Chilton, 9:30 am, Tuesday:
Dylan ran into the testing room, making it just in time. It had begun to snow so Luke had to drive very carefully and slowly causing the kids to almost be late for their exams.
Testing week had officially begun. Dylan's first test of the week had just started and much to his dismay, it was his history midterm. He hated starting testing week off with his worst subject because it discouraged him.
He had finished the first three questions and was already unsure of his answer choices. He flipped to the next page and his heart sank; everything he had studied was starting to get jumbled as he read more questions. Dylan never really felt this nervous, he was usually a very good test-taker, but he was worried he wouldn't do well and disappoint his parents.
He took a deep breath and began to bubble in some answers.
"William Danes", the proctor called to a sleeping Will to wake him up. When he didn't wake up, he walked towards his desk.
"William!", he repeated louder.
Will slowly lifted his head up and yawned.
"My bad", Will muttered.
"The test started almost an hour ago and you haven't even started!", he exclaimed, lifting Will's test up.
The class chuckled at him.
"Nice one, Danes", one of his baseball friends from the back of the room called.
Will turned around and smirked.
"Just taking a little break, I'll start now", Will assured the furious proctor.
He opened the test up and breezed through the first few pages, marking down his answers.
Will never really got stressed for test because he was in all of the easy classes; it was all light work.
He glanced up at the proctor who was staring him down, looking surprised.
He shot him his signature smirk and went back to taking his test.
There was only half an hour left and Dylan was only halfway done. His stomach dropped when the testing proctor wrote '30 minutes left' on the chalkboard.
He looked down at his paper and his mind just went blank. He couldn't afford to lose any more points on this test than he probably already had.
He glanced around the room and his eyes landed on the kid next to him's scantron. The kid was already done with his test and was checking it over, so his scantron was just laying at the side.
The kid was a genius, his lowest grade in the class was a 97, which happened to be Dylan's highest grade. This was very hard to do in an AP class.
Dylan decided he had no choice but to cheat.
He began to quickly fill in answers on his scantron and change a few of his prior answers.
Dylan was so concentrated on making sure he had correctly matched each number with each answer choice, he didn't notice the proctor walking towards him.
He looked back at the kid's paper then his eyes fell on the proctor who was standing right in front of him.
He tried to play it off like he was checking the time but it was too late.
The proctor cleared his throat and Dylan's heart was beating out of his chest.
"Mr. Danes, are you aware that cheating results in an automatic zero?"
The entire class turned around and looked at him, shocked; Dylan never got in trouble.
"Y-yes, sir", Dylan stuttered.
"Go to Headmaster Charleston's office", he ordered, grabbing Dylan's test.
"But-"
"Right now, Mr. Danes, he will determine your punishment"
Dylan got out of his seat and walked out of the room.
When he was out into the hallway, he leaned his head on a locker for a minute trying to evaluate the damage that was about to be done. This had never happened to him before and he was terrified.
He walked to the principal's office and the secretary raised her eyebrows when she saw someone walk in.
"I have to talk to the Headmaster", he told her, keeping the explanation vague.
She looked up at the clock, confused because it wasn't 11:30 yet.
"Go ahead", she said.
"Thank you", Dylan mumbled.
He knocked on the door then walked in a moment later.
Headmaster Charleston looked up at who had just walked in. He had told all of the proctors that if a student was caught cheating, they were to be sent to his office, he had not expected Dylan Danes to walk in.
"Take a seat, Mr. Danes", he ordered.
By the tone of his voice, Dylan could tell that he already knew about what Dylan had done.
Dylan took a seat without saying a word.
"So, you were caught cheating", the headmaster began, not wasting a moment.
Dylan nodded slowly.
"I'm not going to lie to you, Dylan, I'm very disappointed in you. You were the last person I expected to walk through my door"
Dylan looked down and blushed.
"What do you have to say for yourself?"
He shrugged.
