A/N – if anyone has problems with the spelling of things, keep in mind that most of this is done in Canadian spelling (although not that much different) there are some words that might look weird to some of you… k on to the next part, which, due to request, is much longer than the previous ones.

Chapter 4

~*~ The Next Morning ~*~

Rory was lifted out of a peaceful sleep by a harsh ringing. She turned, hit the offending object then squinted her eyes to see the time.

"Ahhhh!!" she screamed when she realised that it was already way past the time that she was supposed to wake up. She had tossed and turned for hours the last night, before finally falling asleep. She must have hit the snooze button on her alarm clock in her sleep one too many times. * Whoever thought of putting a snooze button on alarm clocks should be shot. *

Rory ran to the bathroom, threw on her uniform and was ready in record time. "Late." was the first thing she said to her mother, who was casually sipping coffee at the breakfast table. Surprisingly, the older Gilmore was dressed and ready to go.

"How come you're ready so early?" Rory questioned her mother.

"I think a better question missy, would be why aren't YOU ready?" Lorelai said with a smile.

Rory just glared and made her way over to the coffee brewer. "Ahhh marvellous coffee!" she sighed, as she inhaled the heavenly aroma. She gulped down the entire mug in an instant and was about to reach for another when she glanced at the pewter clock that hung above the stove.

"Oh no! The bus is gone!" Rory exclaimed. "Now I'll be late and the teachers will kill me, not to mention Paris will have a field day."

"Relax sweetie. Take the jeep." Lorelai said calmly.

"But how will you get to work?"

"Oh I can just get Sookie to drop by and pick me up, it's no problem hun. Now move that cute little butt or you'll be late for you're date with hell."

"Thanks mom." Rory gave her mom a quick peck on the cheek, stole a sip of her coffee then rushed to the front door.

"Nice way to pay me back for my generosity." Muttered Lorelai. "My own flesh and blood, taking my coffee, who would've thought." As she heard the front door swing open her eyes brightened. "Just don't get hit by any deer!"

As Rory's groan travelled to the kitchen, Lorelai grinned.

~*~ At Chilton ~*~

Rory raced through the halls to her locker. There were just five minutes until class started and she wanted to be there early as always so she could get herself organized. She quickly twirled in her combination then pulled. And nothing happened. She pulled again, harder this time. Again, nothing. Frustrated she shook the locker door. "Why. Won't. You. Ever. Open?" Still nothing. "You'd think with all the money that we give this school, they would be able to afford lockers that actually work." Rory sighed.

Suddenly a muscular arm shot out from above her right shoulder and banged the locker twice. It popped open easily. Knowing that only one person had that ability, Rory didn't even bother to turn around.

"No 'thank you', Mary?" Tristan asked.

Rory just remained silent and busied herself with gathering her books.

"C'mon, Mary. You know you want to say it." Tristan smirked. But yet again he was met by silence. Rory shut her locker and started to walk to class.

Puzzled, Tristan followed. "Rory, wait."

Rory stopped and slowly turned to face him. "Yes Tristan?"

"Ah, so the fair maiden can speak." Tristan said, the smirk back, full force.

"Only when she's addressed by her real name."

Tristan just smiled. "Rory, listen. I'm sorry about blowing up at you yesterday, I had a lot on my mind. I'd like it if we could just be civil – I mean we're gonna be spending a lot of time together during that trip and..."

Rory let a smile brighten her features and Tristan couldn't help but notice how much more beautiful it made her. "I'd like that."

Class went by quickly and it was soon time for lunch. As usual, Rory was sitting by herself in the cafeteria, headphones on, buried in a book and completely oblivious to her surroundings. So she was completely unaware when a certain blond admirer placed himself directly infront of her. Rory, still completely engrossed in her book, reached forward blindly to the vicinity of her lunch tray, searching for a cookie. When her hand encountered warm skin, her eyes flew up in surprise and her book was forgotten.

"Tristan?!? What are you doing here?"

"Holding hands with you apparently." Tristan smirked, gazing down at Rory's small hand, which was still grasping his.

Rory pulled away quickly, cheeks aflame.

"Really Mary. I had no idea your feelings for me were so strong. You certainly hide it well." As he spoke the last sentence his voice became more serious and lost its amused edge.

"Whatever, Tristan." Rory said, still embarrassed. "Like I would ever like you."

Tristan's face darkened. "Yea, you made that pretty clear the last day of school."

Rory paused for a moment, unsure of what he was taking about. "What?"

"You said you hate me." Tristan said hoarsely. The hurt and pain of that day was evident in his eyes.

Then it came to her. "Oh you mean to Dean... I didn't mean it."

"Yea, sure..."

