The rest of the holiday passed without much incident. She and her grandparents did their usual ritual of watching Christmas movies while drinking hot chocolate and eating gingerbread men, before eating dinner and opening presents. Skye hosted a News Years' even party and Elsie did get her New Years' Day midnight kiss from Cassian. Skye and Pepper kissed because they didn't have anyone to kiss.

While everyone else was celebrating, Elsie decided to take Cassian up to a guest bedroom for some New Year Fun of their own.

Everything was going fine, Cassian was saying, "Tell me to stop and I will stop" to her. Elsie pulled him down so they could continue making out and go a lot further.

New Years' Eve was a lot of fun to say the least.

Mr. Medina was reciting a poem as he looked out the window, "There's a certain Slant of Light – Winter Afternoons that oppresses, like the Heft of Cathedral Tunes. That, my friends, is the first verse of a poem by Emily Dickenson. Now read some of those tonight, and as you do, consider the fact that Emily Dickinson writes convincingly about passion and about the world in spite of the fact that she lived as a virtual recluse."

Elsie raised her hands, "Actually, when she was thirty, she became reclusive. When she was twenty-three that's when she started withdrawing from society."

"Her loved ones were dying, so I wouldn't be surprised if she became depressed because of that," Cassian added.

"That is correct," Mr. Medina stated.

The bell rang and they got up to leave.

"I could listen to him talk about passion all day," Madeline said. "Do you think he's dating anyone?"

"Of course he is," Louise replied.

Madeline asked, "A teacher?"

"Please," Louise stated.

"Why not?" asked Madeline.

Louise asked, "Have you see teachers?"

"He's a teacher," Madeline replied.

"Male teachers are different," Louise explained. "They can still be mysterious?"

"I bet his girlfriend's pretty," Madeline said.

"I bet she's dumb," Louise said.

Madeline asked, "Why?"

"Dumb girls crave smart men. It's that whole Marilyn Monroe – Arthur Miller syndrome," Louise stated.

"Marilyn Monroe was actually smart," Elsie said. "She had to navigate 1950s Hollywood and she was forced to play a role she didn't want. Show her some respect."

"Well, whoever he's dating is lucky," Madeline stated.

"Whoever he's dating is a loser, who doesn't care that he's a teacher in this ridiculous school making a ridiculous teacher's salary," Paris stated. She snapped at Rory, "What are you looking at?" She walked off.

"Guess someone read the paper today," Louise muttered.

"Can't believe that Paris's parents divorcing was more of a priority than Lucy murdering her husband and his mistress," Cassian muttered. "That was much more interesting than another divorce."

Elsie nodded. She felt bad for Paris, because her parents' divorce shouldn't have been out in the newspaper for all to see, especially when they were arguing over materialistic shit, but not over their daughter.

They continued on.

Emily asked, "How's the squab?"

"It's good," Rory said.

Emily asked, "Lorelai?"

"It's the best tiny, weird bird, I have ever eaten," Lorelai said, being her usual sarcastic self.

"I'm glad," Emily replied. She was grinning, because Parents' Day was coming up on Wednesday and she knew that Lorelai doesn't know about it – and had elected to not read her newsletter.

Lorelai asked, "Why are you smiling like that?"

"What are you talking about?" replied Emily.

"You're smiling," Lorelai pointed out.

"Very good observation, Mother," Elsie replied sarcastically.

"How clever of you to sarcastically point out my observation just so you can be a smart-ass about it," Lorelai retorted.

"Well, I'm smiling because I'm happy," Emily said.

"That's not your 'I'm happy' smile," Lorelai pointed out.

Emily asked, "Well, what smile is it, Lorelai?"

"That's your 'I've got something on Lorelai' smile," Lorelai said.

"Rory, your mother must be very tired," Emily told Rory.

"She works a lot," Rory stated.

"I grew up with that smile – I know that smile," Lorelai said.

"I grew up with her too and I never had that smile aimed at me," Elsie stated.

"That's because you're the favorite grandchild," Lorelai countered.

