A/N from Just Jamie – This is a REVISED version of Chapter 10, so if anyone's curious about HOW Lane got to New York, read on.
Concerto – I admit it, I know nothing about the Juilliard Institute; I heard the name in a movie once, I think, and I know that it's a performing arts school in New York – that's it. So, even if it's a bit unrealistic, pretend with me, k? K. The other option was that I send her to Mizzou, because I have about a thousand friends who are music majors there, so I actually know that school, but I didn't want her to end up in the middle of Missouri. (Trust me, it's not as much fun as it sounds. I've lived here my whole life. Not a whole lot to do til you hit 21. Especially if you've just moved here and have no friends – can be very boring.)
Oh yeah! I promised to start advertising someone else's story, that I'm editing, cause she started advertising mine, but I forgot in the last chapter. Check out "I'd Do Anything" by Skinny. It's good, I promise. (And she fixed Chapter 5, so it makes sense now.)
A/N from Princess Heather – OK this is my first time to write a chapter. So please be kind. I do appreciate constructive criticism, but please don't rip me to shreds. Thanks. Enjoy. Princess Heather.
Disclaimer: We don't own a single thing to do with anything we mention in this chapter or any other chapter or any other story either of us ever posts on this website. We'll be sure to let you know, and rub it in faces, if that ever changes. (At least, I, Jamie, will make sure I rub it in people's faces…Heather's too sweet to do that.)
RECAP: Skips Chapters 1-8. This chapter deals only with the events of Chapter 9. (Possibly Chapter 7 also, but I highly doubt it.) Anyway, in Chapter 9, Rory discovers that she's been accepted to both Harvard and Yale, with full scholarships to both schools. Lorelai, naturally, is thrilled that Rory will be going to Harvard. However, when Paris calls and tells Rory that she has been turned down by Harvard, Rory lies, and says that she didn't get in either, thus deciding that she (Rory) will be going to Yale. Paris asks her to be roommates at Yale, and Rory agrees before she realizes what she's done. Jess is accepted to New York University, but decides not to tell anyone, because he doesn't know how he's going to pay the tuition. Lane has been asked to do an audition for the Juilliard Institute, which is a performing arts school in New York, and enlists Lorelai and Rory's help in getting her to New York for said audition.
This chapter takes place later that same week, on Friday. Rory has already accepted the scholarship to Yale, but hasn't told Lorelai.
LESS TALKING, MORE WALKING
Lorelai and Rory were at Luke's, enjoying their first cups of coffee for the day, when Lane burst through the door of the diner, knocking Kirk to the floor as he was leaving.
"Don't mind me, I'm sure I resemble a doormat." Kirk remarked in his usual monotone voice from his prone position on the ground.
"Sorry, Kirk." Lane called over her shoulder.
" Ya know, he does sort of look like a doormat today. I don't know if it's the
sweater, or if I've just never noticed it before," commented Lorelai.
"Be nice, Mom – after all, the doormat thinks you're the prettiest girl he's seen outside of a dirty magazine." Rory teased her mother.
"Hush, evil offspring!"
"Hi, Lorelai, Rory! Guess what?" Lane greeted them excitedly.
"Um…Kelly Osbourne realized she has no vocal talent whatsoever?" Rory tried.
"No, that can't be it. It's gotta be that Britney Spears decided to put on some clothes!" Lorelai argued.
"No way, Mom! How about –" Rory began.
"As great as both of those guesses would be, were they to actually happen, this is even better. I've figured out how to get to New York for my audition!" Lane cut Rory off, unable to contain her elation any longer.
"Do tell," Lorelai demanded. "It must be the scheme of all schemes if your mother bought it."
"Well, no, it's not the scheme of all schemes, but it worked. Look," Lane confessed, handing them a yellow flier.
The flier bore a large picture of a bible, underneath of which, in bold print, were the words:
Help save the lost of New York. Join our Ministry Team to help rid New York of the dark clouds of sin that surround it.
"Wow, sounds so apocalyptic," Rory joked, faking a shudder.
