The Forgotten Gilmore

Chapter Fifteen: The Breakfast Detention Club

The clock ticked loudly in the empty classroom, each second stretching into an eternity. Alessia, Jess, and Isabella sat in three different corners, the silence between them filled with unspoken thoughts and unfinished homework. The school's bright fluorescent lights cast a harsh glow on the old wooden desks, the only sound the occasional scrape of a chair.

"Alright, you three," Principal Reynolds announced as she paced in front of the classroom. "You've got detention for the next three hours. No talking, no leaving your seats, and absolutely no funny business."

Jess smirked, leaning back in his chair with a look of complete indifference. Isabella, ever the good student, had already pulled out her textbook, determined to make the most of her time. Alessia, on the other hand, tapped her pen against her notebook, her mind elsewhere.

Principal Reynolds gave them one last stern look before leaving the room, the door closing with a loud click. The silence that followed was almost deafening.

Jess broke it first. "So, what did you two do to land in here?"

Isabella sighed, looking up from her book. "We thought it would be funny to release frogs in the cafeteria. Turns out, the staff didn't agree."

Jess chuckled. "Classic. I'm here for the same reason, remember?"

Alessia grinned. "Who knew the frogs would cause such a fuss? I thought they'd just hop around a bit and that would be it."

"It was worth it to see Principal Reynolds shriek and jump onto a chair," Jess said, smirking.

Alessia giggled. "That was pretty epic."

A few minutes passed, the silence settling back over them like a heavy blanket. Finally, Alessia couldn't take it anymore. "Alright, this is ridiculous. We're stuck here for hours. We might as well make it interesting."

Jess perked up, intrigued. "Got any ideas, Gilmore?"

Alessia rolled her eyes at the nickname but couldn't suppress a smile. "Let's play a game. Something to pass the time."

Isabella looked hesitant. "What kind of game?"

"I don't know. Twenty Questions? Truth or Dare?" Alessia suggested.

Jess leaned forward, his interest piqued. "Truth or Dare sounds fun. What do you say, Izzy?"

Isabella sighed, putting her book aside. "Fine. But no crazy dares, alright?"

Alessia clapped her hands together. "Deal. Jess, you go first."

Jess smirked. "Alright, Alessia. Truth or dare?"

"Dare," Alessia replied without hesitation.

"I dare you to..." Jess paused, thinking. "...do your best impression of Principal Reynolds."

Alessia grinned, standing up and adopting a serious expression. She began to pace in front of them, mimicking Principal Reynolds' authoritative tone. "Alright, you three. No talking, no leaving your seats, and absolutely no funny business."

Isabella burst into laughter, and even Jess cracked a smile. Alessia sat back down, pleased with herself.

"Your turn, Izzy," she said.

Isabella looked thoughtful. "Jess, truth or dare?"

"Truth," Jess replied.

"The other day — why did you really take those library books?" Isabella asked, her eyes curious.

Jess's smirk faded slightly. "I like to read. The library's hours suck, and I figured no one would miss a few books."

Alessia nodded, impressed. "Fair enough. Your turn, Jess."

Jess turned to Alessia. "Truth or dare?"

"Truth," Alessia said this time.

"Why do you always seem so...distant?" Jess asked, his eyes serious.

Alessia's smile faltered. She glanced at Isabella, who gave her a reassuring nod. "I guess...it's because I feel like I don't really fit in anywhere. Not at home, not here."

Jess nodded, understanding. "Yeah, I get that."

They continued their game, the questions and dares becoming more personal, more revealing. They learned about each other's fears, hopes, and dreams. Jess admitted he missed New York, despite everything. Isabella confessed she sometimes felt suffocated by her own expectations. And Alessia opened up about feeling invisible in her own family.

As the hours passed, the distance between them seemed to shrink, replaced by a budding camaraderie. They laughed, joked, and for a moment, it was easy to forget they were in detention.

"I'm bored," Jess declared after a while, leaning back in his chair and balancing it on two legs. "Let's do something more...active."

"Like what?" Isabella asked, a hint of apprehension in her voice.

Jess's eyes sparkled with mischief. "How about we raid the teacher's lounge?"

Alessia's eyes widened. "Are you crazy? We'll get into even more trouble!"

"Relax, Gilmore," Jess said, a grin spreading across his face. "We'll be quick. In and out. No one will even know we were there."

Isabella bit her lip, clearly torn between her sense of responsibility and the thrill of rebellion. "I don't know..."

"Come on, Izzy," Alessia urged. "It'll be fun. Besides, how much worse can it get?"

With a reluctant sigh, Isabella nodded. "Alright. But if we get caught, this is all on you two."

The trio crept out of the classroom, their footsteps echoing in the empty hallways. Jess led the way, his confidence infectious. They reached the teacher's lounge without incident, Jess expertly picking the lock with a hairpin he had produced from seemingly nowhere.

Inside, they found a treasure trove of snacks, sodas, and even a few bottles of wine tucked away in a corner. Jess and Alessia raided the cupboards while Isabella kept watch, her anxiety palpable.

"Look at this," Jess whispered, holding up a pack of cookies. "Teachers have it good."

Alessia giggled, stuffing her pockets with candy bars. "No kidding. Let's take some of these for later."

They returned to the classroom just as stealthily, their loot hidden under their jackets. As they settled back into their seats, Principal Reynolds returned, none the wiser to their escapade.

Time seemed to fly by as they shared their stolen snacks, laughter filling the room. For the first time in a long while, Alessia felt like she belonged somewhere. Even if it was in detention with two other troublemakers, it was better than feeling invisible.

As the afternoon wore on, the three of them grew more comfortable with each other, their bond strengthening with every joke and shared secret. By the time Principal Reynolds announced the end of their detention, they were reluctant to leave.

"Same time next week?" Jess joked as they gathered their things.

Alessia laughed. "Let's hope not. But if we do end up here again, at least we know how to make it fun."

Isabella smiled, her earlier apprehension replaced with genuine warmth. "Thanks, guys. This was...unexpectedly great."

As they walked out of the school together, Alessia couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. Despite everything, she had found friends who understood her, who made her feel seen.

And as they stepped into the cool evening air, she knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, she wouldn't face them alone.

"Hey, you two want to grab a coffee at Luke's?" Jess suggested, breaking the comfortable silence.

Alessia and Isabella exchanged a glance, then nodded in unison. "Sure," Alessia said, her smile widening. "Let's go."