Disclaimer: This is getting annoying. I own just about nothing related to Gilmore Girls, not even the first season DVD. I don't even really own my laptop, but it was bought for college, so it is mine.

Summary: There was a fire at Chilton so the school was evacuated. Rory talked with Lane and that night, official broke up with Dean.

Author's note: I'm back in the groove! This outline thing is helping me lots. Yeah, I plan on getting this finished within a year (or the year, depending on how much gets done on the plane to Ireland/England/France). And, in case you forgot, italics is for thoughts.


Chilton

Students were allowed back to school on Tuesday though the class in the burned room had to relocate. The reason for the fire was withheld from the students so wild rumors spread thought the student population.

Rory walked into her first class to see a very smug Chloe. Tristan was smirking while Jess was just reading. Rory shook her head and sat down.

"You look smug this morning." Rory commented.

Tristan chuckled. "You can't bait her. She won't say anything about the fire no matter what you say. Jess and I have already tried."

There was no chance for any response because the class started to stream into the room and soon class began.

They didn't get a chance to talk again until lunch. Rory and Jess found Chloe sitting in her chair like a queen on her thrown while Tristan appeared to be holding in his laughter.

"You like all this, don't you?" Jess aimed his question at Chloe.

"I've just been waiting for it and feel the need to soak it up."

Tristan shook his head. "It's not like you directly caused the fire."

Rory studied Chloe. "I fear she'll try to dispute that."

Chloe shrugged. "I could, but you'll just shoot me down. Honestly, you don't appreciate my craziness and humor. But don't worry, I don't mind. Not many do."

Rory was about to respond when she saw that Chloe was smiling. "Let's get serious for a moment. We still have details to work out with the plan."

"So far, we've got Rory and Jess distracting Luke and calling Lorelai while Tristan and I set up the table. You two leave and then we do or vice versa. Then Tristan breaks the lock after Lorelai gets inside." Chloe pulled out a paper with plan notes.

"We need to go see Sookie today." Rory added. "We also need to get the other supplies and put them somewhere until this weekend. Chloe, can you hold onto them?" A nod.

Jess looked to be thinking. "How will Rory and I know when we need to leave?"

"Walkie-Talkies!" Rory exclaimed. "Lane has a set we could use. We could have ours set low and when you see my mom coming, signal us to leave."

Everyone contemplated the suggestion. Jess spoke up. "Tristan and Chloe would have to be down the road a bit to give us enough time to leave. Then they would have to follow silently behind Lorelai so as to jam the door at the right time."

"How long does it take for Lorelai to get to the diner? We need to practice setting up the table so we'll know how far into the project we need to call her." Tristan added.

"So how are we going to signal that Lorelai is at the predetermined spot?" Chloe asked, ignoring Tristan's question.

"Just cause static on our end and we'll know. Ours will be down low and we'll know to leave when we hear from your end." Rory suggested.

"So you leave, we take a sneaky way back so Lorelai doesn't see us, she enters, and Tristan waits for the right moment to jam the door." Chloe grinned.

"Then we are home free." Jess rested his foot on another chair.

"I say we see Lane right after school, Mrs. Kim is the most open to visitors then. After we talk to Lane, we can go see Sookie." Rory mentioned.

"What supplies are we going to need to get?" Jess asked.

"Table cloth, candles, candle holders, plates, silverware, glasses, boom box with music, and some small lights so they can see with the lights off." Chloe answered.

"We can borrow just about all that from my house. I'm sure my mom wouldn't mind. The only things I don't have are the portable stereo and extra lights." Tristan suggested.

"I have the stereo and we can ask Lane to borrow her string of lights. So, Tristan, you'll bring the supplies to Chloe's sometime before Saturday. That makes it easier." Rory pushed Jess's legs off the chair.

"Hey! What was that for?" He exclaimed.

"The librarian will get you in trouble." Tristan responded.

"Chloe, will it be okay if I follow you to your house and we all just go in one car?" asked Rory, who had borrowed the jeep that day.

"Sure. It would be easier that way because I'm more in town. Oh, and when I get the supplies from Tristan's, we can practice then and time ourselves." Chloe added.

"Good to see someone heard me." Tristan glared at a smiling Chloe.

