❝𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚊 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚕,
𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚖𝚢 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝚘𝚞𝚝,
'𝙲𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚢 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠,
𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚠,
𝙳𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚗?
𝙸𝚝'𝚜 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚘𝚜,
𝙸'𝚖 𝚜𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚝,
𝚆𝚑𝚘 𝚊𝚖 𝙸?
𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚎,
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚖𝚋𝚊𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚍,
𝙸𝚝'𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚎, 𝚒𝚝'𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚎.
𝙸 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚊 𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚔 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝, 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚐𝚘,
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚕 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚎, 𝚑𝚎'𝚜 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚗 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚕,
𝙸'𝚖 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚎.𝙸'𝚖 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚎.
𝙲𝚊𝚗 𝚠𝚎 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚐𝚘?
𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎'𝚜 𝚗𝚘 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚎, 𝙸'𝚖 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚏𝚏 𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎,
𝙸'𝚖 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚎,
𝙸'𝚖 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚎.❞
𝙵𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝙵𝚒𝚛𝚎 – 𝙸'𝚖 𝙵𝚒𝚗𝚎

"Oh my god, Reese," Rory said, barging into her brother's bedroom, which was in the attic. "What the hell are you doing?"

Reese, as he was called because he didn't like his first name, Quincy, because he didn't really like the name Quincy, jerked awake. "Dying." At least that's what he wanted to do.

Rory stomped over and yanked at the blankets covering Reese. At least he wore a black shirt and basketball shorts.

"Well, stop dying and get up," Rory told him. "We're going to be late for school."

"Oh, no," Reese replied, and rolled over, covering his head with his pillow, to fall back asleep.

The thing was, he either slept too little or too much – there was never any in-between. Along with the erratic sleeping schedule, he had an erratic eating schedule – some days he wouldn't eat because he wasn't hungry and some days, he felt like he could eat his weight in food.

"Fine," Rory replied. "You leave me no choice. I'll cut your hair."

Reese sat up, "I'm up."

In Reese's opinion, the only nicest thing that their 'dad', had ever given him was his two sisters. He had been growing his blond hair out, but he dyed it brown to go with his sisters' and mother's hair color.

Since he had been growing his hair out, it was a bit of a low blow, considering how proud he was of the length.

He had been growing his hair since January, and Rory and Lorelai knew that it was a source of pride, so threatening to cut his hair (or shaving him bald like Lorelai liked to threaten to do to him in the middle of the night) was a low-blow and they clearly knew it.

Only Gabriele, known as Brie, never threatened him like that. Well, she threatened to staple his dick to the wall but not threaten to cut his hair.

So, he got out of bed, put on some jeans that he was sure hadn't been washed in a week, a band shirt, and grabbed a jacket and his backpack.

He knew it was just jokes, but it still kind of hurt, before leaving his room.

Brie left her bedroom, carrying her messenger bag.

Reese glanced at what Brie was wearing, "Don't you think those shorts are a little too short?"

 Brie retorted, "Don't you think you should be quiet now?"

Reese chose not to say anything as they went into the kitchen. Reese's three cats were eating.

The gray and white female cat was named Pepperjack or Pepper, courtesy of Brie. The brown one, the lone male, was named Meatball, courtesy of Rory, and lastly the brown one with mismatched eyes was named Maple Syrup. The one with the mismatched eyes went to Reese because he had mismatched eyes too, the right eye being a light green while the left eye was a light shade of blue to go with his sisters' and mother's eye color. 

Reese still thought the cats were his, because he found them out back at Weston's Bakery where he worked and brought them home, since it was raining. Lorelai wasn't happy, but his sisters pounced on the cats, picking their favorites and naming before Reese even got a chance too.

"Don't worry, I fed the cats," Rory said. She handed some Pop Tarts to Reese, "Here. You can eat these on the way to the Inn since you skipped breakfast."

Reese wasn't exactly hungry, but he took the Pop Tarts to stick in his backpack to get crushed later.

Rory grabbed her backpack, and they headed on over to the Independence Inn where Lorelai worked at, being the executive manager.

When they got to the Inn, Rory took out her French paper and they went up to the desk.

Lorelai was talking on the phone, "Talk to me about room four. What was wrong with it?" She whispered to her two daughters, "Kiss." She kissed Rory and Brie.

Reese was not much of an affectionate person.

"Uh-huh? I thought you replaced that already," Lorelai said. Rory went behind the desk to look for something. "Well, because you told me you did and I never forget anything, so this one's on you, right?" She paused, "Pleasure doing business with you." She hung up the phone.

Michel looked at Rory, "What is Offspring One doing?"

Michel usually referred to them as Offsprings, well since Rory was born first, she was Offspring One, then Brie was Offspring Two, and lastly Reese was Offspring Three.

"I need stamps," Rory said, holding up some stamps. "Can I have these?"

"No," replied Michel.

"Take them," Lorelai said. "What's with the muumuu?" She looked at Rory's white sweater.

"Stop," Rory said.

