Yay!!! A new story. I must say though that this is my most exciting story every because now I have footnotes. Well actually a footnote, but I'm still proud.

It was stupid to be doing this. No, it was more than that it was ridiculous, heedless, and downright pathetic. After all this time she might not even remember me at all. Four years of life have transpired between then and now. And closing that chasm, interrupting her life with another inept attempt at charm? Was beyond dishonorable, hell it was downright despicable. But still there he sat waiting to gather the courage to enter her life again. But you're different now, a voice sang inside his head. Well at least that was true, if nothing else.

He sat by the coffee cart knowing that she would eventually find her way here. (And knowing her probably sooner rather than later.) Berating himself for coming, whilst knowing that it didn't change the fact that he was here. And here he would remain until she forced him back out. It was a thought that weighed heavily on him constricting him to near breathlessness. Then seemly out of nowhere she was there. Like an apparition of both his worst fears and greatest hopes.

She had her back turned to him, chatting amiably with the man preparing her drink. She wore a black peacoat over a skirt and boots. Her hair was shorter, hanging slightly above her shoulders. And still the most amazingly beautiful girl he'd ever seen. Tristan stood from the bench he had occupied all afternoon and waited patiently for her to turn around. So unsure of what her reaction might be. Endless moments seemed to pass by as Rory exchanged money and a few more words with the man. Finally after what seemed an eternity she turned.

"Mary..." Tristan said calmly as a wide grin spread over his handsome features. Her head moved quickly, at the sound of a long forgotten nickname. Searching for the person who had spoken. Knowing instantly but still not quite believing. Her eyes finally coming to rest on none other than Tristan Dugrey. The last person she'd ever thought she'd see again. But there he was smiling at her with that all to familiar mocking grin that had always both irritated and challenged her.

"Tristan?" She said hesitantly, still dazed that after all this time here he was standing in front of her as though he'd never left.

"One and the same. I know I know your so blinded by my striking good looks that your speechless. It's okay it seems to happen a lot." He said as hint of laughter crept into his voice. Tristan was shocked by how different she looked. Still as beautiful as always, with the same entrancing blue eyes. But older somehow, her face now lacking that endearing innocence that he'd come to know so well.

"Hardly, just shocked that your still as much of a vain immature jerk as you were the last time I saw you." Rory replied falling back easily into their age old repartee, as she took her first sip of coffee.

"Ahhh... that hurts." Tristan said placing a hand over his heart in a weak attempt at anguish. "bon Dieu, is that any way to treat an old friend?"

Old friend? Tristan? Hardly, he'd infuriated her and made a hellish time of her fist year at Chilton. Though for reasons she had yet to comprehend she'd missed him sorely when he was gone. Tristan had been her rival, her sparring partner, and sadly at times one of the best friends she'd ever had in the staid ivory halls of Chilton.

"And to think I was going to let you show me around my new school!" Tristan said impishly. He was secretly both surprised and gleeful by the easy way she had accepted him. He had originally assumed she would be annoyed by his sudden reentrance into her life. But on the contrary she seemed to be pleased to see him.

"What makes you think I'd want to show a cad like you around. Why it might ruin my spotless reputation." Rory answered laughing. How she missed this. Being with Tristan was escapism of the best kind. In just their brief conversation she'd slipped back into the ghost of the person she had been when she had last known him. The old Rory. The one who compulsively made lists and knew where she stood. The Rory who would never dream of debasing herself to the point that she actually believed that all she was worth was a couple of hours of rough and tumble between the sheets with a rich playboy.

Tristan could see a shadow cross her face. Turmoil thick in her eyes. Attempting to lighten the mood best he could. "Oh pssh we both know that your reputation could only be enhanced by being seen with the likes of me."

Rory rolled her eyes. Pushing the unpleasant thoughts from her mind as best she could. "Wait a minute...your new school? As in Yale?" She said as the wheels turned rapidly in her mind.

"But of course. I transferred here to finish out my college degree. How could I resist the urge to spend out the rest of my college days basking in the wonder that could only be known as Rory Gilmore." Tristan said only half mocking.

"Now to celebrate my gallant return into your life I think its only natural that we celebrate." He said before she had the chance to respond to his last remark. " I vote we grab a beer at ye old public house."

