A/N: People, people, people, I probably should have made myself clearer. When I said I might not update in a couple months, I was talking about my other story, not this one.
Rory sighed as her head met the cold metal of her locker. "Hey, what's wrong?" Grayson asked, coming up beside her.
"A ten hour project, due in two weeks."
"Ouch, that's harsh. Sorry."
"It gets better."
"Oh?"
"Partners."
"That's not so bad," seeing the look on her face, his optimism vanished, "Is it?"
"Summer Lantry." was all she had to say for him to understand.
"Ooh, that's um, well, it could be worse."
"How?"
He thought for a second, "It's only two people, right?"
"Yeah."
"Wee at least you're not in a group with her friends as well."
Rory raised her head from the locker, "At least not in that class."
"What do you mean?"
"I have another project, English Literature."
"Really?"
"Yeah, and guess who's in my group for that."
"Anyone I know?"
"Francie McCuller and Hope Evans."
"Ooh, now that is bad."
"Yeah! This school and I hate each other enough as it is, so why does it have to keep throwing itself in my face when we could just ignore each other?"
"I'll pretend like I understood that."
"Good."
She closed her eyes and groaned as the bell rang, "Great, I'm late for third period." Grayson smiled at her back as she walked away.
Tristan walked up to Austin after second period, "Hey, have you talked to Madeline yet?"
"We have our next class together, I'll talk to her then."
"K. I'm gonna go find Jamie now. And don't let her say no!" Tristan said, walking away.
"I'll try. No promises."
He scanned the hall until he found him. "Jamie, my man." He swung his arms around the boy's shoulders.
"Hey Dugrey."
"Hey. So, I was thinking."
"Good job man, I'm proud."
"Ha, funny."
"I try."
"Anyway, I've been thinking, we need some flavor."
"Flavor?"
"Yes, flavor."
"Meaning?"
"Women, Patterson! Women!"
"Okay, I'm not exactly catching what you mean."
"We need some girls to hang out with."
"We have Rory."
"I know, I mean more girls. Don't you think she would ever get tired of being around guys all day?"
"Okay, who did you have in mind?"
"You know Paris Gellar?"
"You mean the shrew?"
"See, some would call her difficult, while I personally would say she's playing hard to get." Tristan said, leading Jamie down the hall.
"No."
"Maddy, please."
"Sorry Austin, but I can't convince them to hang out with your friends."
"Why not? They're your friends too."
"Yeah, but girls don't eat lunch with the soccer players. It just isn't done. Traditionally the popular guys and girls just don't sit together."
"Screw tradition!"
"No."
"Maddy, I'm on the soccer team. We've talked, and we want you three to sit with us."
"Girls don't sit at your table!"
"Then what the hell would you call Rory Gilmore?"
"I don't know. She's different. She's the only girl who's ever eaten at your table."
"So now you can."
"I don't know."
"Come on, have you ever met Rory?"
"No."
"Well sit with us today and you can meet her."
Madeline narrowed her eyes, "Why do you want us to meet Rory Gilmore?"
"Because I don't think you should all let Summer's feelings towards Rory affect you becoming friends with her."
"What makes you think Summer's opinion influences mine?"
"Shes your 'group leader'. All of you listen to what she says."
"So, that doesn't mean we all believe what she says."
"What has she said about Rory?"
"Just that she came from a small town and likes Tristan. She also said that Rory threatened her if she didn't stay away from Tristan."
"She does live in a small town, she doesn't like Tristan, and Summer is a damn liar if she says that Rory threatened her."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, really. Rory would never do that."
"And how do you know?"
"I'm friends with her."
Madeline looked taken aback, "You are?"
"Yes. And I think the three of you would really like her if you just got to know her."
"I don't know Austin."
He groaned , "Why are you friends with Summer?"
Madeline shrugged, "I'm not sure."
"Because of the social status. And so she won't gossip about you, right?"
"I guess so."
"Do you honestly even like her? At all?"
"No, not really."
"Well, this will make her mad. You three will hang out with us, something she's been wanting to do for years," she sighed and bit her lip, "Just think about it."
"Fine, I'll see what I can do."
