Chapter Eleven

(Monday Morning)

After the weekend from hell as she liked to refer to it Rory decided she was going to start avoiding people. Talking only seemed to aggravate her even more so avoidance seemed like the only rational answer. Unfortunately Lorelai didn't feel the need to allow her to do so.

"Morning!" Lorelai said happily as she danced around the coffee pot. When Rory didn't answer she stopped dancing and watched Rory fill her book bag with textbooks off the table. "Your dad called last night."

"OK."

"He's coming over later today." she said hoping for some kind of reaction

"OK." she stated emotionless

"He's bringing Sherry." Lorelai told her knowing she'd get a reaction out of her now

Rory shrugged. "OK."

"She wants to meet you."

"OK."

"Is that the only word you know this morning." Lorelai asked exasperated

"No."

"Where are you going!" she yelled as Rory walked out of the house

"School." she yelled back before closing the door.

Lorelai sighed and picked up the phone. "Hey Michel, It's Lorelai. I won't be able to make it to the inn until later this afternoon."

xxxxxx

The first half of the day progressed slowly for Rory. She was pleasantly satisfied when she had made it through lunch without anyone mentioning anything that was not school related to her. She was nearing her locker when she saw Summer and Lemon standing there waiting for her.

"Hey Mary." Summer said snidely

Rory sighed. "Go away Summer."

Summer shook her head slowly. "Nope not gonna happen Mary."

Rory took a deep breath to conceal the fact that hearing people call her Mary still bothered her. She shot a pleading look in Lemon's direction hoping that the girl would take Summer away. "What do you want?"

"How's our favorite blondie doing?"

"I wasn't aware of any favorites that we shared with one another." Rory snipped

"Oh come on, you know exactly who I'm talking about. How's Tristan?"

Rory slammed her locker shut finally coming face to face with Summer. She looked her dead straight into the eyes. "Considering I don't talk to Tristan, I'm not sure. But I'm almost positive he doesn't send his regards to you."

"Wow. She's feisty. Some would say you sound almost jealous."

Rory squinted her eyes together slightly. "Of what you twit."

"The fact that I have something with Tristan."

"Had something with Tristan. Had not have had. You have nothing with Tristan. You don't know a single thing about him. You don't know where he is. You don't know what he's doing. If you have something with him shouldn't you know the answer to every question you've shoved down my throat for the last month?"

"Excuse me!" Summer snapped angrily, "Who exactly do you think you are?"

Rory groaned. "I'm so tired of this." she said tears threatening to fill her eyes "Why won't you just leave me alone? You broke up with him. Move on. You're pathetic."

"And you're a bitch. You think that just because he talked to you and told you what was going on that he cared. Newsflash Mary you're always going to be nothing but a notch in his bedpost."

Lemon looked over in Rory's direction and saw that there were tears in her eyes. She also knew that Summer had pushed all the buttons she needed to and that if she tried much harder Rory would be crying in the hallway. "Come on Summer let's just go."

"No. The girl needs to learn her place around here. She knows where he is. I want to know where Tristan is dammit."

"I really don't know what you're talking about Summer. I haven't the faintest idea where you're fallen king is. Now please leave me alone."

"I don't believe you."

"Maybe she really doesn't know anything. Maybe all she did was yell at him for being late and then he just left. Or maybe he called her Mary and she yelled at him and he left when she got mad."

"See listen to your friend. I honestly don't know where he is, nor do I care." Rory lied

Summer glared angrily in Rory's direction before turning on her heel and storming off.

Rory looked over at Lemon for a moment trying to figure out why she did what she did. "Why?"

"Whatever he said to you is private. I get that. He told you not the whole world. His words were meant for you and you alone. I respect that. Anyone else would have ran around and blabbed it right away."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry about Summer. I don't even know why she cares so much."

"Yeah." Rory replied unsure of what to say

"I should go before she notices that I didn't storm off with her." Lemon said before walking away

Paris walked over to Rory curiously. "Did I seriously see you talking to Lemon?"

"She was apologizing for Summer, who by the way just finished attacking me again."

Paris looked closer at Rory and saw her eyes were red and it was obvious that she had been about to cry. "I can tell."

"What?"

"You look like you could burst into tears any minute now."

"I'm just tired of everyone hounding me."

"His goodbye must have been worth it."

"Why do you say that?"