"I live with them because you left me behind," Elsie replied.

"Tell me about school," Emily cut in before an argument ensued over the dinner table.

"Well, my French final went pretty well," Rory said.

Emily asked, "Elsie?"

"You can change the subject, but I know that smile," Lorelai accused, pointing her fork at Emily.

"Whatever you say, dear," Emily replied. "Elsie?"

"Uh..." Elsie tried to think of something, "I got rammed down in field hockey practice."

"I've used that smile a few times myself," Lorelai stated because she was still harping on the subject.

"Mom," Rory started, because she had to be the parent apparently.

"So, tell me about Parents' Day," Emily said.

Lorelai asked, "What?"'

"Parents' Day?" asked Emily. "Next Wednesday? When all the parents are supposed to go to the classes with their children all day long?"

Lorelai exclaimed, "The Chilton newsletter came out today!"

"Yup," Rory agreed.

"Right," Lorelai agreed with Rory.

Emily asked, "You didn't read yours?"

"Not yet," Lorelai replied.

Lorelai stated, "But you knew that—"

Emily started, "Well—"

"Hence the smile," finished Lorelai.

Elsie said, "And I live here. I told her about it the day it was announced since they mentioned it in the school's announcements." Emily had things to do that day and it was fine with Elsie, because she can make out with Cassian before school without having her lurk and loom over her.

"Lorelai, you're being silly. Elsie talks to me and tells me about the goings-on at Chilton," replied Emily.

Elsie had told Emily about having sex with Cassian when she got home, but that didn't matter.

"There's no evil plan a-foot here," Emily said. "I simply brought up a subject I thought we could all talk about."

"Oh, right," Lorelai replied.

"I'll try another subject," Emily said. "The color blue is very pleasant isn't it?"

"It's a nice color," Elsie said. "Maybe I should redecorate my room and paint it blue."

"Mom," Lorelai said. "Not everybody can wait outside the mailbox for the Chilton newsletter to arrive and then memorize the contents in three seconds."

Elsie felt insulted, "She has a life, you know?"

"I'd like to weigh in on the blue color subject, please," Rory said.

"You have your priorities far be it from me to question them," Emily stated.

"Just because I don't read the newsletter doesn't mean I don't care about my daughter," Lorelai stated.

And Elsie apparently wasn't Lorelai's daughter in that statement.

Emily asked, "So are you going?"

Lorelai asked, "To what?"

Emily said, "To Parents' Day!"

Lorelai said, "Why don't we talk about it next Friday when I've actually read the newsletter? I guarantee it'll be more fun."

"It's on Wednesday," Elsie told her.

"Wednesday?" asked Lorelai.

"Yup," Rory replied.

"If we talked about it on Friday, then you would've missed it," replied Emily.

Lorelai asked, "Wednesday, huh?"

"Its okay, Mom," Rory told her. "You don't have to be there."

"I guess we can talk about how you missed it," Emily told her.

"I won't miss it," Lorelai stated.

"Mom, it's not a big deal, you're busy," Rory told her.

"You know what? I'll go," Emily said.

"What?" asked Lorelai horrified.

"Why not?" asked Emily. "You have to work. I, as you have insinuated, have no life, therefore, I will go sit with Rory and Elsie at Parents' Day."

"I'm not busy, I'm going," Lorelai said. "I will be there – that's it. End of story, okay?"

Emily said, "Fine."

"Fine," Lorelai said.

Emily said, "So, did you read on page two about the mother/daughter talent show?"

Lorelai choked on her food.

Rory smiled, "You okay?"

Elsie was laying on her front at the front of Cassian's bed, watching Speed Racer with him.

Apparently the anime was something that his dad used to watch. Cassian had asked if they could fool around a little, but Elsie declined because she was a little too focused on the fact that her mother was going to Parent's Day and didn't want to think about it while doing something pleasurable, so Cassian suggested they can watch Speed Racer together instead.

The way they spoke baffled Elsie, since she was sure that the only ones who spoke fast was Lorelai and Rory. She aspired to speak as fast as these people.