Lorelai looked at Brie and Reese, "You two let her leave the house dressed in that?"

"You said that I would look like a dick if I were to ever police what a girl wears," Reese responded.

"And I don't see anything wrong with the sweater," Brie added.

Lorelai continued, "No, I'm just saying, you couldn't find one made of metal in case anyone has X-ray eyes?"

Rory looked at her siblings, "Did you two hear me say stop?"

"I heard," Reese said.

"And now this is where we say goodbye," Brie said.

"Ooh, hey, Rory, have Michel look at your French paper before you go," Lorelai said.

"Excuse me?" asked Michel.

"That'd be great," Rory replied.

"No," Michel stated.

"Come on, Michel," Rory replied. "I'll tell all the ladies what a stud you are."

"Hm, I believe that memo has already been sent," Michel replied.

"You sure about that?" Reese couldn't help but say, "I never saw you with a woman."

"I never saw you with a girl either," Michel replied dryly.

"That's because they see my sisters and run in the opposite direction," Reese replied.

Rory smacked Reese upside the head.

"Hey, no need for violence," Lorelai replied. "We don't need more of your blood in the lobby. Any more bloodshed, the lobby could qualify as your quadruplet." She turned to Michel and started talking in a terrible French accent, "Oh, please, Michel. Pretty please with sucre on top. I will stop talking like this."

"Please say yes," Brie said to Michel. "That accent is awful."

Michel spoke to Rory, "Leave it. I'll look at it if I get a chance."

"It's due tomorrow," Rory explained. "And pay special attention to the grammar."

They left the inn.

On their way to the school, they met up with Lane.

Lane handed a backpack to Brie to hold while Lane passed her jacket to Rory, so Lane can put a Woodstock shirt on over the shirt she left the house in.

"When are going to let your parents know that you listen to the evil rock music?" Rory said, "You're an American teenager for god's sake."

"Rory, if my parents still get upset over the obscene portion size of American food, I seriously doubt I'm gonna make any inroads with Eminem," Lane replied, adjusting her clothes.

"I wouldn't start with that guy," Reese said. "Start with a cleaner band."

Lane took the jacket and pointed to the Teen Hayride advertisement, "I have to go to that."

"The hayride?" Rory said, "You're kidding."

"My parents set me up with the son of a business associate," Lane explained. "He's gonna be a doctor."

"In human years or dog years?" asked Brie.

"Dog years," Reese replied.

"How old is he?" asked Rory.

"Sixteen," Lane replied, taking her backpack from Rory.

"So, dog years," Brie replied.

"My parents like to plan ahead," Lane stated.

Rory asked, "God, you have to go to the hayride with him?"

"And his older brother," Lane replied.

"Even worse," Brie stated. "I think I would throw myself out a window if I had to go on a date with Reese."

"Toss in Rory to for maximum awkwardness," Reese added.

"Add Daisy and make it even worse," Rory replied.

Daisy was Luke's daughter and Reese's only friend.

They did have more friends, but when Reese started ignoring everyone and just started sleeping in way more, the self-depreciating started in...Daisy was the only one who stuck by his side.

Well, Brie's friend, Elijah Parker, also hung around, but he was mostly Brie's friend.

"Anyway, Koreans never joke about future doctors," Lane told them. "So, I guess none of you are going, huh?"

"I'll go," Brie told Lane.

"Why?" asked Rory, "I'm fuzzy on what's fun about sitting in the cold for two hours with a bundle of sticks up your butt."

"Don't expect me to clear it up for you," Lane replied as they went up the stairs to get inside the school.

Reese turned and looked at a guy wearing a leather jacket, who was staring after them.

The guy looked away quickly.

The teacher, Mrs. Traister was saying, "For those of you who have not finished the final chapters of Huckleberry Finn, you may use this time to do so. For those of you have, you can start on your essay now. Whichever task you choose, do it silently."

The girls that were around Rory started passing a bottle of nail polish back and forth.

"What's the brother doing?" a girl whispered.

A girl looked and whispered, "He's asleep."

"Again?" asked a girl.

"What about the sister?" a different girl asked.

A girl looked, "Word search."

A girl looked at Rory, "She's writing."

"Maybe it's a love letter," a girl whispered.

"Or her diary," a different said.

"Could be a slam book," a third girl said.

A fourth girl looked, "It's the assignment."

Rory pulled the assignment closer to her. Brie had already done the assignment, but Reese on the other hand would just do within minutes and manage to get an A, because he was terrifyingly good at memorizing things, hence why the school district considered moving him up a grade.

Reese refused, because he says that they were born together, so they'll graduate together. That's just how it was.

Reese went home after school and fell asleep on the couch.

Then Rory woke him up so they could head to the Independence Inn together.

They practically grew up in the Inn, until they were ten.

He can't really remember much about his time in the Inn, but he knew he was very energetic at the time, like pulling all-nighters at seven and Lorelai would stay up all night with him because of it.

Most of those times, Lorelai would have him just watch cartoons in the middle of the night and sleep, which went on for months.