"No really. I just was so surprised to see Dean there. I said a lot of things that I didn't really mean that day." Rory confessed softly.

"So you really don't hate me?" Tristan asked, choosing not to press into her last comment.

The relief and hope that she heard in his voice threw Rory. "Of course not."

Tristan grinned and the fire was back in those intense blue orbs. "I always knew you loved me, Mary."

Exasperated, Rory just rolled her eyes and picked up her book. Before she could finish reading a sentence, the book miraculously flew out of her hands and she was forced to look up again.

"Didn't your mother ever teach you that its bad manners to read while you have a guest."

"An uninvited guest."

Tristan just shrugged. "Insignificant matters. The point is I am your guest at this table and it is your duty to entertain me."

Rory looked at him sceptically. "You're serious?"

"Dead serious."

"Dead eh? That sounds really good! All I need is a good alibi..."

"Oh you wound me Mary" Tristan said clutching his heart.

The loud clanging of the bell that signalled the end of class interrupted their banter.

"See you next period ... Rory." Tristan threw over his shoulder as he sauntered away.

~*~ In Class ~*~

Rory entered the class and sat in her regular seat, determined to catch up on the reading time that she had lost at lunch, before class started. She barely noticed when Tristan entered the room and sat in the seat directly behind hers. She did, however, notice when he leaned forward and whispered into her ear, "Reality can be nice too, you know."

Rory shivered as she felt his warm breath tickle the tiny hairs down the side of her neck. "Yea well with you in it, I doubt it."

Tristan was about to respond when Mr. Medina walked into class. Disappointed that he would not be able to spar with Rory for longer, Tristan slumped back into his seat.

"Being the kind teacher that I am, I have decided to give you all this period to work with your partners and groups and plan for your trip. I will hand out sheets that outline your objectives and guidelines but the rest is up to you."

As Mr. Medina began to hand out the sheets, Tristan placed himself in the seat beside Rory and pulled it as close to hers as possible. His knee brushed against her thigh and she froze. She turned in her seat to face him and was startled at how close he really was. His blond hair was expertly tousled as usual and his blue eyes were piecing. He had got a tan over the summer, making his perfect skin a smooth golden brown. She was surprised at how good he could make the Chilton uniform look.

* Wait!! * She thought to herself, * Where are these thoughts coming from? Sure he's good-looking but he's also a huge jerk. Satan. The Evil One. Just get through this project and won't have to deal with him again. * While she argued with herself about her actions, she seemed to forget that the world did go on without her, and that she was still staring at Tristan. His amused voice broke her out of her reverie.

"Hey Mary. If you're done staring we do have a trip to plan." On his face was the patented and characteristic Dugray smirk.

Disoriented and surprised, Rory couldn't think of a comeback and just blushed furiously for the second time in a day. * Why does he suddenly have that effect on me? *

She shook her head slightly, clearing her mind. "Ok, let's get started. We'll fill out these personal info sheets together first, then we can talk to Paris and Tim about our plan for the trip etc."

"Sounds good." Tristan said, still smirking slightly.

Time seemed to fly by as they worked together. They laughed and bantered for the entire period, unaware that they had been the loudest ones in the class and that most of their classmates had been listening to their conversation. They both were shocked when the bell rang. "We didn't get to plan with Paris and Tim." Rory said.

"Oh well, we can set up a meeting at someone's house and finish it all there."

They parted and Rory went to her last period lit class. Normally, this was her favourite class – none of her tormentors were in it – but today it felt boring. Something was missing. * I think I miss Tristan! * Life was getting weirder and weirder.

~*~ After school ~*~

Rory rushed out of Chilton, as fast as her legs could carry her. She was determined to get out of Chilton as soon as possible to avoid an inevitable confrontation with Tristan. She needed time to sort out the odd and unusual feelings that she had begun to experience.

Meanwhile, inside the school, Tristan finally managed to shoo off his countless groupies and headed for Rory's locker. He had accidentally taken one of her books in Mr. Medina's class and he was sure that she would need it for tonight. He walked confidently down the hall, sure that Rory would take her time with her uncooperative locker. When he found that she wasn't there, he headed outside and saw a coffee-coloured head disappear into a parked Jeep then watched as said Jeep pealed out of the lot. * Oh well, now I'm just gonna have to take it to her house * Tristan grinned at the prospect of seeing Rory's home.

