Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this story. The characters belong to the WB and its affiliates.

 

Story Summary: With detention looming in her future Rory has to face the Grandparents and with Tristan constantly in the back of her mind Rory’s already got enough guilt to handle.

 

 

INT: HEADMASTER’S OFFICE:

 

Paris is sitting in the chair across from the Headmaster. The Headmaster is typing something into the computer on his desk.

 

HM CHARLESTON: Top of your class, editor of the school paper, never been tardy or received a grade lower than an A-.

 

PARIS: It should have been an “A”. Grade curves are so unfair.

 

HM CHARLESTON: Yes. I’m sure they are. Miss Gellar…I regard myself a pretty good judge of character. So you’ll understand I’m sure, why your behavior this afternoon has me at a loss.

 

PARIS: It’s completely unexpected I’m sure.

 

HM CHARLESTON: My normal reaction would be to mark your permanent record and give you detention. But I don’t think that’s going to be necessary in this case. I’m sure it’s all just a big misunderstanding.

 

PARIS: What?! No! I set the alarm off. I did.

 

HM CHARLESTON: Regardless. I think it would set a bad example for someone like you to be getting detention. So let’s just call this *a misunderstanding* one that will in no way repeat itself. Your record stays clean and you can still run the paper.

 

PARIS: You’re not going to give me detention?

 

HM CHARLESTON: I don’t think that’s necessary.

 

PARIS: But it is!

 

HM CHARLESTON: I appreciate your wanting to take responsibility for your actions Miss Geller…it’s commendable and apparently runs fairly rampant in this school…but all is forgiven.

 

Paris continues to sit in the chair fuming.

 

HM CHARLESTON: You’re excused Miss Gellar.

 

Paris stands up and gathers her books. Exiting the Headmaster’s office she runs directly into Rory.

 

RORY: Whoa. Sorry.

 

PARIS: Then watch where you’re going! It’s just all about you Rory…isn’t it?

 

RORY: Mood altering drugs…try them.

 

PARIS: Cute…a witty little comeback…a swing of the hair and they pant to get near you.

 

RORY: Not that I care…but what are you talking about?

 

PARIS: All your men.

 

RORY: Excuse me?

 

PARIS: But given your family history I guess it’s understandable. One tramp breeds another.

 

RORY: Did you just insinuate that my mother is a tramp?

 

PARIS: By definition…I believe the label fits.

 

Rory is about to take a swing at Paris when Tristan grabs her arm.

 

TRISTAN: Whoa there little kitten.

 

RORY: Let go Tristan…she deserves this.

 

Rory is thrashing about while Tristan is trying to hold her back. Paris just glares at Rory daring her to hit her.

 

TRISTAN: Rory…this is not a good idea.

 

RORY: Believe me my mother would support me on this 100%.

 

PARIS: How precious…Your lover boy coming to your rescue.

 

TRISTAN: Beat it Paris. You’ve caused enough trouble all ready.

 

Paris walks away with one last look of disdain at Rory and Tristan. As Rory starts to calm down Tristan lets her go.  

 

RORY: (turning towards Tristan) You should have let me hit her.

 

TRISTAN: Yeah…probably. Are you okay?

 

RORY: Just a little steamed. She said some pretty nasty things.

 

TRISTAN: You shouldn’t let her get to you like that.

 

RORY: I can’t help it she pushes my buttons.

 

TRISTAN: Care to show me those buttons?

 

RORY: Okay…how do you do that?

 

TRISTAN: What?

 

RORY: Go from Mr. Nice guy to sleaze boy in two seconds flat. That’s got to be a record.

 

TRISTAN: Oh come on…I was just teasing you.

 

Rory looks at Tristan and smiles. Tristan is once again captivated by her presence. He can’t believe how deeply he feels for her. He reaches over and caresses her cheek with his hand. Rory knows that she should back away but instead she reaches out to him and gives him a hug…as Rory is in Tristan’s arms she is startled by her reluctance to end the hug. She feels completely at home in his embrace and it obvious that both don’t really want this moment to end. As Tristan steps back a little and gazes into Rory’s eyes she reluctantly lets go.  

