Chapter Text
“Wait! Stop!” Eloise grabbed the driver’s shoulder as the car came to an abrupt stop just in front of the Gilmore’s villa.
“To— Ms. Eloise! We could have crashed!” Sam yelled at her— fully knowing she does not care. Although she scrunched her nose at the ‘Ms’. “God it’s my first week back and you’re already getting me fired.”
“Is that my mother’s car?” Eloise asked. Her heart stopped as she saw her mother’s car parked in the villa. It wasn’t Christmas yet, or easter. Was it her mother’s birthday? No, that’s April. “Sam, does grandma have an event today?”
”Not your secretary.” Sam rolled his eyes as he started to drive. “Yes, that is Lor’s car. And no, your grandmother does not have an event today.”
”Don’t roll your eyes or I’ll have grandma gouge it out.” Eloise said as she leaned back, her headache coming back.
Sam snorted as he entered the villa. Eloise wouldn’t say anything. He once got fired and she begged her grandparents to have him back, because other drivers were ‘far too old, far too silent, far too loud, chews, plays bad music, doesn’t like music, yada, yada, yada.’ Too much like her grandma but her mouth too much like her mother.
”Can you go around the block first? She’ll probably only take a second, then leave.”
”No can do, Ms. —“don’t call me that. I sound old.”— Eloise. Should’ve said it earlier when we stopped.” He answered as he parked. “Go in. Drink aspirin or whatever fancy shit you guys drink for headaches.”
Eloise muttered a small bye before getting out and heading straight to the door. But not before getting a glimpse of her grandparents and mother talking.
Lorelai has that look. Eloise has never seen that look in her mother’s face. On holidays, it always starts with a fake polite smile, then a slightly annoyed face along with faces behind her grandmother’s back, then a sour face. Sometimes ending with a fight with Emily— or not. It depends on the vibe of the night. But that face, with low eyes and even lower pride, in her 15 years of life, 14 without her mother, had Eloise ever seen Lorelai in need of money.
Just as she was about to walk, Lorelai caught her eye, surprised to see her daughter home since it's 10 AM on a Thursday. Eloise smiled awkwardly in response before continuing to walk inside the house.
“Hi grandma. Hi grandpa. I’m home.” Eloise announced the same announcement she said for 12 years.
”We’re in the common room Eloise!” Emily said back. “Your mother’s here with us.”
Eloise took a deep breath before walking towards the living room.
“— called, She’s feeling headaches. St. Loomis was apparently out of insulin for her.”
”Hi grandma, I’m fine.” Eloise entered. “I just forgot to bring my own, that’s all.”
Lorelai gave a small wave which Eloise returned. “That’s nonsense! For being a top 3 school in Connecticut St. Loomis they sure do not accommodate all their students.” Emily complained as Eloise gave her and Richard a peck in the cheek.
“Hi Tori.” Lorelai greeted. “How was um… school? Feeling a little high?”
Eloise found it a little funny. Emily and Richard did not.
”Is that a joke? That’s making your daughter sound like an addict!” Emily said, with a disapproving shake of the head from Richard.
“I’m fine, um… Mom.” Eloise cringed in the inside from the mention of Mom. “I better head up, the uh… nurse said I should rest up.”
“Very well, then. Rest up, dear.” Richard said, thinking deeply.
“Yes, we have much to discuss. We don’t want to bore you with details.” Emily ushered her off. “We’ll tell you the news later over dinner.”
“Oh we don’t have much to discuss anymore. I can just go-”
“Actually, we do.” Richard cut Lorelai off. “There’s something else we should discuss other than Rory’s education.”
That piqued Eloise’s attention. Rory’s education? Was she moving? Dropping out?
At the sense of Eloise not leaving, “Go upstairs now Eloise. You need to rest.” Richard said, which Eloise hesitantly followed.
She tried to move slowly, hoping to catch a word from their conversation. But they watched her go up the stairs and didn’t talk until she was completely upstairs which made their voices muffled. Eloise could only catch ‘Chilton’ and her name in the conversation before being completely cut off as she heads inside her room.