Once, when he was five, he got punished for something and when asked if he knew why, he spoke in a dead serious voice, "Because you don't love me." Apparently, Lorelai cried at that, because Reese honestly believed that.

Mia would even step in to help and even then, it seemed like she had no clue what to do with him. They would end up going to the park where Reese would swing for hours while listening to music.

When he was eight, he started sleeping a lot, along with high energy, then the crabbiness, irritability would kick in.

Lorelai described it as him having a period because it was like a cycle.

The rage started coming in, but it was mostly aimed at Christopher whenever he did his once-a-year visits in Hartford – or whenever they were forced to visit him in California. Brie and Rory always ran and hid.

Once he got them kicked out of a mall because of the 'tantrum' he had when he yelled at Christopher when he was eleven.

Reese, Rory, and Brie headed for the kitchen where there was giggling.

Rory seemed confused, "Mom?"

"Oh!" replied Lorelai.

"You're happy," Rory pointed out.

"Yeah," replied Lorelai, grinning.

Brie asked, "Did you just get laid?"

Reese made a face at that.

"I'm not that happy," Lorelai told her. She and Sookie started giggling.

"Then what happened because you're scaring Reese," Brie said.

"Here," Lorelai said, handing a gift bag to Rory and one to Brie.

"What's going on?" Rory asked, "How come Reese doesn't get a gift?" She thought it was unfair that she and Brie got a gift while Reese didn't.

Reese shrugged, "Doesn't bother me." It really didn't.

"Now, open them," Lorelai told the two girls.

They reached in the bags and Rory took out a blue plaid skirt. Brie took out one as well.

Rory asked, "We're gonna be in a Britney Spears video?"

"You're going to Chilton!" exclaimed Sookie. Lorelai nudged her, "Oh, sorry."

Rory seemed to be in disbelief, "Mom?"

Lorelai just smiled, "You two did it. You both got in."

"How did this happen?" Rory was in shock, "You didn't – with the principal, did you?"

"No, honey, that was a joke." Lorelai said, "They have two open spots. You both are gonna start on Monday."

"Seriously?" asked Brie.

"Seriously," replied Lorelai.

"Really?" asked Rory.

"Really," Lorelai replied.

"I don't believe this!" Rory said, "Oh my god, we're going to Chilton!"

"Yeah," Lorelai said, still grinning.

Rory and Brie both hugged Lorelai.

"Sookie, Brie and I are going to Chilton," Rory told Sookie.

Rory and Brie both hugged Sookie.

"I'll make cookies," Sookie replied.

"I have to call Lane," Rory replied.

"And I have to call Eli," Brie added.

They both started to leave, but they hugged Lorelai one more time.

"I love you," Rory said.

"I love you," Lorelai replied. They both took off.

"My girls' are going to Chilton," Lorelai said.

"Yeah," Sookie agreed. "Rory and Brie are going to Chilton." She tossed the rag over her shoulder and started singing a little song and dancing.

Lorelai looked at Reese, "I'm sorry that your plans on graduating with your sisters didn't work out."

Reese just shrugged, "I suppose."

Lorelai started, "I know you would've gotten in if you just applied—"

"I didn't want to," Reese replied. He knew how expensive it was to even attend. Lorelai didn't have enough money to send one girl to Chilton, let alone two, but it would've been impossible to send a third kid to school. Especially when they had three more years to go – sophomore year, then junior year, and lastly senior year.

Reese asked, "How are you going to afford it?"

"I'm the parent here," Lorelai replied. "You let me handle it."

Barely, Reese thought.

Later, Rory and Brie both walked into the living room, wearing their Chilton skirts.

"Reese, what do you think?" asked Rory.

Reese took a look at them, "Too short. You need to cover your ankles. You don't want guys to think you're both just that easy."

Rory threw a pillow at him, "You're not allowed to answer questions anymore."

They both went outside to talk to them.

Reese looked at the TV.

They eventually came in.

Rory was speaking, "I can't believe tomorrow's my last day in Stars Hollow High."

"I know," replied Lorelai.

"Today I was so excited I dressed for gym," Rory added.

"You're kidding," Lorelai replied.

Brie said, "She's not kidding. She played volleyball with us." Due to the small student body at the school, they all had gym together.

"With other people?" asked Lorelai,

"No, with the imaginary people," Brie replied dryly.

Rory started, "And I learned that all this time I was avoiding group sports?"

"Yeah?" asked Lorelai.

"Was very smart because I suck at them," Rory replied.

"Yeah," Brie agreed. "I still have a headache from when she hit me in the head with the ball."

Lorelai started pinning up Rory's skirt.

"Well, yeah, you and Brie got that from me," Lorelai replied.

Reese did soccer, but he wasn't that great at it either. He definitely didn't win any awards for it.

Sookie came into the living room, "Where's your pâté?"

"At Zsa Zsa Gabor's house," Lorelai replied.

