Story summary: Actions have consequences and Lorelai is laying down the law after the previous night’s debacle with Dean, Rory and Tristan.

 

Disclaimer: I don’t own the characters in my story, they are the property of the WB show “Gilmore Girls” writers and creators.

 

INT: RORY’S BEDROOM-NIGHT

 

Rory is sweeping up the glass while Lorelai is busy, unsuccessfully trying to tape a newspaper over Rory’s broken window. It is obvious Lorelai is upset with Rory and just a little frustrated with the very sticky masking tape.

 

RORY: Did you need some help with that?

 

Clearly at her breaking point Lorelai finally snaps.

 

LORELAI: One night Rory…I left you alone for one night.

 

RORY: I know. I’m sorry. If it helps...Dean said he would pay for it.

 

LORELAI: It’s not about the window Rory. It’s about “why” the window is broken.

 

RORY: You’re acting like I broke it.

 

LORELAI: How can you not even understand why this is such a big deal?

 

RORY: Maybe because you’re not explaining to me why it is.

 

LORELAI: Because it just is.

 

RORY: Oh…well thanks for clearing that up.

 

LORELAI: What happened in here tonight Rory?

 

RORY: I’m sorry…what?

 

LORELAI: Dean doesn’t just go around randomly throwing his fist through a window. What was his motive?

 

Rory stands next to her mother…not sure what to say.

 

LORELAI: (cont.) I can just ask Dean.

 

RORY: Okay…please do not blow this out of proportion…but Tristan and I were in here…together.

 

LORELAI: I knew it! I knew this was ultimately going to lead back to that over-sexed Romeo.

 

RORY: This isn’t Tristan’s fault mom.

 

LORELAI: Where have I heard that before?

 

RORY: Are we really going to have this fight again?

 

LORELAI: What do you want me to say Rory? “Hey congratulations on *scoring* with sexy boy?” I’m your mother Rory and the thought of what was more than likely happening in this room…well it terrifies me.

 

RORY: Nothing happened.

 

LORELAI: Oh…now you see that was probably designed to make me feel better. But it didn’t, because now…on top of everything else…you’ve lied to me.

 

RORY: Mom…

 

LORELAI: I’m going to bed. I just…I can’t talk to you about this right now Rory.

 

RORY: Mom…please…

 

LORELAI: I’m upset right now Rory…you need to leave this alone.

 

RORY: You questioned my honesty. How do you think that makes me feel?

 

LORELAI: Rory you are only making this worse. Let it go for tonight.

 

RORY: I know what you’re thinking mom…but I didn’t do what you think I did.

 

LORELAI: Really?

 

RORY: Really.

 

Lorelai walks over and takes Rory’s hand in hers…slowly she opens it and places in it the discarded condom wrapper that Tristan let drop on the floor.

 

LORELAI: Then how do you explain this?

 

Stunned Rory just looks at her mom.

 

LORELAI: Yeah…that’s what I thought.

 

Still clearly upset Lorelai walks out leaving Rory alone in her room.

 

INT: GILMORE KITCHEN-DAY

 

Rory is sitting at the kitchen table drinking a cup of coffee. It is obvious from the bags under her eyes that she didn’t get much sleep. Lorelai enters with the same set of matching luggage under her eyes.

 

LORELAI: Shouldn’t you be at school?

 

RORY: I wanted to talk to you.

 

Lorelai goes over to the coffee maker and pours a cup of coffee before heading over to sit next to Rory.

 

LORELAI: Okay…talk.

 

RORY: Okay…I thought about this all last night. And I know you think I lied to you, and maybe in some vein I did. But the bottom line is…I have not had sex…ever.

 

LORELAI: I did a lot of thinking last night too. Do I believe you didn’t have sex? Yes.

 

Rory smiles…relieved.

 

LORELAI: (cont.) Do I believe you would have been able to say the same thing if Dean hadn’t broken the window? Sadly…no. So do you see my dilemma?

 

RORY: So where does that leave us?

