Author's note: First of, thank you so much for the feedback you guys wrote on the last chapter. It really helps me out when I'm writing so I truly appreciate it! Some of you were a bit disappointed about a few things, but I hope this chapter will (somehow) make up for it.... crossing fingers!
Secondly, I'll be visiting my boyfriend for a few weeks so the next update won't be until Sept.28, just so you know. Please don't kill me for it, but I'll be working on the next couple chapter while I'm gone so at least I'll be doing something... hehe!
Last, but not least.... HAPPY READING!!
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 seven
Saturday evening, Gilmore mansion, Hartford
"So, are you ready for this?", Lorelai asked cautiously, as they were both standing in front of the door.
"Mom, it's not like it's the end of the world!", Rory replied, knowing what her mother was aiming at. "We've done this before, you know."
"Yeah, but every time we do I always tell myself that it's going to be the last time, and yet again we keep re-appearing every week!", Lorelai said amazed.
"We're not talking about a magic trick here, mom!."
"And boy do I know it! Cause if it was then I'd be pulling some disappearing act that even the great Houdini would be astonished!"
Rory looked at her mom and couldn't help but roll her eyes. She could never get tired of her antics, especially when it came to her grandparents, and even though she was quite fond of them, Rory would sometimes think that they were a bit too much to handle. Sure she loved spending time with them, and was awfully grateful for all the help they've done with her school tuition. But, they lived in two different universes and as much as she'd consider herself 'mature and polite', Rory was a Stars Hollow girl at heart. However, despite all that, this was not exactly the time to show her real colours. Now she needed to be the 'adult' since Lorelai had decided to be the 'immature brat' the moment they got out of the car, kicking and screaming the whole way.
Giving her mother a look, begging her to please be at her best behaviour, Rory at last rung the bell. After a few short moments the host for the evening opened the door.
"You're late!", Emily scowled.
Looking at her daughter, as if saying 'I told you so', Lorelai took a step inside and removed her jacket. "This place is as empty as a Prada store after a 75 percent sale, so I'd say we're quite early!"
"I believe my suspicions were verified. You did forget to bring your decorum this evening.", Emily said, looking at Lorelai with a raised eyebrow. "And you're most certainly late!"
"You said you were having a dinner party, and as far as I can see we're the only ones here so unless you brought all of your imaginary friends with you, I'd have to ask; what are you talking about, mom?", Lorelai eyed her mom with a confused look.
"Lorelai, if you'd take just one second and focus on someone else but yourself, you'd actually see that we have guests in the living room."
Standing on her tippy toes and desperately leaning forward without loosing her balance, she peeked inside and tried to get a look at the guests. "Nope, not from where I'm standing!", Lorelai informed humouredly.
Emily let out a sigh of relinquish and instead acknowledged Rory's presence for the time since they came. "Rory!", she smiled. "You look lovely!"
"Thank you, grandma. So do you.", Rory gestured and gave the elder Gilmore a hug. "So who are the people here?"
"Oh, he is just an old friend of your grandfather.", Emily told delightfully. "And he brought his grandson along. A boy your age who's also attending Chilton."
"Really?!", Lorelai interrupted. "I guess someone is going to get lucky tonight, huh?", she said, as she playfully nudged her daughter and gave a mischievous wink.
Giving Lorelai yet again one of her infamous looks, Emily ushered the two girls inside to join the others. Once the three of them entered the living room, all eyes turned towards them.
"Janlen, I'd like you to meet Lorelai and her daughter, Rory.", Emily introduced. The old man slowly approached them and shook their hands.
"Why, hello. It's nice to meet you.", he said kindly. "I see that the apple didn't fall far from the tree.", Janlen complimented, hinting to the Gilmore beauty.
"Oh, Janlen! You're such a charmer!", Emily laughed gracefully.
"This old guy here would give Don Juan a run for his money!", Richard interjected, as he patted his friend's shoulder. "But most importantly, he's one heck of a businessman!"
"Well, what can I say? Some people are just born with it!", he replied good-heartedly. "Especially that grandson of mine. Now where did that boy run off to?", he wondered, suddenly aware of his absence.
"To the restroom.", said a voice from the entry. "I didn't think you'd miss me that much, gramps. I was just gone for a few minutes!", he said jockingly.
Turning towards him, Janlen said; "Ah, there you are! Come here! There are some people for you to meet."
As the young man made his way to them, Rory turned her head and couldn't help but widen her eyes in surprise once she recognized who the person was. What was he doing here?
"Tristan, this is Lorelai and Rory.", Janlen motioned to the two lovely ladies in front of him. When he saw the stunned look on his grandson's face, and noticing Rory's sudden interest on the carpeted floor of her grandparent's den, he knew that something was definitely going on. He eyed Lorelai as if mutely questioning her if she knew why the two teens were acting like they had just lost their ability to talk, but she as well returned the look. Their continued stillness caused Lorelai to finally say something.
"Hi, Tristan! I'm Rory's mom.", she said, as she stuck out her hand for him to shake.
At last coming out of his own spellbound reverie, Tristan planted a smirk on his face and took Lorelai's hand. "And I guess I don't need anymore introductions seeing as the old guy here", he gestured to his grandfather, with a playful glint in his eyes, "already took care of that." Everyone seemed to have responded to his joke and let out a laugh, all except for Rory, who was still processing the fact that Tristan DuGray was in her grandparent's house. Turning towards her, he spoke; "Hey Rory."
Lorelai, witnessing her daughter's mute act, elbowed her to get her to finally say something. The sudden sharp movement to her ribs, jolted Rory out of her quietness and greeted the blonde boy in front her. "Hey.", she said simply, and looked at him carefully.
"Well, now that that is taken care of, I guess we can begin with dinner.", Emily announced, completely oblivious to the apprehension between her granddaughter and Tristan.
"That's good because I'm starved!", Janlen replied good-heartedly, taking a step towards the dining room along with the rest, while leaving Lorelai and Rory for themselves.
"So what's up with 'The Piano' impersonation?", Lorelai asked her daughter suspiciously, once everyone was out of earshot.
"What?"
"You know, the movie 'The Piano' with that woman who everyone forgot the name of ever since she went into hibernation, and she played this role of a mute, deaf character with an intense relationship with the aforementioned instrument?"
"You're comparing me to a deaf woman who played the piano?"
"Yeah, well, that was the only thing I could come up in the midst of all the tension that seemed to have occurred the moment a certain blonde haired Adonis walked into the room.", Lorelai countered. "And don't try to avert the topic here, young lady. Spill!"
"It's nothing, mom. I was just a bit taken aback that he is here, that's all.", Rory tried to reason, but Lorelai didn't seem to buy into her argument.
"Okay, I'll believe that for now since they are all waiting for us and the last thing I need is yet another disapproving look from my mother, blaming me for delaying dinner with her fire ball shooting eyes, so we better get in there.", Lorelai started dragging Rory with her and dropped the issue.
"Fine.", Rory merely conceded.
"But believe me when I say that the moment we get home you better have come up with something more convincing than that lame ass reason you just gave me! I mean, did I teach you nothing?", Lorelai asked in mock disappointment, as they walked to join the others.
A/N #2: Okay, so I hope you liked this chapter better. Stay tuned cause the next chapter will bring our two lovebirds closer together.... If any of you have any thoughts on how, then let me know. All I can say is that as the night progresses this dinner party will be quite an interesting one....