"Riana... Riana!"

"What, what?!" Riana grumped to her mother as she clung to her pillow tighter.

"We gonna go buy school supplies for Rory," Lorelai said with a smile.

"We have school stuff," Riana yawned.

"Yeah, but she needs new school stuff," Lorelai started pulling Riana out of bed.

After that, Riana's brain didn't really wake up until they got to the supply store.

"Shopping for school supplies, party," Lorelai said as she skipped down the path.

"Nobody demanded that you come," Rory told her mother.

"Someone demanded I come," Riana mumbled.

"Come on, you two. How often do you get to do things like this? I was thinking, while we're going crazy, we should get some toilet paper and a plunger next."

"I'll just do this later," Rory said as Lorelai dragged her and Riana into the store.

"No, I'm teasing. Come on, get that list of your." Lorelai said. Grabbing a basket.

"Okay," Rory pulled out a small piece of paper. "I need legal pads."

"Got it."

Rory continued to list off pens, pencils, an eraser, a staple remover, a folder, and finally, three highlighters.

"You need 3 highlighters?" Lorelai asked.

"Yes," Rory answered.

"Three?"

"Yes."

"That's a very random number."

"Three is not a random number."

"Yeah, but why specifically three?" Riana asked.

"One dries up, one gets lost, I have one left," Rory told her.

"Okay, okay, but if one gets kidnapped and one gets sent to prison for tax fraud?"

"Okay," Rory rolled her eyes.

"Come on. Your sister has really thought this out," Lorelai told Riana.

"Yes, I have," Rory said proudly.

"What came first - the chicken or the egg?" Lorelai asked.

"Can we get back to this list, please?" Rory sighed.

"Alright," Lorelai moved to the next aisle. "Ooh, hey, legal pads."

"No. Those are purple." Rory said as she put them back.

"But the purple's on sale," Riana pointed out.

"I'm going to a serious school now; I need serious paper."

"You mean you're going to a rich school, so you need boring rich people paper?"

"Paper's paper, girls," Lorelai smiled.

"Not at Chilton," Rory said.

"Okay, here is your serious paper," Lorelai said to Rory as she gave Riana a look.

"Thank you," Rory said.

"Ooh, and here are you sombre highlighters, your maudlin pencils, your manic-depressive pens." Lorelai joked as she walked down the aisle.

The two teens frowned at their mother.

"Now these erasers are on lithium, so they may seem cheerful, but we actually caught them trying to shove themselves in the pencil sharpener earlier. Probably due to the new paper tax sending their economy into shambles."

"I can't believe I was dragged out of bed for this," Riana sighed as she turned to leave.

"No, wait! We're going to stage an intervention with the neon post-its and make them give up their wacky crazy ways."

"You're never coming shopping with me again," Rory said as she followed Riana out.

Lorelai started following after them. Only to get distanced by making a joke about nearby a card tray.

A few days later, Riana was sitting in class. Getting the results back for a quiz on poetry. A small smile appeared on Riana's face when she was handed back a paper with a C+ on it.

Mrs Traister processed to explain the classes next assignment. A two-person presentation on one of the poets they had studied that term.

Everyone held their breaths as their teacher assigned everyone their partners. Riana and Lewis let out gasps of surprise when hearing they had been put together. Since kindergarten, despite having been in the same schools, they had never once been partnered together for a project.

The two jokingly winked at each other as the bell rang for lunch. Riana started heading for the door. Only to be stopped by Mrs Traister.

"Victoria? Could I talk with you for just a second?" She asked in a soft tone.

"Sure," Riana replied. Suddenly feeling a bit nervous.

Lewis looked back at Riana with concern, but she smiled to reassure him.

"Listen, Victoria, you've been making a good effort this term, but maybe you should get your sister's help when studying?"

Riana felt her throat go dry. "Yeah, okay," Riana nodded. "Will do."

"It's just that she's such a good student," Traister continued. Not noticing how uncomfortable Riana was. "You're just flying under the radar right now, and I really think she could help you get the boost you need."

Riana kept nodding along until her teacher let her leave. Then, she ran outside to the other. All while trying to cover up her discomfort.

"What did Mrs Traister want?" Lewis asked.

"Just wanted to give me some study tips," Riana told him. Lewis nodded but still seemed a bit concerned.

"So Riana, listen!" Joey jumped up from his spot on the grass. "I got a new camera, and I figure we could try filming some new bits this weekend?"

Some of the weight lifted off Riana's chest when hearing that. "Oh my gosh, YES!"