Yellow walls (no posters under her grandmother’s house allowed of course), a vanity mirror, study desk, a desk piano she hasn’t touched in months, a bookshelf, and a box with [GIVEAWAYS] written. Probably for a new charity event her grandmother is doing.
Eloise took her shoes off and pointed her toes, flexing her feet— something she has been doing every time she came back from school. She hung her bag on the door, along with her coat and walked towards the box. Her grandmother already put some of her stuff inside.
It didn’t bother Eloise. That her grandmother just snoops in whenever she wants and moves her stuff as she deems fit. If Emily thinks this was perfect, Eloise isn’t stupid enough to argue with her. That would just be tiring. It’s easier to let things go, especially with her grandmother.
Upon seeing herself in the mirror, Eloise straightened her back— reflex. Something that was instilled to her since she was a child.
Eloise looked inside the box. A bunch of CDs Lorelai gave her (which she pulled out of the box and put aside on her own stash, of course.) Eloise snorted. Obviously, anything that looked alternative or emo to her grandmother was put in the box. Some books were there too, kid’s books that she hasn’t touched in years, small shoes, some science project and— is that what I think it is?
She pulled out the box at the end. An inscribed ‘happy birthday tori!! to being the anna pavlova of conneticut — mom & rory’ is written on the inside of the top of the box. Inside, a pair of pristine ballet shoes— never worn. Lorelai gave her this pair when Eloise turned 12. Right at the moment where Emily just pulled Eloise out of ballet lessons.
Four years of ballet, Eloise kind of misses it. The discipline, the structure to it. It was something Emily loved seeing her do but couldn’t correct her since she didn’t know much about it.
The shoes were kind of a waste. Although she appreciated the thought of Lorelai giving her shoes, it took her four years to give her ballet shoes. Eloise kept it nonetheless. It probably wouldn’t fit anymore. It would be tight, but workable. Maybe she could get back into it. Maybe.
The door opening and closing broke Eloise’s train of thought. That must be her mother leaving. Eloise went to look out her window, seeing Lorelai get inside her car. They locked eyes and reflexively, Eloise gave a polite smile. Whether fake or not— it didn’t matter.
As soon as the car drove away, Eloise sighed and laid down on her bed.
—
Lorelai was biting her nails as she stared in the log book for the events there in the Independence Inn. Her life was stable now, she had a bit more money even with a teenager in her house, and Chilton is practically paid for. What’s exactly stopping her from getting Tori back?
”Wow you look like me when I hurt my hand and couldn’t cook.” Sookie giggled beside her, a hot pan in one hand. “What? The thing with your parents didn’t go well?”
Lorelai thought about it. They agreed, but with a few conditions. Is that good or…? “I think it went well? Well, as good as being imprisoned every Friday in their house.”
”Juicy. Taste this sauce, I’m hoping it would go with the flan.” Sookie said, bringing a spoon to Lorelai’s mouth. “But why do you look like that? Like you just made the wrong choice.”
”It’s just— oh my god that is really good. Tori would die if she ate this.” Lorelai said. “Speaking of, you think Tori could live here? Like live-live here in Stars Hollow?”
”With her fancy clothes and bags worth more than my salary? I think the queen of England would rather live here than her.” Sookie absentmindedly said. Lorelai took a deep breath. “I mean! Like she probably can! Y’know, she has to just adjust… and get um…”
Seeing Sookie’s panic, Lorelai snorted. “I know that. She’ll have to adjust a lot to be able to live here. Like a Chanel bag being put in a flea market.” Lorelai bit her lip. “I just think… what if, y’know?”
“Well, if you feel that—“
”Do not put your hot pan on my desk. Your place is in the kitchen, mine is at the desk.” Michel smiled with sarcasm laced as he came back. “This is not a dining place,”
”It will be once you taste this!” Sookie happily (and forcefully) tried to shove the spoon to Michel.
