It was Monday morning. Rory was too busy with homework to continue reading the poems over the weekend. Now she was forced to concentrate on her teacher's lecture. *Five minutes left.* She thought, looking at the clock.
*Finally* she thought, as the bell rang. Rory quickly got up and walked out of the classroom.
"Hey, Rory! Wait up!" Tristan called after her.
Rory turned around. "Yeah?"
"Do you wanna maybe go to a movie tonight?"
"Tristan, I-"
He interupted her. "Or maybe we could just kinda hang out. We could go get coffee."
Rory's eyes brightened at the mention of the wonderful beverage. "Coffee?!"
"Yeah. Do you like coffee?"
"No, why would I like coffee?" Rory said sarcastically.
Tristan didn't answer.
"Hello? Are you crazy? Of course I like coffee! I love it! I'm addicted to it! I need it in order to properly function! In fact, I wanna marry it!"
Tristan laughed. "Well, I guess there goes my shot with you. I mean, how could I ever compete with a beverage?"
"You're right! You definately wouldn't measure up. Coffee's just too great."
Tristan laughed again. "So, is that a yes?"
Rory laughed. Then she thought a minute. "Sure, why not?"
Tristan tried to conceal the fact that he was overjoyed that she agreed. "Great! So, pick you up at seven?"
"Okay. See you then."
Independence Inn
Lorelai sighed. So far, her day had been horrible. Sookie burned herself and cut her thumb, and Michel was being more obnoxious than usual.
The phone began to ring. By the third ring Lorelai looked up from her work at the desk. Michel was arranging flowers in a vase. "Michel, the phone."
"Yes, I hear it. It is ringing."
"Michel, get it."
"No."
"Michel!"
"Nope. Sorry annoying lady, I'm busy."
Lorelai grunted at him before answering the phone. "Hello, Independence Inn."
"Hello. Is this Lorelai Gilmore?" came a man's voice from the other end.
"Yes, it is. Who is this?"
"Janlan DuGrey, miss. We met at your parents' house."
Lorelai smiled. "Yes, I remember."
"Well, I wanted to discuss a small problem with you."
"Okay, what is it?"
"Well you see, I couldn't help but notice the looks Tristan was giving Rory at dinner."
"Looks?" Lorelai smiled again. She had noticed it too.
"Yes, and I've also heard the way he talks about her. He seems to care a great deal for her, but apparently she just doesn't get it."
"I see."
"Lorelai, I want my grandson to be happy, and I think your daughter could be the one to make him happy."
Lorelai grinned as ideas started to form in her head. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that I think Rory needs a push to start her thinking about this."
Now Lorelai was getting excited at the thought of playing matchmaker. "Ooh, I hoped that was what you were saying! Don't worry. I'll start planting ideas in Rory's head as soon as I see her. But, you might wanna give Tristan some advice. Let me him know that he has to stop being a jerk. That's not gonna make her fall for him."
"Excellent. I understand. Well, if you'll forgive me, I must go. I have a business deal to attend to."
"Alright. Thanks for calling. I hope this works."
"Yes, me too. Well, goodbye."
"Bye." Lorelai hung up the phone. She couldn't believe her daughter was so stupid and hadn't already figured out that Tristan liked her. *Does this mean I hafta stop calling him Evil One?* She shook her head. *Not at all.* She started thinking of what she was gonna say to Rory.
"What is wrong with you?" Michel asked her in a tone of voice that clearly showed he didn't really care.
"Nothing's wrong with me. Why would something be wrong?"
"You look deep in thought. That's very rare for you."
Lorelai glared at him. "Oh, shut up and go back to your precious flowers, Mr. Rogers."
Gilmore House
Rory checked her watch to see how much time she had before Tristan got there. It was 6:30. *A half hour. Good. Now I can finally finish those poems.* She grabbed the red notebook and flipped to the next page.
Trying to be friends, but I always mess it up
Not knowing how to act around her
Overwhelmed by her beauty
Perplexed by why she has not yet thrown herself at my feet
So unlike every other girl I've known
Rory turned the page, eager to read more.
That beautiful brown hair, the way she timidly bites her lip
She doesn't know the way she makes me feel
Confused, why can't I find a way to make her understand
Instead I continue to tease and torment
In the end hurting myself more than her
*This is so amazing.* Rory thought as she flipped to the next page, only to discover it was blank. *Well I guess whoever's this is never got to finish it. It's such beautiful writing. The guy who wrote this really seems like he cares a lot about this girl. I wish I could find someone like this. Well, except for the whole teasing and tormenting thing of course. If I wanted that I'd just go to Tristan. Wow, I don't believe I actually agreed to spend more time with Tristan than I have to. I guess we actually are becoming friends.* Rory smiled at the thought.
"Hun," Lorelai called as she came into the living room and flopped down on the couch next to her daughter. "plans, tonight. What we doin'?"
"Oh, well, actually Mom, Tristan's coming to pick me up and we're gonna get coffee."
*Ooh, this is so perfect!* Lorelai thought happily. "You mean to tell me that you are abandoning your mother to go on a date with the Evil One?"
"He's not evil anymore. He's actually being nice."
*Wow, she's defending him. This might not be as hard as I thought.* "Okay, forget the Evil One comment."
"And it's not a date."
"Sweetie. He's a guy. He's picking you up. You're going to get coffee. Sounds like a date to me."
"But it's TRISTAN! We're just friends. Actually, we're barely even that! And it's just coffee!"
"Rory, it's okay. I understand. That boy is HOT!"
"Mom!"
"Well, hunny it's true. Oh, come on, don't try to tell me you don't find him attractive."
"Okay Mom, you're right. He's gorgeous. I know. But that doesn't change the fact that he's TRISTAN!"
"You wanna know what I think?"
"Do I have a choice?" Rory sighed.
"Smart, smart kid. I think that either 1. you're in denial, or 2. you're stupid."
"Stupid?"
"Sweetie, if this isn't a date, I suggest that you arrange one. Fast. Before some other beautiful brunette with incredible blue eyes come along and snatches him right up!"
"Whatever you say, Mom. But it's not a date."
"Okay, if you say so."
"It's not!"
"Alright! Call it whatever you want, but just have a good time."
"Okay. But it's not a date."
Lorelai grinned at her and got up to go into the kitchen.
*Is it a date?* Rory thought to herself. Just then she heard a car pull up in front of their house. "That must be him!" she called to her mother.
Lorelai came running out of the kitchen with a cup of coffee in her hand. "Wow, he's on time. This boy's good."
"I thought you said a guy loses points for being on time."
"Yes, but that's only when you're not ready. You see, you have been ready for awhile. So Evil One used his amazing telepathic powers to go, 'Oh, Rory's ready. I better be on time. I can't keep a beautiful girl waiting.'"
"He's not evil."
"You guys going to Luke's?"
"I dunno, probably."
"Good, bring me back coffee."
"You have coffee in your hand" Rory told her as she pointed to the mug.
"Yes, but Luke's is better. A large please."
"No."
"Why the hell not?" Lorelai exclaimed, throwing up her hands.
"Because. He'll think I'm weird."
"Oh, so now you care what he thinks."
"Shut up."
The doorbell rang.
"Alright he's here. Go back in the kitchen" Rory shooed her mother away.
"Have fun on your dated, sweetie" Lorelai said, grinning, before winking at her daughter and disappearing into the kitchen.
The doorbell rang again. Rory sighed and checked herself in the mirror before opening the door. *Wait a minute. Did I just make sure I looked good for Tristan?*