Written In The Stars II
By Gilmoregirl1979 (the reigning Quote Queen)
Provider of Quality Fan Fiction
Rating: PG-13
Hi this is your friendly disclaimer: I REJECT ASP's REALITY AND SUBSTITUTE MY OWN! Once again, I don't own (DAMN IT! DAMN IT! DAMN IT! DAMN IT!!), No Harm No Sue.
R/R: yes please I love reviews; I wanna marry them (as previously stated, I have strange passions.)
Summary/ the Q: What if they did the show… MY WAY (Like Frank!)
Beta JENN: THANK YOU!! I know you're busy but you still work magic!
A/N: Dialogue borrowed from:1.09 - Rory's Dance
written by Amy Sherman-Palladino
directed by Lesli Linka Glatter
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Chapter 25:
Will You, Won't You, Will You, Won't You, Won't You Join the Dance?
If the weekly Friday night Dinners were torture for Lorelai, it must have been ten times worse for Luke having to go to the Elder Gilmores' the day after Luke's dark day. And with Richard out of town Luke was forced to sit at the head of the table. Despite their distance apart, Lorelai kept leaning over to Luke through out dinner, checking on her husband. "Are you all right?"
"Lorelai, I'm fine," Luke whispered discreetly back, "The day passed and if you keep whispering your mother is going to know something is up."
Emily was perturbed, "Lorelai is there something you'd like to share with all of us?" Curious if they had news from their doctor or a pregnancy test and were spitefully keeping her in suspense.
Um… NO, hence the whispering; Lorelai felt like she was being treated like a teenager again, "I was just reminding Luke of something, Mom," desperately wishing she could rub her husband's thigh beneath the table, to remind him they were almost through with this dinner, but he was seated too far away from her; if only she had the powers of Mr. Fantastic. Still, all they needed was dessert to be served and they were home free for a week.
"Well, it's rude to whisper at the table; perhaps we'd all be interested in the reminder," Emily scolded, and then she noticed that Lorelai's fork wasn't going into her mouth. "Lorelai, what are you doing?"
Lorelai explained, "Giving the avocado to my husband," latching on to the excuse for the inexcusable whispering. Lorelai had started a collection on a side plate.
"Since when do you not like avocado?" Emily asked.
"Since the day I said, 'Gross. What is this?' and you said, 'Avocado.'"
Luke was thinking about reminding Lorelai more fruit in her diet would be a good thing, but he didn't want to pile on the scolding since Emily had that position filled.
Rory knew her grandmother was trying to embarrass Lorelai in divulging what was going on, she also knew her father was still a little sensitive, so Rory ran interference with a misdirection play by announcing, "I'm making a gingerbread house."
It worked. All eyes went to Rory, her grandmother and her mother looking stunned, except her father who wore a small smile, knowing of her planned project.
Her grandmother asked, "I beg your pardon?"
"A gingerbread house," Rory repeated, "As sort of a rite of passage. Dad and I were going through some photos the other day," Rory carefully treaded the dark day subject, "and I saw one of Grandma Katherine making a Gingerbread house and I've always wanted to try it."
"Grandma Katherine?" Emily said slowly and was sufficiently distracted now from her daughter's childish behavior of being a finicky eater at 32 years old. Emily was distressed, here Rory had never even met Luke's parents and she was bestowing that honored titled on a person not even related by blood.
Luke decided to jump in and contribute his weekly quota to the conversation on a subject he at least knew something about, to protect Rory from a grilling about calling his mother 'Grandma', "It's a lot of work, but she's been wanting to try it for a while now."
"Well, you can spot me if you want to," Rory smiled, "You know, make sure my roof doesn't slide off," Rory shrugged, "and Mom you're our resident candy connoisseur, maybe you can help me pick out some decorations."
This whole project was news to Lorelai. She knew Rory caught the cooking bug from Luke, but to do such a homebody project was kind of funny. "Um sure, maybe twizzlers for a fence?"
"I was thinking more like pretzel sticks."
"Oh, that's good, and how about Pez to make like a brick chimney?" Lorelai mused.
"I was totally thinking that!" Rory said excitedly across the table, "And those gummy spearmint leaves for a wreath…"
"…with a red vine bow…" Lorelai finished.
Rory turned to Emily again, "When I'm done I thought I'd bring it to your Christmas party, Grandma, for all your guests to enjoy."
"Why that sounds lovely, are you sure it will travel well? Maybe you should make it here?" Emily wanted to seize the opportunity for more time with her granddaughter. "Perhaps you could come here after school."
"Thanks, but I know my kitchen, I like to be in familiar surroundings when I cook. It'll be fine."
