Author's Note: Well, it's been a while since I did one of these! And by these, I meant write on here. I understand this trope's been done before but I wanted to do one because it's been on my mind for a while and it'll be good to work on this while I go through Writer's Block on my other work lmao. Anyways, I hope you enjoy!
2/20/21: Revised.
Emma Gilmore was in a predicament. It wasn't often she found herself in one, but when she did, it tended to catch the attention of others. Others, like her mother, Lorelai Gilmore, or her twin sister, Rory Gilmore. Today, only Rory was around to hear her sister's laments as she got dressed for school.
"This sucks!"
"Em, hurry up!" Rory shouted up the stairs. "We're gonna be late!"
Emma ran to the landing. "Give me a second!" She shouted, rushing back into the bathroom. She stared at her hair. Did she want it up or down today?
"Emma!" Rory shouted again. "I will leave you here!" Emma quickly combed through her hair, patting the flyaways down with water before quickly running out of the bathroom and down the stairs. Her sister was watching with thinly veiled annoyance, holding her bookbag and shoes. Emma grinned at her sister, grabbing the shoes and slipping them on as they made their way to the door.
"You're such a good sister." Emma mocked. Rory ignored her, leading them down the road and on the way to diner. "They should give out nobel prizes for sisterhood. And then I could nominate you. But it would be between you and the stepsisters from Cinderella." Rory continued to ignore her as they headed up the steps and walked inside, sliding into an empty seat across from their mother.
"Hey." Rory greeted their mom, "It's freezing."
"Are we sure that's not just your heart?" Emma rolled her eyes, settling into the seat between them.
"Do I wanna know what this is about?" Lorelai arched an eyebrow at the both of them in mild amusement.
"Ask the ice princess." Emma sniffed, digging through her bag and pulling out a compact mirror.
Rory rolled her eyes, "Better left alone, I think."
"Okay," Lorelai moved along, "What do we need? Coffee? Doughnuts? A time machine?"
"Where would you get a time machine this time of day?" Emma asked, snapping her mirror shut and stuffing it into her bag.
"Maybe Luke has one." Lorelai said, turning to the diner owner. "Hey, Luke, you have a time machine?"
"I just lent it to someone." Luke replied drily, not looking up from his notepad.
"Aw, damn it!" Lorelai grinned at her daughters. "How about something else?"
"I just need lip gloss." Rory sighed. Lorelai pulled out a makeup bag from her purse, pulling tubes out.
"I have vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and toasted marshmallow." Lorelai offered.
"Anything not resembling a breakfast cereal?" Rory asked.
"Yes." Lorelai pulled out another bag. Emma watched with amusement, reaching for the strawberry lip gloss. "It has no smell but it changes colors with your mood."
"God, RuPaul doesn't need this much makeup." Rory complained.
"You're crabby." Lorelai noted with a frown.
"I'm sorry." Rory sighed. "Emma was taking too long this morning, I lost my Macy Gray CD, and I need caffeine."
"Hey, this takes time." Emma said defensively. "Your lack of effort is endearing but I've devoted myself to the craft of fashion."
"Hey!" Rory glared at her sister.
Lorelai interrupted before they could rile each other up. "I have your Macy Gray CD. And I can get coffee." Lorelai pulled out the CD from her bag, handing it to her daughter.
"Thief." Rory pouted.
"You have my red scarf in there, too?" Emma asked with a small smile, mostly joking. Her eyes widened when her mom pulled out the aforementioned scarf and handed it over with a guilty smile. "Hey, you really are a thief!"
"Who provides the coffee." Lorelai reminded her.
"An angelic thief. Like Robin Hood with less arrows and steals from poor, innocent girls than the rich." Emma batted her eyes at her mom. Lorelai grinned back as she took two cups to the counter.
"Is this lip gloss too much?" Rory asked, frowning.
"No," Emma reassured her, "In fact, you could do more. I mean it," Emma insisted when she saw her sister about to respond, "Some mascara for the blues, and some blush…"
"I don't really care about that." Rory said.
"I know, I just think-" Emma cut herself off when a man appeared at their table. She exchanged a look with her sister, her eyebrows drawing together in bemusement.
"I'm Joey," the man offered. "You like this place?"
"We wouldn't be here if we didn't." Emma said in amusement.
"I'm just passing by on my way to Hartford," Joey said. "I've never been through here before."
"You have too." Lorelai said from behind him. Joey turned around in surprise.
"Oh, hi."
"Oh, hi. You really like my table, don't you?" Lorelai asked.
"I was just...uh…" Joey scrambled for something to say.
"Getting to know my daughters." Lorelai finished for him. Joey looked down at them in surprise. Rory blinked at him innocently.
"Are you our new daddy?" Rory said. Emma followed her lead and tried to make herself look innocent.
"Wow. You do not look old enough to have daughters. No, I mean it. And you do not look like a daughter." Joey tried to recover.
"That's possibly very sweet of you, thank you." Lorelai said.
"So...daughters. You know I have a friend-" Joey said.
"Ew." Emma interjected. "We're sixteen, dude."
"Bye." Joey rushed out the door.
"Drive safe." Lorelai gave him a small wave before sitting down again. The girls looked at each other for a moment before laughing.
"I guess we should start heading over to school," Rory said, glancing at Emma who looked less than enthused.
"Okay, hon." Lorelai said, before putting a hand on Emma's arm. "And you. Be good. Please."
"I'm an angel." Emma told her mom innocently, batting her eyelashes.
Rory rolled her eyes as she pulled her sister up and out the door, Emma protesting all the way.
Emma was sitting in English class with Rory, doodling in the margins as the teacher explained the assignment.
"For those of you who have not finished the final chapters of Huckleberry Finn you may use this time to do so. For those of you who have, you can start on your essay now. Whichever task you choose, do it silently." Rory started scrawling in her notebook as the girls around her started painting their nails. Jenna passed Emma a nail polish bottle their friends had been passing around throughout the class. Emma just painted her left middle finger, nudging her sister to offer the bottle. Rory only shook her head, returning to her work.
"Maybe it's a love letter."
"Or her diary."