"I'll time us the next time my mom and I go the Luke's." Rory contributed.

"We'll use that to figure out how far into our endeavor you'll have to wait to call your mom. When we start to set up, we'll signal you so you'll know how long until you can call." Tristan added.

"Then we're all set." Jess smirked.

They focused on their work for the last few minutes before going to their last classes.


Stars Hollow

After meeting at Chloe's and getting into the jeep, the group headed to Lane's. Rory parked a little way from the store and lead the group. Chloe literally jumped out of the car and helped Tristan out of the jeep. Jess leaned against the side waiting for everyone to be ready.

Rory walked up to the door and let everyone else in before entering herself. She walked over to Mrs. Kim and got her attention.

"Hello, Mrs. Kim."

"Oh, hello, Rory. Are you here to see Lane?" She was just showing a customer one of her chairs.

"If that's alright with you. My friends and I have some questions about Stars Hollow High and there was a book I wanted to borrow from her. We're doing a survey for a class we all have at Chilton." Rory said calmly.

"Well, just make it quick. Since it is for school." Ms. Kim turned back to her customer.

Rory lead the way up the stairs and to Lane's room.

"Smooth lie." Jess smirked.

Rory just knocked on the door. "Lane, it's me, Rory. With friends."

Lane cautiously opened her door. "Whoa, it's the Chilton gang. Come in." She opened the door so they could all enter. "What brings you all to my room? I see you made it past my mom."

"We're here because of a school survey about your pathetic little small town public high school. Oh, and Rory needs to borrow a book." Chloe grinned and rolled her eyes.

"She's joking. That was the lie Rory used to get us up here." Tristan commented.

"And the real reason?" Lane inquired.

"We need your help-" Rory started.

"-with our protest against artificial substitutes used in school cafeterias." Chloe ended.

"Ahem. We need help with our plan to get Luke and my mom together." Rory glared at Chloe.

"Of course I'll help! What do you need help with?" Lane was obviously excited about the plan.

"We just need to borrow a few things. First of which, we need your walkie-talkies." Rory explained.

Lane pulled up a board on her floor and after a quick search, pulled out two of the sought after items. "Anything else?" She handed them to Chloe. "Hey, we haven't been introduced, have we?"

Chloe laughed. "Chloe. Chloe Connelly." She reached over and they shook hands.

"Pleasure to finally meet you."

"Likewise."

"Sorry about that." Rory apologized but Lane waved it off. "And the last thing we need is some of your string lights."

Lane walked over to her closet and opened the doors. Tristan's eyes widened at her little getaway. "It's like a secret club house only big enough for one person." Rory smirked.

Lane pulled down her lights and got another string from a box hidden behind the door. "There you go. It's for a good cause. You have to tell me all the details once it's done."

"But of course. Well, we have one more stop. We're going to see Sookie to ask her to make the food for dinner." Rory added.

"Good luck. If you don't call me by Monday, I'm going to hunt you down." Lane grinned.

"I consider us properly warned." Rory smiled and the two hugged before the group went back down the stairs.

Tristan was second to last and before he could head down, Lane said to him, "Nice to see you back, military boy."

He turned around and smirked. "It's nice to be back."

Rory held open the door again and everyone filed back to the jeep.


The Independence Inn

Rory parked a little ways from the building so they had a short walk before entering the inn. They were walking by the front desk, in the direction of the kitchen, when Michel looked up.

"Hey, where are you going, you little gang of hoodlums?" Michel's accent caused everyone but Rory to smirk or try to stifle a laugh.

"We need to talk to Sookie. We'll only be a few moments." Rory explained.

"Well, alright. But only if you don't cause the place the burn down." He returned to the magazine in front of him.

Rory rolled her eyes before the group went into the kitchen. It was absolute chaos and once Sookie saw them, she hurried over, only she caused an assistant to almost drop the food he was carrying.

"Wow, you all look so smart in your uniforms. Oh, I just made-" Sookie's eyes were wide and she was gesturing wildly at something behind her.

"This is only a short visit, we have lots of homework. We just wanted to ask you for a favor." Rory started.

"Oh. Ok. What kind of favor? A food favor?" Sookie was excited at the prospect.

"Actually yes. Oh, before I forget, this is Chloe, she goes to my school." Rory gestured to Chloe.

