"Hey, it's time to get up." Joan whispered softly.

Lorelai groaned a little and slowly opened her eyes. "Do I have to go to school today?" she mumbled.

"Lorelai, missing school isn't the answer to anything." Joan replied as she pulled the covers off Lorelai's body. "You have to face your problems head on."

"Nice pep talk." Lorelai replied as she groggily rose from the bed. She immediately noticed that Joan was dressed in her business clothes. "Why are you all dressed up?"

"I have an interview this morning." Joan smiled.

"For a job?" Lorelai asked.

"Well, of course. What else?" Joan fastened her earrings.

"Where?"

"Just an office nearby." Joan replied. "They're looking for someone to take calls, file papers, you know the usual office stuff."

"How do you know anything about office stuff?" Lorelai stepped out of the bed.

"I don't really, but I'm sure I can catch on. The paper said no experience necessary."

Lorelai grumbled. "Why are you even worried about a job?"

"Sweetheart, I have to work. It took most of my savings to move into this apartment, and start our life together. Don't worry, I'll be working the same hours as you're at school, providing I get the job. There, I'm ready. How do I look?" Joan asked as she twirled around.

"You look… professional." Lorelai replied as she walked out of the bedroom.

"Hey…" Joan called. "You should wish me good luck!"

"Good luck!" Lorelai replied as she made her way to the bathroom.

Lorelai quickly hurried up the steps to the school. She was running late, and feared she was going to be tardy for class. As her room came into view, she heard the tardy bell ring and the classroom door slowly shut.

"Crap!" Lorelai replied. She let out a long aggravated sigh and opened the classroom door.

"Mrs. Gilmore, you're late." The teacher replied.

"I'm sorry Mr. Theo."

"I'm afraid sorry doesn't make things any better. You'll have to report to lunch detention."

Lorelai's eyes bulged. "Lunch detention?"

"Yes, that's what I said. Now take your seat."

"Mr. Theo, please, can I be excused this one time? I promise it will never happen again."

"Mrs. Gilmore, you're not an exception. Now, please, sit down."

Later that day, when lunch arrived, Lorelai had began to look at the brighter side of things. At least she wouldn't be around a lot of people, and she wouldn't have to worry about anyone asking her any ridiculous questions. As she walked into the detention hall room, she was surprised to see only one other person in the room.

"Hey." Chris smiled. "Didn't expect to see you in here."

"I was late for class." Lorelai replied as she took a seat.

"Oh, let me guess, Mr. Theo?"

"Yeah." Lorelai rolled her eyes.

"I figured. He's the only teacher that still gives d-hall for being late. Most of the other teachers around here are pretty cool about it."

"So, what did you do to deserve this?" Lorelai asked.

"More like what didn't I do." Chris retorted. "I'm always in here for something. This time, it was because of yesterday."

"Yesterday?"

Chris laughed. "Yeah, when I slammed Brad up against the wall. Apparently, he told the principal after school. That pansy." Chris leaned back in his chair. "Principal Abrams asked me this morning if I had been harassing any of the students. I knew he meant Brad, so I saved us both time and plead guilty."

"How noble."

"Well, I try." There was silence between them for few moments, then Chris decided to break it. "So, what's your story?"

"My story?" Lorelai repeated.

"Yeah, where you from? Why are you here? When are you planning your escape?"

"Hartford. Too complicated. And I'm not." Lorelai replied.

"Not much of a talker are yah?"

"Not lately." Lorelai answered honestly.

"It's cool. Seems like you've had a couple bad days this week."

"You don't know the half of it."

"You know, I'm from Hartford too." Chris replied. "I used to go to a private school. Maybe you've heard of it? It was called Bennington."

Lorelai was shocked. "You went to Bennington?"

"From 1st grade to 8th. I got kicked out last year." Chris replied with a smirk. "I toilet papered the headmaster's house."

"I went to Stratton Academy." Lorelai remarked.

"You're a private school girl?" Chris asked in complete surprise. "No way."

"Well, you don't exactly seem like someone who went to private school either." Lorelai countered. "Why did you come to Stars Hollow? Why didn't you just attend a public school in Hartford?"

"I'm staying with my aunt for now. She's actually pretty cool. She lets me do basically whatever I want, as long as I'm home by 11:00."

"11:00?" Lorelai was impressed. "Wow."

"What's your curfew?"

"I don't know." Lorelai let out a small laugh. "I don't think I have one."

"That's awesome." Chris nodded. "Hey, about yesterday, when I took up for you… I just want to make it clear that I wasn't trying to impress you, or get you to go out with me, or anything like that."

"I know." Lorelai brushed a piece of hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry for being so rude. I'm not always like that."

"I didn't think that you were." Chris stated. "I heard about what happened with Luke. It sucks that he tried to humiliate you like that. When I saw Brad doing the same thing, and when he called you a … well, you know… I just kind of lost my temper I suppose. One thing that I've always been taught is to honor the respect of a lady."

"Now I believe you went to a private school." Lorelai replied.

Principal Abrams walked into the d-hall room. "Alright, your detention time is over. You may go eat now."

Lorelai and Chris stood from their chairs. "I didn't know detention only lasted ten minutes. I thought I was going to get to avoid seeing everyone today… I guess not." Lorelai replied.

"Yeah, everyone sure has taken a notice to you."

"Tell me about it." Lorelai moaned.

"You could eat lunch with me if you want." Chris offered. "I usually eat outside. No one ever eats out there, so it's pretty secluded. You wouldn't have to see a lot of people."

Lorelai thought about it for a moment. "Sure, sounds better than sitting with the norms."

"Alright, let's go." Chris replied.

With ten minutes left of lunch, Chris and Lorelai sat down at one of the outside tables. Lorelai picked around at her food, while Chris began to shovel his into his mouth.

"Don't like spaghetti?" Chris asked between bites.

"Oh, so that's what this is."

"Aw, it's not that bad. Take a bite."

"I'll pass." Lorelai replied. She grabbed her dinner role and tore off a small piece.

"My mom's spaghetti is awesome." Chris replied. "I could eat a truck load of it."

"I bet it's not any better than my mom's." Lorelai replied as if it were a competition.

"Oh yeah?" Chris teased. "Well, I'll just have to try it sometime and compare the two. Which I'm sure there's no contest."

Lorelai's playful side was beginning to show. "Fine, come over tomorrow after school and see for yourself."

"Okay." Chris declared. "It's a date."

Lorelai's smile quickly faded as she heard the word date and realized what she had just set herself up for. Not only had she just invited a boy over to her house, but she had done it with out consulting Joan first, and furthermore if she remembered correctly, she had just called Joan her mom. Lorelai thought to herself. "Open mouth, insert foot."

A/N: Just wanted to say I know this was a boring chapter. I know a lot of you also are not Chris fans. I'm sorry that this was a Chris chapter. For those of you seeking more Joan and Lorelai interaction I promise it is coming! I am setting everything up. Please be patient and just keep reading. And don't worry, Chris is only a tool in my story, he won't be a major character much longer. Now then, send out those reviews so I can get motivated for another chapter.