Chapter 2

The last bell of the day rang loudly throughout Chilton, and Rory let out a sigh of relief. She got up and gathered her books and prepared to make her way to her locker. Tristan was waiting for her outside the door. He fell in step with her as they walked. Once they reached her locker, curiosity got the better of her.

"Tristan, can I ask you a something?"

"Ask away, Mary."

Rory glared at him, but continued packing up her backpack.

"Who are you and what exactly is your status here?" Rory was shocked that her voice came out as confidently as it had. Tristan looked slightly taken aback at her forwardness.

"Well, what do you think it is?"

Rory let out an aggravated sigh. "If I knew, then I wouldn't be asking," she responded curtly.

"It's a long story, if you let me give you a ride home then I might be inclined to tell you," he replied with an evil grin.

"I suppose…one thing first, can I trust you?"

Tristan ice blue eyes staring deep into her cerulean eyes, "I don't know, can you?"

His piercing gaze sent shivers down Rory's spine and her stomach was still filled with butterflies. She smiled seductively.

"Let's go," she whispered as she started walking towards the front door. Tristan's head fell back as he felt the electricity course through his veins. He quickly recovered and jogged to catch up to her.

As they approached Tristan's electric blue Porsche, Rory's nerves started kicking into high gear. What was she doing, this wasn't like her. She felt drawn to him, she felt safe. She also knew that there was something that he wasn't telling her.

"So, you're gonna have to help me out," Tristan said as they got in the car. Rory looked at him confused. "I don't know where you live," he clarified.

"Oh, right. I'm actually going over to my grandparents' house here in Hartford."

"Do you not live in Hartford also?" He asked.

"No," Rory responded shyly. "I actually live in Stars Hollow."

"That's a long way from here, do you own a car?"

"No, I am going to be taking the bus," she replied.

"Seriously? No girl of mine is going to be taking public transportation."

This bold statement both shocked and irritated Rory. Who the hell does he think he is? What a pompous ass to automatically assume that I would want to be 'his girl'. Despite her rising anger, Rory found herself imagining what all that would entail. The kisses, the touches, the…..stop it! She mentally berated herself.

"Rory?" Tristan called.

Hearing her actual name, Rory snapped out of her daydream. "What?"

"You're grandparents live on Mason Street, right?"

"Yeah, but how did you…"

"I'm a Dugray. Ours families run in the same social circle. That is part of the reason you have intrigued me. You are a Gilmore, but I have never seen you at any of the mandatory social gatherings" he continued.

"Well," she started. "Wait…we are supposed to be talking about you, not me."

"Oh, right. You wanted to know who I am and what my status at Chilton is, correct?" Rory nodded her head. "Well, as you just learned, I am a Dugray. Important name, lots of money, blah, blah, blah. My grandfather is Janlen Dugray; he is a very good friend of your grandfather, Richard. It is because of my name that I have become, well, I guess you could say the King of Chilton." Tristan mused.

Rory just looked at him in slight shock. Tristan, upon seeing her expression chuckled a little. After a minute Rory got her voice back and her mind on track.

"You referred to me as 'a girl of yours'. Now given your status, Your Majesty, I am not one to be 'one of the many'. So given that information, you don't have to worry about me. I can handle public transportation. I also to find it a little off-putting that you would just assume that I would want to be a girl of yours."

They pulled in the driveway of the Gilmore's very impressive mansion. Rory was just about to open the door and get out of the stylish sports car when Tristan grasped her wrist causing her to turn back around.

"Something you should know, Mary…it is because of me that you didn't have slime balls pawing at you all day. I hold the power in that school and believe me, to those guys, you are fresh meat. I think that you are also guilty of assuming things. You are not one of the many, not in the way you are thinking anyway," Tristan stated matter-of-factly.

Rory looked from his electric eyes to his hand that was still wrapped firmly around her wrist as he continued. "It's true that I have been with a lot of girls, and they are the ones the dubbed me The King. But, my girls are Louise, Madeline, Paris and now, you. All it means is that you are under my protection and that no one will bother you, unless you approve of course," he laughed.

With that, he released her wrist, as she muttered a thank you for the ride. "And I am very protective," Tristan said to an empty car before pulling out and heading to his house.

As Tristan entered his room, he laid down on his California King Size bed. He couldn't stop thinking about Rory. She was different from all the other girls in Hartford, and in Chilton. He felt something more for her from the moment he saw her that morning. He just needed to prove to her that he wasn't the major player that she perceived him to be, while keeping all the other guys away from her. He had a feeling that he was going to need Louise or Paris' help with this one. He realized that in order to give Rory a ride to school tomorrow, he would need her address. He looked at the clock. 3:45. Paris would still be at the Franklin, she could get him all the information he needed.

Reaching into his pocket, Tristan retrieved his cell phone and quickly dialed Paris' number.

"This better be life or death, Dugray. I'm in the middle of doing the next lay-out," Paris snapped.

"Kinky," Tristan chuckled. He could hear her sigh and her anger boil through the phone. "Sorry, Paris, I need your help. I need some information on—"

"On Rory, yeah I was expected your call," Paris replied. "I'll text it to you."

"Thanks so much Paris, you rock!"

"Yeah, I know."

Tristan snapped his phone shut and waited for Paris' text.