A/N: Thank you to my main readers: pixiechick12, orengesherbert7, primesetter31, bluedaisy05, izzpuppy. Thanks for all your reviews. In this coming chapter Audrey's world gets a little more shook up. Enjoy!
Chapter 40: Presenting Audrey Danes
It was a typical Friday night at the Gilmore Mansion. The Danes and Hanson clan joined Emily for the tradtional Friday Night dinner. Audrey Avery Danes ate her dinner of stuffed chicken, baked potato and asparagus in silence.
"Rory how is your new book coming along," Emily asked.
"Coming along just fine. I hope to have the next few chapters into my editor's hand next week," Rory answered.
"And how is Marty?"
"Daddy had to go back to Ohio," little Laura answered. "His new coaster Destroyer is almost finished.
Audrey listens politely as her family chatters. Things at school had not gotten any better. Her three week grounding was up and so was Andie's suspension. The private war between the two girls was growing more and more public. That day Audrey got to school and found her locker glued shut and "Pagent whore" scratched into it. Anymore her only outlet away from the abuse was the bus ride home. Even when she got home a nasty email would be waiting for her.
Even in the play things were hard. Tarah did her best to help keep Julia and the others who were still loyal to Andie in the play off Audrey's back as best as she could. Ryan would wait for her everyday after rehersal and walk her to the bus stop. He was being the best boyfriend Audrey could ever have hoped for.
"Audrey are you all right?" Emily asked, pulling Audrey from her thoughts. "You've hardly touched your dinner."
"Sorry Grandma. Everything is fine. I just have a lot on my mind," Audrey said taking a large bite from her dinner.
"Andie still giving you problems?" Lorelai asked.
"It's fine. How's things at the DAR, Grandma?"
"Babe Wellington's simpleton daughter has completely destroyed the annual debuatante ball. I have to go in tomorrow and fix everything from the location to the final dance song."
Rory and Lorelai exchange a sidelong look. They know all too well where Emily was headed with bringing up the ball.
"Warning! Warning!" Lorelai exclaimed.
Ignoring her daughter, Emily asked, "Audrey would you like to participate? It would mean so much to me."
"Danger Will Robinson! Danger!" Rory added.
"Honestly you two! Lorelai would it kill you to let one of your daughters to participate in an event with me without your negetive input?" Emily snapped.
The bad day that Audrey was having washed away after listening to Lorelai and Emily banter.
"No Mom it won't kill me. Besides Luke and I aren't a part of your high society world. Doesn't that make Audrey ineligible or something?"
"Not for Emily Gilmore."
"Oh well I tried have fun," Lorelai said sipping her wine.
Emily began to describe the ball and everything that goes along with it. Unlike Lorelai and Rory, Audrey finds the whole idea of the ball incredibly romantic and let's just say it, fun. On the drive home Lorelai attempted to de-brainwash Audrey, by giving all the horrid things about cotillion.
"Mom it's no different than all the crazy pageants I put myself through," Audrey argued. "It's not that big a deal for me but it is for Grandma and I think it would make her happy if I did it. You'll make my dress though right? I saw pictures of Rory in hers and it was ugly."
"We'll go to the fabric store tomorrow and pick out a pattern. And you Mr. Deb Dad," Lorelai teased Luke, playing with his hair.
"Lorelai, I'm driving," Luke said sternly.
"So?" Lorelai questioned. "I can't tease you anymore cause we've been married for 18 years?"
In a time when most people were married and divorced within months Audrey found it comforting to know that her parents were still together after 18 years. They would walk around town hand in hand, kiss in public, and play around, like the snowball fight they had a few weeks earlier.
Once arriving home, Audrey walked into the house and called out to her dog that she's had for nine years. The longest living Gilmore pet. Once she had the dog for five years Miss Patty gave Audrey a plaque. That plaque was now hung in her treehouse.
"Katie! Katie! My Katiekins!" Audrey called.
Audrey remebers to the second when she got Katie, her cocker spainel. She was five years old, asleep on the couch. Santa had come down the stairs draggig her new bike with him. Katie was in the basket. Santa placed Katie next to Audrey. Audrey later learned that it was her dad in the Santa suit but the magic was never removed from the moment.
