A/N: I'm glad you guys are enjoying the story so far. I'm really enjoying writing it. So enough blabbing. Here's the next bit:
***
Mommy's Here
On Thursday, Lorelai came to New York as she had promised. She moved into Rory's 2 bedroom apartment. The next day, Rory told her Madeline, Louise, and Francie that they could spend the night and have kind of a girl's night.
"So, are you guys up for it?" Rory asked.
"I'm there!" Madeline exclaimed.
"Me too." Said Louise
"Yeah." Said Francie. "But you said your mother will be there?"
"Yeah." Rory replied. "But don't worry. She's really cool. She was pretty young when she had me so she still acts like she's 17."
"Okay then. I'll pick up some movies." Louise said.
"Oooh!" Exclaimed Madeline. "And then on Saturday morning we can help you figure out what to wear and stuff for your date with Tristan." The girls all giggled and then headed off to their favourite class.
"Morning class." Exclaimed Jess as he walked in. "I've marked all your essays on 'For Whom the Bell Tolls,' and you'll be getting them back today. There were some exceptional papers. One of which I was extremely impressed with." He started handing back the papers. "So, if she doesn't mind," he handed Rory her paper and looked at her with admiration in his eyes, "I'd really like it if Rory would read hers for the class."
Rory looked at him and blushed. "Really?"
"It was an amazing essay Rory."
"Ummm, okay…" She stood up and started to read. As she was reading, she was flooded with memories.
FLASHBACK
"Hey Rory." Dean said, sitting beside her in English class.
"Hey Dean."
"What's that you got there?" He asked, gesturing to the paper she was reading.
"Oh, it's the essay we have to hand in today. I'm just looking over it."
"What for? I'm sure you'll get an A+++ on it…" Dean teased, but he held some anger in his voice.
"Dean…" Rory pleaded.
"So, is this why you didn't come out on Friday? You were working on your essay?"
"Dean, I need to get a good mark."
"Rory, you already have the highest marks in the school."
"But Dean, Ivy League schools look at everything. If I'm going to go to Harvard. Or Yale…"
"Sure. Whatever." He got up and moved to another seat.
END FLASHBACK
During Rory's recitation of her essay, Jess was having some thoughts of his own. I shouldn't be feeling like this. She's 17 years old! She's your student! You are not one of those teachers who goes for their students. He was telling himself. Sure she's beautiful, and extremely intelligent, and mature for her age. And those eyes! But god man. She's 17 years old. Get a grip!
"That was very well written Rory." Jess found himself saying when she was finished. The class applauded. He went on with his lecture.
Finally, the bell rang, signaling the end of class. Everyone was packing up their books.
"Rory." Jess said.
"Yes Mr. Mariano?"
"Can I talk to you for a few minutes please?"
"Ummm, okay?" She said nervously.
"We'll see you at the regular table Ror." Louise said, as she and the others left for lunch.
Rory walked up to Jess's desk. "Ummm, what is it sir?"
He put a chair in front of his desk, and gestured for her to sit, which she did. Jess leaned on his desk. "I just wanted to say again how impressed I am with your writing skills."
Rory blushed. "Thank you sir."
"And I also wanted to know if you needed any reference letters for any universities. Because I'd be more than willing to write one for you."
Rory blushed deeper. "Ummm, actually, I think I might skip on the whole college thing."
Jess was shocked. "What? Why? You are extremely intelligent Rory. And you have an amazing talent for writing."
She looked down. "Thank you sir." She looked up. "But I think I might just pass on it for now. Maybe just for a year or so."
Jess was disappointed. "Well, if you're sure. But if you change your mind…"
She smiled. "If I change my mind, I'll come and see you right away."
"Okay." Jess smiled back at her. "Well then. I won't keep you any longer. Enjoy your lunch."
Rory picked up her things. "Thanks sir. See you tomorrow." And she left the room.
As she was walking to the cafeteria, she was approached by Tristan.
"Hey Rory."
"Oh, hey Tris." She blushed.
"What did Mr. Mariano want?"
"Oh, he just wanted to know if I needed any reference letters for any colleges."
"Oh. Well anyways, I just wanted to make sure we're still on for tomorrow night."
"Yeah. For sure."
"Great. So ummm, where do I pick you up, or how do we do this?"
"Oh, ummm, I'll give you the address of my apartment building." She wrote it down.
"Great. So I'll pick you up say 8ish?"
"Sounds great."
He kissed her cheek. "Can't wait." And he smiled as he walked away.
Girl, what have you gotten yourself into? She asked herself as she went to meet her friends for lunch.
***
That night, Rory and Lorelai were sitting on the couch talking.
"So he's picking you up at 8 tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
"So I finally get to meet the gorgeous Tristan DuGrey?"
They both smiled. "Yeah."
Just then the buzzer went off. Rory went to the intercom. "Hello?"
"Hey Ror. It's us." Francie's voice said.
"Okay. Come on up!" She buzzed them up. Moments later a knock came on the door, which Rory opened. "Hey guys."
"Hey Rory."
"Guys, this is my mom Lorelai. Mom, this is Louise, Madeline, and Francie."
"Hi." Lorelai then saw the bags of junk food. "Oooh. If there's Skittles in there I will love each and every one of you forever and ever." She dug through the bag. "YES!" She exclaimed as she pulled out a bag. The girls all laughed.
"You have to excuse my mom. She escaped from the mental institution."
"Well they wouldn't let me keep my Hello Kitty clock, so I had to get out of there." Lorelai kidded.
