A/N: I love reviewers. I don't know If I've made that clear, but I just want everyone to know that I'm so uber-appreciative of all your comments that it isn't even funny. Well, maybe a little comical. This
Chapter Eight- Welocme to Stars Hollow
Newly cleansed and happy, Rory made her way to the phone.
"Zach." was the grumpy greeting on the other end.
"Is Lane in the vicinity?" Rory asked.
"I don't know. I don't freaking care I-"
"Zach, is that for me?"
"God, Lane, how many times do we have to tell you not everything is about you!"
"It's Rory, isn't it?" Rory heard Lane say calmly.
"No, it's- it's Georgia, one of my fans. SHE thinks that the band was GREAT last night without you-"
"That's nice." Lane snatched the phone, interrupting Zach's rant. "Rory!"
"Lane!" Rory squealed. "You didn't call me!"
"I know, I know, I meant to, but Zach... Ugh." Lane said in frustration.
"You should really get your own cell phone," Rory advised.
"Well, when we got this one, we thought it'd work because then we could each use it and we'de split the cost, we didn't incorporate the idea of fights."
"Yeah, you want to tell me what that was about? It sounded ugly."
"It was about Zach being a control freak. Again. I wasn't feeling well last night, I had to stay in bed, they had to find a last-minute, no-talent substitute and Zach's totally annoyed."
"You would think he'd chill, seeing as how he didn't like the idea of touring in the first place." Rory said mildly.
"Ah, well. Zach is all about the music."
"It's why you love 'im." Rory reminded her.
"Ah, that it is. So, anything new in Stars Hollow?" Lane asked with interest.
"Well, no really big gossip, but, um, Tristan, an old friend of mine from Chilton moved here,"
"Um, on what alternate plane could that not be considered big?" Lane asked excitedly. "You were in love with him!"
"I was not in love with him!" Rory said in annoyance.
"You were so." Lane persisted unfazed.
"We were just friends. Not even friends at first, as you'll remember."
"Denial doesn't suit you, Rory." Lane admonished her.
"Uh huh. I'm going to hang up now."
"Okay. Tell Luke and Lorelai and Mama I said hi,"
"Will do." Rory said, perfectly friendly once more.
"And tell Tristan I said hi!" Lane called.
"Totally. He has no idea who you are, but I think the thought is really what counts here." She heard Lane laughing as she clicked off the phone. She smiled to herself and called the number next door.
"Babette?" She asked when someone picked up the phone. "Hey, Rory! Can I do somethin' for ya?"
Rory took a deep breath, knowing she was taking a risk, but she needed a number and she didn't think she could find the apartment again.
"I need a number," she said, stalling. "Tristan DuGrey's number."
"Oh! The new kid! Yeah, I have it written down somewhere, Patty just gave it to me yesterday, in fact. He's a peice of art, that Tristan babe, ain't he?"
"Oh, yeah, um. Definately Picasso-esque." Rory said awkwardly. Babette gave her the number.
"You two have fun now," Babette said mischeiviously. Rory knew that this little favor was not going to slide by Babette's gossip radar. She called Tristan.
"Hullo?" Tristan answered solemnly.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Rory asked with concern.
"Rory? How'd you get my number?" He asked, avoiding her question. Rory couldn't help but wonder if he did that on purpose.
"Um. First off I'm sorry. And second off, well, you're now officially a citizen of Stars Hollow." Rory said, wincing, thinking about the conversation that was probably being held between Babette and Miss Patty at the moment.
"Um. What?" Tristan asked, for the second time in one day failing to follow rory's pattern of logic.
"Maybe I can explain it over coffee?" Rory asked hesitantly.
"Sure." He said.
"Luke's in half an hour?"
"A diner?"
"Don't mock. Luke has the world's best coffee. And he's my step-father," Rory added.
"Oh. Sorry." Tristan said, figuring her insulted her.
"I'll forgive you if you agree to meet me there," Rory told him, sounding more flirtatious than she'd meant to.
"All right." Tristan agreed, a familiar laughing edge back in his voice suddenly.
"See you in a bit!" Rory said, hanging up suddenly, leaving Tristan to stare bemusedly at the phone.
"My clothes!" Rory said unhappily, racing to the door of her mother's home. How could she have forgotten al her clothes were at the apartment? So in her mother's old Bangles t-shirt and a pair of jeans that she had last worn, maybe when she was seventeen, she raced to the diner to change, not caring about town gossips. She was already the Topic of the Day, so what was a little bit more talk?
As she ripped up to the apartment, she said hullo to Luke and Lorelai, the only people in the diner.
"What to wear..." she said, bemused.
"Where's the fire?" Lorelai asked, coming in the room.
"Tristan's coming. I need clothes."
"What about your brown sweater? It's nice."
"Brown sweater? That's a good idea! And... let's see... These?" Rory asked, holding up a pair of jeans.
"Yeah, why not?" Lorelai said as Rory went to the bathroom to change.
"Amazing how I needed your help to pick out the world's most basic outfit ever." Rory mused a few minutes later, coming out. Lorelai, however was not there.
Rory sighed. Taking a deep breath, she headed downstairs. Tristan was there.
"Here we go."
Chapter Eight- Official
"I'm liking this whole change of status here." Terrance told her happily.
"Yeah?" Sarah said, just as happily.
"Yep." He clairified. She smiled. "You know, we probably should try reading that play-thingy again."
"Probably." Sarah agreed.
"We could try tonight, your house?" Terrance asked.
"Yeah, sure. But, you have to promise me we'll actually study. I can't let my grades slip. I'm trying to get into a good college."
"I'll do what I can." Terrance said mildly. "See ya later, Javerson."
"Wait, where are you going?" Sarah said sadly. Terrance grinned and gave her a quick kiss. "My whole world can't revolve around you, y'know. I've got classes to skip,"
"Let me come!" Sarah pleaded.
"What happened to not letting grades slip?" Terrance asked with raised eyebrows.
"Ah, to hell with school." Sarah said with a giggle. They both knew she wouldn't really skip class.
"See ya, Javerson." Terrance said with a wink. Sarah grinned and went to her next class.
"Oh, look. The backstabber." Leslie said as she sat down.
"Get over yourself, Leslie." Sarah said coolly.
"You're one to talk. Breaking up not one, but two great relationships for your own sake." said Leslie.
"Actually, you might think of it as creating two new relationships and ending two old ones that never would have worked," Sarah pointed out.
"Oh, whatever. Russel and I would've gone the whole way, and you know it." Leslie said bitterly.
"Not if he was pining for another woman." Sarah reminded her.
"He was not pining," Leslie spat.
"I'm sorry, isn't that what you call it when someone yearns intensely and persistently, especially for something seemingly unattainable?" Sarah replied, sounding a lot more cold than she had intended.
"Oh, don't you start with me!" Squealed an anguished Leslie.
"You started with me!" Sarah exclaimed.
"You think you're Miss Perfect, but hey! Maybe you're the one who messed up!"
"Enough!" Called the teacher. Had the bell rung already?
"Back to your seats! Another outburst from either of you, and it's straight off to the Headmaster's office!"
"Yes ma'am." The both replied sullenly in unison.
This was, Sarah realized, officially a new chapter in her life.