"It could be a slam book." Jenna and the other girls were whispering. Emma kicked the back of Jenna's chair who jumped. She shot them a look, quieting their guessing game. One of the girls rolled her eyes but the others turned back to their books. Rory shot her sister a grateful look who smiled back. Emma picked up the book, opening it in the middle. Rory returned to her work, but when she looked up again, her sister was fast asleep on her book, her left hand on the book. Unfortunately, she wasn't the only one who noticed. The teacher spotted Emma from her desk, and with a sigh, grabbed a textbook, walked over to Emma, and dropped the textbook onto the empty desk next to her. Emma's eyes flew wide open, and when she lifted her head, Rory could see the imprint of the book on her cheek.
"Miss Gilmore, there's a time and place for that, and it's not here." She said. "And you can think about it in detention."
"You got it, Miss." Emma said blearily, blinking rapidly to get used to the light. Once the teacher was gone, Rory kicked her sister in the shin.
"You're in so much trouble." Rory mouthed.
"It's just detention."
"I mean with Mom."
Emma paled a little.
"Well, was it a good color at least?" Lane, Rory's best friend asked as they walked to her house after school and grabbing a quick snack at Luke's. While Rory was Lane's best friends, Lane and Emma were more of just friends. Rory was Emma's best friend, and she was Rory's. Emma mostly found it funny the lengths Lane would go to just to hide her true lifestyle from her mom, and the humor sometimes got in the way of Emma feeling sympathy for her. Emma had stayed behind for detention and then she would rush over for soccer practice, being the more athletic of the two, and the most athletic out of the Gilmore clan. It was only the start of the year and she was already on the team but she had stayed behind to rally new recruits. Lorelai liked to say Emma's athletic prowess made her want to ask for a DNA test but the likeness was too apparent, and it was hard to claim she could be someone else's daughter.
"It had sparkles in it." Rory said.
"Wow."
"And it smelled like bubblegum when it dried." Rory added.
"Oh, well, there's no way Mark Twain could compete with that." Lane nodded.
"Yeah, and Emma doesn't really care about literature." Rory shrugged.
"Then there's really no way Mark Twain could compete with prime napping time." Lane said. They walked into Kim's Antiques, owned and operated by Lane's mother. The entryway was crowded with chairs, tables, and dressers taking up most of the space.
"Mom, we're home!" Lane called out. "Mom?"
"Lane?"
"Mom?" Lane navigated around the store, trying to follow her mother's voice as Rory trailed behind. "Mom, where are you?"
"Lane, where are you?"
"Back here!" Lane called out. The bell at the door sounded off as someone entered or exited the store.
"I think she's over there." Rory pointed across the room.
"Are we closer?" Lane asked, moving around stacked furniture.
"I'm by the table!" Mrs. Kim called.
"She's kidding right?" Lane said with incredulity. "Look, we'll meet you in the kitchen!"
"Where?"
"The kitchen!" Rory shouted.
"Who's that?" Mrs. Kim asked.
"Rory, mom." Lane replied.
"Oh."
"I could hear the disappointment from here." Rory joked as they headed toward the kitchen. Lane and Rory finish making their way to the kitchen where they spot a familiar face at the kitchen table, drinking from a water bottle. "Emma? Wha-?"
Emma beamed at them, her cheeks rosy. "I have the best news!"
"Whoa, how'd you get here so fast?" Lane asked.
"I'm secretly the Flash." Emma said. "And detention ended early so I went to meet up with the rest of my team. Can I tell you my news now?"
"Did detention end early or did you sneak out?" Rory raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest. Emma looked at her pointedly but said nothing. "Never mind. Go ahead."
"Coach said they're thinking about making me co-captain this year!" Emma exclaimed.
"Wow, congrats!" Rory said, hugging her sister.
"Yeah, kudos, Em." Lane said, hugging Emma next.
"Thanks." Emma said.
Mrs Kim cut between them. "Co-captain? Of what?"
"My soccer team." Emma replied. "At Stars Hollow High."
"Girls shouldn't be doing sports. Girls should focus on their education. Sports make them think they can do whatever they want, and then they get pregnant and drop out." Mrs Kim said. "Any girls in your school pregnant? Drop out?"
"Not that we know of." Lane interjected quickly.
"Though come to think of it, Joanna Posner was glowing a little." Rory commented.
"What?" Mrs Kim asked sharply.
"Nothing, Mama." Lane said quickly. "She's just kidding."
"Boys don't like funny girls." Mrs Kim told Rory, all seriousness in her tone.
"Noted." Rory said.
"Well, there goes any hope for Barbara Streissand." Emma sighed, shaking her head at Lane and Rory as the bell rung on the front door, distracting Mrs Kim from the rest of the conversation.
A few days later Lorelai ran into the Independence kitchen, waving a letter in her hand and a shopping bag in the other.
"Sookie!" Lorelai called for her best friend. "It's here! It happened! She did it!"
Sookie stepped over the sous chef she had knocked down with a saucepan. "I'm gonna need a little bit longer sentence."
"The Chilton school." Lorelai explained. "Rory got in!"
"Oh my God! Oh my God!" Sookie exclaimed. "Oh my God!"
"I know!" Lorelai said. "Look. "Dear Ms. Gilmore, We are happy to inform you that we have a vacancy at Chilton Preparatory starting immediately. Due to your daughter's excellent credentials and your enthusiastic pursuit of her enrollment" - I offered to do the principal to get her in - "we would be happy to accept her as soon as the first semester's tuition has been received."
"This is very exciting." Sookie beamed at her best friend. They throw their arms around each other in celebration as they giggle.
"Is something burning?" Lorelai pulled away from Sookie, sniffing the air.
"My bangs earlier." Sookie waved it off. "Go on, go on."
"This is it. She can finally go to Harvard like she's always wanted and get the education that I never got and get to do all the things that I never got to do and then I can resent her for it and we can finally have a normal mother-daughter relationship." Lorelai said, almost breathlessly.
"What about Emma?" Sookie asked.
Lorelai waved her hand. "We already have a normal mother-daughter relationship. You know, she does whatever she wants and depending on how much trouble she gets into, I punish her for it, hope she learns her lesson, which, she doesn't, and the cycle repeats."