Rory smiled at his seemingly abundant energy, something she was sorely lacking these days. Allowing herself only a moment to wonder about what Logan would think. How mad he'd be if he saw this exchange. But he laid no claim to her. In fact he himself was the reason they were not exclusive. " Sure," she said dropping her now empty cup into the garbage. "As long as you keep two feet of distance between us at all times."

He laughed freely, tipping his head back, relieved that she had agreed. But he had not missed that cloud that had yet again fallen over her face like a heavy shroud. "Ahhh still afraid of my most masculine presence are we?"

"Yeah that's it." She replied rolling her eyes as she began to walk in the direction of the bar. "More like I'd like to keep the sexual assault to a minimum for tonight."

As the pair walked a companionable silence fell over them. Both completely lost in their own thoughts. Rory, herself was struck by the difference in Tristan. Sure he still maintained his flirtatious charm, that confidence that was so inherently him. But somehow in the four years since she'd last seen him, he'd lost his smug arrogance. He seemed somehow more mature, more adult. Less like the spawn of Satan she once had known.

Their walk was a quick one before the couple knew it they had arrived at the pub that laid just off campus. It was a noisy place, as most college bars were. Filled with the sounds of billiard balls clacking, loud conversation, and a football game on TV. The two eventually found a table near the back to sit.

"So tell me what's happened since the night of the play?" Rory asked after just a few moments of silence. "I mean one minute were searching like crazy to find you...and the next your telling me goodbye."

"Well . . . after I said goodbye to you, my father put me on a plane and sent me to a military school." Tristan started simply, not quite knowing how to begin his little tale or really how much of it she'd want to know. Rory smiled warmly, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, trying her best to be reassuring.

"At first . . . " he started again, "I hated it. Resented everything and everyone around me. I convinced myself that I didn't need to deal with the constant barrage of what I considered to be absolute bullshit." Rory felt herself leaning forward totally consumed by the story that Tristan was slowly unfurling. Knowing instinctively that the tale he was telling was inherently vital.

"But eventually I began to realize how much I needed a place like that. The school allowed me to start over completely. Suddenly it was a level playing field. It didn't matter to anyone who my father was, or how much money I had." Tristan said smiling for the first time since the narrative began. "When I screwed up no one was there to make amends for me. And I couldn't believe how good it felt."

As the story continued Rory could help but be proud of the man Tristan had become. He was so much more adult, so much more sure of himself, and in a way that seemed neither cocky, nor arrogant. Though it hurt a little to see him so strong and capable, when she herself felt so adrift. It was truly ironic, appearing that in the four years since they had last seen each other that there had been some major role reversal. It was an unsettling feeling to say the least.

Suddenly the couple was jolted from their conversation by a waitress asking there order. "Just coffee for me please." Rory said barely looking up from Tristan's face.

Tristan grinned at her order but decided not to comment "Kilian's red, please." he said pleasantly.

When they received there drinks Tristan asked, "So what about you? Why are you here at Yale instead of the hallowed halls of Harvard?"

"Well I got accepted to both," Rory said blushing slightly, " So I made a list and Yale came out on top."

"Ahhh yes can't defeat the cold hard logic of a pro con list." He said teasingly as he took a sip from his beer.

"Hey don't mock my lists," Rory answered resisting the urge to stick out her tongue.

"Wouldn't dream of it." He replied smirking

"What ever happened to Dean?" He asked desperate to unravel the enigma that was the new Rory.

She winced ever so slightly, that was a topic she usually avoided at all costs. Thoughts of Dean always crept up late at night. When the jaded wall she had built up was lowered slightly. Allowing a flood of painful memories to squander what was left of the person she used to be.

Tristan knew he had hit a nerve with his question and was about to change the subject when she spoke. "We stayed together after you left, but it was odd. It felt like we were different people trying to hold on to something that no longer existed." She paused and took a drink, "But inevitably we ended, " Rory said shrugging.

He could tell that there was more to the story then what she was telling. But didn't push, though his need to know what had changed her was overwhelming. A poignant silence felling over the two. Neither knowing what to say, grasping dangerously for a safe subject.

Rory's eyes suddenly widened like a deer caught in the headlights. Tristan could hear footsteps behind him, but dared not turn.

And then a voice from behind him said "Hi I'm Logan, and you are?"

A/N

bon Dieu: French for good God

Suprised by another lame attempt by me to force Rory and Tristan together? Prorbaly not. First thank you for reading and I promise to be you best friend if you review!

P.S. I need a beta if you can't tell by my horrible grammar, anyone interested? I'll give you a cookie