 

RORY: I have to go or I’ll miss my bus.

 

TRISTAN: Sure you don’t want a ride?

 

RORY: Maybe some other time. Thanks for helping me out.

 

TRISTAN: My pleasure. So I guess I’ll see you Monday.

 

RORY: Right…Monday.

 

Tristan smiles that sexy smile that always sends Rory’s senses spinning. Rory smiles back shyly and turns around and starts walking to the front of the school to catch her bus. As Rory rounds the corner Paris walks up to Tristan who is watching Rory go.

 

PARIS: Please tell me that you don’t have a thing for little Miss Star’s Hollow.

 

TRISTAN: Really none of your business Paris.

 

PARIS: She’s all wrong for you Tristan.

 

TRISTAN: State your case Paris and make it quick. I have a life.

 

PARIS: Simply put Tristan…she’s a Mary. She is not going to be persuaded by you or anyone else to change that. She will bring you nothing but frustration and you will become bored. She’s not like Summer or all the other girls you have used and discarded.

 

TRISTAN: I don’t expect you to understand this Paris…but I know that Rory is different than other girls I’ve dated. It’s one of the things I really like about her.

 

PARIS: She’s a challenge to you Tristan…nothing more.

 

TRISTAN: Not true.

 

PARIS: I know you Tristan. You like the chase…not the commitment.

 

TRISTAN: Look Paris…just because our parents have forced us to spend our holidays and summers together does not mean you know me. Because if you did…you would know…this thing with Rory…whatever it is or becomes…it’s special to me. So stay out of it!

 

Tristan walks away leaving a very miffed Paris.

 

EXT: GRANDPARENT’S HOUSE-NIGHT

 

Rory and Lorelai are standing at the front door of her grandparent’s house. Lorelai rings the bell.

 

RORY: Do you think the Headmaster called her?

 

LORELAI: Honestly hon…I don’t know why he would. He called me…your mother.

 

RORY: Right.

 

Emily Gilmore opens the front door.

 

EMILY: Lorelai…it’s wonderful to see you.

 

LORELAI: Thanks mom.

 

Rory waits for her grandmother to acknowledge her…but nothing.

 

EMILY: You should come in out of the cold.

 

RORY: Hi grandma.

 

Ignoring Rory Emily turns around and walks over to the maid who has just come through the pantry door holding a vase filled with daisies.

 

LORELAI: So…I would say she knows.

 

RORY: Really what was your first clue…the cold shoulder or the invisible granddaughter routine?

 

Maid sets the vase on the hallway table.

 

EMILY: Rosalyn…how many times do I have to tell you NO DAISIES…Mr. Gilmore is allergic to them.

 

ROSALYN: Sorry Mrs. Gilmore.

 

EMILY: Well? Remove them at once.

 

ROSALYN: Yes Mrs. Gilmore.

 

Rosalyn picks up the vase and exits with it. Emily turns back around to Rory and Lorelai.

 

EMILY: Dinner is set and on the table. I won’t be but a minute.

 

Lorelai and Rory walk into the elaborate dining room and over to the elegantly set table taking their usual seats.

 

RORY: Any advice to offer here?

 

LORELAI: Run…just kidding. Tell them the truth Rory…they love you…you’re the kind of girl they always wanted me to be.

 

RORY: So then why is Grandma being like this?

 

LORELAI: I’m not gonna sugar coat it sweetie…they’re probably disappointed in you.

 

Emily and Richard walk into the dining room and sit down at the table. Emily is clearly agitated as is Richard. As the silence around the table grows deafening Rory realizes it’s up to her to fix this.

 

RORY: I’m sorry Grandpa…Grandma.

 

EMILY: For what dear?

 

Rory is stunned by her Grandmother’s quickly altered mood but continues anyway.

