— A loud pounding at Rory's bedroom door was enough to have her roll from the bed and onto the floor. A loud thud echoing in her room as her body hit the wooden floor. Slowly, Rory opened her eyes and groaned. "Rise and shine, kiddo!" Her father's voice came from the other side of the door.

The brunette let out a huff before standing from the floor. She walked over to her desk and placing a Jeff Buckley cd into her cd player. 'Forget Her' began to play as the girl began to rummage through her drawers.

Rory picked out something simple, her favorite pair of low-rise jeans, a white spaghetti cropped tank, and a red cropped long sleeve to go over it, finishing her look with her worn out converse.

She opened her bedroom door to go into the bathroom across the hall, just as she was brushing her teeth, Jonas yelled from downstairs. "Breakfast is ready!"

She shouted a muffled reply back, spitting out the remaining toothpaste in her mouth into the sink.

After quickly brushing her hair, she grabbed her brown crossbody messenger bag and made her way downstairs. "Morning dad." Picking a bagel from his plate and taking a bite out of it.

The older man sent her a glare, only getting a sheepish grin in return.

The brunette grabbed a plate and served herself some eggs and bacon along with some toast. "Y'know it's Bella's birthday today?" she told her father, pouring some orange juice into a glass and joining him at the table.

"Oh yeah?"

She nodded in return. "Did you get her anything?" Jonas asked, her eyebrows furrowed. "No, she said no presents. Plus, I haven't gotten my paycheck yet." Throughout the week, Rory worked at 'Newton's Olympic Outfitters' the store owned by Mike's parents.

Being friends with the boy for so long had gotten her in the good graces of his parents, so good that they had offered her a job if she wanted to take it, which she did.

"Didn't she get you a gift for your birthday?" He raised a brow and she held her hands up in defense. "Bella's orders. No presents." She said defensively, mouth full of bread.

Her father grimaced, grumbling about her manners.

A loud honk came from outside their house, just as Rory finised her plate. "That's Bella." she stood and placed her dishes in the kitchen sink. "Bye daddy!" She kissed his cheek before rushing out the front door.

The brunette shut the front door, stepping out onto the porch and jogged down the steps. She walked to the sidewalk where Bella's beat up truck was parked on the street.

"Hey, birthday girl." Bella only rolled her eyes in response. "Morning, Rory." The Swan girl placed the truck in drive before driving off.

"So, how's it feel to be officially eighteen?" Rory asked, her gaze set outside, watching as the trees passed.

"Don't mention it." Bella scolded her slightly.

"I'm still not sure as to why it's such a big deal. You're growing up, kid." Rory was unaware of the secret Bella held. The sole reason why Bella was afraid to get older, she felt bad, keeping such a big secret from her best friend.

"Maybe i'm just scared to grow up." Bella shrugged as the duo pulled up to the school parking lot.

Rory hummed in agreement. "You and me, both, and I'm older than you." Rory had turned eighteen back in August, she'd spent her birthday with her father in Seattle. Bella had gifted her the cd player she'd used so often now.

"That's...unsettling." Rory mumbled when she spotted Edward and Alice side by side leaning on his volvo, watching as Bella parked her truck.

Rory had never really been friends with the Cullens, more so only speaking to them because Bella was dating Edward. She spoke to Rosalie and Emmett, but mostly because the three of them were partnered up in English.

"I'll catch you after school?" Rory asked Bella as the duo hopped out of the truck. "Yeah." Bella had become Rory's ride to school, yes she was eighteen and without her license, sue her.

Just as she was about to walk past Edward and Alice, the girl called out to her. "Rory!" Alice's voice caught her attention, causing her to turn around. "Hi." The brunette greeted the duo. "I organized a little get together at our house for Bella's birthday, you should come!" Rory's brow furrowed in confusion but nonetheless she shrugged.

"Sure, I'm not busy."

Little did she know that would be a mistake, that she'd be sucked into a world she wasn't prepared for.

—

I LOVE RORY!!

this is my reminder that i need to get my license 💔