Summary: Ok, this is kind of long, and completely AU. Rory and her twin brother, Ben, are the beloved children of Christopher & Lorelei Hayden. She is best friends with Louise, Madeline and Paris, and Tristan was her childhood sweetheart. Two years before, he was sent to military school in North Carolina, and broke her heart before he left, sending her into a downward spiral. Now he's back, and Rory's life will never be the same.
Rating: Starts out as a PG-13/R, but moves on to light NC-17 later on.
Disclaimer: I own nothing! Gilmore Girls is the belongs to the shows writers and producers, who bring these amazing characters to life every week. I am simply having fun. I am a poor college student, who has no money, so please don't sue me.
Feedback: I crave it
Chapter 1 - He's Back
Rory Hayden smiled as she walked down the halls of Chilton Preperatory Academy. It was the first day of school, and she was excited to be back. She had missed her friends, the gossiping, the challenge she faced every year to remain at the top of the class, both academically and socially. She lived a charmed life, and she knew it. Unlike her friends, she was the beloved daughter of two parents who loved each other and adored their children.
Most of the other Chilton parents treated their children as if they were trophies to show off at the Hartford Country Club. Lorelei and Christopher Hayden held only pride and admiration for their children. It was their love that pushed Rory and Ben to excel at everything they did.
Rory smiled as she saw her three best friends, Louise, Madeline, and Paris. The four of them had grown up together, and took pleasure in tormenting their classmates, as well, as in torturing the boys, well, at least Rory, Madeline and Louise did. Paris was shy when it came to guys, she was more focused on grades than make-up and clothes. Rory had tried for years to introduce Paris to the wonders of highlights and mascara, but so far, without any success.
Madeline smiled, and waved Rory over. The girls were catching up on what had happened over the summer. She smiled as she sat down and took a seat, across from Louise and Paris.
"Rory! God, you look great!" Paris gushed, as she looked at her best friend.
Rory smiled, "Thanks."
"How was Europe?"
"Great. Although, Mom and Dad didn't see much, except the hotel room."
"Your parents are so bad!" Madeline laughed.
Rory nodded in agreement, laughing. "Yeah...its kind of gross, but Mom and Dad are like a couple of bunnies."
"That they are!" Louise said with a chuckle. "Oh my God! I forgot to tell you!" She practically screamed at Rory.
"What?"
"Tristan's back."
"What??? When???"
"Last week. I wanted to call you, and give you warning, but you didn't get back until last night. So, anyway, his father felt that he had served his time, as it where, and now he's coming here."
All the blood drained from Rory's face. Tristan DuGrey was back. She hadnt heard from him in two years. Not one word, not one phone call, not a single letter. Just the memory of him walking away from her. And now he was back. Her eyes widened as she looked at her friends. What was she going to do? How was she going to face him again?
Rory and Tristan had been childhood sweethearts. While most people spend years searching for their soulmates, they had found each other at an early age. Tristan DuGrey was the only guy she had ever loved. The only man she would ever love. He had been sent to military school in North Carolina two years ago, his punishment for pulling a stupid, illegal prank.
He had left her, breaking her heart before he went. He had said he wanted her to be free, that she deserved better than waiting for him. She had cried nonstop for a month.
That was when Rory Hayden had changed. She went from being the sweet girl that everyone loved, to the head of the most popular clique at school.
She had started dating again, within a month of his departure, leaving broken hearts and egos in her wake. For two years, she had been the girl that everyone loved to hate. They feared her, and yearned to please her, and now the one person who could change all that, was back.
Well, Tristan DuGrey was in for a surprise.
"I see the wheels, spinning, Lorelei Leigh Hayden. Are you going to make this painful for him?"
Rory just smiled. "Let's go, we'll be late for Lit."
The three girls stood, and followed Rory out into the halls, a knowing smile on all of their faces.
Rory walked into Mr. Medina's class, Paris, Madeline and Louise, following close behind her. She saw him as soon as she entered the classroom, but chose to ignore him. She sat on the other side of the room, where three empty seats were near her desk. She turned her back on him, and proceeded to talk with her friends until Mr. Medina started class a few minutes later.
Tristan had sat patiently for a half an hour, waiting to see her. She was all he had dreamed about in that hell hole, known as military school. Thoughts of her had sustained him. His blue eyed angel, the girl who held his heart. His breath caught in his throat when he saw her.
The girl he left behind had been replaced by a stunning woman. She still had the power to arouse him with a look. But it was her eyes that frightened him. There was a coldness in them that he didn't remember, that he had never seen.
He had heard the stories of Rory Hayden, Queen Bee of Chilton, but until now he had never really believed it. What had happened to his Rory? Had he killed her when he had let her go?
Rory felt his eyes on her, pleading with her to look at him. She refused to give in. Two years ago, she would have, she would have turned to him, whispering at him with her eyes. But those days were long gone.
They ended on a cold December night, when she had offered herself to him, and he had walked away. She forced the memories out of her mind, and tried to focus on Mr. Medina. She needed to get out of here. Why was the day dragging? She needed to talk to her mother, or Ben. She needed to get away from his warm eyes, and seductive smile. She looked over at Paris, and forced a smile, but Paris just shook her head in response. She knew Rory too well, she always had. As children they had been partners in crime, their relationship now, was only a modified version of that.