~*~ At the Gilmore's house in Stars Hollow ~*~

Rory walked into her bedroom, threw her bag and the floor and quickly changed into her favourite pair of dark, low-rise jeans and a bright blue tank top. Feeling like she deserved a little relaxation after another long day at Chilton, she grabbed a book and a cup of coffee and curled up on the couch. Instantly she was pulled into the world of Middle-Earth and was following Frodo Baggins in his eventful journey. A sudden noise shattered the imaginary world and Rory looked around in surprise. She listened and heard the unfamiliar sound again. "It's the doorbell!" she concluded, jumping up from the couch. Then she froze. * Who would ring the doorbell? All of Stars Hollow just let themselves in, didn't bother with doors and they weren't expecting anybody…. *

While Rory contemplated 'the mystery of the doorbell ringer', Tristan stood outside, wondering what was taking Rory so long. He had driven around Stars Hollow for the better part of an hour, taking in the sights of this quirky little town that was nothing like Hartford and working up the nerve to go to Rory's house. Finally he had decided that he should take opportunities as they come. He walked up the porch steps and rang the doorbell. Her house wasn't huge or extraordinarily beautiful, but it held a homely feel that his mansion would never have. Seeing that no one was coming to the door, he rang it again.

Finally, Rory gave up on trying to figure out the mystery doorbell ringer was and flung open the door. She was stupefied when her eyes were met with a broad chest, covered in a Chilton uniform. Her eyes slowly travelled upward, past the collar of the shirt and a white puka-shell necklace against tan skin, up to a firm jaw, perfect lips and finally came to rest on a pair of startling blue eyes.

"Tristan?!?" she exclaimed, disbelief resounding in her voice. "What are you doing here?"

"I... uh... you forgot your book and I came here to drop it off." He said flustered. It was amazing how beautiful she looked in something as simple as jeans and a tank. The blue brought out her eyes, making them sparkle with a light all their own.

"You came all the way here to give me a book?"

Tristan shrugged. "Not like I had anything better to do, plus you would need it to study..."

"What? No conquests for tonight?"

He didn't let her see his hurt at that comment. "Only you."

"Well don't hold your breath."

"Actually I plan to breathe a lot, oxygen's needed for certain things to work you know." Tristan winked.

Instead of blushing like he expected, Rory responded, "Yea, like your brain. Which could use all the help it can get."

An awkward silence ensued.

"So..um.. you wanna come in and have some coffee?"

"Wow, Rory Gilmore is actually inviting me into her house willingly! Is hell freezing over?"

"Well if you'd prefer, I could slam the door in your face." She said, tightening her grip on the doorknob.

"No! I'll behave." He grinned and brushed past her into her house. It held an eclectic mix of furniture, none of it matching, but it somehow came together perfectly. The house looked lived in, there were magazines covering every possible surface, an odd piece of clothing graced some of the furniture; everything was done for convenience rather than appearance. He walked over to the crazy monkey lamp that Lorelai had bought and eyed it curiously. "Wow Mary. This is interesting."

"What?"

"Well I thought you were innocent, but then I see this lamp..."

"Ah I'm sorry to disappoint you, but the innocence is just a façade concealing the evil inside." She smiled.

"I should've known. So where's my coffee?"

Rory and Tristan walked casually into the kitchen and Rory poured them both some coffee. Again there was an awkward silence as the pair racked their brains for something to say. Luckily the front door flew open and in stormed Lorelai, a flurry of motion. "Coffee." She said, grabbed Rory's cup and drowned in before either Rory or Tristan could blink.

"Ahhh... I needed that. Sookie and Michel were too busy to come and pick me up in the morning so I had no ride and I was running around town like a crazy woman so finally Luke volunteered to take me. Then when we got there, the inn was so crazy busy! Sookie had a kitchen crisis, Michel wouldn't speak to yet another group of French men. And just now Luke completely refused to give me coffee! Can you believe the nerve of that man? Denying a Gilmore of coffee should be a sin – the eighth deadly sin. There are seven sins right? Why only seven? I mean I could think of a whole lot of other things that would be sins." Lorelai paused to breathe in the middle of her rant and saw that there was a strange boy in a Chilton uniform sitting in her kitchen. She eyed Rory questioningly.

"Mom, this is Tristan. Tristan this crazy woman is my mother."

"Nice to meet you Mrs. Gilmore." Tristan said, amused.

"What did you just call me?"

"Um... Mrs. Gilmore?"

"Not if you want to die... or meet my mother, in which case it think dying would be a favourable alternative."

Tristan just sat, half confused, half scared.

"Call me Lorelai." She said kindly. "Wait a minute. You're Tristan?"

"Yes."

Lorelai turned to Rory. "What is the Evil One doing in our house?"

"He brought me a book that I forgot at school."

She then turned back to Tristan. "So you are trying to repent for your previous evil ways. You are now on the road to redemption. I bid you a good journey." She waltzed out of the house, probably on the way back to Luke's.

Tristan sat amazed. "So that's your mother."