The dog bounded into the living room. Aundrey knelt down and rubbed Kaite's big fluffy ears. It wasn't too late so Audrey decided to take Kaite for a walk around town.
Stars Hollow hadn't changed a bit since she was a child. A very old Taylor and Miss Patty still ran the town meetings, Babbette was still the gossip queen and Kirk...Well Kirk was still Kirk. Enough said. Audrey loved her town. Walking with Katie she passed the newly remodeled Independence Inn. It was her mother's dream to restore the inn to it's former glory. It took all of Lorelai's inheritance but Lorelai now owned two inns.
Watching out for the all seeing eyes of Taylor, Audrey let Katie off her leash. She couldn't understand why anyone would want to live anywhere else. She was like Luke in that way. While walking around town her cell phone rang. The ring was Selena's Dreaming of You. Only only person's number rang to that song. It was her Ryan.
"Audrey what are you doing tomorrow?" Ryan asked.
"Dress shopping with Mom," she replied. "Why?"
"Well James is having a kick ass, sorry, party tomorrow night," Ryan explained. "He got some band to play and from what he's said they're actually supposed to be rather decent."
"I don't know. Daddy's still a little mad about what happened last time. It could be a difficult sale," Audrey sighed. "Don't get me wrong, I want to see you tomorrow. But I don't want to upset the parents again."
"I understand, baby. It's not that big a deal. If you can't go to the party we can just hang out in the Hollow. How was rehersal?"
"Mr. Langford is hilarious. Did you know he once was on Broadway?" Audrey said, changing the subject.
"No I didn't know that. Audrey what aren't you telling me?"
"Julia said something to me at practice today," Audrey said quietly.
"What did she say?" Ryan pressed. "Audrey tell me."
"You know Ms. Geller is my sister Rory's best friend," Audrey said. "She asked me what it was like to not earn my role but have it given to me because of my sister."
"Why would your sister get you you're role in the play?" Ryan asked.
"Because Rory and Aunt Paris are best friends and Mr. Langford is terrified of Aunt Paris."
"I've seen you act Audrey," Ryan reassured. "You got that part on your own. Julia's just being a bitch. Sorry."
"I don't know what to do anymore. I can't go to Aunt Paris again 'cause it'll just increase the rumors."
"Audrey, none of this really matters. Andie's pissed because I chose you over her."
"Ryan, I hate this. I hate being a pawn."
"I know baby, I know. It's going to get better. I promise."
"Hey listen. Umm, I'm coming out," she said.
"Coming out? What are you talking about?"
"Ugly white dress, stupid fan, society."
"Oh that. My sister did that last year. Do you want me to be your escort?"
"Would you Ryan? If you don't want to I can just find someone else to do it. My friend Dave could do it. Maybe I could ask James?" she teased.
"When is it?"
"Two weeks from tomorrow. I don't know the location of it yet, but I have brunch with Grandma on Sunday so I'll let you know. I'll call you later about the party. Bye Ryan."
Audrey hung up her phone and back in her pocket. Calling Katie they walked back to the house. She walked into a war zone. Very, very rarely did Audrey ever witness her parents fight. Full out, 15 rounds, K.O fight. Their little banter was funny but this wasn't. Something was wrong. She hid behind the entry way so they couldn't see her.
"Luke it's time! She's coming out! I think it's time," she heard her mother argue. "She has the right to know."
"No. Lorelai, damn it. With everything that she's dealing with at school and with Andie, shaking up her world even more would not be the best idea," Luke shouted.
Audrey had never heard her father curse at her mother like that. In a way it scared her but in another it gave her that sense of reality that things in her house were not Brady Bunch but could be a little The Osbornes. She wonder what they were arguing about. It had to be about her. She did remember that it was getting closer to Novemeber 30th, the day Grandpa Will died. Luke always got in a mood when the end of November came around.
