A/N: Thank you to everyone that has liked or reviewed! As promised, the next chapter is already here. I'd love to know what you think. Be sure to review!

Chapter 3

Rory had to take the earliest bus that there was in order to get to the school on time before they were to leave for Manhattan. As it was, she was the first to arrive. But since her mother needed the car for the day, if she wanted to go at all, she had to get there at 5:30 a.m. She had slept most of the bus trip, her brain too tired and the sky too dark for her to do any reading. When she arrived at school, she found a bench near the parking lot and sat down, her mind finally waking. The sun was just starting to make it's pink debut when the school bus pulled into the parking lot at 6:15. Shortly there after, everyone else trickled in with coffee cups and half-asleep expressions. Paris, who seemed to be in a constant state of 'GO', was the least tired of the bunch, although even she didn't look completely awake yet. Most of her classmates had arrived by the time Professor Anderson announced that they should break into pairs and board the bus.

Having been one of the first people to arrive, Rory occupied an empty seat near the center of the bus, hoping that someone would take pity on her and that she wouldn't be stuck with a chaperone as her buddy. It would be bad enough if it were just for the bus ride to Manhattan, but when Professor Anderson announced that they would be staying in their groups for the entire trip, Rory seriously hoped that she would not be stuck with the adults.

Her peers filtered onto the bus in groups of twos and fours, everyone passing her by with their own partner already in tow. When Professor Anderson began to do her headcount, Rory found herself even more panicked.

"Got room for two more?" A relaxed voice came from the front of the bus.

"Mr. Dugrey," the professor said flatly. "You and your father nearly missed us." And then, "Take a seat there, next to Ms. Gilmore."

Rory closed her eyes, her head lolling forward until it hit the seat in front of her. Sure, she and Tristan had had fewer nasty exchanges in the last few days than normal, but she also wasn't used to spending thirteen hours straight with the guy.

"Perfect," Tristan said happily, dropping himself into the small seat beside her. "Mary and I have a lot of catching up to do."

His father eyed Rory and Tristan warily, like he wondered what sort of trouble they might get into sitting there with forty other kids and parents all around, but didn't say anything as he slid into the front seat just a couple of rows ahead of them.

"Don't worry about him," Tristan said, following Rory's gaze to the back of his father's head.

Rory frowned. "Is he still upset about the safe thing?"

Tristan shrugged. "Something like that. Just wants to make sure I don't get into any trouble."

"Guess he's lucky that I'm looking out for you today," Rory said playfully. She hadn't expected the words to come out of her mouth, but once they did there was no denying them. Tristan gave her a huge lopsided grin- one that contained no contempt or malice- and that made Rory smile back.

"I guess he is," Tristan agreed, before settling back against the seat and closing his eyes.

Rory pulled out a book, feeling like if she tried any sort of small talk, she'd make a bigger fool of herself than she just had, and it was far too early in the day for her to regret more than one comment already. She buried her nose in the words, breathing them in the only way she knew how. Dean had often told her how strange it was that she could be so engrossed in a book with so many other things going on around her. But good stories just had a hold over her, like they enchanted her and wouldn't let her go. She rolled her eyes at her own thought; it was silly to feel that way about a book, wasn't it?

The bus had been on the road for a while when there was a knock on the other end of her hardcover. Rory lowered the book a couple of inches, meeting Tristan's eyes. "Yes?" she asked.

"You know how you're looking out for me today?" he asked, no hint of mockery in his tone.

"Yes…" she said again, a little more dubious than before.

"Well, I think we should make the most of it." Rory's eyes narrowed, preparing herself for what was bound to be a less than appreciated come-on. "I just mean, they're all planning on spending the day walking around Time Square before the show. And you and I both know that your idea of a good time is with a book."

"And what exactly do you suggest?"

He grinned his signature grin. "I know a place. An underground book club. A place where rare and unique books are sold at insanely discounted prices because everyone there is simply there for the love of the written word. It's just off Broadway and I am sure we could get there and back without being missed."

Rory's eyes lit up at his description. She could feel herself growing giddy at the thought of one of a kind books that she couldn't get anywhere else. But then Professor Anderson's voice rang through the quiet whispers on the bus, telling everyone that they would be getting off in five minutes and to collect their things, and Rory's excitement was squelched. She wasn't the type of girl to scamper around New York City with a classmate who was prone to getting himself in trouble.

"I, uh… I'm not sure that's the best idea," she said quietly, forcing herself to stick to the decision, even if it's not what she wanted. "Maybe another time?"

Tristan didn't say another word about it; he just raised her book back up to create a barrier between the two of them. Her brain weighed the pros and cons until the bus pulled to a stop and Rory made up her mind that they would have to stay with the group. She couldn't afford to screw anything up, and something like this was easily grounds for suspension, which Harvard would not look kindly upon. No, she would have to come back some other time and find the amazing underground book heaven.

