Chapter 10

All summer, Jess was faithful to Rory and wrote her letters, Dad was acting weird calling but not as much, and not visiting. I knew Sherry was probably pregnant unless I managed to somehow change that and Mom and Luke were openly flirting more. I had the interview at Rifton School of the arts and am starting in September. Rory gave Dean back the car he made her. Mom agreed it was only right. Dean and Jess got into a fight, and Dean started it, there were actual witnesses. Well not so much of a fight but shoving, and a few punches, Luke broke them up. But Jess did a relatively good job of holding his temper, a better job than Dean did. Now everyone in town is treating Dean like he needs anger management classes. Back to the Interview. I put on a very nice outfit, and brought my portfolio, and my school records, and Mom and I met Grandma outside the Rifton School of the arts, and we went inside, we met with the Headmistress, Dr. Michaelson.

"Nice to meet you Mrs. Gilmore, Miss Gilmore, and this must be Quinn, you'll be entering the 7th grade is that correct."

"That's correct." I said "My sister goes to Chilton, is Rifton as competitive as Chilton."

"It's a somewhat competitive, but not as competitive as Chilton, we're an art school, and many times when it comes to art we're collaborative, many times it's the same when it comes to academics. Now while we don't have sports teams, or standard Phys. Ed, we have dance a variety of dance classes to take, to fulfill your PE requirement including what we call Dance Basics, which is basically Dancing for Dummies the other option is to opt out of PE, if you already take a sport."

"I take Judo."

"Alright, if you can get me a letter from your Judo teacher you won't have to take dance here."

"That's great." I said. We then took a tour and it was great, the summer Rory was gone was hard on Mom and on Jess. Until I went to Jess and told him I thought we should get Luke and Mom together. Jess and I started planning. We tricked them both into our garage where Sookie and lane had music and had a romantic dinner waiting, and we locked them in. for several hours, when we let them out the dinner were making out.

"Ha I knew it!" I said

"Quinn, were you behind this." Mom said smiling.

"Me, Jess, Sookie, and Lane. We didn't tell anyone else."

"Thank You, Jess, Quinn, Lorelai and I talked and we're dating now." I wrote Rory about it and she was very happy about it. The next week, dad told us on the phone that sherry was pregnant and she was marrying her. I wasn't surprised I told him congratulations. It was Mid July by then, and Rory would be home in a month. Mom and Luke went out on a Real date and Stayed over with JR so Luke stayed over at our house instead of Mom over at Luke's apartment. When I got home Mom showed me her engagement ring. She said she and Luke were going to get married in the snow, and remodel the crap shack, for all of us. the work started right away, I stayed with JR, and Mom stayed with Luke. Rory came home before the remodeling was finished, and we started staying in the inn. She and Jess made out, Mom, me and Rory went to Friday Night Dinner.

A maid answered not that I would remember the name of this one either. Were lead to the drink room. Rory had soda, and Mom had a Martini. Grandpa got me a Shirley temple.

"Mom, Dad I'm engaged to Luke….." Off their looks. "Luke Danes, Luke from Luke's Diner."

"We know who he is, Lorelai I just can't believe that you would marry such a low man. That you would allow such a man to be a stepfather to your children." Grandma said.

"You're wrong about him." I said "He's been there for us, when dad wasn't. When Rory and I both had the chicken pox at the same time, and she only wanted to eat mashed potatoes and I only wanted pasta with butter, he came over and made it for us, or when I was six and my dad hadn't called me on my birthday, or anytime anything in the house broke and we needed someone to fix it." I said "Anytime mom needed a shoulder to lean on. Grandma I love you, and I know you love mom and all of us but You need to get this vision of a society life you have Mom out of your head that's not mom, it was never going to be Mom, even if she hadn't gotten pregnant she would have left the fold eventually, it's not her style, she's happy in Stars Hollow, she's happy with Luke, can't you just be happy for her I mean Loving someone doesn't always meaning agreeing with their choices, but you love and support them anyway….."

"I just want the best for your mother." Grandma said

"Mom is extremely happy with her life, Grandma, aren't you Mom?"

"Yes, Mom, I'm happy, happier than I ever could have been with Christopher and I know that hurts you and I'm Sorry it hurts you, and I'm Sorry I can't be the daughter you want, but this is who I am." Mom said

"Lorelai I never said I didn't want you as a daughter, it's just…" Grandma faltered.

Mom smiled sadly. "It's just you want me to have your life, but Mom I don't want your life, and I wouldn't be happy living a society life, I'm happy in Stars Hallow, and I love Luke, and he loves me. You love dad and choose him, can't you be happy with the life I chose?"

"I suppose I can….' She said though not so convincingly.

