A/N: My friend who was writing the other story is Peppermint Stick, and it's called 'Baby Girl'. Also, I don't own Gilmore Girls or any of the people I mention, or what they've been in.

London: Sophia Bush (Brooke from One Tree Hill)

Bailey: Alyson Hannigan (Willow on Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Desiree: Brittany Snow (American Dreams)

Austin: Hayden Christensen (Anakin from Star Wars: Attack of the Clones)

Steven: Adam Brody (The OC, Dave from Gilmore Girls)

Matthew: Tom Welling (Clark on Smallville)

Clay: Matt Damon (Ocean's Eleven, I can't think of any more at the moment, but you should really know who he is!)

Jake: James Lafferty (Nathan from One Tree Hill)



Rory looked at London, whose mouth was opened in shock, but the corners were curled, "That's great." she said, laughter filling her voice.

"H-he-he just-" Rory stuttered, the reality of what had just happened setting in on her.

"Kissed you?"

"Yeah!"

"Looks like it's working."

"But-but he's not supposed to be allowed to do that!" she said stubbornly.

"Did I just see what I thought I saw?" Desiree asked, walking up to Rory and smirking.

"He-he..."

"Hmm, maybe our little game is working both ways." she said, looking at London, who nodded.

"Hey!"

"He's getting to you." London said, nodding.

"No he isn't."

"And she's being stubborn."

"Okay, look: Tristan Dugrey CAN'T get to me, no, never."

Desiree's eyebrow arched in challenge, "Prove it."

"Fine." Rory's face recovered from it's current state of shock and she pulled the rest of the books from she locker. She closed it lightly and, with a twirl of her skirt, turned and walked gracefully down the corridor, with her two friends behind her. She walked into their homeroom and, instead of sitting in their normal seats at the middle of the room, went to the back, and sat beside Tristan. Matthew and Steven, who were already sitting down as well, looked at her in surprise.

Tristan arched his eyebrow, smirking, "Mary, how nice of you to join us."

"I thought so." she said, smiling innocently. London sat on Rory's right, and Desiree sat in front of Rory. Matthew was on Tristan's left and Steven was in front of the blonde. He looked beside him, at Desiree, who raised her eyebrows mockingly and nodded, Steven's nose wrinkled and both ended up laughing. Summer walked in and had to do a double take, making sure that her friends were really there, she turned to Bailey who was behind her, smiling. Summer sighed and rolled her eyes coldly, walking over to them. She sat on the other side of Steven and Bailey sat beside Matthew. Every eye in the class was on the left corner of the room, wondering what was happening, and every time someone came in, all eyes turned to the door, in case one of Tristan's friends were coming in. Clay was next to walk in, and when he did, he froze, eyes wide, but recovered after a moment and walked over, sitting beside Summer and in front of Bailey. Jake and Austin walked in right before the bell rang, Austin ended up sitting on London's right, between her and the wall, and Jake was on Desiree's right.

In the class, the desks were arranged in five rows of six, and they were sitting in all but one of the seats in the back two rows. Steven turned around, "So tell me, Rory, why the change of heart?"

She smiled and leaned forward, "I decided that there's no point in not talking to each other anymore."

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

"Well, see, I like that idea. You know you were always my favorite, right? I knew you were the smart one."

"Thanks." Rory nodded, smiling at the fact that he couldn't take his eyes off of Desiree.

"Because see, the way I see it, there's no point in not talking to each other, I mean, think about it, seriously, I always liked you, and Desiree, and all the girls, but, through a horrible twist of fate, we were separated, and that my dear, was just heart breaking."

Rory nodded, smiling at Steven. He was by far the most unusual of her friends, "I agree."

"Yes. And through you, we were all brought back together." he laced his fingers, "And that, my friend, is the circle of friendship."

"Is it?"

He nodded, "Yes." Rory opened her mouth to say something, but was cut off as the teacher began the lesson.

__________________________

At lunch Rory didn't sit at the guy's table, surprising every one. When Desiree and London walked in, London smirked, "That girl is a genius."

Desiree nodded in agreement, "How does she do it?" Rory beckoned them over.

"Looks like we're about to find out." They walked over, "So, hey Ror, what's this?" London asked. Summer and Bailey were already sitting down.

"Lunch?" Rory supplied.

"Thank you for that startling report, Captain of the Obvious!" Summer said. Rory glared at her playfully.

"What we're wondering is why over here? Why not more in that," she pointed towards Tristan's table, "general direction?"

"Why would I want to sit over there?"

"It starts with a T, is hot, blonde, and muscular, and ends with an N." Bailey said as if it were obvious.

"All I have to say is it's a good thing you guys picked me to do this because all of you suck at it."

"Hey!" Summer said indignantly, "How are we bad at it?"

"Please! If I go over there then I'll be seen as his little love slave, sitting with him and following him constantly, just for him to show off to his friends. I'll give him two days to make the next move, and trust me, he will."

"How do you know that?"

"Because I know Tristan. Just trust me on this one. He makes a move, I make a move, then he makes another one. That's how it goes."

"How do you know Tristan better than any of us do?"

