AN: Thanks for the reviews. And I know, the first chapter was rather boring. But it'll pick up, I promise. And I promise, promise, promise that the Lit stuff has a point. Stick around, and be patient. And trust me, you won't have to be patient for too terribly long. Have I ever let the Rogan fans down before? Please leave me a review!
Rory walked into school the next day to find Colin and Finn standing at her locker. She glanced around, half expecting to find another man standing at their side, but there was no one. With a half shrug, she walked up to them and dropped her book bag heavily at her side.
"I didn't have any coffee this morning, compliments of my stupid car not starting," she greeted, "So if you're planning on stealing a car or dying someone's hair, please leave me out of it. And when I can hear Head Master Charleston screaming from his office, I'm just going to pretend that I don't know you. Got it? Good."
"Somebody's grumpy this morning," Colin commented with a yawn.
"I told you, no coffee supply. Plus the fact that I'm about to meet the guy responsible for the destruction of boarding schools all over Europe."
Finn grinned, "He's not coming to class until later this afternoon."
"Oh, darn," she muttered sarcastically, "I always wondered what Charleston's hair would look like green."
"You know something?" Colin replied, turning his head lazily towards her, "Me too."
A shadow suddenly appeared over her, and she glanced over her shoulder. She immediatly regretted her decision.
"Hey, Mary," the blonde boy said, a half smile taking over his features.
"Well, gee, Tristan. Just what I need to start my coffee-less morning."
Tristan DuGrey's smile widened, and Rory's already bitter mood continued to drop. She watched as he turned his attention to Colin and Finn, who had befriended the cocky junior for some unknown reason. Rory could tolerate him, but only with coffee in her system. And somehow, him being responsible for crowning her the Mary of Chilton didn't exactly elevate her opinion.
"So, Mare, what's with the attitude?" Tristan asked.
"You're here, isn't that a good enough reason?"
"Ouch," Colin laughed.
"Why do you hate me so much?" Tristan mock pouted, "It doesn't have anything to do with your nickname, now does it?"
"Wow brillance, didn't take you long to figure that one out."
"You really are crabby without coffee," Finn observed, "Maybe we should set up an iv and just pump it directly into your veins."
"Visit the chem lab, tell me what you find. I'll see you boys later."
She turned away from them and started walking towards her first class, silently cursing her car for about the tenth time that morning for not starting right away. Without her coffee fix, Tristan was nearly unbearable. And she had a feeling that Logan was going to fall under that same category. After listening to Colin and Finn's stories, she couldn't stand the boy already, and she didn't even meet him yet.
"Rory!"
Rory groaned, stopped, and turned around to face the newest intruder on her caffineless morning morning, "Yes, Paris?"
Paris Geller stood facing her, hands planted firmly on her hips, and Rory resisted the urge to turn on her heel and walk away.
"Newspaper meeting. After school. Don't be late," she snapped.
"When am I ever late?" Rory shot back, "You were late last week. Tom was late the week before. I, however, and completely aware of the day and time of every meeting. So why would I be late?"
"I wasn't late. I can't be late. I start the meetings, so I how could I be late?"
"I don't know," Rory replied, "You tell me. Can I go now?"
"Fine. Go."
Rory walked into her first class and collasped into the desk, dropping her head into her hands. She wasn't sure what was putting her in a worse mood: the absensce of coffee from her mornings or the anticipation of meeting her best friends' best friend. And running into Paris had just completely topped off her already horrible day. Paris, from the minute Rory walked in the doors, had decided that Rory was here to take her glory, her fame, and her spot at the top of the class. And although Rory was rivaling her in the grades department, she had no desire to be as completely and totally obsessed as Paris was. But Paris hated her anyway, and that was something Rory had grown to deal with.
Her phone vibrated suddenly from within her bookbag. She glanced up to make sure the instructor wasn't in the room yet, before peering down and checking the text message recently sent to her phone. 'I'll have coffee waiting for you. --Jess' She smiled, and was about to text back a quick reply when the teacher entered the room. Exhaling, she contented herself with knowing her boyfriend was thinking about her. That had to be enough to get her through the day.
- - - - - - - -
She was wrong. By the time she reached the lunch table, she was near collasping from exhaustion and anger. And she was ready to strangle her mother with her bare hands for ever getting her so addicted to coffee in the first place. She all but fell into the chair across from Colin and Finn, who were watching her in amusement as she dropped her head onto the table, narrowly missing her tray of food.
"Hi honey, having a good day?" Colin cracked.
"Not funny."
Hearing something slid across the table, she lifted her head slightly and stared at the object before her in disbelief.
"Where did you get this?" she demanded, reaching out and curling her hands around the steaming cup.
"Teacher's lounge," Finn replied with a shrug.
"How...?" she paused, "Nevermind. I don't want to know and I don't care."
