Chapter 9: Welcome to the Yale Daily News
Rory was standing outside the door of the Yale Daily News with Logan by her side–happily gazing at the door.
"Rory, I don't think this is the type of thing we need to be an hour early to."
Logan had repeatedly tried to convince Rory to stop with him and get some coffee instead of showing up to the meeting so early. Of course, this was the same girl who tried to convince her mother every day for a year during grade school that school started an hour earlier. All in the hopes that she could spend more time at school.
"I just didn't want to be late."
"Well, well, well, look at us. How pathetic is this?"
Logan and Rory turned at the sound of Paris' voice.
Rory smiled. "I don't think it's pathetic at all. It just shows that we're conscientious."
Paris nodded, not entirely convinced. "I say we go in and scope the place out."
Rory and Logan nodded and followed Paris into the newsroom.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the Chilton Big Three," a voice greeted them.
They turned toward the sound of the voice and the editor Doyle introduced himself to them.
"The Chilton Big Three?" Rory asked.
Doyle nodded. "Your reputation precedes you. Let's see–you're Gilmore, right? The one that actually can make any subject interesting–including the repaving of the Chilton parking lot."
Rory nodded, surprised.
"And that makes you Gellar?"
Paris nodded, while simultaneously glaring at Doyle.
"And you're Harrison."
Logan nodded.
Logan, Rory, and Paris had been known at Chilton as the three best reporters on the Franklin for most of their tenure there, but they had never dreamed that their reputation extended beyond the walls of Chilton.
"Well, don't expect any special treatment from me," Doyle continued.
"Well, we'll expect our private offices next year then," Paris said with a sneer.
Paris and Doyle began arguing as Rory and Logan quietly slipped away and found an area in the back of the newsroom to sit down. Suddenly, a familiar face hurried past them and hid underneath a nearby desk. They looked up as a man in a suit entered the newsroom and watched in amazement as the confident Doyle's face suddenly paled and his body stiffened.
"Who's that?" Logan whispered to Rory.
"No clue. But I get the feeling Doyle isn't terribly fond of him," Rory whispered back.
At the same time, Rory was getting the feeling that she had seen the man somewhere before but she just couldn't quite place where. She looked down at the still hidden person who had also looked familiar and suddenly it occurred to her, it was the girl from the DAR debutante ball—Honor Huntzberger—which meant that the man in the suit was Mitchum Huntzberger.
Honor mouthed silently to Rory and Logan not to let her father know if her presence. Rory nodded. Logan looked at her confused, and Rory quickly told him she would fill him in later.
"Doyle, I trust all is well in the newsroom.?" Mitchum asked.
"Yes, it is sir. To what do we owe the honor of this visit?"
"Oh, I think you know. My daughter."
Doyle nodded uncomfortably.
"Have you seen her here recently?"
"No sir."
"Why is that?"
"I couldn't really say..."
"My daughter is my only heir Doyle. Are you aware of that?"
Doyle nodded.
"It would help if she actually knew something about the business. I know she isn't the best writer Doyle, but I was counting on you to help shape her up. A good editor can improve his weakest staff member Doyle. I haven't seen you exhibit that talent yet. And who are you?" Mitchum asked turning his attention to Paris.
"Paris Gellar, and let me say it's an honor to meet you and if you would just give me a moment of your time..."
"Gellar. That name sounds familiar–ah yes you're part of the Chilton Big 3. Aren't your partners of crime also starting at Yale this year?"
"You've heard of the Chilton Big 3?" Doyle asked in amazement.
"I've been doing my research at the best schools trying to find someone who would finally be able to whip my daughter into shape since you're obviously not capable of doing it. Headmaster Charleston spoke very highly of his three star reporters so naturally I was happy to hear all three were Yale bound."
Doyle nodded. "The other two are back there," he said pointing in Rory and Logan's direction.
Rory and Logan stood up and came forward.
"I'm Rory Gilmore. It's nice to meet you sir."
"And you must be Logan Harrison?"
Logan nodded and shook Mitchum's hand. There was something about Mitchum that made Logan immensely uncomfortable–something he couldn't quite get a handle on.
"I've heard nothing but wonderful things about the three of you. And I've read some of each of your work and have been impressed. Obviously you'll be refining your writing style here at Yale but the basics are more than there. I can see all three of you excelling in journalism."
"I'm going to be a surgeon and a judge," Paris quickly said.
Mitchum nodded–clearly annoyed by Paris. "I need you to befriend my daughter. She's not the best writer but I think the right person or persons (at this point Mitchum glared at Doyle) could actually help her refine her writing style and help her find something within herself that she wasn't aware could exist."
Rory, Logan, and Paris all agreed to help Honor and finally Mitchum left with a promise to be back in a month or so to check on their progress.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Paris was the first to speak up, "Great now we have to try to help some spoiled, rich no-talent heiress do the impossible. Exactly how I wanted to start my career at Yale."
"Paris!" Rory hissed at her. "Honor, it's ok. You can come out now. Your father is gone."
Honor got up quietly from her hiding place.
"Thank you," she said to Logan and Rory. Then she turned to Paris and said coldly, "Hi, I'm the spoiled rich girl you agreed to help."
"How was I supposed to know you were hiding there?"
"Well, at least I know where we stand." Honor then turned back to Rory. "I know we met a couple of years ago at one of the debutante balls–let me see it's Rory, right?"
Rory nodded, "Yes, I'm Rory Gilmore and this is Logan Harrison."
"And together with the rude Paris Gellar you've been enlisted to do the impossible."
"Honor, I wouldn't say impossible..." Rory started.
"You haven't seen her writing..." Doyle quickly said.
"Doyle, don't you think that was a little harsh?" Logan asked.
Doyle shrugged. "Don't know. Actually I don't care. I feel like a weight has been taken off my shoulder. Honor is now your problem to deal with. All I have to say is good luck."
The first meeting of the Yale Daily News for the school year seemed anticlimactic compared to what had happened before the meeting. Following the meeting, Honor agreed to meet Logan, Rory, and Paris for lunch the following day to begin their newspaper tutoring.