"As long as you have a plan." Sookie said. "But I meant - are you sure she didn't want to go to Chilton? It could be something she just said not to stress you out even more."
"Emma is the cause of my stress most of the time. And I was not stressed out." Lorelai frowned.
"Valium couldn't have brought you down." Sookie refuted.
"Okay," Lorelai conceded, sighing, "But Emma had many opportunities to tell me she changed her mind, and she didn't. Besides, I hate to think that if I forced her to do something she didn't want to do, she would just lash out, and it's hard enough getting her to take school seriously now."
"Okay." Sookie relented, just as the Gilmore twins walked into the kitchen. Emma made a beeline towards the coffee machine, quickly pouring herself a cup while a cook handed her a cup of milk.
"And a good afternoon to you too, doll." Lorelai said sarcastically at her daughter.
Her daughter held a hand up, downed half the cup before looking at her mom. "Sorry, mom. It's been a long day."
"Ah. You are forgiven." Lorelai said. Emma headed back to where her mom was standing. Lorelai turned to Rory who was eating a slice of leftover cake. "Hi, sweets."
"Hey, mom." Rory said before noting, "You're happy."
"Yeah." Lorelai agreed.
"Did you do something slutty?"
"I'm not that happy." Lorelai shook her head. She and Sookie shared a look and giggled. She held out the bag she had been holding earlier. "Here."
Rory took the proffered bag. "What's going on?"
"Just open it." Lorelai told her. Emma looked on with mild interest, sipping at her coffee. Rory opened the bag and took out a plaid skirt.
"I'm gonna be in a Britney Spears video?" Rory asked.
"Ooh, that sounds like fun." Emma said, standing next to Sookie.
"You're going to Chilton!" Sookie exclaimed, surprising the small brunette beside her. "Oh, sorry."
"Mom?" Rory looked to Lorelai for confirmation, then looking at Emma with her mouth open.
"You did it, babe. You got in." Lorelai confirmed. Rory and Emma stood there looking at each other, communicating with their eyes. There was surprise, unsureness, happiness, confusion, fear, and excitement.
"How did this happen?" Emma said. "You didn't...you know...the principal…" Emma didn't know if could look at her mother the same if she did.
"No, honey. That was a joke." Lorelai clarified. "They have an open spot. And Rory starts on Monday."
"Oh my God!" Emma exclaimed. She reached for her sister, pulling her into an embrace as they started jumping together. "Rory! You got in!" Lorelai smiled at the pair hugging, feeling as if her heart could burst. Rory was going to Chilton, Emma wasn't jealous and this what they all wanted. Rory pulled away and gaped at the skirt still in her hands.
"Sookie, I'm going to Chilton!" Rory said. Sookie and Rory hugged, before Sookie pulled away.
"I'll make cookies," Sookie offered, "Protestants love oatmeal."
"And chocolate chips." Emma interjected.
"You got it. Chocolate chip cookies coming up!" Sookie winked at the girl, bustling off to make cookies for the girls.
"I have to tell Lane." Rory said, still in disbelief. Emma, on the other hand, was not surprised as her sister. She knew her sister was talented, there was no doubt Chilton would have accepted her. They would have been stupid not to. She briefly considered the idea of her going with Rory but quickly cast those ideas aside. She was happy where she was, co-captain of the soccer team, and a big fish in a little pond. Emma wasn't as academically savvy as Rory, struggling to get through one novel whereas Rory could finish three in the same time span. It was good Rory was going to Chilton, Emma mused. Her only fear was that Rory would be going into a new school by herself, a gazelle in a den full of potential lions.
Emma considered her appearance in the mirror, staring at the red lipstick before quickly rubbing it off. It would be a little too much, she decided. The house phone rang downstairs and Emma rushed down the stairs to grab it, spotting Rory coming out in her Chilton skirt.
"Excuse me, I think the convent is down the street." Emma joked. Rory shot her a glare as she made her way out onto the porch where their mom and Sookie were. Emma picked up the phone, tucking it onto her shoulder as she made her way onto the couch.
"Hello?"
"Emma?" Jenna said.
"What's up?" Emma said, disinterestedly, picking at the nail she had painted. She had mostly done it for fun, but it had come in handy when Chip was bugging her at lunch. While everyone else had found it funny, Chip hadn't. Emma didn't regret it.
"So, you know the new guy?" Jenna said. Emma tuned into the conversation.
"Sure, I've heard about him." Emma said. "I think he's in my lunch period but Mr Stephens has me in lunch detention for the rest of the week."
"What did you do this time?"
"I told him it was stupid to be up Thomas Jefferson's butt so much and he didn't even deserve to be praised."
"What happened then?"
"I think he was debating whether it was worth it to fight a student."
"Well, rumors say he's already got his sights set on someone." Jenna said.
"Who?"
"The guy. Remember?"
"Yes, I meant who is he interested in."
"Guess."
"Just tell me." Emma sighed.
"You're no fun." Jenna said. "It's your sister."
"What?" Emma stood up from the couch in shock as her mom, sister, and Sookie walked in. They went silent at her exclamation, confused and a little concerned. She waved them off, pacing in the space between the phone and the couch. "How do you know this?"
"He's been asking around about her." Jenna explained. "Of course, nobody really knows a lot. But it looks like he asked Daisy who told Mike who told Penny who told me in last period Spanish."
"Thanks, Jen." Emma said, looking up at her family who were still staring at her. "I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?"
"Sure. Later, Em." Jenna said. Emma hung up before looking at her mom and sister again.
"What's up?"
"'What's up?'" Lorelai repeated. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah." Emma said, waving it off, "You know how Jenna is. She kisses boys and then thinks she has mono for a week." Rory was still staring at her suspiciously but Emma only looked away until she decided to move on.
"Hey, did you know I even got dressed for gym today?" Rory changed topics. Lorelai looked surprised.
"You're kidding."
"And I played volleyball." Rory continued.
"With other people?" Lorelai said.
"Yep." Emma threw her arm around Rory. "I was very proud of her. For a while, at least."
"Hey!" Rory said. "They said that girl only had a mild concussion."