”No! That is full of sugar and I do not want to get fat! I have days for that!” Michel said, trying to avoid Sookie. “Mario! Get your boss off me and return back to the kitchen!”
“You know my sous chef’s name? Why?” Sookie asked.
”Maybe someone has a crush.” Lorelai grinned. “Oh Mario, save me from the sauce feeding lady!”
”You both are impossible!”
—
The sound of utensils clicking against plates filled the dining room, similar to other nights. Nothing except the occasional talk.
”Eloise, do you like St. Loomis?” Richard spoke first, breaking the silence. “I mean, it’s a very boys oriented school. Most lessons tend to teach more on the technical side.”
”And remember their medical wing. Running out of basics like insulin.” Emily slipped in.
”It’s… okay I guess.” Eloise felt like she knew where the conversation was going. Is it going to be transferred? “St. Loomis has been my school for like 5 years. I’d really appreciate it if my momentum isn't disrupted.”
Emily and Richard stared at each other. “We just worry that St. Loomis doesn’t provide the best medical care, dear. This has been what? The third time where you’ve been sent home because your sugar has been high.” Richard said, concerned.
”Exactly, three times in ten years. In my point of view, that’s good right?” Eloise defended, she really did not want to change anything.
”Well, it’s not only that. Lately, we feel that St. Loomis isn’t exactly the best, Eloise. Boys are over 80 percent of the population and boys your age now are hardly trusting.” Emily mentioned, eating along the way. “And some schools have better medical care.”
Again with her stupid sugar levels. Annoyance was bubbling in her brain. It’s obvious that they want her to move to Chilton, but why. “I can handle myself well, grandma. The boys, and most people in school don’t bother me. I don’t see why St. Loomis isn’t the best,”
”More opportunities come more in other schools, Eloise. More people to be close to.” Richard chimed in. “Like Chilton.”
“Chilton also has a superior medical wing. Three times is enough and we can’t have you running out of insulin. You fainted once in that school.” Emily said impatiently.
Eloise picked up chicken from her plate. “St. Loomis has a great medical suite and the incident quickly resolved itself. Grandma, I really don’t see why I should transfer. Is this connected to why my Mom was here?”
Emily and Richard smiled at each other. Eloise did not like that one bit.
”Your sister Rory has been accepted in Chilton!” Emily said.
No way.
”We think it’s a good opportunity for your relationship if you also transfer.” Richard mentioned. “Besides, Chilton has more programs that you might be interested in.”
Jesus.
Emily held her hand. “And every Friday night, Lorelai and Rory will be dining here with us.”
What the hell.
It took Eloise a few moments before reacting.
”Well?” Emily asked.
For the love of God. Eloise cleared her throat, “That’s… certainly news.” She drank water first before continuing. “Congrats to um… Rory. But I don’t see why I should transfer?”
Emily’s face dropped. She let go of Eloise’s hand. “Why are you being so resistant to this? Is the idea of your sister and mother being close to you that preposterous?”
”Not at all!” Eloise bit her lip. Suck it in or rebel against Emily? Big choice that could define the rest of her life. “It seems unnecessary to transfer. There’s a lot of files to fix and isn’t there a line of applicants?”
Emily rolled her eyes. “Oh please you’re being stubborn for the sake of it, Eloise.”
“Emily, that’s enough.” Richard senses the fight the same way he would recognize Lorelai’s comments. “Principal Charleston is a friend and with your grades you are ahead of everyone. I am sure with the right words you will get in with no problem.”
Suck it in. Accept it.
Eloise gripped her fork tighter. “I would like to be excused and think about this, please.” She breathed in and out.
It’s unnecessary to fight.
”Victoria Eloise Gilmore! You have not finished dinner. It’s disrespectful to leave the table without finishing your food.” Emily said firmly. Eloise felt her heart tightened at her tone. It’s the same tone she uses with Lorelai.
Just suck it in!