"Good." He kissed her gently and leaned back in his seat, hopefully Tristan had convinced Jamie to ask out Paris. If not, they were all in for hell.
LUNCH
The soccer team was sitting at their usual table with the three girls when Rory walked by the cafeteria. As she made her way to the entrance, two people blocked her way, "Where do you think you're going?" Rory looked up and recognized Hope.
"To sit down."
"With the soccer team?"
"Yes."
"I don't think so." the other girl spoke, and they turned her around so she could be escorted to an empty classroom where Summer was waiting.
"Thank Hope, Catlin." she nodded and the two left. "I thought I told you to stay away from him."
"And I thought I asked what made you think I would listen to you."
"Look, I'm getting tired of this, tired of you. I heard about your little trip to the movies the other day."
"Nine other people were there!"
"Look, I don't want you around him, and you need social status, right? So let's make a deal. You stop talking to him, and you can hang out with us, making you popular. I'll even get you a boyfriend."
"I don't know."
"Just think it over."
"Um," she paused for a moment, "Hell no."
"What?"
"No, I'm friends with the soccer team, including Tristan. I don't care what you try tot do to me. I won't be intimidated by you."
"Care to repeat that, Gilmore?" Summer's voice was full of anger.
"Sure," she got inches from the girl, "You have absolutely NO power over me. I've never been scared of a popular bitch, and I'm not now. If you want to do something to me, then do it, there's no body here to stop you." Summer shook with rage, but didn't step closer to Rory, who leaned back, smirking. "Yeah, I thought so. You need your 'friends' to do everything for you. Look Summer, I'm tired of this. Tired of you," she repeated what the girl had said earlier, "I won't back down, so stop wasting your time." And with that, Rory turned and left an outraged Summer fuming in the middle of an empty room.
LUNCHROOM
"Where is she?"
"Tris, calm down, I'm sure she's fine." David said, trying to keep Tristan from freaking out.
"So, Paris." Jamie said to the girl beside him, "I was thinking about going out to dinner tomorrow night."
"You should take Francie, she has better table manners than Alicia Dixon."
"What?"
"You wanted my opinion, right? I suggest Frincie."
"No, no. I wanted to know if you were busy tomorrow, actually. Because if you are then I can reschedule the dinner."
"What are you talking about?"
"If you're busy tomorrow night then I can reschedule for when you can come to dinner with me."
"Are you asking me out?"
"That depends."
"On?"
"Will you say yes?"
"That depends."
"On?"
"Was it a bet?"
"No."
"A dare?"
"No."
"Are you asking me to make your parents think you're dating a 'smart girl'?"
He laughed, "No, I just want to take you to dinner."
"No."
"No?" his hopes fell.
"No, I'm not busy tomorrow. I'd love to got o dinner with you."
He sighed in relief, "Don't do that to me Gellar!"
She laughed, "that's what you get for asking me on such short notice."
Okay, he thought to himself, so maybe she wasn't such a shrew after all.
"See, she's right there." David said to a relieved Tristan as Rory walked in. She made her way to the table and, seeing that there were no vacant chairs, she sat in Hunter's lap.
"Where were you?" Tristan asked immediately.
"Summer wanted to have a lirttle 'chat' with me."
"Was there blood shed?"
"No."
"Too bad, you could've taken her."
"Thanks Casey."
"Oh, Rory, this is my girlfriend Madeline Lynn, and two of our other friends, Paris Gellar and Louise Grant. You guys, this is Rory Gilmore." Austin introduced the four girls.
"Hey, you're in my Mythology class, right?" Madeline asked.
"Um, yeah, I think so."
"Sorry you got Paired with Summer, she's a bitch." Louise said apologetically.
"Yeah, I'll live. I guess."
"I was paired with her last year, and I ended up doing all the work while she filed her nails and talked on the phone."
"I wouldn't tell her that, Paris." Connor said, amused at the look on Rory's face.
Tristan smirked to himself after lunch. They loved her, and the look on Summer's face when she walked in and saw those four girls sitting at the soccer team's table was priceless. A mix of shock, anger, and jealously. It was definitely going to be a fun year.