"Once she started making her own recipes, she reorganized the kitchen," Luke informed.
"I like to know where things are, and have them make perfect sense."
"Your spice rack has an alphabetical inventory," Lorelai teased.
"So where is Grandpa again?" Rory successfully changed the subject.
"Prague. He called last night and told me to let you know he's bringing you back something very special from Prague."
"Wow, Prague. How amazing is it that he's going to Prague?"
"It's supposed to be lovely, very dramatic, castles everywhere," Emily shrugged. Emily was more of a Paris girl.
Rory smiled, "Did you know the cell that Václav Havel was held in is now a hostel? You can stay there for like 50 a night." Emily made a bewildered face as Rory turned to her parents. "Hey, maybe on our big trip to Europe we could go to Prague and stay in his cell."
"Absolutely. And then we can go to Turkey and stay in that place from Midnight Express." Lorelai joked. Luke looked uncomfortable with both ideas.
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Saturday, when Lorelai came home from work and entered the kitchen, Luke kissed his wife, "Good you're home."
"And happy to be home, hmmm that smells good. Is that pumpkin soup?"
"Tis the season."
Snaking her arms around Luke she noticed several baking sheets cooling on the counter. "Ooo and what's that?"
"Don't touch!" Rory suddenly appeared out of her room, "That's gingerbread for my test house," Rory warned taking the flatware out of the drawer to set the table for dinner.
"What?"
Luke explained, "She's making a mini one first, to practice her technique."
"I can't handle the pastry bag that well; I need all the practice I can get," Rory explained.
"Couldn't you get it from one of those kits?"
"I want to make it from scratch, like Grandma Katherine did, I've got it all worked out here are my blue prints, well Ginger prints, I guess."
Lorelai smiled that her daughter was so meticulous she drew up plans for an edible house, on top of all her school work. Lorelai looked over Rory's design, "A mansion?" Lorelai asked.
"Well, there's gonna be a lot of people at Grandma's party. I wanted to try and make a replica of their house, but… that's more a job for Sookie than a rookie like me."
Lorelai mused, "Like eight guests tops, to nibble on one house, plus her apple tarts and whatever else my mom is going to serve. Are you sure you have time for this? I just don't want you to neglect school; this is the end of the year crunch."
"Don't worry I've got everything perfectly scheduled."
"Okay good." Lorelai smiled. Lorelai saw the pile of mail on the desk already, "Hey, hey, hey! Who is doing my job for me."
"Sorry," Luke apologized, "I got home first so I just got the mail."
"Dude, I get the mail. I separate the bills and hand them off to you so you pay them…" Lorelai loved that Luke did all the financial stuff for her since they got married, "besides I separate them so the bills don't clutter my magazines." She started looking for her latest issue of Cosmo when a picture of a spotted owl caught her attention. At first she thought it was some nature magazine or catalog for Luke, then she saw the Chilton logo on the corner and realized it was a newsletter. Lorelai skimmed it quickly, looking for key words like "rise in tuition" or "so and so expelled for not ironing her skirt." But a few key words did jump out at her, as Lorelai gasped, "There's a formal?" Lorelai announced to her family.
"What?" Luke asked, needing more of a reference to the new topic.
"Chilton is having a winter formal," Lorelai returned to the kitchen, asking her daughter, "Did you know about this?"
"Um Yeah," Rory winced. Luke shared the same look of dread.
"And you didn't say anything!!" Lorelai's mouth dropped as she read further on the page, "It's next week! That doesn't give us a whole lot of time."
"Time for what?" Rory asked.
"Time to get a dress, get a manicure…" Lorelai said excitedly, already gushing over her daughter's first dance. "Oh, it's on a Saturday? Maybe we all could get out of dinner on Friday you know!! I mean as your mother I have to help you get ready, right?"
"A whole twenty-four hours ahead of time?" Rory asked bewildered.
"Hey, you'll be worth the wait."
"Well, I don't think I'm going to go," Rory dismissed.
"What?" Lorelai said disappointed, "Why not?"
"Mom, you just got through my schedule not wanting me to neglect school for a gingerbread house and now you want me to goof off for one night at a dance? I'm way too busy with the end of the semester, the gingerbread house, exams, Christmas shopping…"
"Why didn't you mention the dance before?" Lorelai cocked her head to one side.
"Because I'm not going," Rory said simply.
"But why aren't you going?" Lorelai persisted.
Luke noticed the expression on Rory's face, Luke wanted to give his daughter an out, "Hey, if Rory doesn't want to go, she doesn't have to go."