" I know, but actually we just hand out fliers to people passing by. I've signed up for the corner of Broadway and West 65th Street, which is right in front of the Juilliard. So when it's time for my audition, I'll just excuse myself to go to the restroom or make a coffee run or whatever."
"Sounds like you've got it covered, then," said Lorelai.
" I think so… and see, I'm not actually lying. I will be handing out fliers the whole time, except while I'm auditioning, of course."
"Hey, whatever it takes to help you sleep at night, right?" asked Lorelai.
"Exactly," Lane grinned. "Anyway, I gotta run. The bus for New York is leaving in a few minutes."
"I should be leaving, too. Bye, Mom." Rory hugged her mom and turned for the door.
"Bye girls. Oh hey, Rory – don't forget dinner tonight."
"Um. Ok, I won't." Rory replied, bewildered that her mother was reminding her about the Friday dinner. We go every Friday, it's not like it's anything new. Oh well, that's just Mom being Mom. She shrugged it off, and continued to the bus stop, listening to Lane chatter about the perfection of her plan.
Later that evening, Lorelai was standing in front of Rory's closed bedroom door. "C'mon, Rory, we're going to be late!"
Rory opened the door, coat in hand. "Since when do you care if we're late or not?" She asked her mother.
"Less talking, more walking. Since I get to tell them that you're going to Harvard, and we don't need them to pay for it."
"Um, Mom, about that…" Rory started as they were walking out the door.
"It's not every day that I get to completely thwart my parent's evil plans to take over the world, you know. And I didn't even have to do anything this time! You did it all, Mini Me!" Lorelai continued gleefully, oblivious to Rory's look of discomfort.
"Right" Rory muttered. How am I going to tell her that I decided to go to Yale? That I've already sent in the acceptance letter?
The drive to Hartford consisted of the same; Lorelai gloating about the fact that Rory was going to Harvard, and Rory staring out the window in uncomfortable silence.
"Lorelai! Rory! It's good to see you…on time, for once." Emily answered the door.
"Hi Mom."
"Hi Grandma."
"Come in, come in. Lorelai, you're looking exceptionally happy this evening."
"I am exceptionally happy, Mom."
"Might one inquire as to why?" Emily asked, as the three Gilmore women walked into the parlor.
"Rory got into Harvard…with a full scholarship." Lorelai responded, with a wide grin on her face.
"That's wonderful!" Richard exclaimed. "Congratulations, my dear."
"Thanks, Grandpa."
"This is good news." Emily said quietly. "I suppose we needn't have worried about your place at Yale, after all. Since you'll be attending Harvard, that is."
"Well…" Rory's voice trailed off; she knew her grandparents would be thrilled about her decision to attend Yale, but she didn't want her mother to get angry.
"I suppose this means you'll need a car, though. I understand your old car was never repaired?"
"No, it wasn't."
"Richard, why don't you take Rory shopping for a new car tomorrow?"
"I'd be delighted to. Rory, what do you say?"
"Actually, Mom, Dad, I've got that taken care of. I'm going to give Rory the jeep." Lorelai interjected.
"Don't be ridiculous. You don't want Rory driving some beat up old thing at Harvard, now do you? After all, she will be the first Gilmore to attend school there. All other Gilmores have gone to Yale." Emily insisted.
"It'll be fine, Mom. I don't want her to have to worry about a new car."
"What if she ends up stranded on the highway? After all, Stars Hollow is quite a drive from Cambridge. She could be sitting on the side of the road for hours, waiting for someone to pick her up."
"Mom! The jeep is fine! It's in great condition."
"Nonsense."
Lorelai and Emily continued their argument as Richard and Rory watched. It became increasingly heated, until they were shouting at one another.
"I don't see why you're making such a big deal out of this, Mom! I'm more than capable of providing a vehicle for my own daughter!" Lorelai screamed.
"So you're going to provide the vehicle, and Rory has a scholarship, and so that's it, right? No more humoring your mother's desire to see her daughter and granddaughter because you don't need her money anymore!" Emily shouted right back.
