*I don't own anything from Gilmore Girls, although I wouldn't mind owning Chad Michael Murray. Anyway, this story takes place the night after the play in Run Away Little Boy. If it didn't, let's just pretend it took place on a Friday. Tristan never got sent to military school, they kissed in the play, Dean was jealous, blah, blah, blah. Jess is working at Luke's.*

Rory lay on her bed, thinking about Tristan and Dean. Dean was her boyfriend. She loved him. She and Tristan were…well, she didn't quite know. They weren't dating, that's for sure. They weren't enemies, as they had once been. But, they weren't friends either. They were – partly civil to each other. Then Jess popped into her thoughts. Sometimes she thought he was into her. One minute he was sweet and intellectual, the next he was being a jerk and was confusing her. Just like Tristan. The uncertainty of the situation filled Rory's mind, and she groaned and rolled over.

The next morning, she awoke to a loud pounding coming from the outside of her house. She sighed and wiped the sleep from her eyes, silently willing for the person to go away. When the knocking persisted, she got up and trudged over to the front door. "Tristan?" Rory asked with surprise. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Wow. I didn't think I'd ever hear you say 'hell'." He mocked. "Good morning to you too, Mary."

"What do you want?"

"I just thought I'd stop by to see if you wanted to get some coffee with me."

"I can't." She looked down at her feet.

"Why not? I never thought I would hear you pass up coffee."

"Dean-."

"Ah, yes. Dean. You know, however jealous he may be that we kissed, that shouldn't stop you from going out for coffee with me."

"Tristan, I just really don't want to screw things up with him."

"Oh, come on Rory. Please just let me take you out for coffee." Tristan pleaded.

"I don't know."

"It's just coffee. I know you love coffee. I promise. Just me, you, and some coffee. No strings attached." He smiled at her. "Please?"

"Fine. Come in and sit down. I'll be ready in fifteen minutes." He walked in and closed the door behind him. Rory went off to what he guessed to be the bathroom. Tristan sat down on their couch and looked around, tapping his fingers on his leg. He had actually convinced Rory to go. Finally. She had gotten under his skin so fast. He had liked her for so long. Unfortunately, she loved Dean. In his own opinion, Tristan thought Dean was overprotective and manipulative. He couldn't stand the guy. Suddenly, a woman he guessed to be Rory's mother came down the stairs. He stood up quickly.

"Good morning Miss Gilmore. I'm Tristan DuGrey." He stuck out his hand.

"Evil Tristan? What are you doing here? And it's Lorelai." He pulled his hand back.

"Okay Lorelai, I'm taking Rory out for coffee."

"Does she know?" He chuckled.

"Yes she does. I'm just waiting for her to get ready."

"So what are your intentions for coffee this morning with my daughter? Practice your 'Macbeth'? Or maybe she can practice 'The Taming of the Shrew' on you. Or maybe Paris." Lorelai smiled at him. She could tell he was uncomfortable. She liked it that way.

"No, I just want to get to know Rory a little better. Maybe even be her friend."

"And starting out with coffee? Good choice, E.T." She approved jokingly and walked into the kitchen. He followed her.

"E.T.?"

"Yeah, Evil Tristan. It all depends on you to be moved up to Bad Tristan. Or maybe even Civil Tristan." She put the water in the coffee maker and pressed the 'on' button.

"I see."

"Said the blind man to his deaf dog." Lorelai embellished. Rory passed by them on the way to her bedroom and shut the door. Her mother walked in after her. "So Evil Tristan, huh? Now should I call him E.T. as in 'E.T. phone home', or ET? ET as in kind of like 'it' with an 'eh' sound to it. Like 'Rhett' without the 'r'. Oooooo, maybe I could call you two Rhett and Scarlett." She rambled.

"Mom…"

"Yeah, sorry. So what should I call him?"

"I don't know. I guess that depends on how breakfast goes."

"What if Dean sees you guys? What are you going to tell him?" Lorelai asked seriously.

"The truth. I'll tell him that we're there as friends. Nothing more."

Outside in the kitchen, Tristan had overheard Rory's last remark. Okay, so he had heard everything they were saying, but this one perked his ear. Nothing more. They were just friends. Nothing more. 'That might be all we ever are.' He reminded himself. Tristan, however, hoped that wasn't true. Then again, being friends was better than nothing. But maybe it wasn't. Being friends and knowing that's all you would ever be can sometimes be harder than being nothing at all. Rory and Lorelai stepped out of Rory's room.

