Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls or anything affiliated with the show.

Sorry everyone. I didn't mean to take so long reposting but this chapter was very hard to write. Please don't be mad. I'll try to post the next chapter in a timely fashion. But wow, you all get fired up when Paris gets angered. I'm not trying to make Paris the villain, but I'm just basing her current attitude on how she acted when she thought Rory betrayed her in season 3. I'm sure she would let it go eventually. Anyhow, thanks for reading.

xoxoxoxoxo

Rory sat on pins and needles by Tuesday afternoon. She hadn't seen much of Paris in the last twenty four hours, but it was obvious Paris had shared the knowledge of her relationship with Tristan with someone. The rumors spread like wildfire, and they ranged from the most mundane with Rory and Tristan just dating, to the most outrageous being they had secretly been seeing each other for a while and the play ousted them. It was definitely the buzz of the school without much help from Rory or Tristan.

The rumors about Paris's reaction were even more outrageous, the worst being she was plotting their death. Rory knew that was exaggerated, but it didn't ease her fears about Paris's contained anger toward her. When Rory walked into the Franklin meeting, she couldn't shake the paranoia of being called out as a traitor. But the meeting went on as normal. Paris barely touched the double issue before heading into the next issue's development. Rory was surprised her next assignment didn't involve covering the latest book donations to Chilton's library or how the lunch menus were determined each week. In fact, her assignment turned out to be decent. Rory thought Paris would seek retribution through the paper, but Paris barely looked at her during the meeting, much less scowled at her or belittled her. Maybe Rory had overreacted. Sure, Paris hated her, but maybe Paris thought that would be enough punishment.

"So adjourns our meeting," Paris said as she stood up from the meeting table. "Thank you all for the time you spent on your extra assignments this week. I knew we could pull it off and I'm sure it will be talked about amongst students and faculty alike. I do regret the issue ran too long. I suppose I got ambitious with the assignments. It was difficult for me to realize I would have to trim the issue but luckily, I only needed to cut out one story. Rory, I'm sorry but I had to cut your New Year's Hope article. It took up more space than the others, and once it was eliminated, the issue ran a perfect length."

Rory would have laughed if she hadn't just been struck dumb. Did she really think Paris had let go of the notion of revenge? Was Rory that naïve? But this was still a low blow. Her New Year's Hope article had been seven hundred and fifty words as specified by Paris herself. It was suppose to be the front page story. Rory had put a lot of effort into it and out of the three assignments, it was the one she was the most proud of. Paris had to know that. So she obviously knew what to do to get back at Rory.

"That's all," Paris dismissed them and sat down behind the editor desk, fiddling with her computer. The other students dispersed, some to the workstations to get started on their next assignment, others leaving the room altogether. Rory knew she should just leave. Nothing she said to Paris would make the editor back down or put the article back in the paper. But she couldn't let Paris get away with this without challenging her.

Rory walked up to the desk Paris sat behind. "So this is how you're going to deal with my seeing Tristan? You're just going to undermine my work on the Franklin?"

Paris didn't even flinch. "I don't have the faintest idea what you're talking about."

"I don't believe how petty you're being about this. You're acting like you had something going with him. I would have understood if you froze me out, made snide comments, even spread a rumor or two. But to cut out an article of mine that I worked hard on because you wanted it to be on the front page, just because I'm dating Tristan? That is just low, even for you. I can't believe I ever tried to be your friend." Rory took a second to calm herself down. She was going on and on and in the back of her mind, she knew it was useless. She knew it before she stepped up to the desk but just listening to herself and watching Paris not respond drove the whole thing home. Apparently this was how things would be. "Okay. If this is how you want to handle this, so be it. By the way, you're building a nice legacy as editor, Paris. I'm sure it will be very memorable."

Rory started walking away, her back straight as a board while she quaked inside with anger inside. Behind her, Paris shot back, "I'm only doing what's best for the Franklin. Besides, with friends like you, who needs enemies?"

Rory was seeing red, almost walking past Tristan, who played a Gameboy while leaning against the wall next to the exit. He grabbed her elbow while pocketing the game. "Hey," he said soothingly as he pulled her in front of him, his eyes full of concern. "What happened?"

"She cut my article."

"I thought you had three."

"I did, but she cut the mayor one, the one she special ordered for this issue, the one I spent the most time on. She said she did it because there wasn't enough space, but I know it's a lie."