"And I'm sure you believe it." Emma teased her sister. "But I do think she'll make a full recovery. Eventually." Rory protested in defense of her sucky skills but Emma couldn't stop thinking about the mysterious boy who was interested in her sister. She just had to learn more about this boy and see if he was worthy of her sister.
Lorelai stood outside of a grey manor, staring up in trepidation. It wasn't somewhere she ever expected herself to be willingly. Before she could talk herself out of it, she walked up to the entrance, and rung the doorbell before she lost her nerve. The door opened to reveal Emily Gilmore, just as imposing as ever.
"Hi, Mom." Lorelai smiled nervously.
Emily looked perplexed. "Lorelai, my goodness. This is a surprise. Is it Easter already?"
000000
"You need money." Richard Gilmore was an insurance man, and if an insurance man knew anything, it was identifying people who needed money.
"Dad, will you just let me get this out, okay?" Lorelai pleaded. "Um, Rory has been accepted to Chilton."
Emily's face lit up with pride. "Chilton? Oh, that's a wonderful school. It's only five minutes from here."
"That's right, it is. She can start as early as Monday. Um, the problem is that they want me to put down an enrollment fee plus the first semester's tuition, and I have to do that immediately or she loses her spot." Lorelai explained.
"So you need money." Richard repeated.
Emily frowned, shooting her husband a look. "Wait, what about Emma?"
"What?" Lorelai asked as casually as she could. In reality, she already suspected her parents would have an issue with only one of her daughters attending Chilton. She knew this was what Emma had wanted, but a small part of her regretted not trying to convince Emma harder to apply to Chilton. She knew Emma wasn't as studious as Rory but that didn't mean she wasn't talented. Hell, Lorelai knew Emma was smarter than the Stars Hollow High students even if she didn't care about applying herself all the time.
"Did she not get in to Chilton, too?" Emily asked, scandalized. Even Richard looked curious, making no signal he wanted to return to his newspaper.
"No," Lorelai said carefully, "She didn't."
"Why not?" Emily demanded. "She's smart and capable."
"Well, mom, she didn't want to," Lorelai finally admitted. She could see the annoyance in her mother's face as she opened her mouth to say something, "And I didn't force her."
"Lorelai!" Emily exclaimed. "This is her education we're talking about! Don't you want her to get into a good school, find a suitable career?"
Lorelai sighed. "She's a good student, mom. She does well where she is. And you don't know whether she'll even go to college."
"Your daughter is not even going to college?" Richard cut in, his eyebrows drawing together. Lorelai could practically see them letting off steam.
"I didn't come here to fight about Emma, dad." Lorelai said.
"She needs an education, Lorelai." Richard insisted.
"I didn't go to college," Lorelai reminded them, seeing them cringe, "And I'm doing well for myself."
"Well Emma could do better." Emily said. "Don't you want her to have more than you?"
"Of course I do," Lorelai could feel herself getting upset and inwardly reminded herself to remember why she came there in the first place. "But I want her to have choices. She has to want all that, or my forcing her to go to Chilton would only end up hurting our relationship."
Emily said nothing for a moment. "We'll give you the money."
"Thank you," Lorelai said in relief, "I fully intend to pay you back. Every cent. I don't ask for favors for myself, you know that."
"Yes, I do," Emily murmured.
"I'll get the checkbook." Richard said after a moment, still a little miffed at the prospect of one of his granddaughters going to public school.
"On one condition." Emily interjected before her husband could get up.
"So close." Lorelai said under her breath.
Emily heard her but chose to ignore her for argument's sake. "Since we are now financially involved in your life, I want to be actively involved in your life."
"What does that mean?" Lorelai bristled.
"I want a weekly dinner." Emily said simply.
"What?"
"Friday nights, you, Rory, and Emma will have dinner here." Emily explained. "And you have to call us once a week to give us an update on Rory and Emma's schooling and your life. That's it. That's the condition. If you agree, you'll come to dinner tomorrow night and leave here with a check."
Lorelai thought about it for a moment. Rory needed this money. And if it meant she would have to sacrifice her friday nights so her daughter could get into a good school to pursue all her dreams, then so be it. She would find a way to make it up to Emma later.
"I don't want her to know that I borrowed money from you. Can that just be between us?" Lorelai said.
"Does seven o'clock work for you?" Emily smiled.
"Perfect." Lorelai plastered on a smile. Her parents were sharks and they had smelled blood, and they had won. What was she getting her family into?
Emma cast long looks down the hallway every ten seconds, scanning for any unfamiliar faces as she held out a box that Rory was using to pack her things in. Lane was watching them, listening as Rory went on about Chilton.
"And we get to wear uniforms. No more having people check you out to see what jeans you're wearing 'cause everyone's dressed alike in boring clothes and just there to learn." Rory said excitedly.
"That sounds like hell." Emma was horrified.
"Yeah, there's academic-minded, and then there's Amish." Lane agreed. Rory finished cleaning out her locker, closing it for the last time. Emma held onto the box, motioning for her sister to lead the way, still looking around for the mysterious new boy.
"You're both hilarious." Rory said sarcastically.
"Thank you." Lane said. "So I told my mom you're changing schools."
"Was she thrilled?" Rory asked.
"I think she would've thrown a party if Emma was going with you." Lane said.
"Hey!" Emma protested. "What have I done to her?"
"You scratched one of the tables when you were playing with the protractor when we were studying for math class last year." Lane reminded her. "And you sprayed silly string on the front lawn last Halloween."
"Lately," Emma amended, "What have I done to her lately?"
"I gotta go," Lane groaned, "I have to have a pre-hayride cup of tea with a future doctor. How do I look? Korean?"
"Spitting image." Rory nodded.
"Good," Lane said, "Bye."
"Bye." Rory said. Emma waved as the girl disappeared down the hall and to the exit. Rory and Emma walked side by side down the hall.
"You think mom would ever try to set us up with guys?" Emma wondered.
Rory gave her a look. "What? No. Why would she?"
Emma shrugged. "I've never had a boyfriend. Not for lack of trying. Boys are just scared of me. And you're not interested in anyone, are you?" Emma watched for Rory's reaction to see if she knew anything about the new kid.
