AN:I'm so glad everyone's enjoying the story, I'm having alot of fun writing it. Ooh, I'm all excited at the moment cause I got my wrist pierced yesterday and I've wanted it forever plus I got a new job as door-bitch at a club in the city. I was so excited that rushed out and bought a new pair of skinny jeans and a pair of black boots!

Disclaimer: I don't own GG - duh!

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...Does he make you high? Make you real?...

Rory was cheerfully making coffee the next morning when the others woke up. She smiled, listening to the murmurings and finished pouring the last cup on the tray. As she walked back into the main room where everone had crashed on the couches she heard Finn loudly announcing his intended absence from school that morning.

"Uh uh, I don't think so Mr. Morgan,"

"But I only have study hall love!" He whined, throwing his arm theatrically across his eyes and crashing back to the couch. Rory set the tray down and the other thankfully reached for their coffee, Rory had trained them well. She took a sip from her own, lookin as though she was considering Finn's argument.

"Yes my dear, but study hall takes place at Chilton,"

"Oh who needs it anyway?" He grumbled, sounding like an recalcitrant little old lady.

"You do," Rory finished for him, "if you're going to be coming to Yale with us,"

He sighed, knowing the argument, for what it was, was over.

"And you too mister," She said quietly to The Icon who just nodded blearily, knowing he was beaten by the tiny Gilmore girl.

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The five arrived at school together, the girls not trusting the boys on their bikes. Standing near enough to the front of the school to be seen, ut not near enough for The Icon to be caught smoking, they talked about the party the next night. They were all going, they had to go, keep up appearances. The kids arriving smiled cautisouly at them, or waved, some of the braver ones even called out a 'hello'. Rory scanned the car park for a sign of Tristan, seeing him finally, as he climbed from a car she'd never seen beforewith the girl from the day before. Find out Gilmore, she thought to herself, have to know who this girl is! It wasn't like it really mattered. For starters, she'd already pursued attached guys. And secondly, it wasn't as though she liked Tristan DuGrey, not anymore, he was just a pretty face and a nice idea. Still, it was a very pretty face.

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Tristan saw Rory standing with her little band by the school building. She had definitely changed, physically as well as emotionally. There didn't see to be any softness to her anymore. Back in those days when he'd been infatuated with her, he'd felt as though he'd known every curve of her body. Now she seemed harder, more angular. She still had the same pretty face but her features weren't as soft, as inocent as they'd once been, and the bright red curls didn't help either.

"What are you looking at?" Luna asked, her eyes following his gaze until they settled on the red-head from the day before. "..oh, the girl who told you you're going out with her. Are you going?" She askedwith a smile as she looped her arm through his. He shrugged,

"I guess so, I've got my own invite though...want to be my plus one?"

Luna didn't respond, she just smiled. As they walked past the group and into the school Tristan looked up at Rory once more and met her fiery blue gaze, it stabbed at him...what had happened to her?

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Rory smiled to herself as she and Louise entered study hall with The Icon and Finn. There, sitting all alone at a big table, was the girl with Tristan.

"Come on guys, I have a mission for us," Rory sad with a giggle as she strode to the table. "Hi,"

Luna looked up when she heard someone say hello and came face-to-face with the red-head.

"Hello?"

"Mind if we sit here?" Rory asked.

Luna shook her head.

"No, of course not." She replied as the four took their seats.

Rory leaned across the table.

"My name's Rory, Rory Gilmore. And this is Madeline Lynn, Finn Morgan and The Icon..."

Luna watched as Rory indicated everyone. The boy named Finn let his head fall onto the books he'd been carrying and The Icon leaned back in his chair, his arms behind his head and eyes closed.

"The Icon?" Luna asked in a quiet voice.

Rory nodded.

"That's his nickname," Rory explained although she thought it was pretty obvious.

"I'm Luna, it's nice to meet you,"

"It's nice to meet you to," Rory replied sweetly.

Luna wanted to scowl, she knew what this girl was doing, trying to buter her up to get to Tristan, find out what was going on between them.

"What brings you to Chilton?" Rory asked as she opened her books, keeping her eyes focused firmly on the table-top. Luna laughed.

"Oh it's a long story but my very close friend was a student here and he returned...oh wait, I think you know him...Tristan DuGrey?"

Rory laughed, this girl was onto her.

"Bible Boy? Yes, I know him,"

Luna raised her eyebrow.

"Really? It seems a lot of girls aroud here know him,"

"Well," Said Rory, conspiratorially, "he certainly got around," She winked at Luna who struggled not to glare at her. "So," asked Rory, leaning across the table, "what is your relationship to Tristan?"

Luna had had enough. She slammed her book shut and stood to her feet. Slowly and quietly she addressed Rory:

"Look, I know I'm not from around here, I'm not one of you little society girls but I'm also not stupid," She said.

