Foreign Affairs: The Rewrite

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Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to the Choices universe, including anything in or relating to the world of Foreign Affairs. Enjoy!

Previously on Foreign Affairs...

"Lorelai...," he groaned in ecstasy, his lips falling to my neck again. I threw my head back, biting back a cry as he teeth nipped at my soft skin, his strong hands holding me tight against his chest.

He hooked his thumb under one of my bra straps, carelessly slipping it off of my shoulder. I trembled in his arms as my legs tightened around him in eager response and he buried his head hungrily into my neck.

I closed my eyes, a dazed smile on my lips as I wrapped my arm around his head, pulling him impossibly closer and tugging desperately at his hair. Every nerve in my body felt like it was on fire—craving for more...

Then flash suddenly illuminated around us. Tatum and I jolted apart in the water in a panic. I brought my arms tightly to my chest to cover my upper body, though I was sure that ship had long since sailed.

"What was that?!" I gasped, my eyes wide as I searched the area around us. Tatum gritted his teeth as he stepped out in front of me.

"It's the paparazzi," he growled. "And we just gave them a front-page story."

Chapter Nine: Fallout

My heart sank into my stomach and I felt the sudden, very strong urge to puke my guts out. Tatum narrowed his eyes sharply as he studied the area around us. I watched as a shadowy silhouette quickly escaped into the night.

"Stop right there!" he yelled after him. He rushed after the paparazzo, but the mystery photographer had already vanished. Tatum cursed under his breath as he looked desperately around. "How'd they get away so fast? Is there a secret tunnel around here or something?"

I shook my head as I made my way towards our piles of clothes, the shock still coursing through me.

"I have no idea. I barely know this campus." Panic began to rise in me again and I ran a hand through my hair. "Tatum, what are we gonna do?! This is a disaster!"

I've never messed up in front of the press. Figures that the first time it happened would be something like this. His gaze swiveled back to me. All the harshness in his features melted away as his eyes rested on me. He stepped closer, taking my hands in his.

"To start, we're gonna get dressed. Then, we need to prepare for the fallout."

I nodded. Right. Good. At least one of us could think straight right now. We quickly slipped into our clothes, then made our way back towards the twinkling lights in the quad. We glanced around the empty campus suspiciously before coming to an abrupt stop in front of the dean's office.

"We'll talk later, okay? Right now...," I whispered, trailing off. He nodded as if he could hear my every thought.

"Understood. You sneak in while I stand guard. I'll catch up once it's safe."

As he turned to walk away, I quickly grabbed his elbow. "Wait!" I hissed. He turned back, eyes full of concern.

"What's wrong?" he asked quietly.

I slipped my arms around his neck and pulled him in for a quick kiss, his hands immediately finding my waist. I smiled sheepishly as I pulled back and whispered, "I don't know when I'll have another chance to do that..." His expression was serious, but there was a certain fire in his eyes. A ghost of a smile played on his lips.

"Probably not for a very long time if you stay out here much longer," he whispered back. I nodded, casting one last look at him before heading inside.

Almost immediately, I ran into my mom. Her eyes were wide with worry.

"Lorelai! Where were you?"

I swallowed hard.

"Mom? I thought you left?"

Winston stepped up next to us, an equal amount of worry in his own eyes. "We came back when Agent Demarco said he'd lost sight of you."

Mom nodded.

"We weren't able to get in touch with Tatum either. Was he with you?" she asked. Panic spiked through me again, but I did my best not to let it show. Instead, I simply shook my head at the question.

"No, he must've been looking for me too." Guilt began to slowly creep up inside of me as the memory of the fleeing photographer drifted back into my mind. Though I was practically shaking with terror over having to tell her, she needed to know.

I stepped closer to her, my voice dropping low. "Mom, I...I need to talk to you. Alone."

Soon, the two of us were settled on the couches in mine and Dionne's suite with the rest of our security teams posted outside. Her eyebrows scrunched at me in concern.

"Lorelai, sweetie, what's going on?"

I took a deep breath before telling her everything. Well, almost everything. She gaped at me, her expression looking horrified and disappointed.

"You got caught doing what?!" she nearly shrieked. "Who were you with?" I bit my lip as my gaze dropped shamefully into my lap.

"It's probably better if you don't know... That way, you have plausible deniability."

I watched her deflate out of the corner of my eye. "I was really hoping I wouldn't need plausible deniability when it comes to my daughter's love life...," she said so quietly, it was almost a mumble. "But you're right. It's probably best if I can sincerely say I don't know anything about this."

She sighed as she stood.

"I'll get the team on it. Hopefully we can track down this photographer before they have the chance to sell that photo..."

I nodded as I stood as well, my entire being wracked with more guilt than I'd ever felt in my entire life. "Thanks, Mom..."

She gave me a long, sad look. I wasn't sure what she was searching for, but by the look on her face, it was pretty clear she didn't find it. Without another word, she slipped out of the suite. I flopped back down onto the couch with a frustrated groan. My mind was far too wired for me to be able to sleep any time soon.

All those years and all that effort building the perfect reputation, shattered in a manner of seconds.

The next morning, I entered the common room of my suite to find Mom and her whole PR team camped out around the kitchen island. I grimaced as I hesitantly approached.

"Uh, good morning," I said quietly. Though by the looks on their faces, it seemed anything but. Mom narrowed her eyes at me angrily.

"Really? I had quite the opposite impression."

I winced at her sharp tone.

Winston stepped forward, his expression looking a tad more sympathetic. "What your mother means to say is, we were unable to stop the picture before it got out." My blood ran cold and the world around me seemed to stop spinning.

"You mean...," I trailed off. Winston slapped down a copy of Voyeur magazine down onto the island in front of me.

In front of me sat a picture of my legs wrapped around Tatum's waist, his muscled back to the camera. My bra strap dangled suggestively down my arm with my eyes closed tightly and my mouth was open as if I was moaning. Tatum's face was buried in my neck and my arm covered his hair, effectively hiding his identity from the camera.

Really, you couldn't even tell it was him... But you could definitely tell that we were mere moments and a few more kisses away from a full-blown sex scandal.

CAUGHT! THE FIRST FAMILY'S DIRTY LITTLE SECRET

It felt like all the air had suddenly been sucked from my lungs. My head swam as I tried to force my lungs to breathe again.

"At least you can't tell who it is with me...," I suggested. "That's good, right?" Mom's political analyst nodded as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"It does provide us some cover...but it's also causing a feeding frenzy online. Everyone is speculating on who your mystery lover is," she replied.

Winston sighed as pulled out his tablet. "Unfortunately, we have bigger fish to fry. I had the team rush a poll after the headline first went up." He turned the screen towards me and my heart sank as I saw the plunge in numbers. Mom gasped as she grabbed the tablet from his hands, staring at the results with wide eyes.