Rory looked at the movies Louise had brought. "Oooh. Never Been Kissed. I love that movie!"
"Michael Vartan is so gorgeous in that movie." Madeline gushed.
"Yeah, but have you seen him in Alias?" Francie asked. "Add secret CIA agent to that hotness, and you have one hell of a man."
The girls sat down to watch their movie and drool over a certain actor.
***
The group woke up late the next morning and Rory's friends and Lorelai started to figure out what Rory should wear on her date with Tristan.
"I agree with Lorelai." Francie said. "That blue dress with the pink flowers is great."
"But Tris might think it's too formal." Louise argued. "The black pants with the blue sweater might be better."
"Try them both on Ror." Madeline said. She did.
"Okay, I change my vote to the dress." Louise said. "The pants are nice, but the dress is awesome."
***
The girls left the apartment at about 4pm, leaving Rory and Lorelai alone.
"They seem nice." Lorelai said.
"Yeah, they are, but they are the typical high school A listers."
Lorelai laughed. "But you're one of them now." She got a thoughtful look on her face."
"Oh no mom. That look can only mean trouble."
"No no. I was just thinking. Watching Never Been Kissed last night made me think."
"Mom, you're not going to plan to get Michael Vartan to become my step-daddy again, are you?"
"Nah. That plan fell through the first time. Actually, I was thinking of the similarities between you and that movie."
"Huh?"
"Think about it. You're a young copy editor at a prestigious newspaper. Your first assignment is to go undercover as a high school student. You and the hunky popular guy start dating. And you have a hunky English teacher."
"I never thought of that." Rory said.
"Except the only difference is that you're not the geek like Drew Barrymore was in the movie, and you don't have David Arquette for a brother."
"That's kinda weird." Rory said.
"Yeah, well I didn't marry and mate with an Arquette, so it's not that weird." Rory swatted her mom. "Ouch! You evil child you. Now come on. We have a date with an 18 year old to get you ready for."
***
At 7:54, Rory was ready for Tristan to pick her up. She had gone with the suggestions of wearing the dress, the sandals, hair down, and silver jewellery. She was now anxiously awaiting his arrival. At 7:57 the buzzer went.
"He…Hello?" Rory answered nervously.
"Hey Rory. It's me." Came Tristan's voice.
"Come on up." She buzzed him up. Then she turned to Lorelai. "Now don't embarrass me."
Lorelai got a mock shock expression on her face. "Who me? Never!"
"And don't let anything slip."
"Yeah yeah. I know."
There was a knock on the door. Rory went to answer.
"Hi."
"Hey Rory." He looked her over. "Wow. You look amazing."
Rory blushed. "Thanks. Come on in."
Tristan walked into the apartment. "Oh, these are for you." He pulled some pink roses from behind his back.
Rory smiled. "Thank you. They're gorgeous." She put them on the counter. "Tristan, this is my mother, Lorelai Gilmore. Mom, this is Tristan DuGrey."
"Nice to meet you Mrs. Gilmore." Tristan said, shaking her hand.
"So polite." Lorelai responded. "But I'm not a Mrs. I'm just Lorelai."
"Okay." He turned to Rory. "Ready to go?"
"Yep." She grabbed her purse and kissed her mom on the cheek. "Bye mom. I'll see you later."
"Bye Lorelai."
"Bye kids." She emphasized the last word, earning her a severe glare from Rory. "Have fun. Be back by midnight!"
***
The drive to the theater in Tristan's BMW was filled with comfortable conversation about school, interests, Rory's home town, and other pieces of trivia. They arrived at the theater and Tristan bought both tickets, much to the protest of Rory. So he gave in and allowed her to buy the snacks. While she was in line for the snacks, she ran into Jess.
"Hello Rory." Came a voice from behind her.
She spun around. "Mr. Mariano." She smiled. "Hi!" God he's gorgeous. Rory thought to herself.
"How are you tonight?" He asked. God she's gorgeous. He thought to himself.
"Oh, I'm good. How about yourself?"
"Oh, I'm…" Jess was cut off by a woman who came up beside him.
"Jesus Jess. Aren't you near the front of the line yet?" She asked.
"Not yet Paris." He gestured to Rory. "Rory Gilmore, this is Paris Geller."
"His girlfriend." Paris adds.
"Oh. Hi." Rory tried to hide her disappointment. He's your teacher girl. You're here with the most popular, gorgeous guy in school. Well most gorgeous next to Jess Mariano of course…
"Rory's one of my students."
"Wonderful." Paris says sarcastically.
"Hey Rory." Tristan says, coming up beside her. "I got the tickets." He realizes that Jess is there. "Oh! Hey Mr. Mariano."
"Hi Tristan." Jess says, hiding his disappointment that Rory is on a date with Tristan. Get a grip Mariano. You have a girlfriend. You and Paris have been together for 2 years. Forget about Rory. She's your 17 year old student! And of course she's here with 'pretty boy' Tristan DuGrey. Of course she's with the most popular guy in senior year.
"Long line, huh?" Rory asks, trying to get rid of some of the tension.
"Yeah." Jess replies.
Rory's finally at the front of the line. She orders and pays for the popcorn, chocolate, and drinks. "See you on Monday sir." Rory says, smiling. She and Tristan walk away to the theatre holding their movie together.
Jess follows Rory with his eyes. He is snapped back to reality by Paris's voice.
"Jess. Wake up. Order dammit."
***
A/N: Yes? No? Did you like it? Should I run and hide? I know this chapter was longer, but ah well. Please review and let me know what you think.