She took a long sip of the coffee, downing nearly half of it in one gulp, but she placed it back on the table and smiled.
"Feeling better, love?"
"Much. Thanks. So, have you heard from Logan?"
Colin shook his head, "We'll see him sometime today, I'm sure.
"If he makes it out of Charleston's office alive," Finn added.
"How long has it been since you've seen him?"
"A few months," Colin said, "He flew in a lot to visit."
Rory lifted her cup to her lips again, "I see."
Before any of them could speak again, Tristan plopped down in the chair next to Rory and she bit back a groan.
"I see you have coffee," he observed, "Does that mean your going to be nicer now?"
"Only to certain people," she was silent for a moment, "Not you, in case you were wondering."
"She's just shutting you down today, mate."
"Shut up, Finn."
"Just because you're getting owned by Rory, doesn't mean you have to take it out on me."
"I thought I told you to shut up."
"Well, I'd love to stay here and listen to the rest of this stimulating conversation, but I have to run to my locker before class. See you two later?"
"Which two?" Finn inquired.
"The two that aren't blonde."
- - - - - - - -
Rory walked into the newspaper meeting five minutes before Paris ever arrived, just to spite her. She took out her supplies quickly, and then decided to bury herself in a book until everyone else started to arrive. She didn't get very far. Soon after she read the first page of a new chapter, Paris burst into the room in a fit of rage.
"Why are you here so damn early?" Paris snapped, heaving her load onto the table.
"Well, somebody took so much caution as to remind me in particular not to be late, that I just thought I'd come extra early."
"Don't be snippy."
Rory stuffed her book back in her bag as the room started to fill up, and she turned her attention to an already ranting Paris. The girl was going off on about everything she could think of, and Rory's focus was dwindling more with every word. She amused herself by watching the people at her side tap their pencils on the table, or write notes to each other behind Paris's back. Just as she was about to start doodling on her notebook, Paris's anger took a turn in her direction.
"And Rory, don't plan on being here before me ever again. It wasn't cute."
"Sorry. Do you want to give me a specific time up to the second so I don't offend you anymore?"
Paris glared at her, "Get back to me."
She then turned her attention to the next issue, and Rory actually started paying attention. As much as she hated Paris, the paper was something she had to, and did, take seriously. But before Paris could really get into the swing of things, the meeting was interrupted by the door swinging open. A blonde boy who Rory didn't recoginize half stumbled, half walked through the door while obviously having a conversation with somebody in the hallway. She watched as a brunette girl who Rory barely knew leaned in and planted a quick kiss on his lips. When he noticed the room had gone silent, he turned around, offered them a half smile, and closed the door.
"Be on time or don't come at all," Paris ordered, her voice taking an even more icy edge.
"You must be Paris," he replied.
"It doesn't matter who I am. You're late. Sit down."
He looked for a second like he was going to laugh in her face, and Rory had to admit that would be an interesting sight. This kid seemed to be up to his ears in cockiness, and she already knew how self confident Paris was. And if she wasn't so annoyed with his late entrace and public display of affection, she would've actually been rooting for him. But as of right now, he was more on her nerves than Paris had ever been.
He sat down in the only empty seat, which happened to be next to her, and she turned her head away instantly. She could feel his eyes on her though, and it was making her extremely uncomfortable. Shifting in her chair slightly, she attempted to turn her body further away from him, but he only leaned towards her more.
"What did I miss?" he asked, his voice low.
She shifted her gaze towards him, taking in his overall appearance with a one, general sweep. He was extremely attractive, she had to give him that. From his tosseled blonde hair, to his mischievous, chocolate brown eyes, he kind of looked like he just popped out of a magazine. He was staring at her expectantly, as if she was just going to fill him in on the entire meeting in about 2.5 seconds.
"Well, some new student decided to interrupt the entire meeting by walking in the door almost thirty minutes late and making out with his girlfriend at the door. And then, once he sat down, he distracted a person who was actually interested in what was going on," she whispered back, her voice harsh.
He grinned slightly, "I hate people like that. And she wasn't my girlfriend."
"I don't care if she was your sister, although I'd rather not hear the details of that relationship. Now, would you mind shutting up?"
He stared at her for a second, unblinking, before shrugging and lowering his head onto the table. She rolled her eyes, wondering why he even bothered coming at all, before turning her attention back to a still rambling Paris.
The meeting ended about an hour later, with plans to gather again the next day. As Rory was gathering up her things, she noticed the boy to her side hadn't moved from his position. With an evil grin, she slammed her book bag down on the table, causing him to jump back and stare at her in surprise.
"Morning, sunshine," she sing-songed, "Sleep well? Just a hint, don't bother coming if you're just going to sleep. That's what beds are for."
Without waiting for a response, she shouldered her bag and sped out of the room. She was about four steps out of the hallway, before she heard someone come up behind her. Turning her neck to the side, she saw the blonde boy staring at her, an amused expression plastered on his face.