"I don't understand why you would do this to yourself. You didn't just cheat on your midterm, you cheated yourself. Did you not adequately prepare?"
"No, sir, you can ask anyone, I've spent every spare second I've had, studying"
"You're a very good student, Dylan, you should have trusted yourself"
"Yes, sir", Dylan mumbled.
"Well, obviously, you will be receiving a zero on your history midterm and-"
"Headmaster, please!", Dylan cut him off, on the verge of tears.
"It's Chilton policy, Dylan"
"Please, I can't get a zero. That'll completely dock my GPA and ruin my chances of getting into any university"
Headmaster Charleston felt sorry for the boy, it was evident he was under a lot of stress.
"I understand what I did was wrong and I swear it won't happen again"
The Headmaster looked at his pleading face then back down at the folder he had just pulled out with Dylan's name on it. It was Dylan's record.
It was almost squeaky clean except for two detentions.
"Freshmen year you got detention for taking part in some sort of shenanigan after school hours", he read out loud from the record.
"It was the baseball team's initiation", Dylan explained.
"Then sophomore year you had another detention for uniform"
"I wore the wrong shoes to school", Dylan explained sheepishly.
"This may be one of the cleanest records I've seen in a while"
"Yes, sir, this has never happened to me before, I can't afford a zero"
The Headmaster sighed and flipped through some papers, looking for a loophole.
"You'll have to retake the test, a different version of course, slightly more difficult", he started.
Dylan nodded gratefully.
"Don't get too excited, in return, you will be suspended for the rest of the day and receive a week of detention"
"Will it show up on my permanent record?"
"No, this will not tarnish your record"
Dylan relaxed a little after that but his nerves were still all over the place knowing his parents would be furious.
"Consider this your warning, young man, this better not happen again"
Dylan nodded.
"I'm going to call your parents to come pick you up, I suggest you spend your day studying, your make up exam will be tomorrow after school. I'll explain to your parents what happened then if you would like, I'll give the phone to you"
"No, thank you", he responded quietly. Dylan didn't have it in him to speak to his parents just yet.
As the headmaster left the room Dylan cursed himself for being so dumb in the first place. His parents were going to be furious with him, even worse, they were going to be very disappointed.
After five minutes, Headmaster Charleston walked back into the room and Dylan sat up in his seat.
"Well, I talked to your parents. They wanted to speak with you but I told them you were gathering your things"
"Thanks"
"Because of the snow storm, they won't be able to pick you up so I called your grandparents and they are on their way"
"My grandparents?", Dylan asked in disbelief.
"Yes"
"Did you tell them what happened?"
"Yes, I explained the circumstances of why they would have to pick you up in the middle of a snow storm"
"Oh my God", Dylan muttered to his self.
"Is there a problem?"
"N-no, sir, thank you"
"Go get your things"
Dylan got up and started to walk out of the room but the headmaster stopped him.
"Mr. Danes, this is a one time thing. If this happens again, I will not hesitate to give you a zero and put this on your permanent record. Am I understood?"
"Yes"
Chilton, 11:45:
Emily and Richard walked into the school and headed for the headmaster's office. When Emily was called to come pick Dylan up, she told Richard to come with her to speak with the headmaster to see if there was anything they could do to help Dylan.
They found Dylan in Headmaster Charleston's office, sitting across from him, looking like he wanted to be anywhere else.
"Hello, Hanlin", Emily greeted.
"Emily, Richard", Headmaster Charleston greeted, getting up from his seat.
"Nice to see you again", Richard told him, shaking his hand.
"Though I wish it were under better circumstances", Emily added, glancing at Dylan.
"As do I, I do apologize for making you two drive in the snow. I hope it wasn't too much of an inconvenience", the headmaster said.
"Thank you for coming to pick me up", Dylan said, not looking his grandparents in the eye.
Emily nodded at the boy then turned back to the headmaster.