"I'm just curious," Lorelai shrugged.
Rory listed, "'Cause I'm busy. 'Cause I hate dances. It's just not my scene."
That was Luke's little introvert girl; Luke was hopeful that since Rory's schedule was so booked, that the Chilton formal was not an option.
"Good answer," Lorelai nodded, "Except you've never actually been to a dance. So you really have nothing to compare it to." Lorelai tried to encourage her daughter, "You should at least have a decent reason for hating something before you really decide that you hate it."
"Lorelai!" Luke hated it when they had conversations without him ignoring that he was still in the room with something to contribute.
Rory insisted, "Trust me, I'll hate it. It'll be stuffy and boring, the music will suck and since none of the kids at school like me, I'll be stuck in the back listening to 98° watching Tristin and Paris argue over which one of them gets to make me miserable first."
"OK," Lorelai conceded, "Or it'll be all sparkly and exciting and you'll be standing on the dance floor listening to Tom Waits with some great-looking guy staring at you so hard that you don't even realize that Paris and Tristin have just been eaten by bears."
"Now hang on a second," Luke protested trying again to be heard.
"What guy?" Rory asked her mother.
"I don't know; how about that boyfriend of yours?" Lorelai teased.
"He's not my boyfriend," Rory maintained, especially for her father's peace of mind.
"Oh, okay," Lorelai said sarcastically, "You only spend the afternoons you're not at the diner talking to him, hanging out with him, seeing movies with him." The look on Lorelai's face silently said her last thought clearly to Rory since Luke was in the room; kissing him, Lorelai smirked.
Rory knew what her mother was alluding too, "Sometimes Lane is there," Rory added lamely that she and Dean weren't alone all the time, and didn't kiss as much with Lane around.
"Well, he walks you home from the bus stop; he calls here nearly every day, twice if he knows your dad is closing the diner."
Luke was surprised, "he what?"
"Why do you care all of sudden if I go?" Rory asked.
"I just don't want you to miss any experience because you're too afraid."
"Afraid? Of what?" Rory challenged.
"Of asking Dean to go. Of him saying 'no.' Of going to a dance with a bunch of kids who haven't accepted you yet. Of dancing in public. Of finding out you should never be dancing in public."
"OK, OK, I get it," Rory went back to get napkins to continue setting the table.
"Listen, we know you are not Miss Party Girl, and believe me we love you for that, but sometimes I wonder…do you not join in because you really don't want to or because you're too shy? If the reason you don't want to go is because you really don't want to go and not because you are in any way afraid, then this is the last time I'll mention it, I promise." Lorelai let the silence hang while Rory thought it over.
Rory thought back to her Cinderella/Sleeping Beauty phase, dreaming of going to a grand ball, "I don't have a dress."
"Well, I could make you one," Lorelai shrugged to sweeten the deal.
The suggestion seemed to warm Rory up to the idea, "Really?"
"Hold on a second," Luke tried to chime in again.
"Oh yeah. We could get some great shoes and some new earrings. You could get your hair done."
"You won't think I'm an idiot?" Rory always valued her mother's opinion and didn't think her mother would accept those girly fantasy of a 16 year old.
"Depends on what hairstyle you choose. This dance could be great for you," Lorelai was hoping that in a more relaxed setting the goons of Chilton would be more accepting of her daughter.
"Alright cool. Umm can I call Lane? She has the latest Jane for hair styles…"
"Of course."
Rory went into her room to call her best friend.
A flustered Luke finally grumbled, "Am I still in the room here? Am I Patrick Swayze all of a sudden?"
Lorelai turned to her husband, "It could be good for her to go out and socialize."
Luke muttered to himself, "I knew I should have hid that newsletter."
"Wait? You knew about her dance?"
"Yeah, I actually read the newsletter…unlike someone…"
"Why?"
"'Cause I'm trying to be an involved, informed parent…." Luke had been concerned ever since he read the words; Winter Formal. Sure they let Rory out on dates, but Luke recalled the stories of what happened during the high school dances he had avoided, and didn't want his daughter going through that particular rite of passage.
"Yeah, since when do we get a Chilton newsletter?" Lorelai asked.
"You can thank your mother for that; she put our names on the mailing list, along with her own no doubt." Luke went back to fuming, "Jeez, She was fine with not going and you had to talk her into it?"
"Why were you banking on her not going? I thought we decided against locking her in a tower."
"I knew her schedule, how busy she's going to be. And because it's a dance, at some fancy hotel in Hartford; a hotel, Lorelai," Luke hoped he didn't have to translate his fears with the location, "Which means Dean will be driving…"
"Well, you had to stop the key confiscation and let them out of the city limits eventually, here is a perfect opportunity to show Dean you trust him?"
