Author's Note: Okay, now this is going to take a large time jump so I hope
you don't mind. Okay? Thank you SO much for all the reviews! Y'all are an
author's dream!
Chapter 9
Four months had passed. The tail end of winter on that late February morning chilled her legs and for the thousandth time that season Rory cursed the skirts that she was obligated to wear. Passing Tristan she curled her lips into a sneer, shaking his head in distaste he walked off without a word. She turned back and stole a glance at him as he passed Paris, whose angry glare could melt the Artic. He wasn't on good speaking terms with her either and was left with only Henry as a friend.
In those four months Rory had decided she couldn't live with the feelings inside of her. After the numbness had been replaced with sadness she had been through an emotional storm. She felt like waves were crashing all around her, tossing her so fiercely she was sure she would drown. So, she decided she would fight back. She didn't want to feel sad and guilty. She didn't want his gaze to melt the ice barrier she had built. She didn't want to love him.
But again, life doesn't work like that, you don't choose who you fall in love with. Unfortunately after years of being able to control everything, Rory Hayden was not ready to accept that for the first time in a long time she had no control. So instead, she focused all her anger and all her energy into the taunts, the jeers, and the names that plagued Tristan Davenport to the point of retaliation. Louise and Madeline, who would never go against Rory, joined in the torture. While Paris was still their number one target, though no one except the four girls knew why, Tristan was second. They still were clueless as to why Rory had broken down those few months ago but whatever the reason their friend was left in a crying mess, they knew that Tristan was the cause of it.
Life at the Hayden household had gotten decidedly worse. Christopher was always at the office doing 'work' as he called it and Lorelai was having a few 'business engagements' of her own. When Lorelai wasn't drunk or off being promiscuous she could be found sobering up at the club with her mother or at some form of social gathering that supported saving the whales while they ate caviar and poached eggs as a way of feeling that they had contributed to something.
Rory had become more riotous at school, to the point where her wild schemes and actions had earned her more detentions than before and worried her friends. Rory had always been undisciplined but she had never allowed herself to be caught before. In another defense against her feelings she partied. In those four months there were countless parties, an immeasurable amount of alcohol, and an infinite number of guys.
Rory Hayden was lost and she desperately needed someone to save her.
One problem though, that the only person who could play the hero was lost himself.
Tristan Davenport's life changed the night he kissed Rory Hayden. He was the aim of her and her groupies. Suddenly his tentative relationship with Paris had been ruined, even though he still held to the belief that it was not his fault, and his only friend at Chilton was always off with his best friend in Stars Hollow, Lane. For this he was angry. Rory had ruined him.
He didn't understand how she could be so cold-hearted. He was so confused with his emotions. He should have hated her for ruining him like she did. She had used him in the worst way, kissing him to hurt another person. It didn't just hurt Paris, it hurt him as well. He for some reason unknown to even himself, he had put so much feeling into that kiss that he felt like he was giving his entire being to her. He should have hated her…but he didn't.
That night, he had felt it. He had seen it. He had experienced it. Lorelai Leigh Hayden, try as she might, was not the heartless child of society that everyone thought she was. The sad look in her eyes when her fingers flowed gracefully across the keys, the electricity that coursed through the two as their lips met, the passion that told him she was giving as much emotion as he was, and the unforgettable expression on her face as he yelled at her. The face that was torn between longing, guilt, pain, and heart crushing sadness. That face haunted him.
Every time he saw her sneer, every time they argued, every time she walked away with a smirk on her face after a verbal spar he would shake his head unable to believe that this was the same girl…the same girl that he wanted to comfort, wanted to hold and let cry, wanted to know every detail about and somehow erase the hatred that she felt so strongly.
Oh yes, that girl had changed him. His mother saw it in the way he spoke about her, annoyed and angry at her but always with something in his eyes that told otherwise. Lane, always able to read his thoughts and emotions through his choice of words and facial expressions saw that he cared more than he let on. Henry, although new to his world, saw that his friend was torn in two directions at once concerning the girl that had become nothing but cruel to Tristan.
Yes, Tristan wanted to save Rory, he was the only one who could save her, but he needed to save himself first.
~
"Well, if it isn't the little Bible Boy." she icily taunted.
"Well if it isn't the spoiled brat." he remarked back.
"At least I have enough money to be spoiled."
"Money isn't everything."
"That's exactly what people who don't have any say."
"Do you have a reason for standing here? Or are you just trying to get somebody's attention because you can't get it at home?"
