Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I own nothing…
"So how do I look?"
"Mom, it doesn't matter how you look."
"Oh I beg to differ fruit of my oh so lovely loins, how I look and how I present myself matter a whole lot with these kind of people."
Rory shook her head, watching her mother fix her long curly brown hair, "It doesn't matter mom. It's just a stupid meeting."
"A stupid meeting with even stupider socialite people."
"You mean the DuGrey's?"
"And Il Duce."
"Whatever you say mom."
"Just watch… when you and I enter his stifling office, Mrs. DuGrey will look me up and down criticizing what I'm wearing or not wearing and how my hair looks or whether or not I'm wearing Jimmy Choo's… which I am by the way."
"I just want to get this over with," the younger girl mumbled.
Lorelai wrapped her arm around her daughter's shoulder and smirked playfully, "I'm quite fascinated and very proud. Who knew my bookworm daughter could turn out to be the talk of the whole school."
Rory stopped walking and waited for her mother to do the same. Rory chewed on her bottom lip, finding the right words to say to the older woman. Lorelai turned around, casting her daughter a questioning look.
"We're going to be late kid…"
"I just want you to know that whatever they say in there, it's not true. I've told you everything."
"I know and I'm not going to doubt you," Lorelai walked back to her daughter.
"Thanks mom," she whispered hugging her close, "I love you."
"Love you too kid. Now let's get this thing over with so we can get coffee."
-
"We're sorry we're late," Lorelai said, entering the office with Rory following closely behind her.
They both entered headmaster Charleston's office with apprehensive faces. Rory swallowed back the lump in her throat as she caught sight of Tristan seated in-between his parents. She had seen Tristan's father from his birthday party but this was the first time she had laid her eyes on his mother. Sneaking furtive glances toward the woman, Rory noticed the sadness in her eyes from beneath the layers of mascara and eye shadow. The blonde woman met Rory's blue eyes and the sadness was immediately gone, anger was what covered the previous emotion.
Headmaster Charleston looked up from the papers on his desk and motioned for the two Gilmore's to take a seat across the DuGreys. Rory took her seat directly across from Tristan. She sat uncomfortably under his scrutinizing gaze.
"I'd like to thank you all for agreeing to meet me today," the headmaster started.
"With all due respect headmaster Charleston… what is this meeting really about?" whined Mrs. DuGrey.
Rory shot her mother a look. All Lorelai could respond with was a low meow.
"Very well Agatha, I'll get right to the subject."
"Agatha?" Lorelai quietly whispered to Rory, her smirk firmly in place, "The poor woman."
"Mom, behave."
"I've called this meeting because I thought it necessary to discuss the rumors being whispered about your son," he motioned to Tristan's parents "… and your daughter," he met Lorelai's blue eyes.
"Rumors? What rumors?" Agatha looked at his son worriedly.
"I'm afraid there are certain rumors circulating around the school regarding both Mr. DuGrey and Miss. Gilmore."
"Quit being vague and just tell us!" Tristan's father finally spoke, "I have a meeting that I'm missing for this Thomas."
Rory finally met Tristan's eyes and she flashed him a tiny smile. He smiled back, though his wavered significantly after his father spoke.
"Very well. It seems as if your children's actions outside of school are causing a huge stir with the students."
"I don't understand," Agatha looked simply sick, she turned her head to Tristan, "Tristan Janlan DuGrey, what in the world did you do this time?"
"What makes you think I did anything mom? Their all just stupid rumors," he muttered, glancing at Rory briefly.
"It's so hard to believe anything you say anymore Tristan," his mother responded, shaking her head disappointedly.
"No offense Agatha but maybe you should believe your son. He has absolutely no control over what the students say," Lorelai finally spoke.
"Right, and I'm supposed to listen to a woman who manages an Inn and who got pregnant out of wedlock at sixteen."
"Mom!" Tristan's eyed widened, his cheeks red from the embarrassment.
