You got lost for a while
You've been trying to find a smile
You got stood up then you fell down
And when you needed, there was no one around
You loved the previews and hate the movie
Scream at the screen 'Something move me'
Before you start to fade away
Paris sat across from Rory at lunch, "Okay, spill."
She looked up, "What?"
"What's up with you, and where the hell is Tristan?"
Rory tilted her head, "Why are you asking me this?"
"Because," Paris stood and walked over to the other side of the table, sitting next to her friend. "It's the first week back from winter break, so report cards will be mailed on Friday. I was one of the people picked to help with getting them out, and I was looking through the list of people who would be getting them, but Tristan's name wasn't on there. Now, I know when something is going on. Tristan has been acting weird for weeks, we come back to school, he's not here, and you're hurt. Now are you going to tell me or not?"
She sat for a moment in silence, "Well, when you put it that way..." she said sarcastically.
"I'm serious. What the hell is going on?" Rory just shook her head, looking down at her hands, and Paris's voice softened, "Rory, come on." She looked back up at her, her eyes glistening with tears. Paris put a hand to her chest, "Oh my God, he's okay, isn't he?"
She shrugged, "As far as I know."
"Oh." her hand fell and her voice lost it's soft quality, "Then what is it?"
Rory didn't look at her, "I don't know."
"What? You were just crying and you don't know why?"
"He left."
Paris looked utterly confused, "What do you mean, he left?"
"I mean he's gone. He broke up with me. He's in military school in North Carolina."
Paris's eyes were wide, "What? Why?"
"I just told you I don't know."
Her head cocked back, "Did you just say that he broke up with you?"
Rory bit her bottom lip, "Yeah."
She looked as if she'd just been told the earth stopped rotating, "You're kidding, right? I mean, Tristan didn't break up with you, did he?"
Rory sniffed lightly, turning to face Paris sharply, "Do I look like I'm kidding?"
Her eyes were still wide, and she shook her head, "He's gone?" she asked quietly.
Rory nodded, looking down at her hands, "Yes. He's gone."
Paris looked down, "He never even said goodbye." she whispered.
"He didn't tell me until three hours before he left. But he wouldn't tell me why he was sent there." she said quietly before standing quickly and leaving the cafeteria. Paris watched her go, swallowing the lump in her throat. Tristan was gone.
NEXT WEEK
Rory sat in her second class, watching the teacher with glazed over eyes when the door opened. She looked up with the rest of the class and was surprised when a tall boy that she'd never seen before waltz in. She looked down at her paper, rolling her eyes. He was so over confident. He handed the teacher his slip of paper, and she slipped her glasses down her nose slightly, "Mr. Hart, is it?"
He smirked lightly, "Yes ma'am, it is."
"How nice. Please take a seat." He raised his gaze to the class, whom for the most part were glancing between him and their work. Of course, Rory wouldn't know that, considering she wasn't paying any attention to him. And so, he walked over and placed himself in the seat next to her. A few of the girls rolled their eyes in disappointment, muttering under their breath about how Rory always seemed to get the best guys, while others raised their eyebrows, wondering what was going to come out of this. By now everyone knew that Tristan was gone, but no one knew why. They were all walking on eggshells around her and she was tired of it.
She glanced over at him, and he smiled cockily, "Hey, I'm Adam."
She nodded, looking back at her paper, "Rory."
He watched her, his head tilted, "How long have you gone to Chilton?"
She didn't look up at him, "This is my first year."
"Really?"
She was trying to ignore him, but he didn't seem to get the point, "Yep."
They were in silence for a little while, the only sound was pencils scratching on paper, "You like it here?" he whispered, leaning closer
She still didn't spare him a glance, "Not at the moment."
"Where did you go before?"
"Stars Hollow High."
He nodded, "Did you like it there?"
Rory turned to look at him sharply, "Do you have a fear of silence or something?"
He grinned at having gotten her to look up at him, "At the moment? Maybe."
She rolled her eyes, a disgusted look in her face as she turned back to her paper. "Don't talk to me."
"You're in a good mood." She ignored him, focusing on her work. Why wouldn't he leave her alone? Did she just attract jerks? He was still staring at her and she knew it.
Adam watched her work, he'd annoyed her, and thought it was immensely funny. She intrigued him. And really didn't like him. He'd only known her for ten minutes and she'd flat out told him to leave her alone. That was new. He grinned as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She could be fun. There was something about her...he couldn't place it. It wasn't purity, but it might have been a slight innocence. She looked unhappy, and considering he'd just walked in, it was obvious. He glanced around him and noticed a guy sitting behind Rory glaring at him. Was that the boyfriend or something? The guy said something to Rory quietly and he heard her call him Baker. Maybe he wasn't her boyfriend, they didn't act like it, at least. The door opened again and a blonde girl walked in, looking at Rory and Baker, widening her eyes in silent communication. The two who were sitting smiled. The girl handed a slip of paper to the teacher, who nodded. She started to make her way over to them, but stopped when she saw him, looking him up and down uncertainly.