"Yea."

"That was quite an experience."

"I know"

"I feel like I was just put through a blender."

"She has that initial effect on people. You tend to get used to it."

"So you have a nickname for me huh?" Tristan grinned. "Told your mom about me and everything, this relationship is moving pretty fast."

"There is no relationship to be moving."

"Don't fight it, you know you want me."

"Oh damn." Rory replied sarcastically. "How did you find out? I can't eat, I can't sleep...I wake up in the middle of the night calling your name. Tristan, Tristan!"

God, he loved hearing her say his name. How it rolled off her tongue so effortlessly, like it was made for her to say. He smiled when he realised that those were the things that he had said to her at her birthday party. "I'm sorry I was such a jerk."

"It's ok. As long as you stay on that road to redemption." Rory warned.

"You know I never did give you that birthday kiss." Tristan slowly stood from his stool and moved closer to her. Rory was frozen in place, unable to breathe. It was as if time had slowed down. He placed his mug down and put his hands on the counter behind her, effectively trapping her. She could now smell the cologne that he wore. It was masculine but not overpowering, perfectly Tristan. He leaned forward, tantalisingly slowly, then planed a soft kiss on her cheek.

Before Rory could even register what happened, Tristan was back on the stool, sipping coffee. It took a few moments for Rory to pinpoint the feeling that was plaguing her – disappointment. * Why am I disappointed? This is Tristan. *

Meanwhile, Tristan mentally congratulated himself for that ingenious move. Maybe, he could confuse Rory as much as she did to him.

"Well I guess I should get going." Tristan said, finishing off his coffee. He started to walk to the front door.

"Tristan, wait!" Rory said, finding her voice.

Tristan turned. "Yeah?"

"Well, since you came all this way, we might as well start with planning. I mean we didn't really get that much done in class so there is more we have to do together, sheets and stuff, before we can start with Paris and Tim and it would be a waste of time if all of us met and we had to finish our stuff first and they would just sit there twiddling their thumbs and you know how Paris hates wasting time so she would just get mad..."

"At least now I know where the babbling comes from. And I don't have anything to do so I'd love to stick around. Just let me grab some clothes from my car so I can change."

Tristan went out to his car and came back in with his backpack and a small duffel bag.

"You can change in my room." Rory said, "It's down there to the left."

Tristan put down his bag and walked into her room. * I'm in Rory Gilmore's bedroom. Wow. * He shut the door behind him and looked around in wonder. The room was unique, uniquely Rory. It even smelled like her. He began to change quickly out of his Chilton uniform and was pulling on his shirt when he heard a knock at the door. "Come in."

Rory walked into the room and was met with the sight of Tristan pulling on a white t-shirt. As his perfectly defined chest and abs were covered with the tee she felt a flash of the now familiar disappointment. He pulled on a blue button up shirt over it and left it open, exposing the tee underneath. "Finally!" Rory said, a little too loudly. "You take more time than a girl to get ready."

"Yeah, well I have to look perfect." Tristan grinned.

"Don't bother. It's never gonna happen."

They worked for two hours, exchanging the occasionally teasing comment. Seeing as how they had all but one class together, they had decided to study for their other classes together as well. As the third hour passed, Tristan got up and stretched. " Enough work." He announced.

"So what the mighty Tristan Dugray says goes?"

"But of course!"

Rory rolled her eyes. "But we have some much more work to do!"

"Fine, we'll work some more." Tristan said nonchalantly. "And to think I was actually going to buy you some coffee fr--"

"Before Tristan could finish his sentence, Rory was on her feet. She grabbed his hand and proceeded to drag him to the door. Tristan was so shocked by the feel of her soft hand holding his, he willingly followed. As soon as she released his hand to pull on her shoes, he regained his composure. "K, I'm ready" Proclaimed Rory, "Let's go!"

She rushed out the door, but halfway down the creaking poach steps she stopped, realizing that Tristan wasn't following but was resting casually against the doorframe. "Well aren't you coming?"

"I thought you wanted to work."

Impatient, Rory bounded back up the stairs, grasped his hands yet again and dragged him down the stairs after her. She was moving so fast that he barely had time to shut the door behind him. As they settled into a comfortable pace, Tristan noticed that Rory had not yet released his hand. "Well Mary, you'll take any excuse just to hold my hand."

However, Rory didn't let go. "Just making sure you don't run off."

"Scared of losing me?"

"Scared of losing my coffee purchaser."

"I should've known" Tristan replied with an impossibly large grin on his face.

END part 4

Well I could have continued that but I felt that it was getting too long … I feel like I haven't been getting enough reviews lately so please R&R and I'll know whether itz worth continuing….