The next morning Lorelai and Audrey spent the entire morning at the fabric store. They poured over the pattern books trying to find the perfect dress. Audrey had seven different patterns picked out. She narrowed the list down to three. Finally after browsing through the Vouge patterns she finally found it.
"Here it is!" she excalimed.
The gown was strapless. It was form fitting all the way down but had a billowing out of fabric at the small of her back. The top of the gown had delicate beading along the bust line and down the back.
"What do you think Mom?" Audrey asked.
"It's nice but I think the beading may take a little TLC. I can do it."
"Mom, what were you and Daddy arguing about last night?"
"You heard that?" Lorelai cringed.
"Just a little bit. It sounded bad," Audrey said, quietly. "I have never seen Daddy so angry before."
"I wanted your dad to take you with him next weekend when he goes out fishing in Grandpa's boat and we got a little carried away. I'm sorry if we frightened you," Lorelai lied, covering. "You've never seen your dad get truly angry with Taylor yet. This one time when Rory and I got back from our backpacking trip Taylor had put in the picture window between the diner and the soda shop. Luke was so pissed."
"I am going to kill you!" Luke yelled.
"Oh please you are not," Taylor replied.
"I am too. I'm going to kill you. I should've killed you before. I should have killed you the minute you put up those unicorn topiaries in the park, but hey, hindsight right!"
"Rory and I munched on biscotti that we brought back from Milan watching Luke and Taylor argue. Then your dad yelled 'You put a giant window in my wall!' To which Taylor replied, 'So what?' Then Luke yelled, 'A giant window! Right here! You can see my entire diner. And when I'm in my diner I can see your whole stupid store!'"
As Lorelai told the story so well that Audrey could actually see it happening. Audrey's uneasiness about the other night lifted. Four hours later Lorelai and Audrey returned home with their fabric and supplies. They got right to work. Lorelai laid out the pattern peices on the fabric and she and Audrey began to cut them out. When the quietness of the room got to be too much for them Lorelai hit the CD player and blasted the best of U2. The house had a similar vibe of pervious years when it was just Lorelai and Rory.
Luke could hear the music before he even pulled into the driveway. Coming in the back door, he could hear the delightful laughter coming from the living room. He went to the fridge and pulled out a beer. Settling into a chair he took a sip. Katie had wandered into the kitchen to escape the noise of the living room. She looked up at Luke with her pretty brown eyes, eyes that darted from Luke to the beer in his hand.
"Forget it girl," Luke said. "I'm not sharing."
"Woof," answered Kaite, then she wandered into Audrey's room and laid down in her basket.
A little while later Audrey came in for coffee for Lorelai. "Daddy, may I go to a party with Ryan tonight?" she asked.
"Where at?" Luke asked.
"His best friend James's house. I think he lives in the same area that Grandma does," Audrey replied.
"Be safe, don't drink anything that hasn't been sealed and if by some remote chance you don't think you can make it home in time, please remember to call us. If it's possible just stay at Emily's."
"Thank you Daddy," Audrey said kissing his cheek.
As Audrey walked back into the living room with the cup of coffee in her hand in his mind's eye she transformed into the six year old girl chasing her puppy through the house. Now his Audrey was almost seventeen, dating a boy, and becoming a proper lady of society. As much as he loved getting to watch her grow up he still wanted his little girl to stay a little girl.
Around seven the doorbell rang. Ever since the incident a month ago Ryan became the epitome of chivalry. He came early, exchanged pleastries with Lorelai and would confirm plans with Luke.
"Good evening Mrs. Danes," Luke heard Ryan say.
"Ryan it is so nuce to see you," Lorelai said. "Would you like anything to drink? Audrey's going to be another minute or so."
"No thank you," Ryan answered politely.
He walked into living room and sat down on the couch. A few moments later Luke came down the stairs. Ryan stood quickly and stuck out his hand. The two shook hands soundly.
"Good evening sir," Ryan said.
"Stop calling me sir," Luke snipped. "I worked for a living. It's Mr. Danes to you."
Ryan nodded. He wished that Luke would like him or even tolerate him. "So have Audrey home by when?"
"Curfew is still midnight," Luke repiled. "If you don't think you'll make it, call."
