Damn life…

Rory groaned with frustration as she couldn't go to sleep that night. Many things were bothering her and they won't go away. She was tired of getting hurt. First, it was Tristan and second, her bestfriend. She hated it. She hated hurting them. But there wasn't a choice, they still got hurt and it hurt her.

Rory stirred in bed and stared at the clock. It was past midnight and the whole town was asleep. She decided to get up and go for a walk at this time. She needed no worry for being out late at this time for the crime rate is low or nearly zero. She headed out of the house, closing the door quietly and breathes in the cool air.

She headed down to the bridge and laid down there. She gazed up in the sky where the moon and the stars are shining brightly. She listened to the silent wind and heard a rhythm. The night was perfect, where a place is so quiet and time when she's in peace but inside, she was still hurt.

Misery…is what I feel…when you're not around, so I can't heal…Misery…is what I feel…is what I feel.

She sang silently to herself and when she finished off the chorus, tears were formed in her eyes. She wiped them quickly away and continued to stare at the sky.

"hey…"

Rory jumped and looked up

"Lane?"

Lane weakly smiled at her and took her place beside Rory on the bridge. Rory waited for her to say something.

"how come you're still up?" she asked

Rory shrugged, "I couldn't sleep,"

Lane nodded her head and patted her lap, motioning Rory to put her head on her lap as a pillow and she did.

"I'm sorry about earlier Rory…I shouldn't have ran away but I was shocked and I suddenly got scared…"

"I understand Lane…it's okay,"

she shook her head, "no, it's not okay, I hurt you didn't I?"

Rory shrugged. They stayed silent for a while and Lane started to speak again.

"how are you feeling Rory?" she asked with concern in her voice

"confused, frustrated, tired…"

Lane nodded her head and she started to sooth Rory's hair

"you miss Tristan don't you?"

"yes…I already admitted it to myself that I like him…"

"like?"

"oh, love I mean…"

Lane smiled, "more than Dean? Even if he's out of the picture?"

Rory thought for a moment, "yes…"

"and he's a lot hotter and cuter than Dean anyways…" Lane added

Rory was spaced out, she was thinking of Tristan and she is wondering how he is doing right now

"you don't have school tomorrow right?" Rory asked

"it's holiday tomorrow, why?"

"can you come with me to Chilton tomorrow?"

"sure, what are you going to do there? Talk to Tristan?"

Rory frowned, "pick my stuffs…and I don't know if I'm going to talk to Tristan…"

"well, you should,"

"no promises here…"

"if you say so,"

Rory sat up and faced Lane, and then she saw her best friend's expression

"oh Lane…don't be sad.." Rory said,

Lane shook her head, "it's scary Rory…that's why I ran away, I don't like losing my best friend and most of all, my best friend won't be coming back anymore…it is so hard and I…" Lane started to cry

Rory shrugged and comforted her, "I'm sorry Lane…I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner but it was my choice…and with all the time we have left, we should cherish them,"

"yes we should…" Lane agreed as she wiped her tears away, Rory gave her a weak smile

"thank you for being here with me Lane,"

"I had to, when two people have hurt you…so we have to heal that other one,"

"well I don't know how it's going to be healed…"

The next day, Rory and Lane drove up to Hartford and headed to Chilton. As they arrived, Rory looked up at the building and sees the statue. She remembered when she first arrived at Chilton, she thought the statue looks scary and later on, she finds it funny.

"I think they need to replace that statue,"

Lane looked up and agreed, "yeah…it's scary at first…but now I find it funny,"

Rory chuckled, "come on, let's go in," she said as she carried the empty box.

They walked down the empty hallway and their footstep echoing made Lane shiver. It was her first time in Chilton and Lane kept looking around at her surroundings until they reached Rory's locker. Lane leaned against the next locker as Rory tried to open her locker that seemed to be stuck.

"gee, not again, this locker is stuck," Rory groaned as she tried to pull it open

"let me try,"

Lane tried to open it and after several tries, it opened

"thanks," Rory said and started to put her books and stuff into the box and suddenly the bell rang.

Students exited from their classes and Rory paid no attention. Lane looked around, she was hoping to see Henry and she saw him,

"Henry!"

Henry looked around and saw her, he smiled and approached to them

"hey Lane, hey Rory," he greeted

Rory looked up and greeted, "hey Henry, how is it going?"

"oh well, it's been different when you're not here anymore,"

Rory looked at Lane, "oh, so she told you that I quitted?"

"yeah…"

Rory nodded

"tell me why you quitted," Rory jumped and spun around to see an unhappy Paris

"gee Paris! Don't ever sneak up like that," she said

"oh well, how come you quitted without telling me?"

Rory shrugged

"I don't feel like talking about it now, come on Lane," Rory said picking up her box

"and I know there is a reason why you quitted and I think the reason has made a big affect on Tristan," Paris smirked

"yes and I can see that is true but I don't know how he is right now, mind telling me?"

"Tristan, is being, somewhat, an asshole again and you can see him over there,"

Rory looked over where Paris was pointing; there stood Tristan leaning against the wall facing the courtyard with a cigarette and a girl who just greeted him, he gave her a dead glare

Rory frowned at his actions, she handed the box toward to Lane and she approached to him

"Tristan?"

Tristan turned his head and dropped his cigarette when he recognized her and he immediately walked away, bumping into people.

"See," Paris said

Rory looked down on the ground with hands on her pocket, "it's my fault, I'm sorry Par, come on Lane," she said starting to walk down the hallway with tears in her eyes.