Elsie asked, "How much drugs did it for them to make this?"

"What are you talking about? This series is drugs," Cassian said. He was sitting on the ground next to Elsie.

They were on episode 12, with the race car numbered X3. They got to the part where Speed was exclaiming 'Oh', making the two bust out laughing.

https://youtu.be/plf44N5rAyU

"He sounded like my dad trying to pass kidney stones while having a urinary tract infection," Cassian said.

Elsie laughed, "He's sweating. I think someone is in there with him."

Cassian's face turned red, "Probably Trixie. She must be good at boosting moral."

That caused them both to laugh. Vivian walked in, without knocking, "What's so funny?"

"This part," Cassian stated, rewinding the VCR to the part with Speed exclaiming 'oh' and played it for her.

Vivian cringed, "Sounds like me when I hit my big toe on the corner of my bed and then louder when I hit it again."

Elsie was gaping, "Twice? Jesus, that's gotta hurt."

"It did," Vivian replied.

Pepper's and Poppy's parents weren't going to make it, because they were doctors, so that was fine with them. Skye's parents were out. Cassian's dad was the headmaster of the school and Cassian's mom had other things to attend too, and Vivian was an orphan. Anthony's dad loomed and lurked over him, really. The man was tall at least 6'5, so it just awkward.

Pepper asked, "Does he really have to loom over us?"

"I loom, I lurk, anything with an L, I will do it," Anthony's dad stated.

Elsie went to her locker, but listened to Paris and her mother talking.

"You can't just leave now," Paris told her.

"Paris, please," Paris's mom said.

"At least come to my lit class," Paris pleaded.

"This place is giving me a headache," Paris's mother replied.

"Mom," Paris said.

Paris's mom asked, "Is your face breaking out?" Why was that her priority?

Elsie looked at Paris's face, which seemed fine to her.

"No," Paris replied.

"You have not being using that cleanser, have you?" Paris's mom said, "Now Dr. Yanalari prescribed that cleanser for a reason – to cleanse."

"Just lit class," Paris begged.

"Paris, with everything I have going on right now the last thing, I need to do is face a bunch of bored people who are gossiping about me. I'll see you later at home." With one last word, she added, "Use that cover stick I got you." She took off.

Paris sighed.

What was the point of coming to the school only to leave?

Elsie went to Paris, "Its okay, Paris. My mom didn't want me either. That's why she left me behind to be raised by my grandparents."

"Sometimes I wish I was raised by my grandparents," Paris said. "How come they didn't come?"

"They're busy," Elsie told her as she went to her locker. Paris followed behind. "What was the point of her coming to the school only to leave?"

"I wish I knew," Paris replied. "Hey – does my face look like its breaking out to you?"

"No, it's pimple-free," Elsie replied. "Maybe I should borrow that cleanser."

Cassian came up to them, "Hey, you ready for Mr. Medina's class?"

"No," Elsie replied, taking her literature book out.

"No," Paris agreed with Elsie. "My mom couldn't even come to just one class."

The bell rang and they went to the English class together.

English class went fine until Mr. Medina started to talk to the parents, "On Monday, we will start a two-week of creative writing exercise, but that doesn't mean we stop reading. One of the greatest inspiration of working writers is the writing of other that they admire. Walt Whitman read Homer, Dante, Shakespeare. And the novelist, Edna O'Brien, has been quoted as saying, 'that every writer read some Proust every day.' Now, at this point, normally I would impress the parents by pulling out a copy of Proust's Swann's Way and reading a particularly difficult passage, but alas, you're all saved. I have misplace my copy."

Then why not buy another copy? Elsie wondered. She glanced at Cassian.

The bell rang and Mr. Medina said, "Oh, that does it – parents, thanks for coming, students – papers on Whitman are due tomorrow and those of you who are just starting tonight – I'll be able to tell."

Cassian slouched a little in his seat, because he was one of those few who definitely start his paper just that very night – and because Mr. Medina glanced at him.