"No." Rory confirmed. "Besides, I'm leaving. It wouldn't make sense to start talking to someone if I'm not going to be here by tomorrow."
"Speaking of which - you ready?" Emma asked.
"It's just gonna be weird," Rory admitted. "We've always been at school together."
Someone brushed by Rory, causing her to drop her books. She dropped to the floor to pick them up. Emma was about to yell at whoever pushed her when she saw a boy come up to Rory and stand in front of her.
"God!" Rory exclaimed. "You're like Ruth Gordon just standing there with a tannis root. Make a noise."
"Rosemary's Baby." the boy recognized the reference. Emma gave him an inscrutable look, judging his appearance. He had a mop of messy brown hair but he was cute. And tall. Emma considered he could end up as tall as a moose one day.
"Yeah." Rory said.
"Well, that's a good movie. You've got good taste," the boy said, pausing. "Are you moving?"
"No, just my books are." Rory said.
"My family just moved here from Chicago." the boy offered. Emma said nothing, making herself as invisible as possible. She kind of wanted to see how it would play out. For the most part, he seemed harmless. But of course, cute boys were never entirely harmless.
"Chicago. Oprah. Windy." Rory listed, needlessly, and Emma raised an eyebrow at her. Seriously?
"Yeah, yeah that's the place." the boy agreed. "I'm Dean."
"Hi." Rory said, falling silent. Emma resisted the urge to smack her own forehead. "Oh, I'm Rory. Me. That's me."
"Rory." Dean repeated.
"Well, Lorelai technically." Rory continued.
"Lorelai. I like that."
"It's my mother's name, too. She named me after herself. She was lying in the hospital thinking about how men name boys after themselves all the time, you know, so why couldn't women? She says her feminism just kind of took over. Though personally I think a lot of Demerol also went into that decision. I never talk this much." Rory went off the deep end.
But then Rory motioned toward Emma, surprising her. She half expected Rory to forget she was there. "This is my sister. Her middle name is actually Lorelai too. Our mom said it was to complete the set but I think it was because she couldn't come up with a middle name."
"Hi, I'm Emma," the small brunette said, smiling, "I would offer you a firm handshake but I'm kinda tied up right now."
"Hi Emma." Dean smiled politely at her. "I think you're in my French class."
"Ah, Miss Fournier?"
"Yeah."
"Bonjour, Dean." Emma smiled.
"Merci." Dean said, making no attempt to include the accent. Still, he was being nice even if he was glancing at Rory the whole time. A brownie point.
"Oh, sorry," Rory said, placing the books into the box and taking it from her sister.
"You know, I actually have to talk to Coach about something." Emma said, saying the first thing she could think of.
"What about?" Rory asked.
"Practice next week." Emma said.
"What about practice next week?" Rory was still clueless.
"I should go." Dean said.
"No!" Emma said loudly before composing herself. "I mean, don't leave because of me. I'm on my way out anyway."
"No, I just...I need to go find a job." Dean explained.
"Well, maybe Rory can help you." Emma flashed her sister a quick smile, squeezing her sister's arm before walking a few steps backwards. "Nice to meet you, Dean."
Dean was still looking at her sister when he looked up and nodded at her. "Same here." Emma smirked before spinning around and flouncing away, in no particular direction.
Emma was at the Independence Inn, sorting through the office supplies when Michel walked up to her, an annoyed look on his face.
"What," Michel drawled, "Are you doing?"
"I need copy paper for my class project." Emma explained simply.
"I have a system." Michel said.
Emma looked at him. "Huh."
"It's a very particular system."
"I'm sure it is, Michel." Emma said as patiently as she could. She continued rifling through the desk, pulling out pens.
"This is not allowed," Michel finally said, "If you need supplies for school, there's an Office Max twenty minutes from here in Hartford."
"That's sweet, Michel, but I think I'll manage fine here." Emma smirked at him.
"Devil child."
"With a mom who signs your checks." Emma told him. Michel sighed, moving away to the front desk and flipping through the calendar. Emma watched him for a moment before following after him. "Michel."
Michel said nothing.
"Michel," Emma said in a sing song voice.
Michel said nothing.
"Michel, Michel, Michel." Emma said.
"You're too much like your mother, you know that?" Michel said, frowning.
"I'm sorry about your system." Emma said, making her eyes as big as possible and pouting. "Je suis désolé. Mon cœur souffre pour vous."
Michel shot her a look. "At least your French is better than your sister's." Emma only grinned at him in response. "Now leave me alone." Just then, Lorelai appeared from the kitchen, munching on a danish.
"Hey, sweets!" Lorelai called out, reaching her daughter and automatically holding out the pastry.
"Hey, mom." Emma said, taking the danish and breaking a piece off.
"Did you want to put in some hours today?" Lorelai asked.
"Nah," Emma shook her head. "I need to work on my English project. I was just robbing you." Lorelai looked confused until Emma held up the paper and markers she had taken. Lorelai nodded in understanding.
"Okay, then." Lorelai said, suddenly very nervous. "You going home now?"
"I was thinking I could work outside on the porch." Emma said. "Do you have an event today?"
"No, it's okay, but Rory's not home?" Lorelai asked.
It was Emma's turn to get nervous. She wasn't sure what her sister ended up doing when she left with Dean. What if they were still together? "I think she went to the library."
"Okay, then." Lorelai relented. "Just...remember we're going to Luke's for dinner. There's something I have to tell you guys."
"What is it?" Emma said with mild interest.
"I'll tell you at dinner." Lorelai waved her off.
"Why can't you just tell me now?" Emma insisted, curious.
"You can wait until dinner." Lorelai said firmly.
"Fine. Whatever." Emma said, rolling her eyes. Her mom was being crazy, per usual. She was already on her way out when Lorelai stopped her again.
"And have Sookie make you something to drink!" Lorelai headed back to the front desk. Emma nodded noncommittally and headed to the back to set up her work station.
"So," Lorelai began. They were at Luke's and everyone was quiet, no one willing to begin the conversation. Emma was still a little miffed at her mother's secretiveness. "You were late getting home tonight."