"Yes Mr. Danes."
Audrey came into the living room wearing a dark green dress with a black sweater. She had her cruly brown hair piled up on top of her head. She replaced her glasses with her contacts. Ryan loved that Audrey could go with or without her glasses and still look great.
"Thank you for keeping Daddy company Ryan," she said quietly. "We're going to get going. I have my phone and my keys. We'll call if we decide to go somewhere else."
"Have fun, drive safe," Luke replied.
Audrey and Luke shared a hug and they wiggled their noses together, their special hello/goodbye/I love you thing. Luke watched from the window as Ryan helped his baby girl into the car. Lorelai joined him.
"Sometimes I wish she'd have just stayed a little girl," Luke sighed. "I wish she was still five hiding behind me on the first day of kindergarten."
"Luke you old softie!" Lorelai teased, playing with curls at his neck. "Have I told you that I love you today?"
"Yeah, you did. Just now."
The pair shared a tender kiss. Lorelai laid her head on his strong shoulderand he slipped his arm around her waist. Soon they had retreated to their room, to ignore the rest of the world. They were going to leave the TV off, unplug the phone and say a million I love yous.
When they pulled up to the Tyler mansion they fought to find a decent place to park the Cooper. They ended up in between a Hummer and a Escalade.
"There are a lot of people here," Audrey whispered nervously.
"Stick close to me, James and Hannah and you'll be fine," Ryan said, wrapping his arm around her waist, holding her close. Ryan Turner knew that the party scene really wasn't Audrey's idea of a good time, so he had promised her that if she got too uncomfortable they would leave.
Audrey took a soda from the bucket and sipped at it while Ryan joked with James and a few of his other friends. She recognized a few people from her classes and the plays. The rest were just faces. Until one crossed her glance.
"Well if it isn't her highness Miss Stars Hollow," Andie snipped her voice seething with disdain. "I didn't see a coach and four outside so I can only assume you came on the broom you hide so well."
"What do you want Andie?" Audrey asked, drawing courage from deep inside herself.
"I've been meaning to ask you in your professional opinion, would I stand a chance on the pageant circut?"
"I don't know what your talent would be? Perhaps Photoshopping or How to Give an Insult 101," Audrey said, in a true Lorelai comeback.
"Well at least I don't need my HALF-sister to get me a part in the school play," Andie retorted.
Audrey stood in silence. She wasn't as strong as her mother or sister to take on Andie Michaelson.
"It must be true, if you're not saying anything," Julia taunted. "We all know that you get special treatment from the teachers because of your sister's relationship with Ms. Geller."
"What did I ever do to you?" Audrey asked, tears brimming her eyes. "All I have ever been was nice to you. If all you want is Ryan back then you can have him!"
Audrey was off into the crowd of Chilton students. She vanished.
"Audrey wait!" Ryan called over the noice. "Andie you are such a bitch!"
Ryan pushed through the crowd looking for Audrey. Hiding in a room in a room was where Ryan found his Audrey. She was seated at the piano playing a mournful song. Tears were dripping down her cheeks. He hated seeing Audrey like this. Audrey was still a little girl at heart who wanted all the world to just get along. She was precious.
"Baby, come here," he whispered opening his arms.
Audrey got up from the piano and ran into his open arms. She cried into his chest. "I didn't mean it. How can she say those things? Do you know how hard a pageant is? My mother and I prepare months in advance. It's days of snotty pageant head girls and nervous mothers. All the money I have earned in them has gone into a savings account to be used for school. I have the Miss Connecticut pageant coming up in a month. I quit Little Leauge to go out for the Little Miss Connecticut pageant, which I won, three years in a row. Theatre, school, choir and pageants are all I do. What gives her the righ to chop me off at the knees? I hate this! I hate that Andie makes me feel like I'm only three inches high."
"Audrey take a breath," Ryan soothed.
"My parents have done nothing but support me and my sister our entire lives. My dad and I have the best father daughter relationship since Tony and Samantha on Who's the Boss?. I shouldn't have to stand there and let her say those things about me. I am not to be walked over."
