Title: Nothing Stays the Same
Rated: T
Summary: They were all friends in high school until they left for college leaving the only girl in their group behind. She never knew which college they went too, because communication between them ended, that is until she ends up an Ivy League school and gets thrown back into the midst of their small group that isn't so small anymore.

Comments: (Edited) I've changed the pairrings in this story. Unfortunately, I've decided that I'm not that huge of a fan of trory's as I was a few months ago. So, this story is now a Rogan, Finn/OC, and Colin/Steph.

Enjoy.

Prologue
(2003)

Three teenagers walked into the lunchroom with food and books in hand. Across the room at their usual table sat a brunette none of them had seen before. She barely noticed them as they sat down at the table; she was focused on her novel. The tanner of the three males reached over and snatched the book from her. He gazed at the title 'Hamlet' and looked at his friends. The girl only looked at her empty hands for a moment before she finally looked at up.

"Doesn't matter, the book was boring anyway," came the words in her English accented voice.

The only blond smiled, "You new?"

"To the United States, no. To this school, yes." She hesitated and then stuck her hand out, "Ellie Pyror."

"Finnigan Rothschild," said the tanned male as he shook her hand and gave back her book. "But, you love, can call me Finn." She smiled at the Australian lit in his voice.

The male next to him on the left finally spoke, "Colin McRae."

"Logan Huntzberger," said the blond. "What grade are you in?"

"I'm a freshman," she said with a roll of her eyes.

Colin smirked, "We're juniors."

"Good for you," she remarked dryly. "So, I guess that I should maybe sit with people in my own age group?"

Finn smiled, "Now, now love. Stay and get horribly drunk with us."

She blinked, "Not only is it noon, but we're in school: Are you crazy?"

"Just go with it Ellie," Logan responded quickly.

"So where are you from?" Finn asked as he shifted closer to her. "I'm Exotic."

(2004)

"I'm sorry I won't be there to see you off," Ellie whispered she hugged Logan. "I'm going to miss you."

He smiled at her softly as he returned the hug. Finally she pulled away from him and stepped over to Colin who was next in line. They hugged and he whispered something into her ear which made her smile and laugh. She stepped away from them and gave Finn a wave; he was preoccupied with a redhead flight attendant. An older male called her name and with a final look at them she turned on her heel and ran to her awaiting guardian.

"Things won't be the same without her," Colin commented as they watched her board the plane.

Finn nodded his consent at that and they all waited until her plane left before they headed home. There was a party they needed to get too. But the whole night they were all thinking of the rest of their lives. Ellie on the plane thinking of her future in London and if she would ever get back to her friends. Logan, Colin, and Finn were thinking more of how much fun they would have in college; even if a crucial part of their group was missing.

Chapter One
(2007)

The girl slid from her bed at the sound of hurried knocking on the door. A glance at the clock on her nightstand told her it was only quarter passed eight; she had gone to bed at four. She tugged her robe from the end of bed and pulled it on as she walked across the large loft-style apartment and opened the door. Outside stood a shaking blue eyed female. Without a word the loft owner stepped back and let the girl in.

"Sit down, I'll get you some coffee."

The blue eyed female shook her head, "No thanks."

"Did you just turn down coffee?" She turned to look at her friend. "That's unheard of with a Gilmore Girl; what about the rule book?"

"Ellie, please. I just need to talk someone and Paris is with Doyle, Stephanie is with her friends; I just need someone to be there for me and well, you're my cousin so I figure-"

"-Say no more Bambi," Ellie said as she motioned towards the couch. "Now, if you don't want coffee you have to at least let me have some. I only got four hours of sleep before you showed up."

A few minutes later Ellie came back into the living room where Rory was just sitting silently on the black leather couch. She sighed and set down the two mugs of coffee on the table. She picked one up and pushed the other towards Rory. Even if she said she didn't want coffee she would soon enough. Ellie took a sip of the dark liquid and then turned to face Rory as best as she could since they were both on the couch.

"So what's wrong? It must be something if you can't talk to Auntie Lorelai about it."

"I'm afraid she'll be disappointed in me," Rory whispered.

Ellie frowned, "About what?"

"She took me away from society; she didn't want me corrupted by all of it. But now I'm falling back into society and I don't just mean the D.A.R. I'm talking about actually embracing the fact that I'm Hartford Society."

"Rory, she won't disappointed in you. Would she have let you hang out with me and go to Chilton if she didn't think it would change you? You're still Rory, Lorelai's little Rory."

"But Ellie-"

"-Rory, Lorelai will understand. You're a part of society, she knows that. You aren't like everyone else. You want to work and you don't want to be a trophy wife. All of that matters. She won't be disappointed just because you finally got together with someone you love."

Rory looked at Ellie in shock, "How did you know?"

"Oh please Rory, have you looked at yourself in the mirror at all today? You have a hickey on your neck that just screams 'I made out with bible boy'."

"Maybe your right."

"Good, now drink that coffee before I steal it from you."

Rory laughed and picked up the coffee. Ellie had already finished her and so she stood up and made her way into her room where she yanked off her night clothes and dressed in a brown skirt, a green t-shirt, and brown flip flops. As she walked back to join Rory she grabbed her purse and the phone off her charger. She set everything down on the coffee table and pulled her hair up into a pony-tail.

