"It's obvious that she hates us." Sheena said as she grabbed her book bag from her locker. "It's not fair."

"Sheena, my mom doesn't hate anyone." Rory replied becoming tired of the griping. "She's just upset over some things right now." Rory shut her locker and came face to face with a small blonde haired girl.

"You two are new." The small girl noted.

"Yes, we are." Rory replied.

The girl folded her arms. "My name is Paris Gellar. I run this place. I'm going to be valedictorian when I graduate."

Rory smiled. "Good."

"You're in my grade. Both of you are, which means neither of you will be valedictorian. I just thought I would spare you the let down." Paris ended.

"Excuse, me." Sheena said as she walked around to other side of Rory. "That is a very rude way to introduce yourself."

Paris smirked. "They were right about you. You do sound like that girl from American Pie. Quite the nice fake accent you have."

"It's not fake." Rory objected.

Tristan spotted the three girls standing in the hallway and couldn't resist walking over.

"Hello, ladies. How are you this afternoon."

"Hi Tristan." Paris gleamed.

Tristan winked at Paris and then caught a glance of Rory. "I'm Tristan." He introduced.

"Rory." She replied. "And this is Sheena."

Sheena began to blush, she immediately found Tristan attractive. "Hi." She said softly.

"Hey." Tristan brushed off. "I was just about to take off, want to walk together?"

Rory was taken aback by such a unpredicted suggestion. "I – uh… I don't walk home." She finally said.

"Do you drive?" Tristan asked.

"No… I … I … My mom… my mom is coming to pick me up." She stammered.

"They're not from here, Tristan." Paris intervened. "They're both from a hick town."

"We're from Stars Hollow." Sheena answered. "It's not a hick town."

"Well, I get my license in a couple of weeks." Tristan continued, his attention focused on Rory. "Maybe one day I can give you a ride home."

"Maybe." Rory said as she shook her head slowly. "Thanks."

"No problem." Tristan smiled as he took one last look at those precious blue eyes and then walked on down the highway.

"Since I'm giving you the ground rules of this place, I'll also inform you that Tristan is off limits." Paris glared. "He's going to ask me out soon, and I don't anyone trying to mess that up."

Rory and Sheena exchanged a glance. "Sure." Rory finally answered.

Paris shoved her way in between the girls and walked outside of the building.

"She's a lovely girl, don't you think?" Rory said sarcastically.

Rory and Sheena walked out into the parking lot. Sheena spotted Sheila waiting for her. Rory looked all over the parking lot but could not find Lorelai. Sheila walked over to the girls.

"How was your first day of school, my youth?" Sheila asked as she wrapped her arms around Sheena's neck.

"It was fine." Sheena replied steadily. "I am really going to love it here."

Rory stood still. She wasn't sure if she should talk to Sheila and risk her mother catching her, or if she should simply wait on a bench for her to arrive.

"Rory, dear, isn't your mother here?" Sheila asked.

"I guess not."

"Well, If only she would let me take you home." Sheila sighed heavily. "Until she's ready to face her evil spirits, she'll never overcome her anger."

"I know she hurt you today." Sheena added. "She hurt me too."

"Sheena, what have I always told you?" Sheila asked. "The devil will always try to destroy what is holy and good. He will always tempt those who obey God. I can handle the ridicule, it's nothing new, but it must be terribly hard for you, Rory."

Rory shook her head. "Yeah, I guess it is sometimes."

"If your mother had it her way, you wouldn't be in church. I bet she drinks doesn't she?" Sheila asked.

"Sometimes." Rory confessed.

"In front of you?"

"I've seen her do it a few times."

Sheila shook her head. "That is no way to raise a child. No way at all. Sheena's been there, haven't you Sheena? Poor thing didn't even know who God was. Her and her older sister used to pray to a small statue of the virgin Mary. They also prayed to a Buddhist statue. They never knew of Jesus Christ, but they knew they had to pray to someone."

Rory glanced over at Sheena. "I never knew you had a sister."

"Sheena doesn't like to talk about Shoney." Sheila replied. "There's a lot of bad memories. Ever since her mother passed away, Shoney just caused more problems."

Rory's eyes widened. "You're mom died?" Rory asked in shock. "Oh my gosh, Sheena, I had no idea."

Sheila quickly put her hand to her mouth. "Oh! Sheena hadn't told you? Well, I thought for sure you knew. You two are so close. I thought she would have already told you."

Sheena didn't say anything, instead she stood perfectly still staring down at the cool asphalt.

Rory spotted her mother pull into the parking lot. "There's my mom." Rory stated. "I'll call you later." She directed to Sheena. "Good bye."

"Bye, babe!" Sheila waved.

"Why did you say those things?" Sheena asked.

Sheila turned and smiled. "You shouldn't be ashamed. You're a Christian now."

Rory stepped into the jeep. She wasn't too sure what kind of a mood her mother was in. So she decided to let her begin any type of conversation.

"How did everything go today?" Lorelai asked as they pulled out of Chilton.

"Good." Rory replied. She thought back to Tristan. "They're nice there. Except for this one girl."

"There's always a one girl." Lorelai replied. "My one girl, was Nancy Albright." Lorelai shuddered. "Her name still gives me chills. She tried to break up Chris and me at least a dozen times."

"Paris seems very disturbed." Rory replied. "I bet she doesn't have many friends."

"That's probably why she's disturbed." Lorelai concluded. It felt good to just talk. This was the first conversation they had in days that didn't involve Sheila or Sheena.

Assuming that her mother's bad mood was erased, Rory felt comfortable enough to bring up what had happened earlier that morning.

"Sheena cried today." Rory began. "She thinks you hate her and Sheila."

Lorelai glanced over to the passenger seat. "Hate is a strong word." She replied.

"I told her you didn't hate anyone."

"I would go with despise." Lorelai added. "Or loathe."

Suddenly, the conversation was headed in a bad direction. "Mom, why would you say that? You don't understand them… you don't know what they've been through."

Lorelai placed one hand to hear forehead. "Why do you uphold them so much?"

"Because they are good people." Rory scoffed.

"Rory, going to church does not make you a good person." Lorelai corrected.

"And having premarital sex, drinking alcohol and not going to church does?"

Lorelai slammed on her breaks.