It's the first day of school, Rory goes to Chilton, and I go to Rifton. Mom takes me to RIfton the first day, and Luke goes with us, his puts on his banker outfit, and Mom has on her fancy work clothes. I have on my uniform which I'm wearing black pleated skirt, my phoenix knee sox, black on black converse, white blouse, a cardigan, and a red and gold striped tie, being an art school, it has some concessions on the uniform. And all the ties are red and gold. I felt like a Gryffindor. I also have in my bag a pair over coveralls for my painting, it was required school supplies for Art Majors. The remodel is almost done, we should be able to move in as soon finished and decorated. It'll be finished in another week to 10 days, and then the decorating begins. My room is still across from Mom and Luke's, and Rory's and Jess's are downstairs. I reminded Mom to get new coverage for her insurance right away she looked at me and I said I listen to grandpa sometimes. She nodded. After the meet in greet with Dr. Michaelson who was happy to see me again, they called, another student a 9th grader to show me around in here, another art student. She was dressed in the uniform, and multicolored tights, black slip-ons, the white shirt, red and gold tie, and golden blonde hair which was in a messy bun.

"Ah, Miss Allen, please come in. You're going to show Miss Gilmore the ropes."

"I'd be delighted, Dr. Michaelson."

"Bye Luke, By Mom, Bye Grandma…." I found myself out in the hallway with Miss Allen.

"I'm Quinn…."

She smiled. "Dani….Look, this place is pretty go with the flow for a Private school."

"My sister goes to Chilton I've heard horror stories…."

"We're not that competitive and crazy. Well the dance student are, but We're mostly a community of artists, learning our craft with top notch academics to help us get into any school we need to, once college rolls around. We have fine art, Drama, dancing, or Photography Majors, and when they're not working on their majors, they have core classes in History, English, Math, Computer Science, Science, and honors classes, in Latin, Psychology, Economics, Honors History, Honors English, and Mythology and world religions, the other languages, Spanish, French, Italian, and Mandarin are electives."

"I already Speak Latin, I taught myself, let me see your schedule." I showed her.

'This is a pretty good schedule. You're in Honors Latin, you're also in 7th Honors English, 7th Honors History, 7th grade Science, 7th grade Math, 7th grade Computer Science, 7th Grade Math, Painting 101, Drawing 101, and Photography 101. You should be happy here….Your first class today is 7th Honor's English, With Ms. Pender, I'll show you were that is…."

School was amazing, and I think I'll like it very much. Photography 101 was my last class of the day my photography teacher was handsome and young and lectured us how this wasn't going to be and easy class, and how Photography was a serious and delicate art. He had long silky brown hair and brooding brown eyes. Rory met me at the Bus stop, like I knew she would, and we took the Bus back.

"How was school?" She said.

"It was good. I like my teachers and my classes, Photography is a lot more than point and shoot….it's intricate, and it's art, and I think I'm a little in love with my photography teacher."

"As Long as Nothing comes of it."

"Rory, I remember Mr. Donnelly, I remember the trial, that's not something I'm looking forward to again. Besides Mr. Donnelly was a sicko, I'm sure Mr. Beckett is a normal guy who has no interest in little girls."

"Probably."

"However, I am 12 years old, and it's perfectly for me to have a small unrequited crush on my teacher."

She laughs. "You're probably right…."

That weekend the remodel was done. And Mom and Luke started decorating, but we weren't allowed to see it yet. Another two weeks passed. We went to Friday Night Dinner, Mom had a cold, Mom, Luke, Rory Jess and I were all there. Luke and Jess didn't have to go every week, just one week a month like Army reservists. And this was their weekend up.

"How is the Remodeling coming Lorelai?"

"The Remodel is done, Mom now we're decorating." Mom said. "Most of the house is actually decorated, already we're already done the kitchen and the living room, the bathrooms, the master bedroom, it's really just the kids rooms that are left….."

"Any hints?" I said

"Sorry kid." Mom said. We got out of dinner relatively unscathed. At the diner, Luke gives, me and Mom Soup, since I've caught her cold. I eat the soup, Mom dumps her carrots in my soup, I shrug and eat them anyway. I like carrots. I know once Luke moves in we'll all be eating healthy so we might as well get used to it. Rory and Jess are off making out, by the bus stop. And Luke catches the Mouse in the Inn, for Mom. Another week passes and we all move into the house. I'm really happy with my room, it's perfect. It has all my supplies, everything my drawings, it's just bigger. And I have a window seat now, I can look out the yard at Babette and Morey's House. I call JR to come over and look at the house to see how great it is, she loves her room too. Rory has a carved bed, and bookshelves, My night sky in Day glow plaint has been painted on the ceiling, it's accurate too. I look at Luke. "Did you do that?"

"Me and your mom."

I hug him. Rory joins in.

Jess clears his throat. "I like my room but don't expect me to hug you."

"No of course not that would hurt your tough guy street cred." I said dryly.