TALE UNTOLD

A/N: Okay, well if this chapter goes according to plans then this'll be the season premier. Thank you to all those who reviewed my last chapter, it is always appreciated to have feedback on what people think. Due to all of you wonderful reviewers I will try and make sure that I post at least one chapter more. Key word in that sentence was try by the way. Anyway thank you and enjoy!

Ch 4 Acceptance Letters

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(Scene: Lorelai and Luke are sitting in the full diner. Lorelai is leaning over the counter and Luke is facing her. Jess emerges from upstairs.)

Lorelai: (Whining) Please Luke, Please Luke, Please.

Luke: How many cups have you had today?

Lorelai: (Clearly Lying) None.

Jess: (Stepping up curiously) Plus...

Lorelai: (Sheepishly) Four but in my defence Luke's coffee is the best.

(Jess pours Lorelai a cup of coffee.)

Luke: You know you're killing her with that.

Jess: No you are. It's your diner and you're coffee. I'm just serving the customers.

(Luke glares at Jess.)

Luke: No coffee for you.

(He takes the cup away from Lorelai.)

Lorelai: (Protestingly) Hey!

(Lorelai tries to reach for the cup as Luke holds it out of reach.)

Lorelai: (Pouts giving in) Fine! But remember a coffee deprived Gilmore isn't a happy Gilmore.

Luke: (Giving Lorelai back the coffee) Fine.

(Jess laughs shaking his head as he goes to clear up an empty table.)

Lorelai: (To Luke) You're a godsend.

(Lorelai takes a sip of her coffee and moves over to a table. At that moment Rory comes bursting into the diner and walks directly towards Jess.)

Jess: (Muttering to himself) Uh-Oh.

Rory: (Stands in front of Jess hands on her hips giving him a scolding look) Jess Mariano! How did you get here before me and already be cleaning up?

Jess: I ran?

Rory: Try again.

Jess: I can teleport myself from place to place.

Rory: How about you skipped last period?

Jess: That works.

Rory: Jess! You can't keep skipping the only class I don't have with you.

Jess: Rory it's English and we're doing Twain, again. So, I came here and worked. There's no point in discussing something I've read twenty times already.

Rory: (Throws her hands up in exasperation) Fine. Whatever.

(Joins her mother at the table she is sitting at.)

Lorelai: Hey, give him a break he gave me coffee.

Rory: I'm guessing Luke then took it away from you.

(Lorelai nods and holds her cup up.)

Lorelai: (Grinning triumphantly) He gave it back though. Never try to take coffee away from a Gilmore!

Rory: (Stands) Speaking of coffee and Gilmore I have yet to have a second cup today.

Lorelai: (Appalled) What do they try and do to you at that school?

Rory: Teach us. (Looks pointedly at Jess) Although some students are hopeless.

Jess: (Teasingly) And some too hopeful.

(Scene: Rory, Lane and Jess are walking to school.)

Rory: Lane when are you going to tell you parents you listen to 'evil' rock' music?  

Lane: They still get upset over the obscene portions of American food so I'm guessing, never

(They stop at an advertisement for the Stars Hollow annual Teen Hayride.)

Jess: (Scoffs) Who's going to go to that? Another lame idea of Taylor's to keep the teens of Stars Hollow from riding their bike out side the path lines.

Lane: (Groans) For you information I have to go to that.

Rory: You're kidding right?

Lane: No, my parents set me up with the son of a business associate. He's going to be a doctor.

Jess: How old is this guy?

Lane: Sixteen.

Jess: Okay, so he's going to be a doctor in a hundred years.

Rory: You know Mama Kim. She likes to plan ahead.

Lane: Oh, that's not the best part.

Jess: There's more?

Lane: Yup, it gets much better.

Rory: (Looks sceptically at her best friend) Is that possible?

Lane: (Nods) Yeah. Not only do I have to go with him but I also have to go with his older brother.

Jess: (Laughs) Now you kidding.

(Lane and Rory both give Jess looks confirming that they aren't.)