"So, Hanlin, what type of damage are we looking at?"
"Dylan and I have already discussed this and reached a compromise, isn't that right, Dylan?"
"Yes, sir"
"I would like to hear what this compromise is", Emily said.
Richard took the seat next to Dylan. Dylan glanced at him and Richard gave him a sympathetic look in return.
"Don't beat yourself up too bad", Richard whispered to him, patting his shoulder.
Dylan was surprised at how much Emily was trying to bargain with the headmaster and how they hadn't yelled at him yet. Frankly, he was even surprised they came to pick him up in the first place.
"You call this a compromise?", Emily demanded in disbelief.
"Now, Emily, this won't go on his permanent record which in itself is a blessing"
"A week of detention and a day's suspension? That's preposterous and extraneous"
"Cheating is a serious offense"
"And is also his first offense"
"I understand that, Emily, but there is nothing more I can do"
"Hanlin, I'm not asking you as the Headmaster of the school that all of my grandchildren have attended. I'm telling you as my friend. I want you to change this punishment"
"Emily, I-"
"You and I both know I will not leave until you give him something fair"
Dylan exchanged a look with his grandfather who looked just as surprised.
"My hands are tied"
"Hanlin, after all these years, there must be something you could do"
Headmaster Charleston sighed then looked through the school handbook again.
"I suppose I could knock two days off the detention", he finally gave in.
"Thank you", Emily smiled, pleased with herself.
"Thank you, sir", Dylan said.
Dylan and Richard got up and Richard shook hands with Hanlin again.
"Good to see you again, Richard"
"Always a pleasure", Richard responded.
"Drive safely"
The three walked out of the office then out of the school to Richard's car. Nobody had yet to say a word.
The silence was killing Dylan. Finally, when they stepped into the car Emily cleared her throat.
"Have you lost your mind?", Emily asked in a monotone.
"Emily-", Richard said but Emily interrupted.
"For heaven's sake, Richard, don't 'Emily' me. Someone had to say it! You told me not to yell at him when we got there so I didn't"
Oddly enough Dylan preferred to be yelled at rather than it being silent.
"I made a mistake", Dylan admitted.
"A mistake that could have completely ruined your future!", Emily continued.
"As if you care", Dylan muttered under his breath, not expecting anyone to hear.
To his dismay, Emily heard him.
"Of course I care! I'm your grandmother"
"Wow, that's the first time I've heard you say it out loud"
"Excuse me?"
At this point, Dylan had nothing else to lose.
"You heard me. Do you think I'm stupid? Do you really think I never noticed that you didn't accept me as family?"
"You have no idea what you're talking about"
Dylan scoffed.
The rest of the drive was silent and awkward.
"Thank you", Dylan said quietly when they reached the house.
"For what?", Emily asked.
"For trying so hard with the headmaster"
"It's my job", Emily simply stated then got out of the car. Richard then got out, leaving Dylan alone for a moment.
He couldn't believe that just an hour ago, he was taking his test, he wished he could go back in time and tell himself that it wasn't worth it to cheat and how he would regret it a minute later.
He stepped out of the car and walked into the large house. He didn't think it could get worse than being there for Friday Night Dinner but at that moment, he wished it was Friday Night Dinner so he at least wouldn't be alone.
The maid was by the door and offered to take his backpack but Dylan just walked past her.
He stood in the foyer, unsure of where to go.
"Yes, Lorelai, I picked him up", Emily's voice came from the kitchen.
Dylan followed the voice and stood in the kitchen, making eye contact with Emily.
"Oh, you want to talk to him?", Emily repeats, glancing up at Dylan.
Dylan shakes his head and mouths 'no', pleading to himself that for once his grandmother would cover for him.
"He's upstairs studying", Emily lied.
"Ok, goodbye", Emily hung up the phone.
"What did she say?", he asked.
"She said she'll come to pick you up after work"
Dylan nodded.