"But there will be other boys who will be there and they may ask her to dance. Spiking the punch and touching my daughter."
"Okay, first off Patrick Swayze and his dirty dancing aren't taking her. Secondly, I really don't think Dean will like other boys dancing with her, and Third Dean is a good guy."
"I figured she would ask Dean and now…" Luke muttered to himself.
"Luke?"
"Look you're right I know, I can't keep her to myself forever…"
"Well thank you for sharing her…considering I birthed her…"
"You know what I mean. I mean some day she's gonna be out there amazing the world and she's gotta start having a life now I suppose… I mean I wasn't much for the whole dance thing myself …" Luke hated to admit it, "Maybe you're right, Rory is a girl, and she might actually like dances. But I mean the booze and the sneaking off…countless stories in the paper about kids getting drunk and crashing cars…"
"Luke, do you hear yourself; this is Rory we're talking about."
"Yeah, I know," he conceded; but Luke couldn't ignore the gut feeling he had that this dance was going to be a bad idea.
"You worry too much."
"It's just… I don't know… could you make her dress…" Luke gesticulated with his hands trying to find the words, "…you know conservative?"
"Of course, within reason… I'm not sending her to her first dance in a hijab."
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Monday afternoon, Rory was too nervous to go into the market; it was Dean's afternoon to work. "He's gonna say no."
Lane was there to comfort and push her friend in the door, "Why would he say no?"
"Why would he say yes?" Rory countered. She been trying to figure out the best way to ask Dean to go to the dance with her for the last 48 hours. She even resorted to practicing in the mirror when she was alone in her room.
Lane tried to be a voice of logical reason, "Rory, listen to me. There's absolutely no point in having a boyfriend if you can't get him to go to the dance with you."
Rory said defensively, "He's not my boyfriend."
"Really? What is he then?" Lane challenged.
"He's my…" Rory had no idea what he was, "...gentleman caller."
"OK, Blanche," Lane rolled her eyes.
"I don't know what he is," Rory mused frustrated, "but he's not my boyfriend." Rory froze on the sidewalk, "Do you think he's my boyfriend?"
"I think you guys spend a lot of time not kissing other people if this isn't a girlfriend/boyfriend thing. Maybe you should have a discussion about personal boundaries?"
Rory gulped, when had that happened? Had she missed the moment when this decision was made? Sure her mom teased her about having a boyfriend, and her dad dreaded Dean's visits as if he were a boyfriend. And yes Dean and Rory were… affectionate, but nothing gross out in public. Kisses hello, kisses goodbye, kisses when her dad was in the kitchen or the store room at the diner, kisses as a way of saying thank you. Sometimes they'd find a quiet place alone, like by the lake or on the foot bridge, and once the kissing started it gradually increased, almost without notice. "Girlfriend," Rory said in disbelief.
"You," Lane nodded.
"Boyfriend."
"Him," Lane threw her head in the direction of the market window.
Rory still couldn't wrap her brain around it, "No. It sounds weird."
"Look, have you had the talk yet?"
"Yes, Lane, babies come from the stork," though her dad would have a heart attack if he heard them talking or even joking about it so casually.
"The other talk," Lane clarified.
"What other talk?"
"The relationship talk," Lane explained in a teacher's tone, "Dean, We've been dating a few weeks now. Where do we stand? What are we to each other? If another girl asks you out, do you feel free to go?'"
"How is it that you know so much about this?"
"Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."
They look through the window of the market and saw Dean with a customer.
"There he is," Lane nudge Rory with her elbow.
"I should do this later," Rory was going to head to the diner and hid underneath the counter and ask her dad for some coffee to steady her nerves since that was the strongest thing she could consume at sixteen.
Lane was fulfilling her duty as a kick in the ass; she grabbed Rory and dragged her to the direction of the door. "No. No, you have to do this now."
"Why?"
"Because I have to go home soon and my mom threw out our TV when she caught me watching V.I.P. So I'm bored and I need some entertainment."
"Glad to be of service," Rory said dryly; seeing Dean through the window, she took a deep breath, "OK. Here I go."
"Good luck! Oh, and Rory, remember to enunciate. I'm reading lips out here."
On top of everything else she was feeling she had to remember to enunciate for her friend. She went inside the market trying to ignore Lane with her face plastered to the window. She saw him working with some boxes and she recalled their first kiss in the store room. Hopefully this scenario would end just as happily and with mutual satisfaction. Rory walked up to Dean.
"Hey."
"Oh, hey."
