***Does Hallmark Make a Card for That?***

Lorelai reached back into her locker and pulled out yet another book to shove into her backpack. It only just managed to fit in. She had pulled a trash can over to her locker, and began sweeping all the junk that was left down into it. She had just finished when Erika Jackson sauntered over to her, a smirk on her face.

"Lorelai, sweetie," Erika gushed, "what ARE we going to do without you?"

Lorelai just looked at her. They weren't exactly friends, so she knew that this conversation wasn't going to be pleasant.

"I mean, look at you." Erika gestured at Lorelai's changing body. "Eight months ago, you were homecoming princess..."

"Not by choice," Lorelai mumbled.

"... and now... I just can't think of anyone who could take your place." She pretended to be deep in thought. "Oh that's right.... I was next in line for homecoming court." The sarcasm was dripping off her like honey. "I should really thank Christopher for giving me this AMAZING opportunity. Wait, now what has happened to Chris? Oh, that's right... he got expelled because of you! You sure are a swell girlfriend, aren't you." Erika stood there, smiling sweetly.

"Go away, Erika," Lorelai spat. "You can have your precious crown – I don't want it. Just leave us alone."

Erika faked shock. "Oh! Don't say that – you need to give your bastard child something to be proud of you for!"

Lorelai saw red, and used all her willpower to stop herself from slapping Erika. She struggled to pick up her backpack, and stormed off, not caring where she was going. She found herself in the quad, and collapsed on a bench puffing. She tried to catch her breath, and then lifted her head to take in her surroundings. On the other side of the quad was a large group of seniors, celebrating the last day of school.

She had heard of this ritual, but had never seen proof of it. There was champagne flowing, the bottles being passed around casually. Music was blaring out of a boombox, and a trash can had been commandeered and turned into a make-shift bonfire. They were all in casual clothes, and one by one, were dropping articles of their uniform into the fire. As each piece of clothing burst into flames, the group would cheer. "No More School" rang out, echoing around the buildings.

It reminded her of the last day of school last year, when she had gone with a large group of her so-called friends to a nearby park with a range of alcohol that they had stolen from their parents' liquor cabinets to celebrate their freedom for the summer. Naturally, they had all promised each other that they would stay in contact over the vacation, and would organize lots of get-togethers. Most of them would see each other at the Vineyard as well.

This year, of course, had been very different. She had heard the yells and calls of the rest of her class as they left school, heading for the park, just like previously. She, however, hadn't been invited. She had heard conversations about the event stop abruptly as she approached for the last week or so.

So Lorelai had kept slowly emptying out her locker – her entire Deerfield life.

Nobody – with the exception of Erika – had said goodbye to her, although they were all well aware that it was her last day. If fact, nobody had even made any comments about her leaving. She had thought that at least some of her former friends would have said something.

She sat there watching the seniors for several minutes before getting up and walking slowly away. She had made it almost out of the school when she noticed that there was a tear sliding down her cheek.

She quickly wiped it away when she heard her name being called from the front steps of the building.

She turned and saw one of the English teachers standing there, beckoning to her.

"Ms Cleary?" she questioned.

"Good. Lorelai. I hear I'm going to be graced with your presence for the summer." Lorelai nodded meekly. "I have to say, I'm glad that you have decided to stay with us for the extra couple of months."

Lorelai gave a little half-smile. "Yeah, well... seemed like the best thing to do... you know... if i wanted to try and get my GED later on or something. And really, what else am I going to do for the next three months?"

Ms Cleary gave her a knowing smile. All the faculty knew that Lorelai had gone from one of the most popular in her class – the only sophomore to be voted onto homecoming court – to outcast in one fell swoop. They had joked she would be the perfect poster girl for why not to have sex. "I'll see you in two weeks then. We'll see if we can break a record for speed-learning," the teacher tried to lighten the mood.

"Yeah. See you in two weeks."

She arrived home, dragging her heavy bag, to find Christopher sitting on her front porch.

"Hey," she greeted. "Happy last day of school. Forever, for me."

Christopher didn't see anything funny about her comment. "Nothing happy about it."

