AN: Thanks for all the reviews, they mean a lot! To answer your questions, this will be a trory but it will take a while to get there. Hope you enjoy this chapter!


Rory walked into the building like she owned it, as if she belonged there, something she had learned how to do from a young age. Her father ambled along beside her, reminiscing about his old days at Chilton and the great times that he had had there. Rory knew that when he mentioned this, he was thinking about her mom and the circumstances surrounding her birth, but she chose to remain oblivious and act like he was talking about parties and friends.

After years of changing schools, Rory knew how to fit in. Her skirt was rolled up enough so that it showed a little thigh, but not high enough to look tacky. She wore the white blouse with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows and was carrying her thin, navy sweater. She had replaced the knee-high socks with fishnet stockings and was wearing her hair down and minimal make-up. Today was all about first impressions, and Hayden's always impressed.

Ignoring the stares from the plaid adorned students, Chris and Rory made their way towards the Headmaster's office after getting directions from a passing teacher. Chris straightened his tie and jacket nervously as they made their way down the stairs, uneasily remembering all the times that he had spent in that same office for reasons other than administrative details.

"Ready for this, Ror?" He grinned, smirking slightly as he gazed down at his daughter, ignoring the fact that his nerves were showing more than hers.

"I was born ready." She smirked, tossing her head arrogantly.

"Wow, talk about being corny and cliché."

"I try."

They laughed, even though it wasn't all that funny, eager to disperse the tension that had somehow gathered as they made their way through the halls. Soon they reached the door that had a bronze plaque reading 'Headmaster Charleston's Office' on it.

"I wonder whether the first Headmaster was named Charleston and then the rest of them were too lazy to change the plaque so they changed their name instead," Chris whispered to his daughter as they stood outside of the wooden door.

Rory swatted her father's arm whispering, "Shhh," and giggling.

The tension now dissolved, she reached for the door handle and twisted it, wincing as the door creaked. She stepped inside, seeing only a desk, some chairs and an old lady typing on a type-writer behind the desk. Exchanging a weary look with Chris who had walked in after her, the two of them stepped so that they were in front of the desk.

"Hi?" Chris half asked after a moment of silence where the lady didn't look up. He cleared his throat before plowing on. "I'm Christopher Hayden and this is my daughter Lorelai. We're here to see the Headmaster for my daughter's registration."

The lady finally looked up from what she was typing and scowled, waving a hand towards the door behind the father-daughter duo impatiently.

"Yes, yes I know. The Headmaster will see you now, go on in."

Chris and Rory looked at each other and, as one, turned towards the door behind them. They had not even taken a step before the typing resumed.

"Not very welcoming here are they?" Rory asked her voice low.

Chris rolled his eyes. "This is Chilton. This school was designed to intimidate people"

They opened the door to the Headmaster's office and were not surprised to see him sitting behind a grand desk looking regal. He rose as they entered and spread his hands in a welcoming gesture.

"Christopher Hayden, it has been years." He paused but before Chris could say anything he continued. "And this must be young Lorelai, the newest addition to our school."

Rory resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the obvious statement and settled on smiling sweetly at the man in front of her. Once the introductions were done, her father was dismissed, leaving her with a pat on the back and a "knock 'em dead, kiddo."

"Now let's see here Ms Hayden. According to your records, you have attended 11 schools since grade eight and you have gotten expelled from three of them. Care to explain?"

Rory shrugged. "We move around a lot."

"I see and being expelled was a mistake, I assume?"

"There were misunderstandings, yes." Her smile was so sweet it was rotting her teeth.

"Hmmm," his tone was doubtful and disapproving. He continued to go over her academic records and past accomplishments. Eventually he looked up from his paper and leaned back in his seat, folding his hands.

"We at Chilton do not accept misbehavior or disrespect, Ms Hayden. I understand that you have a prominent last name and know that you have become accustomed to getting what you want because of it, but know that that is not the way that things work here at Chilton. Chilton runs on academic achievement and overall excellence. You will get no special treatment. Understood?"

She nodded her head because it was expected, although both she and the Headmaster knew that those who came from "good" families got away with a lot more than those who were there on scholarship. That was the way that the world worked and, therefore, was the way that Chilton worked.

It seemed like hours later that she was dismissed from Headmaster Charleston's office, although by looking at the clock it had only been twenty minutes. After a quick visit to the administrative office, she had her schedule, locker number, words to the school song and her student number clutched in her hand. She looked at the clock hanging on the wall and at all the students milling around and realized that she had a good 15 minutes before she was expected at her first class. She wandered down the hall, intent on finding her locker before class began.