"This is just since this morning?" she asked incredulously. I'd never heard her sound so terrified, which only made the already over-flowing amount of guilt in me spill over even further. He nodded sadly in response.

"It's a small sample size, but I'm afraid so. People seem to think you can't control your daughter."

I took a step closer to my mom as I fought back the tears that were threatening to spill. "Mom, I'm so sorry—"

Her political analyst held up a hand, stopping me.

"We have to issue a statement identifying the mystery lover. Once we can show this isn't Lorelai being...promiscuous with a random stranger, the sooner we can put this behind us," she said. "After all, Lorelai's a grown adult who's allowed to have a relationship...as long as she keeps her clothes on in public in the future."

My eyes snapped up to meet Tatum's gaze from across the room. His expression seemed as impassive as ever, but I could still see the fire in his eyes as he listened.

"Agreed," Mom said, drawing my attention back to them. "Now that we know the extent of the problem, we can't fight this thing without saying who they are." I shook my head vehemently.

Tatum would surely be fired, and I couldn't let that happen to him, especially over something I did. He never asked for this life in the limelight...

"I can't name them. I don't want to drag them into this."

Mom scoffed softly next to me. "That's honorable of you, but it's too late for that. They've already put themselves in the middle of it."

"Maybe so, but I can at least try to shield them from the public eye," I explained. Mom shot me a stern look.

"Lorelai, I don't want to have to resort to this, but I will go through your phone if you leave me no other choice."

Anger suddenly pulsed through me. Sure I'd messed up, but I was still an adult! "Seriously? You have that little respect for my privacy?" I asked, a slight edge to my voice. Mom's features dropped into a sad frown.

"It's not about that. I'm just trying to find the best solution that will protect you and your future. I'm worried about you."

I balled my fist at my sides. Bull. After all this time, you're just now worrying about me?

"Let's at least by honest with each other, Mom. You're worried about your campaign," I snapped.

She narrowed her eyes at me as she opened her mouth to retort, but Winston quickly cut her off, "Why don't we see what we can do to spin the story with what we've got right now? If we can't get it under control within a couple days, then we'll try more...extreme methods."

Mom sighed reluctantly, but nodded.

"Very well. Tell the pilot to ready Eagle Flight One. I want to be back in Rutherland by this afternoon to start cleaning up this mess." Her eyes trailed back over to me fiercely. "Parents' Weekend is cancelled. For both of us. I'm leaving Winston with you to do damage control on this end."

Her chief of staff gaped at her in shock.

"You are? But Melissa—"

Tatum put his hand to his earpiece, then stepped forward, cutting Winston off, "Madam President, the limo's ready for you."

She turned quickly towards him. "Good. Tatum, escort me to the airport. I want to talk to you about a few things. Demarco can oversee Lorelai's security this afternoon." He nodded obediently.

"Yes, ma'am."

As he followed Mom towards the door, he shot me a quick, apologetic look. Soon, it was just me and Winston. He placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, a reassuring smile on his face.

"Buck up, Lorelai. You're in good hands. I know just how to get the public back on your side."

I raised an eyebrow at him. "You do?" He nodded before pulling out his phone.

"Absolutely. Step one: round up the press."

Within just a few hours, I was backstage at what was probably the most important press conference I'd ever been to in my life. No pressure or anything. Ayna adjusted her glasses as she timidly approached Winston and I.

"I hope this venue is agreeable, Mr. Torres. It's all we had available at the last minute," she said. Winston nodded curtly as he cast a quick glance around.

"Thank you, Ms. Seth. We'll make it work, I'm sure."

As he moved aside to further discuss details of the event with his assistant, Ayna sidled up close to me.

"Are you okay, Lorelai?" she asked, her voice quiet. "I saw the headlines this morning... I can only imagine how horrible it is to have your private life splashed all over the front page like that."

I sighed. "I'm starting to get used to it, unfortunately." My private life had always been at the center of attention in the tabloids, but up until now, all that attention had at least been positive. Winston gently grabbed my elbow and pulled me aside.

"Lorelai? It's almost time."

I let out a shaky breath as I nodded and edged my way towards the curtains. I could already hear the rustling of the reporters on the other side, waiting for me. I closed my eyes as I focused on my breathing, willing my rapidly beating heart rate to slow. I could do this. I could totally do this! I was the First Daughter of one of the most powerful nations in the world.

And I was not going to let them see me sweat.

Winston smiled encouragingly at me. "Just remember what we talked about. Don't answer the question they ask, answer the question you want to answer."

Despite the overwhelmingly nauseous feeling in my stomach, I forced a smile. With one last deep breath, I made my way onto the stage. Cameras flashed all around me instantly, momentarily blinding me, but I continued to smile as I stepped up to the podium. The reporters gradually quieted as they waited for my statement.

"Thank you all for being here today. I'm Lorelai Monroe, First Daughter of the great nation of Rutherland," I started. "I want to start by saying that I take my duties as First Daughter very seriously. I know I represent my country everywhere I go..."

I paused to swallow the rising lump in my throat.

"Although my time at school these past six weeks hasn't gone as planned..." I glanced down at my notecards. "I want to be the first person to say that my recent behavior is not befitting of someone in my position—"

Mike Williams laughed loudly from the front row. "You can say that again! Look, we know what your statement's gonna say. Get to the good stuff!" he heckled. Another reporter immediately jumped in next to him.

"Who was the person in the photo with you?" she asked.

Then, the gates of hell broke loose.

As a flurry of other reporters began to bombard me with questions, I felt my control of the room slipping away. I gritted my teeth as I shifted my gaze to the main TV cameras in the back of the room. Forget the press, I was doing this for my people.

I focused all my attention on the cameras as I loudly exclaimed over the press, "People of Rutherland, please listen to me! I know you're disappointed in me. I am too. But my mistakes have nothing to do with my mom's ability to run the country—"

My voice disappeared in the clamor of reporters shouting over one another.

"What does this mean for the Peace Summit? Will this affect Rutherland's relations with your neighboring countries?"

"Do you feel you've let your people down? More importantly, do you feel you've let the President down?"

Another pang of guilt stabbed me right in the gut. "I know my mom's polling numbers have been affected by the...incident last night, but—"

Mike chuckled loudly once more, cutting me off.

"Is that what we're calling it now? An 'incident'? 'Cause where I'm from, we call it a full-blown sex scandal!"

I did my best not to scowl at him. Tatum and I didn't even have sex! Sure, it definitely looked like we were and and in all honesty, we were about to...but is it really a full-blown sex scandal when there's no sex? I opened my mouth to retort, but Winston quickly jumped forward.