"Can I ask how you can possibly hate me so much when you don't even know me?"
"I know you," she replied, as if that explained everything.
"Really? Where did we meet? Was it some place fun? Or romantic? Did you find me interesting? Did I find you interesting? Did we--"
"Oh my God," Rory groaned, "I know you because you are just like every other cocky, self concieted, rich playboy who walks through this school thinking they own it."
"Now, that's really not fair. But if we're going to play that game, I could say you are just like every stuck up, overworking, judgemental teacher's pet I've met since I've been in high school."
"I take the paper seriously, and I don't appreciate when people walk in late, interrupt the meeting, and then fall asleep."
"Well, I'm sorry. But I was busy."
"I could see that. And I'm sure the girl had a very nice time. Now, if you'll excuse me," she attempted to get him to leave by turning towards her locker and flipping through the combination.
"It's not really fair to judge someone after just one meeting, now is it?" he asked, following her and leaning up against the row of lockers.
"Probably not. But I'm going to try it anyway."
"As a journalist, you should be trying to dig deeper than what's on the surface."
"Oh, so you're giving me tips on being a reporter now? That's cute."
"So you're some kind of Ace Reporter, huh?"
"I take it seriously," she informed him, slamming her locker shut and turning down the hallway.
"I'm sure you take a lot of things seriously."
She knew he was baiting her, and yet she couldn't resist.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" she demanded, whipping around again.
He was smirking now, and if she didn't dislike him so much at that moment, she would have fully appreciated how cute the expression was. His brown eyes were twinkling more now, and his smirk deepened. All she wanted to do was smack the look right off his face.
"You just seem a little -- strict, that's all."
"Yes well, at least I'm not sleeping my way through high school," she paused, "In more ways than one."
"At least I'm having fun."
"What makes you think I'm not having fun?"
"Well, the yelling, the slamming, the lecture, and the stressed out look on your face, just to name a few."
"High school is about more than going out with a new girl every night, and getting mommy and daddy to pay your way out of any trouble you get into."
"I agree, but that's still a lot of assuming about me for a journalist. Didn't Paris teach you anything?" he smirked again, "But back to your point, high school is also about more than grades and being top of the class, people need to loosen up, have fun, and I don't know, fail a test every once and awhile."
"You don't even know me. What makes you think I haven't failed a test?"
"The fact that I used the term people, not you, and you were still offended. And a hypocrite. You're an offended hypocrite."
"How am I a hypocrite?"
"Because you assume all you want about me, and that's perfectly okay. But when you think I'm assuming that you've never failed a test, you jump down my throat. See, hypocrite. Another bad trait for a reporter, may I add."
"How would you know the traits of a good reporter when you sleep through everything?"
"An Ace Reporter like yourself doesn't know?" he laughed slightly, "Then I don't think I should tell you."
"Fine. I have to go. It's been great talking to you, really," she told him sarcastically.
"Are you really going to let the argument drop just like that?" he inquired, walking up beside her as she exited the building.
"I'm not as attached to it as you seem to be."
"If you need time to formulate more insults to send my way, I can wait."
Her step didn't falter, "Goodbye."
"The expression on your face kind of reminds me of Finn during a hangover."
Her heart dropped, and she halted dead in her tracks, "No."
"Excuse me?"
"No, no, no, no," she took a deep breath, "You're Logan?"
"Last time I checked," he offered, another smirk gracing his face.
"Shit," she spat.
"I've had a lot of reactions to my name, and that hasn't been one of them. Maybe I can show you a better reaction if you'd kindly offer me yours?"
She sighed, "Rory. Rory Gilmore. Hayden. Gilmore-Hayden. I'm friends with Colin and Finn."
His smirk grew larger, if that was possible, "Nice to meet you, Rory. I guess we'll be seeing a lot of each other."
"It seems unavoidable, doesn't it?"
"Oh, come on. Tell me that wasn't an entertaining conversation," he started walking backwards away from her, his hands stuffed in his pockets, "Master and Commander."
"The movie?" she inquired, confused.
"No, that's what I want you to call me from now on."
She rolled her eyes, but he only smirked again.
"See you around, Ace."
And just as quickly as he entered her day, he was gone.
She groaned as she walked towards her car. He was everything she had expected him to be: cocky, selfish, and lazy. He seemed to have no concern for anyone but himself and even the thought of him drove her absolutely crazy. How exactly was he best friends with Colin and Finn? Logan was nice to look at, but his good qualities ended there. How was she going to deal with having him around constantly? Not only when she was with her friends, but at the paper as well.
She couldn't get his self confident smirk out of her mind, and she had the sudden urge to pound her head off the dashboard. Master and Commander? Was he serious? Groaning again, she rolled her car out of the parking lot and onto the highway. Her year had suddenly taken a hard turn for the worse. This boy was like Tristan on steroids.