Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own Gilmore Girls. All I own is the plot my overly active imagination has created.

Author's Ramblings On Inspirations: This idea popped into my head, since its summer. I was just wondering what Rory and Tristan would be like when they were still teenagers, but had a chance to be together, outside of Chilton. So, here goes nothing.

What You Need To Know: Takes place the summer after Rory's Junior year at Chilton. The circumstances; slightly different. Sherry never got pregnant, so Lorelei and Chris are together. Rory and Dean broke up. Jess never came back to Stars Hollow.

Feedback: I like reviews. (Hint, hint, nudge, nudge, wink, wink)

Author's Ramblings: I know, I know, lately I've been all over the place with my stories. But I'm pretty sure this one's for keeps. I story will have regular, everyother day updates, I swear! Incase you're wondering, yes I did delete 'Claiming the Crown'. I'd just lost the vibe. It was becoming cliché, and I don't want that to happen. I'll still be updating EE, but just not as frequently. Anyway, onto the story.

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Cruel Summer

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Lorelei Leigh Gilmore let out an exhausted sigh as she looked at what would be her room for the next few months. It was drab; dull, but that was okay. She'd make it her own. At least there weren't any N'sync posters. With some coaxing from Lorelei, Emily agreed it was best to let Rory handle her own decorating. See; right there, something to be grateful for. She was going to be optimistic if it killed her.

And at this point; it just might.

The house in which the room was present belonged to the elder Gilmores. Apparently, it was now appropriate for the Hartford elite to own beach houses, on the jersey shore. Rory, herself, didn't see her grandparents need for one, seeing as how they didn't even like the water. But, under the circumstances it worked out pretty well. That's what everyone else thought anyway.

Her mother and her father were finally together. And now, they were taking a vacation; a summer long vacation, touring the country, to get away from everything and just be together. Rory didn't mind. She really didn't. She was happy for her parents, for her; they'd be a family. She just didn't see why she had to spend the summer here, instead of in Stars Hollow. She would have been fine. But, her mother worried, and then her grandmother called it 'ridiculous.' So here she was.

It wasn't like she had any big summer plans, she'd just, been expecting to spend her summer in Stars Hollow, with Lane, and the occasional visit from Paris, or phone call from Jess. Dean was out of the picture, so it wasn't like she had a boyfriend, but that wasn't the point.

She just…missed home.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Emily Gilmore's presence. "So, Rory dear, are you all unpacked?"

Rory spun around, facing her grandmother, with a faint smile pressed on her lips. "Yea grandma, I think so."

Optimistic. Be optimistic.

"Um…grandma. Is grandpa in his study? I was wondering if he knew of a good book store around here."

"Yes, yes he is. Oh…this is perfect. While you're out you can stop by the Beachfront Café, find out when you start."

"Start? Start what?"

Emily frowned. "You're mother didn't tell you?" When Rory gave her no response she continued. "Oh, your mother, she is the most irresponsible person I have ever met."

"What's going on?" Rory asked, trying not to panic.

"Well, since you're here all summer, and you don't know anyone, I thought it would be nice for you to get a job. This place is very prestigious, Rory darling. You'll love it. All the kids your age work there. And they have the most wonderful young men as hosts."

Her grandmother clapped her hands together in excitement, as she continued to tell her granddaughter all about her new job.

"A summer job mom! A summer job! How do you forget to tell me about something like that?" Rory screeched into the receiver.

"I'm sorry. I don't even remember her telling me babe."

"How do you not remember her telling you?"

"You know I tune my mother out when she talks. All I here is blah, blah, blah, blah. Oh! It's like that teacher in the Charlie Brown cartoons! All I have to do is occasionally nod. Unless of course she's in a bad mood. Then she goes off on me about--"

"Mom, focus please! I do not want to spend my summer working as a waitress where many of Hartford's elite, A.-K- A. Chilton work and dine!"

"All right, put your grandmother on the phone. I'll get you out of this."

Rory thought about this for a minute. Ever since she and Chris had gotten back together Lorelei and her mother had been getting along pretty well, for them, anyway. Rory didn't want to ruin that.

"Uh…no mom. That's okay, really. I'm going to be living with them for the next few months. I'm going to have to learn to talk to her, you know, speak my mind, aren't I?"

"Rory, sweetie, you're you. You don't speak your mind. You worry about everyone but yourself. I'll talk to her."

"No…no." She stated more firmly the second time. "I'll talk to her. I'll tell her, that…that it was nice of her to offer and I know she only had my best interest in mind, but I want to make my own summer plans."

"Are you sure?" Lorelei sounded skeptical of her daughter's newfound bravery.

"Yep."

"All right, well I better go. Your dads waiting."

"Okay tell him, hi for me."

"Will do. And Ror…?"

"Yes mom?"

