~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I like the kids who fight against how they were brought up
They hate the trends and think it's fucked to care
It's cool when they piss people off with what they wear
-Blink182
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ONE WEEK LATER
Rory leaned against the wall, looking around at all the people who'd come to this lame ass party. Last week hadn't been completely horrible, just not ver good at all. And she hated to admit it, but she was missing Erin and all her friends. Zack reappeared at her side and he handed her a plastic cup, not explaining what was in it. She looked up at him, eyes narrowed, but he wasn't looking at her, his head was up and he was staring at the people dancing. She shook her head and set the cup on the table beside her. She'd learned from Tray and Kaleb at her first party in Boston to never drink anything given to you by someone you didn't trust, especially if it was open. And she definitely didn't trust Zack.
"I want to go home." she said.
He looked down, yelling over the music, "What?"
"I want to go home." she repeated, yelling.
"Why?"
"I don't like this party."
"You should stay."
"I don't want to."
"Why?"
"I don't know any of these people."
"You know me and Allie."
Rory sighed, "You know what? Never mind. I'll find a way by myself."
"How?"
"I'm smart. I'll figure something out." she walked away from him and out the doors, looking around. Her house was about fifteen miles away, and there was no way she was about to walk that far. Rory sat on the hood of a black BMW, looking around hopelessly. She laid down and looked up at the stars. It was around midnight and unlikely that she would find anyone who was sober.
"Having fun?" someone asked. She sat up, and relaxed to realize that it was someone she'd seen before, and he looked alright.
"Blast." she said sarcastically.
"Rory, right?" the guy asked. She nodded, trying to remember him. "I'm Paul Mahadey. We've never really met technically, I'm a Sophomore."
"Oh, hi." she said uncertainly.
"I'm surprised you're here."
"Some of my friends wanted me to come. I'm actually trying to figure out how to leave."
"I could give you a ride."
"I don't think so." he'd offered a little too enthusiastically for her liking.
"Oh," he looked slightly put down, "Why not?"
"Look, I'm sure you're a great guy and everything, but I've had enough with guys and-"
"Oh no," he cut her off, "You think I'm coming on to you?"
"Well, I..." she closed her mouth, embarrassed.
"No. Trust me, you're cute and everything, for a fourteen year old, but I have a serious girlfriend, but she couldn't make it tonight. Plus I have way too much respect for Devin and Tristan to pull anything." he sounded completely honest, and a little amused.
"Oh, well I just feel stupid now-"
"Don't. I understand why you'd think that. The truth is, I just want an excuse to get away from here."
"You're JJ's brother." she said as the last name dawned on her.
"Yeah. It's not really something I'm proud of."
She laughed, "I see why."
"Yeah," he rubbed the back of his head, "so, how about that ride?"
She looked him over, he had on baggy black bondage pants with blue stitching and a blue shirt, and Etnies. She nodded, "Thanks. Are we taking your car?"
He shook his head, "There's no way we're going to be able to get it out of the garage. I'll be right back." he went inside, reappearing a few minutes later, keys in hand, "we're gonna take my friend's car." he led her to a car near the back of the line and unlocked the door for her.
She climbed in, and after a few minutes she asked, "It's your party, shouldn't you stay?"
He shook his head, "It's not my party. It's JJ's." he grinned, "My parties are better."
Rory laughed, "I don't doubt it. So, why are you sober?"
He laughed, "My girlfriend couldn't make it, and I don't do anything if she's not going to be there. Don't want to regret anything."
"I know what you mean."
"Huh?"
She shrugged, "At the second party I went to, Tristan got drunk and wound up becoming victim to Allie."
"She's vicious."
Rory laughed, "Tell me about it. So, you don't get along with your brother's friends?"
"Definitely not." they sat in silence, Rory staring out the window until he said, "My question is, why do you?"
"What?" her head snapped around to look at him.
"They've made your life hell. Why do you like them so much?"
"Don't you think that's kind of personal?"
"Maybe a little, but that doesn't mean you can't tell me."
She shrugged, she felt comfortable around him anyway, "I guess they're completely different than my old friends. And that's what I want."
"Well, I think you made a mistake."
Rory stared at him scrutinizingly, "Why?"
"You changed completely for one person. Life's not worth that."
She looked out the window, "No, it's not." they sat in a heavy silence for a few minutes, "So, who's the girlfriend?" she changed the subject.
"Her name's Amy Miller."
"Oh, I know her. Short soccer player with black hair?"
"Yeah."
"She's in my fifth period. She's sweet."
"Yeah, she is." they pulled into Rory's driveway, and he stopped the car.
She turned to him, smiling "Thanks for the ride, and for being my motivational speaker."
"Anytime. Thanks for giving me an excuse to leave."
"No problem." she opened the door, "Bye."