Jess: (Cont.) Oh Boy.

(As the three enter the school still talking amongst each other about Lane's dates a by standing on the steps watched them go by. His staring goes unnoticed by the tri: they are too wrapped up in their conversation.)

(Scene: Lane, Rory and Jess are now walking home from school. Rory and Lane are conversing about the girls applying nail-polish in English class. Jess is half-listening and half-reading his latest novel.)

Lane: Oh well there's no way Twain could compare to that.

(They have just arrived at Kim's Antiques.)

Lane: (Cont.) Momma! I'm home!

(They listen and then Lane turns to Rory and Jess.)

Lane: (To Rory and Jess) You hear something?

Jess: This place is so full of clutter it could just be something falling.

Lane: (Shouting) Momma!

(Jess and Rory wince at the volume of Lane's voice.)

Mrs. Kim: We're open!

Lane: Finally! Momma?

Mrs. Kim: Lane?

Lane: Where are you?

Mrs. Kim: By the table!

Jess: (Whispers to Rory) She's kidding right?

(Rory shakes her head.)

Lane: (Yells hopelessly) We'll meet you in the kitchen.

Mrs. Kim: What?

Rory: (Repeats louder) The kitchen!

Mrs. Kim: Who's there?

Lane: Rory:

Mrs. Kim: Oh.

Rory: (Sighs) Wow. Even from here I can here the disappointment.

(The three of them make there way over to the kitchen where they are met by Mrs. Kim after a minute or so.)

Mrs. Kim: (Seeing Jess) No boys!

Lane: Momma it's just Jess. Remember Jess, Luke's nephew who I walk with to school every morning?

Mrs. Kim? You seeing Lane? You get anyone pregnant? You go to school?

Jess: (Smirks) No, no and yes.

Mrs. Kim: Fine. Sit here and don't move.

(Mrs. Kim rushes off to serve customers who have just entered.)

Jess: (Sits down) And to think anyone would want to marry into this family.

(Lane and Rory hit him from both sides.)

Jess: (Cont.) Alright, I was just kidding.

(Scene: Sookie is in the kitchen of the Independence Inn, cooking something. Lorelai enters excitedly.)

Lorelai: Sookie! It's here. She did it.

Sookie: (Takes off her chef's hat) Alright, you're going to need to elaborate a bit.

Lorelai: Remember Chilton? The school Rory wants to go to? She got in!

Sookie: (Claps her hands together happily) Oh my god!

Lorelai: I know! Look!

(Lorelai reads the letter quickly to Sookie.)

Sookie: This is so exciting.

Lorelai: (Grins) I know! Now she can go to Harvard like she's always wanted and get the education I never got and do things I never got to do. I'll resent her and we'll finally have a normal mother-daughter relationship!

Sookie: Oh good!

(The two are giggling as Rory walks into the kitchen.)

Rory: Mom?

Lorelai: OH!

(Lorelai quickly rushes over to her daughter.)

Rory: You're happy.

(Lorelai nods eagerly at this statement.)

Rory: (Cont.) Did you do something slutty?

Lorelai: I'm not that happy. (Lorelai shoves a large paper bag into Rory's arms.) Open it! Open it!

(Rory opens the bag and pulls out a plaid skirt. She looks curiously at her mother.)

Rory: (Groans) I'm going to be in a Britney Spears video, aren't I?

Sookie: (Giggles) No silly. You're going to Chilton.

(Rory freezes and look at her mother for confirmation.)

Lorelai: You did it babe.

Rory: I don't believe this! I'm going to Chilton. I have to call Lane and Jess and... OH MY GOD!

(Rory rushes into the lobby to call Jess, Lane and to try on the skirt. In the lobby she picks up the phone and quickly dials the familiar numbers faster than ever.)

Luke: (Grunt answering the phone.) Luke's diner, Luke speaking.

Rory: Luke...

(Before she can finish Luke has already handed the phone to Jess.)

Jess: (In diner) Rory.