Eloise came back to sit down. She didn’t like it when her grandma was this forceful but Eloise didn’t want her and Emily’s relationship to turn as sour as Lorelai and hers.
Lorelai and Rory had their quirky little town. But Eloise and Emily had their expensive shopping and fancy etiquettes.
“I’m sorry for being stubborn Grandma.” She picked up her glass and drank, giving her a moment to calm down. Fighting wouldn’t get her anywhere— her grandparents already made up her mind. “I think… I think I’m warming up to the idea of Chilton.”
Emily’s face softened at that. It was always on edge with Eloise. Sometimes she thinks it will turn into a fight like Lorelai’s but it always ends nicely, with Eloise agreeing.
“Change can be frightening, Eloise. But I am sure it’s good for you.” Richard smiled.
Eloise held a tight smile. “Yeah, sure. I get it.”
“Good, Rory’s starting Monday. Tomorrow’s a good day to make phone calls.” Emily gleefully said, dabbing herself with a napkin.
Eloise continued eating silently. Emily and Richard talking in the background. There’s no point in fighting a decision already made for her. It’s just two years, no more than that and she can finally live somewhere else.
—
This situation is annoying. Eloise writes her homework due next week. Is it even necessary to do this? She’s going away anyway. Aside from the fact that adjusting will be challenging and unnecessary, there is really no reason why she didn’t want to transfer.
Her grandparents' reasons for the sugar levels are bullshit. It wasn’t a big deal! She knew how to properly take care of herself and it wasn’t a big deal. She won’t die if she wasn’t given insulin in four minutes. God.
Her computer pinged.
do not respond!: hey tink :)
Really? Now? For one, she really wouldn’t respond to him, only responding to his next message. Two, tinkerbell? That doesn’t make sense for Eloise at all.
do not respond!: heard u were transferring to chilton
do not respond!: shame. i wouldn’t be there for u anymore
how’d you know?
people can be liars, logan
maybe instead of being a gossip you can focus on actually finishing this year :))
News probably spread already. Tomorrow will be a press conference, whether Elise wants it or not. The computer continued to ping. But it was easier to ignore it, and just do her homework.
do not respond!: don’t worry. havent told anyone but lots know i think
do not respond!: colin will miss u
Eloise snorted. Yeah, right. Whatever. She turned off her computer to lessen distractions. Everyone is being a pain in the ass tonight.
Her phone rang. Logan really won’t stop. Eloise rolled her eyes before quickly picking up the call. “Logan, mind your own business or I’ll tell your dad you stole the keys to his yacht. Got it?”
”… woah there sister.” Her mother’s voice rang. “I’ll try to pass the message to Logan’s dad when and if I found out who he is,”
”Oh.” Eloise cleared her throat. “I’m sorry, I thought this was a classmate of mine.”
”Well… glad you’re not stealing boats with him.” Lorelai laughs awkwardly with a small yeah from Eloise before coming to an awkward silence.
”… Do you need anything?” Eloise felt that that would be the correct moment to say mom. But it doesn’t feel right.
”Right! I uh… wanted to ask you if Mom told you yet. Like any news at all?” Lorelai asked, Eloise could hear some walking around.
”Yeah, she mentioned the Friday night dinners and congrats to Rory by the way. Chiltn’s a good school.” Eloise mentions, continuing back to writing her assignment.
”Anything else?” Lorelai asked, biting her nails. Aside from Rory she thought about this all day. Will she want to transfer to Chilton to be more close with Rory? As their mother she wanted them to be close, if not as close as the two Lorelais.
So that’s what they talked about when she was gone. “… yeah. I'm transferring along with Rory. Grandma thought this would be a good bonding experience.” Eloise answered absentmindedly. Her assignment is really interesting.
”Do you?”
”Do I what?”
”Think this is a good bonding experience?” Lorelai asked, concerned. “And honey, I want you to transfer because you want to, not just because Mom told you to.”
I can make my own decisions, thank you very much. Eloise rolls her eyes. “It’s a good school with lots of opportunities. It’s good for me, plus I’ve only pretty much had only one school for most of my life, so socializing is good.”