Riana couldn't stop thinking about what Traister said for the rest of the afternoon. Riana knew she was right, but she couldn't shake the awkward feeling she got when thinking about it.

The feeling managed to stick with her until she returned home after her shift.

"Hello, nerds," Riana said as she walked into the house.

"Hey you, come over here and help me convince your sister to get ice cream," Lorelai shouted from the kitchen.

"Since when did you need to be convinced to get ice cream?" Riana asked Rory.

"I need to study! Not get ice cream!" Rory huffed. Causing Riana to back in surprise as Rory moved to her room.

"Okay, so now's not the time to ask about study help," Riana thought.

"Do you wanna get ice cream?" Lorelai asked Riana hopefully.

"Sure, mom," Riana said. Suddenly craving some.

The next day Riana was digging through her locker. She really needed to clean up in there. Unfortunately, she would often just stuff all the paper she didn't need in there, and as a result, things got messy quickly.

"Hi Riana," A brown-haired girl approached Riana as she continued to stuff papers in the locker.

"Hello Ellen," Riana reliped. Not taking her eyes off the inside of the locker.

"So I heard you got paired with Lewis for the assessment?"

"Yep," Riana said as something nearly fell out.

"Well, I was thinking maybe we could swap partners?"

"Why?"

"Well, let's be honest; Lewis is the top student in our grade," Ellen explained. "You might not be able to keep up with him."

Riana immediately felt that annoying feeling come back. Then, after taking a breath through her nose, she closed the locker and started moving away.

"Come on, Riana," Ellen started following after her. "I'm just trying to help you and Lewis out."

"Thanks for the offer, but I'm gonna pass," Riana continued walking. However, she quickly realised that she was heading in the wrong direction for her next class.

Riana turned and sidestepped Ellen. Desperate not to admit her mistake.

Riana knew she wasn't the brightest. She knew she would never get top marks like Rory or Lewis, but that didn't make it hurt less when people like Ellen talked the way they did. Riana wasn't bright, but she wasn't utterly helpless like some made her out to be.

Riana didn't want to let her friend down. Planning on doing her best on this assessment. Riana and Lewis had been friends for years. They would be able to help each other get a good mark. She would show Ellen that she had no idea what she was talking about.

Well, that was what Riana told herself, but sometimes it felt like her brain was actively working against her. For example, Riana started doing some reading during her free period but found that words all started blurring together as she tried to read. That was, she kept finding that little noises around somehow kept distracting her.

"Why can't I just remember?!" Riana muttered as she went to reread another paragraph.

How was it possible to read through a whole page and somehow not retain any of the info she just read.

She stared at the book again. Determined to get it this time.

"Hey stranger," Riana shouted in surprise when Lewis greeted her. Earning a hush from others in the library.

"Sorry, I didn't see you," Riana told Lewis.

"It's all good," Lewis smiled as he sat down. "So I thought we could do Robert Frost?"

"Umm, sounds good?" Riana nodded.

"Great, what do you already know?"

Riana hummed in thought for a second. "There's a guy in Grim Fandango that can make a balloon version of him."

Lewis rolled his eyes. Trying to hide the smile on his face by hanging his head.

They spent the rest of the period gathering any books they might need. They promised each other to go through the books. Making a list of points for each of them to write and talk about. Riana felt pretty good about it, primarily because of Lewis' positive attitude. That and there was plenty of info on the guy. Hopefully, it will be a straightforward subject.

On the other hand, Rory didn't seem to be having a good time at all. Judging by the bad mood, she looked to be in at Luke's that night.

"You're done for the night," Luke told her.

"Neat,"

"Here, take this over to your sister," Luke said to Riana as he handed her a piece of the pie.

"Thought you said I was done for the night?" Riana sarcastically asked.

"Do this, then you're done," Luke insisted. "She looks like she needs pie,"

"Okay. Alright," Riana shrugged.

Riana made her way over to her sister. "Here."

"What's that?"

"Pie,"

"Why are you giving me pie?"

"I dunno, Luke told me to," Riana pouted.

"Why, cause of the pencil?"

"Maybe? Who knows what goes on in that man's brain." Riana said as she sat down.

Soon enough, they were joined by their dear mother. "Oh hello, Bookworm and Square Eyes."

"Pot calling the kettle black," Riana replied with a smile.

"Where were you?" Rory asked.

"Well, um, actually, I was in Hartford," Lorelai told her.

"Why?" Rory asked. Sounding a bit worried.