Rory: (Still in lobby at inn) How'd you know it was me?

Jess: Luke told me. (Beat) Now, why'd you call?

Rory: (Nearly shouting) I got in!

Jess: Got in where?

Rory: Chilton!

(Rory is now jumping up and down. She realizes people are staring and stops.)

Jess: (Dryly) Oh, great.

Rory: Hey, could you be a little more enthusiastic about this?

Jess: Sorry. (Fakes enthusiasm) Wow! I can't believe it! It's everything you ever dreamed of! Hey, did Prince Charming show up at you doorstep too?

Rory: (Rolls her eyes) Real mature Jess.

Jess: Seriously, congratulations. I'll have your pie and coffee waiting for you when you arrive.

Rory: (Grins) Bye Jess.

Jess: Bye Rory.

(Rory gently places the places the phone down and holds it there a bit still smiling.)

(Scene: Rory and Jess are in the practically empty diner. Rory is sitting on a stool by the counter and Jess is behind the counter leaning foreword against it.)

Rory: I can't believe tomorrow is my last day at Stars Hollow High.

Jess: I can't believe you played volleyball (beat) and you sucked.

Rory: Yeah, well you were no better.

Jess: So where's your mom?

Rory: (Shrugs) She wasn't at home or at the inn and she obviously isn't here. I'm all out of ideas.

Jess: This is a small town. She shouldn't be hard to find.

Rory: She might not be in Stars Hollow. The world is a lot bigger than just this town.

Jess: (Dubiously) Really?

Rory: Really.

Jess: Good to know.

Rory: Well I better get home. (Takes the last sip of coffee from her cup) See you later and bring your copy of Oliver Twist I need to check something in the notes.

(Jess nods in confirmation and Rory leaves.)

(Scene: Rory is emptying her locker. Lane is standing beside her and the two are talking. Jess is nowhere is sight.)

Rory: So, Hayride tonight with future Korean doctors right?

Lane: (Groans) Don't remind me. So, I told my mom you were changing schools.

Rory: I bet she was happy.

Lane: (Jokes) The party's on Friday. I've got to go pre-Hayride tea with my dates. Do I look Korean?

Rory: Spitting Image.

Lane: Good. Bye!

(Lane rushes off leaving Rory to finish packing her books. Closing her locker door she picks up the box and makes her way down the hall. A book falls and Rory bends to pick it up. When she stands the boy from a few days earlier is standing there.)

Rory: God! You're like Ruth Gordon standing there with a tannis root. Make a noise!

Boy: (Smiles) Rosemary's Baby.

Rory: Yeah.

Boy: Great movie. You've got good taste. (Beat) You moving?

Rory: Just my books are.

Boy: My family just moved here from Chicago. I'm Dean.

Rory: Rory.

Dean: Rory.

Rory: Well technically is Lorelai but it's my mother's name too. She was sitting in the hospital with me and according to my mom her feminist side took over. Personally I think it was the Demerol. Oh, I'm babbling. Honestly I never talk this much.

Dean: It's okay. (Beat) I've got to go.

Rory: (Deflated) Oh.

Dean: It's just I have to find a job.

Rory: Oh, you should check with Ms. Patty. She's the dance teacher. She used to be on Broadway before she came here.

Dean: (Uncomfortable) I don't dance.

Rory: No it's just if anyone is looking for a job Patty will know. She knows everything about everything in this town. God, I don't know what's wrong with me today. Really, I don't usually talk this much.

Jess: (Joining them) It's true. She's usually pretty quiet.

(Rory mouths a 'thank you' to Jess.)

Dean: (Hints of jealousy in his voice) Is this you boyfriend?

Rory: One of my best friends actually. This is Jess.

Dean: Dean.

(Jess seems to tense up a bit. He can tell this boy likes Rory.)

Rory: Well, we better go. (Shifts box in her arms) You can find Ms. Patty at her dance studio. It's not hard to find.

(The wave goodbye and walk off to the diner.)

