Rory's Rival

Summary: Tristan and Logan haven't met. Tristan is Rory's best friend, and has been for years, and Logan wants to be with Rory. When Tristan is transferred to Yale he and Logan meet and it doesn't go the way Rory wanted.

I don't own Gilmore Girls, just the computer I'm typing it on.

Wow I can't believe how many reviews I've gotten. This is great! Below are the answers to the questions that people asked. And thanks to all the reviewers.

FAQ

Rory and Logan aren't together yet.

This takes place during season 5.

Lorelai is single.

Rory never slept with Dean, meaning she is still a virgin.

This story is going to be Rogan, but since I love a good Trory you never know if I'm going to change pairs.

Also the Hayden's (Strobe and Francine) will be administered. They are quite close with Rory (the dinner in the first season went differently then on the show) and have dinner with her every Saturday night.

Chapter Seven

"The mashed potatoes are really great Gran." Rory told Francine with a smile as she finished the remaining food that was on her plate.

Francine stares at Rory's plate for a second, "You and your mother fascinate me."

"I'm sure mom will love to hear that." Rory jokes.

"How can you eat like that and remain thin?" Francine has never understood Lorelai and Rory. They are constantly eating something or drinking coffee and yet they are both extraordinarily tall and skinny. "What kind of exercise do you do?"

Rory almost chokes on her water, "Exercise?"

"Yes, you know the thing that you do to stay healthy." Francine tells her dryly.

Rory shrugs, "We don't really exercise."

Strobe smiles at Rory, "That's not true. You're constantly debating."

"Debating isn't a sport, Strobe." Francine tells him.

"It is the way the Hayden's play." Strobe and Rory say in unison which causes them all to smile.

Rory puts down her water glass. "I'm sorry mom couldn't come tonight. She's having trouble with the inn."

"What sort of trouble?" Strobe asks. Strobe has always loved having a relationship with his granddaughter. To him it is like a second chance because of the way things turned out with him and Christopher. He also knew that was how the Gilmore's thought of Rory. She was a great girl.

Rory turns her attention to her grandpa. "Well Michel isn't being nice to the guests. He keeps yelling at everyone in French." Rory smiles. "It wouldn't be a big problem except that the guests know French and were greatly offended by what he said."

"What did he say?" Francine asks.

Rory hesitates, "Nothing I'd ever repeat."

Strobe and Francine nod.

"Well I hope everything ends alright." Strobe comments.

Rory nods, "Me too."

"Well why don't we have our dessert in the parlor? I want to show you the new family portrait." Francine stands up.

Rory gulps. She remembers the family portrait. She had spent several hours sitting up straight with a nice smile on her face trying not to laugh at her mother who was singing every show tune she could remember.

They all make their way into the parlor. Over the mantel is a very large oil painting with Strobe, Francine, Chris, and Rory in the center. Strobe and Chris are standing in the back, Francine is standing next to Rory who is sitting in a chair.

"Well." Rory doesn't know how to compliment it.

"It looks lovely doesn't it?" Francine asks.

Strobe stifles a laugh at Rory's expression.

"Yes, it does Gran." Rory smiles charmingly.

They all sit down around the coffee table and wait for Julie to bring in their cake.

When everyone is finished with dessert Rory gets up to leave. "Well I should be getting back to my dorm. I had a great evening." Rory says sincerely.

"I'm glad Rory." Francine tells her and gently kisses her cheek. They all walk into the foyer and Julie opens the door as Rory puts on her coat.

Outside snow falls heavily down into the driveway.

Strobe frowns, "Should you really drive back in this weather?"

Rory hesitates, "I'm sure I'll be fine. I'm a very good driver."

"Rory, I have no doubt, but I don't think this is a good idea." Francine tells her, "You should stay here."

"Grandma I'll be fine driving back to Yale." Rory repeated to Francine but she knew it was hopeless.

Francine shook her head, "Dear, I think you should stay the night. We'll have a room set up for you." Before Rory could reply Francine turns to Julie. "Please make sure Rory's room is set up for her."

Julie nods, "Yes ma'am."

Strobe sees headlights in the driveway, "Why don't you two go back into the parlor?"

Francine and Rory, who hadn't seen the headlights, nodded slightly confused and left the room.

Strobe shakes his head slightly when he sees a Dodge Viper pull into the driveway. He quickly throws on his coat that he got out of the hall closet and walks out into the snow just as a blonde haired boy steps out of the car.

