All I Want

Friday Night Fight

Sitting at her grandparent's table Rory could feel the phone, that she had placed in her sweater pocket, buzzing. She wanted to look at in the worst way, to see what she assumed was probably a missed call or text from Tristan on it, but her grandmother was staring holes through her and the polite dinner conversation, peppered far too often with her grandmother's accusing silence was enough to stop her. 

Lorelai, who would have been fine with the mostly silent dinner under normal circumstances,   could, unfortunately, see how uncomfortable Rory was. Decision made it was time to save her. 

"So dad, how was your week? Any exciting news you want to share with us?" Lorelai asked. 

"No, It was an uneventful week, but thank you for asking Lorelai," Richard said before turning his attention once again to the meal in front of him. 

He examined the green stuff he had harpooned on his fork before replying."Why does this lettuce look so different Emily?" 

"Because it's kale Richard. Bitsy Parquet recommended it. It's supposed to do wonders for cleaning your colon." 

"My colon is fine. Can we please just get the regular lettuce next time, this taste like sand," Richard said putting it back down on his plate and abandoning it for a bite of filet mignon. 

"Fine. Forgive my efforts for trying to keep you healthy. It won't happen again," Emily said. 

"Ooh bitter barn, party of one," Lorelai said unable to help herself. 

Emily immediately turned on her. 

"I'm not bitter, I'm just tired of trying to help people and having them dump on my efforts," Emily said her words directed at Lorelai but her gazed landing directly on Rory. 

"Ok, so clearly you do know about what happened with Rory today, so how about we stop the death stares and passive aggressive conversation and just talk about it like adults?" Lorelai suggested. 

Rory didn't know whether to feel relieved that her mom was getting things out in the open or not. It was hard to gauge the expressions on her grandparent's faces.  Were they disappointed, angry...she just wasn't sure. 

"I'm sorry Grandma and Grandpa," Rory said.

"For what exactly are you sorry dear," Emily asked.

"I know I messed up," Rory said ready to say more but quickly being cut off by Emily.

"Messed up? I think it's safe to safe that is a bit of an understatement." 

Lorelai could feel her daughter's heart being crushed, by her grandmother's words.

"That's enough mom, she's trying here. Extend her an olive branch or a breadstick or something." 

"Fine, I promised your grandfather I would make this a nice dinner, but if you insist on bringing up Rory's shortcomings than you leave me no choice but to respond," Emily said wiping her mouth gently with her napkin before setting it back down. 

As both Gilmore women faced off against each other. It was hard to tell who was angrier with who.

"Rory does not have shortcomings. She made a small error in judgment; that's all it was," Lorelei replied.

"Skipping school is not a small error in judgment Lorelai. We're talking about her future. Harvard is not going just to 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," Emily ranted.