The Hartford Elite

by Asma20

Chloe Hayden and Rory Gilmore have always been close since they were little and are cousins. Chloe is older by a year and has come back to Yale after a yearlong break with some news. How will Rory react to the girl she thought of as a big sister marrying someone from society. How will she feel once she finds out that Chloe has kept more than her relationship with Logan a secret. S5

11. The Party's Over Part 1

Chapter 11 – Emily Finds Out

/ The Hayden's are having breakfast at their house. Chloe: So how has your week been?

Elizabeth: Same old, same old.

Michael: Business is going well.

Elizabeth: Before, I forget I have to tell you something?

Chloe: What is it, Mom?

Elizabeth: Emily, called yesterday requesting you join her for dinner at the Gilmore's tonight. So, are you free? I told her that, she would expect to see you there.

Chloe: Mom, seriously, you could have at least told me before you said, I would be there.

Elizabeth: Well, you never come home at all. So, when was I supposed to let you know?

Chloe: You could have phoned.

Michael: Phones are so impersonal, dealing with family face to face is so much better. Chloe glares over her toast. Michael sheepishly grins.

Elizabeth: I'm sorry, dear; I just assumed you would want to spend some time with your godparents. I will ask you next time dear.

Chloe: I do and it's okay, but ask me or let me know two days in advance.

Michael: Right that's settled.

Elizabeth: So, where's Logan this morning? He's normally with you when you come to visit us.

Chloe: He had a meeting with his father this morning, so that's why he couldn't come.

They continue to chat and eat and they all leave for work, school and shopping.

/ Elder Gilmore Pool House, at the terrace. Lorelai: I smell meat, is that meat? Chloe comes running towards them.

Chloe: Sorry, I'm late. Fashion emergency. Chloe sits down opposite Lorelai. Sees the food. Ooh meat.

Valet: Why, yes, miss, it is meat. He looks at both Lorelai and Chloe when he says this.

Lorelai: Oh, he called me miss. There's meat and a miss, I'm happy. Chlo, honey, what was the fashion emergency?

Chloe: Oh, that, my heel broke, so I needed to change my shoes.

Rory: So, what's the occasion?

Richard: Well, I thought we might like some appetizers with our cocktails tonight.

Chloe: Ooh food!

Lorelai: Would we ever?

Valet: The first batch is ready, sir.

Richard: Wonderful, on the table please.

Lorelai: Mm, God it smells good.

Chloe: It really does.

Rory: I love a good steak on a stick.

Richard: Me, too.

Rory: We should form a club.

Chloe: What should we call it?

Lorelai: Steak on a stick club.

Richard: We could have t-shirts made up.

Rory: Grandpa, I've never seen you wear a t-shirt. Rory looks to Chloe for confirmation.

Chloe: Me neither.

Richard: Well, I've just never found a proper occasion.

Lorelai: Hmm, to the proper occasion. They toast.

Richard: I'll drink to that.

Chloe: Uh oh.

Emily comes storming in. Emily: I knew I smelled something, you're barbecuing!

Richard: So what?

Emily: So what? The agreement was the girls have drinks with you and dinners with me!

Richard: We are having drinks. Drinks and appetizers.

Emily: Those are not appetizers. Those are skewers.

Chloe: There are not that big.

Lorelai: Little skewers.

Rory nods along. Rory: Little tiny skewers.

Emily: This is not tiny. She rips a skewer from Lorelai's hand as she's about to bite.

Lorelai: Mom, that's mine!

Emily: This is main course and a cheap way of cheating me out of my dinner.

Richard: You are the most paranoid woman I've ever met.

Emily: I highly doubt that.

Richard: You were the one who designated the drinks portion of the evening to me.

Emily: You love drinks.

Richard: Drinks last one hour at most. Then you get the dinner portion, which can last several hours. Especially the way you structure things. You get more time. I should at least be able to serve appetizers with my drinks.

Emily: Fine. I'll leave. Have your drink and your appetizers. She points at Lorelai, Chloe and Rory. You three, better be hungry when you get inside, or else!

Lorelai: Or else! Lorelai whispers, mimicking Emily.