She looked at him curiously as she opened the door and escorted him into the living room.

"Why are you not out celebrating with your classmates?" she asked him.

"Because they aren't my classmates anymore."

Lorelai stopped suddenly, and sat down next to him on the couch. "What do you mean?" she asked carefully.

"Got expelled again." Sitting this close, she could smell the alcohol on his breath.

"Oh Chris," she exclaimed, attempting to hug him, but he pushed her away.

He looked away from her and didn't expand.

"What happened?" she prompted.

"Spray painted the headmaster's car purple," he said shortly.

Lorelai hid a chuckle that was threatening to come out. "Any particular reason for that?"

He shrugged. "Seemed like a good idea at the time. He's a jerk. After, he said that they didn't tolerate trouble-makers at Groton, and I wouldn't be welcome back next year."

"So..." she ventured. "Last year, you were the perfect little boy. You turned sixteen, crashed your brand-new Porshe, and apparently got a feel for the dark side. Now you're a 'trouble-maker'."

He raised his eyebrows at her. "Perfect little boy?"

"Well, relatively. Have you not listened to your parents? You just kept getting led astray by your tramp of a girlfriend." She giggled.

Instead of giggling with her, however, he looked around guiltily at the word 'girlfriend'.

"So, where you gonna go next year, then?" she asked, ignoring the look.

He sighed. "Mom's making enquiries at St Sebastians."

Lorelai made puking noises. "St Sebastians? Gross!"

"Or I could just not go. You need some company during the days?"

"Chris, don't be stupid. You have to go to school, even if it is stupid St Sebastians. It might not be that bad. I hear there's some great eye candy there. You know – Catholic schoolgirls. You can look, as long as you don't touch."

He simply shrugged.

"Seriously, it won't be that bad. And maybe this time you can stay there for more than a month. I'd be impressed." She rubbed his knee seductively. "And what can I think of to reward you?"

He pushed her hand away. "Lor, you're pregnant. Stop it."

She pouted. "That didn't stop you a couple of months ago."

He looked at her firmly. "Yeah, but you weren't..." he gestured towards her belly, " like that."

Any expression left her face. "Oh."

She moved away from him, and they sat in silence for a minute. Lorelai's hand was protectively over her stomach, as if trying to shield the baby from any bad feelings coming from its' father.

Suddenly, her eyes went wide. "Chris..." she gasped.

"What?" he snapped.

She smiled, reaching out towards his hand. "It's moving."

Christopher took a minute to understand what she was saying, but then allowed her to guide his hand to the bump. "Can you feel it?" she whispered.

He shook his head.

"Oh. Maybe it's too little. I could though."

"What'd it feel like?" his mood seemed to have improved with his child making it's presence known.

She thought for a moment. "Like... bubbles."

He crinkled his forehead. "Are you sure you don't have gas?"

She slapped his arm. "Ew. No. That was definitely the kid. It felt so weird."

"Are you supposed to be able to feel it yet? It's not even five months yet."

She shrugged. "How would I know? Maybe we have a really advanced kid. It'll be walking by six months, talking by nine months, reading by a year. Got myself a genius here."

Chris laughed for the first time that day. "Yeah right. You sure this genius kid is related to you?"

"Okay, fine," she agreed. "So between the two of us, it probably won't be Einstein, but it sure as hell will be gorgeous."

"Seriously. You, Lorelai Gilmore, are way too in love with yourself."

"Ah, but you love me just as much."

He looked away for a second. "Mmmhmm."

They heard the front door open, and Emily walk in.

Chris stood up. "I should go. I'm supposed to be grounded."

Lorelai nodded, then turned her attention to her mother. "Mom, I felt the baby move." You could hear the happiness in her voice.

Emily's face went dark. "How lovely for you, Lorelai. I'll ask Hallmark for the your-bastard-child-is-moving card." She left the room before Lorelai could react.

Lorelai had noticed that it was the second time in a couple of hours that her child had been called a bastard. "Well, I think it's cool," she called after the two retreating figures of Emily and Christopher moving in different directions away from her.