Disclaimer: I don't own the TV show Gilmore Girls nor do I own any of the characters. I do however own this plot and any characters that you don't recognize.

A/N: Thank you again Fleur for doing such a wonderful job and being the best beta ever. Also thank you to Nicole for making me the happiest person alive and I would like to dedicate this chapter to you.

Chapter Ten:

Rory's first month of school hadn't been quite what she had expected at all. She had been pushed into the thick of things rather unwillingly and unlike Chris who had adjusted to the change, she felt rather estranged from the crowd and the Chilton atmosphere itself.

Sure, she liked having Liz-Beth and Paris around but being part of the stereo-typed in crowd wasn't all that everyone else thought it played out to be. She spent most of her time being gawked at by the boys and Summer hadn't let up after their confrontation at her locker and to make things worst, Shane, rather irritating as he was, hadn't given her any room to breathe. He seemed to enjoy annoying her at every chance he got.

Other than that Rory was content with everything else. She spent most of her afternoons after school with Chris, Erick, Tristan, Liz and sometimes Madeline and Louise would grace everyone with their presences but Paris however never seemed to be interested in anything other than their usual Friday night movies.

Having new friends was definitely a perk. Although Chris complained continuously about not having enough time to do his homework which Lorelai would counter, "Well aren't you little Mr. Popular."

As it was now, they were all walking into the cafeteria together. Dallas on the far left end followed closely by Madeline and Louise who were gossiping as accustomed about the typical Chilton failed romances. Chris arguing animatedly with Paris and Liz while shooting helpless glances as Erick and Tristan, who were both too busy laughing to be of any assistance and then there was Rory, all the way on the right reading her latest piece of preferred literature and ignoring everyone else around her.

"Rory, Earth to Rory," Erick called into Rory's ear. "We're at the table. Sit."

Rory looked up a bit confused and then blushed furiously. "I'm sorry."

"Do you always have to be that polite?" Paris questioned irritable as always.

"Sorry Paris but they don't make them as frigid as you anymore," Summer sour-sweetly answered as she walked pass their table.

"Doesn't she have anything better to do with her time?" Chris questioned.

"I wish she would fall on her face," Rory added hotly.

"I know what you mean," Paris added.

"I'm assuming this is where we all say something that berates Summer?" Erick stated absentmindedly.

"Way to kill the mood Gilmore," Tristan said as he smacked Erick over the head.

"I know what you did last summer DuGrey or should I say who?" Erick quipped, knowing that he would get a rise out of Tristan.

"That was cold. Even I feel for you there man," Chris stated as he patted Tristan on the back with a sympathetic look on his face.

"I still say he was brain dead to ever date her," Rory added matter-of-factly.

"Here, here," Dallas chimed in.

"What is this? Mock Tristan day?" Tristan feigned hurt as he flakily put his hand over his heart.

"There really should be a day put aside for that shouldn't there?" Erick laughed. "It sure would help make that already humongous head of yours inflate even more. Oh the horror!"

"Want to keep your breath icy fresh? Chew Winterfresh gum," Tristan remarked.

"What does Winterfresh have to do with anything?" Madeline asked, lost once again to the entire conversation.

"Maddy, love, it means that Romeo has been spending way too much time with my mother and he needs to stay away from the TV," Chris joked.

"No more TV mister," Erick wagged his finger in front of Tristan's face.

"Oh really, you three need to grow up," Paris said prudently.

"My spidey senses are telling me that you have a very sharp object up your butt," Chris said which caused the entire table to erupt into yet another fit of laughter.

Everyone gathered their stuff from off the table as the fated bell rung. Rory looked around and realized that no matter how much she hated being their little Mary she wouldn't trade any of them for anything in the entire world.

"DuGrey," Shane drawled as he passed by Tristan's locker. "You switched lockers?" he questioned, feigning interest.

"Nice job Einstein. Want a cookie for that?"

Tristan's mood had rapidly changed from its previous jovial contentment to a sour, disagreeable fit of pure hostility. Shane's appearance wasn't welcomed and any passing spectator could tell that the animosity that had accumulated between the boys was about to detonate.

"Trying to stay as close to this one as possible aren't you? What are you afraid of Tristan? That the better man might win?" Shane asked with acidic venom in his voice.

"If that was the case Renevante, we both know that I would have won a long time ago," Tristan answered with the same hostility in his voice as Shane had not so long ago graced him with.

"The last time I checked DuGrey, your last girlfriend left you for me. Why don't you just give up now? It would save us both a whole lot of trouble."

Tristan shut his locker aggressively, no longer caring that he was doing exactly what Shane wanted. "Renevante, you really don't want to live do you?" Tristan asked harshly.

"What will big bad Tristan do?" Shane said sarcastically.

The force of which Tristan's fist connected Shane's face sent him staggering back. Shane hadn't been expecting Tristan to lose his self control so quickly and hadn't prepared for the startling punch.