The Icon had opened his eyes by now and was watching with subdued amusement. Rory's eyes widened in horror.

"I know what you're trying to do Rory, but manipulation doesn't work on me. An as for Tristan, mind your own damn business!" Luna snatched up her books and trode away from the table. The other kids in the hall looked on, some in interest, a lot in horror that Rory Gilmore be spoken to like that, and by the new girl no less.

"Oh, and Rory?" Luna called out. Against her better judgement Rory turned t face her, "...you might want to find yourself another dae for the party tomorrow, Tristan and I are going together".

Rory sat back in her seat, shocked. Louise and Madeline's eyes were wide as saucers. Rory didn't know what to think, was she really manipulative? Did Luna really think she was just ather rich bitch? She knew her cheeks were flushed and everone was looking at her. Suddenly, with no warning, she threw back her head and laughed.

"Touche" She called out to Luna, "Thanks for the heads up,"

Luna scowled and stormed out of the hall while Louise and Madeline laughed with her and the rest of the kids in study hall seemed to release a collectively held breath.

Rory was perturbed for the rest of the day though. Not just about Tristan and Luna, but by the looks on th faces of the other kids in study hall, as thought they were frightened of her, of them. Were they really so insular that people avoided them? Had the stories gotten so bad they gave people a reason to fear her and the friends she loved so much? She'd heard the rumours of course, but, in her little group, tuckedaway with each other, the outside world had never seemed to matter. Sure, the girls had dated boys outside and vice versa, but it had always just been them.

"Come on," Louise urged, "who give's a shit what little miss 'I won't be manipulated' thinks".

Before everything, Rory would never have picked Louise for he intuitive type. She probably should have guessed, a gil with nose for gossip that good is bound to have some amount of ESP. It was always Louise who picked up on the subtle emotional changes of the group no matter what masks they wore at the time. And she knew something had been off about Rory all day.

Louise wrapped her arm around her friend.

"Fuck them if they can't take a joke," Rory sad quietly with a smile and Louise laughed softly. It was one of St. Jimmy's regular sayings.

"That's the spirit, and anyway, I'm sure you can make Tristan insanely jealous using Blake"

Rory smiled and hugged Louise.

"So I have the scoop," Madeline said breathlessly, as she raced upto the girls in the car park.

"About what?" Louise asked dumbly, Madeline rolled her eyes.

"Tristan and the biatch. Apparently..."

Rory held up her hand to silnce her friend.

"No offence Mads but I really don't care,"

"Oh no, you want to hear this," Madeline promised her, a superior grin spreading across her face.

"Fine, whatever"

"She is not the 'old friend' he's claiming...she's his child bride!"

Louise bust into giggles.

"Oh Madeline, what the hell are you talking about?"

Madeline's eyes were wide as she shook her head protesting it was true.

"No really, he knocked her up in North Carolina, her parent's organised a shot-gun wedding and she's due in September,"

Rory was shaking her head slowly with a smile.

"You expect us to believe that not only are Luna and Tristan married, but that she is three months pregnant?"

Madeline rolled her eyes.

"My sources are very reliable"

"Whatever," Rory and Louise chorused as Finn and The Icon loped over to them.

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"I can't believe you went up against Rory Gilmore today," one of the girls that trailed after Tristan said to Luna as they all left the school. Tristan had only been half-listening but he tuned in when he heard that. Luna shrugged,

"Why not?"

"Because you just don't mess with those kids,"

"Oh come off it Summer," Tristan said laughingly. "Since when was anybody afraid of Rory Gilmore? She's a kitten."

Summer rolled her eyes exaggeratedly.

"You've been gone for a long time Tristan, things change"

"People like Rory Gilmore don't change," He insisted, "She's so innocent, so naive,"

"Uh...was innocent DuGrey," Hamish called overhearing their conversation. "And both Andy and I can attest to that," He went on with wink. Tristan fought the urge to vomit at the thought of what his friends were implying.

"Are you trying to tell me," He began, "that Mary has become a Magdalene?"

"You'd better believe it," Summer said, laying her hand on his arm, "...sorry to be the bearer of bad news."

Tristan shrugged, loosening his tie as they reached their cars.

"Why should I care?"

Summer and Hamish laughed.

"Oh come on man," Hamish implored, still laughing, "Everyone knows you had a hard-on for her before you left".

Tristan scowled and Luna looked with interest, so there was a backstory there?

"Yeah, well, things change Hamish and I certainly haven't spent the past two years pining for Rory Gilmore and can somebody please tell who the hell is spreading the rumour that Luna's pregnant?"

Summer looked away guiltily but decided to let the matter drop.

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AN: So there you go, a little more about Tristan and Luna. What did you guys think of the confrontation between the girls? And Hamish's revelations about Rory? Keep reading and reviewing!