"Can't you talk to the teacher advisor?"

Rory shook her head. "This was Paris's pet project. As long as everyone has a space in the paper, it doesn't look suspicious, just an editorial decision."

"I can talk to Paris. I can make her back off."

"That would just make her hate me more. No, I'll live with it."

"Let me do this for you, Rory. I promised to protect you, remember? I know Paris and she doesn't let go of a grudge easily."

She thought he was sweet trying to be her savior, but she still hoped things with Paris would work out someday, even if it was a year and a half from then. She didn't need more cause for Paris to hate her, and even if Tristan treaded carefully, Rory worried Paris would be further offended by his involvement.

Tristan's eyes were as serious as she had ever seen them. Despite all the times he had infuriated her with his playful comments, she wasn't sure she favored his serious side. She didn't want him to concern himself too much about her and Paris. "She doesn't let got of a grudge easily, but she'll eventually let go. That's some kind of hope, right?" She said blithely with a smile, hoping to lighten the mood.

It did the trick. He smirked and then rolled his eyes. "Okay. Not talking to Paris." He took her back pack off her shoulder, putting it on his own before taking her hand. "Come on. Let me take you home. At least I'm good for that."

He pulled her out of the exit. He didn't see her mischievous grin. "You're good for a lot more than that," she uttered suggestively.

He looked back at her, his one eyebrow cocked in surprise and his lips curled in amusement. "Really? Well, it looks like I'm finally rubbing off on you, Mary."

xoxoxoxoxo

Holding up her head with her hand, Rory read her lunch hour book while taking sips of her apple juice. It had been a while since she had been able to really read during lunch. She had missed the chance to relax during lunch. It was pretty peaceful, and she appreciated the opportunity to get away for a couple of minutes.

She felt Tristan shift next to her. She stole a glance at him, watching as he furrowed his brow in concentration while he did his trig homework. She had been surprised when she had found him sitting at their usual table doing homework, but she didn't want to tease him about his out of character behavior. So she just sat next to him and took out her book, taking advantage of the silence. It was funny not seeing him goof off during lunch. She smiled to herself. Maybe she was rubbing off on him, too.

He caught her staring at him, returning her smile. "What?"

She returned her eyes to the book. "Nothing."

He leaned into her, his lips inches from her ear. "Were you just fantasizing about me?"

She grimaced in mock disgust. "God, no."

"You sure you weren't thinking of me, you and a certain twin bed?"

"Not at all," she replied, emphasizing every word.

"Okay, deny it all you want, but I just wanted you to know that I understand. It must be so hard to concentrate with such a hot boyfriend."

"Your ego knows no bounds."

"You know, when my punishment is lifted, we can recreate the scene in my room. Granted, I have a king size bed, but I'm sure we can work with it."

"I think I'll pass."

"Hello Rory. Tristan," a familiar female voice greeted somberly.

Rory turned to see Paris standing across the table, her face sour, her hands balled into fists. She didn't look happy and immediately Rory's anxiety level went up. Paris wasn't pleased and Rory thought she was about to become a target.

"Paris," Tristan returned the greeting. "What's up?"

"I just wanted to talk to Rory."

"Ah," Tristan started to get up and Rory panicked. She didn't want to talk to Paris by herself, especially if she was about to become a target. What if she caused a scene? Rory grabbed Tristan's hand to make him stay. Tristan lowered himself into the seat again, giving her a bewildered look. He must have read her pleading eyes because he squeezed her hand gently before letting go. "I guess I'll stay," he said softly, more to Rory than to Paris. He went back to his trig homework.

"Fine," Paris conceded. "I just wanted you to know that I'm going to include the article after all. I was looking at the layout and since someone volunteered their story to be cut in lieu of yours, we'll just have to put a couple of the other articles in a slightly smaller font to squeeze yours in."

Rory stared at Paris in shock. She was letting the story back in? Why would she do that? "Um, thanks. But who volunteered?"

"Louise."

Another shocker. Paris's best friend gave up one of her spots in the paper for Paris's enemy and Paris was allowing it? Rory couldn't believe it. It had to be some kind of sick joke. They had to be setting her up to watch her fall at a later date. Only Paris didn't look okay with this. She looked genuinely pissed. Rory couldn't help but ask the obvious. "Why would Louise do that?"