Rory and Francine sit down beside each other on the couch.

"Is everything alright Rory?" Francine asks her gently.

Rory lifts her gaze and smiles at her grandmother. "Of course."

"Because you have been acting a little different tonight." Francine continues, "Is everything ok with your mother?"

"Everything is great with mom." Rory pauses, "I'm just having boy trouble."

Francine wants to ask more but doesn't want to push her granddaughter.

However she doesn't have to ask more because Rory opens up. "I like this boy at Yale, but he and Tristan don't get a long at all." She pauses and laughs in spite of herself, "It sounds really stupid I know, but I just don't want to get into a fight with Tristan."

Francine nods her head knowingly and remembers the night she met Tristan.

Francine and Rory had been standing at the bar of the Rose Room during one of Emily's parties. They were both leaning against the bar watching Lorelai dance with Christopher.

"Why don't they see that they love each other?" Rory asks her grandmother.

Francine shrugs unnoticeably. She watches her granddaughter, "Well, sometimes the most obvious things go unnoticed by the people who are involved."

Rory nods her head, not knowing that her grandmother is talking about her more then her mom and dad.

Francine had heard a lot about Tristan over the past year. She had witnessed him dance and knew that he was a society brat (which is what Lorelai had told her) but she had never met him. She could tell that her granddaughter had feelings for him, even if she didn't know that herself.

"Oh thank god." Rory said under her breath.

"What?" Francine looked in the direction Rory was looking.

Francine saw Rory's eyes light up and then Francine saw the blonde boy walk into the room. "Is that Tristan?"

Rory nodded and waved to Tristan, who looked just as happy to see Rory, has she had been with him. He waved back.

Tristan paused and looked back, he said something that Francine and Rory couldn't hear because of the orchestra.

Suddenly a leggy blonde walks over to him and kisses Tristan's neck.

Rory's face instantly fell and she looked down at her hands. "Um, grandma, I think I'm going to go find a bathroom." Before Francine could say anything Rory had fled the room.

Tristan decided to walk over at that moment. "Where did Rory go?"

Francine put on her society face, "You must be Tristan." She states, "I'm Rory's grandmother, Mrs. Hayden."

"It's a pleasure Mrs. Hayden." Tristan extends a hand, which Francine ignores. He brushes his hair with his hand, "Did you see where Rory went?"

"No." Francine said coolly.

Tristan nods his head, disappointed.

The blonde who is at his side whispers something into his ear. His face darkens for a second and then remembers that he's at a public place, "I'm going to find some coffee." He then leaves the blonde by herself.

Francine and Tristan hadn't met under good circumstances and in truth neither Francine nor Strobe cared much for the boy after that but they'd never tell Rory that.

Francine also knew that Rory was still in denial about her feelings towards her best friend. "Rory, maybe you should talk to Tristan."

Rory slumped down, "What if we fight?"

Francine smiled comfortingly at her, "Then you'll make up. But I'm sure you won't fight."

Strobe walks back into the room, "I found someone outside." He looks over his shoulder as a very distraught looking Tristan walks into the room.

"Tristan?" Rory stands up and walks over to him. "What are you doing here?"

"Can I borrow Rory for a moment?" Tristan ignores her comment and turns his attention to Strobe and Francine.

"Of course." Strobe tells him instantly, ignoring the slight glare he received from Francine.

"Thank you." Tristan nods to them, he laces his hand with Rory's and leads her down the hall.

"Do you even know where you're going?" Rory asks him.

Tristan opens a door, and Rory rolls her eyes and stifles a laugh.

"That's the closet." Rory tells him.

Once he found the large powder room he gently pushed Rory inside, walked in after her, and closed the door.

"We need to talk." Tristan tells her.

Rory takes in his appearance. He's wearing a black leather jacket, worn jeans, combat boots, and a white t-shirt. "You look like Fonzy." She giggles.

Tristan looks warningly at her, "Rory." He says seriously, "This isn't funny. I've been driving your grandparents' house for 3 hours waiting for your dinner to be over."

"Why didn't you just come inside?" Rory asks and lifts herself up onto the sink counter.

"Because the Hayden's hate me." Tristan tells her obviously.

"I don't think they hate you." Rory says truthfully.

Tristan puts his hands on either side of her hips and looks at her in the eyes. "Rory I love you."