Rory: Sounds serious.

Chloe: Are you not scared? Rory shakes her head.

Lorelai: So, one more?

Rory: Well, two more at the most. Chloe, how many?

Chloe: Two more, I'm starving.

Lorelai: Yeah, cause she was really mad.

Rory: Mm-hmm.

Chloe: If we get into trouble with Aunt Emily, I'm throwing you under the bus, Aunt Lo. Lorelai makes a face.

/ Elder Gilmore House, the dining room. Awkward silence. Emily: Something wrong? And where's Christopher?

Lorelai: No, why, why? He's sick, he sends his regrets.

Emily: You're not eating. Well, okay, tell him to feel better.

Lorelai: No, I am eating.

Emily: You've taken two bites.

Lorelai: Two really big bites.

Emily: Rory's taken none.

Rory: I did, you just missed it.

Emily: Chloe's been moving her food around trying to make it look like she's eating. Even, she's not eating.

Chloe: I am, it's just the vegetables are hard to swallow.

Emily: You're full.

Lorelai: No!

Chloe: I had a big lunch.

Emily: He can't stick to a simple agreement! He makes deals all the time in business, but "drinks there, dinner here", somehow that's too difficult for him to manage.

Rory: He was just…

Chloe: He didn't mean to…

Emily: He was trying to upstage me. He was trying to make his part of the evening the "fun" part. A spoiled four-year old. I should take his dump truck away and send him to bed without supper. Or, as he calls it, appetizers.

Lorelai: Mom, seriously, we are starving. Look. Mmm, wow. To Rory. Eat some carrots, eat some carrots. To Chloe have some chicken if can't eat the vegetables.

Rory looks weakly at Emily. Rory: Carrots. Delicious.

Chloe: Yummy chicken. Chloe mouths to Lorelai, I feel sick. Lorelai gives her an apologetic look.

Emily: Well, if you all are that hungry, you must want more. Olga! Good timing! The girls are famished. Load "em up. Olga serves up more food. A cell phone rings.

Emily looks scolding at Lorelai: Emily: Lorelai!

Lorelai: What? It's not me!

Emily: Chloe!

Chloe: Not me either.

Rory: It's me, Grandma. I'm sorry. She checks the caller id. I have to take this. Promise I'll be quick. She gets up to leave. Hello? No, now's fine.

Emily: Who's she talking to?

Lorelai: How should I know? Emily turns her attention to Chloe.

Emily: Chloe, do you know who she is talking to now?

Chloe: I can honestly say I don't know who she is taking to right now. Lorelai smiles approvingly. Emily sees this.

Emily: I don't know what you're smiling about; you're the one who taught her to leave her cell phone on at the dinner table. She looks to Chloe. How can you not know, who's she talking to, you live in the same place!

Lorelai: Mom, Yale is a big campus , they won't see each other all the time. The cell phone thing, that's for safety. Mom. In case someone forces her to eat five chickens and she has to call 911 and Chloe has her own life and wedding to get prepared for.

Emily: She's talking to a boy, isn't she?

Lorelai: I don't know. Chloe shrugs.

Emily: She certainly sounds like she's talking to a boy. Does she have a new boyfriend?

Lorelai: Mom!

Emily: Did she finally meet someone at Yale?

Chloe: No she didn't.

Lorelai: I don't know.

Emily: Oh, of course you know! And so should you Chloe Elizabeth!

Lorelai: Because I'm the one who taught her to leave her cell phone on at the dinner table? Chloe doesn't know what to say.

Rory comes back in. Rory: Sorry, Grandma. That won't happen again.

Emily: That's all right. So, who were you talking to?

Rory: Dean, you remember Dean? Chloe groans.

Emily: The boy who made you the car?

Rory: Yep.

Emily: I didn't know you were still seeing him.

Rory: Umm, well, we got back together recently.

Emily: Really? Well, that's a surprise, isn't it, Lorelai? Chloe?

Lorelai: I know. I'm floored.

Chloe: You could knock me over with a feather.

Rory: He's been working crazy shifts lately and I've had so much school work that we keep missing each other, so I told him to call me tonight.