A/N: Sorry it took so long to get this up. I wrote it a few days ago, but the website wouldn't take it.
Rory sighed as her head met the cold metal of her locker. "Hey, what's wrong?" Grayson asked, coming up beside her.
"A ten hour project, due in two weeks."
"Ouch, that's harsh. Sorry."
"It gets better."
"Oh?"
"Partners."
"That's not so bad," seeing the look on her face, his optimism vanished, "Is it?"
"Summer Lantry." was all she had to say for him to understand.
"Ooh, that's um, well, it could be worse."
"How?"
He thought for a second, "It's only two people, right?"
"Yeah."
"Wee at least you're not in a group with her friends as well."
Rory raised her head from the locker, "At least not in that class."
"What do you mean?"
"I have another project, English Literature."
"Really?"
"Yeah, and guess who's in my group for that."
"Anyone I know?"
"Francie McCuller and Hope Evans."
"Ooh, now that is bad."
"Yeah! This school and I hate each other enough as it is, so why does it have to keep throwing itself in my face when we could just ignore each other?"
"I'll pretend like I understood that."
"Good."
She closed her eyes and groaned as the bell rang, "Great, I'm late for third period." Grayson smiled at her back as she walked away.
Tristan walked up to Austin after second period, "Hey, have you talked to Madeline yet?"
"We have our next class together, I'll talk to her then."
"K. I'm gonna go find Jamie now. And don't let her say no!" Tristan said, walking away.
"I'll try. No promises."
He scanned the hall until he found him. "Jamie, my man." He swung his arms around the boy's shoulders.
"Hey Dugrey."
"Hey. So, I was thinking."
"Good job man, I'm proud."
"Ha, funny."
"I try."
"Anyway, I've been thinking, we need some flavor."
"Flavor?"
"Yes, flavor."
"Meaning?"
"Women, Patterson! Women!"
"Okay, I'm not exactly catching what you mean."
"We need some girls to hang out with."
"We have Rory."
"I know, I mean more girls. Don't you think she would ever get tired of being around guys all day?"
"Okay, who did you have in mind?"
"You know Paris Gellar?"
"You mean the shrew?"
"See, some would call her difficult, while I personally would say she's playing hard to get." Tristan said, leading Jamie down the hall.
"No."
"Maddy, please."
"Sorry Austin, but I can't convince them to hang out with your friends."
"Why not? They're your friends too."
"Yeah, but girls don't eat lunch with the soccer players. It just isn't done. Traditionally the popular guys and girls just don't sit together."
"Screw tradition!"
"No."
"Maddy, I'm on the soccer team. We've talked, and we want you three to sit with us."
"Girls don't sit at your table!"
"Then what the hell would you call Rory Gilmore?"
"I don't know. She's different. She's the only girl who's ever eaten at your table."
"So now you can."
"I don't know."
"Come on, have you ever met Rory?"
"No."
"Well sit with us today and you can meet her."
Madeline narrowed her eyes, "Why do you want us to meet Rory Gilmore?"
"Because I don't think you should all let Summer's feelings towards Rory affect you becoming friends with her."
"What makes you think Summer's opinion influences mine?"
"Shes your 'group leader'. All of you listen to what she says."
"So, that doesn't mean we all believe what she says."
"What has she said about Rory?"
"Just that she came from a small town and likes Tristan. She also said that Rory threatened her if she didn't stay away from Tristan."
"She does live in a small town, she doesn't like Tristan, and Summer is a damn liar if she says that Rory threatened her."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, really. Rory would never do that."
"And how do you know?"
"I'm friends with her."
Madeline looked taken aback, "You are?"
"Yes. And I think the three of you would really like her if you just got to know her."
"I don't know Austin."
He groaned , "Why are you friends with Summer?"
Madeline shrugged, "I'm not sure."
"Because of the social status. And so she won't gossip about you, right?"
"I guess so."
"Do you honestly even like her? At all?"
"No, not really."
"Well, this will make her mad. You three will hang out with us, something she's been wanting to do for years," she sighed and bit her lip, "Just think about it."
"Fine, I'll see what I can do."
"Good." He kissed her gently and leaned back in his seat, hopefully Tristan had convinced Jamie to ask out Paris. If not, they were all in for hell.