He held on to his jaw and stared at Tristan who hadn't moved from his stance. He still looked rather intimidating and had it not been for the approaching crowd he would have loved to further escalate the fray.

"I don't have time for this Renevante," Tristan said as he stepped closer to Shane. "You know better than to piss me off."

"That's your problem," Shane answered hotly. "You think that whatever you say goes. I've got news for you DuGrey, I don't care what you're after and I sure as hell don't care about what you have to say. I will prove that I'm always going to be better than you."

"How? By stealing another one of my girlfriends?" Tristan asked maliciously.

"Remember that she's not yours yet DuGrey!" he shouted as he retreated down the hall and toward the parking lot.

Tristan stared at the diminishing figure with a loathing conviction that he was sure he only reserved for two people, Shane Renevante being the first candidate and Summer Parkinson, who had only lost her title of being first a few minutes ago.

"Way to go Mr. I-am-100-male-testosterone," Rory said in a mocking tone as she approached her locker. "So what was that about?" she questioned.

"What was what about?" Tristan stalled, trying desperately to avoid their expected confrontation since he was sure that she had at least seen the fight.

"Let me think," Rory faked pondering, "Shane walks up on Tristan, Tristan talks to Shane, Shane starts yelling God knows what, Tristan punches Shane almost taking off his head. Anything else you need cleared up or can you answer my question now?"

"It was nothing," he answered impassively while leaning against the locker.

"So you walk around punching people?"

"Didn't you know that I just love walking around smacking everyone? My anger management physiatrist thinks that it's a wonderful way for me to release my rage," he said this time theatrically.

"Should this be where I run away now?" Rory asked while grabbing her bag with both hands for the dramaturge.

"Run away?" he asked clenching his heart dramatically, "Rory Gilmore-Hayden you shall do no such thing. What will I ever do without you? I mean everyone but you already know that I'm madly in love with you. I can't eat, I can't sleep, and I wake up in the middle of the night calling out your name, Rory...Rory...Rory..."

Rory quirked an eyebrow, "You have issues. Do you know that?"

"Yes, but I've realized that the only reason that I'm this messed up is because the new girl won't go out with me," he said mischievously. "And let me tell you now, I've tried everything," he said pitifully but the ever present smirk on his face contradicted sorely with his declaration.

"Everything huh?" she asked, knowing fully well that she was about to be bombarded by a sarcastic testimonial that she would probably have to try very hard not to laugh at. "Let's walk to Chris' locker," she said before he had time to answer.

She pulled her book bag onto her shoulders as did Tristan but not before he could reply, "Everything besides professing love. Oh wait, I just did that."

"Tristan, think shrink, a very expensive one to."

"You hurt me so- WOW!" Tristan stated as they reached in the vicinity of Chris' locker.

Propped against the locker was a fiery looking red head, which from the look of things was enjoying toying with Chris' dark chocolate brown hair. Her book bag, or so Rory assumed, was leaned against the closed locker and Chris was turned directly facing her and clearly not able to see Rory or Tristan approaching.

Rory and Tristan both stood rooted to their spots, one amused and the other completely shocked but it was in that brief moment that their emotions completely reversed.

Chris leaned gently toward the tall red head and stroked away a few strands of loose hair. She smiled graciously and leaned in closer toward him and then for what seemed to flash before Tristan's eyes but linger in front of Rory's, Chris placed both of his hands on either side of her face and passionately kissed her. A short yet ecstasy filled moment that neither knew had been witnessed by anyone.

A/N: Special thanks to:

Romik- you sent me the first review. Thank you so much.

Mar0506- it was a pleasure updating again just for you.

OTHlover04- I love your penname. It's absolutely brilliant and I'm so happy that you liked the update.

Queenmischa- thank you ever so much for reading the story. I'm so glad that you loved it. I hope this chapter makes you just as happy as Chapter 9 did.

Helena-Mara- thank you so much for adding me to your favorite list. I'm so pleased right now. You like my story. Yahoo!

Megliz716- I promised that I would update within a week so I hope I made you happy although I was 1 day late.

Thought's Pen- you're my very first devoted fan. Sends you cookies I'm so glad that you found the story and liked it. I also read your new story and I have to tell you, your plot is very good and I can't wait to read more.

Angel72418- Hope you like this chapter as much as you liked the previous one. Thanks again for the wonderful review.

In-need-of-coffee- I love your penname to. Thank you so much for volunteering also. I really appreciate it.

TiCkLeDpInK22- thank you for one of the best reviews I have ever gotten. You're hooked. Yay!

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Smile1- As always your reviews are so nice. You always make me smile. Thank you so much.

Thank you to everyone else that took the time to read my story and if you enjoy Trories please check out Siaram's newest stories The Blinding light and It Doesn't Matter.