"Ready?" Tristan asked.

"Yeah, let's go."

"Bye, Rhett. Bye Scarlett, love you." She called.

"Bye mom, love you too."

"Bye." He called back. They walked out the door and down the porch. "Rhett?"

"Don't ask." Rory looked straight ahead. "Nice ride." She commented at the silver BMW convertible, running her hand along the side.

"Thank you." He walked around and opened the passenger's side door for her.

"Thank you." Tristan got in the driver's side, started the car, and drove off.

"So where is this coffee place?" Rory gave him directions and he started a conversation.

"Is your mom always that inviting?"

"Well, since I've told her everything you've ever done to me, she just needs some time to warm up to you. Assuming that you won't be Evil Tristan anymore."

"She told me about that. I can be bumped up to Bad Tristan or even Civil Tristan. Which one do you think I should go for first?" Tristan glanced over at Rory.

"Small steps are good. Unless you want to take a big, risky leap."

"I've always been a risk taker. No reason to change now." He grinned at her.

"Guess not. Umm, Tristan, can I ask you for a favor?" She bit her lip.

"It depends. Will it immediately get me knocked up to Civil Tristan?"

"Maaaayyyybeeeee." She drew out in emphasis.

"Okay, what is it?" He didn't know why he asked. He already knew.

"If we see Dean, can you please not fight with him? Or at least not provoke it? Please?" Rory pleaded.

"I won't fight with Dean." Tristan agreed, knowing that it may be difficult.

"Promise?"

"I promise."

"Thank you. Will you get mad if I question your motives about today?" Tristan took in sharp breath. She obviously still didn't trust him. He hadn't exactly expected her to, but he had hoped.

"Are you questioning my motives?"

"No."

"Then I have no reason to be mad." They locked eyes and smiled, riding the rest of the short drive in silence. They pulled up outside of Luke's. Rory looked around before entering, and luckily, for both her and Tristan's sake, Miss Patty, Babette, and none of the other known town gossips were around. "What are you doing?"

"Looking for someone. And no, not Dean." She answered quickly and dragged him inside. "Hi Luke!" He looked up from wiping down the counter.

"Hey." He acknowledged Tristan. "Who are you?" He looked back at Rory. "Who is he?"

"Just a friend. Luke, this is Tristan. Tristan, Luke." Tristan held out his hand, but Luke ignored it.

"Tristan from Chilton? The one that tortures you?" Luke started coming out from behind the counter and Tristan took a few steps back, nervous and kind of intimidated.

"No. Well, yes, but he doesn't torture me anymore. We're friends now." Rory explained before Luke could accidentally ruin any aspects of their still-budding friendship.

"Okay. But call me if he gives you any trouble."

"Will do." Rory bobbed her head to confirm. "So, can I have three blueberry pancakes with fries and a coffee?"

"Fries? In the morning? You are so your mother's child."

"I'll take that as a compliment and pass it on."

"What about Blondie over there? What does he want?" Luke looked over at Tristan, who was still a few feet away.

"Same as Rory, except bacon instead of fries."

"Coming right up." Luke looked them over once more before heading off into the kitchen. Tristan looked at Rory and raised his eyebrows.

"Wow. Is everyone in this town that overprotective of you?" She shrugged.

"Pretty much. Don't worry, though. Luke's a softie. Aren't you Luke?" She called into the back. All they heard in response was some grumbling. Rory grinned and grabbed his arm. "Come on, let's sit down." They took a seat at a table by the window.

"So tell me all about this crazy little town of yours."

"What do you want to know?"

"To start, who's who?"

"Okay, well, Luke owns the diner. His nephew, Jess, lives and works here. Lane is my best friend besides my mom. Her mom owns the antique store. Sookie is the chef at my mom's inn. She's engaged to Jackson, the produce guy. Babette is our neighbor. Miss Patty runs the dance studio. She and Babette are the town gossips, so we have to be careful around them. Taylor owns the market where Dean works and Kirk is just … here. That's basically it."

"I think I got it." Luke came over and set down their meals.

"So where's your mom?"

"She's at home, but she'll probably be here in a few minutes." Sure enough, a few moments later, Lorelai walked into the diner.

"Luuuuke! Can I have some-." She greeted. Luke was behind the counter, ringing up a check.