 

LORELAI: Yes…clearly we have a problem. Because regardless of how “grown-up” you feel, you are still my almost 17 year old daughter…not exactly the age of consent. I see the wheels spinning Rory, and before you go there…yes…I did have sex at your age. But this is *not” about me. This is about you and your future.

 

RORY: Mom…I am not trying to screw up my future. You have to know that.

 

LORELAI: I am not an idiot Rory. I know sex is rampant among kids your ages. So what ever happened or is going to happen I can’t stop, but when it happens in my house and you get caught…I have to be your mother.

 

RORY: Okay.

 

LORELAI: So here’s the deal…grounded three weeks.

 

RORY: What?!

 

LORELAI: I’m not finished. *You* will be paying for the window, not Dean.

 

RORY: You’re not serious.

 

LORELAI: Dead serious. Dean can’t work at “Doose’s” until his hand and arm have healed according to the nasty phone call I got from Taylor this morning.

 

RORY: How am I supposed to pay for the window? I don’t have any money.

 

LORELAI: I got you a job.

 

RORY: Please tell me you are not going to make me work at “Doose’s” with Taylor.

 

LORELAI: No. I don’t hate you. You’ll be working at Luke’s after school and weekends for the three weeks you are grounded. I called him this morning and arranged it.

 

RORY: I can’t believe you’re doing this.

 

LORELAI: I know. Being a mother sucks…but you aren’t leaving me any choice.

 

RORY: What about Tristan?

 

LORELAI: I can’t ground him. He’s not mine.

 

RORY: You know what I mean. Will I be able to see him other than school?

 

LORELAI: Against my better judgment…he can come here, but only when I am home.

 

RORY: I guess that’s better than nothing.

 

LORELAI: I’m not trying to ruin your life Rory. And Tristan…well…he’s growing on me.

 

RORY: So I guess just trusting me to make my own choices is off the table?

 

LORELAI: And right out the broken window.

 

RORY: This isn’t fair you know.

 

LORELAI: Been there, done that sweetheart. You’ll live.

 

RORY: Well if were done…I should probably get to school.

 

INT: LUKE’S DINER-DAY

 

Jess is wiping down tables before heading over to school when Paris walks in.

 

JESS: Hey. What are you doing here?

 

PARIS: I need to talk to you.

 

JESS: Yeah…I can’t. I have to get to school.

 

PARIS: This is important. Can’t you be a little late to school?

 

JESS: Fine. Just let me get my jacket and I’ll meet you outside.

 

Paris walks outside without another word and stands with her back to the diner window. Jess seizes the opportunity and slips out the back door of the diner.

 

INT: CHILTON-DAY

 

Rory is at her locker getting a book out when a familiar pair of hands come around her waist. Closing her locker she turns around and is face to face with Tristan.

 

TRISTAN: Hey beautiful. How are you doing?  

 

RORY: Better now.

 

Tristan leans in and lightly kisses Rory on the lips. Rory reciprocates the kiss bringing her fingers up to stroke the side of his face.

 

TRISTAN: Me too.

 

Tristan runs his fingers lightly over the slope of Rory’s neck, pushing her hair back over her shoulder.

 

TRISTAN: You’re a little late this morning. Everything okay?

 

RORY: Not even close.

 

TRISTAN: What happened?

 

Tristan reaches down and takes Rory’s hand in his as she leans up against the wall and he stands in front of her.

 

RORY: My mom grounded me.

 

TRISTAN: For how long?

 

RORY: Three weeks. And I get to pay for the window.

 

TRISTAN: Did you tell her it was Dean’s fault?

 

RORY: I tried. But she was more concerned with why Dean broke my window.

 

TRISTAN: Because he’s psycho?

 

RORY: No…I mean what he saw to make him break the window.

 

TRISTAN: Oh…oh. What did you tell her?

 

RORY: I tried not to tell her anything. I figured avoidance was a good plan.

 

TRISTAN: Good idea.

 

RORY: Yeah…and it might have worked…except for the discarded trash she found on my bedroom floor.

 

TRISTAN: I don’t understand. 

 

RORY: It was a wrapper.

 

Finally it dawns on Tristan exactly what Rory is alluding to.

 

TRISTAN: Oh my God. She found the condom wrapper?!

