Story: Wilflowers
Author: LitJJAiken
Summary: AU Literati with Trory undertones. Rory Hayden is sent to boarding school; Jess, Tristan, and others await her.
Rating: PG-13 for now. May be changed to R later, so be forewarned.
Chapter Title: To Find A Friend
Disclaimer: I have nothing. "Nothing" includes Gilmore Girls and Tom Petty's "To Find A Friend."
A/N: Well, I've certainly been a crappy updater. I'm sorry about that; I promise I wasn't just holding it for reviews. School's been hectic, but soon it's out and I can devote a lot more time to writing.
Thanks as always to Loz, Katherine, Helen, Summer, Joan, and Lauren at the ORG for being so great.
Everything changed, then changed again/
It's hard to find a friend
It's hard to find a friend
Room 218. Rory stood before the door, debating when to open it. If she opened it immediately, she would end the anticipation. If she waited, she would prolong facing the roommate waiting for her.
Christopher had left already, after Rory had made it clear to him that he was not welcome. She didn't like herself around him. She became irritable and bitchy, which was not in her nature.
After standing idly for a moment, the English teacher accompanying her, Mrs. Robbins, pushed on the handle and the door swung open.
Lying on the bed closest to the door was a blonde, petite girl with an open textbook in front of her. She looked up and smiled at Rory. "Hi," she said in a slightly too perky way. "I'm Cassie." She jumped up and reached out to shake Rory's hand.
Rory shook it and smiled back, though a little weaker than Cassie. "Hello," she said. "My name's Rory." She dragged two of her suitcases into the room.
Mrs. Robbins set Rory's remaining suitcase by the vacant bed. "Okay, Rory. Cassie's your new roommate, she'll be showing you around campus. She can also answer any questions you might have about Burke. I think I'll leave you under her care now."
"Thank you for your help," Rory told her politely.
"You're welcome," Mrs. Robbins answered with a small smile. She exited the room and shut the door.
"So, Rory," Cassie began. "Tell me about yourself."
"Well," she said, sitting down gingerly on the bed she assumed was hers. "I'm Rory Gilmore from Hartford, Connecticut. Um . . ." She was at a loss for words, not for the first time in her mild life.
"What do you like to do?" Cassie prompted. She settled back onto her bed.
"Oh. Well, I like to read and I want to be a journalist one day."
"What kind of journalist?"
"Overseas correspondent."
"Oh, fun!" Cassie exclaimed. "I want to be a lawyer."
Rory wrinkled her nose. "I would hate all that paperwork. I want to be out doing things, learning as I do my work."
Cassie shrugged. "I want to help people. I want to put criminals away."
"That's good," Rory said.
"Yeah, I want to go to Harvard for undergrad and grad school," Cassie said. "That's why you'll rarely see me without a book." She gestured to the text at her feet.
"I want to go to Princeton," Rory said. "I've sort of been pressured to go there since I was a baby. My father's family's been going there forever, with the notable exception of my father."
"What about your mother?"
Rory paused. "I don't have a mother."
A guilty look came over Cassie's face. "Oh. I'm sorry."
"Don't feel bad about bringing it up," Rory said with a shrug. "I'm used to it by now. She left a long time ago."
Cassie didn't seem to know what to say after that.
"So I guess you were studying when I rudely interrupted you," Rory said.
"Oh, you weren't rude!" Cassie exclaimed. "I was expecting you sometime today."
"Well, I think I'll let you get back to it," Rory said politely. "I can go take a walk around the campus. Explore a little bit."
"Do you want me to go with you?" Cassie asked. "I can show you around."
"No thanks," Rory said. "No offense, but I sort of just want to take a walk by myself right now."
Cassie nodded. "Okay. I understand." She picked up her book. "Just be back here around six and we can go to dinner together."
Rory said, "Sounds good." She stood up and walked out the door.
As she walked down the stairs, she thought about her first impression of Cassie. She seemed a little pushy, but nice nonetheless. Rory guessed they would get along fairly well.
She walked out of the building and turned left. She really had no clue where she was going, but she didn't really care. She just wanted to walk.
