Chapter Seven

Disclaimer: See Chapter One.

"Hey kiddo… what's up?" Lorelai walked into the kitchen and noticed her daughter sitting alone in the kitchen, a carton of melting ice cream in front of her.

Rory looked up from her mother, tears stinging her eyes. "What's wrong with me?" she whispered.

The question alarmed the older Gilmore and she immediately rushed to her daughter's side. She took a seat next to her and began to rub her back, something she had done plenty of times to sooth her only child. "Babe, what happened?"

Rory kept her eyes to the carton of ice cream, as if she was in a daze. "Why do these things have to happen to me?"

Lorelai was getting worried. "What things? Rory… you gotta tell me so I could help."

Rory finally brought her attention to her worried mother. She looked at her with blank eyes; her blue eyes reflected no emotion whatsoever. Rory flashed her mom an uneven sad smile. "I… I don't think I need your help mom," she spoke so soft Lorelai could barely hear her.

Lorelai swallowed the lump in her throat… feeling her heart breaking she nodded slowly. "Al… alright… but I'm always here… you know… for support and coffee money."

"I didn't mean for it to sound like it did. I just… I need to think for a while."

"About?"

"What I want," Rory smiled a genuine smile, a faint sparkle evident in her eye.

Lorelai nodded, she understood her daughter's point, but she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. What the hell happened today? "Well in case you need anything, I'll be upstairs looking over a few things for the Inn… whatever you need, just come up okay?"

Rory nodded absentmindedly. From the corner of her eyes, she quietly watched as her mother gathered her belongings and quietly exited the kitchen. That was when Rory stood from her seat and sauntered to her bedroom, locking the door behind her. She sighed and walked to her bed, taking a seat at the foot of her bed she looked to the corner of her bedroom… where the package sat, unopened.

After Dean had dropped her off, Rory came home to a package waiting for her outside her door. The package contained a letter, in which she read… and ever since then… she had been flustered, angry and so damn confused. She picked the letter off of the floor and scanned through it once more. She had always loved his handwriting… so masculine and neat.

Rory,

You know I'm not very good at these things. And you know how much I hate doing these things… but I felt I had to. You know why? Because of you. No matter how hard I try to stop myself… my thoughts always come back to you. I made a big mistake Ror… and I'm sorry for everything that happened.

I care about you so much… and I'm begging you to find it in your heart to give me another chance. I swear to you, I won't waste it.

Jason

Setting the letter aside, she gained enough confidence to walk over to the package. Sitting cross-legged in front of the box, she eyed it curiously. Rory took the box into her lap and unwrapped it carefully. Lifting the lid of the cardboard box, she looked down at the contents and a smile tugged at her lips. The box had been filled with tiny balls of foam; a tiny card was lying on top of all the foam.

A little work can lead to great rewards.

Rory smirked at the corniness and began digging through the foam; not at all worrying about the clean up she was to endure later on. Aha! Found something. Rory's hand emerged with a silver necklace. The chain was simple and elegant, and the heart pendant hanging from the chain had tiny diamonds outlining the heart. She bit her lip… so hard that she had tasted blood. Reaching her now shaking hand into the box, she began to search for another.

The second gift was memorable memories captured in four tiny pictures. They were the booth pictures that she and Jason had taken on the day of their second month anniversary. The day had been a school day and Jason had managed to convince Rory to skip, in order to spend their day together. He told me our pictures didn't come out. Damn it… I knew I shouldn't have gotten that cup of coffee!

Rory had gotten tired of searching through layers and layers of foam. Instead, she spilled all the contents onto the floor and to her mild disappoint; a tiny piece of paper was the only item left that said; Tomorrow, no words are necessary. Just wear the necklace and I'll know your answer.

-

Jason pushed open the heavy Chilton doors and entered the building with an indescribable aura to him. He was neither sad nor happy… he was actually rather anxious. He greeted a few of his buddies before walking to his locker. Unlocking the metal door, he let out a loud groan and looked around him. Where the hell was…

"McPhee."

The person he least hoped to encounter that day interrupted Jason's thought. Turning to face the taller male, he smirked slightly and nodded. "DuGrey… I heard that you were back. Didn't quite believe it…"

"Well, I suggest you believe it McPhee because I'm here to stay…" Tristan fixed the collar of his blazer.

Jason's smile wavered just a tiny bit. "We'll see about that DuGrey… so how'd you convince your 'rents to let you stay?"

"I didn't need to convince anybody McPhee… trust me on that one," Tristan replied.

The two were silent, both occasionally glaring at one another. If the two males weren't evilly glancing at each other, both would cast their attentions to the front door.

"Who are you looking for DuGrey?" Jason noticed Tristan's anxious glances.