Glaring at the piece of paper with her locker number written on it, she surveyed the lockers in front of her and concluded that her locker was not among them. Moving on to the next row, she realized that if she didn't find her locker soon she would have to go straight to her first class becauseshe would have to find it first.

"Looking for something?" This came from a guy a little taller than Rory with dark hair and dark eyes.

Rory didn't say anything, merely held the piece of paper up so he could read it.

"Oh," he smirked. "So you're new here?"

"Nope," she replied deadpan. "I've been here every year since grade eight but you've never seen me before and I'm so stupid that I forgot how to get to my locker."

He stared at her a moment before laughing. "Stupid questions get stupid answers, I suppose. Anyway, your locker is next to my girlfriend's. I'll show you."

Rory genuinely smiled before saying, "Thanks, I appreciate it. I'm Rory by the way."

"Alex," he tossed over his shoulder, already heading down the hall. "Now c'mon you don't want to be late on your first day." He paused. "Well actually you might, it would make the day go by quicker."

She shook her head and followed him down the hall, ignoring the curious looks that were being thrown her way. After being the new girl so many times in her life she had learned to ignore it and go with the flow.

Finally Alex came to a stop in front of a row of lockers and gestured towards one.

"This is it. I'd love to stay but you know how it is; people to see, things to do."

Rory smirked, "Are you sure it's not the opposite?" She paused then continued without waiting for a response. "Thanks."

"No problem, good deed for the day and all that," he smirked and took off down the hall, stopping to whisper something in a blonde's ear. She turned and looked down the hall at Rory who was trying to open her locking without having much success.

She arrived to see Rory cursing the locker and promising it eternal damnation if it didn't open.

"Having difficulties?" She smirked at Rory who grunted in surprise as the locker finally swung open.

"Not anymore," she replied, piling her books into the metal compartment, keeping one out for her first class.

"I'm Abby," the mysterious girl said. "Alex told me that you might need help with getting to class and stuff and since my locker is right beside yours, I figured it would be convenient."

"Rory and you're Alex's girlfriend?"

"Going on two months. Anyway, you have…" She paused for a moment to look at the schedule that Rory handed her. "English. Okay you go that way and to the left and it'll be the second door on your right." She pointed down the hall, her bracelets clinking together with every move.

"Okay, thanks," Rory said, gathering up her notebook and heading off down the hall, aware that the bell was about to go any minute.

She arrived at her class with a moment to spare and was mildly surprised at the amount of students already in their seats. Handing the teacher the note that she had received from the secretary, she stayed standing at the front of the class, well aware that all eyes were on her. Finally the bell rang and the last students scrambled in and took their seats. The teacher, who introduced herself to Rory as Mrs. Marks moved to stand in front of the class.

"Okay, okay settle down." There was no need to say this as everyone in the room was completely focused on the new girl in front of them. "We have a new student today. Her name is Lorelai Hayden and I expect that each of you will make her feel welcome."

The boys smirked at this, while the girls rolled their eyes.

"Now," Mrs. Marks continued, oblivious, "is there anything you would like to tell us about yourself, Ms Hayden? This will count as an oral mark for talking in front of the class."

Rory sighed at this. She hated these stupid 'explain your life story to a bunch of people who don't care' things.

"Okay, my name is Lorelai Hayden but I go by Rory. I just moved here from Seattle and before that I lived in California."

"Anything else?" The teacher frowned.

Rory shrugged. "Nope."

"Very well then, sit down."

Rory appraised the class until she found an empty sit, which she gracefully slid into. Opening her notebook, she positioned her pen over her paper, acting like she was about to take notes and reveled in the scowl that a girl sitting nearby sent to her after the teacher gave her a pleased smile.

Before she knew it, class was over and she was making her way out the door, empty notebook in hand. She had spent the majority of class contemplating life in general and then she moved onto worrying about Logan. He seemed to be close to getting expelled again and his father would not be happy.

She was so deep in thought that she was surprised when the girl who had scowled at her in class was suddenly in her face.

"Give some warning next time," Rory complained sourly.

"Are you going out for the school paper?" The girl asked, ignoring Rory. "Because I'm the editor this year and we don't need you."

Rory smirked. "Shucks and there go all of my plans 'cause you know that it was my goal this morning to declare anarchy and kick the editor of the school paper to the curb. But you caught me just in time. Shame really, all my plans down the drain." She paused a moment, sighing dramatically. "If you'll excuse me."

She flounced down the hall, laughing inwardly at the look on the girl's face. Maybe this school wouldn't be so bad after all.