A/N: New chapter! I am excited about this new little development. Definitely enjoyed writing it! Hope you enjoy it, too!

Opportunity Cost

Rory rushed into the Yale Daily News office, balancing a nearly finished cup of coffee and her tower of books as she pushed the door closed with her heel. Doyle was standing at his desk, handing out assignments. He glanced over at her and said, "Gilmore, thank you for joining us."

"I'm sorry. I lost track of time at the library. Midterms and all, you know."

"No, I don't know," he said. "But do you know what do know? I nearly gave away your story."

Rory gulped. "Well, I guess I got here just in the knick of time?"

Doyle frowned. "I'm giving you an investigative piece this week. See how good your interviewing chops are. Rumor is we have our own little Skull and Bones here." Rory felt her stomach drop as Doyle continued. "Booze fests and rampant nepotism, every Ivy League has one. I want you to find out everything you know. Google it. Bing it. Talk to anyone who has a functioning tongue. I want it on my desk by Monday, 5 PM sharp."

Rory leaned against the desk behind her while Doyle continued to hand out assignments. She nursed her coffee, thinking of all the different ways her Life Death & Brigade chums would shun her if she wrote this article. She couldn't do it. There was absolutely no way that she could write that article without losing the respect and trust of all of them. She would turn it down—simple as that.

Upon hearing her request to be taken off the story, Doyle said, "What, you want another exhilarating story of music pirating?"

"It's just not my type of story."

"An interesting expose isn't your type of story?" Doyle asked, smiling slightly. "Tell me Gilmore, is this what you want to do with your life?"

"Writing music pirating stories?"

"No, journalism. Is this what you want?"

"Well, yeah-"

"Then you need to try a little harder," Doyle said plainly. "A high standing with the Daily News looks great on a resume. You'll never get it peddling features stories. So, do you really want it?"

Rory felt as if her skin was on fire. "Want what?"

"To be a journalist?"

"Yes," she said, shifting uncomfortably as she followed the trail of his logic. "I want to be a journalist."

"Then you're not switching stories. You will write the secret society story." He saw the stricken look on her face and said, "Fine, you can turn it in by 6:00. But that's all I'm budging!"

All Rory could do was nod and wonder how in the world she was going to get away with this.


Rory discussed her dilemma with Paris who had been conveniently absent from the newsroom when the assignments were handed out, yet still was writing one of the front page articles. When Rory inquired as to how that was possible Paris said, "Doyle and I have an understanding."

"Please tell me it involves clothing."

"It involves clothing," Paris snapped. "Doyle just appreciates my ability to wear people down in interviews."

Rory wrinkled her nose, thinking that there was still something unsavory in that whole arrangement. Paris and the Editor in Chief were remarkably, awkwardly chummy. "Anyway, should I have turned it down?"

"Absolutely not," Paris said. "You did the right thing."

"He kind of tricked me into it."

Paris smiled, shaking her head appreciatively. "That man is a genius. Anyway, it is a great opportunity for you. It's obviously a promotion-one that you completely agree after me."

"How deep should I go? I can't very well unmask us."

"Well, first off you have to choose unreliable people to interview," Paris said. "No one who is actually in the society."

"And how do I find these people?"

"It's assumed that the LDB caters to the rich and entitled. Find the ones who haven't been tapped and interview them. They'll be so bitter about not being part of something exclusive that they will undoubtedly deny its existence."

"Okay."

"And then Google it. But only use basic Googling skills. If the society does see this, which let's face it-is pretty unlikely. I'm not convinced some of them can even read. But if they do read it they won't be reading anything that people couldn't find from plugging secret societies at Yale into the search engine."

"They are going to blacklist me," Rory sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. "This is a terrible idea."

"This is how you rise to the top of the paper. Behind me, of course. This is a good thing."

"I won't reveal anything that isn't readily available."

"Exactly."

"So, I'm not doing anything wrong."

"Nothing at all," Paris said. "And yes, my ideas of right and wrong may be somewhat shifty. I did lie about a learning disability to get more time on the SAT, not that I needed it. Just wanted to prove that I didn't. But you are completely in the clear."

Resolutely Rory echoed, "I am completely in the clear."


"I can't believe I am doing this," Logan said. "Never in my twenty years of living did I think that I would be here. Doing this. In silence."

"Yeah, not getting the silent part," Rory said, looking up from her book. "And you've seriously never stepped in the library? You do go to school."

"It's like witches and churches. Makes my skin burn."

"You look fine from here," she said.

"I'm burning on the inside." She laughed, shaking her head as she turned her page of notes.

"You're ridiculous. And have you gotten any studying done?"

"That's the crazy thing," Logan said. "I have. I might actually be prepared for this midterm tomorrow."

"Imagine that."

"Not as prepared as you are for yours, though," Logan said, glancing at her thick notebook. "How many pages of notes have you banged out? Ten? Fifteen?"

"I'm not counting," she said with a small grin.

"And that's not even your only notebook," he said, reaching forward and taking the notebook beside her wrist. Rory felt a jolt of panic as she saw that he had the notebook with her research for the article in his hand. She reached forward quickly and ripped it from his hand. When he looked at her strangely she said, "You should be studying! Less talking, more reading."

He smiled and she felt her stomach settle. "Fine, Ms. Gilmore. Want to grab some dinner after this?"

She nodded. "Yeah, that sounds nice."


Rory sat at her computer that night, continuing her Google search. There was a surprising amount of articles and blog posts on the topic of Yale secret societies. People have always been fascinated with the mythical, and the college setting made no difference. She found a lot on the Harvard Skull & Bones, practices detailed that made her physically ill. She was glad that the Life & Death Brigade was nothing like their nemesis' society. Yes, they had rituals but none of them included animal blood. Well, as far as she knew.

Paris padded into the room and glanced at the laptop screen. "How's it shaping up?"

"Not bad. I'm going to focus on the history of secret societies and how the lore impacted the universities. Yale secret societies will be a sort of post script."

"Interesting choice," Paris said, nodding. "Just might work."

"I'm hoping."

Rory tucked her leg up under her bottom. "Logan almost found my notes today. I completely panicked."

"And?"

"I grabbed the notebook from him like a five year old with sharing problems."

Paris snorted. "Smooth."

"Well, I didn't know what else to do!"

"This article is making you a little crazy."

Rory nodded glumly. "It is. But…" she took a cleansing breath. "It is fine. Everything is going to be fine. There's nothing incriminating in the article, or at least there won't be. And when it's published I'll be at the front of the paper. I'll be on my way to better assignments. It's going to be good."

"Exactly," Paris said. "Just like I told you."

Paris seemed convinced by Rory's overtures. If only Rory had convinced herself.

A/N: So this has set up at least the next two chapters. Please review and let me know how you like it!