"Thank you, that will be all," he snapped down at the reporters before wrapping an arm around my shoulder and carefully guiding me back across the stage.

Chaos broke out behind us as reporters continued to shout my name. I took one last look over my shoulder at the sharks, circling like they could smell blood in the water. I groaned internally as I ducked back behind the curtain.

How in the world was I supposed to come back from this?

"I'm sorry, Winston. I blew it. They were all talking at once, and I couldn't...," I trailed off. He shushed me as he pulled me into a tight hug, and I gratefully hugged him back.

After Dad died, Winston had become sort of like a second father to me. He could never replace the bond I had with my real father, but between him and Tatum's dad, they were a close second.

"None of that, Lorelai. We tried one strategy, but it didn't work out. Now we move on to Plan B, then Plan C, all the way to Plan Z if we have to." As we pulled a part, he smiled warmly at me. "In the meantime, don't look so glum. Next time will be better, I promise."

I frowned at him. "I just never thought things could get so out of control." He shrugged as he placed his hands on my shoulders.

"Just shake it off and focus on the next thing. And Lorelai...I want you to know that I'm not going to stand in the way of your relationship with your new...friend." I gaped at him in shock. I'd completely expected for him to tell me I was never allowed to see them again to avoid any further scandals.

"But Mom wants—" I started.

He raised a hand to cut me off. "Your mom wants me to help you clean up your public image, but what you do in private, well, that's nobody's business but your own, right?" I couldn't help the grateful smile that tugged at the corners of my lips.

Good ol' Winston, always looking out for me.

"You're the best," I said honestly. He smiled a little in response, then grew more serious.

"You still have to be careful, though. No hanging out together where there's even a remote possibility you might be seen, no hackable communications...," he trailed off.

I nodded. "I understand. It's honestly more than I expected! It's not ideal, obviously, but I'd rather sneak around than not see them altogether." It would probably be a little difficult getting Tatum on board with this plan, but I figured he'd be secretly thrilled nonetheless.

Winston smiled broadly at me.

"That's the spirit. Love is just like politics that way...it's all about finding a workable middle ground." Great, just what I wanted in my life. More politics. "Now, are you ready for the next stop on your apology tour?"

My mind flashed back to Tatum, my mom, and all the other reasons I was putting myself through this. Then my face set into steely determination.

"Bring it on."

Our next stop was the local animal shelter. Winston had insisted that our constituents love animals, so he'd set up an interview there. I wrung my hands nervously as we approached the front doors.

"Don't worry, we've already screened the questions," he reassured me. "They know the scandal is off-limits." I let out a heavy sigh of relief. At least now I could focus on the real issues. What was most important was to pave the way for the Peace Summit, no matter how in shambles my reputation was.

"Sounds too good to be true," I muttered.

As we walked through the front doors, my eyes widened in surprise as my gaze landed on Dionne and Blaine waiting in the lobby.

"What are you two doing here?" I asked. Blaine smirked at me as he nudged his head towards Winston.

"Ask your handler. He's the one who invited us."

Dionne smiled brightly as she elbowed Blaine's side. "But we were happy to come. Right, Blaine?"

Winston nodded.

"More of you here means less focus solely on your current...situation. Plus, a public show of unity between Rutherland and Ardona is bigger news than tabloid gossip about your love life."

My gaze locked with Blaine's. After weeks of dealing with backlash from my mom and Winston about any time I'd spent with Blaine, it felt really strange to now have that relationship encouraged. Maybe our interaction with his parents at the Welcome Dinner really had made a difference.

"If you think it's the right move...," I said slowly, though I was confident it was. This had literally been what I was trying to tell them this entire time. But regardless of whose idea it was, as long as it was finally happening now!

Dionne sidled up close to me as she whispered, "How're you holding up since everything blew up? Your mom must have you running the media gauntlet right now." I let out a soft sigh.

"Something like that. Actually, I—"

I cut off as an employee approached us. She smiled brightly.

"You must be Lorelai. I'm Jessica Mai, Executive Director here at Paws for a Cause. We're so happy you all could volunteer today!" Dionne and I smiled warmly back at her. "We've got a few animals waiting for you in the playroom. They're very eager to get started."

Blaine, Dionne and I closely followed the shelter director into one of the back rooms. It was full of cats, dogs, and all kinds of birds fluttering all around. Blaine chuckled as he bent down to stroke a nearby kitten.

"Looks like the gang's all here," he said softly.

Dionne squealed happily. "They're adorable!"

I nodded in agreement, my mouth curving upwards a little.

"The perfect distraction from any scandal."

An unfamiliar reporter approached with a genuine and disarming smile. "Hi, Lorelai. I'm Linda Chung with Channel 7 News. I'll be asking you a few questions while you're here. I'll let you settle in, then we'll start."

I nodded as I forced a friendly smile at her, then she turned to talk with her cameraman. My focus shifted back to a nearby pile of puppies. I crouched down low and picked up a rope toy, extending it towards a cautious puppy as I smiled warmly at him.

"Hey there. Do you want to play a game with me?" I asked softly. The puppy took a couple of hesitant steps forward before eventually taking the rope into his mouth. He pulled gently at first, then gradually with more playful competitiveness.

He growled and gruffed as he tugged fiercely. Finally, I let the toy go, pretending he'd ripped it from my hands. The puppy's tail wagged furiously as he held it triumphantly in his mouth. A moment later, he trotted back over and dropped the toy at my feet. I chuckled as I softly scratched the back of his ears.

As I stood back up and turned back towards the reporter, the churning in my stomach returned with full force. Time to face the music.

"Ready when you are," I said, trying to sound more confident than I was feeling. She smiled back at me.

"Then let's get started. We're going live in three...two...one..."

My eyes widened at her. "Wait, live?"

As cameras swiveled towards me, I quickly plastered a smile on my face. The reporter brought her mic up to her lips as she smiled dazzlingly at the rolling camera.

"I'm Linda Chung, and we're coming to you live from Paws for a Cause Animal Shelter. Joining us today are budding world leaders Lorelai Monroe, Blaine Hayes, and Princess Dionne Serrano.

Dionne waved elegantly. "Hello everyone!" she chirped. Blaine gave the camera a subtle nod.

"Hey," he said simply. Linda turned her mic back towards me.

"Lorelai, what made you want to come out here to volunteer today?"

I smiled brightly as I said, "Honestly, Linda, I believe in second chances. When I learned Paws for a Cause shares that belief, rescuing animals others have given up on, I knew I had to get involved."

Winston gave me a sly thumbs up from behind the cameras. The puppy in my arms began batting lightly at my chin with his paws and I giggled softly as I stroked his belly.