The bell rang, and Rory stormed out of the room. She had study hall now, thank God, and she walked hastily towards the library, oblivious to the stares of the other students, the fact that her friends were hurrying to catch up with her, or the anguished look on Tristan's face as she raced from him, as if fleeing.
She stormed into the bathroom, and it quickly emptied out, the younger girls anxious to get away, Rory Hayden in a temper was not something you wanted to be around for. Rory whipped out her cell phone, and quickly dialed her mother's number. She paced as she waited for her mother to answer.
"Hello?" Lorelei's voice sounded through the line.
"Mom? I need you to pick me up. I have to go home, now."
"What's wrong, hon? Are you sick."
"No."
"Its not like you to want to skip out on school."
"Tristan's back."
"I'm on my way. I'll call the Headmaster from the car. Meet me out front. I'm so sorry, baby."
"Just get here quick, Mom. Please."
"I'm lightening, babe."
Rory disconnected the phone and sighed. She leaned against the wall, and fell to her knees. She saw the door swing open, and Madeline, Louise and Paris came running towards her.
"Are you okay?" Louise asked and Rory shook her head.
"Can we do anything?" Madeline asked, looking at the other girls.
"My mom's coming to get me."
They all nodded, knowing no one could cheer Rory up like her lively mother.
Rory got to her feet and resumed her earlier pacing. "I just cant believe he's back. I mean, who the hell does he think he is?"
"Tristan has always thought he was above reproach," Paris put in, watching her best friend with wide eyes.
Rory laughed, nodding. "Did you notice him staring at me? What? Did he think that I'd say, 'oh, honey, you're back' and welcome him with open arms? I don't fucking think so!"
The girls laughed, and Rory sighed, having gotten through her outburst.
"What do you want to do?" Louise asked.
"I want to make him pay." Rory said, and the three girls felt a chill go down their spines at the smile on their friend's face.
Tristan looked around the lunch room, and saw his friend, Adam, wave him over. He and Adam had grown up together, and he was one of the few people Tristan had kept in contact with during his stint in military school. As he approached the table, Tristan noticed that Adam's girlfriend, Madeline, was sitting comfortably next to him, with Louise and Paris. Tristan suppressed a groan, this was not going to be pretty. He knew that Rory was avoiding him, he knew that she was angry, and she had every right to be. But God, how he had missed her.
He sat down, and got glares from the three girls. Adam seemed to be oblivious, and smiled at Tristan.
"So, how does freedom feel?"
"Riveting." Tristan said, as he took a sip of his coke.
"I'll bet. You remember Maddy, Louise and Paris, right?"
Tristan nodded. "How could I forget? You guys were always surrounding Rory."
"Someone had to look out for her," Paris said, her voice dripping.
"Speaking of Rory, where is she? I haven't seen her since Medina's this morning." Adam said.
"She left." Louise said.
Tristan felt his heart sink; he had scared her away.
"That's not like her." Adam put in, as he took a sip of Madeline's water.
"Lorelei picked her up." Maddy put in.
Adam sighed. He knew it had to be bad, if Lorelei was called in for reinforcements. "Do I see a return of the dark period?" Adam asked, looking at the girls, who were all avoiding his gaze. This was bad.
"Dark period?" Tristan asked.
Louise and Paris glared at him, and stormed away from the table. Adam and Maddy sighed. Right now, Paris would like to rake her nails through Tristan's eyes. Louise and Maddy were not far behind her.
"Do you really even care, Tristan?" Maddy asked.
"Maddy."
"Don't 'Maddy' me. You're an ass. You were two years ago, and you are now."
"I didn't do anything."
"Now? Or then?"
"Either time."
"Oh! Of course! That's right! Rory loved you...and you claimed to love her more than life itself. Yet, you destroyed her! And now you're back. That's great, really great. But if you're thinking you can just pick up where you left off, you're sadly mistaken.
The Rory you knew doesn't exist anymore. She hasn't for years. Ask anyone here. Ask them about Rory, about the complete 180 she did. Ask them about what happened after Christmas break, freshmen year. Go ahead, ask! Ask anyone here about how Rory doesn't believe in love anymore. How she thinks that her parents are the rare exception, and its better to guard your heart and never love, like every one else's parents, because then the pain isn't so consuming. Or ask Adam, or Mark, or any of our friends, about how after you left, for a month Rory disappeared. How she could barely bring herself to see Louise, or Paris, or me, because everything about us reminded her of you! Or how about, the party at the end of our freshmen year?"
"Maddy." Adam said, his eyes pleading.
"No!" she screamed at him.
"He should hear this. Did Adam tell you about the party? The party that led to her being hospitalized for most of the summer, and only her father keeping it out of the papers?"
"What happened?" Tristan asked, his eyes growing dark.
"Oh! You suddenly care? Give me a break, DuGrey. You walked away from her. And when you did that, you lost all rights where Rory is concerned. You are dead to her. She hates you more than anything in this world, and you know what? Im glad. Rory has already been through too much. She doesnt need you coming back and fucking her up, claiming to love her, just to walk away again. You did this, Tristan. Now, you can live with it."
Having said her peace, Madeline walked out of the cafeteria, and found Paris and Louise in the quad, staring into space, thinking of their best friend, and fearing what would happen now.