"Right," Sookie replied. "I'm going to the store because you have nothing, besides a questionable looking pizza slice."

"That's Eli's questionable looking pizza," Brie defended.

"Right," Sookie. "You feel like duck?"

"Ooh, if it's made with chicken, absolutely," Lorelai replied.

"I'll be back," Sookie replied.

"Bye," Lorelai said. Sookie left the house and Lorelai spoke to Rory, "All right. This will give you an idea. Go see how you like it."

"Okay," Rory said. She went to her room, but stopped in front of the staircase, "I love being a private school girl."

"So will those pervs out there," Reese added.

"Quincy," Lorelai admonished as she went to pin up Brie's skirt.

Reese cringed at the full name usage.

Brie stood with Rory and Lane, while Rory cleaned out her locker.

"And we get to wear uniforms," Rory was gushing. "No more having people check you out to see what jeans you're wearing 'cause everyone's dressed alike in boring clothes and just there to learn."

"Okay, there's academic-minded and then there's Amish," Lane stated.

They started walking down the hallway together, "Funny."

"Thank you!" Lane replied, "So I told my mom that you and Brie are changing schools."

"Was she thrilled?" asked Rory.

"She wondered when Reese was going," Lane replied. "But the party's on Friday. I gotta go. I Have to have a pre-hayride cup of tea with a future doctor." She gestured at her outfit, "How do I look? Korean?"

"Very," Brie replied.

"Good," Lane said, putting some books on Rory's box, "Bye."

"Bye," Rory replied.

"See ya," Brie added.

Lane took off and some books and papers fell off of Rory's box.

Brie groaned, "Where's Reese at when we need him?"

Rory laughed, "I know." They went to pick up the papers and books.

Someone crouched down to help them pick up the stuff.

When Brie looked up, she jerked, "My god, make a noise you freak."

"Yeah, you're like Ruth Gordon standing there with a tannis root," Rory added. "Make a noise."

"Rosemary's Baby," the guy said.

"Yeah," Rory replied.

"Well, that's a great movie," the guy said. "You both got good taste." He noticed the boxes, "You two are moving?"

"We actually just transferred schools," Brie replied.

"My family just moved here from Chicago," Dean explained.

"Chicago. Windy. Oprah," Rory stated.

"Yeah," the guy replied. "Yeah, that's the place. I'm Dean."

"I'm Brie," Brie replied. "This is my sister, Rory."

"Brie," Dean said. "Rory."

"Well, Lorelai technically," Rory said. "Her name is Gabriele."

"Gabriele," Dean said. "Lorelai. I like it."

"Lorelai is our mother's name, too," Rory explained. "She named me after herself. She was lying in the hospital thinking about how men have name boys after themselves all the time, you know, so why couldn't women? She says her feminism just kind of took over. Though, personally, I think a lot of Demerol also went into the decision. I never talk this much."

Dean asked Brie, "And what about you?"

"I was named after the singer, Gabriele of the band Nena," Brie replied. "She was listening to 99 Luftballoons while she was in labor."

Dean nodded, "Well, I better go."

"Okay then," Brie replied.

"I have to go look for a job," Dean stated.

"You should talk to Miss Patty," Brie told him.

"What?" asked Dean.

"About looking for a job," Brie explained. "Miss Patty knows a lot of things going on in town. She'll know if someone's looking for an employee."

"Oh, great," Dean said. "Uh thanks." He moved over to them. "Hey, what are you doing now?"

"Nothing...much," Rory said. She looked at the balled-up paper, "I should throw this away at some point."

"I was planning on getting home," Brie added. "Stop by and see what Reese is up to."

"Reese?" asked Dean.

"He's our brother," Brie replied.

"Well, maybe you could show me where this Miss Patty's place is," Dean replied.

"Yes, I guess so," Rory replied. "Brie and I really don't have anything important to...let's go."

Dean went and picked up the box of stuff that came from Brie's locker.

They walked out of the school, "So, have you two – uh three, lived here all your lives?"

"Well, we were actually born in Hartford," Brie replied. "Our mom moved us here."

"Well, that's not far," Dean stated.

"Thirty minutes if there's no traffic," Brie explained.

Dean asked, "Really?"

"I timed it," Rory replied.

"Okay then," Dean replied.

After some time of walking, they walked past the bakery. Reese was standing outside, leaning against the wall, holding a book.

"Oh, here's that book I borrowed," Brie told Reese, handing him a book.

Reese glared at Brie, "So that's why I was missing a book."

Dean was looking a little suspicious.

"Dean, that's our brother, Reese," Rory told Dean.

"Actually, his name is Quincy," Brie said. "He prefers to be called by his middle name, which is Reese."

"Don't tell people that," Reese replied.

Dean asked, "Quincy?"

"Named after Quincy, M.E.," Brie explained. "Our mom was watching that show when she went into labor with us."

"'Went into labor with us?'" asked Dean.

"We're triplets," Brie told him.