"I was there for the...." Lorelai paused to let Rory work it out.

"Parent/Teacher meeting," Rory realised. "Oh my god."

Lorelai explained that she won over all the other parents and was made their queen. Told in a way that wasn't convincing at all.

Rory nervously rubbed her arm and asked if Lorelai had talked to Mr Medina, her English teacher.

"Why did you let me whine about ice cream and shoe sales?" Lorelai ranted. "When you had something major going on?"

"I know," Rory laughed nervously.

"I hate when I'm an idiot and don't know it," Lorelai said.

"Oh, so I did get something from you?" Riana joked.

"Yes indeed, we're the types that like to be aware of our idiocy. To revel in it, take pictures."

"And for the sake of being aware of why I'm a fool, can I know what happened with this, Mr Medina?" Riana asked. Not understanding what they were talking about.

"I was... a D." Rory frowned. "I got a D!"

"You got a D!" Riana gasped.

"It's so humiliating!" Rory continued. "I've never gotten a D. Even when I broke my arm and couldn't write for a month, I still got an A-."

"That was a different school," Lorelai tried to reassure her.

"I know," Rory agreed. "It was Stars Hollow High. A D at Stars Hollow is like an F at Chilton. It's worse. It's like a G or a W."

Riana felt a shiver go down her spine. That sounded like it had the potential to be one of her worst nightmares.

"So I'm guessing the spelling test didn't go well either?" Lorelai joked about trying and easing the tension.

Rory sighed. "A D. I suck."

"You don't suck," Riana told her.

"I can't do this,"

"Yes, you can," Riana told her. "You can't just give up the first time something goes badly."

"But-"

"No, you can't but," Riana leaned forward. "Do you think the most skilled people always got it right the first time?"

"I guess,"

"You bounce back from this, Rory," Lorelai told her. "You two are of hardy, stubborn stock, my dears. If there's one thing I gave to the both of you, it's stubbornness."

"I'm not stubborn," Rory said.

"Yes, you are," Riana shot back.

"No, I'm not,"

"You are,"

The two of them continued doing this a couple of more times before they got tried. The whole time Lorelai was looking on proudly.

"You can do this, and I will help you," Lorelai said to Rory. "I'll get you through this. Now put the D behind you. Now, what's next?"

"I have a test on Friday," Rory answered.

"Ooh, a test great!" Lorelai exclaimed.

"It's on Shakespeare."

"Bard with a beard - love it!"

"It's worth 20% of my grade." Rory pouted.

"That just makes it more exciting," Riana yawned.

For the next few days, Lorelai focused on helping Rory study for her test. Riana found herself trying to focus on her own school work.

Things were becoming slow and repetitive. The 'shock' over Rory getting a D didn't last very long. The only noticeable difference to Riana was that their mother was now helping Rory study.

Riana decided to take a note out of Rory's book and get back to studying. Focusing on the life and works of dear old Robert Frost. Riana had read the guy's name so much that she was beginning to think that it was going to get engraved on her brain somehow.

But... things didn't exactly go to plan for Rory.

Riana woke up that Friday morning. Finding Rory and their mother asleep at the kitchen table.

"What are you people still doing here!" Riana yelled. Shaking the two of them awake.

"What? Oh no!" Rory screamed in realisation and ran to her bedroom to get dressed.

"Oh jeez," Lorelai said as she lifted her head off the table. "Such a bad sleeping idea."

"I'm late!" Rory yelled from the other room.

"What?"

"You slept in, Mom," Riana said, pointing to the clock.

Rory continued running around and yelling.

"I'm gonna miss the test!" Rory came out with her uniform over her t-shirt and jogging pants."

"No, you're not," Lorelai shoved a binder into Rory's school bag and passed it to her. "I'll get the keys. We'll go right now. Let's go! Let's go!"

Lorelai started moving to the door but stopped in the hall. Gasping. "Oh!! I can't take you!"

"You have to!" Rory said.

"I have a meeting at the inn at 8!"

"Mom!"

Lorelai passed her car keys to Rory. Telling her to drive the car to school and how she'll get a ride from Sookie.

Rory ran out the door as Lorelai shouted good luck to her, and with a quick phone call to Sookie, Lorelai was out of the house as well.

Riana thought that was the end of that, but they got a phone call from Rory about ten minutes later.

"Hello?"

"Are some of my notes still on the table?" Rory asked.

"Yeah, why?"

"Cuz I need them!" Rory screamed into the phone.