Rory was suddenly painfully aware of how often they kissed and noticed that he didn't offer her one at this moment in time. "You're busy," she figured.
"Yeah. I just have to put the new green bean shipment on the shelves. You want to help?"
"Yeah, sure. I, uh, I love stocking beans," Rory said stupidly.
"OK. Uh, follow me," Dean chuckled.
"So do you work on Saturdays? I forget."
"Well it depends if I'm scheduled. Sometimes I even come in if I don't have any plans," Dean lowered his voice, "but you know how Taylor hates to pay overtime. Why?"
"No reason. See, there's this thing at my school on Saturday. Well it's not really at my school, it's kind of given by my school," Rory rambled.
"What is it?"
Rory thought she'd try telling the truth in a roundabout way, aka, lie; "Well, it's this thing where you go and they play music and you're supposed to get all dressed up and do some kind of dance and then there's chicken."
"Chicken?" Dean raised a brown beneath his bangs.
"Well, I don't know if there's chicken. But at these kinds of things they often serve chicken because it's probably cheaper and people eat it, so the logic behind the chicken choice really isn't that bad."
"I'm lost."
Rory blurted out, "It's a dance," then tried to hide her wince.
"Ah," Dean nodded now having a clear picture.
"And it's not like I'm dying to go or anything, but it is a new school and being a part of the social activities is really important at Chilton."
Dean paused his stocking, "So are you asking me to go to the dance with you?"
"No," Rory said fearfully, then admitted, "Yes. I mean, if you wanted to go, I would go too."
"Well, that would probably be good since it's your school."
"Right. So do you want to go?"
"Honestly?"
"Yeah."
"I've actually never gone to a dance before," he was almost shy to admit.
"Because they're lame?" Rory knew Dean well enough to know why he wouldn't go.
"Yeah. And it's just not the way I ever wanted to spend my time. I mean, I'm not a big joiner."
"OK, fair enough. More beans please," Rory went back to helping him stock the shelves. Frankly it was the answer she really wanted right? She didn't have an escort, so she couldn't go right? She just saved her mother the trouble of designing and making her a dress, right? She probably added five years to her father's life by not having him worry about Dean taking her all the way to Hartford and all the way back. So what if her mom said it would be some amazing sparkly memorable night. That didn't matter to her, right?
They stacked beans in silence.
Dean watched Rory, "You want to go, don't you?"
"No. I don't. I have no desire to go at all. It's a relief actually; I was just thinking out loud, that's all."
There was something about those blue Danes eyes that captured Dean, and he didn't want to disappoint Rory, "So, uh, what would I have to wear?"
"What?"
"To this dance. What would I have to wear?"
"Anything you want."
"Come on."
"No, really whatever you're comfortable in is fine."
"Rory..." Dean eyed her down.
"Some sort of pants would be nice," trying her mother's deflective humor.
"Rory..."
She was like her father and not very good at lying, "its coat and tie."
"Oh man," Dean shook his head.
"But you could probably get away with a coat and no tie."
"OK" he agreed.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Rory was so excited she went up on the balls of her toes to kiss Dean full on the mouth in the middle of the canned food aisle. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," He felt warm inside, happy to make her happy.
"I'll see you later," and Rory went back outside where Lane was waiting to report her results.
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Now that Rory had a confirmed date, Lorelai started working on the dress straight away. Even while finishing up her term on business class, Lorelai was working hard to finish Rory's dress in time for the dance. She had been coming home early with material and thread and pattern ideas, assuring her daughter would love her one of a kind creation. The front door opened and Lorelai heard the clump of her husband's boots entering the house, returning from the grocery store. "Lorelai?"
"Living room," Lorelai wanted to wheel the mannequin around so her husband could admire her progress, "So what do you think GAH!"
Lorelai had been so focused on her beading, she didn't notice when she spun around too quickly and the wheels of her rolling chair came out from beneath her, knocking into the base wheels of the dress from; so on her unstable wayward perch, Lorelai lost her balance and knocked over the dress, the mannequin and her own chair, as well as herself. Luke arrived in time to at least attempt to catch his wife from the sudden falling motion, unfortunately, the dress form hit Luke unexpectedly in the head and he lost his balance as well and resulted in the dress form, Luke, and Lorelai falling over into a heap with a thud. Luke was the one thing that broke Lorelai's fall.
"Ow!" Luke grumbled, hitting his head again on the hardwood floor with a thud. A moment of quiet passed before Luke asked Lorelai, "Are you okay?"
Lorelai winced from banging her elbow hard on the ground, "Yeah, guess I shouldn't have let my license to drive that thing expire," referring to the chair. She gingerly moved her arm, "Are you okay?"