Dean looked at the three of them, the matching black hair and matching blue eyes... He looked at Reese, "You have two different colored eyes."

"Really? I haven't noticed," Reese deadpanned.

Rory turned to Dean and asked, "So, do you like cake?"

"What?" asked Dean.

"They make really good cakes here," Rory said. "They're very...round."

"We also make rectangle cakes and square cakes," Reese said. "We also sell different things besides cakes."

"Okay," Dean replied. "I'll remember that."

"Good," Rory told him. "Make a note. You wouldn't want to forget where the round cakes are. Or the square ones. Or the rectangle ones." She paused, "Speaking of cake..." She went inside the bakery and Reese followed after.

Brie and Dean continued on.

Dean asked Brie, "So, how are you liking A Night in the Lonesome October?"

"Oh, I think it's good," Brie told him. "I read it before. I'm reading it to get into the Halloween spirit."

"Halloween is next month," Dean told her.

"So?" replied Brie. She frowned, "How do you know I was reading A Night in the Lonesome October?"

"Uh, well, I've been watching you," Dean replied.

Brie was confused, "You were watching me?"

"I mean, not in a creepy, like, 'I'm watching you' sort of way," Dean said. "I just – I've noticed you."

"You noticed me?" asked Brie.

"Yeah," Dean replied.

Brie asked, "When did you notice me?"

"Every day," Dean replied. "After school you come out and you sit under that tree there with Rory and you both read. Yesterday, you finished reading Psycho. Last week, Rory was reading Madame Bovary and now she's reading Moby Dick."

Brie was confused, "Why would you watch us?"

"Because you're nice to look at and last Friday, these two guys were tossing around a ball and one guy nailed the other right in the face. I mean, it was a mess, blood everywhere, the nurse came out, the place was in chaos, his girlfriend was all freaking out, and you just looked up, gave a bored look, and went back to reading. I thought, 'I need to meet that girl. She didn't get disgusted by the blood.'"

Brie gave him a strange look, "I have siblings. We rough-housed a lot. We shed blood growing up."

"I wouldn't doubt it," Dean replied.

"Come on, we're going to Luke's for dinner," Lorelai told Reese, once she shook him awake.

Reese looked at her, "No, you go. I'll stay in."

Lorelai got a stern face, "No, you'll come with us. Luke hasn't seen you in two months and he's beginning to wonder if you're even alive and I stuffed you in a body bag and stuck you in a closet."

So, Reese dragged his pathetic ass out of bed and walked to Luke's with Rory and Lorelai. Brie had already taken off to go on the hayride with Lane.

Luke seemed extremely happy when he saw Reese.

Rory seemed oddly moody as she and Lorelai picked at their salads.

Reese just messed with his mozzarella sticks.

Lorelai said to Rory, "So, you were late getting home tonight."

"Yeah, I went to the library," Rory told her.

"Oh," Lorelai replied. Another silence and Lorelai said, "I forgot to tell you, we're having dinner with your grandparents tomorrow night."

"We are?" asked Rory.

Lorelai hummed an agreement.

"The banks are open tomorrow," Reese replied.

"So?" asked Lorelai.

"There's no holiday in September," Rory replied.

"Look, it's not a holiday thing," Lorelai told them a little firmly. "It's just dinner, okay?"

"Fine, sorry," Rory replied. "You're just as irritable as Reese."

Luke brought over their food. Hamburgers for Lorelai and Rory, a club sandwich with fries for Reese.

"Red meat can kill you," Luke stated, setting down the check, "Enjoy." He looked at Reese, "Long time no see with you."

Reese just grunted and Luke walked away.

Lorelai spoke to Rory, "So, I finished hemming your skirt today." Rory didn't reply. "A grunt of acknowledgement like your brother might be nice."

"I don't understand why we're going to dinner tomorrow night," Rory said. "I mean, what if I had plans. You didn't even ask me."

"Well, if you had plans, I would have known," Lorelai responded.

"How?" asked Rory.

"Well, you would have told me, you would have told your siblings and they would've told me," Lorelai replied.

"I don't you tell you or them everything," Rory replied. "I have my own things."

Reese looked over at Daisy, who was busy cleaning a table, clearly eavesdropping.

"Fine, you have things," Lorelai replied.

"That's right," Rory replied. "I have things."

"Hey, I had dibs on being the bitch tonight," Lorelai replied.

Rory mumbled, "just tonight?"

Reese asked her, "Why are you being more irritable than me right now?"

"I'm not sure I want to go to Chilton," Rory told Lorelai.

"What?" asked Lorelai.

"Reese isn't going and it's unfair," Rory told Lorelai.

"It's unfair?" asked Lorelai.

"And the bus ride to and from Hartford, it's like thirty minutes each way," Rory continued.

"I can't believe what I'm hearing," Lorelai said.

"Plus, I don't think should be spending that money right now," Rory replied. "I mean, I know Chilton's got to be costing you a lot, especially for me and Brie."