Usually, Riana wasn't one to snap back, but something just busted out of her at that moment. "Well, it's not like you have time to come back and get them! Why the hell are you wasting time talking on the phone anyway!?"

"I just-" Riana suddenly heard a loud bang and a shocked scream from Rory. "Oh my god!"

Riana jumped up from her chair. Her angry quickly turned to concern "Rory! Are you okay?!"

"I just got hit by a deer!"

"You hit a deer?"

"No! I got hit by a deer!"

"Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine! I was at a stop sign, and he just hit me! Oh my God!"

"Do you need me to call mom?" Riana asked as she started pacing the kitchen.

"No, I'll call her later," Rory told her. "What time is it?"

"It's 7:40," Riana answered.

"NO!" Rory shouted and hung up the phone.

Riana tried to call her back. Only to have her calls ignored.

Riana tried to stay calm. Deciding to call Rory again after her first period, and if she didn't pick up, Riana would call Lorelai.

Things started going wrong pretty soon. Starting with Mrs Traister asking her and Lewis to stay back after class.

"So I've been told you two want to change partners?" She asked.

Riana and Lewis starred at her in confusion.

"No, we're fine, Mrs Traister," Lewis smiled. Thought his confusion was still clearly there.

"Oh?" Mrs Traister said. Now just as confused as her students. "Ellen told me she discussed it with the two of you. She said Riana's been feeling really anxious."

Riana felt her face go red. "I'm fine."

"Things are going good," Lewis added. "We've almost gotten all our reading done and will start on the speech next week."

"Well, that's good to hear," Mrs Traister turned to Riana. "Did you talk to Rory?"

"Rory's really busy right now," Riana said with gritted teeth.

"That's a shame," Mrs Traister frowned.

At that point, Riana felt like she was going to explode.

"What did Ellen say to you?" Lewis asked as they walked down the hall.

"She wants to be partners with you and tried talking me into swap the other day."

Lewis visibly cringed. He didn't hate Ellen or anything, but it was clear her attempts to get closer to him made him very unconformable. "And what does Rory have to do with it?"

"Mrs Traister suggested I go to her for study help," Riana explained. "But she's been freaking out all week cuz of this D she got-"

"Rory got a D?" Lewis asked in surprise. A hint of amusement in his voice.

"Fricking frick," Riana chastised herself. "I shouldn't have said that."

"I won't tell anyone," Lewis said. The slight smile did not leave his face. "I just find it interesting."

There had always been an unspoken rivalry between Lewis and Rory since they were kids. Always fighting for the top spot in all their classes.

That wasn't really Riana's main concern right now. "I gonna make a phone call."

Riana and Lewis went to go find a phone at the front desk. When Rory didn't pick up again, Riana tried Lorelai's work phone. She was dismissed by Michelle. Who explained that Lorelai left after getting a phone call from 'the other one's' school.

Riana breathed a sigh of relief. Thinking this must of meant Rory was okay.

Riana and Lewis headed over to his house after school. Riana thought she was fine, but Lewis kept looking at her with a concerned look. They both greeted Lewis' mother as they walked through the door. Lousie, an older woman who always made Riana smile somehow, greeted them with a soft smile.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Lewis asked.

"I'm fine,"

"You always say that you're fine," Lewis pushed.

"I dunno I was kinda freaked out when my sister got hit by a dear while on the phone with me," Riana tried to breathe. "But mom's with her now, so hopefully she's okay."

"... Your sister hit a deer?"

"Got hit by a deer,"

The two of them sat in confused silence for a moment.

"Well, it's okay to be worried for you're sister," Lewis tried to tell her. "You always say you're fine, but it's okay to... not be that."

Riana rubbed a hand down her face. "It's just that... I got really mad at Rory before she got hit by the deer."

"Your sister hit a deer?" Lewis' mother asked as she passed by.

"By a deer," Lewis and Riana said in union.

"Is she okay?" Lousie asked.

"I think so? She said she was fine on the phone this morning."

Lewis and Lousie tried to confront her, but Riana continued to reassure them she was okay.

As Riana walked home, she found that the guilt and anxiety that had built up over the past week hadn't faded away whatsoever.

"I always get mad at the dumbest stuff. She was just asking about her notes, and I screamed at her like an idiot." She thought to herself.

Riana took a deep breath. "Tomorrow's another day, Tomorrow's another day,"

My god, I gotta give Riana a happy ending at the end of an episode eventually.

Cat update: All the cats at my preferred shelter have been adopted. Which is awesome news for the cats.