They left the classroom together to gather around to go to lunch together, although Cassian and Vivian took off to head to the headmaster's office for lunch.

Elsie always wondered if they ever got tired of eating in the headmaster's office, but they could always say no and eat in the cafeteria.

Paris came up to Elsie, looking slightly alarmed, "Hey, I just found your mother making out with Mr. Medina in the classroom."

Elsie was confused. Did she hear Paris right? "What?"

"Your mother is making out with Mr. Medina in his classroom," Paris said.

Skye, Pepper, and Anthony looked at Elsie confused, because they didn't know about that.

Elsie asked, "Since when is she dating Mr. Medina?"

Paris told her, "Hey, why don't you go to the library and not leave until lunch is over?"

Elsie was confused, "Why?"

"Just do it," Paris told her.

Elsie nodded, almost confused and went to the library with her friends following.

They got at least ten minutes into eating in silence, when Summer came in with some of her soccer friends.

They were giggling, "Is it true?"

Skye asked, "Is what true?"

Summer said, "Oh, come on, like you don't know?"

"Spit it out, Summer, before I punch you in the tit," Pepper said.

Elsie looked at Pepper.

Summer looked confused, "Oh, you didn't know?"

Elsie got frustrated, "Know what?"

"That Rory's mother and Mr. Medina have been hooking up all this time. Paris found them in his classroom making out," Summer stated. "The whole school knows about it."

The fact that Paris specifically said 'Rory's mother' said a lot. Elsie was barely associated with Rory and Lorelai, so nobody cared about it humiliating Elsie.

She didn't even know that Lorelai was dating someone. She guessed it was fair, because Lorelai didn't know that she was dating someone either.

Elsie practically slammed the front door shut when she came home.

It got Emily's attention, "Elsie, what happened, dear?"

"Mother had been caught making out with one of my teachers today by one of the students and now the whole school knows about it," Elsie explained.

The worst part was that word eventually got back to Headmaster Charleston, who probably had to have a stern talking to Mr. Medina about 'professional conduct.'

She didn't want Mr. Medina to lose his job over Lorelai. Elsie liked Mr. Medina, he was a good teacher. He was a step-up from her previous English teacher, who threw a folder at one of Elsie's classmates.

"Oh," Emily replied. The phone rang, "There's a banana cream pie in the kitchen."

Elsie went to the kitchen.

On Friday night, Lorelai walked in, "Hi, Mom. Boy, the roads were a mess out there, tonight."

"Rory, Elsie, go upstairs, please," Emily said.

Rory asked, "Is everything okay?"

"I have to talk to your mother, please, go upstairs," Emily said.

Rory started, "Well—"

"Elsie, dear, why don't you show your sister your Wizard of Oz book collection?" interrupted Emily.

Elsie went upstairs to show Rory her book collection.

Rory asked, "What do you think is going on?"

"She's going to yell at Mother for humiliating us in school by making out with Mr. Medina," Elsie explained. "She got some phone calls from others explaining what had happened."

"That was Paris's fault," Rory said. "She was the one who spread it in the first place."

"Because her parents are getting divorced," Elsie said. "She just wanted people to stop talking about it, so your mom dating our teacher is just something to momentarily blow her parents' divorce out of the water. It happens. They'll find something new to latch onto eventually, so don't sweat it." She shrugged.

God, when the hell did she have to comfort Rory?

Rory nodded, "Okay." She looked at the collection of books Elsie had, "Are these the first editions?"

Elsie blinked, "Yeah?"

"Cool," Rory said. "You have the white editions. What editions are these?" She pointed at the books.

 "Those are the 1980s editions," Elsie said. "Grandmother got those for me for our sixteenth birthday."

"Oh," replied Rory. She looked at the books, "Can I borrow one of them? I remember reading it when I was younger, but I can't remember it."

"You can borrow this one. It has three books in one," Elsie said, handing over the book. "This edition is the one that I usually take outside."

Rory took the book with a smile, "Thanks, Elsie."

Elsie was surprised, because that had been the first time that she ever heard Rory call her by her nickname instead of her full name.