Emily: Well thank you for telling me. I'm just glad I got to hear it from you and didn't have to pick it up on the street somewhere.

Lorelai: "Cause you hang out on the street so often, Mom, you and Melrose Larry Green. Chloe smothers her laughter.

Emily glares at Lorelai, then turns to Rory. Emily: So, are you happy with this Dean?

Rory: Yes I am.

Emily: Well, good. Now eat up, we have the fish course coming.

Lorelai: Fish course?

Emily: Yes, Olga makes a mean pickled herring.

Lorelai: Oh. Well. What a delightful skill.

/ Elder Gilmore house, Outside. Rory, Lorelai and Chloe are walking sluggishly out of the house. Rory: Grandma's mean.

Chloe: I feel sick.

Lorelai: If it flew, swam or crawled on this earth we just ate it.

Rory: I can't breathe. Lorelai pinches her. Ow! What was that for?

Lorelai: "Cause you told my mother about Dean.

Chloe: Why did you?

Rory rubs her arm. Rory: What do you mean?

Lorelai: Well, I was totally covering for you with the phone call, and then you waltz back in and just tell her.

Rory: My arm is swelling up!

Lorelai: You were totally off the hook; I was very skilfully covering for you. Well, not skilfully, but there was a certain aplomb to my evasiveness and you, Chloe what was up with you?

Chloe: She asked questions and I answered them, it's not my fault she didn't ask the right questions.

Lorelai: You're sneaky. Chloe smirks.

Rory: I'm not going to lie to Grandma about Dean. Why should I?

Lorelai: Because she's her.

Rory: Mom, I am with Dean. She's already met him; Grandpa's already met him, what is the problem? besides this permanent welt on my arm? Chloe shakes her head.

Lorelai: All right, fine. Lorelai sighs. You know, I'm actually hungry.

/ Emily goes to Richard demands to talk to him. She lets herself in uninvited. Luke and Liz are bantering. Lorelai visits Luke's and greets Liz and finds out that she and TJ are thinking of moving to Stars Hollow. Luke objects to this. Liz leaves and Kyon enters and asks for food from Lane and Lane provides the food to her. Kyon objects to French fries and so Lane tempts her and Kyon eats the food.

/ Chloe is at her dorm, studying. Her phone rings and she sees her caller ID. It's says Mom and answers. Chloe: Hey, Mom, what's up?

Elizabeth: Everything's fine, dear. How about you?

Chloe: I'm fine too. Not, that I'm complaining, it's just that we saw each other three days ago and I'm wondering the reason for this call.

Elizabeth: Okay, fine. You caught me. Next Friday, Emily is having a Yale Alumni Party and that means you don't have the Friday night dinners you have with the Gilmores.

Chloe: So, I'm free Friday.

Elizabeth: So about that…

Chloe: What do you mean?

Elizabeth: We have been invited to the Yale Alumni party.

Chloe: What do you mean by "we"? We, just you and Dad or including me as well.

Elizabeth: Including you. She thinks you are a good influence on Rory and I'm telling you to please come to the party as it's important to me. Bring Logan along as well.

Chloe: What time do you want us there for? Is Rory going to be there? Who else is invited?

Elizabeth: Slow down; honey one question at a time. 8pm, yes she is and the usual people that we see at parties are going to be there.

Chloe: Rory is going to be there, that's cool. That also means Steph and the guys will be there as well.

Elizabeth: Yes that's right. Also, the wedding planner called this morning, wanting your guest list.

Chloe: Well, how about you and Dad come up with a list of who you want there and give it to me and I'll add the people I want to come.

Elizabeth: Your father and I can give the list at breakfast on Thursday. So get your list done by Monday because we have to go through the invitation designs, table settings and all the other little things for the wedding on Monday afternoon with Shira.

Chloe: I will put it in my diary.

Elizabeth: I just remembered, Lacy asked if you could get Logan's guest list from him ASAP. She has him looking at bands on Monday with the boys. Lacy wants videos and a choice from the both of you of the end of next week.

Chloe: Okay, I'll tell him.

