Chapter 3

Rory POV

After the dinner with my grandma, I couldn't believe what was happening. Christopher was back. Not only that, Mom told me that all of the Hayden's wanted to see me. That wasn't going to happen. I wanted nothing to do with any of them. Tris had ended up coming back to Stars Hollow with us and we had a movie night. When we walked into the house, April is sprawled out in the recliner. Mom and I both go change clothes and headed back to the living room. Mom offered Tris a pair of sweats that Jess had left behind from when he'd stayed with us. He politely declined. Mom sat on the couch while Tris and I laid on the loveseat. Mom started the first movie and before the movie was halfway over she was sound asleep. April had passed out too. Tris and I just laid there and cuddled while we watched the movie. "I'm sorry about the drama tonight." I told him.

He brushed my hair out of my face and pulled me closer. "It's not like you asked for it. I take it, you don't wanna see your dad." Tris said.

"It's not that I don't want to see him…it's just… he picks and chooses when he wants to be in my life. Luke has been more of a dad to me than Christopher has." I told him.

"I'm sorry, Ror." He told me.

I looked over into his eyes and I could tell that he meant it. "Thanks." I said, closing the remaining distance between us. I leaned over and gently kissed him. "Thanks for being here." I said.

He gently reached up and stroked my cheek with his thumb. "No where else I'd rather be." He said.

I laid my head back on his shoulder. I didn't even remember falling asleep.

The week next flew by. Tristan and I spent the week packing and getting all of our stuff ready to go to Yale. Mom and Luke were going to be helping us. Luke would be driving his truck with all of our big stuff while we had our cars loaded up with all of the little things. The unfortunate part was that we had one more Friday Night Dinner to get through. I'd invited Tris along again knowing that I wouldn't be able to get through it without him. This dinner would be different though. Not only would it be me and Tris, but also Mom, Luke and April. Grandma also said that she had a surprise for me. I wasn't sure that I liked that idea.

"Mom, just try and play nice tonight please." I said, as we walked up the front walk to Grandma's front door.

"No promises Rory, but I'll try." Mom said as she reached over and rang the doorbell.

I looked back at Tris and he gave me a sympathetic smile. It didn't take long for Grandma to open the door. "Hello, everyone. Come in." Grandma said a little too happy.

Tris grabbed my hand and gently squeezed it for support. I guess that he sensed my anxiety. Grandma led us to the living room. I gasped when I saw who was sitting there. I couldn't believe it. Grandma had invited Christopher. "Hey kiddo! Congrats on graduating." Christopher said as Mom, Luke and April sat on one couch while Tris and I just stood there.

"Thanks." I said. "What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Emily invited me for dinner. A send off to Yale she called it." Christopher said.

I didn't know what to say. "Excuse me." I said, turning around making my way to the kitchen. I knew that Tris would follow me. I had just poured myself a cup of coffee when I felt his hands on my hips.

"Are you okay?" He asked me.

I leaned back and rested my head on his chest. "I don't know. I knew that she wanted me to see Christopher's family but I didn't think that she'd invite him here." I told him.

"Do you want to leave? We brought two cars. We can just slip out." Tris suggested.

I sighed. "As much as I want to, if we do I'd never hear the end of it from Grandma." I told him.

"Well, I'll be right by your side." He said, taking my hand and leading me back to the living room.

When we walked in, the room was in complete chaos. Mom and Christopher were yelling at each other. Mom and Grandma were yelling at each other. Grandpa was trying to calm Grandma down. Luke and April just looked really uncomfortable. "What's going on?" I yelled over my family.

Everyone turned and looked at me. Nobody said anything. "We're leaving." Mom said. Luke and April stood up behind her.

"We haven't had dinner yet." Grandma said.

"Well, we'll have to reschedule considering the company." Mom said, as we all started making our way to the front door.

"Lorelai, don't be ridiculous. He's her father. He has a right to celebrate with us." Grandma said.

I rolled my eyes. When we made it to the driveway, Grandma still following… I'd finally had enough. I turned and faced Grandma. "Grandma, I love you but my father will always be Luke. He's the one that has been there for me pretty much my entire life. Christopher is just the guy that knocked my mom up. I'll see you next week." I said before Tris and I got into his car.

Neither one of us said anything on the way back to Stars Hollow. It wasn't until we pulled into the driveway at the Crap Shack that anything was said. "I'm sorry you had to witness the drama tonight." I told Tris. We just sat in the car.

"It's not your fault. You didn't know that your grandmother was going to invite him." Tris said reassuring me.

I looked over and smiled at him. "Do you want to come in? Mom's probably on the phone ordering pizza as we speak." I told him.

"You know I wouldn't be anywhere else." Tris said.

Tris and I climbed out of the car and he grabbed his bag out of the backseat. We made our way inside and sure enough Mom was on the phone ordering food. Tris headed to the bathroom to change while I headed into the living room to talk to Mom. When she hung up the phone she tossed it onto the couch. "Where's Tristan?" Mom asked.

"Changing." I said.

Mom put her hands on my shoulders forcing me to look at her. "How are you?" She asked and I looked at her confused. "You know with Christopher showing up."

"Ah. I'm not gonna lie. It was awkward. I mean, how long has it been since we've seen him?" I asked.

"A while." Mom said.

"Exactly. What the hell was Grandma thinking?" I asked.

"I have no idea. Apparently, she went behind Grandpa's back. He had no clue about it. He wasn't exactly happy with her." Mom said.

"Join the club." I said.

"Why don't you go change and then you and Tristan can hit Doose's and get junk food and we'll have a massive movie night for your big send off. Okay?" Mom said.

I gave Mom a weak smile. "Yeah sure." I said.

I headed to my room and closed the door behind me. I needed a minute. I needed a minute away from everyone. I needed to think. I walked over to my dresser and pulled out a t-shirt and a pair of blue jean shorts. After I changed clothes, I sat on the edge of my bed. Grandma had purposely invited Christopher tonight. But for what purpose? I mean clearly she was trying to get he and I in the same room together but for what? Grandma knew that Mom and I didn't have anything to do with Christopher.

I was pulled from my thoughts by someone knocking on my door. "Ror?" Tristan said as he slowly opened my door. He walked in and sat beside me on my bed. "Are you okay?" He asked me.

I shrugged. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his side. "I don't know. Grrr… I'm so ready to be at Yale." I told him.

He leaned over and kissed the side of my head. "And tomorrow we will be." He told me.

"I know your right." I said.

We sat there for a few minutes in silence. "Your mom mentioned a junk food run. You in?" He asked me.

I couldn't help but smile at him. He always knew how to make me smile. "Thank you for being here. I don't know what I'd do without you." I said.

"I'll always be here." He said.

"Tris?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you." I said.