"Is there anywhere I can go and study?"
"Yes, go to Richard's study, Richard's in the living room right now"
"Ok, thank you"
Chilton, 1:00:
The rest of the day had shortened periods and by lunchtime, almost everyone had heard about Dylan cheating.
Will walked to his normal table in the cafeteria, which Taylor was once again absent from.
"Is it true?", one of his friends asked as soon as Will put his books down.
"Is what true?", Will replied, confused.
"Did your brother really get caught cheating?"
"Max?", Will asked, still not understanding and not even considering the fact that they were referring to Dylan.
"No. Is it true that Dylan got caught cheating on his midterm?"
Will's eyes went wide.
"Where'd you hear that?"
"Everyone's talking about it"
"What happened?"
"I don't know, apparently he got suspended. I thought you knew, man"
"I haven't seen him since this morning"
Will couldn't believe what he was hearing and he hoped it wasn't true. If Dylan was really suspended, Will knew him well enough that he wasn't taking it too lightly.
"Maybe it's not the same Dylan", his other friend suggested, noticing how concerned Will looked.
"Yeah, this doesn't sound like Dylan", another friend assured him.
"Ah, shit", Will muttered to himself.
For Dylan's own sake, Will hoped that the rumors weren't true.
Gilmore Mansion, 5:00:
Dylan looked outside the window of his grandfather's study; the sun had set and the snow was really coming down hard.
He began to pack up his things, expecting his mother at any minute. A moment later, Emily walked into the study.
"Your mother just called", she began.
Dylan could tell by the tone of her voice that she didn't sound too happy.
"Because of the storm, she can't come and pick you up and you'll have to spend the night"
"Can't I just call a cab?", he asked desperately.
"The roads are too icy"
Dylan looked out the window once again and sighed.
"Dinner will be ready in one hour", she informed him.
"Okay"
Emily walked out of the study, leaving a clearly unhappy Dylan.
"Richard, have Bernadette get the guest room ready", she said.
"Why?", he asked, looking up from the newspaper.
"Dylan is spending the night"
"You don't seem too happy"
"Neither does he"
"Can you blame the boy?", Richard muttered.
"What's that supposed to mean?", Emily challenged.
"You've barely spoken two words to him ever since we picked him up"
"What am I supposed to say? He got suspended for cheating on his midterm. We're not his parents, I don't know how to discipline him"
"Don't play that card. You know well enough you don't treat him the same as any of the other grandkids"
"What about you? How many times have you taken Will and Max golfing individually? I've never even seen you call their house and ask for Dylan."
"You've distanced him from us, it's your own doing"
"Richard, I'm not going to argue with you. It's what I've been saying all along, you're supposed to get married and have children of your own, that's the right way"
"Maybe that's your problem, Emily, you and I both know that boy is a fine young man. He has been nothing but polite ever since he was a child. You've been so set on how things should be done and how traditional is the only way, you can't realize that sometimes things find a way to work themselves out"
"So, he cheats on a test and you suddenly realize what a magnificent young man he is?", Emily questions, crossing her arms.
"No, I've always realized, I just haven't been able to do anything about it because you've distanced us from him"
"I stand by my beliefs", Emily challenged.
"Or maybe you just don't wanna admit you were wrong", Richard says, then walks out of the room, leaving a furious Emily.
6:00:
Dylan had changed out of his school uniform into his gym clothes. Just as he was about to go down for dinner, his phone rang, sure enough, it was his mom. He let it go to voicemail. He had decided he didn't want to face them until he absolutely had to.
There was a knock at the door of the guest room he had resided in.
"Come in", he called.
The maid walked in.
"Dinner is being served", she told him.
"Thank you", he replied, giving her a smile to acknowledge her, something he was sure she wasn't used to. The gesture didn't go unnoticed, the tired old lady smiled back and held the door open for him.
He walked down to the dining room where Richard and Emily were already seated, sitting on opposite ends of the table.