Chloe: Listen, Mom I got to go. I've got to study. I'll call you later.

Elizabeth: That's fine dear; I'll see you, Friday night. Sweetie. Bye.

Chloe: Bye, Mom. Chloe hangs up.

/ Meanwhile, Yale cafeteria. Paris and Rory and having lunch and talking. Rory: So now I've got three days to do this comparative religion paper, and the teaching fellow that runs our group spends all his time explaining to us how much he disagrees with the professor, and what are you looking at?

Paris: That guy over there staring at me.

Rory: Which guy?

Paris: The one in the Santa Claus red sweater.

Rory: Professor Prady?

Paris: Shh! He'll hear you.

Rory: You think Professor Prady is looking at you?

Paris: He is more than looking at me. God, this is so annoying. Ever since word leaked out about me and Asher, every faculty member over fifty thinks I'm easy.

Rory: Paris, I don't think Prady's hitting on you.

Paris: You are so naïve. He's practically licking his lips. You sleep with one old guy, and suddenly you're Catherine Zeta Jones. Rory's phone rings.

Rory: Hello?

Emily: Rory, it's your grandmother.

Rory: Oh, hey, Grandma.

Emily: Your grandfather is here also, Rory.

Richard: Hello, Rory, How are you?

Rory: Fine, Grandpa, and you.

Richard: We're wonderful, thank you for asking.

Emily: Rory, we're sorry to bother you at school, but next Friday your grandfather and I agreed to host a little Yale alumni event at our house.

Richard: It completely slipped our minds the other night.

Emily: So we'll have to cancel our usual Friday night dinner.

Rory: Oh, that's okay.

Emily: However, we were wondering if maybe you would like to come.

Rory: Me?

Richard: The alumni always like to meet the next generation of Elias, and plus, we'd love be able to show you off to all of our friends, wouldn't we, Emily?

Emily: Yes we would and they would love to see you as well.

Richard: You might even make a few connections that could come in handy somewhere down the road.

Emily: Please come! We'd hate to miss our weekly Rory fix. And I promise you, there won't be any chicken.

Richard: Or steak on a stick. They laugh, the whole conversation sounds very rehearsed.

Rory: Well, sure. I'd love to come.

Richard: Wonderful. Your grandmother and I are thrilled.

Rory: Is it fancy? What should I wear?

Emily: Oh, just pick out a pretty little dress.

Richard: And bring that face.

Rory: Well, the face comes with the package.

Emily: Oh, and I know you usually come at seven, but could you make it at six instead?

Rory: Six is fine.

Richard: We'll see you Friday.

Rory: See you Friday. She hangs up.

Paris: What's going on Friday?

Rory: My grandparents are having a party.

Paris: Damn it. She gets up. Dean Treadwell just came in. He's been throwing sex daggers out his eyes at me all week. She picks up her plate and leaves. Rory turns around and sees a feeble looking man with a cane entering it.

Lane is giving Kyon food. Zach bursts in and says to Lane that they have passes to see Troy's band. Lane hugs him and he says that they only have to bring in the equipment. Liz and TJ tell everyone that they are in escrow and have bought a house. TJ is excited about this and high fives people in the diner. He offers coffee on the house and asks Luke to pay for this.

/ Logan and Chloe are having lunch with Steph and the guys. Chloe: So my mom called this morning….

Finn: So, how is the sexy, Elizabeth?

Chloe: Finn, Can you not talk about my mother in that way when I'm around.

Finn: So, when can I do it?

Chloe: Behind my back, when I'm not in your presence.

Finn: Okay, love.

Chloe: How was your meeting with your father?

Logan: So what did your mother want? You first!

Chloe: She wants me to attend this Yale alumni event that the Gilmore's are holding. So, you all will be getting calls from your family to attend. She also reminded me to let you guys know about the meeting with the prospective bands for our wedding on Monday.

Logan: I know I got a reminder on my phone. It went better than how I thought it would go. I tolerated him for the length of breakfast and got through it fine. I'll tell you all the details later, babe. I just don't want to talk about it now. You okay with that?

