𝙑𝙄𝘾𝙏𝙊𝙍𝙞𝙊𝙐𝙎 | 𝙂𝙞𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙂𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙨

02 •

𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙀𝙓𝘾𝙄𝙏𝙀𝘿 𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙏𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙎𝙏𝘼𝙍 𝙃𝙊𝙇𝙇𝙊𝙒𝙎 𝘾𝙃𝙀𝙀𝙍𝙇𝙀𝘼𝘿𝙀𝙍𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙎𝙌𝙐𝘼𝘿.. “So, let's meet your new leader - Christina Gilmore!” The coach announced, a proud smile on her face.

'Oh, my God!' Tori squealed, excitement bubbling in her chest. She'd won! She was the new cheer captain! And she couldn’t wait to tell her family..

𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗜 𝗪𝗔𝗟𝗞𝗘𝗗 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗡..
Her eyes were immediately drawn to the beaming faces of Lorelei and Sookie and puzzled face of Rory opening the bag and Rory pulled out a plaid skirt, Tory's face gasped.

Chilton, that was a Chilton skirt..
Tori felt like she couldn't breathe... Why did only Rory get one?

“I'm going to be in a Britney Spears music video!” she exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement.

“You're going to Chilton!” Sookie interjected, her voice laced with delight.

'Mom?' Rory said, Tori and Rory's  eyes widening in shock.

“You did it, babes, you got into Chilton!” Lorelei exclaimed, her voice brimming with pride.

“Rory got into Chilton?” Tori stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. The joy on her face vanished, replaced by a look of confusion and a hint of hurt... She didn't get it in.

“You didn't sleep with the principal, did you?” Rory asked, her voice dripping with mocking suspicion.

“Oh, no honey, that was a joke!” Lorelei laughed. “They had a spot open, you start Monday.”

"Really?"

Really

Rory squeals with excitement "I don't believe this! Oh my God, I'm going to Chilton!"

"Yeah." Lorelai and Rory hug.

"Sookie, I'm going to Chilton!" Rory says hugging Sookie

"I'll make cookies. Protestants love oatmeal."

“I don't believe this, Tori! I'm going to Chilton!”  Rory exclaimed, her voice buzzing with a mixture of disbelief and excitement.

“Yay! Congrats Rory,” Tori forced a smile, though her eyes were downcast. “I'm so proud of you.”

“I have to call Lane,” Rory said leaving the inn's kitchen. Tori nodded, a hollow smile plastered on her face as she turned to her mother and Sookie.
Rory starts to leave then hugs her mother again. "I love you"

"I love you."

Rory leaves, Lorelai smiles and looks to Sookie "My girl's going to Chilton"
The joy she had felt moments ago had evaporated, replaced by a deep, gnawing ache.. Her news of captaincy outshined.. Her acceptance letter denied and Rory got the spot.

It's always Rory, never Tori.

She excused herself and slipped away, her heart heavy with a feeling of emptiness. Hearing her mother and Sookie squeal with joy.

She needed to be alone, to process the confusing jumble of emotions that had taken root inside her. As she walked towards the bathroom, tears welled up in her eyes.

Rory had been accepted at Chilton - a dream that had been both hers and her sister's since they were little girls.
Yet, somehow, her own achievement, her own hard work, had been overshadowed.

It was a familiar feeling, a feeling that she had almost grown accustomed to.
She was the one with higher test scores, the more curricular activities, and yet, Rory gets in.. Rory! She seemed to be in Rory's shadow..