He sat down in one of the middle chairs and could immediately sense the tension.
Emily was glaring at Richard who responded with taking out a newspaper at the dinner table, knowing it would bother Emily.
After what felt like an hour of awkward silence, which was actually five minutes, dinner was brought out and served.
"This tastes really good, Grandma", Dylan said with no emotion, in an effort to ease the tension.
"I didn't make it", Emily replied shortly.
"Yeah, I know but-", Dylan stopped himself, not wanting to come off as rude.
Instead, he turned around to the maid who was standing and watching them eat.
"This tastes amazing", he said to the woman who replied with a thankful smile.
"Richard, your dinner is going to get cold", Emily said.
Richard looked up from his newspaper.
"I like it cold"
"Don't be ridiculous"
"I'm not being ridiculous"
"Yes, you are"
"This conversation is ridiculous"
"I'm gonna go get some water", Dylan announced to no one in particular, feeling uncomfortable in the presence of his grandparents fighting.
"Bernadette will get it for you", Emily told him.
"No, it's fine, I can do it myself", he assured her, grateful for having an excuse to get out of that room.
When he got into the kitchen, he leaned on the fridge and sighed, wishing he was home right now.
He could hear the arguing from the kitchen as he poured himself a cup of water.
"Is there anything I can get you?", a voice from behind him asked, startling him.
"No, thank you", he replied.
She noticed the look on his face and felt bad for the boy.
"You know, I haven't been working for your grandparents for a very long time but from what I can tell, their intentions are always good"
Dylan scoffed.
"It's different for me", he said honestly.
"How so?"
"I wasn't exactly on the best terms with them to begin with so getting into trouble and having to spend the night with them doesn't really help my situation"
"I'm a grandmother myself, and if I were in Mrs. Gilmore's position, I would want my grandchild to at least tell me how he was feeling"
Dylan made an attempt to smile, he appreciated her trying to help but he didn't think his grandmother even wanted to have a conversation with him let alone sit down and listen to why he doesn't enjoy their presence.
They listened as the sound of arguing continued from the dining room.
The sound of Emily yelling, "Fine, you were right!", came and Dylan decided it was probably time to go back outside to make sure they didn't start throwing things.
He finally walked out of the kitchen and took his seat.
The awkward silence resumed.
"Dylan", Richard started, just as Dylan was about to take a bite of his food.
"Yes, Grandpa?"
"What do you want to be when you grow up?", Richard asked.
Dylan was confused, he looked from Richard to Emily who both looked interested in the answer. Throughout all the friday night dinners he had sat through and witnessed Richard ask this question to each of the kids, Dylan had never been asked.
"Excuse me?"
"What profession would you like to take up?"
"To be completely honest with you, I'm not sure yet", he answered politely.
"Oh", Emily commented.
"That's quite all right, you have a bright future ahead of you", Richard replied.
Dylan blushed slightly and gave his grandfather a smile.
"As long as you stay out of trouble and not cheat on any more tests", Emily added, almost sounding jokingly.
Dylan was taken aback; his grandparents had barely ever acknowledged him, let alone, ask him about his future.
Emily was taken aback as well; taken aback at being wrong. Spending the day with Dylan made her realize that Dylan truly was a good enough kid and probably the most respectful out of his siblings.
"I'm sorry about today", Dylan sighed, not able to get over what he did.
"Why? We've been called down there dozens of times to get Will out of trouble", Richard chuckled.
"Because, I embarrassed you in front of the headmaster, I got suspended so you had to come pick me up, and I disappointed you", Dylan mumbled.
"It's alright", Richard assured him.
"All is forgiven", Emily added, giving a slight smile to the boy.
Who would've thought it would take Dylan getting suspended for his grandparents to start noticing him?
Thanks for reading! Sorry this took so long to upload I was contemplating how Richard and Emily would react. Tell me what you think!