"Bye."
Rory walked up to the door and opened it slowly, waving at Paul. Devin glanced up at her from his place on the couch, "That was quick."
"Let's just say it wasn't quite my crowd." He nodded, but said nothing else to her. She sat down beside him, and he just stared at the television. "Are you mad at me?"
"I'm not mad. Just disappointed."
"Why?"
"You've changed. You're streamline. You've conformed."
"I am not streamline. And I have not conformed"
He rolled his eyes, "Look at yourself Rory, I'm not saying it's the clothes, because someone can dress like that and be completely genuine, or someone can dress in bondage, but be doing it for everyone else. What I'm saying is that it's your entire attitude. Your friends. You're changing who you are."
"I am not!"
"Yes, Rory, yes you are! You used to be fun. You used to do whatever you wanted with no fear of consequences. You used to say 'fuck authority'. You used to like pissing people off, and you used to listen to good music! Now, you never talk to me anymore, you're always with those fucking sluts, you don't do whatever you want, you do whatever they want, you actually listen to teachers and their parents, and you've turned into a model citizen! And you watch, dare I say it? MTV! We do NOT watch MTV in this house!"
"Are you trying to tell me that we're the stereotype of 'punks' and 'rebels'? Because that's what you just described! I do whatever I want Devin, and maybe that's what I want to do!"
"It's not Rory. I know you, better that you know yourself, and I KNOW that that's not what you want!"
"You don't know what I want."
"Rory, we know you're over Tristan, just please stop this!" she didn't reply, just turned forward, arms crossed over her chest. Devin growled from the back of his throat, but turned as well, his arms crossed too.
After fifteen minutes she mumbled, "For what it's worth, I had a horrible time."
"Did you?"
"Yes. They have lame parties. They suck."
He turned towards her, "I could have told you that."
"You should have. I was about to die. I finally got a ride home-"
"Who gave you a ride?"
"Paul Mahadey."
"Ah. Now tell me again about these stupid parties."
She laughed, "Well, first of all, the music was pointless..."
MONDAY, WHITLAND
Rory walked slowly to Erin's locker, looking up at her apologetically. She closed her locker, surprised to see Rory. "Do you know how often I apologize?" she asked.
"Not very often." Erin said.
"I'm sorry."
"You don't talk to me for almost two weeks, you chose the resident sluts and your enemies over your best friends, and now you expect me to talk to you and forgive you?"
"I was hoping." Rory said sheepishly.
"I swear to god, Lorelai Hayden, if you EVER do anything like that again I will NEVER forgive you!" Rory grimaced, looking down, Erin smirked, "Now that part's over, we can get back to the important things. Tell me, how much do their parties suck?" Rory laughed, and Natalie and Katie walked up nervously, not yet sure if the two girls had made peace. Erin looked at them, "I think we have her back." she said. The two looked at Rory who shrugged and nodded.
They smiled, "I think the last two weeks of school are going to be extremely fun." Natalie said as they started down the hall to homeroom.
LUNCH
Allie walked up to Rory, "Hey."
"Hey." Rory said, she couldn't just start being a bitch to Allie all of a sudden. That would be wrong.
"Aren't you going to sit with us?"
"No, actually. I'm sitting with Erin today."
"Oh." it was obvious she'd wanted to sit together, but not if Rory's old friends were involved. "Um...I guess I'll see you later."
"Bye." Rory walked to over to Erin, Katie, and Natalie and sat down.
"What was that?" Natalie asked, eyeing the other girls, who were obviously talking about them.
Rory shook her head, "Nothing. She just wanted to know if I was sitting with them or not."
"Are you still going to hang out with them?" Katie asked.
"God no. I have no idea how I lasted that long."
"Did you keep the same music?"
"Some. But I also listened to their music."
"So you're not just going to stop talking to them?" Katie asked.
"Don't you think that's wrong?"
"Not really. If you don't want to talk to them anymore then just don't. Do you?"
"No."
"Then don't."
Rory glanced at their table and saw that they were staring. She rolled her eyes, "Did I ever act like that?"
"No." all three said at once, and ended up laughing.
HAYDEN'S, AFTER SCHOOL
Rory sat in the living room, talking to Kaleb and Tray. They were trying to explain why it was funny to watch the football players practice. "They wear tights."
"It looks like they're doing ballet."
"They try to look all macho for the girls and cheerleaders."
"And they suck. They never win."
Rory laughed, "That is so cruel."
"But it's funny."
"And you know it's true."
"Yeah...but that doesn't mean I voice my opinion."
"Please, you voice your opinion whenever the hell you want to."
"So? That's not the point."
"Then what is?"
She sat still for a second, looking at them, "I don't know. I'm confused." The two boys burst into laugher, and it was like she'd never left.
