"Tristan, come here."

Tristan shook his head, muttering, "I can't wait until this project is over." Raising his voice, he said, his tone sugary-sweet, "What do you want, Rory."

Rory grinned up at him. "Coffee."

Tristan rolled his eyes. "How'd I know? Fine, but this time you're coming with me."

Rory frowned. "That's not good for me. I mean, I shouldn't be moving this late in my pregnancy."

Tristan smirked. "Fine, I'll have to carry you." Bending down, Tristan picked Rory up in one swooping gesture. He laughed as Rory's face went form confusion to shock to mock indignation.

"Put me down, Tristan DuGrey. If you don't, I'll, I'll, I'll-"

"Do what, Mrs. DuGrey?"

Rory bit her bottom lip. " I don't know but I'll think of something. And, and who said we were married. No matter what happened, I'd never marry you."

Tristan laughed, shaking his head. "Mrs. DuGrey, a bit hypocritical, aren't we?"

Rory kicked him, trying to break loose of his hold. "Tristan, please let me down. Please, please, please with a cherry on top."

Tristan contemplated this this. "No."

Rory narrowed her eyes. "Tristan, what do you want?"

Tristan smirked at her. "I thought you already knew, Mary." He raised his eyebrows at her.

Rory rolled her eyes. "Not that, anything but that. Well, not anything because you could probably come up with something just as disgusting and-"

"A lap dance."

"And I prove my point. Tristan, do you ever think of anything else?"

Tristan looked at the girl. 'Not when I'm around you,' he thought. However, all he said was, "Oh, many things. I think about strip teases as well."

Rory smacked him lightly. "Stop, my ears are too innocent for you. Err. Tristan, put me down."

Tristan did as she said, his hands resting on her waist longer than necessary. In fact, he didn't move it at all. Rory began to feel uncomfortable. "Uh, Tristan, lets go now."

Tristan looked up at her suddenly. "Oh, yeah, lets go."





Inside the diner, Rory and Tristan sat uncomfortably at a table. "So, uh, Alyssa seemed nice," Rory attempted finally.

Tristan nodded noncommittally. "Yeah, she's cool." Tristan watched Rory for signs of jealousy. She exhibited none.

"What classes is she taking?" Tristan shrugged. "Who does she hang out with?" He shrugged again. "What town is she form?" Tristan didn't know that one either. "Do you know anything about her?"

Tristan smirked. "She's hot."

Rory shook her head. "Figures. You don't know anything important about her. Geez, Tristan. You probably gave her a rating like a piece of meat."

"Eight."

Rory groaned. "Out of…"

"Ten."

Rory glared at him. "Oh my God. You really do rate people. You're sick." Rory froze, wondering what her rating would be. Not that she cared or anything. She looked up at Tristan uncertainly. "Ok, Tris, so where would someone like me fall on this scale."

Tristan looked down at his hands, as if they held the secret to life. "Yourtheonlyten," he mumbled.

Rory looked at him confusedly. "Repeat that in English, please,"

He looked into her eyes. "You're the only ten," he said slowly, quietly.

Rory froze, thinking over what he had just said. Then she laughed. "Funny, Tristan. I almost fell for it."

Tristan had been serious, but he didn't see the point in telling Rory that. He had never had complete trust in anyone, and although he trusted Rory, he couldn't trust her completely. She was human. What would she do if she found out just how important she was too him. He didn't want to even think about it. "Come on, Rory. Let's get your coffee." He swung his arm casually over her shoulder, leading her towards Jess. For her, it may have just felt casual. But for him, the simple touch had put his nerves on edge. This was what he could never have.





"Jess, can I talk to you for a minute," Rory asked. She looked up at him expectantly.

Jess nodded. "Yeah, sure. Come upstairs for a minute."

Rory followed him upstairs, and the two sat on Luke's couch. "This is going to sound really weird, but will you go out with me?"

Jess narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

Rory bit her lip. "Because Tristan is going out with Alyssa. And I guess, in some demented way, I want to make him jealous."

Jess stared at Rory, his gaze very intent. Finally, he understood what Tristan had meant. He'd do anything if it meant making Rory happy. "Yeah, sure. I'll do it."

Rory smiled at him. "Thanks, Jess. You're the greatest." She bit her lip. "I know I'm asking a lot, but could you do me one little bitty, itsy witsy, teensy-"

"Rory."

"-weensy, tiny teensy,"

"Rory."

"Itty bitty favor?"

Jess raised his eyebrows. "What is it?"

Rory grinned. "Tell Tristan. 'Cuz if I tell him he'll know something weird is going on but if you tell him…"

Jess nodded, catching on. "He'd never suspect it was fake."





Jess walked downstairs, his arm around Rory's slim waist. "Hey, Tristan, are you almost done?"

Tristan didn't bother to look up from the book he was reading. "Yeah, sure, why?"

Jess was quiet for a minute. Tristan was cool. He didn't like lying to him. Rory poked him. "Oh, Rory and I are going to go see a movie."

Tristan's head snapped up. "Why?"

Rory took this as her cue. "Well, obviously, we're going on a date. Why don't you call Alyssa and we can double?"

Tristan frowned. "No, I'd rather not."

Rory shrugged. "Suit yourself."

Jess nodded, throwing Tristan a key. "Yo, when you're done, could you lock up and put the closed sign on."

Rory nodded. "And tell my mom I'll be home late. I probably won't see her tonight."

Tristan frowned. "Aren't you just going to a movie?"

Rory shook her head. "And dinner and then we'll come back here for a while and…" Rory trailed off, giggling girlishly. Going feminine, she waggled her hand at Tristan and pulled Jess out the door after her.

After the two were in Jess's car, they started laughing. Jess turned to Rory. "I had no idea you could do that."

Rory turned to him, smiling. "Do what?"

Jess laughed harder. "You lie better than me."

"I don't lie. I… exaggerate. All I did was change us from close friends to closer friends." Rory shrugged. "It was quite easy, actually."

Jess laughed. "Did you see his face? You would have thought his dog died."

Rory grinned. "He deserves it. That girl he's with, Alyssa. I was asking him questions about her. Know why he's with her? 'Cuz she's hot? Is that sick?"

Jess laughed. "You're asking the wrong person, Ror."

"Oh, yeah, I forgot. Mr. I-only-date-girls-an-eight-or-above is completely in Tristan's league."

Jess frowned in mock indignation. "Hey, I'm going out with you. And you're only a what, two?"

Rory hit him lightly in the head. "Funny, very funny. You should be a comedian."

Jess grinned. "This could be more fun than I thought. I mean, you gotta admit, you can be pretty boring."

Rory sighed. "Okay, what movie should we see?"

Jess shrugged. "You pick. I don't like movies."

Rory groaned. "This could be a very long night."

Jess grinned. "That's what I'm counting on."