After sending that box, Rory would no longer have to deal with unexpected boxes arriving at all times of the day. Speaking of gifts Rory had no idea what to get Paris for Christmas What do you give your Jewish friend for Christmas. She also had to buy gifts for Finn and Jess. Her best friends and she hadn't even started shopping yet.

As Rory walked out of the library, a snowball landed squarely on her back. Having been looking down at the time Rory had no idea from which direction the ball had come. Before too long she heard the unmistakable laughter of Finn and Logan.

"Come out now Finn or mom might send you away. Remember what happened last time you tried to pull a winter prank on me. She hears we're not getting along it's back to Swiss boarding school for you."

"She can't send me away, my parents won't let her. And besides I'm her favorite. Also you wouldn't get your best mate in trouble."

"Paris is my best mate, and mom has no problem getting her sent away too. But you, you have a lot of explaining to do and not to mom either. I haven't seen you since Logan's party, which happened to be two weeks ago. What does a girl have to do to get you to call her?"

"Generally they have to be red headed and drunk. You on the other hand need only come by my room. Only not too early Now back to your mother, she won't send me away because then there'll be no one to look after you. She wouldn't trust these lunkheads I hang around with."

"Why does everyone assume I need a keeper. People need to trust me to take care of myself. But ever since Emily signed me up for that coming out ball all she does is point out everything I do wrong that will never attract a man."

"I still can't believe Lorelei didn't talk you out of coming out to society. How exactly did you end up in the parade of brides?"

"Emily felt I wasn't being properly introduced to society. Said that by doing this I could insure future contacts. I don't know where she gets this stuff, I hang out with you two. Whatever, it's over."

"She feels me and my mates aren't suitable?"

"No she just wants me to have more friends like you. She feels that by controlling me even the slightest bit lets har have some control over something she couldn't do when my parents were in high school."

"Well, here's what I say, tell Emily to stick it."

"I can't do that, she could have me kicked out of the DAR. Those ladies are more my grandmothers than Emily has ever been and she knows it.

"Well, at least you have me the exotic friend to keep you company in your spinster years."

Walking off Rory muttered something about him being truly exotic. As she was walking she heard Finn call out to her. Turning back she waited for him to continue.

"So remember when I said you had a new look on your face at the party, well, it's shown up again. Are you sure there's nothing you want to talk about?"

"I'm sure. I love ya Finn but I think I might take this problem to Tristan. Well, I have to go to class."

Rory was already seated when Logan came in and took his seat behind her. Leaning close he whispered in her ear.

"I got this boxz of chocolate last night from some random stranger."

"Is that so. Were the chocolates any good?"

"That's not the point. Since I know how much you love chocolate I was wondering if you would take the box off my hands?"

"Now why would I want the box when it probably came from some girl who thought she was your world. Or it's from a bimbo you've never had and they're hoping they become the next Mrs. Why would you want to hurt their feelings by giving their love away?"

"Not many of my bimbos could come up with such an encrypted message, let alone two. Most of the girls I date are more for looks not conversation.

"Then why do you date them?"

"I just said I don't date them for conversation."

"TMI. There are some things people need to keep to themselves. I am not one of the guys. I don't care about your last conquest. We are acquaintances, not two guys hanging around drinking forty year old scotch, or whatever it is you're always drinking. What if I were to walk in and suddenly start talking about how my dates took me to the library and what we had for dinner. Since we are acquaintances we should keep a little mystery between the two of us."

"First of all, the scotch I drink is eighty years old, second you need to find new dates if their ideas include libraries. I know you love books but on a date you should have fun..."

Logan was cut off because the teacher walked in at that moment followed by DuGrey. He sent a smile to Rory and Logan knowing they would catch up later.

When the bell rang signalling the end of classes Rory stepped out into the cold once more and began walking towards her favorite library. There were only three weeks left of school and then it would be Christmas vacation. She couldn't wait to get home and begin making plans with her mom. They always made a list and only accomplished half of it, claiming they would finish it next year, but the list would be lost before New Year's.

Rory hadn't had a chance to talk to Tristan because as soon as he sat down, all the girls in the room had moved around to sit near him and he was basking in the attention. When he had walked in Rory had wanted to know what had happened to Andover. He had just started in September. Could he have gotten kicked out so soon. Logan had also sent Logan a look. His had wanted to know how good the girls had been.

"Are you ignoring me now?"

"Well, it seems you were a bit busy for your friends, thought I would leave you to your work."

"Mary, you are my work. Any time your're around, no one else matters."

"Lay off, you are pulling that crap out of your butt. I have been a few miles own the road and have you called, no. I haven't seen you since the party back in September. You made a promise, you would always be there. I've needed to talk to you for the last few months but you were never there."

"Are you done now. Are you going to continue or would you like to know why I'm here?"

"You can go on."

"I talked to my dad last week and made an agreement. If I can stay out of the wrong crowds and keep up my grades, he would let me move here to be with you. With only one brother, you must have been lonely. By the way what's up with you and Huntzberger?"

"There is nothing up. We've been doing this little dance since before the party, it started with a piece of tiramisu and coffee."

"Gilmore, you're a coffee whore. Is there any thing you won't do for free Java."

"Shut up, it's not like you ever noticed. When you did call it was to say that you'd had a fight with your dad. I t was nice to have a friend who cared. Finny has been here for getting me drunk, Colin is the protective brain and Logan is..."

"Your knight in shining armor?"

"His armor is a little rusted but he's been here."

"What was so important that you couldn't tell Finn?"

"I'd rather talk in my room."

"Lead the way."

Tristan followed Rory in a comfortable silence, one of old friends who knew each others thoughts without voicing them.

"Now what is so top secret that we couldn't talk in the fresh, cool air.?"

"Do you remember Dean?"

"Bagger boy, sure."

"When we were dating he was always really sweet, then it came to the end and he began becoming possessive and angry. We went to dinner one night and I think he slipped something in my drink because I don't remember dinner or the drie to where ever it was that he took me. I was concious enough to see him standing over me unzipping his pants. i tried to kick him but the drug was impairing my lower half, he leaned over me and began kissing me agressivly. I pushed him away because my arms were still working. He didn't take that too well, it set him off he lapped me across the face and pulled my pants down burning my legs. I kept pushing him away but he only became more agressive. Tristan, I was raped."

"Rory why didn't you tell me sooner. I would have kicked his ass."

"I didn't tell you because you are the first person I've told. I haven't even told mom, she has enough to worry about with dad being on business trips every other week."

"Why didn't you tell Finn?"

"Because he would have gotten me drunk as a skunk and then went to find Dean."

Tristan pulled a sobbing Rory into his arms and held her as she cried.

It's a good thing I'm here now. No one will ever hurt Mary again.