Tristan walked in mid-way through the final trivia round. Chilton verses Merlet.

"Chicken pox is caused by what virus?"

Tristan saw Rory confer with her teammates and scribble down her answer. She looked up and her eyes locked with his from across the room. He felt a sharp intake of breath, the usual reaction for when he saw her. He gave her a weak smile and his world stopped as he waited for her reaction.

His heart resumed beating as she flashed him a wide smile, and he knew things were going to be all right.

"And the marks are Chilton 18, Merlet 19. Twenty points to Merlet, ten points to Chilton."

"We're back in the game!" Marcus yelled.

The two teams shook hands, Rory adding an extra smile for Marcus ["Now tell me you saw that one, John."]

"Hey," said Tristan, walking up to Rory with his hands in his pockets.

"Hey, yourself," said Rory, returning the smile.

"Second place on the leader board, bro!" cried Marcus, slapping Tristan on the back.

"Second behind us, I might add," said Rory.

"A mere thirteen points behind," said Marcus with a wave of his hand.

"Do you realise, Marc, that you've just won the trivia cup?" Tristan asked. "The first Camp Selphie cup to be won by Merlet in over twenty years?"

"No kidding," said Marcus. "I'm impressed with me. Say, Rory, do you reckon chicks go for this kind of thing?"

"Oh yeah. No question. You're hot property now," said Rory with a serious look on her face.

"Cool," he said, flipping up his shirt collar and swaggering towards a group of Berchmoore girls.

"So…" said Tristan looking at his shoes.

"Only tug-of-war and the debate to go, huh?" said Rory.

"Yeah. Is Chilton entering the tug-of-war?"

"Are you kidding? Paris has been making the team do push ups before bed every night. Of course we're entering."

"Any of the family coming to watch tonight?" asked Tristan as they started to walk towards the dining hall for lunch.

"No, Mom had to work. How about you?" asked Rory.

"I'm not expecting anyone, no."

They walked in silence for a while.

"Listen, can we start anew?" Tristan proposed. "Forget the past few days ever happened? Our whole history actually, I think that'll be better. Just wipe the slate clean?"

"Deal," said Rory, sticking out her hand. "I'm RORY Gilmore."

"Nice to meet you Mary, I'm Tristan." He smirked and shook her hand.

They walked for a little while longer before he put his arm companionably around her shoulders.

"You don't mind do you?" he asked.

"I know you for five seconds and already you've got your arm around me?" she joked. "No, I don't mind."

AN: Yay, they're on friendly terms again. Phew! I know the past few chapters have been angsty and crappy, but the next ones should be more entertaining and romantic…Dean will make an appearance next…J Thanks for the lovely reviews!

Crazygirl09: My ID # is 164700. Thanks for adding me!!!