LUNCH
The soccer team was sitting at their usual table with the three girls when Rory walked by the cafeteria. As she made her way to the entrance, two people blocked her way, "Where do you think you're going?" Rory looked up and recognized Hope.
"To sit down."
"With the soccer team?"
"Yes."
"I don't think so." the other girl spoke, and they turned her around so she could be escorted to an empty classroom where Summer was waiting.
"Thank Hope, Catlin." she nodded and the two left. "I thought I told you to stay away from him."
"And I thought I asked what made you think I would listen to you."
"Look, I'm getting tired of this, tired of you. I heard about your little trip to the movies the other day."
"Nine other people were there!"
"Look, I don't want you around him, and you need social status, right? So let's make a deal. You stop talking to him, and you can hang out with us, making you popular. I'll even get you a boyfriend."
"I don't know."
"Just think it over."
"Um," she paused for a moment, "Hell no."
"What?"
"No, I'm friends with the soccer team, including Tristan. I don't care what you try tot do to me. I won't be intimidated by you."
"Care to repeat that, Gilmore?" Summer's voice was full of anger.
"Sure," she got inches from the girl, "You have absolutely NO power over me. I've never been scared of a popular bitch, and I'm not now. If you want to do something to me, then do it, there's no body here to stop you." Summer shook with rage, but didn't step closer to Rory, who leaned back, smirking. "Yeah, I thought so. You need your 'friends' to do everything for you. Look Summer, I'm tired of this. Tired of you," she repeated what the girl had said earlier, "I won't back down, so stop wasting your time." And with that, Rory turned and left an outraged Summer fuming in the middle of an empty room.
LUNCHROOM
"Where is she?"
"Tris, calm down, I'm sure she's fine." David said, trying to keep Tristan from freaking out.
"So, Paris." Jamie said to the girl beside him, "I was thinking about going out to dinner tomorrow night."
"You should take Francie, she has better table manners than Alicia Dixon."
"What?"
"You wanted my opinion, right? I suggest Frincie."
"No, no. I wanted to know if you were busy tomorrow, actually. Because if you are then I can reschedule the dinner."
"What are you talking about?"
"If you're busy tomorrow night then I can reschedule for when you can come to dinner with me."
"Are you asking me out?"
"That depends."
"On?"
"Will you say yes?"
"That depends."
"On?"
"Was it a bet?"
"No."
"A dare?"
"No."
"Are you asking me to make your parents think you're dating a 'smart girl'?"
He laughed, "No, I just want to take you to dinner."
"No."
"No?" his hopes fell.
"No, I'm not busy tomorrow. I'd love to got o dinner with you."
He sighed in relief, "Don't do that to me Gellar!"
She laughed, "that's what you get for asking me on such short notice."
Okay, he thought to himself, so maybe she wasn't such a shrew after all.
"See, she's right there." David said to a relieved Tristan as Rory walked in. She made her way to the table and, seeing that there were no vacant chairs, she sat in Hunter's lap.
"Where were you?" Tristan asked immediately.
"Summer wanted to have a lirttle 'chat' with me."
"Was there blood shed?"
"No."
"Too bad, you could've taken her."
"Thanks Casey."
"Oh, Rory, this is my girlfriend Madeline Lynn, and two of our other friends, Paris Gellar and Louise Grant. You guys, this is Rory Gilmore." Austin introduced the four girls.
"Hey, you're in my Mythology class, right?" Madeline asked.
"Um, yeah, I think so."
"Sorry you got Paired with Summer, she's a bitch." Louise said apologetically.
"Yeah, I'll live. I guess."
"I was paired with her last year, and I ended up doing all the work while she filed her nails and talked on the phone."
"I wouldn't tell her that, Paris." Connor said, amused at the look on Rory's face.
Tristan smirked to himself after lunch. They loved her, and the look on Summer's face when she walked in and saw those four girls sitting at the soccer team's table was priceless. A mix of shock, anger, and jealously. It was definitely going to be a fun year.
A/N: Sorry it took so long to get this up. I wrote it a few days ago, but the website wouldn't take it.