Rory, on the other hand, held her mother down. Lorelai was ready to pounce.
"This is ridiculous Thomas! I skip an important meeting at work to discuss the rumors about my son and his current flavor of the week? Honestly!"
Lorelai had heard enough. Her piercing blue eyes shone with anger and her hands were shaking. "How dare you judge my daughter you poor excuse of a disgusting man!"
"Mom… please," Rory begged, following her mother's actions by getting to her feet.
Headmaster Charleston watched wide-eyed. Never in all his years as headmaster of Chilton Preparatory School had he witnessed such an occurrence such as this. He stood when Lorelai stood and hurried between Tristan's father and Lorelai Gilmore.
"Miss. Gilmore, please have a seat. Let's discuss this as rational adults, shall we?" he coaxed.
"No, I will not discuss this as rational adults. I'm done discussing this matter as rational adults. How can you just sit in your high and mighty leather chair and watch them talk to me and my daughter in such a rude manner?"
"Now I admit that Mr. DuGrey was a little out of line but…"
"A little? Where have you been in the past five minutes?" Lorelai questioned.
"Have you no manners?" Agatha DuGrey spat out, her eyes glistening with malice.
"You're accusing me of the one with no manners?" Lorelai screeched.
"I believe so, yes," Agatha replied, getting to her feet to face Lorelai.
Rory bowed her head, silently taking a seat knowing that she could do nothing to stop her mother. Looking at her fingers, she could hear the two women fighting about the ways they had raised their children. Rory sighed, trying to block out the words… she however, caught slut, home wrecker and gold digger. Raising her head slightly, she expected to find Tristan seated directly in front of her in the same conundrum but was surprised to find his seat empty. She shifted her body around the room, wondering where he had escaped. Her blue eyes finally settled on a tall blonde tip toeing his way toward the front door.
She looked at him questioningly and he only smirked back, mouthing the words Come with me. Rory chewed her bottom lip, contemplating his request. She tore her gaze away from him and refocused her eyes on the two bickering mothers. Seeing as how they were still at it, she then snuck a peak at Aaron DuGrey. The aging man sat comfortably on the couch, his cell phone glued to his ear and he was arguing animatedly with the person on the other line. Headmaster Charleston on the other hand was trying to break up the two women by standing in between them, trying to talk to both of them calmly and reasonably.
Gathering courage, Rory got to her feet and quietly gathered her jacket and followed Tristan. Tristan was already out of the office once she reached the door. Taking one last look at her mother arguing so animatedly that her arms flailed at her sides, she braced herself and stepped outside.
Closing her door behind her, the screaming was now muffled by the door and she couldn't help but smile.
"Well that was certainly interesting," she replied.
Tristan quirked an eyebrow, "Interesting is one way to describe it. I however, would describe it as disastrous and embarrassing."
Rory nodded, choosing not to respond.
"Let's get out of here," he surprised her with his suggestion.
"And go where? I'm sure they've noticed us gone by now."
"Our mother's are still going away at each other," he paused to let Rory hear the shouting match, "You like coffee right?"
"Right," she answered cursing him inwardly… everybody knew a Gilmore would never turn down coffee… it was simply a sin to do so.
"School's way over and the teacher's lounge is just a few doors away. What do you say?"
"Fine but only because I love coffee."
"Sure."
Rory followed him out of the office, "Sure?"
"Sure it's just because you love coffee," Tristan turned his head a little to catch her eye, his smirk in place, teasing and taunting her.
--
Hmm…
So that's the end of the chapter. I kind of left you guys on a little itsy bitsy cliffhanger huh? Well there's one bright side… the next chapter will be up sooner then I've normally been updating recently. I have big plans for our favorite couple and I can't wait to start chapter 18. Ideas are just circulating up in my head and if I don't write it soon they'll just vanish.
Just want to say a huge thank you very much once again! You guys continue to be so supportive even though I'm an ass when it comes to updating my stories. I apologize again for that; the ideas are just not coming soon enough!