Rory leaned back in her chair, "Because, by the time we liked boys, you guys were either drooling over him, dating him, wanted him to die, or thought he was a bastard, but wasn't mad enough for him to die. Only I never had a crush on him or wanted him to die."

"When does any of that apply to me?" Bailey asked.

"In eighth grade you said, and I quote, 'Tristan is a fucking bastard, I want him to die a slow and painful death by forks, heated over a fire.' after he led you on and then asked Francie Carter out."

"That's true." London said, laughing over the memory of the mellow Bailey saying that.

Bailey sighed, "Fine. Don't pick on me. Tell me why it applies to everyone else."

"Fine. Desiree: Freshman year. You refused to talk to him for a month because he got mad at you. You'd picked groups in one of your classes, he was absent and you didn't pick him, putting him in a group with Brad Langford and that creepy kid that just kind of lurks. For a month you were evil to each other.

London: You dated him for a month in eighth grade and then he dumped you for someone else. You hated him too, and wanted him to die."

London's lips pursed, "I'm not still mad about that, but yeah. That did piss me off."

"Exactly. Summer, all apply to you."

"I know."

"But see, he's always been like a brother to me for some odd reason. And I'm the only one who's never not wanted to talk to him, until we split." the other four thought for a moment.

"Right. She has a very good point." London pointed out.

"Of course I do. I always do." Rory laughed. The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch.

When they were out of the cafeteria, Tristan walked over to her, "Hey."

She smiled, "Hey."

"Where were you at lunch?"

"In the cafeteria."

"I didn't see you."

"Did you look?"

"Of course I looked."

"Anywhere other than your table?"

"Around my table?" he smiled.

She shook her head, "Nope."

"Why didn't you sit with me?"

"Why didn't you come to MY table?"

He opened his mouth, but closed it, smiling at her. He nodded, "Okay, I gotcha."

"Give-take, Tristan. Always give-take."

"What are you saying? We have the same friends. It's not like I'm pulling you away and throwing you into a completely different circle."

"No. But why should we always go to you? You know, boys can be humble. It is possible, no matter how probable."

Tristan smirked, "Always the brainy one Hayden. Always the woman's rights."

She nodded, "Always. You're capable of moving, right?" she touched his chest gently, trailing her finger down to his navel.

He smirked, "Why don't I show you just how well?"

She shook her head, "Maybe later."

He put a hand over his heart, "Ouch Hayden, ouch."

She patted his cheek, "Sorry Dugrey." she turned to walk away, but he stood in front of her.

"So, Pep Rally today?"

"Yup."

"The football Pep Rally."

"Yes, that would make sense considering it's November and the basketball Pep Rally doesn't take place until April."

"You going?"

She stopped and looked at him wryly, "Excuse me?"

"You going to the Pep Rally?"

"Tristan," she said slowly, patting his head as if he were a small child, "sweetie, I'm on the varsity cheerleading squad. You should remember that, considering you're on the varsity football team."

He nodded, "Right. I knew that."

She smiled, "I'm sure you did."



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Rory looked around the crowded gym, sighing, she always got nervous at these things. "Hey," London touched her arm gently, "you okay?"

Rory nodded, "Yeah, I'm good."

She nodded, "Come on, let's go." They got in line behind Desiree and Bailey, side by side. Rory jumped up and down nervously and rolled her head in a circle to loosen up her neck. The varsity cheerleaders were running out in pairs as their names were called. She glanced at London who smiled and nodded, this was what they loved, and did best.

The announcer called out, "London Froyen and Rory Hayden!" they ran out into the deafening gym and did flawless flips with practiced ease, completely in sync with each other.

They landed on their feet and jumped again, "Go Wolves!" Rory smiled widely as they went to their places in the lineup. Front row, center. The rest of the cheerleaders were called and ran out. They went through their dance routine, again, flawless. When it ended, the gym erupted with cheers. Rory, Desiree, and Kristen White were let down from there places atop the pyramids. She fell into the arms of London and a girl named Melissa. She was put back on her feet and plastered the smile back on her face. They ran to stand against the bleachers as the football players were called. There was an especially loud round of applause as Tristan Dugrey, Austin Payne, Clay Harris, Steven Pigeon, Matthew Tinsley, and Jake Fountain were called.

Rory looked around, smiling and jumping along with the rest of the squad as her long hair flew around wildly, not having put it up. After fifteen minuets, the football players came and sat next to the cheerleaders as JV began. The cheerleaders were in their uniforms, dark blue pleated skirts with silver lining. The shirts were mid-driffs, there was a triangle over the belly button, exposing it, while it went down farther on the sides. The tops were white on the chest and said CHILTON across the front in navy blue, lined in silver, below the chest, it was navy blue with silver lining. The players had on blue jeans and their jerseys, navy blue with a wolf's head on the shoulders. Rory sat between Tristan's legs, leaning against him. He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her ear. She smiled and turned to Desiree, who was leaning against a very happy Steven. Bailey sat next to Matthew, and London laid on her stomach, across Austin's lap. Jake and Clay sat alone, rolling their eyes, along with a bitter Summer.