"Yeah, I went to the library." Rory nodded, a little distracted. Emma commended herself in her head for guessing Rory's location correctly.
"So," Lorelai said, "I have to tell you guys. We're having dinner with your grandparents tomorrow."
Emma arched her eyebrows. This was groundbreaking news, after all. "But it's September."
"Yeah, so?"
"What holiday is in September?"
"Look, it's not a holiday thing." Lorelai sighed. "It's just dinner, okay?"
"And then you're getting a lobotomy?" Emma wondered, still skeptical. "Are you dying? Are we dying?"
"Funnily enough, no." Lorelai was relieved at the joke. "Just dinner."
"Okay, cool." Emma shrugged. She knew her mom didn't get along with her grandparents very well, but Emma had never had a problem with them. They were a little stoic but their house was amazing and Grandma always let her take extra dessert after every gathering. Plus, they always got her designer clothes for Christmas which made her feel fancy but knowing that the gifts upset her mom, she would stash in the back of her closet in a bin. Knowing she had Chanel was enough for her.
Luke brought their food to the table, sliding Emma's plate filled with greens in front of her, a stark contrast to her sister and mom who only had burgers.
"Red meat can kill you. Enjoy." Luke told them, walking off.
"So, I finished hemming your skirt today." Lorelai said to Rory, who didn't respond, picking at her food instead, "A grunt of acknowledgement might be nice."
"I don't understand why we're going to dinner tomorrow night. I mean, what if I had plans? You didn't even ask me." Rory said suddenly. Emma looked at her sister in surprise.
"Well, if you had plans I would have known." Lorelai said.
"How?" Rory said, annoyed.
"You would have told me." Lorelai said, "Or Emma."
"I don't tell you guys everything." Rory said snarkily, "I have my own things."
"What things?" Emma laughed, exchanging an amused look with her mom.
"Shut up." Rory shot back.
"Hey." Lorelai said firmly, bringing the girls' attention to herself. "Don't be mean to each other. Rory, fine, okay? You have you your own things."
Rory settled back in her seat. "Emma started it."
"Hey, I think there's something wrong with this picture," Emma leaned in toward her sister, "I'm usually the bitch here."
"Only 'usually?'" Rory snarked. Emma was about to respond when Lorelai butted in.
"Hey, enough." Lorelai cut in again. She turned to Rory. "What the hell is wrong with you tonight?"
"I'm not sure I want to go to Chilton." Rory admitted.
"What?" Lorelai leaned back in shock. Emma's mouth dropped open.
"The timing is just really bad." Rory said.
"The timing is bad?" Lorelai repeated, in complete disbelief.
"And the bus ride to and from Hartford, it's like thirty minutes each way." Rory continued.
"I can't believe what I'm hearing." Lorelai said.
"Plus, I don't think we should be spending that money right now. I mean, I know Chilton's got to be costing you a lot." Emma could only watch as Rory continued her 180 in behavior, horrified, but unable to look away.
"Oh, you have no idea." Lorelai said angrily.
"All of your money should be going toward buying an inn with Sookie." Rory said.
"What about college? What about Harvard?" Lorelai said. Emma took a french fry from her mom's plate, popping it into her mouth.
"We don't know that I can't get into Harvard if I stay where I am. I mean, what about Emma? She's staying here."
"Oh, I'm not going to college." Emma told her matter of factly. She didn't know whether that was exactly true but Rory's face was completely worth it.
"Okay, enough. Enough of the crazy talk, okay? I appreciate your concern but I have this covered." Lorelai shook her head.
" I still don't want to go."
"Why?"
"Because I don't."
Lorelai stood up quickly, abandoning her dinner. "I have to get out of here."
"We have to pay!" Rory shouted back. Lorelai pulled out some money, tossing it on the table, missing how some fell to the floor. Emma picked it up but otherwise stayed put. She watched her mom and sister storm out then turned back to Luke who was watching it all unfold from behind the counter.
"Can I get some more coffee?" Emma asked, holding out her cup. Luke looked at her, shook his head but still walked over with the coffee pot.
"Are they gonna be okay?" Luke asked, trying his best to pretend like he didn't care one way or the other, even though Emma could tell he totally did.
Emma shrugged. "I think we accidentally entered another dimension where they fight and I am the biased third party."
"What do you mean?"
"I think I know why Rory's gone off the deep end, but I can't just tell my mom why." Emma explained.
"Why?" Luke's brows furrowed.
"Because the twin code states we don't just go around, sharing each other's secrets." Emma continued patiently, munching on another fry.
Luke nodded. "Ah, right, the twin code. Now, was that established before the Magna Carta or after?"
Emma pouted. "You wouldn't get it. Me and Rory call it 'Twimmunity.'"
"That sounds ridiculous." Luke shook his head at her. "And what does your mom call it?" Luke asked.
"A pain in her ass." Emma grinned at Luke, who couldn't help but smile, then held out her empty cup. "More coffee, please."
By the time Emma came home, Rory had locked herself in her room and her mom was pouting on the couch, listening to Macy Grey. She winced. So they were both going to be moody tonight. Emma slowly walked into the living room and sat next to her mom in silence. It was a while before her mom spoke.
"Did you know she didn't want to go to Chilton?"
Emma shook her head, picking at the lint on a blanket draped over the armrest. "No. I didn't even know she was capable of saying no to more homework and stuck up private school kids."
Her mom sighed. "I should have asked this earlier. But I thought - we already discussed it and came to a decision, but as your mom I should've checked again. Or pressed you about it."
"What?" Emma's nose crinkled in confusion.
"Did you want to go to Chilton? With your sister?" Lorelai said, turning to her daughter. "Did you just say no because you're used to saying no to me? And then you didn't feel like you could ask again?"
"Mom," Emma said patiently, "I said no because it would've been a waste trying to get me in. I'm not as smart as Rory-"
Her mom frowned. "You're plenty smart. Rory just worries about school more than you do. But Chilton is a good school and it could open so many doors even if you don't go to college - which I'm kinda hoping you're kidding about that - that I feel like I should've pushed you to apply."
"Well, we decided and we said no." Emma said firmly. "And mom, I'll be okay. You don't have to worry about me. I like it at Stars Hollow High. You should worry about Marky Mark in there."