"Come on Rory, we'll stop at Starbucks on the way."

"Where are we going?" Rory asked as she allowed herself to be dragged out of the room.

"To Stars Hollow, you need to talk to your mom and I need some of Luke's coffee. Then we're going to the pub."

--

"Fruit of my loins," Lorelai shouted as Rory and Ellie walked into Luke's diner an hour later.

Ellie made a face, "I hope that wasn't directed at me Auntie Lorelai." She smiled at Luke, "Hey Luke, can I please have one your amazing cups of coffee?"

He passed off a mug of coffee to her and she sighed as she inhaled the drink quickly. Luke only shook his head and handed Rory a mug of coffee also, which she inhaled faster then Ellie had. With a smile Ellie watched as Rory pleaded for more coffee which Luke wasn't going to give her. Lorelai looked over at her niece and Ellie rubbed her neck and motioned towards Rory. Lorelai caught on quickly and looked at the left side of her daughter's neck. She smiled in her Lorelai knows everything way and Ellie mouthed Tristan which had Lorelai smiling even more.

"Who's the lucky guy?"

"What are you talking about mom?"

Lorelai rolled her eyes, "Who gave my daughter the hickey on her neck?" Rory mumbled something under breath and Lorelai smiled, "I'm sorry, who?"

"Tristan," Rory practically shouted.

"Finally," Lorelai said with a smile.

"Your not mad?" Rory asked her mother softly.

"What do I have to be mad about?"

Rory looked down, "He's society mom. You hate society."

"I don't hate society; I hate my parents. They are two different things. Without society I wouldn't have had you and you wouldn't be going to Yale. Hell you wouldn't even have your cousin Ellie." Ellie rolled her eyes. "There are some good things that came from society."

"I'm sorry Mom."

Lorelai smiled, "So tell me about last night."

--

Hours later Rory and Ellie walked into the crowded pub; it seemed like everyone on campus was here. It was Rory's first time in the pub; Ellie had been before during her Freshman year but after that she started having parties in her dorm room. This year instead of going to the pub everyone hanged out in her apartment and got drunk. Rory noticed an empty table first and she dragged Ellie towards it before anyone else could snag it. She was happier then she had been this morning and the Gilmore Movie fest probably had something to do with; Ellie was still feeling the effects of a sugar coma. As they passed by a crowded table Ellie paused for a moment when she thought she recognized one of their voices; but just as quickly she shook it off and went to sit down at the table Rory had snagged.

"That was the best day ever," Rory said excited. "I'm so glad you dragged me to see my mom today. It really helped."

"That's good because Tristan is coming this way," Ellie informed her.

He smiled at them when he sat down, "I didn't know you guys were going to be here. I went by your dorm Mary, and your apartment El, but you guys weren't there. Your doorman," he directed this at Ellie, "said something about you talking about the pub. I thought he was crazy."

"But as you figured out, he's not," Ellie pointed out and then stood. "I'm going to get something from the bar. Do you guys want anything? I'll buy the first round." She glared at Rory, "And coffee doesn't count."

"Apple Margarita," Rory shot back just as fast.

Tristan smiled, "I trust your judgement to get me something manly enough."

She rolled her eyes and walked off into the throng of people to find the bar and get their drinks. For a few minutes Rory and Tristan said nothing to each other, it was just silence until Rory looked up and saw Tristan watching her; in particular he was looking at the hickey he had left, or at least what could be seen of the things under all the makeup.

"I had a great time last night Tristan," She said softly.

"I did too Mary, we'll have to do it again sometime. How does this weekend sound?" He smiled at her.

"Are you asking me out on a date?"

"Of course I am Mary," He moved so he was sitting in Ellie's vacated seat. "So will you go out with me this weekend?"

She smiled, "I'd be glad to go out with you Bible Boy."

"Great, then Saturday night at Six? I know Friday you have that dinner with your Grandparents." He smiled thoughtfully, "I know this great restaurant we can go too."

She leaned across the table and kissed him on the nose, "Leave the restaurant for another time. We'll just do a movie night, sans the Gilmore way; you're not ready for that yet. But we can still order out from this great Italian place, maybe get some Chinese, and watch some movies." She held her hands in plain view, "I promise no sappy romance movies."

"You've got a deal Mary." He looked around, "How long does it take to get a drink?"

"She probably saw someone she knew and they're talking."

"Well then Mary, will you dance with me?"

She blushed and took his hand as he stood, "You really aren't acting like yourself Bible Boy. Is something wrong?"

"I can't dance with a beautiful woman and ask her out on a date?" He asked defensively.

"Tristan, no need to get defensive. I'm just stating a fact." She smiled charmingly, "Let's dance or do you not want to anymore?"

He smiled, "Let's dance Mary."

"How about a compromise. I stop calling you Bible Boy and you stop calling me Mary?"

"Not gonna happen."

She shrugged, "Thought I'd try anyway."

The Trory stuff won't last very long; probably until the fifth chapter. Then after that, rogan here we come.