Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls or any of its original characters; they all belong to the maker of the show whom I don't know.

Authors Note: Blowing off steam. Not really sure where this story is going, 'cause it's not very creative, and I lack my inspiration when things aren't creative. It'd be nice if you could take some time to read this. I'll call it a 'Test Chapter'.

The Simple Things

Rich

Rory examined the many makeup that this particular dollar store carried. They varied from cheap mascara to cheap perfume, all involving the word cheap, but not in the usual sense of the word. People bustled around her switching directions often and pushing their carts that were filled with dollar-deals. Every once in a while you'd see the overflowing cart, which belonged to the true bargain hunter. Often times Rory had to step out of the way so they didn't plow her over with their tractors, toys or not they had big wheels.

Rory picked up a cheap nail polish, she looked behind both of her shoulders as if ready to steal it, then she examined it checking out its color and size like checking to see if it measured up to her standards. She checked over her shoulders once more, feeling like a true thief, and unscrewed the top. She wiped the excess nail polish onto the side of the bottle and then with gentle strokes of the brush applied it to her pinky nail. Then she guiltily screwed back on the top and set it gently down back onto the counter.

"It's a thief!" Rory heard the voice up close to her ear, but loud enough so anyone and everyone could here it, though many did not they were to busy bargain hunting despite the fact everything was the same price.

"Mom." Rory said her name the way she mostly commonly said it; with a slightly annoyed but incredibly amused voice.

"Ah, are you buying this lipstick to? You have to just love the stuff, it so doesn't go on chunky." Rory barely responded to her Mom's joking sarcasm. Instead she concentrated on the slightly shiny color of her pinky, then picked the nail polish back up and locked it safely in her grasp, it was a simple color, perfect in a way.

"Evil color." Lorelai said without even acknowledging Rory's pinky nail. Then looking at it for the first time added, "No color."

"It's there." Argued Rory urging her pinky to catch the light so that the soft glisten would reflect into her mom's eyes.

"Invisible. The new fad." Lorelai said. She was pointing at her empty hand, which was positioned like there was something sitting there, though there was not.

Rory stopped paying attention to her mom and went to stand in the short line to get the invisible nail polish.

"I've already checked out!" Teased Lorelai, she stuck out her tongue and then skipped away with her overflowing basket of socks. Socks.

The line moved quickly, people poured out of the store as items poured out of their carts. It seemed to be some sort of interruptive dance. A show put on purely for Rory's enjoyment.

"Just this?" Asked the cashier.

"Yeah." Rory said vaguely focusing on the cashier, but more on the display behind him. The cashier was clearly focusing on the busty blonde behind Rory; she didn't even have to look to find out.

Rory turned to watch the cash register ring up the total due, 1.00 and tax. Stores were so predictable.

Another pair of ocean blue eyes and a smirk greeted her. The same face that she had avoided her whole school year in Chilton. Working at a dollar store.

"Long time no see there Mary." Tristan said coolly with a nod.

"It's Rory." Rory stated simply. He hadn't changed a bit, except for the fact he was working at a dollar store. Tristan working as a cashier. In an apron! That was quite the surprise. "Your rich. You don't need to be working at a dollar store!" Rory said, curiosities drowning her normally quiet self.

"Correction; My Dads rich. I don't need to, I choose to." He smirked and gave a bit of a shrug.

Honestly he wasn't sure why he was working here, wasting his time when he had money sitting at his home—his old home—but he just had to do this. The easy life had landed him in Military school that had changed him. But Rory having her see him in such a pathetic state made him want to run back home. For once she had an advantage over him, no doubt she had made something of herself. He covered his look of inferiority with his trademark smirk. Not bothering to swallow his pride, but quite the opposite.

"You're choosing to work here?" Rory asked simply getting a little nervous; he was looking down on her again treating her like she was beneath him. And quite honestly it wasn't fair, she was just as good as him, but for some reason she couldn't convince herself or Tristan.

He paused unsure of what to say, and for a few awkward moments his ego faltered and that lonely boy leaked out of his veins. But only a second never more, "Clear polish. 1.13." He said changing the subject. He rang up the price on the cash register, still a bit unsure of how to use it.

"Actually a dollar twelve." Rory corrected, "See you pressed the wrong button." She pointed at one of them many unfamiliar buttons on the cash register.

"Ah, you always were the geek." Tristan said, he felt bad that he had insulted her, but he had to stay in control. "So you think you want to go out for dinner sometime?" He asked. He pushed the hope out of his eyes.

"You call me a geek then you ask me out on a date. How flattering."

"I need to get in touch with the simple side of life." He finally admitted, "Daddy's precious rules. He says I'm to much of a spoiled rich kid."

"You are."

"So will you? I could make you happy." Rory cringed showing her disgust then considered it. Just to help Tristan fulfill his Daddy's dreams, not a date, never a date. She could help, not that their was much in it for her.

"Why should I help you? You don't even know my name."

"Fine." Tristan said disappointed, but he hid the disappointment, "Just pretend to be my girlfriend, coming to my house to pick me up."

"Pick you up? That's the guys job." Rory argued.

"Not in your lower class society." Tristan said snickering.

"You really have a way with words." Rory complimented in a sarcastic manner. "Fine, but then I'm leaving." Rory wasn't sure what compelled her to say yes. It was probably Logan's doings. Taking chances and going against the rules were his kind of thing.

"Good come to my house six. I'll tell my Daddy Dearest where we're going."

"I don't know where you live."

"Same as always." She did know where he lived. As much as she hated to admit it she did.

And as much as she hated to admit it; She'd be there.

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