"It'll be all right Audi. Do you want to go home? We could catch a movie or something in the Hollow if you want?"
"That would be nice," Audrey said, wiping her eyes. "I think The Way We Were is playing at the BWR theatre."
"Let's go."
Ryan led Audrey out of the room. She held her head high as they walked past Andie. As they walked past Andie she stuck her foot out in a vain attempt to humiliate Audrey. Audrey caught herself and turned to face Andie.
"That's it! The gloves come off now," Audrey snapped. "What the hell is wrong with you?What'd I ever do to you? Don't even give me that bull that 'This is all to get Ryan back' because I know it's not. Come on Andie give a real reason why you have to be such a bitch!"
"Audrey come on. It's not worth it," Ryan said, pulling on her arm.
"Andie you are a bitch. I have been nothing but nice to you since I started at this school. I'm tired of playing your stupid game. Just leave me the hell alone!"
Ryan had never heard Audrey swear before. It was so out of character for her. But she wasn't done. Audrey still had more to say.
"You want to know the real difference between us?" Audrey snapped.
"What? That you're the perfect little angel, the pride and joy of a stupid town and I'm some rich, snotty uber devil bitch?" Andie snapped back.
"I have class and you don't. I'm polite. If I have something to say to someone or have a problem with them I go to their face. I don't make idle threats and create fliers to humiliate them. I will be remembered in the yearbook as a kind person where as you Andrea Michaelson, you will always be a jerk! Leave me alone!"
Audrey spun on her heel and made her way through the crowd to the door. Ryan was on her heels.
"Audrey slow down!" he called. "Hold on, baby."
Audrey got outside the door and leaned against the doorframe. She had stood up for herself. Her father would be proud of her. Ryan came out and pulled her to him. He lifted her chin and they stared into another's eyes.
"You were so great in there," Ryan whispered. "I am so proud of you, little one."
"I don't want to be here anymore. I want to go home. If we hurry we can make the movie at the BWR theater."
They found their way back to Ryan's Cooper and drove back to the Hollow. Ryan pulled up in front of the diner. The little bell above the door announced their arrival. Jess came out of the kitchen. He got to see first hand the boy that was dating his cousin.
"Hey Jess! Two burgers, extra large plate of fries and two strawberry chocolates shakes," Audrey said. "Daddy's not here tonight?"
"Nope. He and Lorelai went to Sniffy's for dinner or that's what I was told."
"What does your dad being here have to do with anything?" Ryan asked.
"Audrey's not supposed to have this kind of food. It's an ongoing battle between Luke and Lorelai," Jess explained. "If he was here Audrey's burger would become a veggie burger and her fries replaced with raw veggies of some kind."
"Since he's not here bring on the coffee!" Audrey exclaimed.
"If I go down for this I'm dragging you all the way with me, dear sweet cousin of mine," Jess mocked as he went back to the kitchen.
"So what's there to do in Stars Hollow at eight-thirty on a Saturday night?" Ryan asked.
"Not much," Jess called from the kitchen.
"Quiet you!" Audrey replied. "The BWR is still open and the arcade. Or we could go raid Mom's movie stash and watch something at home."
"You should have stayed in Hartford."
"Oh cousin my cousin, if you hate it in Stars Hollow so much why on earth did you move here?"
"The Hollow is cheaper than the city and Annie didn't want the kids to end up like me. Plus Annie likes it here."
"Whatever Jess. You know you love living here."
Ryan watched as Audrey interacted with her cousin. Their banter was so friendly and relaxed. She was happier. He could see how much her family meant to her and how much she loved being around them.
After their burgers they walked over to the house to retrive Katie. Along their walk they ran into Miss Patty and Babbette. They had only heard rumors that little Audrey Danes had a boyfriend but they had never actually seen him.
"Audrey sugar? Who is this delightful boy?" Babbette asked.
"This is my- my special friend from school, Ryan Turner. Ryan this is Babbette and Miss Patty. Mom and Rory have lived next door to Babbette and Morey for years. Miss Patty is my dance teacher."
