7pm—Jess'/Rory's apartment

*The movie has ended; Ryan and Jess have devoured the pizza. Ryan is stretched out on the couch while Jess is lazily sprawled across the floor.

"What time is it?" Jess manages through a yawn.

"7:03."

"Lane called when?"

"Uh, a while ago."

"Oh."

"Look, they're women. They probably found a mall on the way and are still on the road."

"Nah, Rory's not a shopper." Jess mumbles. "So what's going on? You going home now."

"That would require getting off the couch and using my brain. Put on another movie…then I'll go home."

"Why don't you just stay, then you won't have to get up, and you can helping do some things tomorrow."

"What things?" Ryan asks, lifting his head up.

"Just watch the movie." Jes replies pushing in the tape.

*Side of the Road—7pm

"Rory. Rory...Rory!" Lane's voice bellows through the car.

"H-what?" Rory asks groggily, waking up.

"We're ten minutes from the spa and blonde's still back there. What are we doing."

"Oh. Right. We'll take him with us."

"To a spa? Tristan pipes in. "Isn't that like for women?"

"Actually some men do go, although they're usually much prettier than you." Lane retorts. "You sure, Ror?"

"Yea." Rory replies as Lane starts the car.

*10 minutes later, Spa. Lobby.

"Hi. Can I help you?" A cheery clerk asks.

"Yes. We ordered a room for the weekend, it's under Mariano," Lane replies equally cheerful.

"Oh…and do you have another room available." Rory interrupts.

"Let me check." The clerk says softly; typing fiercely away on the computer. "We have two, a single bed, on level 2, and a suite on level 5."

"Where you guys?" Tristan asks, concerned.

"We're on five."

"Ok, so I'll take the suite I guess." Tristan replies pulling out his credit card.

The clerk hands them their keys, and the three head towards the elevators.

Tristan stops abruptly, "Does anybody else feel like eating?"

"I'm starved." Replies Rory breathlessly.

"Well, that can't be good, let's get this woman some food."

"I'm actually really tired, so I'm going to go up to the room, ok?" Lane asks Rory.

"Sure, I'll be up soon."

"Ok, and don't for get to call—

"I know. Thanks." Rory smiles at Lane before entering the dining hall with Tristan.

*Dining Hall

*Tristan and Rory are seated at a table in the corner. There is silence between them, as Rory purposely avoids Tristan's eyes.

Effortlessly playing with his pasta, Tristan breaks the silence once again. "Rory. Why are you doing this."

Rory looks up from her plate, "Tristan…"

"Rory, you can't tell me you don't know. I've never seen you so determined. I saw the fire in your eyes tonight."

Rory looks guiltily down at her plate, and sighs. "Honest Truth?"

"Yea." Tristan says quietly.

"Tonight seeing you there, I didn't see Tristan, my friend from college, I saw the lost boy I met in Jr. year. I saw the witty boy who had great potential but threw it away for a few cheap thrills. When you went to walk away, it was more then I could handle. I was as if we were back at Chilton and it was the night of the Romeo and Juliet selections."

Tristan's eyes cloud as Rory continues, "I cried that night you left. I felt responsible, I mean you had it in you to great things, and I let you just walk away from that."

"Rory, you couldn't have helped me." Tristan interjects.

"Maybe not, but I wasn't going to let the opportunity pass me by this time. You're a Lawyer, Tristan. That's a remarkable thing, considering your past. You've come farther then anyone ever thought you could, but you're still refusing to let yourself fully succeed. You say Jess is a lucky man, well you're right, but you could be lucky too. You just have to work for it. And you can."

"But, I can never have I really want."

Rory gives him a stern look, "Tristan, I'm not it. I'm not the only woman you can ever love. There's a Mary, out there somewhere for you."

"There will never be another Mary."

"The point is, you can do something with your life, you just have to be willing to put yourself out there, and you have to ask yourself what is it that you really want."

"I want." Tristan stops, "I want what you have."

"Well, go out there and get it." Rory replies, smiling.

"Thanks, Mary." Tristan says standing up.

Rory follows suite, picking up her late.

"Well, I should call a cab, and get started on my rebirth, I guess."

"No."

"Why?"

"Stay the weekend, you already have the room. It'll give us a chance to catch up."

"Yea?"

"Yea." Rory replies walking towards the door.

*In front of Tristan's room

Tristan fidgets with the key as Rory stands there awkwardly.

"So, you going to go to bed now?" Tristan asks.

"Not yet, I have a phone call to make."

"Tell James, I said hi."

"Absolutely."

"Good night, Mary."

"Night, Tristan." Rory replies turning in the direction of her room. Walking slowly down the hall she rummages through her purse. She smiles to herself has her hand grazes her phone. She stops in front of her room, and dials the phone.

"Hello?" Jess' gruff voice answers.

"Hey."

"It's late."

"I know, I'm sorry. I got caught up in something, but I'm done now, and I miss you."

"Miss you too."

"Were you waiting up for me."

"Yea, but not really."

"So what have you been up to?"

"Well, Ry clocked out about an hour ago, so I've been reading."

"Ah, the mystery book."

"Yea."

"You ever going to tell me what it is?"

"Hey, you never asked."

"Ok, so tell me." Rory answers quietly.

"It's one of those books from the pile. So far, I've read 5 of them."

Rory laughs, "You've been studying…I thought you didn't like to do that."

"Yea well, there are just some things worth learning."

"I don't know what to say." Rory say honestly.

"Hey Ror?"

"Yea?"

"What do think about the name, Keaton?"

"As in Buster?"

"Funny." Jess replies, not amused.

"…Well talk about it Monday."

"I thought you were coming home, Tuesday morning."

"Well, there's been a change of plans."