Beautiful Lies

AU: Chris and Lorelai married and Rory grew up in high society. She, Logan, Finn, Colin and Stephanie are all best friends. Her life seems perfect, truly wonderful. However, Rory is hiding a dark secret. What happens when her friends find out? ROGAN

Disclaimer: Don't own Gilmore Girls.

NOTE: contains self harm, drug and alcohol use and eating disorders. Takes place in grade 11 at Chilton. Lastly, I guessed Rory and Logan's birthday.

Chapter 1: Serenity

Rory Hayden sat in her classroom staring blankly at the wall. Behind her, two of her best

friends, Logan Huntzberger and Colin McRae were planning for the next days prank. Something

involving water balloons, tape, and copious amount of red food colouring was all she gathered.

Every so often the boys would poke her and ask her for her input. Rory waved them off under the

pretense that she had to follow her English lesson. Yes, another lie. She wondered which one it

was. She had lost count over the past year. But, she thought, they had almost made their way into

her fortress of lies. Once.

FLASHBACK

"Ace," Logan said, "aren't you a little warm in that sweater?" Rory's blue eyes shot up

and met Logan's green ones. "Oh, no. I'm fine. It's a bit cold in your house, that's all." Colin,

who was watching Cruel Intentions upside down, looked up. "It's the middle of summer. And

we're all dying of heat. Thanks to Finn breaking the AC last week." Finn rolled his eyes and

continued to watch the movie. Rory gave a weak smile and pulled her sleeves down past her

wrists and folded her arms. Stephanie, who had been watching the whole exchange out of the

corner of her eye, exchanged a worried glance with Logan but said nothing.

END FLASHBACK

"Miss Hayden? Excuse me? Miss Hayden?" Rory jumped out of her trance and looked guiltily at her teacher, Mr. Johnson. "Sorry sir." she mumbled. He nodded and proceeded to

lecture about the vast imagery found in Romeo and Juliet. A minute later, she felt a piece of paper

being forced into her hand. She unfolded it and recognized Logan's handwriting at once. What's

going on with you? Rory turned around and smiled at him. She mouthed "nothing" and again

smiled. He nodded and turned back to Colin. Rory sighed to herself, happy she avoided getting

caught again. Suddenly the bell rang, signalling the end of the day. Rory gathered her things and

made a beeline for the door.

Rory wove through the sea of students and finally reached her locker. "Hello love." a

voice said. Rory inwardly gasped in shock but she turned around with an all-too-happy smile on

her face. "Hey Finn." she said. The Australian boy, Finn Morgan, looked at her questioningly for a

while, knowing something wasn't right. Not wanting to annoy her, he opened his locker,

deposited a few books and turned to speak to Rory. However, she was now getting her things at

top speed. Among the hundreds of pictures that graced her locker of herself and the group Finn

noticed something. The pictures taken over the past summer had shown a change in Rory.

Something about her smile was different. He met her eyes and was about to open his mouth when

she quickly hugged him and said goodbye. With a sweep of her chocolate brown hair, she was

gone. Leaving Finn to find the rest of his needed papers.

Stephanie Vanderbilt stood at Chilton's front gates tapping her feet impatiently. Where the

hell was Rory, she wondered. Her best friend was never late. Rory had practically been punctual

since they were in diapers. A baby who would arrive at 1 pm, on the dot, for every single playdate

was something of a miracle. Her blonde hair blew about her face, brushing into her eyes. Finally

she saw Rory bustling out the door, car keys in hand, looking flustered. "Hey Rory!" Steph said

as the pair walked towards Rory's Mazda. Rory smiled back as she threw her stuff onto the backseat and waited for Steph to get in. "Sorry I'm late." Rory apologized. "It took a while to get

everything." Steph nodded and a minute later they were off, speeding through Hartford on their

way home.

Rory burst through her bedroom door, threw her bag towards her desk, shut the door and

fell on her bed. She layed there for what was at least half an hour before she pulled herself up. As

she looked at the calendar she realized what day it was, November 16th. Their anniversary. It was

the first time they met. A match made in heaven. Six months now. Rory's musings were cut short

as a knocking was heard at the door. "Hello my darling daughter. How was school today?" her

mother Lorelai asked as she opened the door. "Great," Rory replied. "We're doing Shakespeare in

English class." Lorelai stared for a second before she said, "Really? Well I didn't suspect Logan

or Colin to be his type, but sure." Rory giggled at her mother's antics, surprised that she still

could. "Well hun, speaking of Logan, he's here right now. Wants to talk." Rory nodded and made

her way down the stairs.

There in the kitchen, was Logan. He was eating some kind of fruit at the island. "For

shame Logan!" Lorelai moaned, "Eating fruit in this house. It's a sin. We must destroy you."

Logan rolled his eyes and continued to munch on his fruit. After a while, he and Rory made their

way upstairs. "Rory you want dinner now or later?" her mother called. "I'm ok. Thanks Mom. I

had a huge lunch at school." Lorelai acknowledged her response and went to living room to

watch some TV. "You didn't" Logan said as he quietly shut the door. "Didn't what?" Rory asked

innocently, although knowing full well what was going on. "Eat. You. Didn't." he replied. "At

lunch you barely touched your food. You just had your ginger snaps, two grapes which Finn

begged you to eat and water." Rory said nothing. "Listen Ace. I've known you since we were

born. And since then we've been a team. Rory and Logan. Logan and Rory. It's always been me and you. And I know something's wrong, just please tell me." Rory stayed silent during Logan's

speech. She knew that on some level he was right. It had always been them since October 8th

1988. Later Finn, Colin and Steph were thrown into the mix at around the age of one. But even

so, Rory and Logan would always remain best friends. Mulling all this over, she looked up at

Logan. "I'm fine. Really I am. It's just that I've been tired this week, might have rubbed off." she

lied smoothly. "It's not just this week. It's been a while. But, alright fine. Take a nap, Ace, maybe

it'll help." And with that, Logan left. Rory waited till she saw him drive down the road before she

ran into her bathroom. She sat on the white marble floor and pulled out her razor. "Happy

anniversary." she whispered to herself as she drew the blade across her wrist.