Uncomfortable Confrontations

There are times in your life when you wonder how things got so messed up. How did relationships become the hardest thing in your life? It was these questions that Christopher pondered as he sat on the sofa watching his young son revel in the warm embrace of his mother. His thoughts drifted to that of his thirteen year old daughter, upstairs, with god only knows what confused thoughts and feelings running through her head. Chris was angry. Angry at Lorelai for disappearing for so many years, for not calling or visiting or sending any kind of letter or birthday card. Angry for her showing up now, after all this time, to visit the kids she left behind, to tell Chris of the new romance in her life... Lorelai wants a divorce to be with this new guy in that town she called Stars Hollow. What was his name again? Duke? It didn't matter anyway. Lorelai had already set out the plan she wanted to happen. And Lorelai always gets her way.

Christopher: "Lorelai, I think it is better that you go now... Your parents are having a surprise birthday party for Rory tomorrow night. You can meet up with us there if you would like."

Little Chris: "No! Dad! Mom should stay here, with us!" He exclaimed, still tightly hugging his mother.

Lorelai: "It's okay baby..." Lorelai soothed. (To Chris): "I'd like to attempt talking to Rory, if that is okay with you." Lorelai pleaded with her eyes.

Chris: "If she wanted to talk, she wouldn't have run up to her room at the very sight of you. You don't know her like I do. She needs this time, Lor. Please, don't push her."

Lorelai: "Chris, please, if I could just talk to her and explain myself, I don't want her to think I left because of her..." Lorelai's voice trailed off. Why hadn't she called at all, anyway? She had been perfectly capable of calling her daughter and son. It's not like she had been drinking away the past seven years. She hadtruly and honestly been trying to make a better life for herself so that she could be there for her kids.

Christopher: "It's time for you to go now, Lorelai. Please. Don't make this more difficult than it already is."

Lorelai: "Chris... What about all that stuff we just talked about. We just spend about 3 hours talking ... Did you not mean any of what you just said?"

Chris: "I thought you were coming home to us. I didn't think you were going to announce you had found someone else. Where does that leave me, Lor? I am their father. The father who has raised them while you were gone. Do I just lose all rights here?"

Lorelai: "Of course not! Don't even say stuff like that! Look, we really do need to sit down and talk all this out. Please let me come by again tomorrow, before the party. I'll bring Luke with me and we can all just try and talk this out together and figure something out."

Chris: "Be here at 3 pm. Don't be late. And don't you dare try and cancel. And, you are coming to the party with us. You owe your parents an explanation too. It was hard enough for them to keep tabs on you while you were in Boston. No more avoiding them. They only want the best for these kids and you are going to have to prove yourself not only to me, but to them as well."

Lorelai: "Can I just say happy birthday to Rory now, please? It is her birthday today and I would really like to try again."

Chris: (folding his arms across his chest): "If you promise to leave right after you attempt this. And, I am going up with you. Who knows how she will take this one." Rory is definitely a stubborn one when it comes to her feelings, just like her mom, thought Christopher.

Lorelai followed Chris upstairs and down the hall to Rory's bedroom with little Chris tailing behind, not wanting to lose sight of his mother.

Chris knocked on Rory's door.

Chris: "Ror? Can I come in please?"

Rory: "Go away!" Rory was sobbing into her pillow. All she had wanted this morning was to see her mom and now that she had she just wanted this whole day to go away. Anger filled her heart as resentment upon resentment came flooding to the surface.

Lorelai: "Rory, honey? Can I please talk with you?" Lorelai called through the door.

Rory: "I said, Go away! You aren't my mom anymore!" Rory screamed in anger. They couldn't possibly understand the horrific day she had just had at school and now she was being asked to forgive and forget by the mother who abandoned her and her little brother?

Previously in the day, at Rory's school, right after Paris almost knocked Rory down on their way into history class:

On a normal day, history was Rory's favorite subject. She loved studying about the American constitution and the founding of the U.S. government. She had decided that someday she would study the law and fight for the civil rights of all people, especially children. But this day was different. Rory walked into class feeling depressed and unwilling to participate. Even when directly asked a question that she knew the answer to, she wavered. Paris then swooped in with the same answer Rory knew to be correct. And of course, throughout the rest of the class Rory had to deal with Paris gloating about her perfect answer to the easiest question of the fifty minute class. Then, to make matters worse, innext period, her algebra test was passed back to her, graded, and she got a D. She had studied so hard, and to no avail. Some birthday this was turning out to be.

As Rory made her way to her usual lunch table, where her three closest friends ate together everyday, she felt like everyone was staring at her. When she got to her table, her friends all glanced up at her, then quickly down again. They wouldn't look her in the eyesfor the rest of the lunch period. As much as Rory tried to make conversation, they kept their eyes averted...toward the door or toward the much more seemingly interesting conversation of the upcoming formal dance coming up. When Rory finally stood upto leave, fed up with being ignored, she noticed that there was a huge spaghetti sauce stain on her perfect white sweater that her grandmother had given her last Christmas. It was her favorite sweater. No wonder everyone was staring. Rory whipped the sweater off and stuffed it in her bag to put in her locker later. She would have to deal with the cold wind whipping through her light cotton turtleneck shirt later that day. There was no way she could wear the sweater, maybe ever, again.Bsk

Back at the Hayden household that afternoon:

Lorelai (still at the door with Christopher standing right next to her): "Rory, please let me in. If you would just hear me out... I really want to be here for you on your birthday..."

And with that, Rory's door opened full force...

Rory: "Be here for me? Like you were here when I had chicken pox when I was seven? Or when Chris had to be taken to the hospital when he was 4? Did you know about any of that? Do you really care! No! I thought I missed you and wanted you back, but not anymore! I don't need you! Now, I had a horrible day, will you please just leave me alone!"

Christopher guided Lorelai away from Rory's door, as it slammed shut in her face. Lorelai looked like she was about to break down at any moment. It would be better for everyone if Lorelai just came back the next day. That way, Chris could talk to his daughter and calm her down and prepare her for the party the next night. He didn't care that it was supposed to be a surprise. Rory had had enough surprises for one day.

Thanks for all the reviews. I promise to keep updating. It may not be very fast, but I will keep this one going. And for anyone wondering about my other story of Rory getting that phone call from Paris, I promise that it will continue...I got so bogged down with other stuff and I hadn't really thought of an angle to go on yet...I am getting there though, I promise!