Punished by bullies: Rory Gilmore's 17th

Chapter 3: Cruel and unusual punishment

Allison and Becky pulled Rory to her feet, marched her to an individual shower cubicle with its own door and shoved her in there. While Allison held the shower door shut on Rory, Becky turned on the shower on full power, on the coldest setting possible. The water was freezing. Rory was desperate to get out of there before she got soaked, but Becky was holding the shower cubicle door firmly shut. There was no escape.

The bullies push Rory into a cold shower in full uniform 

Fully clothed in her full school uniform except shoes and with her backpack on her back, Rory was being fully soaked through by the unbearably cold water cascading down on her head and all over her slender body. It completely soaked her shiny brown hair, royal blue blazer, black tank top, white shirt, navy blue neck tie, chequered blue/black skirt and navy blue knee socks.

But the worst thing was that her schoolbag - and everything in it - was being soaked right through. All of her beloved books, written work, pens, pencils, diary, were going to be ruined and there was nothing at all she could do about it.

When they'd first discussed this plan after returning from their summer holidays to start a new school year a few weeks earlier, it was Jackie who proposed keeping the victim in there a full 30 minutes. Allison suggested only "10 minutes, maybe 15 outside". But Becky sided with her cousin and they all agreed on 30 minutes.

Even at 17, Rory is a slight girl

Allison was counting out the minutes using the stopwatch app on her phone, and only nine minutes had elapsed so far. Try as she might to avoid being completely drencched, there was no way Rory could avoid it. It was torture. All she could do was try to keep her head away from the main flow of the water. But she couldn't avoid her uniform, backpack and its contents getting totally rinsed through.

Already, Rory was freezing cold and shivering. It was extra tortuous as she had no shoes on to protect her. The whole thing was incredbily humiliating with four bullies watching her every move through the glass-panelled cubicle.

Quite coldly, Jackie was watching the whole spectacle unfold, while Tristin just watched. The pair were constantly holding hands or showing each other affection with pecks on the cheek.

Tristin: "What was that for?"

Jackie: "Just great to have you here today. Your support means a lot, boyfriend."

Allison: "Aw you two are so cute, you know?"

Jackie: "Naw you're so cute Ali."

At 15, Jackie is a year older and meaner than when she helped ruin Rory's 16th

For Rory, 12 minutes of what felt like ice water torture had gone by.

"Are you getting cold in there, Mary?", a giggly Jackie called out to the victim over the glass shower door six minutes later.

Rory shouted back: "It's freezing in here! Can you please let me out? Or, just turn this water off? I'll do anything else you want!"

Coldly, Jackie replied: "No we can't. You've only done 18 minutes."

Jackie knew how mean she was being, but it made her feel so powerful and happy.

Rory: "Oh my god! How much longer do you expect me to stay in here??"

Jackie: "It's a 30-minute punishment."

Rory: "But I can't take another minute! Please could you let me out of here?"

Jackie: "Twelve more minutes, bitch. You know you love it."

Tristin: "We'll make it longer if you keep complaining."

Jackie: "Yess! We will!"

Tristin used to pursue the shy Rory around Chilton in the hope of getting a date

Rory: "But you guys asked me a question!"

Becky: "Look, little girl, another word from you and we'll make it 40 minutes. Got it?"

In dread at that idea, Rory nodded and just let the water continue to pound her, trying to work out what she ever did to any of these people.

At 27 minutes, Allison was feeling like it was long past time to let Rory out, but she couldn't be seen to be going soft.

Only when the 30 minutes were officially up did Allison switch off the shower at the main control point, open the cubicle door and let Rory get out.

As she climbed out of the cubicle, Rory looked more vulnerable than ever. Her clothes were completely stuck to her body, emphasising her skinny, shapeless frame, flat chest and flat bottom. She looked pathetic and in that moment, she was so very broken, defenceless and at their mercy.

"Let's strip her," said Becky spontaneously, as she and Allison took hold of the victim's arms.

"Oh no, please!" Rory begged, "No!"

Hearing the victim's pleas just made them more determined...