"It's so refreshing to see people your age doing volunteer work. What would you say to young people who may be reluctant to get involved in their communities?" Linda asked.

"Every little bit counts!" Dionne chimed in. "Back at home, I volunteer at an orphanage near the palace. At first I only was able to go a few times a year, but it made a real difference. Now we have a whole royal program dedicated to the cause."

Blaine nodded beside her. "For me, it took a long time to find a cause I was passionate about. Then I walked into a shelter, saw one of these little guys, and the rest is history." He hugged the kitten in his arms tighter to his chest and my heart melted at the sight. For someone who acted like they didn't care about anything and anyone, he sure was a softie.

The reporter turned expectantly towards me.

"I believe the most important thing is focusing on something you care about. Once you find a cause you're passionate about, it's almost impossible not to get involved in your community," I answered honestly.

Before today, I'd made a very strong effort to do a lot of volunteer work. Of course, no one remembers about all the good you used to do after one slip up.

"As representatives of your nations, do you feel it's your duty to do volunteer work like this?" Linda asked.

Dionne nodded. "Definitely. We all want to work for the good of our people." I smiled in agreement.

"Exactly. It's our job to use our power to improve our nations. We have a responsibility to use our privilege to set an example and try to leverage our influence for good. That's exactly what my mother, President Monroe, is trying to do with this upcoming Peace Summit."

The interviewer flashed me a wide smile. "Lorelai, I have to admit, your devotion to volunteer work is admirable. You set a great example for other young people in the community..." Her expression grew more serious as she stepped closer. "However, I understand that your actions last night may cause these same people to question your position as a role model."

My heart leapt into my throat as I made panicked eye contact with Wilson. He gaped at the reporter, looking frozen in shock and fury.

"I'm referring, of course, to your 'outing' with a yet-to-be-identified individual. Care to comment?" she continued. My mind raced for an answer. She wasn't supposed to ask about last night! Winston assured me he'd vetted all the questions!

I looked back over towards Winston for answers, but he motioned helplessly at the cameras for me to say something. Then something in the corner of the room caught my eye. My gaze swiveled over, landing on a small, exotic-looking kitten in the corner of the room. A baby lynx.

Otherwise known as the national animal of Rutherland.

As his eyes met mine, he seemed to perk up at the sight of me. A brilliant idea formed in my mind as I turned back towards the reporter.

"Actually, I'd rather comment on all the great work Paws for a Cause is doing. Just look at how happy and healthy all these animals are!"

Linda furrowed her eyebrows at me in confusion. "Yes, the do look well cared for, but—" I stepped closer to the kitten in the corner, effectively cutting her off.

"Take this baby lynx, for example. Have you ever seen such a cutie?"

The cameras immediately panned to the kitten, leaving the interviewer looking flustered. The shelter director stepped forward.

"He was seized in a raid on an illegal big cat breeding facility. He's too accustomed to people to release into the wild, but it's been hard to find him a home." My heart broke at the sight of his sweet little face. People who were cruel to animals were the most evil beings out there.

"He's so sweet! Can I pet him?" I asked.

Jessica nodded. "You can try, but he's pretty skittish with strangers. Don't take it personally if he swats at you or runs away." Linda cleared her throat pointedly behind me.

"Uh, Lorelai, about the interview. We're still live, so if we could get back to my questions..."

Blaine shook his head as he chimed in, "I'm sure your viewers will enjoy a close-up look at a baby lynx." Dionne nodded next to him.

"I know I would. Everyone needs some fluffiness occasionally."

They both stepped back in an effort to put me in the spotlight and I slowly approached the baby lynx as the cameras in the room remained trained on me. The kitten tilted its head hesitantly at me as I approached. I smiled softly at him.

"Hi there, little guy. Don't worry, I'm not gonna hurt you," I said, my voice impossibly gentle. At the sound of my tone, the lynx seemed to relax a little. "I just wanna say hello. I think we can be friends, if you'll let me."

I took another step. Cautiously, he followed suit, sniffing in my direction. My smile widened.

"That's it. Just take your time, nice and slow."

Slowly, he approached me, sniffing my outstretched hand. After a long moment, he started to nuzzle against me, allowing me to pet him. I stroked his back gently, feeling his body relax further at my touch. He purred softly in delight.

"There you go," I continued. "We're friends now, huh?"

I scooped him up confidently, expecting him to squirm, but he settled comfortably in my arms. I turned back to the interviewer to see her staring at me with wide eyes.

"How did you do that?" she asked. Jessica nodded next to her, looking equally surprised.

"It took me days to get him comfortable enough with me to pick him up. He must really see something in you."

I smiled as I snuggled him closer. "This must be a sign that I'm meant to adopt him."

Dionne smiled happily. "It must be the Rutherland connection," she added. Blaine chuckled.

"Lorelai's quite the charmer. And this guy seems like an excellent judge of character."

Jessica smiled brightly at me. "In my fifteen years of working here, I've never seen a more perfect match. There's just one important thing you need to do before he can be yours."

I raised an eyebrow at her. "Fill out all the paperwork?" I guessed. She chuckled.

"Well, that too. But more importantly, he needs a name."

I looked down at him as he continued to purr contently in my arms. A hundred different names flooded my mind, but one stuck out the most. One that would be sure to earn me a few extra reputation brownie points. I smiled lovingly down at him.

"I think I'll name you Chance. Because everyone deserves a second chance," I said softly, nuzzling my face into his soft fur.

Jessica beamed at me. "Chance...it's perfect!" Chance meowed happily and Linda gushed as she reached out to softly stroke his fluffy ears.

"I think he likes it! He must know he's going to go a good home," she said. "Lorelai, can we get a shot of you doing something cute with Chance?"

The cameras tightened around me. "I can't imagine how he could get any cuter than he already is, but I'll do my best." I looked deep into his little eyes before leaning forward and pressing a gently kiss on his forehead. Chance's paws stretched out gently against my face. His eyes closed as he purred louder, tilting his head up to nuzzle against my cheek.

I felt his small tongue lap against my jaw, eliciting a giggle from me.

"This is too precious," the shelter director squealed. "I can't tell you how happy it makes me to know he's going to a loving home."

I glanced around at all the other poor animals. They all deserved a second chance at a happy home, not just this little guy. Resolutely, I turned back to her.

"I'd like to help the rest of these pets find good homes too. So for the rest of the year, I'll be covering all adoption fees for any animals in this shelter."

Linda gaped at me.

"That's quite generous of you," she said, sounding shocked.

I shrugged. "It's the least I can do to help support such a good cause."

Linda smiled as she turned to face the cameras for the final time.

"There you have it, folks. We've all got a furry soulmate out there. To find yours, come on down to Paws for a Cause!" The lights on the camera switched off as the live broadcast finally came to an end. I breathed a sigh of relief as the interviewer and camera crew began packing up their things.