Chloe: Sure, I am fine with that. I'll listen when you're ready to talk.

Logan: Thank you.

Chloe: No problem.

Finn sensing the awkward atmosphere. Finn: Don't worry, Little One, I'll make sure he gets there on time and picks decent music.

Logan: Finn, I know decent music when I see it. Uhh, I hate those parties and let me guess your mother shanghaied you into going. Chloe groans.

Colin: Don't worry I'll make sure Finn doesn't get the final say. Finn looks mock-offended.

Chloe: Whoa, one at a time. Colin thanks, it isn't needed because we she gestures to herself and Logan, are making the decision of which band we choose for our wedding together and Logan, Yes, I tried saying no, but she kept going on about family responsibility and my irresponsibility in the past.

Steph: Wow, she really wants you to attend.

Colin: That must mean she's planning something?

Chloe: Not necessarily, Mom said attend and leave when I want, that's all. Logan will you come to the party with me, I know you are going anyway because of your parents, but will you?

Logan: Of course I will, I wouldn't never let my Bonnie, suffer through a boring ass party alone.

Finn: You know what this party needs.

Steph: What Finn?

Finn: A sub-party.

Chloe: That's actually a good idea, Finn.

Finn: Thanks, Little One.

Steph: Do you think there's an ulterior motive for this party?

Chloe: I don't know, but I wouldn't put it past my Godmother. She knows how to scheme. This party certainly isn't for me.

Logan: Then who is it for?

Chloe: The only person I can think of it being for, I don't even if she is invited to this party or not.

Finn: And who is that?

Chloe: Rory, but Rory's smart enough to see through easy tricks like that.

Chloe's phone rings.

/ Yale: Rory is walking the halls talking on her cell phone in a three way call with Lorelai and Chloe. Rory: So, you're off the hook.

Lorelai: Off the hook, for what?

Chloe: What she said.

Rory: Friday night. Grandma and Grandpa are having a party for their Yale alumni friends.

Chloe: I know, my mom told me about it.

Lorelai: Really? This is news!

Rory: Chloe are you going to the party?

Chloe: Mom wants me there, so I have to go.

Lorelai: You don't have to go, if you don't want to.

Rory: That's Chloe's answer, Mom be okay with it. You're free as a bird.

Lorelai: Wo-ow, Friday night without my mother! I don't know if I can deal! You might have to come over and force feed me pickled herring and tell me what a disappointment I am. Hey, you want to go to the movies?

Rory: Can't, I'm going to the party.

Chloe: I know, mom told me that you were attending.

Lorelai: What?

Chloe: I go to Yale. This is an important and relevant party for me.

Rory: And they asked me to.

Lorelai: Huh. Okay. I can get you both out of it.

Rory: Mom…

Chloe: Aunt Lo, I've been to these parties before and I know what to expect and I'll have Logan with me.

Lorelai: Whoop, hold on, just a moment. Let me formulate a plan.

Rory: I don't need to formulate a plan, I want to go.

Chloe: I'm going for parental obligations.

Lorelai: You don't want to go, you feel obligated to go. That's very different.

Rory: Mom, they're giving the party together.

Chloe: I know that already, Aunt Lo. Rory, you don't have to for me.

Lorelai: Ooh I got it. Both of you transfer to Harvard, then you won't be invited.

Rory: I want to come to the party, Chlo.

Chloe: Fine, Lola. Aunt Lo, I don't want to give my grandparents a heart attack.

Rory: Are you listening?

Lorelai: Rory, they're just manipulating you.

Chloe: Big deal, my parents do that all the time. Lorelai groans.

Rory: Yes! Exactly! Them. Both of them, together. They called me together. They were on the speakerphone, which means that they were in the same room, at the same time, together.

Lorelai: So what you're saying is, they were together?

Rory: Exactly!

Lorelai: Whose antennae are up besides mine?

Chloe: What does this mean?

Rory: Maybe they made up.

Lorelai: They would have told us.

Chloe: Would they?

Rory: They didn't tell us they broke up.

Lorelai: Yes, but that's because it looked bad. They didn't tell people I was pregnant till my eighth month. My mother kept getting numbers for fat farms from her friends.