"Mom! Grandma! Stop it! Sit down, both of you, and be quiet for two seconds, PLEASE!" Rory finally yelled.
Both Lorelai and Emily were so astonished at Rory's outburst, they immediately obeyed.
"Thank you. First of all, Grandma, the Jeep will be fine, I don't need a new car. Secondly, Mom, the reason that the Jeep will be fine is because I'm not going to Harvard, I've already accepted the scholarship to Yale."
Everyone turned to stare at Rory.
"What? Why?" Lorelai was at a loss for words, for once.
"I just decided to go to Yale, that's all."
"That's wonderful!" Emily said warmly, hugging her granddaughter.
At that moment, Lorelai's cell phone began to ring.
"Hello?"
"Lorelai – it's Lane. Is Rory there?" Lane choked out between sobs.
"Yeah, she's right here – what's wrong?"
"Good news…I was accepted to the Juilliard. Bad news, I ran into my mother in New York."
"Oh god. Here's Rory." Lorelai said, and handed the phone to Rory.
"Hello?" Rory asked, as she walked of the room.
Lorelai, Emily and Richard sat in virtual silence for the next few minutes, until Rory returned.
"Rory, dear, what's wrong?" Emily asked her granddaughter, concerned.
"You remember Lane?" When Emily and Richard nodded assent, she continued. "Well, on Monday, the Juilliard Institute in New York called her, wanting to schedule an audition, and it was today. She went, she rocked, and she was accepted on the spot. Then, as she was leaving the school, Mrs. Kim, her mother, saw her. Long story short, Mrs. Kim won't let Lane go."
"Whyever not? The Juilliard is one of the finest performing arts schools in the country." Richard asked, astonished. "I should think that any parent would be proud to have their daughter accepted."
"Mrs. Kim is not 'any parent.' She's completely against any form of music, the very thought of Lane living in New York probably gave her a heart attack, and the Juilliard is predominately male." Lorelai responded.
"More specifically, the Juilliard is predominately male with non-Koreans who are most definitely not going to become doctors." Rory added.
"That's ridiculous!" Emily exclaimed.
"I know it, you know it, some guy named Moose knows it, but evidently Mrs. Kim doesn't know it." Lorelai remarked. "Anyway, Lane sounded pretty upset."
"Yeah, she's hiding out in my bedroom at the moment, having snuck out of hers." Rory sighed, frustrated for her friend.
"So we should probably go." Lorelai apologized.
"Of course." Emily walked the two younger Gilmores to the front door. "Reassure Lane; I'm sure everything will work out."
"Okay." Rory leaned over, and hugged her grandmother. "Bye Grandma."
"Goodbye, dear." Emily closed the door behind her daughter and granddaughter, and then leaned against it, deep in thought. After coming to a decision, she straightened, and walked back to the parlor. "Richard, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."
A/N – Okay, I've reached a decision; after Princess Heather wrote the scheme to get Lane to New York, I really really really wanted to include the Mrs. Kim/Lane encounter in the story. Unfortunately, I don't want to break up the whole 'dinner at the grandparents' scene in this chapter, nor do I want to tack the confrontation on at the end, because I still like where this chapter ended. So, be prepared for a completely new chapter, between this one and the former Chapter 11. (If you're a new reader, rather than someone who's already read this story from its previous posting, don't worry about it being a new Chapter 11…it'll all make sense.) If you're a repeat reader, who just wanted to read the revised Chapter 10, please read the new Chapter 11, and assume that the old Chapter 11 has become Chapter 12, and the old Chapter 12 has become Chapter 13. (That's as far as I got before Heather and I decided to repost this story, I think.) – Just Jamie
Also – I added the Kelly Osbourne and Britney Spears comments – Princess Heather had nothing to do with them whatsoever, so if you disagree, make sure you flame me, not her, and also, just so's you know, while I didn't mean to offend anyone in any way, those are my opinions, and I'm sticking to them. – Just Jamie again