Author's note: Okay, so I'll be gone for two weeks so I thought I'd put up the 3rd chapter as well. Please continue to read and review as well cause it really helps me with my writing... Thanks guys!!

Setting: It's Rory's junior year in Chilton, right after Christmas and New Year's, and she's still not making a lot of friends,... and so this is the 3rd chapter so you guys should already know what the setting for this story is. In case you dont, turn to chapter 1......

Summary: A school newspaper. Two different opinions. A book. Mixed in with some confusion, misguidance and attraction. A perfect recipe for a good old fashioned fairy tale story, so to speak. (Trory)

Askepott

Chapter three

The following afternoon, Chilton

"Settle down class!", Mrs. Caldecott announced as she stepped into the classroom. Once she made her presence aware, students started to quiet down and take their seats. Putting her books and notes on her desk, Mrs. Caldecott made her way to the blackboard and wrote 'PROJECT' in big bold letters. A disappointed groan echoed through the room as the students read what she had written.

"Yes, so I assume you already know what I want to tell you this afternoon.", she said while facing her students. "We will start on a new project, seeing as we've already begun a new year. I thought it might be appropriate."

'Just great!', Rory thought to herself. 'And the punches keep coming.' Earlier that day, during Mr. Abel's math class, she was already handed a two-page assignment sheet that was due by the end of the week. Then it proceeded with a 1500 word essay in history class that had to be handed in Monday morning next week. Not to mention the amount of pages she had to read for chemistry. This school sure knows how to keep their students occupied, to say the least.

The voice of her literature teacher broke Rory from her silent whining inside her head. Forcing herself to pay attention, Rory listened as her teacher explained what project was all about. "I want each of you to pick an author, any author, whether it's a woman or a man, American or Foreign, classic or temporary. Then I would like you to pick a book he or she has written and give a presentation, explaining why you chose this particular author and how you found the book. In addition, I want you to look into the writing techniques the author used as well as going into the storyline and theme. Lastly, give some facts and information about the author." Pacing to the back of the room and then to the front again, the teacher continued with her speech. "You will have a month to work on this, and I expect you to use that time wisely. I have handed this project to previous classes and in most cases the students take advantage of the long working period and hand in pour work. They wait until the last week before submission to start on it, and that's just simply not good enough.", Mrs. Caldecott pointed out sternly. "The reason why I give you such a long time to work on it is because I truly want you to dig in and get your hands dirty."

"Besides I always find out who really worked on it and who didn't so don't even try finding a way around it.", she knowingly added, and looked around the room as if to catch people who were already scheming tricks up their sleeve. Receiving only perplexed glances from her class, she dropped the subject and continued with something else. "Well, now that we have that taken care of, let's get back to the last topic we'd started on. Open your textbooks on page 234."

The sound of pages being flipped and avid scribbling filled the room as the middle-aged woman begun her lecture.

"How can she do this to us?", Madeline asked confused. Paris, Louise and herself were making their way out of the classroom, finally finished with the seemingly never ending literature class.

"Well, I think it has something to do with fact that she has the authority to do so, plus the fact that we are here to learn something.", Paris answered as a matter of factly.

"Oh, really? I thought we were here to scope out hot guys and socialize.", Louise commented dryly. "Of course it hasn't got anything to do with Mrs. Caldecott being the reincarnation of Joseph Stalin!"

Madeline let out a giggle, and got an amused look from Louise. Paris, suddenly acting all defensive, pointed out irritated, "Sorry to disappoint you, but some people actually have better things to do than sit around reading 'Jane' magazine and discuss which nail polish goes with what outfit! Not everything revolves around who's dating who and who the flavour of the month is!"

"Well, excuse us for having a life!", Louise spat back. "And it's flavour of the week, not a month!", she corrected disdainfully.

"Whatever, Louise!", Paris retorted, not wanting to waste anymore of her time and energy on such an inane topic. "I'm going to the library."

"What else is new?", Louise whispered to Madeline as the three finally exited the room.

Taking her time to pack her books and notes, Rory was the only on left in the classroom. Having just witnessed the exchange between the three girls, she couldn't for the life of her figure out how Paris could stand hanging out with those two. Despite the fact that she could be incredibly infuriating at times, Paris Gellar was a smart and intelligent girl. She might be as popular in the dating scene as Bin Laden is on American soil, but then again no one was perfect. Stepping out into the nearly deserted hallway, Rory made her way to The Franklin's main office. She looked around and noticed that almost everybody had already finished their last class and left. A couple could be seen on their way to the library, the gym or wherever other extra curricular activities were being held. Digging into her bag, Rory found the paper she had been searching for, and looked around one last time just to make sure no one saw her. Not seeing anyone, she quickly dropped the paper she was holding inside The Franklin's mailbox. A devious smile slowly crept up her face as she hurriedly walked out of the building.

"Mom! I'm home!", Rory shouted as she walked through the front door of her childhood house.

"In here, honey!", Lorelai's voice said from the living room. "I'm watching a 90210 marathon. It's when Brandon and Kelly are on the verge of getting back together, but that stupid Tracy is standing in their way!", she explained excitedly as she saw her daughter's figure appear. "I'm telling you, that girl is so useless if you ask me. Her character has no substance at all. Valerie, on the other hand, is doing one heck of a job being a bitch! Man, I'm almost starting to forget that sweet goody-goody 'Kelly Kapowski' in her."

Rory laughed at her mom's antics, being amused by the fact that her mother was probably the only 32 year old woman who still remembered 'Saved by the Bell' and desperately hoping that Mark Paul Gosselaar will someday show up at her doorstep.

"That was quite sometime ago, mom. And she is playing a whole different role in this show.", Rory tried to reason.

"I'm well aware of that. It's just that whenever I see her I still see that cute little cheerleader, cheering Bayside to victory.", Lorelai replied sadly.

"Mom, I think you're spending way too much time in front of the TV. Before you know it, you're hip is attached to the couch and I'm going to have to start calling you something closely linked to a potato."

"Haha! Very funny, babe!", Lorelai said sarcastically. Remembering a specific task, she changed the subject and asked. "So has the drop off been made?"

"Yup, it has. At 15:00 hours to be exact."

"Wow there! I think you've been spending way too much time watching JAG or CSI or something.", Lorelai accused.

"Yeah, I thought my investigating slash spy skills needed some improvement."

"And that it has, remarkably so if you ask me.", Lorelai noted impressed.

"Oh, that's nothing. You should see how I work under pressure while trying to dismantle a bomb and at the same time fighting off a gang of thugs.", Rory said, arrogance dripping from her voice.

"I guess I should, but what do you say to some dinner first, Superwoman?"

"Sure. Luke's?"

"Is that a rhetorical question?"

"Is yours?"

"What do you think?"

"You tell me?"

"Do you even have to ask?"

Frantically searching her head for another smart come back, Rory at last gave up and surrendered. "Okay, I'm all out."

"Ha! I won again! I'm on a roll!", Lorelai exclaimed, remembering back to yesterday's verbal battle with Luke at the diner. "One more and I'm this close at winning that stuffed pink, orange polka dot frog named Stinky!"

Rory rolled her eyes, as the two walked out of their home and made their way through the snow.