"Annabella Gilmore: Dreamer and Achiever"

Chapter 5

Anna and Mom were in the living room, talking about the movie they wanted to watch. They decided on the Westside story. Lorelai finds an old VHS tape pulled out from a tall bookshelf, and Lorelai pops it into the VCR as she starts making popcorn. The aroma of melting butter filled up their small apartment with the warmth that felt like home. They plopped onto their worn-in couches with pillows strewn around them – enough for all three of them to have two extra pillows at least – and opened up bags of chips while they waited for Rory to get back.

Rory ran home, excited and forgetting about the snacks she'd been sent to get. The cobblestone streets of her small town flew by in a blur as she raced towards her house. She thought of how thrilled Mom and Anna would be when she told them about her new boyfriend. She could just imagine their surprise, followed by hugs and happy tears! With new energy surging through every limb, Rory burst through the front door with a smile on her face only to see Mom and Anna waiting.

Mom and Anna saw the look of pure adoration in Rory's eyes. Lorelai knew what it meant too a boy! She flashed a knowing smile as she asked what movie they were watching, hoping that the distraction would get both of her girls focused on the movie rather than the boys for the night. Soon enough, popcorn was served and everyone had their snacks.

They watched the movie in silence, but Anna's mind was elsewhere. She couldn't stop thinking about why her sister was so happy and carefree around them when she seemed to be constantly worrying about everything else. The characters on screen embraced each other while they laughed, their faces illuminated by light from the TV. Anna glanced at her sister out of the corner of her eye and saw a faint smile spread across her face as if it had been lit up from within all along.

After the movie, Anna could not take it anymore. Anna grabbed hold of Rory's arm with an iron grip and dragged her up the stairs to her bedroom. She pushed the door open and pulled Rory in behind her. Anna gestured at a chair she kept in the corner of her room, usually used as a makeshift vanity table for doing makeup or putting on jewelry, but today it was intended for another purpose - interrogation. With one hand still firmly gripping Rory by the wrist, she pointed to the chair and motioned with unmistakable peremptoriness for Rory to take it, then released herself from its grasp. Anna smiling wildly stood triumphant beforehand; determined to get answers.

Anna watched as Rory bounced up and down with joy, almost skipping out of the room. She smiled, knowing that whatever had made her sister so happy must have been truly special.

Turning to follow her, she called out to ask what was making Rory so pleased and why she couldn't contain her excitement. As soon as the words left Anna's lips, time seemed to slow for a moment as all noise faded away apart from their voices in an otherwise silent hallway before she heard Rory excitedly explain what was going on in between fits of beaming happiness.

Rory's eyes sparkled as she recounted the story of how Dean had approached her and asked her to be his girlfriend. She described in vivid detail the tension that mounted between them as he slowly made his way across the room, stopping just inches from where she stood to look at her with an intensity that felt like electricity running through every nerve in her body. His words were soft yet piercing, delivering a certain confidence that showed he meant what he said and was ready for any answer she gave him.

Anna couldn't help but feel a pang of doubt as she watched her sister, Rory, animatedly telling the story of how she met her new boyfriend. Anna's face remained serene, but there was a hint of unease in her eyes. She had kept careful watch over Rory all these years and she worried about the choices her twin sister made. When Dean joined their lives, Anna had felt the familiar knot in her stomach return. Despite his good looks and agreeable temperament, she could not help but see Dean as undeserving of Rory.

Anna went downstairs to talk to her mom about how she feels about this new development. Anna glanced nervously at her mother as she fiddled with her fingers while speaking. "Mom, I don't know what to do," said Anna, timidly yet desperately. "I just don't trust this new guy Rory is seeing. He seems too good to be true; all that charm and attention almost seem fake." She paused for a moment, searching for the words thrusting in her throat that wouldn't come out until now: "I'm worried he might hurt Rory somehow".

Anna sat on the sofa, her eyes fixed on her mother's face. Her mother's voice was calm yet filled with love and care as she spoke. "Anna, kid, life is always changing. The good times come and go in an instant; soon enough you will find your place in the world." She paused for a moment to brush away a tear from Anna's eye before continuing softly: "Be brave Annie girl; take each day as it comes - eventually you'll find where you belong". Anna nodded slowly through her tears of understanding and hugged her mom tightly before standing. "So Does this mean Rory is going to have to learn from her own mistakes" Anna said. Mom just sighs and replies "I'm afraid so kid that's just how it is afraid.". Ok, Mom love you.