Jess: Don't you think you should've warned him about Patty? He might not be able to hold his own against her charm. You might lose him.

(Rory shakes her head, laughing.)

(Scene: Rory enters the diner. It's later in the afternoon and Jess, Luke and Lorelai are all there. Jess is serving behind the counter and Luke is off at the tables. Lorelai is sitting at the counter. Rory goes over there.)

Rory: Hey mom!

Lorelai: (Smiles) Hey.

Rory: Jess, can I get some coffee?

(Jess nods and hands Rory an empty cup before turning back to customers her was taking orders from.)

Rory: Hey! There's no coffee in here.

Jess: You asked if you could get coffee. There's the cup, get the coffee.

(Rory rolls her eyes and moves around the counter. She hits Jess up side the head before pouring her coffee and going back around.)

Lorelai: I almost forgot. We're going to your grandparents on Friday.

Rory: We are?

Lorelai: Mm-hmm.

Rory/Jess: What holiday is in September?

Lorelai: It's not a holiday thing. It's just dinner, okay?

Rory: Okay. Fine.

Lorelai: So, I finished hemming your skirt today.

Rory: (Deadpan) Okay. (Pause) I just don't understand why we're going to dinner. I mean, what if I had plans?

Lorelai: I would've known if you had plans.

Rory: (Bitterly) I don't tell you everything.

Jess: Uh, yes you do.

Rory: (Harshly) Jess, back off!

Lorelai: Whoa what's going on Ror? Something happen?

Rory: No, it's just I'm not sure I want to go to Chilton.

Lorelai/Jess: What?

Rory: The timing is just really bad.

(Rory's words slurred together so that only Jess and Lorelai were able to understand what she was saying.)

Jess: This has nothing to do with the floppy hair wonder boy from school. Does it?

Lorelai: What boy?

Rory: There is no boy!

(Rory storms out of the diner. Jess raises and eyebrow as Lorelai follows. Luke, who was watching all this from afar, approaches Jess.)

Luke: What happened?

Jess: There's a boy.

(Luke looks at Jess confused as Jess turns to some customers.)

(Scene: Rory sits in the diner, alone. Everything is quiet and there are only two or three other customers. Jess is drying off cups and watching her.)

Jess: How are things with your mother?

Rory: (Sips her coffee) Not well. Last night the fight got worse. She told me I didn't want to change my life for some guy. I would make a mistake and regret it later.

Jess: She's right. (Beat) Look, just go to dinner and try to make up with your mom. She's not only your mother but she's your best friend too. You don't want to lose all that over one fight.

(Rory smiles and leans over the counter giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.)

Rory: I've got to go. (She approaches the door of the diner and right before she leaves she turns around.) Oh, and Jess thanks.

(Scene: Rory and Lorelai enter the diner dressed in their clothes from dinner. Both girls seemed to have apologized.)

Rory: Mom, I'm going up to see Jess.

(Rory scurries up the stairs to the apartment above the diner. She knocks on the door and then opens it. Jess was lying on his mattress, reading. He looks up from his book long enough to let Rory know he knew she was there. Rory moves over and sits down on the bed. She ignores the clutter of books, clothes and CDs. She is used to them by now.)

Rory: So, I'm going to Chilton.

Jess: I know.

Rory: What are you reading?

Jess: Hemmingway.

Rory: Haven't you read enough of him? Just give the 'The Fountainhead' another try.

Jess: Rand's a nut.

(Rory picks up a stray pillow and hold it close.)

Rory: Read to me. Show me what's so great about your Hemmingway.

(Jess begins to read and Rory listens intently. She hears him going on and her mother and Luke talking downstairs. She looks comfortable here, in these familiar surroundings knowing that Jess, Lorelai and Luke were always close at hand.)

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A/N: Alright, well as I said some of the lines were in the original season premier. I didn't want to change the pilot so much because it was after all the first ever episode. Anyway, I promise more as soon as possible and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. The next one will continue on but it will be a lot more original, I promise. Again, I hope you enjoyed please review. Thank you!

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