Title: Predictable

Author: ~aDdIcTeD-2-GG~

Rating: G

A/N: I can't believe how fast I managed to get this update up! It took me about 2 weeks to get the last one up. Anyway, thanx to my reviewers and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 7: I'm really sorry

Rory found the idea of having friends awfully appealing. In a school where social status is the defining line between 'loser' and 'human being', having friends is a serious advantage. Unfortunately Rory hadn't exactly 'hit-it-off' with anyone since arriving at at Chilton, seeing as Hartford isn't the most welcoming of societies. Your only guarantee to the status of 'human being' is to have connections, a bold attitude and lots of money – three things Rory would have to work on.

Waking up each morning, knowing she'd have to revisit the halls of Chilton, was bad enough yet alone actually walking those dreaded halls. But today, things were going to change! Today she had a friend, a potentially social status-elevating friend too! That morning, Rory walked through those halls with a new attitude. Her head was held that little bit higher, her shoulders that little bit less slumped. Today she felt frightened rather than petrified.

Although, it seemed that it was not only Rory's attitude that had changed that day. The school's gossipers were out in full force, spreading the latest from the Hartford grapevine. Everyone seemed to be discussing the same thing, but naturally, Rory had no idea what that was. Not even bothering to try and find out, Rory went to her first class looking forward to seeing Tristan again. No doubt Tristan would have heard the latest.

Rory couldn't have been more right! Tristan had most definately heard the latest and probably long before her. When she arrived in the classroom he was already sitting up the back corner with a crowd of girls practically suffocating him. Heads turned as she walked into the room. The group of girls surrounding Tristan began pointing at Rory, whispering amongst themselves and also laughing – presumably at her. Hurt, but not detered, she sent Tristan a smile of greeting. But much to her suprise and dissapointment he did not flash her that million-dollar smile back. Instead, she found herself being the object of the class' laughter. Now extremely hurt and also angry, Rory took her seat.

All day Rory watched as Tristan made friends with the very students who had slighted her on her first day. Tristan was living proof of what money, connections and a bold attitude could do for you. Obviously Tristan had decided that her friendship wasn't worth persuing now that he had made friends in high places. Her dreams of 'human being' status had been shattered but Rory wasn't that shallow. She knew school was going to be hard but she'd gotten by so far without Tristan's help, so that's what she'd do for the rest of the year.

After school she sat at the bus stop alone. She'd missed her first bus and had to wait for the next. A sleek silver convertable rolled up in front of her and the driver took off his sunglasses.

"Need a lift home, Gilmore?" He flashed her that million-dollar smile.

"No thanx. Wouldn't want to dirty your seats!" She spat sarcasticly.

"Hop in and we can argue all the way to your house. Doesn't that sound good Gilmore?"

"Look, you made it quite clear that you didn't know me earlier today and now I'm making it quite clear that I don't want a lift home from you." Rory said angrily.

"Calm down Gilmore! Why so flustered?!?"

"You know how at dinner I told you that you hadn't seen me angry yet? Well now you have! Don't talk to me, Dugrey."

"Come on, Rory. What'd I do!?!"

"YOU COMPLETELY IGNORED ME ALL DAY! YOU JUST SAT THERE AND LET THEM MOCK ME! I EVEN SAW YOU HAVE A LAUGH YOURSELF!!! On Thurday I actually thought we had something going there! I actually thought we were going to be pretty good friends. Well it looks like I way over estimated you. You're nothing like who I thought you were."

"Look I'm really sorry Rory. I was pressurised by all those girls. It was my first day and I knew it was important that I didn't screw it up!"

"So what your saying is that you consider talking to me screwing up!?!" Rory demanded.

"No!" Tristan replied exasperated.

"So what did you mean then, huh?"

"I, I, I... I don't know, all right! All I do know is that I did the wrong thing and I'm really sorry, Rory."

Rory ignored him.

"...Come on Rory, let me give you a lift home. Please?" Tristan pleaded.

Just at that moment Rory's bus pulled up and she got on. Dissapointed, Tristan drove away.

***** Stars Hollow, that afternoon *****

Rory opened the front door and stormed inside, slamming the door shut behind her.

"Is that you, Rory?" Loralei called from upstairs.

Rory was too angry to answer and merely marched off to her room. Worried, Loralei came down the staris to see what was going on. She popped her head around the corner just as Rory shut her bedroom door.

"Babe? What's the matter?" Loralei questioned, concern evident in her voice.

"I don't want to talk about it!"

Rory dumped her school bag on the floor and dropped onto her bed. She grabbed her discman, turned the volume up so that all outside sounds were drowned out and somehow managed to fall asleep like that.  

Three hours later Rory was woken from her sleep by her Mum's call.

"Honey! The pizza's here!" Loralei called from the kitchen.

Groggily Rory sat up and pushed aside her earphones, which had fallen out while she was asleep. She got up and stumbled out into the kitchen.

"Meat Lovers or Cheese?" Loralei held up two boxes.

Rory took a piece of cheese pizza and fell down into one of the kitchen chairs beside her mother.

"So..." Loralei began, "You going to tell me what happened at school today?"

Rory sighed. "When I got to class this morning, Tristan was already there with all the girls in the class flocking around him. So I smiled at him as sort of a way to say hello. But did he return my smile? No. Rather, I find myself being the laughing stock of the class. Humiliating! He ignored me all day and then had the nerve to ask me if I wanted a lift home!" Rory was fuming.

"So did you get a lift home?"

"No! Of course not!"

"I would have taken the lift home. Car's better than the bus any day." Loralei laughed.

"Hmmm pizza's good..."

"So, tell me why you were crying the other night. I never did find out..."

Temporarily Rory was able to forget the events of the day and enjoy a conversation with her Mum about boyfriends and coffee. Rory was able to go to sleep that night tear-free, thanks to her Mum's comforting words and hug.

A/N: Whew! It's finished, finally. Review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~aDdIcTeD-2-GG~