Chloe: Ah, the pitfalls of society.

Rory: They sounded so happy. They sounded like they used to.

Lorelai: Are you sure you both want to go?

Rory: I'm sure.

Chloe: I know what I'm doing and I'll have Logan and my friends there. Logan's been invited too.

Lorelai: All right. Don't let my father and his cronies make you two sing Whiffenpoof songs all night.

Chloe: No promises.

Rory: I won't.

Lorelai: Well, I'm sorry I'm not going to see you both on Friday.

Rory: Well, how about I come by after? I can stay the night and then you can take me shopping on Saturday.

Lorelai: Ah, the lucky girl and Chloe, will you come to Stars Hollow as well?

Chloe: I can't. I can't ditch Logan after the boring party, Sorry, listen Ladies, I've got to go.

Rory: Wait, Chloe, I just remembered I need to ask for a favour.

Chloe: Rory, be quick, I have class in 5.

Rory: I'm planning on leaving early, to do something with Dean, Friday night after the party.

Chloe: And?

Rory: I was hoping you would cover for me with my grandparents.

Chloe: You're ditching me?

Rory: I wouldn't ask if I wasn't desperate, please, can you be supportive of mine and Dean's relationship.

Chloe: Okay, But you owe me one. Listen I really wasn't lying about needing to hang up.

Rory: Okay, Bye.

Chloe: Bye.

Lorelai: Bye.

Chloe relays this information to the guys and they figure out, what to do at the party? where in which the Gilmores plan to introduce Rory, to guys that they see as acceptable for Rory. Chloe agrees that they would never approve of Dean and are hoping she finds someone new at the party. They chat and have fun.

/ The next day, Logan and Chloe are hanging out. Logan: So…my mom called this morning. She has gotten the invite to the party tonight and requests that I attend.

Chloe: Well, you were already attending. So what did you tell her?

Logan: I told her that I would go to please her. She doesn't need to know, I already agreed to come to the party. So that she can call it a victory for her.

Chloe: Oh, you're such a great son.

Logan: I know aren't I. So, what time should come to pick you up from your dorm?

Chloe: 7 is fine. That way we get there for 7.45-8. Wear a navy blue tie.

Logan: Why? You wearing a blue dress?

Chloe: Yes, my dress is navy. Mom asked what kind of food we want for the wedding? The wedding planner called and gave us three options to choose from.

Logan: Bon, we can't decide the food until we have checked the food is any good from either of these options.

Chloe: I knew you would say that and which is why I am booking a menu tasting for the one we like the look of. So which one? Logan looks at the menu options on Chloe's Mac.

Logan: I like option 2.

Chloe looks up at him surprised from the Mac. Chloe: You like that one.

Logan: Yes, why?

Chloe: I love that one. I just didn't know you liked that one too.

Logan: Well that means that the menu is sorted. How about we book the menu tasting for next week?

Chloe: I'll call the wedding planner tomorrow and let her know that we have chosen the menu and would like a tasting to confirm it.

Logan: That's one thing oFf the list.

Chloe: Only a billion things left to do now. The wedding planner also wants our guest list. I told mom and dad for a list of family and business people they want there and to give them to the wedding planner and I have given her my list as well. How about you?

Logan: I know who I want at the wedding. I've just got to write it down. My father will want some of his business associates there and the extended family and my mom will want her friends there as well.

Chloe: She needs the list by mid-week, next week. Monday, I'm in hell.

Logan: Why?

Chloe: I'm looking over invitation designs, table settings and all the little details with my mom and your mom.

Logan: Good luck with that, I get to check out bands with Colin and Finn.

Chloe: I know, I'm so jealous. Send me videos of each of the band so I can see if they are any good. No offence to Finn, but his musical tastes are a lot to be desired.

Logan: I'll try to control Finn, but no promises.

Chloe: I know, you know the party, Friday?

Logan: Yes, why do I feel I sense of dread?

Chloe: It's not bad. It's just that I have to run interference and cover for Rory.

Logan: Why do you have to cover for Rory?

Chloe: She is cutting out early and meeting up with Dean.