 

RORY: I’m assuming your mood tonight has something to do with me.

 

EMILY: My mood? I’m in a perfectly fine mood tonight.

 

Lorelai can stand it no longer.

 

LORELAI: Oh come on mom…she’s trying here…give her a break. Extend an olive branch or a breadstick…or something.

 

EMILY: Fine…I wanted to make this a nice dinner Lorelai but if you insist on bringing up Rory’s shortcomings…we will.

 

LORELAI: Mom…Rory does not have short comings. She had a small error in judgment that’s all.

 

EMILY: Skipping school is not a small error in judgment Lorelai. This is her future we are talking about. Harvard is not going to just hand her an acceptance letter on a silver platter…she has to show them…by not only her academics…but her actions that she is Harvard material. At the rate she’s going she’ll be lucky to get into Star’s Hollow community college.

 

RICHARD: Well said Emily.

 

EMILY: Thank you Richard.

 

LORELAI: No…not well said. You two are unbelievable. You’re talking about your only granddaughter like she’s some kind of moron with no hope of gleaning anything even resembling a future when all she did was ditch classes one day with a boy. It’s not like they stuck-up a 7-11 or anything of that nature.

 

RICHARD/EMILY: She was with a boy?!

 

LORELAI: Okay…I’m guessing that part might be new news.

 

EMILY: Rory is this true?

 

RORY: Yes.

 

LORELAI: Yes? That’s it? That’s the brilliant defense you planned for this evening?

 

EMILY: What boy? Lorelai…why didn’t you tell us she was with a boy?

 

LORELAI: I didn’t even tell you she ditched mom. So maybe you should be berating your source of information…not me.

 

RICHARD: Was it that Dean? I always knew he was bad news.

 

RORY: No Grandpa…it wasn’t Dean…and please stop saying that Dean is bad news.

 

EMILY: Honestly Rory…you are becoming more like your mother every day.

 

LORELAI: (hurt by her mother’s words) Which is a bad thing…right?

 

EMILY: I did not say that Lorelai…stop putting words in my mouth.

 

LORELAI: Rory is not like me mom…you don’t have to worry.

 

RICHARD: I want to know the name of this young man Rory.

 

RORY: He’s just a guy from Chilton Grandpa.

 

RICHARD: That’s not a name Rory.

 

LORELAI: Just give him the name Rory…or we will never get to leave here. And honestly right now…I’d just like to go home.

 

Rory looks at her mom and seeing the hurt on her face prolongs the inevitable no longer.

 

RORY: His name is Tristan.

 

Richard has taken out his pocket planner and is writing this all down.

 

RICHARD: Does the felon have a last name?

 

RORY: Why do you need his last name?

 

RICHARD: Because I intend to talk to his parents about his destructive ways and to tell them to keep him far away from my granddaughter.

 

LORELAI: You can’t stop the wheels of justice Rory…Tristan started this…I think it’s only fair to let Grandpa end it.

 

RORY: (reluctantly) DuGrey.

 

Richard looks up from his planner at the mention of this name while Emily practically chokes on the sip of wine she just took.

 

RICHARD: Did you say DuGrey?

 

RORY: Yes.

 

RICHARD: Are we talking about Judge DuGrey’s grandson?

 

RORY: I don’t know.

 

EMILY: Of course it is Richard…I remember Sharon telling me their grandson went to Chilton.

 

LORELAI: Well that should make the *talk* a lot easier…go dad.

 

RICHARD: What talk Lorelai dear?

 

LORELAI: Uh…The afore mention…bad…bad Tristan talk.

 

EMILY: Don’t be silly Lorelai…Richard and I would never interfere in Rory’s life that way. Besides I’m sure he’s a perfectly nice boy.

 

LORELAI: And suddenly we enter the Twilight zone. Rory help me out here.

 

RORY: Sorry mom…I’m sort of stuck in the same alternate universe as you at the moment.