"Thanks.

"For what?"

"For doing this for me. For giving up your summer so your father and I could have some time together. For thinking of everyone before yourself."

She smiled. "No problem."

"Next summer, I don't care where your father's living. You, me, two backpacks, and Europe."

"It's a plan. Call me soon."

"K, I got to go. But keep me posted on the Emily front. Oh and if you want to drive her crazy, die your hair purple. Trust me, I know from experience. It'll totally freak her out."

"Duly noted. Bye mom. Love you."

"Love you too, hun."

Rory sighed as the dial tone resurfaced on the other end of the phone. It was time to face her grandmother.

Rory stood on the boardwalk, outside of the infamous Beachfront Café her grandmother had told her so much about. She didn't want nor need a job this summer. But she couldn't tell that to her grandmother. Apparently there was so much she could gain from this job; she'd be exposed to so many opportunities. At this point Rory opted for her mother's form of talking to her grandmother.

"Well…here goes nothing." She muttered beneath her breath.

The youngest Lorelei exhaled once more before entering. She looked around, realizing that her grandmother wasn't exaggerating about the beautiful view. The seating area was in fact, directly on the beach, as if it were a patio, only with a roof and clear screen windows. Behind two closed doors was what Rory assumed to be the kitchen.

"Hi…can I help you with something?"

Rory turned to see, a dark haired, fairly tanned man, who wasn't much older than herself. He wore khaki shorts and a green polo shirt. On the right side in small white letters were the words 'Beachfront Caf'. "Hi, um, I'm Rory Gilmore. I'm not sure what to do. I think my grandmother may have reserved a job for me. Unless you don't know, in which case that's okay. I mean I don't have to have a job here. I mean…"

The man let out a distinct laugh, before stretching out his hand to introduce himself. "Hi Rory, nice to meet you. I'm Mike, and yes I know who you are. Your grandmother told me all about you."

She blushed slightly. "Oh…okay."

"Uh, it's still pretty early, and most kids your age work the later shift, so you can start today if you want." He paused for a moment. "But I don't think you want to. That's okay; we can start fresh, tomorrow. You start at two."

"Um…do I need to know anything or—" She stopped, due to the entrance of a young blonde. She was tall, incredibly, had blue eyes, and wore her hair in a perky looking ponytail.

The blonde walked over and placed a kiss directly on Mike's lips.

"Hey, sweetie." Remembering Rory's presence, he turned his attention to her. "Uh Kat, this is Rory. Rory this is Kat. She'll be working the same shift as you."

"I've worked it every year since the summer after my freshman year in high school."

"Kat, could you give Rory a few tips, get her a uniform. She's starting tomorrow."

"Sure thing."

"So, where are you from Rory?" Kat asked as they sat in the storage room, sifting through boxes to find the right sizes for Rory's uniform.

"Stars Hollow." At Kat's puzzled face, she continued. "It's this small town, right outside of Hartford, Connecticut."

"Really? I'm from Hartford."

"Yea…my grandmother lives in Hartford, she's the reason I'm here actually. Working here I mean, well technically not just working here, being here-for the summer, but I guess you could call that my parents fault to, and you know."

Kat stifled a giggle. "You know, you could slow down."

She blushed.

"So you live in Stars Hollow, but your grandparents live in Hartford."

She nodded her head, her cheeks still slightly pink.

"And your grandparents are one of the many Hartford residents that own a summer home here. Don't worry my parents too. And your parents are busy-with whatever, so you're stuck here."

"Am I that obvious?"

"You just…seem out of place."

"Oh…okay."

"But that won't last long. Not when I'm through with you." Kat stood up, grabbing Rory's hand causing her to emerge from the floor as well.

"Where are we going?"

"Shopping." She stated, as they made their way out onto the boardwalk.

"Don't you have to work?"

"I'm dating the boss, he'll get over it." She said with a laugh.

"But, but, why do we have to go shopping?"

"Rory, you're spending the summer in a beach town and you're wearing flared jeans, and a black T-shirt."

"So?"

"You've never been to a beach town before, have you."

"No, no I haven't."

"Come on. We have to hit every surf shop in town before the nights over."

"How about this one?" Kat held up a black string bikini, which just one look Rory, began to blush.

"Um…how about something with a little more material?"

"Okay…so where do you go to school?"

"Chilton Prep, I use to go to Stars Hollow High, but I transferred sophomore year."

"Chilton, wow, I went to Chilton."

"You did? When, I mean I'm going into senior year, so three years ago? What year were you in?"

"Senior."

"That's weird."

"Hey, did you say you're going into senior year at Chilton?"

"Uh...huh."

"My brother would be too, well if he hadn't gotten shipped off to military school."

Rory paled.

"Who's your brother?"

"Tristan, Tristan DuGray."