"It's nice to meet you ladies," Ryan said, turning on his charm. "How long have you known Audrey?"
"Since the day she was born," Miss Patty replied. "She was so tiny. She still is but we all love her dearly."
"Ok thank you Miss Patty," Audrey said clearly blushing. "We have to be going now."
Audrey pulls Ryan away and calls to Katie. She pointed out her other favorite places in town. Kim's Antiques, Lane's Music and her sister's house. They walked past an outcropping of bushes and Audrey pulled him into them. Audrey reached into an old stump and pulled out a pair of flashlights.
"Audrey where are we going?" Ryan asked, turning on the flashlight.
"You'll see. Come on."
Audrey took Ryan's hand and led him to a clearing by the lake. A lone oak tree stood by the waters edge. In the dark all Ryan could see was a dark mass in the tree and a rope swing.
"What is this place?" he asked.
"Raudrey's Place," Audrey answered. "Once when my sister was ten, she and Mom got into this big fight. Rory decided that she was going to go live in a tree house. She went to see Daddy and told him her plans. He informed her that no one in Stars Hollow had a tree house for her to move into. She then asked him if he would build her a tree house. He said he's work on it. Well, on the day that she graduated from Yale Daddy gave hera map that led her here. When I got bigger she brought me here and we named it Raudrey's Place."
"Wow. This is amazing," Ryan said shining the light into the tree.
The tree house had grown from a simple room in a tree to a safe haven for Audrey. The rope ladder was replaced with removable stairs when Audrey got Katie. A second floor to the place was added when Audrey won Little Miss Connecticut for the third year in a row.
"Would you like to come up?" Audrey asked as she climbed the stairs with Katie following her.
"Am I allowed or is this a 'No-Boys-Allowed' location?" Ryan teased.
"Will you just get up here!"
After Ryan got up the stairs Audrey pulled them up and turned on a lantern. The entire house lit up. A cooler sat in one corner with a cupboard above it. A table and chairs sat in the middle of the room and in another corner was Katie's part of the house. It was decorated with all kinds of cocker spainel memorbilia. A basket sat on the floor with the dog's name stitched into it. Another ladder led up to the loft. The only thing up there was a queen size bed for camp-outs of course.
"What's up there?" Ryan asked pointing to the loft.
"My, uh, my room."
"My guess is that Luke would not approve of us being up there," Ryan said, jokingly.
"What do we have for him Johnny?" Audrey teased. "Would you like to play a game?"
Audrey opened a cabnit to reveal hundreds of board games.
"Oh my God! How many versions of Monopoly does a person need? I haven't played Clue in years."
"Clue it is then," Audrey said pulling out the game.
Two hours and five to three in Audrey's favor, Ryan called it a night and accepted defeat. He helped Audrey clean up the empty soda cans and empty boxes of Wheat Thins and cream cheese. Audrey lowered the stairs and killed the light. They walked back into town and retrived Ryan's car from in front of the diner. They got in and drove back to Audrey's house.
"Did I mention how proud of you I am?" Ryan asked, turning to face her.
"Yeah you did," Audrey replied blushing softly.
"Come here."
She turned to him, looking into his chocolate brown eyes. Her shyness caused her to look down. He lifted her chin and kissed her softly. When he pulled away Audrey was in a daze.
"Audrey? Are you in there?" Ryan whispered.
"Yeah."
"Well I think I'm making progress. We still have fifteen minutes."
Audrey laughed, smiling. "I had a really nice time tonight, Ryan. Playing Clue was a lot better than some stuffy party."
"I still maintain that you were cheating."
Ryan got out of his and opened Audrey's door for her. Katie jumped out of the car and went into the house via her doggy door. Audrey noticed the curtain move slightly.
"I have brunch with my grandmother tomorrow and all her DAR friends. I'll find out more about the ball," Audrey said. "I'll see you on Monday."
She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed Ryan on the cheek. "Good night Ryan."
"Good night Audrey."
Audrey opened the door and walked into the entry way to hang up her coat and scarf. Walking more into the house she was met by her father. He had seen the kissin the car.
"Hi Daddy," she said softly. "We're early."
