Summary: Rory's life is great until the unexpected happens. As her world is spiraling out of control, Tristan DuGray returns. Will he be able to save her? Eventual Trory.

Background Info: This fic starts at the beginning of season three. Rory's dad Christopher has had no contact with her at all. All other information will hopefully be explained in this chapter but if not, feel free to question me.

A/N: I know, I know…another fic. I promise that I will update my others as soon as I can but I just had to write this one. I have always wanted to right a Trory (although I'm a Literati at heart) and after watching Thirteen the other night, I was really inspired to write this fic. It's completely AU and OOC but hopefully you'll enjoy it…

Rory and Lorelai sat at their usual table at Luke's waiting on him to serve their breakfast. Rory stared out of the window, stirring her coffee counter-clockwise. She sighed heavily. Normally, Rory wouldn't be that distracted on the first day of school, especially the first day of her senior year but she couldn't help it. She kept playing the events of the summer over and over again in her head.

"Rory?" Lorelai asked interrupting her thoughts. "Are you ok? You've barely touched your coffee?" Lorelai asked.

"Huh? Oh, yea…I'm fine. Just thinking, that's all," Rory replied without looking at her mom. Her gaze continued to be transfixed on the world outside. Ever since Rory returned from Washington, D.C. Lorelai had been concerned for Rory. Over the summer, Rory decided that the best thing for her would be to break up with Dean while she was away. She kept telling herself, as well as everyone else, that she broke up with him for several reasons but everyone knew it was for Jess. Rory and Jess even tried to have a relationship after she returned home but they soon realized that it wouldn't work out. After a week of dating, they both decided to break up and remain friends. Rory vowed that she was going to take a break from guys and focus on her school work and getting into Harvard. But still, she couldn't help but think if it was the right thing for her to do. It had been a while since she had been single.

"Are you sure you're ok? I mean first it was Dean, then Jess, now it's your first day of senior year. I know things have been very stressful lately and you've been pretty distracted. It's ok with mommy if you skip school and go shopping with me."

Rory placed her spoon on the table and laughed at Lorelai. "I can't miss the first day of school. It's like passing up the chance to see the Bangles in concert. You just don't do it."

"No, passing up the chance to see the Bangles is a sin. It should be against the law. And it will be one day…when you and Paris run for Office in the future."

Rory shook her head in disbelief. She saw Dean walk into Doose's market out the corner of her eye. She didn't want to chance running into to him or Jess who was still upstairs in Luke's apartment, so she took the opportunity to sneak out of Stars Hollow unnoticed. Besides, maybe the bus ride to Chilton would help her clear her mind. "Mom, I'm going to go now."

"What? It's not even time for your bus and you haven't had the chance to eat the deliciously good food that Luke is going to bring to us. And I haven't had the chance to upset him yet!" Lorelai ranted.

"I know but I want to get a head start this morning. You know, make sure I know where my classes are and I that I can open my locker."

"Rory, you're a senior."

"You can never be over-prepared."

"Tomorrow morning then?"

"It's a date. Love you," Rory called as she prepared to leave Luke's.

"Love you too sweets!" Lorelai called after Rory. "Oh Luke!" Lorelai called out after Rory left. Just because Rory wasn't there, didn't mean that Lorelai still couldn't have her fun.

Rory tried to clear her head on her way to school. She thought about her failed relationship with Dean, the perfect first boyfriend and then her failed relationship with Jess, the perfect guy for her. Why didn't things work out? She wasn't completely over the fact that things fizzled out with Jess. Why did it keep bothering her? Why did Dean keep bothering her? Rory shook her head and buried her thoughts in an Upton Sinclair book.

Rory arrived at school and headed to her locker. Now that she was about to go to class, she began to focus more. School is what she does best, with or without guys. As she headed to her locker, she noticed she wasn't with her usual crowd of people. In fact, she was quite far from Paris, Louise, and Madeline, whose lockers she passed minutes ago. Rory shrugged it off though. New faces were always welcome, especially when it came to Paris. Rory turned the combination lock three times and began to enter the correct combination when someone bumped into her.

"Watch it!" The girl yelled at Rory. Rory looked at her confused. She had never seen the girl before at Chilton, so Rory figured she was a transfer student. She looked up and down at the girl's appearance. Rory couldn't help but think she was gorgeous. She had long blonde hair, crystal blue eyes, and the rosy cheeks and pouty lips. Her outfit, on the other, Rory did not like. The girl had altered her skirt to the point where it was barely covering anything. It was way above the dress code limit. Her shirt was short also, causing her midriff to show when she raised her hands. Rory was appalled at how the girl was dressed and was sure she would get in trouble.

Rory returned to her locker combination and opened her locker to put some of her books in it. She decided that she would be nice to the girl, even though she was extremely rude to her. She turned to the girl, signed, and replied, "Hey."

"Hey yourself," she said, while slamming her locker door shut. She then walked down the hall, grabbing the attention of everyone in sight as the guys looked on in attention and the girls in disgust.

"That was Angel," Paris informed Rory as she walked up to Rory's locker after Angel had left.

"Ironic. She doesn't seem to be any angel," Rory replied without looking up so she could finish putting her books in her locker.

"I know. It's a big controversy that she's even here. I heard the only reason she got into Chilton was because her dad is a huge benefactor for the school and he bought her way in."

"That doesn't make any sense. Most of the students here have wealthy families. Chilton doesn't need any money. It's a pretty strict school."

"That's what I thought. But apparently, renovations on the school over the summer cost more than expected. Since Angel's dad is on the Board of Trustees, he offered to pay for them rather than raising tuition in exchange for Angel's acceptance. So she basically has a free pass," Paris replied. She paused for a second but continued, "It makes me mad that Chilton is selling out. I've worked hard, studied my but off for 12 years to be here today, and white trash can walk the hallways just because her dad has a big wallet."

Rory thought about. She too thought it was unfair but she really didn't feel like debating current issues with Paris at the moment. "I know. Well, I'm going to go to class. I have to get a good seat," Rory said as she walked off.

Rory had sit through two periods of English and Calculus, when it was time for to go to her locker to exchange her books for her next two periods. On her way to her locker though, she ran into one of the school's secretaries who informed her that Headmaster Chilton wanted to see her right away. She walked into his office and the secretary escorted her into his office.

"Yes Headmaster, you wanted to see me," Rory said as she noticed her grandfather sitting in the chair to her right side. "Is everything ok?" Rory asked worried.

"No…no Rory it's not. Your mom…Lorelai…passed away this morning," Richard said through sobs and streaming tears.

A/N: Sorry, it's ending in a cliff hanger. But it was a good stopping point and I want you to keep coming for more. Oh, don't worry there will be no Dean in the story and Rory/Jess will not happen. Oh, and Angel will be a regular character. With that being said...please review and let me know what you think.