She slid into the seat behind him and gave Baker a questioning look. He leaned over and whispered something to her. Now, they acted like they were going out. The blonde looked at Rory who just shook her head, her jaw muscled tightened. And he knew they were silently discussing him. He leaned back in his chair, grinning. Oh yes, this girl could definitely be fun.
TWO WEEKS LATER, LUNCH
Rory walked in and sat between Baker and Madeline, and to her dismay they were talking about Adam. He'd been in three of her classes. Most people seemed to like him, and she admitted that he was kind of likeable, even if he did annoy her. But every time she saw him, she was reminded of Tristan...it was weird. He had curly black hair, whereas Tristan's had been messy, but straight, and blonde. He was kind of leery where Tristan had been more playful. He made serious innuendos, whereas she always knew that Tristan had been joking. He had a certain something about him that she didn't like, but she did have to admit that there was something about him she might be able to learn to like. At least, her friends all liked him, even in Baker and Louise didn't at first.
Their conversation was interrupted and she was pulled from her musings when two people entered and sat at their table. One was Paris, and the other was...Adam. She sighed, and then groaned. He looked over at her and grinned, "Rory, lovely to see you."
She wrinkled her nose, "Mmm." so he was sitting with them now?
"Aren't you happy to see me?"
"Thrilled."
He was across from her, and he tapped her foot lightly with his. She jerked her shoe away,
narrowing her eyes in his direction. He just smirked at her. Okay maybe he wasn't as likeable as she was making him out to be. They were only there for a few minutes when the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. Everyone got up to leave, and they made their way to their lockers. Rory grabbed her books out of her locker and turned to walk to class, but Adam touched her arm, holding her back. "Hey, can I talk to you, Rory?"
She turned to look at him, "What?" He scratched the back of his head and she sighed impatiently, "Adam, we're about to be late for class. Can't this wait?"
Adam watched her, his gaze unwavering. In the past two weeks he'd watched her, and she wasn't a very happy person. She had beautiful eyes, but they were empty. She moved as if she were in a trance, mechanically and routine. It was almost like she didn't feel. In two weeks she'd never laughed, and rarely smiled. Just stared into space and worked. There was something about her that begged to be opened. She needed something to move her, he just didn't know what. He looked around to make sure that everyone was on their way to class and no one was paying any attention to them. He shoved his hands into his pockets, "So, how're you doing?"
She shook her head, unsure of what he was doing, "I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
He shrugged, "Just wondering."
Rory nodded and they stood in silence for a moment, "Is that it?"
Adam nodded, "Yeah. Pretty much."
"Okay." she said slowly, turning in the direction of their class and walking a few feet.
He jogged up to her, walking beside her, "So what's the story?"
She shook her head, confused, "What story?"
"The guy. Everybody talks about him. Tristan. You dated him. What happened?"
Rory froze, her face unreadable, "Who said anything about him?"'
Adam shrugged, "Everyone. They all say he hurt you."
Rory bit her bottom lip, shaking her head, "Don't ask me about him."
He put his hands up, "What the hell did he do, Rory?"
She inhaled deeply, "Adam, he left less than a month ago. If you really want to know what happened then ask Paris or Blake, but I can't talk about it." she turned to leave, but he grabbed her wrist.
"Rory, come on."
She turned to face him, her anger detectible in her voice, "Adam, seriously, don't fucking mention him right now. It would be such a waste if your pretty life ended in the halls of Chilton this afternoon."
He pulled his hand away from her, "Sorry. Obviously he did hurt you."
She turned away, "I'm not talking to you about him."
Adam was silent for a moment as the bell rang. "I just want to know what kind or guy would hurt someone like you."
And her anger was back in full force as she twirled on her heel to face him, "Don't fucking talk about him like that. You never even knew him. Hell, you don't know me, so don't try to hit on me like you are-" he stepped back from her, "Tristan screwed up, yes, but it wasn't his fault. And you cannot stand there and talk about him like that. He didn't mean to hurt me. And everybody walking on eggshells and talking about how sad it is that this happened, aren't making it any better. But at least they knew him. You didn't Adam, and just because Tristan and I have broken up does not mean that I'll let you say anything about him. Ever." she finished, and he was wide eyed, leaning away from her. She hadn't really been yelling, but it was powerfully delivered.
"Wow." She shook her head, walking quickly down the hall. Adam had to run to catch up, "Where are you going?"
"To get a pass. We're late."
He watched her as she strode down the corridor, refusing to look at him. That guy must have really hurt her. He wanted Rory, and everyone but her knew it. But all he'd heard was, 'Be careful with that one. She's damaged.' Everyone talked about the wild Tristan who'd moved away over the break. And their descriptions of him were never without a mention of the beautiful Lorelai Leigh Hayden...either of how she'd changed him or of how they were so adorable...or of how he'd hurt her so much when he left. He'd met her before he heard of Tristan, and it was just his luck that the girl he was set on, was the one who'd just been hurt. It was his luck that her last relationship was the topic of the year in Chilton gossip. Lucky him, that he had to like the girl that was damaged.
You just stare into space
You found love, but it got erased
You're on the road with all the stop lights
And you're too afraid to turn the wrong from right
You ate your soul and it made you fat
Starve yourself from everything else
That makes you completely full