I cradled Chance protectively in my arms before meeting up with Dionne and Blaine in the front lobby. I smiled warmly at the two of them, grateful to have such amazing best friends.

"Thanks for having my back, you two. I don't think I would've gotten through today without your help."

Dionne waved me off as she said, "That's what friends are for." Blaine smirked back at me in response.

"Don't worry, I'll be sure to cash in this favor later."

Dionne smacked his shoulder.

"Blaine!" she gasped.

I rolled my eyes at the two, my smile never leaving my face. Blaine chuckled, but his expression soon grew serious.

"Seriously though, how are you doing? I can't believe Vancross had another breach. Why do we even have campus security?" he asked rhetorically. His tone was bitter, but his eyes were full of concern.

I sighed. "The guy came out of nowhere. And he seemed to vanish out of nowhere too." Dionne furrowed her eyebrows at me.

"I'd heard rumors about a secret tunnel out by the lake, but I'd never given them much thought. Do you think that's how they could've snuck onto campus?" she suggested. Blaine nodded slowly.

"It would make sense. I can't think of any other reason why someone would just vanish into thin air."

I thought back to that night and the last place I had seen the photographer's shadow. Maybe if we tried to retrace their steps, we could find this so called secret tunnel.

"It's worth looking into. But I'm sure Winston has me booked for the rest of the day."

Blaine shrugged as he shoved his hands into his jacket pockets.

"So we can all go tomorrow and check it out. Three sets of eyes are better than one, right? Besides, maybe Chance here can sniff it out," he joked. He reached over to give Chance a small scratch on his head. The kitten meowed happily in response.

Dionne nodded, a bright smile on her face. "I'm in."

I cracked another grateful smile at them. What had I done to deserve them? "You guys are the best." We quieted as Winston walked up to us, a proud smile on his face. I shot him a wobbly smile in return.

"Well, how did I do?" I asked. "Reasonably successful first stop on the apology tour?" He nodded happily.

"You were excellent. Your interview on the other hand..." His face twisted into an angry frown. "Let's just say she's lucky you made it work. I'm gonna have a talk with her station manager about breaching our agreement."

He took a deep breath before composing himself. "But you should be proud. After she went off-script, you redirected the interview like a pro. If all your instincts are that good, you'll put me out of a job." I smirked at him.

"Guess that means you can go home now," I suggested jokingly. He chuckled.

"Nice try, but I'm afraid you're stuck with me until your mom's satisfied you've turned your reputation around."

I let out a soft snort. "I don't know if you've noticed, Winston, but Mom's never satisfied." He waved me off.

"Don't worry. She'll have to take notice after your performance today. Now let's get Chance's adoption paperwork taken care of and get the two of you to your next event."

I groaned a bit. "Just how many of these things do we have planned?" I asked hesitantly. He smirked back at me.

"For this afternoon? Just four more." With that, Winston made his way over to the front desk to fill out the paperwork and I turned back to Blaine and Dionne.

"We'll meet up tomorrow after class?" I whispered. They both nodded in agreement.

"We'll be there," Dionne promised.

Blaine shot me a sympathetic look. "Good luck today. I know more than anyone how exhausting these kiss-up apology tours can be." I sighed as Chance let out a small squeak in my arms. I frowned down at him.

"My thoughts exactly, buddy."

After what felt like the longest day of my life, Winston and my security team finally dropped me off at my suite. Dionne poked her head out of her room as I entered. She glanced around, making sure the coast was clear before joining me in the common room.

"How was the rest of your day?" she asked. "I had Murphy pick up a bottle of It's Okay Rose in case the answer is 'bad'." Murphy wordlessly held up the bottle from behind her and I smiled gratefully at him.

"The day wasn't all bad. I adopted Chance, after all."

I opened the door to the pet carrier, letting my new lynx kitten come bounding out. He zoomed around the suite, enjoying every second of exploring every inch of his new home. Dionne giggled as she watched him.

"True. Welcome home, Chance!"

He happily bounded up to Dionne and rubbed against her leg. I sighed as I took a seat on one of our kitchen barstools.

"Still, I wanna text a certain...someone and make sure they're okay."

Dionne raised an eyebrow at me as she leaned against the countertop. "So why don't you?" she asked. I let out a small, frustrated huff.

"Mom made it very clear that she's willing to do whatever it takes to find out who my 'mystery lover' is, including going through my phone." Dionne's eyes widened at me in surprise.

"Wow. The full Big Brother, huh? I didn't know she had it in her."

I shrugged. "As long as she's keeping tabs on me like that, it's just not safe to reach out to him."

Dionne pulled me into a tight, sympathetic hug. As we pulled apart, her phone buzzed loudly with a notification. A moment of silence passed between us as we both stared at the phone rattling on the counter. Our gazes slowly turned back towards each other and a wicked smile grew on Dionne's lips.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" she asked. I shot her a sly smile of my own.

"Only if you're up for it..."

Dionne plucked her phone off the counter and promptly offered it to me.

"What are you waiting for? Take it! I'm sure you mystery lover is desperate to hear from you," she replied, her voice sounding both teasing and excited. I bit my lip as I gingerly took her phone from her before typing in Tatum's number and sending him a quick message.

Me: Tatum? It's Lorelai. I'm borrowing Dionne's phone. You okay?

Almost immediately, his typing dots bubble appeared.

Tatum: How do I know this is really Lorelai?

I rolled my eyes at the screen.

Me: You really gonna make me do this rn? Cause I can and WILL pull some serious shiz out of our past to prove it's me.

Tatum:...That's not necessary

I chuckled. Chicken.

Me: Seriously, how are you?

A few minutes went by before his next response.

Tatum: I'm okay. No one's asked me about the pic yet, so I think I'm in the clear for now. How're you holding up? I know this can't be easy, esp w/ your mom.

I sighed.

Me: I just wanna to see you. You always know just what to say to cheer me up. I know it's only been like, a day, but I miss you.

Tatum: I miss you too.

My heart rate tripled as I read his words. Almost immediately, another message from him came through.

Tatum: I'm sorry, Lorelai. I hate that you have to deal with all of this on your own. I wish I could be there.

I let out a soft snort.

Me: Hard same. Where even are you?

Silence. I narrowed my eyes at the phone screen.

Me: You're patrolling the perimeter, aren't you?

Tatum: I do it every night! I don't trust campus security anymore.

I giggled softly.

Me: Not that you ever did.

I watched the typing bubble repeatedly appear and disappear on the screen. Finally, a new message came through.

Tatum: You could join me?

My eyes widened. Was the Tatum Mendoza actually suggesting I join him on the job? Was this real life?