Lorelai smiled a little. "About that…"
Emma glanced at her mom's face and immediately held her hands out. "No. No way. I'm calling Twi-"
Lorelai shook her head. "Nope. Doesn't count. I already called it before you did so you have to tell me."
Emma groaned, tossing her head back on the couch. "Mommmm."
"Tell me." Lorelai insisted. "I gotta know who I'm playing against."
Emma sighed, then sat up again. "How much do you know?"
"Patty thinks he's very cute." Lorelai said. "And he probably has tattoos and a motorcycle and he's completely corrupting my daughter."
"He doesn't have tattoos." Emma frowned at her mom. "I'm not sure about the motorcycle though."
"That's not comforting." Lorelai told her.
"His name is Dean," Emma said slowly, still apprehensive about sharing all this information with her mother, "And he is kinda cute. In that boy-next-door kinda thing."
"Dean." Lorelai repeated. "Dean who?"
"I don't know his last name," Emma shrugged, "He's new and he's from Chicago. He's in my French class."
"I can't believe this." Lorelai said, standing and pacing. "A French speaking, city chump is trying to corrupt my kid!"
"'Chump?'" Emma arched a brow. "And mom, it's not his fault. I'm pretty sure he's not trying to keep Rory at Stars Hollow High. I don't think he knows he has that power."
"How do you know?" Lorelai whirled on her daughter, voice high.
"Chill out," Emma told her, looking nonplussed. "They just met, Mom."
"I have a right to not be chill." Lorelai shook her head. "It's like Rory lost her mind. And over a boy. I thought I would have more time before that happened."
"Then we'll help her find it," Emma joked. She regretted it as soon as she saw her mom's face. "Okay, I have to go now."
"This isn't funny, Em. Not everything has to be a joke."
"I didn't say it was." Emma snapped back, getting annoyed. She stood up and started stomping her way up the stairs. "I just said I have to go." As soon as she turned the corner, she could hear her mom walk to the bottom of the stairs.
"And wash your face before bed!"
"Whatever." Emma muttered under her breath, walking into her room and slamming the door shut as hard she could. Apparently, everyone had lost their minds tonight.
Emma stood in front of her grandparents, with her mom on one side, and Rory on the other. They had all subconsciously decided Emma would be the middle men between them even if she wasn't exactly happy with either of them. Emma had been the one to tell Rory when it was time to go, and instead of sitting in the back as usual, she had been the one to sit in the passenger seat. In complete honesty, she was getting a little tired of them fighting and briefly wondered if Rory felt the same way when she and her mom had their more explosive fights.
"So, do we go in or do we just stand here reenacting The Little Match Girl?" Rory said, her arms crossed over her chest.
Lorelai turned toward her, unamused. "Okay, look, I know we're all having a thing here and I know you guys hate me but I need you two to be civil, at least through dinner and then on the way home you two can pull a Menendez. Deal?"
"Fine." Rory said.
Emma shrugged. Lorelai reached for the doorbell, pressing it with reluctance. The door opened to reveal the girls' grandmother, who immediately beamed at all three of them.
"Hi, Grandma." Rory greeted as politely as she could.
"Grandma!" Emma said with as much enthusiasm as she could muster. "So good to see you."
"Hello girls, you're right on time!" Emily said with delight. "It's nice to see you all."
"Well, there wasn't much traffic so…" Lorelai said awkwardly, holding onto her coffee cup like it was a life line.
"Is that a collector's cup or can I throw it out for you?" Emily said, motioning toward the cup.
Lorelai looked down at it. "Oh." She turned around to find the garbage can that was always near the door and was about to throw the cup in when her mom interjected.
"In the kitchen, please." Emily said, then placing her arms around the girls. "Now, I want to hear all about school so far."
"Well, I start Chilton on Monday." Rory told her as they were led into the living room. They walked in to see Richard sitting on the couch, reading a newspaper.
"Richard, look who's here." Emily said to her husband.
Richard looked up without much interest, peering over his glasses. "Rory. Emma. You're tall."
"Not really." Emma said, then pointed down to her shoes that had a little heel to them. "I have to resort to these to even reach Rory's height. We think she took inches from me in the womb."
"Well, what's your height?" Richard asked.
"I'm 5'7''," Rory said.
"5'5'' and three quarters." Emma said. Lorelai walked in at that moment and Richard turned to his daughter.
"Lorelai, your daughters are tall."
"Oh, I know. It's freakish. We're thinking of having them studied at M.I.T."
"Ah." Richard focused his attention to his newspaper again. Emma glanced at Rory the same time Rory did but neither one said anything. They both sat down at the same time, feeling awkward as hell.
"Champagne, anyone?" Emily offered.
"Oh, that's fancy." Lorelai commented as her mother handed her a glass.
"Well, it's not every day that I have my girls here for dinner on a day the banks are open. A toast - to Rory entering Chilton and an exciting new phase in her life." Emily held up a glass.
"Here, here." Richard said.
"Except," Emily began. "Emma. I hear you're not joining your sister?"
"Oh, well," Emma said, "I wasn't interested."
"Mmm." was all Emily said. "Well, let's sit everyone. This is just wonderful. An education is the most important thing in the world, next to family."
"And pie." Lorelai said. Her parents looked at her in bemusement. "Joke. I joke." With a sigh, she followed her parents and daughters into the dining room, already tired of the night.
They had gone through questions about the meal, Richard's business, as well as Lorelai's when there was a silence at the table.
"Emma." Emily said, causing the girl to look up from the piece of lamb she was swirling around her plate.
"Yes, grandma?" Emma asked, extremely wary.
"I understand you believe you don't need to attend Chilton to have a good education, but I have to say that is a large assumption for a child to make." Emily said. Emma's brows furrowed, and her eyes went wide as she exchanged a glance with her mom and Rory. Was she being serious right now?
"Grandma…"
"Let me finish please." Emily told her. "I've said it before and I meant it - education is very important, especially for such bright, young girls such as you and Rory."
"I know-" Emma tried to say before Emily cut her off again. Rory looked between them, worry evident on her face. She could tell tensions were rising but she didn't know whether she should say anything.
