THE GILMORE GIRLS

S1 E11: "Paris Is Burning" (Part 2)

I looked out the window, trying to distract myself with the passing scenery. Usually, car rides were filled with chatter, jokes, and Mom's eclectic taste in music. But today, the silence was deafening. I couldn't help but think about how different things had felt just a few days ago, before the argument.

Mom was trying, I could tell. She glanced at Rory every now and then, her mouth opening slightly as if she wanted to say something, but then she'd close it again and focus back on the road. I could see the worry lines etched into her forehead, the way her shoulders tensed whenever Rory shifted in her seat. She was doing her best to make up for last night, to show us that she cared, but it was going to take a lot more than a few jokes.

Rory's silence spoke volumes. She was hurt and upset, and it wasn't going to be easy for Mom to make things right. I understood her frustration, but I also knew that Mom was trying to navigate a difficult situation. Relationships were complicated, and sometimes they didn't work out the way we wanted them to.

I sighed quietly, leaning back in my seat. I wished I could say something to break the ice, to make things a little less tense, but I didn't know where to start. All I could do was hope that Parent's Day would go smoothly and that it would help mend whatever we had going on right now.

The truth was, I was upset at Mom too. Last night's argument had left a bitter taste, and I couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment. I really liked Max and seeing Mom happy with him had meant a lot to me. But at the same time, I felt guilty for being upset with her. It wasn't my relationship, and if Mom wasn't happy, then Max wasn't the guy for her. I had to remind myself of that.

Mom finally broke the silence, her voice tentative. "So, Parent's Day. Are you girls ready?"

Rory didn't respond, just kept staring out the window. I could see the hurt in Mom's eyes reflected in the rearview mirror.

"Yeah, I guess," I said, trying to sound upbeat. "It should be interesting."

Mom nodded, a small, grateful smile tugging at her lips. "Good. I'm looking forward to seeing what you two have been up to at school." Even though she wore a smile, her comments felt forced.

Rory shifted slightly, but her arms remained crossed. The tension in the car was still noticeable, but at least there was an attempt to bridge the gap.

As we pulled into the school parking lot, I took a deep breath, hoping that today would be a step towards healing. Mom parked the Jeep and turned off the engine, sitting for a moment before turning to face us.

"I know things have been rough," she said softly. "But I'm here today because I love you both and I want to be involved. I hope you can understand that."

Rory finally turned to look at her, her expression softening just a fraction. "Okay, Mom," she said quietly. "Let's just get through today."

Mom smiled, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "Deal."

We all got out of the Jeep and started walking towards the school entrance. The day was just beginning, and I just hoped that nothing would go wrong.

~~~

As we walked through the bustling halls of Chilton, the clatter of students hurrying to their lockers and classrooms filled the air. Mom was trying to keep up with Rory's brisk pace while I trailed behind, holding onto my backpack.

"Hey, not so fast," Mom called out, stopping Rory and I.

"The bell's gonna ring," Rory complained. I knew she didn't want to have to talk to mom. She wanted to get to class as soon as possible.

"Before you go one more step - tell me you like me?" Mom's voice had a playful, but slightly pleading tone.

Rory glanced back at her. "You bug me."