"No."
Then she looked up at her husband, and smiled at their position, lying on the floor, their bodies pressed together, "Thanks for being such a great cushion."
"You're welcome," Luke griped, rubbing the back of his head, discarding his ball cap to cushioning his injury for a moment with his hand on the floor.
Lorelai smiled wryly over at the headless dress form, collapsed on the floor beside them, "I didn't know you were into threesomes."
His face was strewn up with pain, hoping he didn't have a concussion, "Very funny, could you get up now?"
"I kind of like where I'm at," Lorelai adjusted so she was even more on top of Luke, "it reminds me of that night at the Dragonfly... on the floor…"
"Lorelai, Rory will be home soon," Luke adjusted his position and inadvertently gave Lorelai more control of the situation by allowing her to sit more squarely on top of him.
"What? I'm just trying to seduce my husband on the living room floor, so sue me," then Lorelai pulled him in for a long kiss.
"Remember what happened last time ...we promised…" Luke muttered between kisses, recalling an incident where Rory and Lane walked into the house to find Lorelai and Luke making out on the couch.
"Well, then slide up a few feet so we're in the hallway and not the living room," Lorelai kissed him hard while grinding against her man to peak his interest. Luke didn't need much convincing, Luke's hands rounded her thighs and rump, wanting nothing more than to enjoy their time alone. Lorelai pawed at Luke's neck and chest and her fingers started undoing buttons of his plaid shirt, "I can't get you naked fast enough" Lorelai gasped between kisses. Luke's lips seemed interested in trailing down her neck as her husband adjusted to sit up, seemingly ready to carry Lorelai up the stairs if necessary. Lorelai pecked at his lips, "You know, while she's at the dance… we'll have the entire house to…" Lorelai smiled mischievously, "…do whatever, wherever we want."
"Sounds good to me," Luke hands rubbed his wife's sides.
Suddenly the phone rang, Lorelai scowled toward the phone while her husband pulled away from her neck; both obviously disappointed by the interruption. Reluctantly Lorelai got up to answer the phone, "Hello?"
"Lorelai!" Emily's voice came over the phone.
RATS! Her romantic mood instantly fizzled, "Hey Mom, what's going on?" she offered dully. That was a sign to her hubby that he could get up off the floor, his mood also killed by the mother-in-law.
"This is terrible? I just reread my Chilton newsletter and it completely slipped my mind to mention the Chilton Winter Formal to Rory at dinner on Friday. Rory has to make an appearance."
"Why?" Lorelai asked more interested in watching her husband's tight jeans as he picked the dress form off the ground and placed upright again.
"Because it's expected of her…" Emily said automatically.
"Huh, she can't go just because she wants to?"
"She as an obligation to represent her family;"
"Well, I know you have a dress so why don't you go, for the sake of the family," Lorelai rolled her eyes, as her husband went into the kitchen.
"Lorelai, really, how is she going to make a name for herself at that school or get along with any of her schoolmates and make friends, if she doesn't participate in anything, Especially after her embarrassing behavior at her birthday party." Emily insisted, "We have to work fast; maybe I could call around and find her an escort…"
"She already has an escort."
"She does?"
"Yes."
"She's going?"
"Yes, mom. She is."
"Well, with who?"
"Dean."
"Dean who?"
"Dean Forester."
"I'm not familiar with the name, where is his family from?"
"Um, Chicago?
"Is he a transfer student?"
"Yes, he started at Stars Hollow High this year."
Emily said with disbelief and disdain, "He doesn't go to Chilton."
Lorelai couldn't believe what she had just said, she let the existence of Rory's beau slip; she still must not be thinking clearly from her husband's kisses, those kisses were like her kryptonite. "Um, no, mom. He goes here in Stars Hollow." She could perfectly picture Emily primly straightening up with her disapproval.
"What?"
"He's just a guy she's been seeing in our town," Oh My God Lorelai what are you doing?!
"She's dating?"
"Yes, she's dating," Lorelai strewn up her face and balled up her fist to smack herself in the head.
"And you allow this?"
"Would you rather I lock her in a tower? How will she socialize and make friends then?"
"Well, given the example you've set…. what do we know about this boy?"
"Mom, he's a good kid; Luke and I can vouch for him." Lorelai ignored the wayward glance Luke gave her from the kitchen.
"Well, I feel so much better," Emily said dryly, not considering her son-in-law's opinion to be very reputable, "I just don't understand why she couldn't have asked someone from her school."
"Well, I thought it was expected for the guy to ask the girl."