She pushed her book into her purse and stood, exiting the bus with her classmates. She and Tristan walked side by side, his pace slowing her a little more every few moments until they had dropped to the middle of the group. They were heading down Broadway when he suddenly pulled her into a small convenience store.

"Tristan!" she said, trying to pull free from him. "This isn't funny, come on!"

Tristan nodded to the clerk. "I need a phone," he said, gesturing to the group on the wall. "One favor," he said to Rory quietly. "Please."

His eyes pleaded with her in a way that Rory hadn't expected. She thought he was playing a joke on her at first, but she saw the urgency in his eyes and she stopped struggling. The clerk handed him the phone and Tristan dropped a $50 on the counter and not waiting for his change, pushed the phone into Rory's bag and pushed her back out onto the sidewalk simultaneously. They were several yards behind the rest of the class, but with Tristan's urging, they quickly caught back up, bringing up the rear of the group.

"What was that about?" Rory whispered harshly.

"Trust me you don't want to know," he answered. Just then Tristan's father appeared and Rory lowered her gaze until she was staring at her shoes as they walked.

"Is there a problem here?" his father asked.

"Nope, just got stuck behind an Asian couple taking photos of every single illuminated sign in the square," Tristan lied. Rory's head snapped up, glaring at him. Her eyes then went to Tristan's father.

"Is that true?" he asked her. Rory cleared her throat. She wasn't sure why she felt like she needed to lie for Tristan, but still, she found herself telling him that yes, what his son had told him was the truth. "Make sure you don't get separated from the rest of the group again," he said gruffly. Tristan and Rory both nodded in unison.

She wasn't sure why she felt the need to protect Tristan from his father, but there was something in the urgency in his voice that made her not want to rat him out.

"I didn't think he would have noticed that quickly…" Tristan said quietly, once his father was out of earshot, almost more to himself than to Rory. He was quiet for a moment. And then, "I need you to do something for me."

"Not until you explain yourself," Rory answered. She knew just enough about Tristan to know that he was a troublemaker, and the last thing she needed was to be wrapped up in that trouble. She had enough issues with Paris as it was already, Rory didn't need any help in getting behind in school.

"It isn't that easy," Tristan answered, taking her hand and keeping her with him. Rory struggled to pull free, but he wouldn't let her.

"What is going ON?" She demanded finally, stopping in place.

Tristan's eyes darted around. "We have to stay with the group. Please."

With a heavy sigh, Rory moved one foot in front of the other, once again pulling up the rear of the group of students. Tristan still had ahold of her hand, which she was less than thrilled with, but he didn't seem to have any intentions of letting go, so she stopped struggling.

"Unless you want me to tell your dad what you just did, you're going to tell me what is going on." Rory glanced at him just briefly from the corner of her eye. He seemed to be debating inwardly what he wanted to do.

He took a long moment to reply, and when he did it was after a heavy sigh of his own. "He's not my dad," Tristan said. The words would have stopped Rory in her tracks had he not urged her on. "You have to act normal. He's not hurting me, or anything like that. Just keep up with the group and try not to react to what I'm telling you."

"B-bu-but-" Rory stammered.

"It's a really long story, and I can't go into an detail without getting you into trouble, so please don't ask me to explain."

"I don't understand."

"And to keep you safe that is the best thing for you," Tristan said. "I have to stay with my 'dad', but can you do me a favor?" Rory shrugged, not sure how to answer. Tristan continued. "After the show, before we leave the theater, I need you to call someone for me."

Rory's brow knit into a tight furrow. "Who?"

"My mom," Tristan said quietly. "She's been really upset about me being gone. I just need you to call her and tell her that Lucas will be home soon."

"Lucas?" Rory repeated.

He shook his head. "I know, it's more information than I should ever be giving you," he paused. "And if you think helping me is too dangerous you don't have to do it. If anything happened to you because of me…" he squeezed her hand tightly, and Rory realized that she didn't even remember that he'd been holding it all this time. "I would never intentionally put you in danger, Rory… you have to know that."

She looked at him now, meeting his eyes. The group had stopped at a crosswalk and Tristan's eyes were downcast, he looked sad and worried and… vulnerable. It was a look she had only caught glimpses of in the past, but she knew instinctively that this was the guy hiding beneath the surface. She was quiet for a long moment, making her decision. The group had started moving again and before taking her first step, Rory made up her mind.

"I'll do it," she said, not sure if she was informing him or trying to convince herself.

Tristan's face broke into a relieved smile. "You have no idea what this means to me." He swallowed hard. "I mean, it could be life saving… so thank you."