Reese looked and spotted Daisy had moved to a closer table, clearly enjoying the drama that was going on.

"Oh, you have no idea," Lorelai stated.

"All of your money should be going toward buying an inn with Sookie," Rory added.

"What about college?" Lorelai asked, "What about Harvard?"

"We don't know that I can't get into Harvard if I stay where I am," Rory explained.

"Okay, enough," Lorelai replied. "Enough of the crazy talk, okay? I appreciate your concern, but I have this covered."

"I still don't want to go," Rory told her.

"Why?" asked Lorelai.

"Because Reese isn't going," Rory replied.

"I have to get out of here," Lorelai said, getting up.

"Don't forget to pay," Daisy told Lorelai.

Lorelai set some money on the table and walked out with Rory following.

Reese looked at Daisy, "Can I get some boxes?"

Daisy nodded, "Sure."

After boxing and bagging the food, Reese left the diner, rushing to catch up to his sister and mother, who were at Miss Patty's.

"Oh, Rory, good," Miss Patty was saying. "I think I found a job for Brie's male friend."

Lorelai asked, "Are you talking about Eli? I thought he already worked at the bookstore."

"No, honey, I mean the new boy from Chicago," Miss Patty replied. "They need a stock boy at the supermarket. I already talked to Taylor Doose about him. Just tell Brie to send him around tomorrow."

"Okay, thanks," Rory replied. "I'll let her know."

"What male friend?" asked Lorelai.

"Oh, he's very cute," Miss Patty told Rory. "Your sister has good taste." She turned back to her class, "Hands in the air, not in the nose."

They walked down the street.

"Oh, you're gonna have to walk faster than that." Lorelai said, "You're gonna have to turn into freakin' Flo Jo to get away from me."

When they got back home, Lorelai followed Rory inside the house and slammed the door closed behind her, leaving Reese standing outside.

"No, it's okay. I didn't want to go inside anyway," Reese replied.

He went inside the house and went to the kitchen.

"So, who is he?" demanded Lorelai.

Unfortunately, Rory's bedroom was in the kitchen, so Reese had to hear this entire conversation.

"There's no guy!" exclaimed Rory.

"Dark hair, romantic eyes? Looks a little dangerous?" asked Lorelai.

"This conversation is over," replied Rory.

"Tattoos are good, too!" added Lorelai.

"I don't want to change because Reese isn't going and it's unfair," Rory stated. "There is no guy, and he's interested in Brie anyway. If you don't want to believe me, that's fine. Goodnight."

"Does he have a motorcycle? 'Cause if you're gonna throw your life away, he better have a motorcycle!" said Lorelai.

Reese hurried off to the stairs to go to his room.

They stood on the front porch, staring at the door to their grandparents' house.

Rory and Lorelai were still arguing with one another. It didn't make sense to Reese, because Rory kept saying that there was no guy and Lorelai still thought there was.

"So, do we go in or do we just stand here reenacting The Little Match Girl?" asked Rory grumpily.

"Okay, look," Lorelai spoke to Rory, who was in between Brie and Lorelai. "I know you and me are having a thing here and I know you hate me, but I need you to be civil, at least through dinner and then on the way home, you and your siblings can pull a Menendez. Deal?"

"Fine," replied Rory.

Lorelai rang the doorbell and Emily opened the door.

"Hi, Grandma," Brie and Rory said in unison.

Brie elbowed Reese.

"Hi, Grandma," Reese stated.

"Well, you're right on time," Emily replied.

"There wasn't any traffic," Brie replied as they walked inside.

"I can't tell you what a treat it is to have you here," Emily told them as she took their coats to hang on the coat rack.

"Oh, well we're excited, too," Lorelai said.

Emily spotted the travel cup that Lorelai was holding, "Is that a collector's cup or can I throw it away for you?"

"Oh," Lorelai said, realizing that she was still holding onto it. She went to throw it away in a nearby waste basket.

"In the kitchen, please," Emily told Lorelai. She looked at Reese, "Reese, we got a gift for you in the living room." She looked at Rory and Brie, "And I want to hear all about Chilton."

"We haven't actually started yet," Rory told Emily, who led them into the living room.

"Richard, look who's here," Emily announced.

Richard looked up from his newspaper, "Rory, Brie. You're both tall."

"I guess," Rory mumbled.

"Well, what's your height?" asked Richard.

"5'7," Rory said.

"Brie, how about you?" asked Richard.

"5'6," Brie replied.

"That's tall. They're tall." Richard looked at Reese, "How about you, Reese?"

"5'5," Reese replied, a little embarrassed by his height.

"That's about short for a guy," Richard stated.

"I know," Reese replied. He had hoped to catch up to his sisters and outgrow them, but he hadn't.

Lorelai came into the living room.

"Hi, Dad," Lorelai greeted.

"Lorelai, your daughters' tall," Richard said. "Reese, on the other hand, is a bit short."

"Oh, I know," Lorelai replied. "It's freakish. We're thinking of having them studied at M.I.T.."

