Chapter 4- Summer Abroad: Part 1

Rory was finally on his way home after spending the summer of his 15th year in Paris with his mother. It wasn't something he was originally looking forward to, but his father had insisted. He felt they didn't spend enough time together, and this would help their relationship. Rory was sure he was going to hate it though. He didn't know anyone there and he would be away from Amy and Mels for three months. They had never been apart for so long.

Once he arrived though, he found he was actually having fun with his Mother. She had planned a series of trips so that they could just spend time together. Another worry of his was that he wouldn't get along with her new boyfriend Michael and his daughter Michelle. This again wasn't a problem as both of them were very welcoming. He found that Michelle was as easy to get along with as Amy and Mels were.

So his summer had turned out pretty well. The only part he hadn't enjoyed was the trip back. Rory had spent the entire journey home trying to figure out what he would tell Amy. Rory felt like an idiot and wished nothing had changed. He wanted things to go back to the way they were, but he didn't think that was possible now for him.

Rory stared out the bus window at the passing countryside as he thought about the events that occurred on his last day in Paris. His mother had made it a point to wait until the end of the trip to visit the Eiffel Tower. While she and Mike were still eating at Le 58 tour Eiffel, Rory and Michelle had decided to wander off for some fun.

"All right you can open your eyes now," Michelle told Rory laughing. She had demanded that he close his eyes while they were still in the elevator heading to the top floor.

"I still don't see why I need my eyes closed."

"I just want your first sight to be my favorite spot up here. All right, now just follow me," she said as she took hold of Rory's hand and slowly pulled him along.

"Can't I just stare downwards so I can at least not trip."

"No, now shut your whining. We're almost there. Excuse me sir," she said as she maneuvered around some tourists. "All right Rory, we're here. You can open your eyes now."

Rory opened his eyes and looked across the city. He had looked out over London from similar heights before, but there really was something special of this specific view. It was one of the most amazing things he had ever seen.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" Michelle asked also looking over the city. "I actually come here all the time when I'm bored and just stare out into the distance. Even with all the tourists, I find it so peaceful."

"It's just amazing Michelle," Rory said scanning the skyline. You could really feel the age and history of the city from this height and he was simply entranced by it. Rory had always liked heights, looking down to see how small people were from this height really made him aware of how amazing life was.

"Rory, what are you doing? The magic is out there, not straight down," Michelle said giving Rory a small push.

"You don't see it?" Rory asked continuing to watch the people below. "How all these people are so small, yet everything they do is extremely important. This view is simply breathtaking, but everything the people do down there is too."

"What are you going on about?" Michelle asked laughing at him.

"Oh you don't see it? You must just need a better view." Rory said as he picked her up off the ground.

"Rory, no! Stop it!." Michelle yelled as she started laughing. Rory ignored the looks from the other people on the platform.

"No, you just need to be a bit higher. Can you see it now?"

"Put me down Rory," she continued to order while laughing, "You're going to get us kicked out of here. They spent a few seconds fighting each other as she was trying to get him to release his grip on her. She eventually fought her way free as he dropped her next to the railing.

Rory and Michelle were just smiling and laughing at each other when Michelle leaned in and kissed him. It was Rory's first kiss. He closed his eyes, leaned into the kiss, and placed his hands on her hips not knowing what else to do with them. The kiss lasted for a little while as Rory's thoughts raced. He couldn't really process what was happening. When the kiss finally ended, Rory opened his eyes.

He suddenly was a little shocked because he realized in his mind he was kissing Amy, yet it was Michelle who was in front of him. Rory thought he was going crazy. When Michelle leaned in for another kiss, Rory averted his head and took a small step backwards.

"I'm sorry," he said. It felt like Rory had lost control of his body. He wanted to kiss her again, but couldn't. A wave of guilt had washed over him preventing Rory from doing anything else. "There's someone back home. I can't." He screamed at himself that there wasn't anyone else and that he should continue to kiss this girl in front of him.

"Oh, of course. Amy. I should have known. I'm sorry," Michelle said as her cheeks turned bright pink.

"No, you don't have to be. I'm sorry," Rory said still yelling at himself. There was no one back home.

"Well, I feel like an idiot now. Why… why don't we go back and see if our parents are done eating," Michelle said making a beeline for the elevator.

"Okay," was the only response Rory could manage. When they got into the elevator, there was a question that was nagging him in the back of his head, "Michelle, how did you know it was Amy?"

Michelle smiled a bit turning even pinker, "Just the way you talked about her at times. She's a lucky girl Rory."

"Thanks," Rory said still uncomfortable.

Rory opened his eyes as the memory ended still seeing the countryside out the window. He turned to his bag and pulled out the letters that Mels and Amy had written him over the summer. He smiled at how thick the stack was. Between the two of them they had probably written him 20 letters over the three-month span. The letters were filled with day-to-day descriptions of how dull Leadworth had been and the trouble they had gotten into without him.

