Prologue

Sticks and stones

May break my bones

But words will never hurt me

"Every Haden man has gone to Princeton, but not Christopher. That girl ruined everything for him."

Rory lay, curled up in her twin bed, her father's father's words running through her mind. It was in that instant something was decided.

She sat up, one thought running through her head. With previously unknown emotion, she began to tear at the Harvard memorabilia on her wall. Pennants and all were soon resting, somewhat bedraggled, in the wicker wastebasket beside her computer desk.

She took a moment to stare at her once loved collection of crimson before sitting resolutely before her new computer. Pulling up her browser, she typed quickly in a simple website.

www. princetonu .edu

Three Years Later

Not a lot right now makes sense to me

And I won't go quietly

Not a lot right now makes sense to me

And I won't sit patiently

I'm gonna chase my dreams

And catch up to them

I'm gonna find you

Somehow, someway

Somewhere, someday

"Okay, kid. It's your first day of college. How are you feeling?"

Lorelai Gilmore looked worriedly at her daughter, who was at this very moment staring wide-eyed at the large gate marking the entrance of Princeton.

"I'm feeling very small."

"Well," Lorelai smiled, trying to lighten the situation, "that's to be expected. Come on, let's unload this thing." Lorelai gestured back to Luke's truck. Luke was currently struggling to pull a new mattress off the truck's bed.

"Jaime!" Rory had just spotted a familiar face. Her friend Paris' boyfriend of one year was talking to another boy. Jaime was standing, arms crossed, while the other boy was leaning casually against a coffee cart. Both were holding paper cups. Jaime's head turned as her heard Rory's voice.

"Rory, how do you like Princeton?" Jaime asked, walking up to meet Rory. The boy he was talking to followed, but stayed far enough away so as to not intrude on their conversation.

"It's alright," Rory smiled.

Jaime's smile widened as he asked his next question. "How is Paris doing in Cambridge?"

"She's doing well," Rory said. Jaime looked like he wanted to know more. "She'd be doing better if you were there, though."

Jaime, looking pleased, remembered his manners. "Rory," he said, touching her elbow and guiding her towards his friend. "Allow me the pleasure of introducing my good friend. Jess Mariano," he addressed the boy now to his left, "this is my friend Rory Gilmore."

Jess Mariano looked Rory up and down, and she felt a bit uncomfortable at his intense gaze.

"And Rory, "Jaime turned to her, "this scoundrel I am ashamed to admit is my closest companion, Jess."

Rory held her hand out to Jess. "Nice to meet you," she said, eager for him to break his stare.

He blinked, looking at her hand. Ignoring it, he gave her a curt nod, and turned to Jaime. "Jay, I'm going to class. Apparently, being late was alright when I was just a reporter, but now that I'm managing editor I have to actually show up on time."

Jaime laughed deeply. "Of course," he said amicably, "you are now Alicia's right hand man," he paused, lowering his voice so far Rory almost miss the last bit, "in more ways than one." Jaime lightly punched Jess in the arm.

Just then, a tinkling of girly music filled the air. Jess looked embarrassed as he answered his phone. "Alicia?" he said into the phone. "Yeah I'll be right there."

Jaime grinned, a flash of innocent evil in his eyes, "Oh no. This is just too good."

"I know. I'm on my way." Jess closed his phone. He shot a glare at Jaime that Rory was sure could, if not kill, at least seriously injure any living thing within a fifty foot radius. "Don't say anything." His voice was deep, threatening almost.

"Oh my god," Jaime started, amused, "you gave her a special ring tone."

"I'm leaving," Jess said, "I don't have to take this."

Jaime said nothing, but made a "whipping motion with his arm. Jess' face burned crimson, and he turned hurriedly in the direction of a large brick building.

"Sorry about Jess," Jaime said, turning to Rory again. "It takes a while for him to like new people." He stopped for a second. "If truth were to be told, it talks a while for people to like him." He smiled good-naturedly.

"So Jess is editor of-" Rory started, but Jaime cut her off.

"The Daily Princetonian, yes. And he's only the managing editor. Alicia Stone is the big chief."

"And she and Jess are together?"

"You could say that," Jaime said. "They haven't really 'defined their relationship.'" He used finger quotes around that last part. "Or so Alicia says," Jaime continued. "Which is why she thinks it's okay to still sleep with other guys. Jess is crazy about her, though. So it's easy to see why he's not too keen on the situation."

Immediately, Jaime realized he had said too much. "Don't tell Jess I told you all that stuff."

"I won't," Rory said. "Oh crap." She looked at her watch. "I'm late for class."

"Which class?"

"Didn't I tell you?" Rory smiled at her friend, "I'm the newest reporter for the Daily Princetonian."