 

EMILY:  I have an excellent idea Rory. Why don’t you invite him to dinner here next Friday?

 

RORY: Who?

 

EMILY: The young Mr. DuGrey.

 

RORY: (completely shell shocked) You want me to invite Tristan to dinner…here?

 

EMILY: Yes that’s right. In fact, Richard why don’t you call Judge DuGrey and get that arranged.

 

RICHARD: Excellent idea Emily. I’ll use the phone in the study. You girls go on with your dinner.

 

RORY: No…(desperate) Mom?!

 

Richard gets up from the table and heads towards the study.

 

LORELAI: Mom obviously Rory is not comfortable with this. So why don’t we honor her wishes and not invite, the “felon” I believe dad called him, to dinner next Friday or any other night for that matter.

 

EMILY: Nonsense Lorelai you are overreacting. Besides Rory needs to have more friends at Chilton and this Tristan boy seems like a good start.

 

LORELAI: Okay mom… Focus…Rory has a boyfriend…his name is Dean…Hey…in fact…I think you’ve even met him.

 

EMILY: Yes of course I’ve met him. As usual Lorelai you are making no sense. Besides it’s our Friday night and we can invite who we please.

 

LORELAI: Yeah right…hey while you’re at it mom why don’t you invite that kid Morton from 3rd grade that made me eat paste. Because that’s the equivalent of what you’re doing to Rory. In fact make sure paste is on the menu…it will be a party. Woo hoo.  

 

EMILY: I swear Lorelai if I live to be a 100 yrs old…I’ll never understand your humor.

 

Emily gets up from the table and exits the room leaving only Rory and Lorelai at the table.

 

LORELAI: If she lives to be a 100? Could the man upstairs really be that cruel?

 

Rory looks over at her mother and then puts her head down on the table in a show of frustration.

 

INT: CHILTON HALLWAY-DAY

 

Rory is at her locker getting her books out when Tristan walks up and leans against the lockers.

 

TRISTAN: So our first official date is finally a reality.

 

RORY: It’s not a date Tristan…its just dinner with my grandparents.

 

TRISTAN: Will Dean be there?

 

RORY: No.

 

TRISTAN: Then it’s a date.

 

RORY: It’s NOT a date! Will you please stop saying that?

 

TRISTAN: What did Dean say when you told him?

 

RORY: I haven’t yet.

 

TRISTAN: Yeah…I don’t think you will.

 

RORY: Yes I will. I’m just going to wait for the right moment.

 

TRISTAN: Hey…if you wait long enough our kids can tell him…or better yet…our grandkids.

 

RORY: Yeah…real cute. Why do you think I won’t tell him?

 

TRISTAN: Because if you tell him I’m going to dinner at the grandparents he’ll want to know why…and then you’ll have to tell him about the detention….which will lead to the cause of the detention…which will send him down the path of a thousand questions of what exactly happened while we were alone.

 

RORY: If I don’t tell him now this is only going to get worse. I mean I’m already guilty of at least three major lies and a myriad of other mistakes with you. I have to tell him.

 

TRISTAN: It’s your call.  But I would appreciate some advanced warning as I suspect he isn’t going to take it well and it’s my hide he’ll be coming after.

 

RORY: Serves you right. You did start this.

 

TRISTAN: It was worth it.  

 

RORY: Yeah…we’ll see if you feel the same way when you’re in traction.

 

TRISTAN: Just promise to visit me in the hospital and I’m good.

 

RORY: You are completely relentless.

 

TRISTAN: I’m just a guy who knows what he wants.

 

Tristan leans in and brushes Rory’s forehead with his lips sending a shiver through her body. As he leans back he notices that Rory is blushing and lightly laughs.

 

TRISTAN: See you in detention.

 

As Tristan walks away Rory realizes how comfortable she is with him and becomes a bit bothered…vowing to herself to have a talk with him about the familiarity he shows around her…if she could just remember what it is about his actions and attention that she doesn’t like.