Me: On your patrol? Isn't that against protocol or something?

Blood rushed into my ears as my heart pounded wildly at his next text.

Tatum: Yes but...tonight, I don't care. Not if you need me.

I looked up at Dionne, my face feeling flushed.

"Well?" she asked expectantly. "What did he say?" I blinked a few times, still in shock.

"He wants me to sneak out and meet him...but is that crazy?" I asked. Especially since Tatum was the one who'd suggested it.

Dionne smiled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Definitely, but that's what makes it fun! Get outta here!"

I bit my lip as I turned my attention back towards the phone. After getting Tatum's exact location outside, I deleted the conversation and handed Dionne back her cell.

"Dionne, I—" I started.

She shook her head as she interrupted me, "I know what you're gonna say, and don't bother. It's just what any good friend would do." I gave her one last quick hug.

"You're the best, Di. Really."

With that, I made my way to my bedroom and peered out my window. With no one else in sight, I silently crawled through it and into the night air. A few minutes later, I found Tatum waiting for me in the quad.

I felt my breath catch in my throat as his gaze caught mine. A broad smile broke out across his face.

"Hey," he said quietly.

I hurried the last few steps towards him and leapt into his arms. He caught me easily and spun me in a small circle. I pressed my lips to his, and he happily returned the kiss.

He slowly set me back down onto the ground as we pulled apart, his forehead resting against mine and his arms still securely around my waist.

"Lorelai...," he breathed. I bit my lip bashfully as I smiled up at him.

"Hey yourself," I whispered back. We stayed that way for another moment before we reluctantly took a step apart and started to walk. "So do you have a normal route you take on these patrols, or what?"

He shrugged. "Sort of. We have a general routine for where we walk, but we also mix things up so a perpetrator can't memorize our exact path and exploit it," he answered. I raised my eyebrows at him in surprise.

"I didn't realize it was so complicated."

He nodded as we turned to continue his route.

"Keeping you safe is a complicated business...," he replied, "in more ways than one." I laughed in response and as I glanced over at him, I noticed the small smile he was desperately trying to fight off.

We walked in silence for a bit as I tried to channel my inner bodyguard. I looked around, keeping an eye out for any possible disturbances, but as far as I could tell, we had the whole night to ourselves.

"So, how're you holding up?" I finally asked. He glanced quickly at me.

"Me? I'm fine. You're the one who has to deal with all the publicity stuff, not me."

I nodded. "True, but I'm not the only one involved in this. Your half nude body was plastered on that magazine too. I still wanna know how you're feeling about...everything. Including me."

We turned down another path lined with trees. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the way Tatum stared at me. He started to slow his pace to a stop, and I turned to face him.

"I'm fine. I just...I wish I could do more. Somehow get the heat off you, I guess." His expression grew dark as his eyebrows scrunched together in anger. "Every time I see you being accosted by reporters, I..."

He trailed off as his hands clenched at his sides. I placed a soft hand on his arm, drawing his attention back to me. His face softened as his gaze trailed back over my face.

"Tatum, I'm so sorry for dragging you into this. We wouldn't be in this position if it weren't for me."

He shook his head as he took a step closer to me.

"You didn't 'drag' me into anything, Lorelai. I would do it all over again if I had to."

Warmth blossomed in my chest at his words as butterflies came to life in my stomach. "Really?" I asked, unable to hide the small smile on my face.

"Well, I would check the perimeter better the second time around, but I don't regret what we did. Just that the rest of the world knows about our private lives," he replied.

I let out a relieved breath that I hadn't known I'd been holding. I'd been so afraid deep down that this whole scandal would make him retract back into his shell. That it would undo all the progress we'd made.

He took my hands in his as he continued, "Trust me, soon this'll all be over and it can go back to how it was when we were kids. Just you and me." I bit my lip as I smiled up at him.

"The good old days. Like when you would walk me home after playing at your house..."

He smiled back. "And then you would walk me home..."

"And before we knew it, we'd spent the whole afternoon walking back and forth." My smile widened at the memory, but just as quickly, I remembered all the reasons why we could never truly go back to the way things were when we were little.

But maybe we could find a new normal. One for just me and him. A sly smile graced my lips as my hands slid out of his, up his arms, across his chest, and latched onto his jacket lapels. I pulled him a little closer as my voice lowered into a sultry whisper.

"Maybe next time, we can patrol my bedroom."

He cocked an intrigued eyebrow at me.

"I don't know how much protection you need in there..."

My head rolled back as a bright laugh escaped my lips. "Really? You're making this too easy." He smiled back at me, his eyes sparkling with an unreadable emotion as he studied my face.

"I deserve that. But it's your fault, you know. You're very distracting, especially when you try to flirt," he retorted. I scoffed mockingly.

"Try to flirt?"

He chuckled as his hands found their way onto my hips. "Don't worry, the total lack of subtlety is all part of the charm. It's...cute." He grinned at me as his eyes bore into mine. After a moment, he let out a sigh before tearing his eyes away and looking around.

"This was nice, but..." he trailed off.

"I should probably be getting back."

He nodded. "Yeah. And I need to finish my patrol before the next shift change." My heart sank at the thought of everything I'd have to go back to. Being out here with Tatum, if only for a moment, helped distract from the fact that my entire world was now burning around me. His thumb rubbed gently on my hip.

"Can I walk you back?" he asked softly. I nodded as I trailed my hands down his chest.

"Of course," I answered. "But first...kiss me."

He glanced around once more before meeting my gaze again. "Right here? Now?" he asked, his voice quiet. I couldn't help but stare up at him, completely lovestruck.

"Who knows when we'll get another chance?" I whispered. He brought a hand up to gently cup my face, his thumb tracing over my slightly parted lips.

Then he swept me into his arms, crushing his lips passionately against mine. I melted into him, humming happily against his lips. He guided me back until I was pressed against a tree, trapped between the trunk and his hard body.

"Tatum!" I gasped. A low groan escaped him at the sound of his name on my lips. He deepened the kiss, his tongue sweeping inside my mouth as I opened up to him. The world seemed to fade around us. All I could see was him. All I could feel was him. Right here, right now, Tatum was everything.

Eventually, we reluctantly stepped apart before things got too wild...again. Tatum tucked a strand of hair behind my ear as he smiled, his lips slightly swollen.

"We should...," he trailed off.

I nodded. "Yeah..."

We slowly made my way back to my suite hand in hand, our fingers intertwined together. As we reached one of the living room windows, I turned back towards him. He gave me a small smile as he took a step closer.

"Thanks again. I needed this," I whispered. He leaned forward and pressed one last tender kiss to my forehead.

"Me too."

