Rating: Teen, for implied sexual situations including rape and situations involving the tragic disorders of anorexia nervosa and bulimia
Summary: There are two tragedies in life. One is to lose your heart's desire. The other is to gain it. AU Trory.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the idea for this story and any characters not recognized. All else is the property of Amy Sherman-Palladino. The quote in the summary is by George Bernard Shaw. "Time" belongs to Chantal Kreviazuk.
Author's Note: Thanks so much for your reviews. Okay, there's a time jump. It is now senior year (Rory left near the end of sophomore year). Rory is returning to Chilton as a changed person (she still lives with Luke -- full explanation in the chapter). No one knows but Paris, Madeline and Louise. Lorelai and Chris are no longer together, but Emily and Richard are more understanding. Lorelai still lives in Hartford, and is now Lorelai Gilmore (Rory is now Rory Gilmore), but in the same neighborhood as her parents. Surprises are in store for Tristin now that Rory is back. BTW, this is a Trory, just with a little twist!
Chapter 8: Time
"So, kid, you excited?" Luke asked.
Rory shrugged. "Kind of. I mean, I'm going back to my old stomping grounds, but I'm going to miss Stars Hollow High."
Luke nodded. "That's a given."
"Hey, smarty," Jess greeted her as she walked downstairs in her uniform. "I'm picking you up from school, right?"
"Yeah," Rory replied. "But tomorrow Logan is, okay?"
"Sure," Jess said, smirking.
"Oh my gosh, we've been over this," Rory cried. "Logan and I are dating, Jess. It's a given he'll be picking me up. I don't know why every time I mention him you start smiling like a school girl."
Jess smiled sweetly at Rory. "It's just so sweet. You kids."
Rory smiled at Jess. "Okay, I have to go. Since Logan is taking me to school and all. See you after school."
"Bye," Jess replied. "Say hi to Logan for me."
Rory rolled her eyes as she walked out of the diner and over to the bench with Logan. "Hey."
Logan smiled at her. "Hello, Ms. Gilmore. Can I carry your books for you?"
"Can you carry them for two steps to your car and then hand them back?" Rory asked. "Sure."
Logan laughed. "You're a good one, Ace."
"Thank you," Rory responded. "By the way, Jess is picking me up today. You can pick me up tomorrow."
Logan shook his head and smiled. "Thanks for informing me. Jess has already told me that, oh, a dozen times."
Rory smiled as Logan opened her door for her. "Thank you, sir."
Logan kissed her. "No problem, ma'am."
Paris, Madeline and Louise stood outside of Chilton that morning giggling and smiling at one another. Their ringleader was coming back for her last year of high school. And she was herself again.
They saw a car round the corner and stop in front of the courtyard. Then, they saw a tall brunette get out of the car. They saw her kiss the driver and make her way over to them.
"Rory!" Madeline squealed.
Rory smiled. "Girls!"
Paris, Louise and Madeline nearly sprinted over to Rory. She grabbed them all into a hug, and they did the same.
"It's so great to see you guys," Rory said.
"I know," Paris responded. "I mean, that weekend in Stars Hollow last year was fun…"
Louise smiled. "And those two weeks this past summer were awesome…"
"We missed you, Rory," Madeline interjected.
Rory smiled and hugged her friends again. "I missed you."
"So, ready for class?" Louise asked.
Rory nodded. "I sure am."
"Good," Paris said. "Because you, my friend, are going to be the story of the day here."
"You've grown a good three inches," Madeline stated. "You've filled out a lot…"
"And you're unavailable," Louise finished. "Makes you the prime target."
"Want to protect me?" Rory asked Paris.
"Of course," Paris replied. "I'll make sure everyone knows about Mr. Huntzberger. Will he be picking you up today?"
Rory shook her head. "No, Jess wants to. He's so twisted."
"How's your mom?" Louise asked.
"She's good, actually," Rory answered. "She's opening up an inn, and my grandparents are helping out with that."
"I she dating anyone?" Madeline asked.
"No," Rory said as they walked into the school.
"And why are you still in Stars Hollow?" Louise asked.
Rory shrugged. "I really like it there. It's a small town, and a lot of my other friends live there. It makes sense to stay there. Luke is always at the diner, unlike mom, who'll have to be gone most of the time. Luke keeps an eye on me to make sure I still eat."
The three girls looked at her and she sighed. "Which I do."
They smiled at her as they walked to Rory's locker, which was decorated with silver curly string and glitter letters that spelled out 'WELCOME BACK RORY!'.
"Oh, my gosh," Rory said. "I can't believe you did this."
Paris smiled. "Our girl's back for senior year."
"And so is our boy," Louise stated, looking down the hall.
Rory followed her gaze to Tristin. "What do you mean?"
"He was sent off to military school last year," Madeline said.
"I guess it worked out well for him," Louise added. "Check out those arms."
Rory and Tristin made eye contact. She looked away quickly and took Paris with her as she walked down the hall.
"Rory?" Paris asked. "Rory."
Rory led Paris to their first class of the day. Paris sat beside her, staring intently at her friend.
"I haven't seen him since three weeks after I left," Rory said. "He gave me a rose."
"The rose we saw in your room," Paris stated.
Rory nodded. "Yeah."
"Well, you have to coexist with him," Paris said. "Maybe not be as close as you used to be, but you have to deal with the fact that he's here."
"I know," Rory said. "I know."
"Welcome back, Ms. Gilmore," Ms. Rinald greeted.
Rory smiled at her speech teacher. "Hello, Ms. Rinald."
"I see you're still the first in the class," Ms. Rinald said.
Rory nodded. "Yeah, I still am."
Ms. Rinald eyed Rory. "Good luck this year."
Rory smiled again. "Thank you."
"Well, it seems we have a few 'welcome backs' to pass out," Ms. Rinald said at the sound of the bell. "Rory Gilmore and Tristin DuGrey. Nice of you to join us, Mr. DuGrey."
Rory saw Tristin walk into the class. He looked at her, but looked away quickly.
"Just modifying my uniform, Ms. R," Tristin responded. "Tie's too tight."
The teacher rolled her eyes. "Welcome back -- both of you."
Rory smiled at the teacher and got out her pencil and notebook.
"Okay, today we'll be analyzing a quote by George Bernard Shaw. Some of you may recognize it from your sophomore year. Today, however, we will carry out a deeper analysis. Dig deep people, and put together a speech telling me whether or not you agree with this quote."
Rory looked up at the board. The one quote that brought everything back to her. She smiled as she began to write her outline for the speech.
Rory walked outside at the end of the day by herself. She didn't see Jess, but Logan standing at the gate waiting for her.
"Well, hello, Logan," Rory greeted. "What a surprise."
"I convinced Jess to let me pick you up today," Logan replied. "How are you?"
"Better now," Rory responded.
Logan wrapped his arms around her waist. "Really?"
"Maybe not so much," Rory answered coyly. "I may need you to perform an emergency kiss operation."
Logan smiled as his lips descended on Rory's. Rory brought herself closer to him.
Tristin watched the exchange with a sad expression. Paris, Madeline and Louise saw him walk away from his position -- a mere three feet -- from them.
Paris sighed. "Look forward to a year of drama."
"Amen," Louise and Madeline said.
They watched as Rory got into the car with Logan, and as Tristin made his way back inside the school grounds over to Duncan and Bowman.
Tristin sighed as he saw them drive away. Rory was back, and he hadn't known about it. She had a boyfriend, another fact of which he was clueless. He made his way over to Duncan and Bowman. He needed to get this girl off his mind.