"Ah, of the new family. It's nice to meet you."

"It's great to finally meet the famous chef Sookie. And on that note, we were wondering if you could help us with a plan we have to get Luke and Lorelai together." Chloe smiled.

"Oh, really?!" Sookie exclaimed.

"Yeah, and we hoped you would make the dinner for them." Rory added.

"Of course! I'll make all their favorites and how many desserts do you think they'll need?"

Rory laughed. "Keep it simple. And only one dessert. We have to take all the food there and the less there is, the better."

Sookie took a deep breath. "Ok. Now, when is this dinner happening?"

"Saturday night. We'll probably pick up the food sometime before then." Rory supplied.

"Alright. I'll make sure everything is all ready for you guys come Saturday. Well, don't work too hard on that homework of yours." Sookie waved as the group said their thanks and left.

"We're going to carry all the food and the other supplies from my house to the diner?" Chloe asked once they got outside.

"No, that wouldn't work. Um, since Jess and I will have to take the jeep to get the food, we'll park outside and you can just get the food from there. Then you can drive it someplace where it can't be seen and then follow my mom." Rory answered.

"Ok, and we'll hide our car in the same place so we'll just follow you back to your house once we're done. Alright, I think this will go smoothly. Now, for homework. Blech." Chloe crunched up her face in irritation.

"I think we all agree with that last statement." Tristan chuckled.


Chloe's House

Chloe let them all in the door and listened for the running feet of her sister. "Oh, you haven't really meant my sister, have you, Rory?"

"Just that once at Luke's last night. So yeah, not really." Rory looked around the house, trying to get used to the layout.

"Oh, beware. This is likely to get very chaotic." Tristan warned.

Before anything more could said, Marissa ran in front of the group and slid to a stop. "Whoa. You're like your own mini gang."

"Very funny." Chloe rolled her eyes.

"If we're a gang, then you're our little GIR." Tristan grinned.

"Oh yeah, we get to call you our little GIR." Jess smirked.

Marissa's eyes grew wide and she glared at her sister. "You didn't!"

"Obviously, I did." Chloe grinned and started to head for the kitchen. Before Rory could blink, she was running into the kitchen with Marissa on her heels.

"Um, what was that?" Rory asked, confused.

"A normal day in the Connelly household." Jess answered and walked into the living room.

Tristan followed and sat down on the couch. Rory paused for a moment and tried to see what was going on in the kitchen. She gave up and sat down in a chair in the living room.

In the kitchen, Chloe had stopped Marissa and told her how she only wanted to see the reaction to the boys calling Marissa GIR. Chloe then suggested a revenge.

Marissa walked into the living room and sat down the on the edge of the couching, grabbing a pillow. Chloe sat down next to her on the couch and took the remaining pillow from the area. Rory was about to say something when Marissa jumped up and hit Jess over the head with her pillow.

"Revenge!" Marissa exclaimed as she bounded over to Tristan and repeated the treatment. Tristan tried to take the pillow from Chloe but she held onto it tightly. Jess jumped up but Rory shoot her head and told him to give it up.

"You made fun of her and she hit you on the head with a pillow. You're even. Don't go starting her up again." Rory sighed.

Chloe grinned. "Good point. Well then, shall we all try to be civilized for half a moment?"

Marissa shrugged. "I can if they can. Oh, hi again, Rory. It's nice to see that you're friends with my sister. Well, good luck with the homework." And with that, she left to go upstairs.

Jess sat back down and mumbled under his breath.

"What was that, Mr. Dark-and-Brooding?" Chloe inquired.

"I got attacked by a little runt."

"It runs in the family." Chloe grinned while Rory looked confused.

"We had a little sibling fighting that turned into a water fight outside. Chloe and Jess ended up soaked. At least no one ended up wet this time." Tristan moved his backpack so as to take out his binder.

"Interesting. Well, I have some news." Rory started.

"As long as I don't get wet, I'll hear it." Jess stretched his legs and slumped in the chair.

"I'm officially single again. I broke up with Dean last night." Rory stared at three very shocked faces. "I thought you'd want to know." She added weakly.