"I see that. How was the party?"
"Absoultly horrid. Got into a fight with Andie and we left. We ended up having a late dinner at the diner, then we walked around town and played Clue at the tree house."
"A fight with Andie? What happened?" Luke asked, concerned.
"She came up to me and started in on the pageants and played the 'Your sister got you your part in the play' nonsense. I don't know what to do anymore. Maybe going to Chilton was a mistake. I used to be happier. I dread getting up in the morning because I know I have to go to that place. Daddy, I don't want to go to Chilton anymore."
Audrey began to cry the tears she had been holding in all night. She ran into her father's arms and cried into his shoulder. Luke held his little girl to him rubbing her back and comforting her like he had done for her mother so many times.
"What about the play? You've worked so hard. Do you really want to quit that?"
"I don't know. I just don't know anymore."
"We'll talk about it later," Luke said. "Get some sleep. You'll feel better in the morning."
Audrey went into her room and closed her door. He heard her cry. "What am I going to do?" he wondered.
He trudged up the stairs and into the room where his wife of 18 years lay sleeping. He knew better than to wake her up. He crawled into next to her. He began to process Audrey's request.
Could he let her drop out of Chilton? If she wasn't happy then he could. They'd have to talk about it later. He wanted his daughter to have every opportunity in the world. He believed that the education she would get at Chilton would get her where she wanted to go.
Whenever his daughter was hurting or sad his thoughts turned to Chip. His guilt, that he still felt sixteen years later, would drive him crazy at times. He wished that Chip was still here to protect his sister from these mean girls.
But she had a boy to protect her from the mean girls. He drove a Mini Cooper and had kissed her. Ryan Turner seemed like a good kid. He wasn't a punk like Jess or overly jealous like Dean. Maybe this Ryan could be Audrey's safe haven at school.
It was Deb Day. Lorelai and Audrey spent the morning at the salon getting their hair done. Which left Luke at home, alone to fight with the TUX. He was so nervous. He knew he would have to get used to presenting Audrey. In the larger pageants like the Miss Connecticut and the Miss America the contestents are escroted onto the stage by their fathers during the formal wear.
He was so nervous about what could go wrong during the whole thing. He could trip which could cause Audrey to trip. He had sto shut his mind off because there was too much for him to be worried about.
Audrey and Lorelai returned home looking absoultly beautiful. Audrey had her long hair pulled up in a French twist and let the rest of her curls hang down to the base of her neck. Tiny butterfly pins were intertwined in her hair adding glitter. Lorelai looked equally beautiful in her gown. She walked over to Luke to adjust his crooked tie.
"When is Ryan getting here?" Luke asked.
"Three," Audrey answered as she went into her bedroom to retrive her gown.
Meep-meep! came a horn from outside. Everyone in the Danes house found that strange because Ryan never honked. Lorelai pulled back the curtain and gasped.
"Oh my God! Audrey!"
"What Mom?"
"Come here please," Lorelai said waving her arm.
"What?" Audrey asked, lying her gown over the back of the couch.
"Look."
Audrey pulled aside the curtain. Sitting there in the driveway was a long white limo. Standing next to the limo was Ryan holding a bunch of pink and white roses.
"Great balls of fire!" Audrey exclaimed. She ran outside and flew into Ryan's arms. "What is all this?"
"I thought we could arrive in style," Ryan answered. "Why is it too much?"
"No it's fine. I love it."
The Danes and Ryan arrived at the Windsor Club. Audrey checked in and went up into the salon to get dressed. Checking her makeup she noticed a few girls from Chilton. The scene in the salon reminded Audrey of backstage of a pageant. Mothers acting crazy, girls sneaking booze and dads yawning, trying to hide their boredom.
"Remember girls, everyone has to be beautiful and ready to go by six thirty," a woman from the DAR announced.
Panic spread like a wildfire through the room. Audrey just laughed to herslef and curled up in a chair with her book. She was reading Me and My Shadows by Lorna Luft, Judy Garland's second child. She quickly lost herself in the early days of Hollywood.