"You're putting yourself through hell here Rory. You could end it all and just tell people what you know..."

"So that's what this is about. You want me to open up to you so I'll tell you what I know about Tristan... I should have known better!" Rory interrupted and then stormed off angry never giving Paris a chance to defend herself.

xxxxxx

Rory walked through the front door after school still fuming over Summer and Paris. The first thing she came into contact with was Lorelai. "Are you in a better mood Rory?"

"God, you're like a pop-up book from hell." she snapped when Lorelai popped up in front of her from nowhere

"That's sweet Ror." Lorelai said bitterly, "Guess the answer to my question is no."

"I'm peachy thanks." Rory said dropping her book bag on the floor. "Why is the house clean?" Rory asked confusion written on her face

"Where you not listening to me at all this morning?" Lorelai asked annoyed

"Obviously not." Rory said looking at her like 'duh.

"Your Dad and Sherry are coming over."

"Oh yeah, I heard that I just forgot. When do they get here?"

"Hi kid." came a voice from behind her

"Dad. You came." Rory said shocked

"Of course I did." Chris said unsure of why she looked surprised

"I'm still getting used to you actually showing up when you say you are." Rory said sarcasm dripping from her words

"Honey, look who Dad brought." Lorelai said trying to draw attention away from Rory's attitude

"This is Sherry. Sherry this is Rory." Chris said pointing towards Sherry

Rory simply smiled a half smile and nodded. Sherry however became extremely bubbly and excited. "Finally, finally, finally. I am so beyond thrilled, I can't tell you. All he does is talk about you. I couldn't wait to meet this amazing person."

"Well, she lives up to the hype let me tell you." Lorelai said proudly

"Is my face turning red?" Rory asked somewhat bitterly

"Oh yeah, beet red." Lorelai said smiling slightly

"Oh I'm sorry. I put you on the spot. I've just been really looking forward to this." Sherry said apologetically

"Whatever." Rory said passively

Sherry looked over at Christopher smiling nervously. Chris looked over at Lorelai who simply shrugged as if to say I don't know what's gotten into her.

"I was hoping we'd get a chance to see where Rory lives and her room." Sherry said once again excited

"Oh, my room's no big deal." Rory said desperately trying to keep them out of her room

"Oh and the books! I've heard all about the books, I can't wait to see the books." Sherry practically yelled in excitement

"Well let's go see the books." Lorelai said looking at Rory pleading with her to stop with the attitude

"I'd really rather we didn't." Rory said blandly

"Didn't what sweetie?" Chris asked curiously

"Go in my room. I'd rather we didn't go traipsing around my room and touching things, especially my books." Rory said coldly

"She's very protective of her literature." Lorelai said laughing it off her eyes begging Christopher to do the same

If Sherry was upset by Rory's attitude she didn't let on. "And your uniform is darling, really. I love the blue! You look so beautiful in your uniform."

"I look like every other female at Chilton." Rory muttered under her breath but also noticing that both Lorelai and Chris heard her.

"But I bet you look great in anything..." Sherry continued to rattle on

"Oh yeah you should see her in chaps." Lorelai cracked making Chris laugh

"Really?" Sherry asked stupidly

Rory rolled her eyes. "No."

"You know I went to private school too."she said trying to steer the conversation back to something that didn't make her sound like an idiot

"Really." Rory replied dryly

"Except that our colors were white and bright red. I looked hideous." Sherry said now smiling

"Oh she's being self deprecating. You looked cute in that outfit" Chris said defending her

"No no, I looked like a peppermint stick."

Rory laughed. "You think people got hungry just looking at you?"

"Rory!" Lorelai snapped

"What?"

"You're being rude." Chris stated

Rory laughed loudly at that. "Please don't even start to act like you around enough to know when I'm bring rude Christopher. I barely know you."

"Rory stop it, you can't talk to your father like that." Lorelai snapped

"It's fine. I understand. She doesn't like me, but I'm set on changing her mind." Sherry said brightly

"Sher..." Chris started

"Rory can I run something by you?"

"Sure." Rory said bored

"I was wondering if you wanted to do something with me tonight, just the two of us." Sherry asked hopefully

Rory nodded. "Sure tell you what we'll sit down and make the plans as soon as I'm done with my lobotomy." Rory snapped before walking into her room and shutting the door.

AN: Read and Review people...