Tristan surprised himself. He hadn't meant to say that but it had come out. Rory's temper rose.
"What would you know about it?" she asked angrily.
"It's Hartford Rory, people talk."
"Yeah," she began regaining some fire, "you're right, people talk. I know all about you and your family situation."
"Don't start." he warned through clenched teeth.
"I know how you're mom was disowned because she and your dad couldn't keep their hands off each other, kind of slutty don't you think?"
"Oh, and what your mom does isn't? What about you? There are some interesting stories going around about your escapades!" he yelled.
"Hey! At least my dad stuck around! At least I know where he is!"
"Oh yeah?! Well at least I know that my mom loves me!"
"Were you always a mama's boy or is this a recent development?!"
"Maybe you should answer first, were you always a royal bitch or did you just wake up one day and decide to be one?!"
"Oh my gosh, you cussed! Your mom is going to be so disappointed in her precious baby when she finds out he has a potty mouth!" she gushed sarcastically.
"I don't have time for you." he hissed before turning away.
The crowd that had gathered in the hall to watch parted to allow him to pass.
"Going to run to mommy now?!"
He spun back around. "Just because you have money makes you think that you're so much better than me?! You're wrong! I'm glad that my mom left all of this for me! She saved me from becoming like you!"
"What is that supposed to mean?!"
"It means that I would rather live in a small town with just my mom than have parents who ignore each other and have socialize with a trashy, stuck- up, spoiled princess like you!"
"Well I'd rather have two parents and have my future secured for me than go to school on as a scholarship case! At least I'm not living the life of a worthless, pathetic, pauper like you!"
Time froze as the crowd around the two didn't dare to breath. Rory and Tristan both let the words that were exchanged sink in.
His eyes flickered in pain and sadness. Her eyes mirrored the emotions with a bit of guilt thrown into the mix. He was in pain. He was in pain and she caused it.
Madeline and Louise ushered her out of there a moment too late. Everyone was witness to the first tear that splashed down onto the cold floor at her feet.
~
Without knowing it, he had saved her that day.
~
AN: Okay, sorry, it's another shorty and it doesn't have much interaction. But that was a good place to stop right? Yeah it was. In case you couldn't tell, this is the turning point of the story, thus the whole 'princess and pauper' part of the title has finally come into play. Leave a review please.
Chapter 9
Four months had passed. The tail end of winter on that late February morning chilled her legs and for the thousandth time that season Rory cursed the skirts that she was obligated to wear. Passing Tristan she curled her lips into a sneer, shaking his head in distaste he walked off without a word. She turned back and stole a glance at him as he passed Paris, whose angry glare could melt the Artic. He wasn't on good speaking terms with her either and was left with only Henry as a friend.
In those four months Rory had decided she couldn't live with the feelings inside of her. After the numbness had been replaced with sadness she had been through an emotional storm. She felt like waves were crashing all around her, tossing her so fiercely she was sure she would drown. So, she decided she would fight back. She didn't want to feel sad and guilty. She didn't want his gaze to melt the ice barrier she had built. She didn't want to love him.
But again, life doesn't work like that, you don't choose who you fall in love with. Unfortunately after years of being able to control everything, Rory Hayden was not ready to accept that for the first time in a long time she had no control. So instead, she focused all her anger and all her energy into the taunts, the jeers, and the names that plagued Tristan Davenport to the point of retaliation. Louise and Madeline, who would never go against Rory, joined in the torture. While Paris was still their number one target, though no one except the four girls knew why, Tristan was second. They still were clueless as to why Rory had broken down those few months ago but whatever the reason their friend was left in a crying mess, they knew that Tristan was the cause of it.
Life at the Hayden household had gotten decidedly worse. Christopher was always at the office doing 'work' as he called it and Lorelai was having a few 'business engagements' of her own. When Lorelai wasn't drunk or off being promiscuous she could be found sobering up at the club with her mother or at some form of social gathering that supported saving the whales while they ate caviar and poached eggs as a way of feeling that they had contributed to something.
Rory had become more riotous at school, to the point where her wild schemes and actions had earned her more detentions than before and worried her friends. Rory had always been undisciplined but she had never allowed herself to be caught before. In another defense against her feelings she partied. In those four months there were countless parties, an immeasurable amount of alcohol, and an infinite number of guys.
Rory Hayden was lost and she desperately needed someone to save her.
One problem though, that the only person who could play the hero was lost himself.