After saying goodnight to Tatum, I snuck quietly back inside. I flopped back down on the couch and winced at the thought of having to go back to class tomorrow morning. How was I supposed to pretend like everything was normal? I'd be the talk of the campus, there was no escaping it. Maybe I should just stay in sick for the week...

I looked up as I heard Dionne enter the room and she hurried to plop down on the couch next to me.

"So? How was it?" she asked, her eyes lit up with excitement. I bit my lip in an attempt to suppress my smile.

"It was...really nice. I'm really glad I went. Thanks again, Di."

She pulled me into a brief, tight hug. "Any time." I sighed as we pulled apart.

"Now I just have to deal with the rest of the student body tomorrow. I've never been involved in an actual scandal before. And definitely not anything this personal. What do I say to people?" I asked.

Dionne smiled as she reached for the television remote.

"You know what? I think you could use a little help from a tried and true source." The TV screen came to life and she quickly navigated to the reality show channel. I raised an eyebrow at her.

"'Real Lifestyles of the Rich and Idle'? How is reality TV gonna help me here?" I asked, sounding skeptical.

She rolled her eyes playfully at me. "Haven't you ever heard of field research? These guys are pros at navigating scandals. Where do you think I picked up all my best tricks?"

I chuckled at her. "Di, you're a genius." She smiled brightly.

"Duh. If I've learned anything from 'Rich and Idle', it's that a person's true mettle is tested when things get messy." We both turned our attention to the screen where a man and a woman sat at a luxurious bar overlooking the city of LA.

"It's so wonderful to finally get some time together like this. I've missed you," the woman gushed.

The man nodded, not paying much mind to her. "Uh huh, me too, babe. Is there more caviar? This jar is super tiny."

Suddenly another older man burst onto the rooftop, looking absolutely livid. He picked up a basket of rolls and hurled it at the woman's date. The man brought his hands up quickly to protect his face.

"Whoa, dude, watch the nose! I just got it done!"

The older man whirled on the woman. "What is this, Mellie?" he asked, sounded infuriated. She gaped up at him.

"Richard? What're you doing here?"

He knocked a nearby chair over and it clattered loudly to the ground. "Really? You're the one having brunch with Chad, Mellie. BRUNCH WAS OUR THING!" he yelled. Mellie glared back at him.

"You agreed to an open relationship!" she challenged loudly. He rolled his eyes at her.

"I thought that meant I got to screw around, not you!"

My jaw dropped as I watched the ridiculous drama unfold. "Wow...," I muttered. Dionne nodded.

"Don't worry, the husband comes back next week. But when this episode aired, the internet exploded."

"I can see why. It's hard not to get caught up in the drama."

She smiled as she paused the show. "The point is, even if this show is scripted, you still wind up rooting for your favorites. Charisma matters. You could do the same thing. Just think of yourself as...the leading actor in your own personal drama."

I chuckled at her. "That sounds kinda fun. Maybe my duties would be easier if I thought about all of them as a part I was playing."

She nodded. "It's worked for me!"

I tucked my legs underneath me on the couch.

"I just wish I was better under pressure. It's hard to keep your composure when your face is all over the internet..."

She frowned sympathetically.

"I know. You just can't take it seriously. None of these people know you, after all," she said softly. "It's like how some parts of a reality TV show are scripted and some aren't. It's not totally real life, but it's not quite fake either."

I let out a soft sigh. "I still can't wait for all this to be over and things can go back to normal. But until then, I guess I can think of it like that." A bright smile spread across her lips like a wildfire.

"You know what would cheer you up?" she asked, though the question sounded rhetorical. "A sleepover! We can do mudmasks, gossip, binge eat all kinds of snack foods, and make fun of the 'Rich and the Idle'!" I bit my lip as I mulled the idea over.

My gaze drifted to the clock behind her. It was getting pretty late...but Dionne sounded so excited. And I doubted princesses get many opportunities to have a sleepover. Besides, a girls night distraction would be good for me.

I smiled warmly at her as I nodded. "Alright, I'm in."

She clapped happily as she jumped to her feet. "Yay! Now you just sit there, I'll get the bottle of wine and my patented DIY avocado-cucumber face mask!" Before I could say another word, Dionne had already dashed into the kitchen. She returned a few minutes later with her arms full.

One after one she handed me the necessary sleepover items. Snacks, wine, scrubs, the whole nine yards. She proudly smiled as she unscrewed the lid to the jar holding what looked like guacamole.

"This face mask is guaranteed to melt all the stress away from your pores. Now just lie back and let the princess do her thing," she commanded. I bit back an amused chuckle as I hesitantly leaned back. I flinched at the cold goop that suddenly plopped onto my cheek.

"I feel like a nacho platter," I muttered as she brushed the concoction around with a small brush.

Dionne laughed. "That's how you know it's working. Now hold still, this is for your own good." She didn't stop until every inch of my face was covered in avocado. After she was done, she leaned back and I returned the messy favor. Soon, we both looked like we had just stepped out of The Creature From the Black Lagoon.

Dionne let out a long, satisfied sigh. "Well, what do you think? Can't you just feel all those healthy fats soaking up the nasty stress?" she asked. I shrugged.

"I don't know about that, but I have to admit, it does feel pretty nice." I relished in the cold, soothing sensation of the mask on my face.

She waved me off dismissively as she settled deeper into the arm chair. "Give it some time, you'll see. In the meantime, we can move on to phase two...girl talk."

I cocked an eyebrow at her. "What do you wanna talk about?" I asked hesitantly. She smiled mischievously, a familiar glint in her eye.

"To start, how about the half-naked picture of you and your mystery lover? I know your reputation is sort of in shambles right now, but that little 'encounter' of yours looked hot," she replied. I groaned inwardly. "Are you gonna tell me who it is? Or should I guess?"

I leveled a look at her. "Dionne..."

"Is it Tatum? It is, isn't it?"

My jaw dropped and for a moment, all I could do was stare at her. Her eyes sparkled back at me with unrestrained delight.

"How did you know?!" I hissed quietly. She smiled knowingly.

"Please. I've been watching you two dance around each other since the school year started."

I frowned as I draped a soft, comforting blanket over my lap. "Well, I can only hope the press doesn't figure it out as easily as you." She shook her head reassuringly.

"Oh, they won't. They don't have my insider access, after all." The nerves inside me settled a little. She had a point. "But I have to know. What was it that attracted you to Tatum in the first place?"

I couldn't fight back the smile on my face as I pictured the funny, overprotective, sweet little kid I fell in love with at such a young age. He'd always had my heart. All the other boyfriends I'd had throughout the years—both before and after he'd left for the army—none could compete with Tatum.

