Rory gathered the books she wanted to take home and shoved them in her backpack. She slammed the locker shut and turned around, running into her best friend Tristen DuGray.

"Hey Rory." He said, "In a hurry."

"Actually I was going to look for you." She said

"Really?"

"Yeah, I need a ride home if its not too much trouble."

"No problem." He said, taking her backpack from her.

They walked down the hall and out the door, heading for the student parking lot. Tristen unlocked her door and opened it for her.

"Thanks." She said, getting in.

He closed the door and walked around to his side. Opening the door, he put her backpack in back along with his. He got in the shut the door. Starting the car he pulled out of the lot, heading for her house.

"So why isn't James driving you home?" He asked, mentioning Rory's boyfriend. Whom I can't stand.

"James won't be driving me home anymore." She said quietly

"How come?" he asked, pressing the question What could he have done?

"We are taking a break." She said, continuing to stare out the window

"A break?"

"James broke up with me." She said, turning to him, "He doesn't want to be in a long term relationship anymore."

"Rory, I'm so sorry. I'm here if you want to talk." He said, Yes! Yes! Yes! She's finally free.

Thanks Tristen." She said, patting his hand "That's why you are my best friend."

"Best friends forever." He said I don't' want to be your friend anymore! I want more!

A few minutes later Tristen pulled into the driveway of the Hayden mansion. He parked his car in front of the house and turned to her.

"Are you going to be all right?"

"I'm gonna be fine."

She opened the door and climbed out of the car. Turning to him, she said

"Do you want to come in for a bit?"

"Sure, let me move the car."

"All right."

She stepped back and he pulled away from the house. He parked the car along side the house and parked. As he got out, she walked over to him.

"Do you think you could help me with my calculus later?"

"Sure."

They walked to the front door and Rory pulled out her keys. She unlocked the door and pushed it open.

"Hello?"

Lorelai came out of the kitchen, carrying a mug.

"Hey guys. How was school."

"Great mom." Rory said, "I got an A on my Lit test."

"Wonderful." She said, "And how was your day Tristen?"

"It was all right."

"How did you do on the Lit test?"

"I got an A too."

"That's wonderful. Why don't we go out and celebrate tonight."

"Sounds like fun mom." Rory said, "Are you up for it Tristen?"

"Thanks Lorelai, it sounds like fun."

"Any time. Now I had better go. That works not getting done any faster with me out here." Lorelai said, "How about we leave about 7. Your dad should be home then Rory."

"All right. We'll be upstairs studying until its time to go."

"Okay."

Lorelai headed towards the study while Tristen and Rory made their way to the staircase. Slowly they made their was up the stairs and down the hall to a door. She opened the door and they walked into the bedroom. She threw her backpack on the bed and walked over to the dresser. Tristen watched as she pulled out a pair of jeans and a shirt, then walked over to a dressing screen. As she disappeared behind it, she said

"Tristen, you can take your jacket off and get more comfortable."

"All right."

Tristen slipped his jacket off and hung it on a hook. Slowly he loosened his tie and untucked his shirt. After a minute, he started to unbutton his shirt, revealing a white wifebeater. He was starting to slip the shirt off when Rory emerged from behind the screen, her eyes fixing on the well-defined muscles in his back and forearms.

When did he become so hot? Wait, this is Tristen…your best friend and lifelong buddy.

He turned and she immediately looked away. His eyes stayed on her for a minute, taking in the dark blue low rise jeans and purple lace up tank top she wore.

Wow…

"Rory?"

Slowly she turned her attention back to him.

"Yeah?"

"Are you all right?"

"Fine…I'm fine."

She slowly moved across the room, towards the dresser to check her answering machine. When she saw the message light blinking, she hit the button.

"Hey Rory, its Madelyn. I'm having a party tonight, 8:00 my house. Be there."

The machine clicked off.

"So you gonna go?" he asked

"No, I don't think so."

"Why not?"

"No one to go with."

This is your chance. Do it now.

"Well we could always go together."

"We…you and me…like on a date?"

"No…as friends. I mean we are friends, so why can't we go to a party as friends."

"I don't see any reason why not." She said, "All right, I'll go."

"Cool. So I'll pick you up around 7:30."

"All right."

Tristen slipped his shirt back on and grabbed his jacket.

"So, I'll see you later."

"I thought we were going to hang out."

"Just remembered I have something to do at home. I'll see you at 7:30."

Before she could speak, he was out the door. Rory stood next to the dresser for a minute, then turned away. She walked out of the bedroom and slowly headed downstairs. She headed for the den. Knocking on the door, she heard her mother said

"Its open."

She pushed the door open slowly. Lorelai looked up from her paperwork.

"Its not 7 already is it?"

"No its still early." She said, "But can we take a raincheck on the celebration."

"I guess so. Are you going to do something else?"

"Well Madelyn is having a party tonight and I was going to go."

"Who are you going with?"

Rory mumbled a response.

"Who?"

"Tristen." She said, a little louder

"You're going on a date with Tristen?"

"Its not a date. We're going as friends."

"As friends…"

"Yes, as friends. Why do you find it so hard that Tristen and I are going to a party as friends."

"Rory how long have you known Tristen?"

"Since I was a little kid."

"And when ever you were in trouble at school, who did you turn too."

"Tristen. Mom where is this going?"

"Rory, I've seen the way he looks at you."

"What do you mean, the way he looks at me."

"Rory he likes you…more than you think."

"Don't be absurd mom. Tristen doesn't like me."

"Open your eyes Rory. He's head over heels…over the moon for you."

"Whatever you say mom. I'll see you later. I still need to find something to wear."

Rory turned around and walked out of the den. She walked back up the stairs and to her bedroom. Opening the closet door, she stepped inside and looked around, trying to decide what to wear. She picked out several pieces of clothing and carried them into her room, setting them on the bed. She studied each piece carefully, trying to make the perfect outfit.

After a few minutes, she picked up an electric blue sweater that bared her midriff and a black skirt that ended just above her knees. She carried them over to the mirror and held them up in front of her.

"Perfect."

She carried the clothes into the bathroom and set them down on the counter. Quickly she stripped off her clothes and stepped into the shower.

Later that evening

The bathroom door opened and Rory emerged. She was wearing the blue sweater, black skirt and a pair of black knee high socks with blue stripes. Her long brown hair was curled and her make up was perfect. She sat down on the bed and pulled on a pair of black stack heel boots.

She stood up and made her way over to the dresser. After looking around for a few minutes, she found a gold charm bracelet, a pair of small gold hoop earring and a thin gold chain. She started to put the earring in when she spotted something on her mirror. Slowly she reached out and pulled down the picture of her and Tristen. She remembered when they took the picture last year during a school field trip. She was leaning against him and his arm was wrapped around her shoulder.

She set the picture down and grabbed another one. In this one, she was smiling for the camera but Tristen was looking at her. She could see something in his eyes.

Could it be…no, its not possible.

She set the picture down and turned away from the dresser.

"Rory! Tristen's here!"

She looked at the clock, not believing it was already 7:30. Grabbing a jacket, she started down the stairs. She was in the middle of the staircase when she stopped dead in her tracks. Standing at the bottom of the staircase was Tristen. He was wearing a pair of baggy black pants, a white collarless shirt and a pair of black shoes. His eyes fixed on her as she resumed moving down the stairs.

She's gorgeous.

She stopped at the bottom of the steps, standing in front of him.

"So you ready to go?" he asked

"Yeah. Bye mom, see you later."

They walked out the door and headed for his car.

Well seems like a nice safe place to stop for the evening. Hope everyone enjoyed the story.