'3. I'd let him talk to me with that accent all night long." They giggled and watched Rory take her seat. "Anyone who'd turn him down is crazy." With that said, Louise returned her pen to her mouth.

            "Class. Let's begin with a pop quiz." Mr. Price started to hand out papers to his now groaning students. "Now I know what you're thinking. Mr. Price… it's only the third day of class. But let's just leave it as my friendly way of saying welcome back to Chilton." Rory had heard Louise's biting last comment. Obviously Paris still hadn't gotten over the whole Tristan thing. But the looks on their faces when they were handed the pop quiz was revenge enough for her.

            'Five people to avoid. The list just keeps getting longer. Paris and Tristan I could handle. Paris and her groupies and Tristan I could handle. But Paris, her groupies, Tristan, and the jerky exchange student… overload.' Rory sighed and put the last of her homework into her bag. The sooner she got off of school grounds the sooner she could breathe easy.

6:00pm Outside the Gilmore Mansion

            "So Tristan has the new kid Gino calling you Mary?"

            "Yes."

            "And Paris is still reigning with terror."

            "That's a given mother."

            "OK, I've got my facts straight. Ready to enter my hell?"

            "Why yes, I am."

            They both stepped out of the car and walked toward the door. "Pinkies up Miss Rory. What ever would you Grandmother say?" They both pointed their pinkies toward the sky as if drinking tea when Emily threw open the door.

            "You're on time, for once. What on earth are you doing with your hands? Never mind, never mind." She was dressed immaculately and spouting off a mile a minute. "Richard! We're going to be late. Your daughter can be on time, but you can't."

            "Hello to you too Mother." Rory and Lorelei followed Emily into the house to wait. Just then Richard came down suavely attired in his best tuxedo.

            "I'm sorry Emily. I couldn't find my other cufflink. Good evening Lorelei, Rory."

            "Hi Grandpa." Rory stepped closer and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

            "Hey Dad."

            Emily crossed over and straightened his tie. "I put them right out on your dresser. How could you have misplaced one?"

            "My dear wife, have you forgotten that Janlen has the same pair. I couldn't possibly wear those. He'll be there with his family. I have no desire to be embarrassed."

            Rory returned to her mother's side. "Whom are they talking about?"

            "Another blue blood. Heaven forbid someone else have the same cufflinks. That's worth at least ten lashings. And that's just for a cufflink. You're too young to know what they did to the two ladies that happened to frequent the same designer. I hope no one else has this dress… you're to young yet to be without a mother."

            "I doubt anyone else will have rhinestones and a LARGE opening in the front of their dress." Rory laughed and put on her best snooty tone. "Rhinestones, pah! No stone is worth having unless it's genuine and at least five carats." She and Lorelei locked arms and followed the two other Gilmores to the limo that was waiting.

THE CLUB 7:04pm

            Richard was the first out and looking around for familiar faces while the Gilmore women were helped from the car by the attendant.

            Lorelei turned to Rory and smiled. "I feel so sorry for the brides today. They have no limos to transport them. How sad. All limos within a twenty mile radius have been hoarded by the elite members of the 'Save the ….' Do you remember what this thingy is for?"

            "It's a silent auction for the children's hospital."

            "Damn. I can't make fun of sick kids. Whales, yes, monkeys, definitely, but kids… sick kids at that… this is no fair."

            "How horrible of them to raise money for an actual good cause. I will have to write a letter of complaint."

            "Leave the funny stuff to me young lady." They giggled and brought up the rear.

            Inside there were hundreds of faces they didn't recognize. Emily and Richard were already involved in a deep conversation with another couple.

            "Doll, I'm gonna head over to the bar and make nice with the tender. Naughty drinks are the only thing that will get me through this night." Lorelei wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

            "I take it that I'll be driving home tonight then."

            "That you will my lovely. Do you want anything?"

            "A Coke please."

            "Coming right up."

            Lorelei turned and walked with purpose to where the drinks were being served.

            "This is our granddaughter Rory." Rory spun around when she heard her name. Apparently the introductions had begun. "Rory, come meet two of our very good friends. This is Janlen Dugrey and his wife Emma." Rory extended her hand to Emma and then Janlen who lightly kissed the offering.

            "It's so nice to meet you both."

            "The pleasure is ours. Our grandson, Tristan, is in the same year as you at Chilton. Emma where did he go?" He turned to look for his grandson.

            'Great, just what I need.' "I know Tristan. He and I have some of the same classes together." All grandparents cooed about how nice it was with the exception of Janlen whom was now dragging Tristan toward the group. The teenagers' eyes met and they politely smiled to one and other.

            "Well isn't this nice. I believe that we are all sitting together for dinner. Trisy why don't you take Miss Gilmore…"

            "Rory please ma'am." Rory interrupted. She liked the grandparents; the grandson was another story.

            "Rory then…" Emma smiled brightly to her. "Why don't you show her the gardens? Richard you said that she had only seen the club house and the golf course. The gardens won't be in bloom much longer."

            "I did say that. That is an excellent." Both Rory and Tristan went to protest, but they were over ruled two to four.

            "Be back at 7:50 for dinner at 8, and not a moment sooner." Emily added.

            Tristan took her hand and led her toward the terrace doors.

            Emily turned to Emma. "Could you imagine the match that could be made with those two? Gilmore-Dugrey." They both smiled brightly at the thought.

            Lorelei returned to the group carrying her second 'naughty' drink and Rory's soda. "Mom, who is the pointy haired boy that is escorting my daughter out a door." Emily ignored her comment dreaming to herself about her granddaughter's fantasy wedding.