Richard didn't get the joke, "Ah." He returned to reading his paper.

Emily came over holding a tray that had champagne flutes, "Champagne, anyone?"

They each took a champagne flute.

Lorelai looked at hers, "Oh, that's fancy."

"Well, it's not every day that I have you four here for dinner on a day the banks are open. A toast – to the kids entering Chilton and an exciting new phase in their lives."

Reese was confused.

"Here, here," Richard stated, holding his glass up.

Once they all took a drink, Emily said, "Well, let's sit everyone." They sat down. "This is just wonderful. An education is the most important thing in the world, next to family."

"And pie," Lorelai stated. There was silence as they looked at her weirdly. "Joke, joke."

"Ah," Emily replied.

Lorelai said, "Uh, Mom, you said that you have a gift for Reese."

Emily smiled, "Oh, that's right." She got up.

Richard handed Brie a section of the newspaper and a pen, "Hand that to Reese."

Brie handed the newspaper and pen to Reese.

Reese looked at the puzzle section, "Thanks."

Richard handed a section to Brie, before handing a different section to Rory.

Emily came back and handed a blue gift bag to Reese, "Here you go."

Reese set the puzzles to the side and took the bag from Emily, "Thanks." He opened the bag and reached in, feeling something cloth-like. He pulled it and looked at the Chilton crest. He felt dread. The first thing that came to mind was, "I'm going to be in a Britney Spears video?" Brie, Rory, and Lorelai started laughing at that.

Emily seemed confused, "I'm sorry?"

Lorelai looked at Emily, "What did you mean by 'kids' when you made your little speech?"

"I think I'm going to Chilton," Reese replied.

"You are," Emily replied. "When we found out that Anna and Rory are going to Chilton, and not you, I had my friend pull some strings to get you enrolled. I couldn't have you attend some public school while your sisters' get a good education somewhere else."

Lorelai started, "Mom—"

"It's fine," Reese told Lorelai. He knew that an argument would break out over the whole Chilton thing. He looked at Emily, "Thanks, Grandma."

Emily just smiled back at him.

When dinner was finally announced, they all gathered in the dining room. Lorelai sat on one side of the table, with Rory, Reese, and Brie sitting across from her, while Emily and Richard were at both ends of the table.

Emily asked, "Rory, Reese, Brie, how do you like the lamb?"

Rory looked down the table at her siblings before looking at Emily, "It's good."

"Too dry?" asked Emily.

Rory looked down the table at her siblings before looking at Emily, "No, it's perfect."

"Potatoes could use a little salt, though," Lorelai cut in.

Emily took offense to that, "Excuse me?"

Sensing an argument brewing, Rory asked, "So, Grandpa, how's the insurance biz?"

"Oh, people die, we pay. People crash cars, we pay. People lose a foot, we pay," Richard stated.

"Well, at least you have your new slogan," Lorelai replied.

"And how are things at the motel?" asked Richard.

"The inn?" Lorelai said, "They're great."

"Lorelai's the executive manager now," Emily said. "Isn't that wonderful?"

"Speaking of which, Christopher called yesterday," Richard replied.

Reese glowered, because Christopher would call Richard, but not his three kids?

"Speaking of which?" Lorelai asked, "How is that a speaking of which?"

"He's doing very well in California," Richard explained. "His internet start-up goes public next month. This could mean big things for him." He spoke to the teens, "Very talented man, your father."

Brie snorted and Reese tried hard not to grin at her reaction. He was very talented at being a deadbeat.

"They know," Lorelai replied.

"He always was a smart one, that boy," Richard said. He spoke to the teens, "You must take after him."

"I'd rather not," Reese muttered. It was why he dyed his hair black. He'd rather take after Lorelai, because at least she made a career for herself by being a maid and working her way up.

"Speaking of which, I'm gonna get a Coke," Lorelai said, getting up and heading to the kitchen. "Or a knife."

"Get me one," Reese told Lorelai.

"A knife or Coke?" asked Lorelai.

"Both works at this point," Reese replied.

Rory started to get up, "I think I'm gonna go talk to her—"

"No, I'll go," Emily said. "You stay and keep your grandfather company." She went into the kitchen.

Richard asked, "How have you three been doing?"

"Uh, I work at the bakery now," Reese replied.

"And I work at the local pizzeria," Brie added.

Reese and Rory looked down the table at her with matching disbelieving looks.

"Since when?" asked Rory.

"I just got the job yesterday," Brie replied.

"The wrong way?" yelled Lorelai. "How could I have taken it the wrong way? What was open to interpretation?"

"Keep your voice down," Emily replied.

"How are you three doing in school?" asked Richard.

Brie replied, "I'm getting by in math and that's because Reese won't let me copy his math homework."

"We have different math teachers," Reese stated.

"So?" replied Anna.

Rory chuckled and rolled her eyes.

"Isn't that interesting?" Lorelai was saying, "Because, as I remember, when Christopher got me pregnant, Dad didn't like him so much."