I like the kids who fight against how they were brought up
They hate the trends and think it's fucked to care
It's cool when they piss people off with what they wear
-Blink182
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
ONE WEEK LATER
Rory leaned against the wall, looking around at all the people who'd come to this lame ass party. Last week hadn't been completely horrible, just not ver good at all. And she hated to admit it, but she was missing Erin and all her friends. Zack reappeared at her side and he handed her a plastic cup, not explaining what was in it. She looked up at him, eyes narrowed, but he wasn't looking at her, his head was up and he was staring at the people dancing. She shook her head and set the cup on the table beside her. She'd learned from Tray and Kaleb at her first party in Boston to never drink anything given to you by someone you didn't trust, especially if it was open. And she definitely didn't trust Zack.
"I want to go home." she said.
He looked down, yelling over the music, "What?"
"I want to go home." she repeated, yelling.
"Why?"
"I don't like this party."
"You should stay."
"I don't want to."
"Why?"
"I don't know any of these people."
"You know me and Allie."
Rory sighed, "You know what? Never mind. I'll find a way by myself."
"How?"
"I'm smart. I'll figure something out." she walked away from him and out the doors, looking around. Her house was about fifteen miles away, and there was no way she was about to walk that far. Rory sat on the hood of a black BMW, looking around hopelessly. She laid down and looked up at the stars. It was around midnight and unlikely that she would find anyone who was sober.
"Having fun?" someone asked. She sat up, and relaxed to realize that it was someone she'd seen before, and he looked alright.
"Blast." she said sarcastically.
"Rory, right?" the guy asked. She nodded, trying to remember him. "I'm Paul Mahadey. We've never really met technically, I'm a Sophomore."
"Oh, hi." she said uncertainly.
"I'm surprised you're here."
"Some of my friends wanted me to come. I'm actually trying to figure out how to leave."
"I could give you a ride."
"I don't think so." he'd offered a little too enthusiastically for her liking.
"Oh," he looked slightly put down, "Why not?"
"Look, I'm sure you're a great guy and everything, but I've had enough with guys and-"
"Oh no," he cut her off, "You think I'm coming on to you?"
"Well, I..." she closed her mouth, embarrassed.
"No. Trust me, you're cute and everything, for a fourteen year old, but I have a serious girlfriend, but she couldn't make it tonight. Plus I have way too much respect for Devin and Tristan to pull anything." he sounded completely honest, and a little amused.
"Oh, well I just feel stupid now-"
"Don't. I understand why you'd think that. The truth is, I just want an excuse to get away from here."
"You're JJ's brother." she said as the last name dawned on her.
"Yeah. It's not really something I'm proud of."
She laughed, "I see why."
"Yeah," he rubbed the back of his head, "so, how about that ride?"
She looked him over, he had on baggy black bondage pants with blue stitching and a blue shirt, and Etnies. She nodded, "Thanks. Are we taking your car?"
He shook his head, "There's no way we're going to be able to get it out of the garage. I'll be right back." he went inside, reappearing a few minutes later, keys in hand, "we're gonna take my friend's car." he led her to a car near the back of the line and unlocked the door for her.
She climbed in, and after a few minutes she asked, "It's your party, shouldn't you stay?"
He shook his head, "It's not my party. It's JJ's." he grinned, "My parties are better."
Rory laughed, "I don't doubt it. So, why are you sober?"
He laughed, "My girlfriend couldn't make it, and I don't do anything if she's not going to be there. Don't want to regret anything."
"I know what you mean."
"Huh?"
She shrugged, "At the second party I went to, Tristan got drunk and wound up becoming victim to Allie."
"She's vicious."
Rory laughed, "Tell me about it. So, you don't get along with your brother's friends?"
"Definitely not." they sat in silence, Rory staring out the window until he said, "My question is, why do you?"
"What?" her head snapped around to look at him.
"They've made your life hell. Why do you like them so much?"
"Don't you think that's kind of personal?"
"Maybe a little, but that doesn't mean you can't tell me."
She shrugged, she felt comfortable around him anyway, "I guess they're completely different than my old friends. And that's what I want."
"Well, I think you made a mistake."
Rory stared at him scrutinizingly, "Why?"
"You changed completely for one person. Life's not worth that."
She looked out the window, "No, it's not." they sat in a heavy silence for a few minutes, "So, who's the girlfriend?" she changed the subject.
"Her name's Amy Miller."
"Oh, I know her. Short soccer player with black hair?"
"Yeah."
"She's in my fifth period. She's sweet."
"Yeah, she is." they pulled into Rory's driveway, and he stopped the car.
She turned to him, smiling "Thanks for the ride, and for being my motivational speaker."
"Anytime. Thanks for giving me an excuse to leave."
"No problem." she opened the door, "Bye."