"No." He automatically answered without looking up.

"Please." She begged.

"No."

"But I haven't even told you what I wanted yet."

"Don't whine. And I already know you want coffee. And no. Again. That stuff will kill you."

"No, it won't. See, it actually keeps me alive. And I wasn't going to ask for coffee. I was going to ask for a brown, caffeine-filled liquid. Perhaps with some milk and sugar. You know you make the best brown, caffeine-filled liquid with milk and sugar." She was sucking up, and they both knew it. But of course, it didn't work.

"Go sit down and I'll bring it to you in a minute."

"Can I have a blueberry muffin too?"

"Fine." He grunted and turned around. Happy, Lorelai barged into a chair at Tristan and Rory's table.

"So, what's up? Been to hell and back yet today?"

"Nope, haven't seen Dean." Rory answered, matter-of-factly, sipping her coffee.

"Oh, child. You cannot be cruel to your mother like that. Drinking coffee when I have none yet." She grinned. "I have taught you well."

"Thank you." Luckily, Luke came over and reluctantly handed Lorelai her coffee and muffin.

"Luke?"

"What?"

"You are God."

"Whatever. You guys want anything else?" He asked, turning his attention to Rory and Tristan.

"More coffee please." Rory ordered sweetly.

"Nothing, thanks." Tristan answered respectfully. Their attention turned to Lorelai when she shouted.

"You evil man! This is decaf! Luke, you know I don't do decaf. It's just not right. Decaf is a pointless, inhumane existence."

"Decaf will extend your life."

"I don't care. Can I have REAL coffee, please?" She pouted.

"Fine. But I'm not hosting your funeral reception thingy."

"Reception?"

"Whatever." Luke turned to retrieve REAL coffee.

"Sooooo, what have Rhett and Scarlett been talking about?" Lorelai asked as she turned her head to make sure Luke was pouring her the good coffee.

"I was just telling Tristan about everyone in Stars Hollow." Rory stated.

"Ahhh, intrigued?" She asked Tristan.

"Scared, actually."

"Well, you should be. You know, all us crazy small town folk. Speaking of, here comes Miss Patty." Lorelai warned quietly.

"Good morning girls. Rory, who is your little friend?" The dance instructor smiled flirtatiously at him. Tristan smiled politely, and then looked at Rory, a little freaked.

"Miss Patty, this is my friend Tristan. He goes to school with me at Chilton. He's a sophomore. Just like me. Sixteen also, just like me." Rory hinted. That seemed to scare Miss Patty off a little.

"Interesting. Well, it was nice meeting you, Tristan. I'll see you girls later." Miss Patty turned to leave.

"Bye Patty." Lorelai called, amused.

"Well, I'm officially frightened of your quaint little town." He stuffed a forkful of pancakes into his mouth.

"The hits just keep on coming." The eldest Gilmore girl groaned.

"What?" The two teenagers turned to look out the window where Lorelai was staring. Dean was standing there, not looking very pleased. He stormed into the diner.

"Rory, what is HE doing here?" He demanded angrily.

"Dean, don't freak out. We were just having coffee. Nothing else. Well, except the pancakes. And the bacon, and the fries. So breakfast really. We were just having breakfast." Rory jumped up and explained quickly.

"There's no reason to be mad, Dean." Lorelai quietly said. "I was here the whole time." Dean ignored her lie.

"Stay away from Rory, Tristan! I mean it." By now the whole diner was watching and Luke had come out of the kitchen to see what all the yelling was about.

"You can't tell me what to do, Bag Boy. If Rory wants to be friends with me, then we're going to be friends." They both looked at Rory.

"I…I…Dean, Tristan's trying to be nice to me. Please don't get mad." She implored. Tristan was getting slightly pissed, and he felt the anger boiling up inside of him, his fist ready to punch Dean. That is, until he saw Rory out of the corner of his eye. Her eyes were silently pleading with him not to do anything. Not to fight. So he didn't.

"Listen, I came here to have a friendly breakfast with Rory. Not to fight with you." He reached into his pocket and snatched a ten out of his wallet. "I'll call you later, Rory." He threw the money down on the table and left.

"No, you won't!" Dean exclaimed after him. Rory sighed and slumped back into her chair as Tristan drove away from Stars Hollow.

"Wow." Lorelai breathed. "He gave us money to pay with." They looked at her. "Good man."