"Oh, well, please, you were sixteen," Emily replied. "What were we supposed to do - throw you a party? We were disappointed. The two of you had such bright futures."

Lorelai being sixteen when she had them was just something that they always knew. The gravity of the situation really didn't hit 'til they hit school and they were like, "Our mom was just a kid when she had us. She was a kid when she had triplets."

Reese looked at his plate as Lorelai and Emily bickered, while Richard engaged Rory and Anna in conversation.

"He didn't want to be in the insurance business and I am living a lovely life right now," Lorelai was saying.

"That's right," Emily replied. "Far away from us."

"Oh, here we go," Lorelai stated.

"You took those three kids and completely shut us out of your life," Emily replied.

"You want to control me," Lorelai replied.

"You were still a child," Emily replied.

"I stopped being a child the minute the strip turned pink, okay?" Lorelai said, "I had to figure out how to live. I found a good job."

"As a maid," Emily retorted. "With all your brains and talent."

"I worked my way up," Lorelai replied. "I run the place now. I built a life on my own with no help from anyone."

"Yes, and think of where you would have been if you'd accepted a little help, hmm?" Emily said, "And where those kids would have been. But no, you were always too proud to accept anything from anyone."

"Well, I wasn't too proud to come here to you two begging for money for my daughters' school, was I?" replied Lorelai.

"No, you certainly weren't. But you're too proud to let your kids know where you got it from, aren't you? Well, fine, you have your precious pride, I have my weekly dinners, and I got Reese enrolled in Chilton so he can be with his sisters. Isn't that nice?" Emily stated, "We both win."

Lorelai ended up storming out and saying to her kids, "Say goodbye to Grandpa. We're going."

After saying bye, they had to grab their coats and left the house. Lorelai sighed and leaned against the wall outside.

"Mom?" asked Rory, concerned.

"I'm okay," Lorelai replied. "I just...do I look shorter to you, Reese? 'Cause I feel shorter than you."

Reese looked at Lorelai, "You seem the same height to me."

"Hey, how 'bout I buy all of us a cup of coffee?"

"Oh, yeah," Lorelai replied. "One of you drives, though, okay, 'cause I don't think my feet will reach the pedals."

"I'm not driving," Reese replied. He hated driving at night.

"I'll do it," Brie said, taking the keys from Lorelai and running to the car.

Reese stayed home, leaving Lorelai, Brie, and Rory to head on over to Luke's.

Brie asked Lorelai, "Does Reese concern you? I'm getting a bit worried about how much he's sleeping."

"I'm sure he's fine," Lorelai told her.

"So, nice dinner at the grandparents' house," Rory said.

"Oh, yeah, her dishes have never been cleaner," Lorelai stated.

"Yeah, real pleasant talk," Brie stated.

"How much did you hear?" asked Lorelai.

"Basically the entire thing," Brie told Lorelai.

"Well, the best laid plans," Lorelai started, as they walked into the diner, and going to sit at a table.

"I think it was really brave of you to ask them for money," Rory replied.

"Oh, I so do not want to talk about it," Lorelai told her.

Rory asked, "How many meals is it gonna take 'til we're off the hook?"

Brie felt the pang of worry at the thought of Lorelai dying.

"I think the deli spread at my funeral will be the last one," Lorelai replied. She looked at Rory, "Hey, wait, does that mean...?"

"Well, Reese is going to Chilton, so I can't let a perfectly good plaid skirt go to waste," Rory said.

"Oh, honey, you won't be sorry," Lorelai replied.

Luke walked up to the table wearing a button-down shirt.

Lorelai looked at Luke, "Wow, you look nice. Really nice."

"I had a meeting earlier at the bank. They like collars," Luke explained. "You look nice, too."

"I had a flagellation to go to," Lorelai replied.

Brie and Rory looked at each other awkwardly, because of the fact that they were clearly flirting with each other.

Luke asked, "So, what'll you have?"

"Coffee, in a vat," Lorelai told him.

"I'll have coffee also," Rory replied. "And chili fries."

"Coffee and loaded nachos," Brie told Luke. "With a slice of cherry pie on the side."

"That's quite a refined palate you got there," Luke replied, and walked away.

Lorelai stared after him, "Behold the healing powers of a bath." She looked at Brie, "So, tell me about the guy."

Brie was confused, "What guy?"

"The guy that you helped find a job for," Lorelai told her.

Brie shrugged, "He's new. He moved here from Chicago."

Lorelai looked at Brie, "That's it?"

"What?" Brie asked, "You expect me to know his medical and dental history?"

"No," Lorelai replied. "Is he dreamy?"

Rory replied, "Oh, that's so Nick at Nite."

Luke showed up with the plates of food, "Coffee, fries, nachos, pies..." He looked at them, "I can't stand it. This is so unhealthy. Rory, Brie, please put down those cups of coffee. You do not want to grow up to be like your mom."

Rory grinned, "Sorry, too late."