Title: New Beginnings, Happier Endings
Summary: It's the end of Rory's sophomore year at college when she runs into an old friend.
Pairings: Luke/Loralie, Emily/Richard, Rory/Tristan, Tristan & Paris, Rory & Paris, Dean/Lindsay, Lane/Zach.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Rory groaned and rolled over onto her back when she heard her mom calling her name from only a few inches away from her ear. Rory opened her eyes and looked at her mother, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, grinning down at her daughter.
"Wake up. It's a long drive back to Yale," Loralie Gilmore said, an exciting expression on her face. Rory groaned and rolled her eyes. Her mother normally wouldn't be nearly this excited this early in the morning but she had a date. Luke was taking her on a little road trip. They we're going to visit his parents. Loralie had told Rory the day before that it meant that Luke definitely wanted their relationship to go to the next level. Rory had laughed because it was perfectly clear to everyone in Stars Hollow besides Loralie that Luke wanted to take the relationship to the next level and had since before he had ever even asked Loralie out.
Rory's thoughts we're interrupted when her mother leaned over her until her face was right in front of Rory's, completely blocking out the rest of what Rory would have seen otherwise. Rory sighed and set up.
"Fine, mom. I'll be ready in a few minutes," Rory replied, knowing that her mother could hear the cranky tone in her voice. Loralie smiled and walked back out into the kitchen and back to her coffee.
A few hours later, Loralie was walkingdown the sidewalk toward the building that Rory was staying in. Rory was walking beside her, her dorm key in one hand and a small duffel bag with the clothes she had taken home with her in the other. Loralie followed her daughter through the glass double doors and walked down the hall until they got to the dorm door. Rory turned to her mom and smiled at her.
"Well, this is it. I'll see you next Friday?" Rory asked even though she already knew the answer. She always saw her mother on Friday night along with both her grandparents for Friday night dinner. Loralie had finally made up with her mother, if only to help Rory keep her parents from fighting during dinner.
Rory hugged her mother and then stepped into the dorm. She shut the door behind her and turned around to see her friend, Paris making out with some guy with blonde hair on the couch. She cleared her throat loudly, making Paris jump suddenly. The boy sat up and ran his fingers through his hair before smiling, nervously at Rory.
"Hey, Rory," he said, trying to pretend like he hadn't just been caught doing somethinghe didn't really want to be caught doing.
"Hey Eric," Rory replied, smirking at him. Paris stood up, avoiding Rory's eyes.
"Call me later," Paris replied, grabbing Eric's shirt and pulling him up off the couch and shoving him toward the door. Rory held her laughter in because she knew it would piss Paris off if she laughed at her. Rory could tell Paris was already extremely embarrassed.
As soon as Eric was out in the hall Paris slammed the door and locked it. At that, Rory couldn't hold her laughter in anymore. She sat down on the couch and tried to stifle her laughter when Paris turned around toward her, glaring at her.
"He's just a friend," Paris replied, walking over to the couch and sitting down beside Rory.
"Friend with benefits," Rory whispered, giggling. Paris's face was turning redder by the minute. She glared at Rory once more. Rory glanced at her and smiled at her apologetically.
"I'm sorry," Rory said. Paris nodded and crossed her arms across her chest before turning to face Rory.
"How was your weekend? Did you see Dean?" Paris asked, smiling like nothing had happened. Rory sighed and nodded.
"Yeah. He was fixing a door for my mom at the inn. He's getting back together with Lindsay," Rory replied, unable to keep the pain from appearing in her eyes. Paris leaned forward and gave her a quick hug.
"Sorry," Paris said, quietly. Rory gave her a small smile and stared down at her hands that she had resting in her lap.
"It's okay," Rory said, "that's the way it should be." Paris nodded and stood up, grabbing Rory's hand and pulling her to her feet.
"Let's go get some ice cream, play laser tag and make fun of the freshmen," Paris said, smiling. Rory laughed and stood up reluctantly. Anything to take her mind off Dean.