"I could ask the same question to you."

"Not that it's any of your business… but I'm waiting for my girlfriend," Jason said, hoping that he didn't make the wrong decision.

Tristan began to laugh, which irritated Jason to no end. "I hope you're not talking about Gilmore…"

"What if I am?"

The blonde grinned and shrugged, "Well it so happens that last night my parents had very important guests to dinner. The Gellars. You know them right? They have a daughter about our age… goes to the same school… damn… I can't remember her… oh wait! Paris Gellar. Do you know her?" Tristan paused, intently watching his nemesis' reaction.

Jason's eyes twitched dangerously, "I've seen her around."

"We had the most interesting conversation last night. Subjects varied… from school, to music… to Rory and you. And Paris informed me of the most interesting news…"

"Oh," Jason quirked his eyebrow, his stomach flipped apprehensively.

Tristan glanced back and forth, noticing that the hallways were becoming crowded. "She told me that you had no girlfriend, and that you and Gilmore had broken up a while ago. Which brings me to wonder… why in the hell would you let me assume that you and Gilmore were still together… when you really were not? And then I thought that maybe you really took a liking to the Gilmore chick and that maybe you were still dwelling on the past… but that idea was scratched when I found out that you broke up with her and not the other way around."

"What the fuck are you getting at DuGrey?"

"I'm just looking for an answer."

Jason took a step closer to Tristan, his eyes darkening from the anger building up. "To what question?"

Tristan ignored him and flashed him a lopsided grin, "You're afraid of me aren't you?"

"Pretty laughable question if you ask me."

"I'm sure the answer is much more funnier… now, would you care to humor me?"

Jason chewed his inner lip, hoping that the pain would keep Tristan's words from getting to him. Removing his eyes from the newly waxed floor, his head turned to look at the entrance, hoping for some kind of miracle.

His eyes widened slightly and his stomach clenched as Rory finally arrived. Jason (and Tristan, he noticed) watched as she entered the school premises in a painstakingly slow walk. She neared her locker and stopped to put her belongings away. Even with Jason's near perfect vision, he couldn't tell whether or not she was wearing the necklace.

He watched as she slowly removed her coat and placed it inside the compartment. Rory pulled out the books she needed for her first period class and stuffed it into her already crowded backpack. After what seemed like ages to Jason, she finally turned around to reveal that yes, she had accepted his apology and his offer.

Glancing back at Tristan, he grinned at DuGrey's now confused face. "You need to get better sources DuGrey, because Paris Gellar does not know what the fuck she's talking about. Now if you'll excuse me, my girlfriend's finally arrived."

Jason walked away before Tristan could respond. He groaned and backed up against the lockers, rubbing his face angrily. What the hell is he talking about? Paris wouldn't lie to me… she… no! She wouldn't. She absolutely has no reason to lie to me.

From the corner of his left eye, he could see Jason strutting to Rory, who seemed to be busily rummaging through her locker in search for something. Then, much to the blonde's dismay, he witnessed Jason wrapping his arms around Rory Gilmore… kissing her cheek softly. She lied to me! I just made a fucking fool out of myself. Punching an unfortunate locker he could not comprehend how he felt… he wasn't sure what to feel. Tristan gathered his school bag and headed to his first period class, while searching for Paris Gellar at the same time. He really needed to have a little chat with the Chilton know-it-all.

Tristan looked back to catch one last glimpse at the seemingly happy couple. The strange feeling in his heart warned him… something wasn't right. I hope you know what you're doing Mary.

-

Rory entered the school nervously. She inhaled deeply; deciding that going to her locker first was best. She reached her wanted destination and she quickly maneuvered the lock open. Placing her coat inside her locker, she then gathered her biology books and squeezed them into her backpack. Rory closed her eyes, preparing herself for what was to come. Turning, she looked around casually… after catching a sight of him, she then turned around and pretended to be looking for something in her locker.

"Just relax," she quietly whispered to herself, playing with the chain wrapped around her neck. Rory jumped slightly, as a pair of arms wrapped around her waist. Rory swallowed the lump in her throat and turned to face him.

Smiling back, she kissed his waiting lips. "Thanks for the necklace. It's beautiful."

Jason smiled… things were going his way today. "Don't worry about it," he whispered, kissing her cheek softly.

Rory's smile widened. Maybe he really did change…

--

Ooh, two updates in less than two weeks. Go me!

I know what you guys are thinking… what the hell is Rory thinking going back to him! Love has the power to blind us all… to keep us from distinguishing what's right and what's wrong. Rory's become a victim to that. So before you all start jumping down my throat, things will get better, major Trory action in the next chapter.

Reviews make me happy!