"Oh, I'm so proud of you!" Chloe had an enormous grin on her face and jumped up to hug Rory. "Ah, yes, I know I'm being melodramatic. Makes life more interesting. But seriously, good for you. Well, I think it's good for you. Yeah, it is."

Tristan and Jess glanced at each and then back at the girls. Both still had a shocked look on their face and Rory couldn't help from laughing nervously. "It can't be that shocking."

Chloe rolled her eyes. "Ignore them. I think their brains died. Now, as much fun as it would be to do our homework together, I think I remember that you don't keep a certain important book with you that is required for some homework you have tonight. And that was a long sentence." Chloe sat down, acting out of breath.

Rory grinned. "Yeah, we got to go. Well, it was nice getting to see your house. Um, Jess, do you want a ride back to the diner? Your stuff is still in my car."

Jess shook his head to clear his mind. "Uh, yeah. Sure. Later."

Chloe rolled her eyes again. "Ok, snap out of it. She's gone. It's time for homework."

Tristan glared at her before returning to his work.

At promptly 6:30 pm, dinner was served. It was a quiet affair and the only news spread was that the school was open that day and Rory had broken up with her boyfriend.

Occasional mumblings were heard from Marissa's direction. After Tristan had left, Chloe pulled her sister aside.

"Ok, out with it. What were you mumbling about during dinner?"

"I didn't get to hear the big news. And now they're going to call me little GIR. And, well, you guys are going to be doing your own thing this weekend and all the big stuff will happen when I'm not around." Marissa pouted.

"What big stuff?"

Marissa just rolled her eyes and walked up to her room. Chloe shook her head and followed suit.


Gilmore Residence

Rory shuffled into the living room as soon as she smelled the take-out. "Yum."

Lorelai laughed. "You look half dead."

"More like three-fourths dead. We had some errands to run and then I told the group about Dean. To top things off, I still had homework and there is more to be done." Rory collapsed onto the couch.

"Well, eat some food and then we'll see how dead you are. School still standing?"

"Yeah." Rory began to put food onto her plate.

"That's unfortunate." Lorelai laughed at Rory's raised eyebrow. "Trust me, life would be better without schools like Chilton. Well, tomorrow's another day, another round of torture. Get some sustenance now while you still can. I don't trust the food they serve there."

Rory laughed, remembering Chloe's sarcastic protest idea from Lane's. Lorelai looked questioningly at her daughter. "We went to see Lane and..."


Author's Notes

OMG! Yeah, the sky is falling as we speak. I got this urge yesterday to get back into this. And here I am. I actually rewrote a part that I had already written early. And chapter 6 is due for a major rewrite (despite my saying in an earlier note that it would be too time consuming). I figure, I only need to work on the beginning and the rest is fine. So, I got a big long flight coming up (cross the Atlantic to Ireland/England/France) so I'm taking my Trapped binder with me (and hopefully cutting down the paper, it's thick). Ah, I have a question. What final pairing do you really want? I'm only going to take new votes, the old ones were before I really got into this. Ok, I'll take votes from chapter 5 on. Anything before that doesn't count. I'm only doing one ending because I'm lazy. Now, this needs to be said. If Luke and Lorelai happen to marry (more like when), then Rory and Jess will be related. Now, if you hadn't thought of that, don't worry, I didn't either. But if you really get grossed out by that, then say so. Though I must say, I am leaning that direction. And I know, there were no thoughts. I'm lazy. No insight for you. And booyah, I finished today like I said I would. True, it's 11:17, but that's besides the point. Anyway, like I said earlier, I plan on getting this done and hopefully soon. I'm working on my room right now so I like taking breaks. Oh, and if you wish, go visit my deviantart site. My username is meaguchan. Just put that behind the http:and before .deviantart.com and you're all set. I have mostly crap stuff up but I'm working on a comic of mine and I think it's amusing, in a stupid kind of way. Eh. Well, tell me what you think! Give me motivation because I don't feel like giving up on this yet. I really hate when I save a link for a story to read and when I come back to see if it's updated, it's gone. Not cool. I'm not going to do that. Which means I have to finish what I start. What a concept. Alright. Later. Oh yeah, sorry about the shortness. I'll try for longer next time. And come someone tell me what's up with my little squiggle lines not working when I upload? This is majorly messed up. Grr, I'm pissed. Evil people they are.