"Lorelai…"
"And since you didn't have the forethought to buy someone off to ask her out, we improvised."
"Do you think that would have worked?" Emily asked seriously.
"No, Mom. She is just not comfortable with those kids; as her birthday party should have proved. So she asked Dean."
"She asked HIM!" Emily exclaimed.
Oh boy, this was getting worse by the second, "Well, it is her school mom."
"Well if he was going to Chilton he would have known about the dance and would have asked her out."
"You going to pay for Dean's tuition too?" Lorelai could hear Emily sigh heavily, undoubtedly paired with an eye roll, "Dean will put her at ease because she knows him, and she's comfortable with him." Lorelai saw the look on Luke's face as he mouthed 'End the call'.
"That's what I'm afraid of."
Jeez you sound like Luke, If only her mother knew how similar her and Luke really were, "Mom, she really likes him and if anything he will protect her."
"Protect her? From what? Why would she need protecting?"
From the very thing you and Luke are afraid of…"Never mind, Mom." since Emily was oblivious to the unbearable hell that a private high school could be in the 21st century, particularly for Rory.
"Well, can I at least help pick out the dress?"
"The dress is already picked," Made actually, grinning at the mannequin before her.
"Well, I suppose you have everything taken care of then…" Emily sounded disappointed.
"Yes, Luke and I make quite the team."
"Oh very well."
"Alright then…"
"Just one more thing. Take a picture of Rory for me, will you please?"
"We will."
"On the stairs. And one by the front door. And one as she's getting ready, you know, putting her hair up, putting her makeup on?"
"OK, do you want one when she's shaving her legs? You know, one leg up in the tub, waving the disposable razor in the air?"
"This is a once in a lifetime event. You get to be there and I don't."
Lorelai sighed, "Oh, boy," knowing she was going on a guilt trip.
"I figure if I got enough pictures I could at least line them up in chronological order and pretend I was there.
"Mom."
"Maybe bind them together; make a flipbook out of them."
"Mom, would you like to come over on Saturday and see Rory go to the dance?"
"Why, what a nice idea, I'd love that, thank you. I'll see you at 7."
Lorelai hung up the phone when Luke came back into the room when he heard the cordless phone beep, "So Saturday," Luke asked, "do you want to go out to eat or eat in?"
His hands had met at the small of her back, as if he wanted to pick up where they left off before the call, "Honey, there's been a slight change in plans," placing an apologetic hand on his chest.
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At Chilton, There was a long line of kids in the hallway, waiting to purchase their tickets to the Chilton Winter Formal. Tristin followed the line and walked up to the table where Paris was selling the desired tickets.
"Hi, Tristin," Paris said eagerly.
"Paris."
"Two, I assume."
"You assume right."
"So, who are you taking?" her masochistic curiosity getting the better of her.
"Why, are you free?"
Paris was so stunned she flubbed with words, "I'm, uh..."
"Nah, what am I thinking? You wouldn't be free this close to the dance." He handed her some money and she meekly handed him the tickets.
"Here's your change."
"Thanks," Tristan grinned at his little game, he and Summer already had an understanding that they were going together. Tristin walked down the hall and couldn't believe his eyes. His little introvert "Mary" was waiting in line reading a book. He couldn't imagine her at a dance or any public gathering. Tristin couldn't resist the urge to tease her, or just to talk to her, "And she's reading again. How novel."
"Good-bye, Tristin," Rory said dully focusing on her book.
"Did you get the novel thing? Because..."
"I said good-bye," Taking a step forward because the line ahead of her moved.
"What are you doing here, Mary?" Trying to expose her foolish attempt to be like all the other normal kids.
"I like lines," she said simply.
"The guy's supposed to buy the tickets."
"Really. Does Susan Faludi know about this?"
"Unless of course there is no guy," Tristin was fishing for info.
"There's a guy," Rory plainly assured, having kissed that guy several times. Then she realized that she had read the same paragraph twice since this distraction came to walk beside her up the line.
"A cheap guy," Tristin poked, just to try and get a rise out of his little Mary.
"Well, what can I say? I like 'em cheap. Sloppy too -- bald spot, beer gut, you know, and the pants that kind of slip down in the back, giving you that good plumber shot. That sends me over the moon, so to speak."
Tristin couldn't help his interest, "So who is he?"
"How many languages can you say 'none of your business' in."
"Does he go to this school?"
"No, he doesn't," Snob!
"Uh-huh. Well, look, OK, I'll confess something to you. I don't have a date." He and Summer had an understanding, but they could always have a misunderstanding, especially if it meant getting the uptight Mary to relax and have a little fun.