“Oh… that’s good I guess.” Lorelai replied. Does she ask the question or not? “Um hey. I have an idea I want to run by you.”
”Go ahead.” Eloise said. Is this over yet?
”Would you be willing to live in Stars Hollow?”
That was unexpected. Eloise hesitantly continued writing, thinking on what she should reply with. “What brought this question?”
“Nothing… I just thought it would be nice y’know.” Lorelai said. “With you and uh… Rory going to Chilton—Eloise heard a sharp breath from her—I think it would be nice for us to be closer. I can introduce you to the town. Oh! There’s a lady here with like 6 fingers in each hand and I think you would really enjoy having tea with her.”
Should she answer hesitantly or confidently? Answering hesitantly would soften the blow— wait why did she need to soften the blow? It’s not like it’s practical to live there. “Yeah but um… it’s not practical. Chilton’s closer here and moving there takes time. So… as nice as Stars Hollow is, I’d rather stay here.”
“Oh… yeah. Just figured I’d ask— can’t hurt to try right?” Lorelai lightly laughs. “So— the move to Chilton, exciting! Any tips to give Rory?”
“Um… first impressions are crucial. Since Rory’s from public school, she’ll be having a hard time adjusting, the work is a lot harder in prep school. No one gets a medal for just trying.” Eloise replied. “I suggest she doesn’t focus on anything but studying.”
”Oh boy.” Lorelai sighed. “This conversation is dragging, don’t you think?”
Eloise let out a short ‘hm’.
“I’m gonna say goodbye, now.” Lorelai said.
”Okay. Bye…” Eloise cringed. “… Mom.”
”Bye, Tori.” Lorelai ends the convo.
Man, that was a headache.
—
“So, Eloise…” Charlotte walked towards her, blocking her view as Eloise cleans out her locker. “Are you emotionally prepared for… a downgrade?”
Eloise raised a brow in the question as she grabbed her books and a few figurines on her locker. “Chilton is not a downgrade— the guy you were just seeing is from there.”
”Exactly.” Charlotte grinned. “That guy had nothing interesting in him but daddy issues. I’d say it’s a downgrade.”
”Half the boys here in St. Loomis don’t have anything interesting in them either. Most are born with daddy issues.” Eloise shrugged, placing her figurines in smaller boxes. “It’s a given. So no, not a downgrade.”
Charlotte grabbed some books from Eloise’s arms. “It might as well be. Random admissions? I heard they let someone else in from that quirky little town in Stars Hollow.”
”Scary.” Eloise deadpanned.
“Terrifying indeed.” Charlotte agreed, hugging the books closer to her chest. Gasping, she claimed “What if they think having a plaid skirt is a personality?”
Eloise sighed dramatically. “I suppose the weight of the world falls on my shoulders.”
“As you always do.” Charlotte snorted. “But seriously, I give it a month before you’re running the school.”
”We’ll see. Two weeks if I’m ambitious.” Eloise grinned.
Some teachers passed by them, polite greetings from both sides and a few teachers bidding her their goodbyes. Eloise smiled politely at each one, with the promise of ‘of course, St. Loomis will still be my alma mater’. Which of course Charlotte tried not to laugh at.
It was at the end of the day, yet the news had just spread now. That was surprising. Eloise, along with Charlotte, sat down in the lounge area, as something beeps in her bag.
Finalizing her transfer, Emily was going to be talking to the headmaster for any complications. Staying in school late wasn’t a headache but it does have its own ache.
”Ah, the lady of the hour!” Logan announces, walking in on the area. “Your leaving leaves a hole in my heart, Tinkerbell.”
Behind the man of the hour, Finn and Colin trail behind him, looking far too entertained for Eloise’s liking. Eloise rolled her eyes, feeding Bob on her hand.
“Not that again.” She groans, Charlotte hands her her cousin's notebook with the name of Paris Geller. “Where did that even come from?”