Tristan Davenport's life changed the night he kissed Rory Hayden. He was the aim of her and her groupies. Suddenly his tentative relationship with Paris had been ruined, even though he still held to the belief that it was not his fault, and his only friend at Chilton was always off with his best friend in Stars Hollow, Lane. For this he was angry. Rory had ruined him.
He didn't understand how she could be so cold-hearted. He was so confused with his emotions. He should have hated her for ruining him like she did. She had used him in the worst way, kissing him to hurt another person. It didn't just hurt Paris, it hurt him as well. He for some reason unknown to even himself, he had put so much feeling into that kiss that he felt like he was giving his entire being to her. He should have hated her…but he didn't.
That night, he had felt it. He had seen it. He had experienced it. Lorelai Leigh Hayden, try as she might, was not the heartless child of society that everyone thought she was. The sad look in her eyes when her fingers flowed gracefully across the keys, the electricity that coursed through the two as their lips met, the passion that told him she was giving as much emotion as he was, and the unforgettable expression on her face as he yelled at her. The face that was torn between longing, guilt, pain, and heart crushing sadness. That face haunted him.
Every time he saw her sneer, every time they argued, every time she walked away with a smirk on her face after a verbal spar he would shake his head unable to believe that this was the same girl…the same girl that he wanted to comfort, wanted to hold and let cry, wanted to know every detail about and somehow erase the hatred that she felt so strongly.
Oh yes, that girl had changed him. His mother saw it in the way he spoke about her, annoyed and angry at her but always with something in his eyes that told otherwise. Lane, always able to read his thoughts and emotions through his choice of words and facial expressions saw that he cared more than he let on. Henry, although new to his world, saw that his friend was torn in two directions at once concerning the girl that had become nothing but cruel to Tristan.
Yes, Tristan wanted to save Rory, he was the only one who could save her, but he needed to save himself first.
~
"Well, if it isn't the little Bible Boy." she icily taunted.
"Well if it isn't the spoiled brat." he remarked back.
"At least I have enough money to be spoiled."
"Money isn't everything."
"That's exactly what people who don't have any say."
"Do you have a reason for standing here? Or are you just trying to get somebody's attention because you can't get it at home?"
Tristan surprised himself. He hadn't meant to say that but it had come out. Rory's temper rose.
"What would you know about it?" she asked angrily.
"It's Hartford Rory, people talk."
"Yeah," she began regaining some fire, "you're right, people talk. I know all about you and your family situation."
"Don't start." he warned through clenched teeth.
"I know how you're mom was disowned because she and your dad couldn't keep their hands off each other, kind of slutty don't you think?"
"Oh, and what your mom does isn't? What about you? There are some interesting stories going around about your escapades!" he yelled.
"Hey! At least my dad stuck around! At least I know where he is!"
"Oh yeah?! Well at least I know that my mom loves me!"
"Were you always a mama's boy or is this a recent development?!"
"Maybe you should answer first, were you always a royal bitch or did you just wake up one day and decide to be one?!"
"Oh my gosh, you cussed! Your mom is going to be so disappointed in her precious baby when she finds out he has a potty mouth!" she gushed sarcastically.
"I don't have time for you." he hissed before turning away.
The crowd that had gathered in the hall to watch parted to allow him to pass.
"Going to run to mommy now?!"
He spun back around. "Just because you have money makes you think that you're so much better than me?! You're wrong! I'm glad that my mom left all of this for me! She saved me from becoming like you!"
"What is that supposed to mean?!"
"It means that I would rather live in a small town with just my mom than have parents who ignore each other and have socialize with a trashy, stuck- up, spoiled princess like you!"
"Well I'd rather have two parents and have my future secured for me than go to school on as a scholarship case! At least I'm not living the life of a worthless, pathetic, pauper like you!"
Time froze as the crowd around the two didn't dare to breath. Rory and Tristan both let the words that were exchanged sink in.
His eyes flickered in pain and sadness. Her eyes mirrored the emotions with a bit of guilt thrown into the mix. He was in pain. He was in pain and she caused it.
Madeline and Louise ushered her out of there a moment too late. Everyone was witness to the first tear that splashed down onto the cold floor at her feet.
~
Without knowing it, he had saved her that day.
~
AN: Okay, sorry, it's another shorty and it doesn't have much interaction. But that was a good place to stop right? Yeah it was. In case you couldn't tell, this is the turning point of the story, thus the whole 'princess and pauper' part of the title has finally come into play. Leave a review please.