"I've always been close to him. At first, I was just happy to have him back in my life. But the more I spent time with him, the more my old feelings for him came flooding back. But now, it wasn't enough to be just friends anymore," I answered, feeling somewhat in a daze as different memories of Tatum and I growing up flashed through my brain.

I remembered how shy he was when I first met him, he'd barely poked his head out from behind his dad's leg. I remembered the moment we became best friends, when he stood up for me against a group of bullies. I remembered the way he'd held me, a blubbering mess, all night after I broke up with my first ever boyfriend. And I remembered when he'd punched the guy square in the nose upon learning that he'd cheated on me.

Dionne smirked at me. "Plus he's, like, totally ripped. I bet that helps." I bit down on my lip to fight back a giggle.

"I will not confirm or deny..." I replied. She squealed as she tucked her feet beneath her on the arm chair.

"How serious are you two?" she asked. "On a scale from casual hookup to head over heels."

More memories flashed through my mind. Tatum taking me to our last prom senior year. How jealous I'd always been whenever I saw another girl flirting with him. How he always made me feel like I was floating on air when he smiled at me. And how he refused to leave my side for days after Dad died...

"Honestly? I... I'm in love with him," I nearly whispered, almost afraid of letting those three powerful, life-changing words out into the universe. "I know it sounds crazy or cheesy, but...it's true. I feel more strongly about Tatum than I ever have about anyone before. Always have."

Dionne squealed loudly in delight as she clapped her hands furiously. "Oooo, that's what I hoped you'd say! You and Tatum are too perfect, I swear!"

I looked down as my cheeks flushed bashfully. Luckily the thick, green face mask would more than certainly cover the blush.

"Alright, alright, that's enough about my love life. Now it's your turn. How are you feeling about Philip?" I asked. A shadow crossed over Dionne's face and her shoulders sagged a little. All traces of delight and amusement were swallowed whole.

"It's...fine, I guess. Preparations for the wedding are underway, so that's, um...exciting..." she said quietly.

I frowned sympathetically at her. It was obvious she didn't care for Philip in that way, and it seemed that the feeling was mutual. After a minute, she threw her hands up in the air exasperatedly.

"Oh, who am I kidding?" she continued. "The more I hear about you and Tatum, the more I see what Philip and I are missing. And we're missing a lot. If I'm having doubts about Philip now, how am I ever gonna survive the rest of my life with him?"

I gave her a lopsided grin as a certain young prince flashed through my mind. "Maybe Philip isn't the right prince for you..." Dionne stared at me with wide, innocent eyes.

"What do you mean?" she asked. I smiled at her, this time the mischievous glint in my eye.

"I'm talking about the other Wallace brother. I've seen the way you look at Peter...and how he looks at you."

Even behind her avocado face mask, I could tell she was flustered.

"I... I don't know what you're talking about. Why would I waste my time looking at that nerd and his...face?" she stammered. I shrugged.

"I dunno. You tell me."

She wrapped her arms tightly across her chest. "It's just...strange to be having second thoughts about my engagement at this point. I've been betrothed since I was five." I nodded as I listened. I couldn't imagine what that must feel like... To already have the rest of your life planned out for you at such an early age, with no say in it whatsoever.

"It's normal to have doubts. To wonder what it'd be like to marry for love. I think that's totally understandable. Plus, when you were five it was a pretty distant prospect. Now it's a lot more real," I replied softly.

She sighed.

"Yeah...but my country's alliance with Philip's is hinging on this marriage! It seems selfish to even consider not going through with it." I took a beat to really study her. I could see the war of emotions raging behind her eyes. I understood that feeling well, having to choose between your devotion to your country...or being happy.

"Di, listening to your heart isn't selfish," I said. "Wanting to marry someone you love instead of someone your parents picked out is not selfish. There are other ways to create alliances. Countries have been making do without arranged marriages for centuries!"

She smiled a bit. "Pssh. Countries without a centuries-old monarchy, maybe." I rolled my eyes at her, a smile on my lips.

"You know what I mean. I'm just saying there's nothing selfish about wondering if you might have another option here. I think it'd be weird if you didn't, honestly."

Dionne seemed to physically relax a little at my words. "Thanks, Lorelai. I'm not sure you're right...but even having someone to talk to about all of this makes me feel a little better."

I shrugged nonchalantly. "That's what I'm here for." At the thought of her home country, my mind flashed back to her parents. "How have things been with your mom and dad? Since you had that talk with them at your birthday dinner?" The corners of her mouth quirked up into a smile.

"They've actually been great! There's still a lot we need to work on. We've got to find a balance that works for all of us. But so far, they've tried to be more involved and attentive. We even have regularly scheduled video calls to catch up! Every Sunday at 4. So far, they've made it to every one," she admitted, her tone a lot more cheerful than before.

I smiled broadly at her.

"Dionne, that's amazing! I'm so happy to hear that." She giggled in response.

"Yeah, well, we'll see how next birthday dinner goes."

She studied me for a moment in silence, and I gave her a puzzling look.

"What?" I asked.

She smirked at me as she smugly said, "Don't look now, but I'd say you're downright cheered up." I let out a deep breath. I really did feel at least a little better. The world seemed a little less chaotic, and my mind felt a little clearer.

"You were right, I needed this. I don't know what I did to deserve you, Di. But I'd be completely lost at this school if I didn't have you." She smiled as she rolled her eyes.

"Don't get all mushy on me. It's not like you've never done anything for me, either. I've gotta live vicariously through someone's romantic life, right?"

I shrugged. "Maybe...or maybe I can help you think of some alliance alternatives instead..." Dionne let out a short laugh.

"Ha! We'll see where the night takes us. For now, let's wash these things off and get back to more reality TV drama. You put the show back on, I'll pop more popcorn."

We spent the rest of the night chatting, giggling and binge-watching 'The Rich and the Idle'. As the late hours of the night wore on, we both eventually fell asleep curled up in our blankets in the living room.

I jumped as a loud knock sounded at the door. I tossed the blanket off of me and sleepily made my way from the couch to the front door. As I swung it open, I was instantly greeted by Winston's smiling face with the usual stoic Tatum and Mom's political analyst standing behind him.

"Lorelai, how well would you say you know your classmates?" he asked immediately. Well, good morning to you too. I cocked a suspicious eyebrow at him. I had a strange feeling that I wouldn't like where this was going...

"Pretty well, I guess. Why?"

His smile widened. "Because you're about to be dating one."

I know I said last chapter that that was the longest chapter I'd ever written, but this one somehow ended up even longer! I hope it was well worth it! I just couldn't really cut anything big out. Again, this chapter follows closely with the book's chapter nine. But next chapter we'll start to see some more changes.

Make sure you tune in! I endured my incredibly gassy dog farting underneath my desk all night for you.

Much love,

XOXO

-MusicToMe