Colin grins as the three of them sat in front of the two girls. “You glow, you’re small, and you have an alarming rage for someone your size.”
”I don’t have rage,” Eloise says, flipping through the notebook from Chilton, hoping that the adjustment isn’t too hard. “I have standards.” She looks straight at the three. “And some of you fail to meet them.”
Finn gasps. “Certainly not me, deary.”
She sends him a flat book, her smile dropping. “I refuse to boost your ego.”
Logan smirks, clearly enjoying himself. “So, how does it feel? Abandoning your kingdom for a lesser domain.”
Eloise sighs, snapping her notebook shut. Nothing really gets in her nerves other than Logan himself. “You people are acting like I’m getting exiled. I’m transferring. And if anything, Chilton is just as good— maybe even better than St. Loomis.”
May or may not be true but who cares? Either way, she’d be at the top of any school.
”Oh?” Logan leans forward. “And how, pray tell, is it better?”
Eloise also leans forward, smiling. “You’re not there bothering me.”
Colin and Finn grabbed Logan and pulled him with “that’s gotta hurt man.”
Eloise rolled her eyes and continued to read. Emily probably won’t come for another 30 minutes. The three in front of her start talking about something she couldn’t care less. Charlotte mentions something about Chilton, where her cousin goes to and Eloise listens attentively, skimming over Paris’s notes.
”Chilton? She won’t last.”
”Exactly, I don’t see her lasting. She won’t have the same pull.”
Eloise silently thanks Charlotte. “Julian, right?” She muses, voice light. She hasn’t taken her eyes off the notebook. Wow, Chilton is really into Shakespeare. “I’ve been meaning to ask… how’s the appeal going?”
The two students behind her stop. “Excuse me?”
The three in front of her and Charlotte stop talking, silently watching the exchange.
Eloise glances up, making deliberate eye contact with Julian— or Harriet? Either way it was her. “You know. The one for your academic probation?”
A tense pause.
Then, as if she’s just remembered something, Eloise sighs, smiling and shaking her head. “Oh— wait. You missed the deadline.”
The duo stiffens. Julian (?) shifts uncomfortably. “You can call me if you need help, I’m sure I can be a great help to you.”
Eloise goes back to her reading.
“You can go now, just doing a welfare check on some of my classmates.” Eloise says absentmindedly.
Colin and Finn try to whistle before Logan stops them, knowing Eloise wouldn’t like the attention that’s drawn. It’s spectacular.
She’s spectacular.
—
Eloise comes down the stairs. Her dress was a nice beige color reaching up to their neck and her hair up, maybe it’s too formal? Yeah she would let it down. She removed her pins and let her hair down.
“That looks better.” Emily says in passing. Where did she even come from?
The dinner wasn’t big— so it was just them and the maids preparing the dinner. As Eloise walks to their living area, with the maid placing the cart. “No, place it beside the couch, someone can kick it off or get in the way of their sitting.”
The maid complies. Eloise moves on to the newspaper scattered on the table, her grandfather wouldn’t care about half of the fillers here, so she separates them. You never know, someone might read the other half.
When she deemed the living room set, she moved on to the dining room, where her grandmother is currently arranging the centerpiece. Another maid comes in with two different candles in her hands. Eloise immediately comes up to her, picking the taller ones. “These are different. Get the one partnered with this, please.”
The maid nodded as Eloise set the candle on the table. “The centerpiece looks like it’s part of the course.” She says.
Emily, without looking up, replies. “Yes, well, thank goodness Hellen Keller isn’t our guest.”
Eloise lets out a small chuckle as she straightens the napkin on the table. The maid comes out, placing the identical candle on the other side of the table.
”Look here.” Emily instructs. Eloise is as tall as her now, how time runs fast. As Eloise faces her, she adjusts Eloise’s necklace, making it centered and framing her hair right just for her face. She hears Richard coming down the stairs and smiles at Eloise. “Perfect.”
Eloise smiles back.
The doorbell rings.
The dinner begins.