Rory entered the halls of Chilton for the first ime in four days. It was a Monday morning and she was completely ready for whatever was to accost her. As she saw Tristan coming towards her, she changed her mind. Almost anything. "Tristan."

Tristan nodded. "Rory."

Rory turned back to her locker, trying to open it. She felt a strong arm wrap around her waist and saw a hand on her locker. His hand. He pulled up on the handle quickly and the locker popped open. Rory turned to thank him but stopped as she noticed how close he wwas to her. His eyes bore holes in hers, and for the first time, she noticed his eyes were bout four different shades of blue. Noticing where her thoughts were traveling, she quickly ducked under his arm, escaping him.

Tristan frowned, leaning against the locker next to hers. "We need to talk," he said.

Rory played dumb. "About what?"

Tristan sighed. "About that kiss. About what you said after it."

Rory took a deep breath. "Tristan, it was nothing. It meant nothing. It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing, you know? Tristan, I'm sorry. You should just get on with your life. I'll see you only in school and at home, okay?"

Tristan sighed. "If that's the way you want it, Rory." He walked away from her, towards his first period class.

Rory sighed, leaning back and biting her lower lip. 'I wish I knew what I want,' she thought.





The day had been fairlly uneventful. Tristan had gotten Rory's message, loud and clear. Rory was a big girl, she made her own decisions. And he wasn't one of them. He was 'mothing.' Tristan sighed, still not standing up from his last period seeat evn now that the bell had rung. A girl approached him. Tristan wasnn't sure of her name, but he watched her anyways. She was new here. She walked a lot like Summer, slow and sexily, as if she had roiled in baby oil. She had that do-me vibe going on. As she rached him, she held out her hand. "Hello, my name is Alyssa. And you would be...," she supplied.

Tristan took her hand in his, kissing it. "Tristan DuGrey."

Alyssa smiled at him. "I'm new here and I have no idea where to be any food and I'm starving. Could you be a gentleman and help me out?"

Tristan smiled, an idea formulating in his mind. "I know of a little diner about half an hour away I'm sure you'd love." Tristan led Alyssa out of Chilton and to his car, his arm swung loosely over her shoulders.





Rory threw the door to Luke's open, turning to Lane as she went in. "Her music is so inspirational. I love it. It's not fake at all." Rory and Lane walked over to Jess. "Jess, my usual, and Lane will have..."

"Water and a cheeseburger."

Jess nodded. "Okay, I'll get you it in a minute."

Rory and Lane sat down at a the Gilmores' usual table, waiting for Jess. As the waited, the door to the diner swung open again and Tristan walked iin with some girl in tow. He noticed Rory and Lane and directed the girl over to them. "Hey, can we sit with you?"

Rory nodded. "You would anyways."

Rory and Lane moved over, making room for Tristan and the girl. Rory looked at Tristan and nodded to the girl, signaling an introduction. Tristan coughed. "Oh, uh, Alyssa, this is Rory and her friend Lane, I think. And you guys, this is Alyssa."

At this moment, Jess came over with the two orders. Dropping them on the table, he looked at Tristan. "Do you want anything?"

Tristan nodded. "I'll have some coffee, black, and Alyssa will have some..."

"Bottled water, chilled to thirty five degrees."

Rory, Lane, and Jess laughed. Jess looked at Alyssa. "The water will be whatever temperature it is now."

Alyssa frowned, putting her hand on Tristan's thigh. Rory looked away. "But Tristan, I want my water chilled," Alyssa cooed.

Tristan extricated Alyssa's hand from his thigh, looking a bit embarrassed. "Jess, just do it."

Jess nodded, acting as if he would, but Rory knew that if he did anything, he'd heat that water. She looked over at Alyssa. Alyssa met her gaze and held out her hand to Rory. "I'm Tristan's girlfriend. And you are..."

"I'd be Rory. Sorry for Tristan's poor introduction. Tristan's been staying at my house for the last week or so. He kind of moved in with his brother, sister and neice."

Alyssa frowned, trying to decide on Tristan's relationship with this other girl. "Are you and Trissy close friends?"

Rory almost spit out the mouthful of coffee she was drinking at the nickname. Swallowing quickly, she shook her head. "We were, but we aren't anymore."

Alyssa nodded. "Isn't he so cute?"

Rory raised her eyebrows. "All he's brought me is pain. Literally. Including a concussion and a kidnapping."

Alyssa frowned, looking up at Tristan. "What happened?"

Tristan sighed. "We got kidnapped."

Alyssa gasped, covering her mouth with her perfectly manicured hand. "That's awful. Are you okay?"

Tristan nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Alyssa folded her arms across her chest. "There's one thing I don't get. Why do you live together." Tristan froze, not prepared with an answer.

Rory smiled ironicly. "Tristan got me pregnant."

He stuck his tongue out at her as Alyssa moved away from him. "It's a project for Home Ec."

Alyssa nodded. "Okay."

Rory wanted to know more about Alyssa. "So, where are you from, Alyssa?"

Alyssa smiled. "Louisiana."

Rory coughed. "Oh, um, interesting." She looked at Tristan. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

Tristan nodded. "Yeah, sure." They walked outside. "What's up?"

Rory glared at hiim. "Louisiana!"

Tristan nodded. "Yeah, I guess so. It doesn't mean she's crazy."

Rory bit her lip. "Why are you with her?"

Tristan smirked. "She's new. I would have only dated 98% of the school if I hadn't gone out with her."

Rory rolled her eyes. "I hate you."

Tristan nodded. "I kind of hate me too."