Rory watched as Paris's eyes flickered to Tristan and back. It was very quick. If Rory had blinked she would have missed it. But she didn't and suddenly everything made sense. Tristan had a hand in this somehow.

"I don't know," Paris replied. "She just volunteered. Far be it from me to refuse such generosity. But I'm sure Louise can be very accommodating when she is persuaded to be."

Tristan cleared his throat. Paris's spine stiffened. "Right. I just wanted to relay the good news." She headed back to her table without so much as a goodbye, which Rory barely noticed anyhow. She was too busy glaring at Tristan. It was very obvious he had a hand in this, especially after he cleared his throat at Paris's reasoning for Louise's volunteering.

She waited for him to look at her, but he kept looking at his trig book. She felt so disgusted at that moment. He had involved himself after she asked him not to, and now he wouldn't even look at her. Unable to endure sitting next to him, she stood, grabbing her tray and back pack and storming out of the lunchroom after dropping off her half eaten lunch on the discard cart.

She settled her bag on her shoulders, her anger slowly consuming her. How could he do this to her? Didn't he know he just made everything worse? How would she get back into Paris's good graces now that her boyfriend had bullied Paris into letting her article back into the paper?

"Rory," she heard him call behind her. She ignored him. If he knew what was good for him, he wouldn't come after her.

Apparently, he didn't know what was good for him. He came up next to her and seized her upper arm. "Hey."

She pulled her arm away. "Don't."

"Rory," he pleaded.

"How could you? I asked you not to get involved. You know I wanted you to stay out of it and you still talked to Paris."

"Whoa, wait. First off, you didn't ask me not to get involved. You asked me not to talk to Paris, which I didn't. Second, you're sorely mistaken if you think I'm just going to sit around and let Paris Gellar mess with my girl."

"It doesn't concern you. It's none of your business."

"Really? She's only getting at you because of me. I think that makes it my business."

"So what did you do? You didn't talk to her, so you emailed her? Asked one of your lackeys to talk to her for you?"

"I talked to Louise."

When he didn't continue, she crossed her arms in front of her chest. "And?"

"I made her realize it was in her best interest to get Paris to back off."

"You blackmailed her?

He shrugged. "I know some of her secrets, some bad ones. I just pointed out she owes more loyalty to me than Paris, since I've kept her secrets."

"I can't believe you. So not only do I have Paris against me, I have Louise hating me because I'm the cause of her secrets potentially leaking."

"Easy. I'd never tell Louise's secrets. She just doesn't know that."

"Stop justifying it. I want Paris to come around eventually, not forced around. She'll never get over this now."

"Rory, you have got to let Paris go. Why is it so important for Paris to accept this?"

"I don't want her hating me. You have no idea what it's like to be on the receiving end of her wrath."

"But you have me now. I'll protect you."

"How long will that last?"

She didn't mean to say it. Somehow it came out of her mouth at the same time it entered her mind and she didn't get a chance to suppress it. Her heart sank as she witnessed Tristan's hurt eyes looking back at her. Then something else crept into his eyes she didn't recognize. "So I guess we reached the root of all this, didn't we?" He asked quietly.

"I didn't mean to say that."

"But you've been thinking it."

She tried not to. She didn't want to think she was just a notch on his belt. She didn't feel he was treating her like one. But she couldn't help the doubts that kept crawling into her mind. They always came in Paris's voice, telling her this was all fleeting. Tristan will get bored. He'll move on. He always does. She didn't dwell on them, just tried to think of how good things were. She mostly kept them at bay, but they visited her when she least expected it and made her dread what may come. If they broke up, Paris would have been right, and Rory would never be able to live it down, not that Paris would let her.

Tristan shook his head as if incredulous. "I don't know why I…" He blew out a breath. "Forget it. Maybe you're right. Maybe it's inevitable."

Rory saw the resentment in his eyes. She shouldn't have admitted to thinking about their break up. "Tristan, I-"

He shook his head at her, holding up his hands as he backed away from her. "Save it for your next boyfriend. Maybe you'll be with him longer than you were with me. Or, hey, you can go to Dean. Maybe he'll take you back now."

Pain shot through her heart at the implications, but he didn't look the least bit sorry. If anything, he looked as hurt and tormented as she felt. His eyes shifted away from her as he disappeared up the nearest stairwell, leaving Rory with the anxiety of ruining the relationship before it really started.