"Oh my God! You're like a pop-up book from hell," snapped a voice pulling Audrey from her book.
Audrey looked up and saw Andie Micahelson staring at her. "What are you doing here?"
"My grandmother is the president of this chapter of the DAR. I have every right to be here, same as you."
Downstairs Luke and Lorelai were stationed at the bar. Luke had barely sipped his beer before the call came for all fathers to report to the debutante staging area.
"Hye Luke?"
"Yes Lorelai?"
"Remind Audrey about sliding down the banister," Lorelai said, gesturing on her arm.
He just shook his head and disappeared up the stairs. Lorelai went over to her table and was joined by Emily. The two women sat quietly for a moment.
"I caught a glimpse of Audrey eariler," Emily said. "She looked beautiful. You and Luke did a wonderful job."
"Thank you Mom."
"Richard loved that little girl, Lorelai. He would have loved to have seen her presented. Are you and Luke any closer to telling her about Christian?"
"No Mom," Lorelai answered shortly, leaveing no room for discussion. "It's starting."
A few minutes later Luke and Audey appeared at the top of the stairs. Ryan was waiting patiently at the bottom.
"Audrey Avery Danes. Daughter of Lucas William Danes and Lorelai Gilmore-Danes," the announcer said.
Audrey smiled and walked proudly. Luke was grinning. They got to the bottom and Audrey curtsied, Luke kissed her hand and Ryan took her arm and led her to the dance floor.
The rest of the evening went by quickly. Audrey danced with Ryan, Ryan danced with Lorelai, Lorelai danced with Luke and Luke danced with Audrey.
"So what can we add to the tree house now?" Luke teased.
"Daddy!" Audrey exclaimed. "The tree house is finished. You can't add anything else to it."
"So electricity and running water?"
"Laura, Matty and Riley are going to have the best tree house on the planet."
Audrey and Ryan had been able to successfully avoid Andie for most of the night. Finally Andie foud her opportunity. Audrey had been drug away by her grandmother to meet some bitter old bitty, leaving Ryan behind. Andie swooped in on Ryan and pulled him out onto the dance floor. Ryan looked for a reason any reason to get away from Andie. Andie put her hands on his cheeks and pulled Ryan's face closer to hers.
"Andie what are you doing?" he asked pushing her hands away.
"Something that goody goody won't do," Andie said pulling Ryan into a searing kiss, which Audrey saw.
Not only did Audrey see it but so did Luke, Lorelai and Emily. Audrey's eyes filled with tears and she rushed out of the room. Ryan saw her leave and ran after her. He was stopped by a very pissed off Luke.
"Mr. Danes, please. I have to talk to Audrey," Ryan said, rushed. "I have to explain."
"She's going to want to kill you. Hell I want to kill you," Luke growled in his low, scary voice. "You better get to explaining."
"It's not what it looked like," Ryan said. "Andie pulled me onto the dance floor. She kissed me. You have to believe me. I would never hurt Audrey like that."
"Strike two, bases loaded. You only have one shot. Don't blow it," Luke said stepping aside.
Ryan ran down the hall and found Audrey crying into her mother's shoulder. He had never felt so bad in his life. He, like Luke, hated to see Audrey cry. This time however he was the one to casue those tears. He approched the two women carefully. He took a deep breath and called to her softly.
"Audrey? Audrey I am so sorry. I didn't mean for that to happen. I had no idea that Andie was going to be here tonight."
"You kissed her Ryan! Right in the middle of the dance floor!" Audrey screamed. "Why? Why would you do that? Actually I don't want to know why. I know it's because I won't do the things that she will. I don't want to see you anymore."
"Audrey no. Andie kissed me. She's trying to break us up. If we do, she wins."
"No Ryan. It's over. I'm leaving Chilton. I don't want you to call me anymore. We're over."
Lorelai put her arm around her devestated daughter and they walked away leaving Ryan Turner defeated.
A/N: There you go. Presenting Audrey Danes is finished. Next on Collide: Audrey participates in the Miss Connecticut pageant. She foes back to Stars Hollow High and Ryan goes to great lengths to get back with Audrey.