"Mom! Hurry up! We're going to be late!" Rory called from the bottom of the stairs. Lorelai came down, still fixing her hair into a clip and grabbed her jacket. It was Friday night, a dinner at the Elder Gilmore's residence and Emily had called earlier saying that there will be guests joining them.

"I really really don't want to go," Lorelai complained as she turned on the car engine

"we still have to go or else grandma is going to stop paying for my tuition," Rory said, reasoning

"Rory, um…" Lorelai paused before going on. She wanted to ask her something and didn't want Emily to pay for her second semester tuition, knowing that it would go a waste.

"yeah?" Rory said, meeting her mom's eyes

"about your tuition…are you still planning to go on?" she asked

Rory looked away, of course she wanted to go on but she had a feeling that she won't make it before the school year end. And it bothered her so much. She wanted to graduate from Chilton and make it to college. She wanted to go to Harvard, become a journalist, work in New York Times and have a family. And when she and her mom found out what's wrong with her earlier last year, it made her angry. Angry that she wouldn't be able to achieve any of her dreams and that's also her reason why she's not in a good mood for a long time, obviously. And Rory decided not to tell anyone that she's sick. It's only her mom and the doctor who knew and she's planning to tell her grandparents soon.

"I'm not forcing you to answer that dear," Lorelai interrupted her thought as they pulled out from the driveway and started their way to Hartford.

"I'm so angry mom…so angry," Rory said softly, fighting her tears back.

Lorelai looked at her daughter sadly and saw tears streaming down Rory's face.

"oh Rory…"

"You're late," Emily stated instead of greeting them when they arrived at the door.

"Sorry mom, next time we'll try to be early," Lorelai apologized, taking off her jacket and handed to the maid, including Rory's jacket

"you always say that Lorelai, the guests are here and we were waiting for you to arrive," Emily said, annoyed that they arrived late

"hello grandma, who are the guests?" Rory asked before they entered the living room. There she saw a man, woman and a guy around her age, she stopped her track when she realized that they were the Dugreys.

"They are the Dugreys and their son Tristan goes to Chilton, I believe that you know him, am I right?"

"uh…yes, hello Mr. And Mrs. Dugrey, it's nice to meet you," she said, trying to be polite and shot Tristan a look, he smirked at her.

"nice to meet you too Rory, your grandfather was telling us about you, you're indeed an intelligent and interesting girl," Mrs. Dugrey told Rory with a smile

"ah," Rory said nodding her head and turned to her grandfather, "hello grandpa," she kissed him on the cheek and took a seat beside her mom on the couch across the Dugreys

"so Lorelai, I heard that you work in an inn, what to you do?" Mr. Dugrey asked

"well actually I'm the manager of the inn," Lorelai said, feeling bored

"ah, I see. Do we know this inn?" Mrs. Dugrey asked

"It's Independence Inn in Star Hollow,"

"ahem," Emily cleared her throat and all of them turned to her attention, "dinner is ready to be served," she said and they went to the dining room. Rory took her seat and when she looked across her, there was Tristan staring at her, she glared at him and turned to her grandma

"we shall begin," Emily smiled and passed the Caesar salad to Mrs. Dugrey.

During the whole dinner, the elders had conversation and Lorelai, Rory and Tristan were quiet, only listening to them until then Emily brought up a new topic to Lorelai

"so Lorelai, are you dating the iceman?" Emily asked

Lorelai frowned. Iceman?

"You mean Luke? No, I'm not dating Luke. And we're only friends Mom," she said

"well, if you say so, then Rory, are you still seeing Dean?" Emily asked her granddaughter, Tristan's jaw clenched when she said bagboy's name. Tristan never liked Dean ever since they met at the Chilton Dance.

"no grandma, not anymore," Rory replied

Tristan was surprised, he always thought that they would be together and Rory saw his surprised expression, she ignored him afterwards

"oh really? What happened? If you don't mind telling us," Emily asked, looking happy. Lorelai rolled her eyes and turned to Rory, "well,"

"well, his dad's job got transferred back to Chicago and they had to move back and we don't agree on distant relationship, so we decided to break up and also it was a mutual feeling,"

"Oh, I'm sorry about that dear," Mrs. Dugrey said

"it's no big deal," Rory said and turned to her mom with an expression that says 'change topic'

"so dad, how are you doing since you've retired long time ago…" Lorelai asked, they all turned to Richard and the boring dinner conversation goes on.

"It was nice of you to invite us, Emily," Mr. Dugrey smiled when the Dugreys were leaving

"my pleasure Fred," Emily smiled back, addressing Tristan's dad and Richard was talking to Tristan's mom.

"We better get going mom," Lorelai said, Emily nodded, "see you next Friday and try to be on time,"

"we'll try grandma," Rory said, kissing her grandparents goodbye and then turned to the Dugreys, "it was nice having you over for dinner,"

Mr. and Mrs. Dugrey smiled at her, they liked her for her manners and Tristan didn't say a word. He was wondering why she's acting like that toward him.

"So that was Tristan Dugrey," Lorelai said when they got home

"uhuh,"

"he's back from Military school, I wondered why,"

Rory rolled her eyes, "I wished he would just stay there,"

"aw, and not to mention, he's a cute looking guy, and hot," Lorelai grinned

"cute? Hot? Tristan? Urg!"

Lorelai chuckled, "nice blue eyes, blonde tousled hair, strong looking…how come you never mentioned those before?"

"please mom? An annoying person like him, I won't say something like that,"

"oh really? Since you said you won't say something like that, you mean you thought that he's cute, hot, charming and gorgeous?"

"so many synonyms and no,"

"and not to mention too, he was staring at you the whole time during dinner," Lorelai added with a grin, Rory groaned and tried to escape from her mom's wit

"haha missy, denial!"

"I'm not!" she yelled and closed her door. Lorelai laughed. Yes I'm right, she is in denial that Tristan is hot.

*A/N: more reviews please or I'll stop writing (evil laugh)*