Rory pulled out the last letter that Amy had sent only last week. In it she demanded that under no uncertain terms was he to extend his trip any longer. If at all possible he should come home a few days early. Rory stared at the letter just smiling. He was sure he liked Amy as more than a friend and wanted to ask her out on an actual date. He was scared though. He wasn't sure if Amy liked him in the same way. Either way the moment he asked her, everything would change.

These thoughts circled his mind as the bus pulled into its final stop. He packed away his items so that he would be ready to exit. "Finally back home," Rory said to himself as he stepped off the bus. A moment later two screaming girls greeted him.

"Welcome home Rory!" Amy and Mels yelled in unison.

"It's good to be back," he answered as Mels hugged him.

"This place just isn't the same without you mate," she said as she patted him on the back. "You're the best lookout in town. Amy is rubbish."

Amy cried out in false shock, "He's only better because he's more paranoid about getting caught."

"You two are terrible," Rory responded quickly feeling at ease. "I sometimes think I would be better off without you two. One day you will get me picked up too."

"Oh you love us, and you know it," Amy said as she hugged him. Rory returned the hug a little tighter than he had intended as he blushed a little. He pushed his thoughts aside for now so that he could just celebrate with his friends.

"Now can I bring up what everyone in the station is thinking," Mels piped in as the two friends parted. "What did you do to your hair Rory."

"I know! I was afraid to say anything," Amy said as she laughed.

"What's wrong with it?" Rory asked quickly becoming self-conscious. He thought to himself that he was definitely back home.

"It looks like you took a lawnmower to it mate," Mels said as she brushed the top of his head.

Rory knocked Mels hand aside as he tried to think of something to say, "Well, it's just the look in Paris." The girls were eyeing him suspiciously so he tried to selI it a bit more, "Especially because I was in a band back in Paris."

"Oh my god Rory, you in a band?" Amy asked incredulously as Mels simply started laughing.

"Yeah! What's wrong with that?" Rory proclaimed defensively as Amy and Mels broke out laughing. "I played the guitar and everything," he told them. He silently told himself to shut up because he was just making things worse. If they asked for proof he was dead. He was about to add more to the story when he felt a pat on the back. He turned around to see another classmate of his.

"Hey Rory, welcome back."

"Oh, hi Jeff," Rory said surprised at the coincidence. "Where did you just get back from?" Rory asked. He and Jeff had never really been friends as Jeff was always popular. But he had always been nice to Rory over the years.

Jeff looked a bit confused, "Uh, I didn't go anywhere. Spent the summer in Leadworth. I'm here for you Rory." Jeff said as Rory became even more confused.

"See," Mels said shoving Amy, "I told you he wouldn't want him here." Amy was strangely quiet when Rory looked over to her.

"No, it's not that. Mels, shut up," Rory insisted, "I'm sorry Jeff, I just wasn't expecting you. That's all."

"No worries, it's fine mate," Jeff smiled.

"Rory," Amy finally spoke up, "I invited him." Rory thought this was odd because they had never really been friends either. Amy walked over to Jeff where he put his arm around her and then it clicked for him, Amy and Jeff were dating. That's when he really noticed Amy. He wasn't sure why he hadn't seen it before. Amy had grown up over the summer. She was taller than him and was now wearing a miniskirt and t-shirt with a jean jacket. She had let her hair grow even longer and started to wear make-up. Rory just stared at Amy as he realized how beautiful she was.

"Oh stop being so daft Rory, you always were slow. They're dating moron," Mels said as she placed her hand on his shoulder.

"I can see that you delinquent. I am not that slow," he said shaking Mels hand off as she laughed a little. "I'm sorry Jeff. Thanks for coming." He reached out and he Jeff shook hands.

"All right, I'm bored," Mels exclaimed, "Let's head to Amy's place to celebrate our boys return with some food and vids."

Jeff helped Rory gather his bags off of the bus as they headed for the exit. Rory cursed his luck. Just as he realized that he liked Amy, she had to finally start dating. Tonight was not going to be a good night.

A/N: Thanks again for the reviews everyone. Glad to know people are enjoying everything.

There are a couple chapters like this where I felt they were simply too long so I split them into two at a natural place. This chapter was actually longer. There was more back story for Michelle actually. I found that I had accidentally made her a clone of Amy though personality wise so I cut most of it. Her whole purpose was really just to start Rory thinking of Amy in a different way.

Crookshanks- I am glad you noticed that. I like to drop in really subtle character moments that inform how they behave later. This one also has a moment in it for Rory that's similar.

Random- Thanks for another review, and funny you should mention the psychiatrists. That will be discussed next chapter. I originally had two chapters dealing with them. But I felt I was just repeating the same themes over and over so I cut them. And really the fourth one is the most important because it was the last one. Why did they stop? So I decided to only talk about that one.

Hope you enjoy!