Logan: Where do you fit into this picture?

Chloe: If her Grandma asks if I have to lie to her and her Grandfather about where she is. She was very desperate and wanted my support.

Logan: And you gave it.

Chloe: Don't look at me like that. Rory is important to me.

Logan: Okay, so what do you need me to do?

Chloe: I need you to keep me distracted all night.

Logan: Well that, I can do any time.

Zach looks for his magazine and Amir says that he has to buy the magazine before reading. Zach argues with him over this. When suddenly Mrs Kim yells at him over what Kyon told her about Lane and insults him. She storms away leaving Zach bewildered.

/ Doose's storage room. Dean: Okay. So, we have today for your dining pleasure a choice of sandwiches. All fairly fresh, though slightly dented so as to afford me the eighty percent employee discount that Taylor throws in with the pay check.

Rory: He's a heck of a humanitarian, that Taylor.

Dean: Ah, we have a battered chicken salad, a bruised tuna salad, a ham that survived the creamed corn assault of 2004, and something grey.

Rory: Toss that.

Dean: Gotcha.

Rory: Well, this is a very nice spread you've assembled here.

Dean: Well, when you're dating an Ivy League girl, you have to pull out all the stops. Chip pieces? He offers her a bag.

Rory: Yes, please.

Dean: I'm glad we got to do this today.

Rory: Me too.

Dean: We haven't been able to see each other much lately.

Rory: Well, we're here now, right?

Dean: Yeah. Right.

Rory: Hey, did you ever read my story?

Dean: Which story?

Rory: The one about the Life and Death Brigade.

Dean hesitates. Dean: Uh, yeah, I did.

Rory: You like it?

Dean: I did like it. I like everything you write.

Rory: Do you think I painted the picture interestingly enough? Because I tried to be objective, to a certain extent, but it is a feature piece, so I wanted to have some human spark, you know?

Dean: I thought it was good.

Rory: Nothing specific, though?

Dean: Hey, you're the writer. I can't critique these things. I just know that I read it and I was interested.

Rory: Well that's what counts. Dean pauses awkwardly. Okay, so, let's talk about tonight.

Dean: Let's talk about tonight.

Rory: Okay. I'm going over to my grandparent's at six. I figure I'll go in, make the rounds, say hello, eat a cheese puff, then you can meet me outside the house at eight-thirty and we can hit a movie in Hartford or something.

Dean: I don't want you ducking out of you grandparent's party early if it's going to be a big thing.

Rory: Hey, don't you want to get together with me? And Chloe will cover if my Grandparents ask where I am.

Dean: You know I do and that's nice of her.

Rory: She promised to be supportive and this is her being supportive. Okay then. No more talk, it's settled. Eight-thirty, out front, I'll be the one in the party dress with the jeans and a purse. I'll have to take a pretty big purse, but desperate actions and all that. Deal?

Dean: Deal. Speaking of Chloe?

Rory: What about Chloe?

Dean: I was wondering if all three of us could hang out soon, like we used to, when she visited for the summer.

Rory: I'll ask her but her schedule is pretty busy and she has other stuff.

Dean: Rory, are you sure she was fine with us being together?

Rory: She is.

Dean: Okay, so she's at the party Friday, right?

Rory: Yes, why?

Dean: How about she hangs out with us after the party? Catch up and all that.

Rory: But we haven't had any alone time in ages.

Dean: I want there to be no awkwardness between me and your family. I don't want you to have to choose between us.

Rory: But, she isn't going be by herself. She'll be there with her fiancé, she can't just ditch him.

Dean: Well, how about a double date. Invite both of them. She's marrying the guy after all, might as well get to know him.

Rory: You do remember the last time we went out on a double date, it was with my parents. It didn't work out so well.

Dean: It'll be different. Chloe and I have hung out before and I'll be friendly to Logan. It'll be fine because we all be similar ages. Just ask her.

Rory: Okay, I'll ask.

Dean: Thank you.

Rory: So, How long have we got?

Dean: Uh, fourteen minutes till my lunch break's over.

Rory: Okay then. Cheers.