"Bye."
Rory walked up to the door and opened it slowly, waving at Paul. Devin glanced up at her from his place on the couch, "That was quick."
"Let's just say it wasn't quite my crowd." He nodded, but said nothing else to her. She sat down beside him, and he just stared at the television. "Are you mad at me?"
"I'm not mad. Just disappointed."
"Why?"
"You've changed. You're streamline. You've conformed."
"I am not streamline. And I have not conformed"
He rolled his eyes, "Look at yourself Rory, I'm not saying it's the clothes, because someone can dress like that and be completely genuine, or someone can dress in bondage, but be doing it for everyone else. What I'm saying is that it's your entire attitude. Your friends. You're changing who you are."
"I am not!"
"Yes, Rory, yes you are! You used to be fun. You used to do whatever you wanted with no fear of consequences. You used to say 'fuck authority'. You used to like pissing people off, and you used to listen to good music! Now, you never talk to me anymore, you're always with those fucking sluts, you don't do whatever you want, you do whatever they want, you actually listen to teachers and their parents, and you've turned into a model citizen! And you watch, dare I say it? MTV! We do NOT watch MTV in this house!"
"Are you trying to tell me that we're the stereotype of 'punks' and 'rebels'? Because that's what you just described! I do whatever I want Devin, and maybe that's what I want to do!"
"It's not Rory. I know you, better that you know yourself, and I KNOW that that's not what you want!"
"You don't know what I want."
"Rory, we know you're over Tristan, just please stop this!" she didn't reply, just turned forward, arms crossed over her chest. Devin growled from the back of his throat, but turned as well, his arms crossed too.
After fifteen minutes she mumbled, "For what it's worth, I had a horrible time."
"Did you?"
"Yes. They have lame parties. They suck."
He turned towards her, "I could have told you that."
"You should have. I was about to die. I finally got a ride home-"
"Who gave you a ride?"
"Paul Mahadey."
"Ah. Now tell me again about these stupid parties."
She laughed, "Well, first of all, the music was pointless..."
MONDAY, WHITLAND
Rory walked slowly to Erin's locker, looking up at her apologetically. She closed her locker, surprised to see Rory. "Do you know how often I apologize?" she asked.
"Not very often." Erin said.
"I'm sorry."
"You don't talk to me for almost two weeks, you chose the resident sluts and your enemies over your best friends, and now you expect me to talk to you and forgive you?"
"I was hoping." Rory said sheepishly.
"I swear to god, Lorelai Hayden, if you EVER do anything like that again I will NEVER forgive you!" Rory grimaced, looking down, Erin smirked, "Now that part's over, we can get back to the important things. Tell me, how much do their parties suck?" Rory laughed, and Natalie and Katie walked up nervously, not yet sure if the two girls had made peace. Erin looked at them, "I think we have her back." she said. The two looked at Rory who shrugged and nodded.
They smiled, "I think the last two weeks of school are going to be extremely fun." Natalie said as they started down the hall to homeroom.
LUNCH
Allie walked up to Rory, "Hey."
"Hey." Rory said, she couldn't just start being a bitch to Allie all of a sudden. That would be wrong.
"Aren't you going to sit with us?"
"No, actually. I'm sitting with Erin today."
"Oh." it was obvious she'd wanted to sit together, but not if Rory's old friends were involved. "Um...I guess I'll see you later."
"Bye." Rory walked to over to Erin, Katie, and Natalie and sat down.
"What was that?" Natalie asked, eyeing the other girls, who were obviously talking about them.
Rory shook her head, "Nothing. She just wanted to know if I was sitting with them or not."
"Are you still going to hang out with them?" Katie asked.
"God no. I have no idea how I lasted that long."
"Did you keep the same music?"
"Some. But I also listened to their music."
"So you're not just going to stop talking to them?" Katie asked.
"Don't you think that's wrong?"
"Not really. If you don't want to talk to them anymore then just don't. Do you?"
"No."
"Then don't."
Rory glanced at their table and saw that they were staring. She rolled her eyes, "Did I ever act like that?"
"No." all three said at once, and ended up laughing.
HAYDEN'S, AFTER SCHOOL
Rory sat in the living room, talking to Kaleb and Tray. They were trying to explain why it was funny to watch the football players practice. "They wear tights."
"It looks like they're doing ballet."
"They try to look all macho for the girls and cheerleaders."
"And they suck. They never win."
Rory laughed, "That is so cruel."
"But it's funny."
"And you know it's true."
"Yeah...but that doesn't mean I voice my opinion."
"Please, you voice your opinion whenever the hell you want to."
"So? That's not the point."
"Then what is?"
She sat still for a second, looking at them, "I don't know. I'm confused." The two boys burst into laugher, and it was like she'd never left.