"Which is why your grandfather and I have spoken to the Headmaster-"
It was Lorelai's turn to interrupt. "I'm sorry, you spoke to who?"
"Headmaster Charleston." Emily explained. "Your father and he are very good friends."
Richard nodded, entering the conversation. "We golf on occasion. And he comes to our dinner parties."
"Again, I ask, you spoke to who?" Lorelai said louder, angry slipping into her tone. "About what?"
Emily shrugged. "You weren't going to do anything so we had to step in."
"What did you do?"
"We showed him Emma's grades," Emily explained, "All of her extracurriculars."
"How did you even manage to do that?" Lorelai exclaimed.
Richard and Emily exchanged a look. "We went to her school this afternoon and spoke with a...Miss Karp."
"The office lady?" Emma wrinkled her nose.
"Exactly," Richard nodded at the name, "And we spoke to the principal and he was more than happy to give us copies of Emma's records. He also assured us there were plenty of teachers who would help Emma out with any references if need be. Well, that's a bit of an exaggeration. Her math and gym teachers offered to write recommendations."
"Oh my God." was the only thing Emma could think to say. She gave Rory a look, her eyes wide in disbelief.
"That's not the way to do things!" Lorelai shouted.
"Why?" Emily shot back, "Because we did them?"
"Because that's not how people work!" Lorelai said, "You don't just call the Headmaster for dinner and start talking about how great your granddaughter is! And you don't get kids into schools by showing up to their school and taking their school records! You apply, and they say yes or no!" Lorelai stood up suddenly, throwing her napkin on the table. "I need a coke. Or something stronger." She stalked off to the kitchen, leaving everyone to sit in silence.
"Maybe we should talk to her." Rory motioned toward herself and Emma and they were about to get up when Emily held out a hand to them.
"I'll talk to her." Emily said firmly. "You two keep your grandfather company."
Emily followed their mother into the kitchen, leaving Rory and Emma to stare at each other.
"This is crazy, right?" Emma said to Rory.
She nodded.
"Excuse me, but how is it crazy?" Richard frowned at them. "You two require proper schooling. Your grandmother and I ensured this."
"How was it your choice?" Emma muttered.
"So…" Rory said, catching on to something her grandpa said. "Did the school say yes?"
Richard looked at them in exasperation. "Of course they said yes. Emma is a bright girl with good grades. The Headmaster said there was an extra spot and he would consider Emma for it if her teachers sent in good references. He called, just before you girls came tonight."
"That worked?" Emma asked. "That crazy plan actually worked?"
"Are you gonna go?" Rory asked.
"I don't know." Emma shrugged. "Would it be right, taking a spot like that? It's not like I worked for it. And mom's gonna have an aneurysm anyway so how would she-?"
They were cut off when they could hear their mom and grandma yelling at each other in the kitchen. They were even more interested when they heard their mom yelling about taking money from her parents, causing Rory to listen intently as Emma sighed, taking another bite of lamb.
"Five bucks say we're never getting out of here."
Emma hopped out of the back of the Jeep, with Rory having taken her usual spot. They were back in Stars Hollow, on their way to Luke's. As they strolled down the sidewalk, Emma pulled out a five dollar bill from her sweater, handing it to Rory as their mom watched in bemusement.
"So, nice dinner at the grandparents' house." Rory said.
Lorelai sighed. "Oh, yeah, her dishes have never been cleaner."
"You and Grandma seemed to have a nice talk."
"How much did you hear?"
"Not much. You know, snippets."
"Snippets?"
"Little snippets."
"So basically everything?"
"Basically, yes." Emma said.
"Well, the best laid plans." Lorelai sighed again as they reached the diner. They walked in and sat at the first available table.
"I think it was really brave of you to ask them for money." Rory told their mom earnestly.
"Oh, I so do not want to talk about it." Lorelai said.
"How many meals is it gonna take 'til we're off the hook?"
"I think the deli spread at my funeral will be the last one. Hey, wait, does that mean…?"
"Can't let a perfectly good plaid skirt go to waste."
"Oh, honey, you won't be sorry." Lorelai told her, smiling a little. Emma smiled too, but it quickly faded when her mom looked at her.
"What?" Emma frowned.
"Your grandma told me you got in." Lorelai told her softly. "The headmaster said your recommendations spoke highly of you. And..."
"And what?" Emma asked, crossing her arms over her chest. "Don't I get a say in this?"
"Maybe," Lorelai said slowly. "But I think you should go."
Emma looked at her mom, annoyance building in her eyes. "Why?"
"Hon, this is about your education, okay?" Lorelai tried to make her daughter understand she wasn't doing this for herself - but for Emma. She deserved every opportunity too.
"But I don't want to go." Emma said, interrupting her mother's train of thought.
"This isn't about what you want, Em." Lorelai finally admitted. "As your mom, I have the responsibility to make decisions on your behalf to do what's best for you. And as my child, you have to listen. Your grandmother already offered to help pay for you, too."
"So make her take it back."
"I could never make my mom take anything back." Lorelai sighed. "You're going, Em. Monday morning."
Emma was silent for a moment. Then, "This sucks! It's not fair!" With that, Emma dragged her seat back and rose quickly. "I never asked for any of this!"
"Em…" Lorelai tried to say.
Emma fled the restaurant before she could say anything else. After a moment, Rory stood.
"I'll try to calm down."
Lorelai nodded and stayed in her seat even after her daughter disappeared to track down her twin. Luke appeared with an uncharacteristically concerned expression on his face and a pot of coffee.
"You okay?" He said.
Lorelai held her cup to him to refill. "She'll understand one day."
Outside, Emma and Rory sat in the gazebo, silent for the most part. Emma stared at the high school across the way, thinking of all the things she was leaving behind, things she hadn't been able to say goodbye to.
"So, we're doing this together after all?" Rory asked.
"Looks like we are."
And that's Chapter 1! I wanted to make Emma different from Rory and have her own story and goals and dreams and whatnot. I wanted to clarify that because this is a side project for me, I don't know how long this will take to finish or even, let's be honest, if it will be finished. However! I will do my best to write for this because I have many ideas!