 

RORY: Bingo.

 

TRISTAN: But we didn’t…oh…that must have been weird.

 

RORY: And awkward, and uncomfortable.

 

TRISTAN: Wow. I couldn’t be sorrier.

 

RORY: It’s fine. She’s actually a lot better this morning. It could have been a lot worse.

 

TRISTAN: I’ll pay for the window. That’s not a problem.

 

RORY: That’s really sweet. But my mom is trying to teach me a lesson…so I should probably just smile and do what she says.

 

TRISTAN: Your mom must hate me.

 

RORY: Definitely not in her top ten.

i

TRISTAN: Maybe I could talk to her…smooth things over.

 

RORY: Not a good idea. Besides she’s still willing to let you come over. She just has to be there.

 

TRISTAN: Every time?

 

RORY: For a while…until this blows over.

 

TRISTAN: Do you have any idea how insanely I want you? She may as well kill me now.

 

RORY: At least you’re not grounded.

 

TRISTAN: Babe…constant supervision when we’re together…is worse than be grounded…its torture.

 

Rory pulls Tristan’s mouth down to hers and begins a sweet, sensual kiss. She can feel the length of his body pressed up against hers and it sends tingles through her skin.

 

RORY: Don’t worry. We’ll suffer together.

 

Tristan gives Rory a slow, sexy smile as he cups her face in hand.

 

TRISTAN: You…are a beautiful vixen.

 

Wrapped up in their own little world Rory and Tristan do not realize

They have acquired company.

 

PARIS: This is an establishment of higher education, not a brothel.

 

Tristan turns to look at Paris.

 

TRISTAN: What can we do for you Paris?

 

PARIS: Well for starters you can stop referring to each other as a "we" and let Rory keep her individuality.

 

TRISTAN: Does that mean we have to stop dressing alike? Because if it does I can definitely help divest you of those matching garments Miss Gilmore.

 

Tristan reaches over to Rory’s shirt like he is going to start unbuttoning it.

 

PARIS: Still standing here.

 

Rory swats Tristan hand away.

 

RORY: Sorry. What did you need Paris?

 

PARIS: I need to talk to you. I thought that was fairly obvious.

 

TRISTAN: Take a number. I was here first.

 

PARIS: When are you ever *not* here?

 

TRISTAN: Fine. I have to get to lit class anyway. Rory…I’ll see you later?

 

RORY: Definitely.

 

Tristan gives Rory a lingering goodbye kiss, partly for him and partly to get Paris steamed before heading off towards his class.

 

PARIS: Do you ever wonder how much public affection is too much?

 

RORY: Nice to see you too Paris. What can I help you with?

 

PARIS: I have an emergency. I need your input.

 

RORY: Okay. What is it?

 

PARIS: I did something really stupid last night.

 

RORY: Okay…I’m intrigued. Go on.

 

PARIS: I…I told Jess…I told Jess that…I said “I love you” to him.

 

RORY: Oh.

 

PARIS: I think I totally screwed up.

 

RORY: We’ll what did he say?

 

PARIS: Nothing. It was like he didn’t hear it. It was so awkward and uncomfortable. Pretty much couldn’t wait for him to take me home.

 

RORY: Well maybe he didn’t hear you.

 

PARIS: I thought of that…so I repeated it.

 

RORY: You repeated it?

 

PARIS:  Twice. I’ve ended any interest he may have had in me. Haven’t I?

 

RORY: I don’t know.

 

PARIS: I came off as desperate and needy.

 

RORY: And repetitive… (off Paris’ look) Sorry. Go on.

 

PARIS: I need you to talk to him...gauge where I stand.

 

RORY: Me?

 

PARIS: Yes. He’s your friend.

 

RORY: Right. I know that, but the thing is…it would be awkward.

 

PARIS: But you’ll do it. Right?

 

RORY: I’m not thrilled about this…but…okay. I’ll talk to him.

 

PARIS: Thank you Rory. I won’t forget this.

 

Paris turns and walks away, happy to see her mission accomplished. Rory grabs her book bag off the floor and heads towards her class.