Rory nodded, not sure she wanted to know what she was getting herself into. She had a million questions swirling around her head, but she wasn't sure how to give voice to any of them. She wanted to know why he was here, who the man was that he was living with, which name was the real one- Tristan or Lucas. More than anything, she wanted to know what had happened to pull him away from his real family and stick him here. But with his insistence that she shouldn't even know the little he had told her, Rory knew better than to question anything else.

"What should I call you?" She whispered finally, leaning over. It was the only question she already knew the answer to, but the only one she could bring herself to ask.

"Tristan," he said quickly. "No one can know that anything has changed. Please, you can't tell a soul."

They walked on, Rory silent and Tristan back up to his old antics, being smart mouthed to Professor Anderson behind her back and laughing and joking with Duncan who had found them in the group. After a walk around 5th Avenue and Broadway, watching all of her rich classmates buy clothes and jewelry, Rory almost wished she had taken Tristan up on his offer of the bookstore.

Professor Anderson picked a small restaurant where the entire group could sit and eat together before the show and Rory took a seat beside Tristan before his friends were able to sit down.

"What should I do with the phone afterwards?" She asked, keeping her voice low.

Tristan looked up from his menu. "Toss it in the trash," he said. "It can't come back with us. If the call gets traced it can't ever get back to Chilton or me. Ditching it is the only way. Hopefully someone picks it up and uses it, keeps them off my trail."

"But who is-" Rory cut off when Madeline and Louise sat down at their table.

"Tristan," Madeline said with a grin. "I heard you promised to spend the day with Lydia today and now she is going to cancel your date for Friday night since you stood her up."

Tristan shrugged. "I can't help it my dad made me late. The only seat left was with Mary." He grinned and winked at Rory across the table.

Rory rolled her eyes. She wasn't sure anymore what was real and what was facade, but she took what she hoped was his lead and went with it. "All he's done all day is talk about what a wonderful, crazy, expensive date he has planned for Lydia," Rory said back with a grin of her own.

This seemed to catch Tristan off guard, but he recovered quickly. "But if Lydia would rather not go… I'm sure I can find someone to take her place."

Madeline and Louise exchanged a look, stood up from the table, and disappeared to find Lydia.

"Was that necessary?" Tristan asked once they were out of earshot.

Rory shrugged. "You mentioned the other day that there was something more important than money in the safe. Does it have to do with all of this?"

Tristan glanced around. Everyone seemed to be otherwise occupied. "You aren't going to let this go, are you?"

Rory rolled her eyes. "You didn't pick me because I'm the type of person to let things go without explanation. You could have had one of your ditsy girlfriends make a call at a party when they're drunk out of their mind and don't know what they're saying, let alone who they're talking to. But you picked me for a reason."

Tristan thought about this for a moment and then he met her eyes. "I picked you because you remind me of someone. A friend from back home." He sighed. "She's fiercely loyal, smart to a fault, and always has a snappy comeback that will put me in my place. It's kind of how I knew I could trust you." He glanced around. "I think my 'dad' is starting to get suspicious of all this deep conversation we're having," he said, leaning back against the seat and lacing his fingers behind his head. "He keeps looking over here."

Rory tried to force herself not to tense, and although she really wanted to turn and look, she made sure she stayed facing Tristan.

"I'm going to go find Lydia," he said. "But I'm going to slip a piece of paper into your purse before we leave that has the phone number on it. Ask for Haley, she'll get the information to the right place."

Rory nodded, giving him a weak smile. "Why don't you just go find your girlfriend then," she said loudly enough to disturb some of the nearby tables. It wasn't the first time Rory had been ostracized in her school; and if what Tristan or Lucas or whatever his name was- if what he told her was true, then she didn't mind taking a social blow for him if it meant protecting him.

Tristan rolled his eyes and got up from the table, leaving Rory alone. She picked at her plate of food, still feeling the questions bubbling up in her mind. Had he done something in a former life? Somewhere in the back of her mind, a statistic was rolling around. 95% of all people in the witness protection program were criminals. What if he was just playing her and by calling this Haley person she was giving some criminal organization a cue to do something terrible?

She glanced over at Tristan, sitting with his arm around Lydia, consoling her. He caught Rory's eye only once, a quick and appreciative smile crossing his features. Could he really be a part of something like that? Or was the story that he told her true? Rory wasn't sure what to believe anymore. She had suspicions that something had been off with Tristan, but she never thought it would be something like this.

Professor Anderson gave word that the group would be leaving and they all filed out of the restaurant and across the street to the theater. Rory found her seat just as the lights were beginning to dim. She had given Tristan her word that she would make the phone call. She couldn't back out now. Besides, what he had said about his friend back home made Rory recall all of the good that she'd seen in Tristan over the last year. She decided finally that she would believe him, and call Haley. Now there was nothing left to do but wait.

"Great," a flat voice said from behind her. Rory turned to see Paris there. "Looks like you're my new buddy."