"Well, I hear Squeaky Fromme is up for parole soon. You should keep a good thought," Rory snarked.
"Well, I actually thought you'd like to go with me."
Rory almost doubled over with laughter, but only a smile broke through at the absurdity of the claim, "You did not."
"I did too."
"You did not because you are not stupid."
"Why thank you."
Rory stepped up again because the line had shifted, "Slimy and weasely, yes, but stupid, no. You'd have to be stupid to think that, given our history, I would ever, barring a piano or a safe falling on my head, want to go anywhere with you, ever. Besides, as previously stated, I already have a date."
"OK, fine. I'll find someone else."
"Good. I'll send her a condolence card."
"Yeah. Well at least she won't be buying her own ticket." Tristin walked away just as Rory was next in line.
Rory sighed now that "Distain" was gone, "Two, please."
Paris mutter, "Idiot."
"Excuse me?"
"He was totally nice to you and you couldn't be a bigger jerk." Paris knew exactly what she would do had Tristin been serious about asking her out. Fuming that Rory seemed to be the focus of his attentions, why did the hayseed bumpkin have to have it all!
"You like Tristin so much, you go out with him."
"I don't have enough change," Paris ignored the slight on her obvious crush on Tristin.
"Pay me later."
"What am I, your Versateller? Wait for change," Then Paris took out her frustration by yelling at the boy sitting next to her, "I need change! Now!" Then muttered in Rory's direction, "There's no way you're going with someone better than Tristin."
"Whatever," in Rory's view, Paris and Tristin were actually perfect for each other; Paris was in love with Tristin, Tristin was in love with Tristin, and they both loved to make Rory miserable. Yup, match made in Hell!
"You probably don't even have a date. You're probably going to come down with some very rare form of flu that only hits losers on dance night," Paris meanly mused, though that had been her own plan since she still didn't have a date herself.
"You know what? I don't want my change. Money makes people shallow," the most important thing was she had her tickets. Though if Tristin and Paris were going to be at the dance, she was beginning to doubt her mother's magical vision of the night.
The boy returned and Paris scrambled to get the currency, "I've got your change," she shouted after Rory, "Hey! Hey! If you think I'm keeping this dollar, I'm not!"
The change runner boy said, "I'll take it."
Paris directed all of her anger at him, "Shut up!"
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Saturday morning, Lorelai stirred into consciousness, when she opened her eyes she saw her favorite site; her husband lying in bed with her. Sleepily she crawled over to him; Luke sensing her presence, he unconsciously turned to his side and took Lorelai in his arms. She snuggled close to him and sighed "Hmm, I don't want to go to work today."
"Hmm?" Luke mumbled with his eyes closed.
"I'm so nice and warm here with you."
"Hmm," He agreed.
"Luke? Do you still love me?"
"Mm hmm."
"Will you make me coffee before you go to work?"
"Hm Decaf."
"It was worth a shot," Lorelai grumbled, "Today's the day."
Luke finally opened his eyes, "What day?"
"Rory... the dance..."
"Mmm," He sounded disappointed.
"Remember you have to come home early to see her off." Luke frowned as if to say 'how could I forget'. Lorelai smiled at his protective nature, "I hope it's magical, special, memorable; this could be so good for her. A little more socializing with people her own age. Maybe make some more friends in a relaxed setting."
"Hmm"
"You okay there, monosyllable man?"
"Yeah; it's just… you know, when you watch the stories on the news … Hear these horror stories about the kind of trouble some of the people her age are getting into?"
"I was a pioneer at that kind of trouble," Before Luke could say anything; Lorelai's hand covered his mouth. "Luke, she's different. It's not like history is going to repeat itself."
"Yeah, I know; deep down I know that," someone just had to explain that to his gut instinct.
"Tonight Rory will have a wonderful evening, and she will tell us all about it. You'll see. and she'll gush about it all through winter break till you're sick of it."
"Looking forward to it."
"Ugh, my mother will be here," Lorelai complained. "I mean do you think we'll luck out and she'll leave as soon as she gets her pictures?"
"We'll see."
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"That was all God given Talent" - Thank you Luke
"Cause your memory it lingers and the time moves so slow, I just never been that good at letting go…"
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R/R: PLEASE, I like to better myself. To quote The Princess Bride,
"...Remember this is for posterity ... so be honest."
Please be specific with R/R; name one (or as many as you can think of or want to mention…) At least one specific thing you liked
Please! It makes me feel good...inside (Dirty!)
Hence the Rant option below.
Insert Rant here V
A/N: if not completely satisfied with this chapter, please return unused portion for a full refund...