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A/N- Thanks for all your reviews. Keep them coming. Reviews=J

The strangest things

Chapter Eight

Winter break. In Rory's opinion it was the best time of year, the snow would always fall and her and her mum would play in it like they were both children, she had a break from school which meant spending a lot of time catching up with Lane, and of course on her reading. Another thing that she loved was that she didn't have to wake up early and take the thirty minute bus ride into Hartford. She loved her school and the things she learnt but sometimes wished it could be closer.

However before Rory would let herself relax and enjoy her break, being Rory she had to finish all her homework first. So that's exactly what she was doing. It was 9.30 in the morning and her mum had left for work a while ago after they'd both had breakfast at the diner, now back at home, Rory was in her room in the middle of some serious study. Her books scattered across the desk, along with pages of neatly written notes, all with parts of them highlighted in a rainbow of colours. Usually she would stay like this until lunch, then relax in the afternoon before going back to it and finishing off her holiday homework after dinner. Today however was proving different. After only an hour studying there was a loud knock on the door. She knew it wouldn't be Lane or Dean, they both knew better than to drag her away from studying on the first day of winter break, so intrigue guiding her, she stood up and made her way to the door. Opening it up to reveal Ally. The last person she thought would be standing at her door.

'Hey Rory, I'm really bored and since there's nothing to do in this town, I want to go shopping and so Luke suggested that I go into Hartford, which is stupid because I don't know my way round so I wouldn't be able to find the shops, so he suggested that I ask you. So here I am.' Ally said in a bored tone, paying more attention to her newly painted pink nails than to Rory, who looked back at her trying to work out what to do. On the one hand Rory didn't like Ally, and she really wanted to get her studying done. But on the other hand she didn't want to be horrible and maybe she should give Ally another chance.

'Well I was studying but I guess we could go shopping, why don't we swing by Lane's and see if she wants to join us.' Rory replied, opting to be the good girl, who helps out people even when she doesn't like them, besides it would be helping Luke out so she was pleased about that. Ally nodded her head.

'Sure whatever, I just want to shop.' Ally said shrugging her shoulders. Resisting the urge to slam the door in her face, Rory went and picked up her bag before heading out the door.

Half an hour later the three girls were sat on the bus into Hartford, Rory sat between the two others. As they talked about of all subjects Dean, which seemed to be one of Ally's favourites.

'So how long have you guys been together?' Ally asked twisting a stand of hair around her finger, and letting it fall against her shoulder before picking it up again and repeating the action.

'About a year.' Rory answered her.

'Wow so you guys are serious huh?' Ally replied looking over at Rory. 'It's strange because I wouldn't imagine Dean picking someone like you. I imagined him with someone less bookish. The pretty cheerleader type.'

Lane stifled a laugh at that, nudging Rory in the side and glancing at her best friend.

'Rory may not be the cheerleader type, but she's his type.' Lane stuck up for her friend, picking up on the underlying dig at Rory.

'Sure, I guess I can see it, I mean I bet you'd be really pretty if you out a little make-up on, maybe add some highlights to your hair. The other thing is I've never known a guy comfortable with dating someone who can basically eat their bodyweight.' Ally said with a small laugh.

'Yeah I guess Dean's unique that way, things like that don't bother him.' Rory said thinking how this bus ride was the longest of her life, despite having done this journey several times, she was sure it had gotten longer.

*

For four hours the girls walked around shops, listening to Ally talk and make subtle comments about Rory's looks and personality, before Rory and Lane finally broke away when Ally went to buy something and the other two said they'd meet her in the food court.

'That girl is hard work.' Rory said dropping into a seat with her tray of food and placing it on the table.

'Hard work! She's a piece of work, how many more times could she possibly try and make you seem unworthy of Dean, I swear if she makes one more comment about how you could look pretty with a little effort I'll slap her.' Lane said passionately.

'Thanks for the solidarity but I think slapping her would be a bad idea. Besides she's seriously underestimating what it takes to make a Gilmore feel bad about herself. I've got tough skin and basically take anything she says with a pinch of salt.' Rory replied smiling across at Lane.

'She is seriously annoying though, she's so peppy and at the same time she's spiteful. She's got Luke wrapped around her little finger, the teachers at school love her, she's been accepted into the cheerleading squad and nobody notices the way she makes people feel bad about themselves with a few carefully worded sentences.' Lane said between eating fries.

'Careful what you say she's on her way over here.' Rory warned as Lane was about to speak again.

'You'd think in a food court this big I'd be able to find something low fat.' Ally complained sitting down with nothing but a bottle of water. Lane rolled her eyes at Rory and both suppressed a laugh.

*

'Hey hun you're back. Luke told me you and Ally went shopping, did you have a good time?' Lorelai asked as Rory walked through the door and dropped her bags onto the floor before joining her mum on the couch.

'Define fun?' Rory asked. 'It was more fun than having my teeth pulled out.'

'Most things are.' Lorelai said looking a little confused. 'Wasn't good huh?'

'I'd prefer to spend the day shopping with Paris and Grandma.' Rory said to make her point.

'Jeez it was that bad?' Lorelai handed Rory a pack of red vines to cheer her up.

'Bad doesn't even describe it, Lane thinks so too. She spent the whole day criticising the way I look, how I act, the amount I study, how much I eat. She mentioned on several occasions how she was shocked that Dean would want to date someone like me. I had to restrain Lane from hitting her.' Rory replied.

'I cannot believe that girl, she acts so sweet and then tries to tear my daughter apart, not happening. We should get back at her, oh I know we can break her hair straightners that ought to do it. Burn her clothes. Nobody upsets my daughter and gets away with it.' Lorelai said finally seeing Ally the way Rory had, and sticking up for Rory.

'No mum that's ok, no pay back required. Thanks for the offer though, it was just a bad day and to top it off I didn't finish my homework.' Rory replied smiling at her mum. 'So I'm going to head to my room and get some done.'

'Ok hun, I'll order food and call you when it's here. And if you change you're mind I'll gladly cut all her hair off in the middle of the night.' Lorelai called after Rory, who laughed before going into her room, shutting the door and sitting back at her desk to study. Wondering how Ally and Jess could be so different.

A/N- Sorry there's no Jess in this part, but I wanted to show more of Ally's character. So let me know if you love it, like it, hate it or if you think anything could have been better by reviewing. I am officially addicted to reviews.