Thanks again to everyone who reviewed! Sorry I've taken so long just for this crappy part, I've got heaps on at the moment!

Disclaimer still stands



The Games People Play

3. Bye Bye Dean



The next morning (well, afternoon by the time the Gilmore girls stumbled out of bed) Rory and Lorelai were sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee.

"So how was your night?" Lorelai asked "Did cute-evil-Tristan behave himself?"

"He got us kicked out of the movies. Then I caught Dean with another girl and we had a fight in the middle of a cafe."

"Wow, that good huh?"

"The movie part was actually fun. The Dean part, not so much."

"I can't believe Dean would cheat on you! You want me to get Luke to beat him up?"

"I don't know that he cheated on me, they were with a whole group."

"There you go, you'll sort it out and be all kissy kissy again in a couple of days."

"Oh no, we're breaking up." Rory said definitely.

"What? How can you say that?"

"Cos it's not about last night. It's not about that other girl, or the way he completely overreacts and gets all jealous and possessive when I talk to another guy, or the fact that he has the personality of a log...." (Sorry, that last one was the author's own complaint, not Rory's)

"So what's wrong?" Lorelai looked sympathetically at her daughter.

"I don't know. It just doesn't feel right. I think I finally understand you breaking up with Max. It's not what's wrong with Dean, it's what's not right. I'm just not in love with him."

"Aw, honey. When it's really right, you'll know." Lorelai smiled dreamily.

"Speaking of which, how was your night?"

"How is that on the same topic?" Lorelai demanded innocently. Rory just rolled her eyes.

"Did you and Luke have a nice date?"

"Well, yeah, it was great- but we're still talking about you!"

"If you insist. So where was I?"

"You were not loving Dean."

"Right, not loving Dean. But we can still be friends. He was my first boyfriend after all, I don't want to just cut him out of my life."

"I hate to break it to you babe, but that whole 'we can still be good friends routine?' Never works."

"But you and dad are friends."

"We share you. Unless there's something you haven't told me, you and Dean don't have that same connection."

"Oh well."

"You're taking this so well. This lack of sadness wouldn't have anything to do with a certain blonde waiting in the wings would it?"

"NO! I'm just being an adult about the whole thing."

"This is the healthiest breakup I've ever seen."

"It hasn't actually happened yet."

"Oh that would explain it. So when were you planning on telling Dean?"

"I'll get round to it eventually. Definitely before our one year anniversary. Maybe even this week. Now tell me about your night." Rory insisted.

"Well, in keeping with your new tradition, Luke and I got kicked out of the restaurant and Becky and her husband had a big fight in the middle of it. I can't wait to tell my mother!"

"You got kicked out of the restaurant?"

"Only because they were closing." Lorelai admitted.

"Ha, your story's tamer than mine!"

"Oh the shame!" Lorelai reached for the coffeepot only to find that it was empty, "Damn, we'll have to make some more."

"Or we could just go to Luke's where someone else will do it for us."

"You're brilliant!" Lorelai told Rory, "this is why you're going to Harvard!"



"Greetings, sweet coffee cup." Lorelai swooned as she and Rory sat down at the counter in Luke's.

"I thought we agree to quit with the nicknames after last night." Luke said.

"I wasn't talking to you, I was actually talking to the coffee cup."

"What nicknames?" Rory wanted to know.

"Nothing!" Luke insisted, his eyes warning Lorelai to keep her mouth shut if she wanted coffee.

"Yeah, nothing." She agreed, but when Luke was out of earshot whispered to Rory, "I'll tell you later."

After their 'breakfast' Rory stood up, "I'm gonna go talk to Dean."

"Now?"

"Yeah, get it over and done with."

"Okay, good luck, sweetie."

"Thanks, I'll see you later."

"Luke!" Lorelai called out as soon as she left.

"What's up?" he asked, leaning on the counter so his face was level with hers.

"I'm worried about Rory. She's gone to break up with Dean."

"Is she okay?"

"That's the strange thing, she seems too okay, I'm afraid she'll try to be too strong and then break down eventually."

"Rory's pretty mature, I'm sure she'll be fine." Luke reassured her, "but I there's anything I can do, just let me know."

"Thanks Lukey-muffin."

Luke confiscated her coffee cup for that.

Lorelai pouted, "so about last night..."

"Yes?" Luke placed the coffee cut back down and leant in once more.

"Thanks again...." Lorelai leaned further forward, her chin resting on her hands.

"You're welcome...."

"I had a good time...."

"Me too...."

"Good."

"Good."

Each of them waited for the other to break and ask for another date. It wasn't going to happen.

"Fine." Lorelai said, sounding disappointed.

"Yep."

"Well, that's it then."

"Yeah, gotta get back to work."

"Right." Lorelai sighed and swivelled around to look out the window at Rory and Dean talking in the street....



"Rory, listen I'm really sorry about last night. I shouldn't have blown up at you the way I did." Dean said.

Rory nodded, "I think we need to talk."

"Yep, I agree."

"So do you want to go first?"

"No, you can."

"No, really, you."

"Okay," they both said at the same time, "I think we should break up."

"What?" They burst out laughing.

"Wow," said Dean, "I was so worried about how that would come out."

"Me too." Rory admitted.

"So you really want to break up?"

"I do, I'm sorry Dean, this isn't about last night, I just don't feel that it's working for us."

"Oh, I totally agree, I was talking about it with everyone last night, they don't think you're right for me."

"You were talking to your friends about me? Having them judge whether or not we make a good couple?" Rory was insulted.

"Well, I needed some advice. Mandy, especially has been very supportive."

"I'll bet she has."

"I think I really like her, Ror. But I promise, I didn't cheat on you, nothing happened between us."

"Well now you're free to go for it."

"We've had fun together, the two of us." Dean appealed to Rory not to be mad.

"Yeah, we have." Rory agreed, softening.

"Do you think we could be friends?"

Rory thought back to what her mom had said, "I don't think so Dean."

"But we're not parting on bad terms?"

"I won't have to avoid the market this time, I think we can be civil to each other."

"Okay, good."

"Yep," Rory held out her hand, "Goodbye, Dean."

He shook it, "Bye Rory, and good luck with Tristan."

"Hey!" Rory protested, but he was gone. She shrugged and went back into the diner.



"I don't believe you!" Lorelai exclaimed as Rory rejoined her, "That was it? That was your break-up? Five minutes?"

"It went better than I expected."

"How is that fair?" Lorelai asked as Luke poured Rory another coffee, "I have never had a break-up as healthy as that. My daughter is better at relationships than I am!" she rested her head on the counter in despair.

Rory patted her on the shoulder, "don't worry, mom, I took your advice about the not being friends thing."

"So glad to know I can teach you something," came Lorelai's muffled reply.



The next day at Chilton, Rory was signing up for the tennis tournament when she ran into Paris, Madeleine and Louise.

"Who's your partner?" Madeleine asked Rory.

"Huh? We need partners?"

"It's a doubles competition," Paris said snidely, "unless the great Rory Gilmore thinks she doesn't need anyone."

"So I'm guessing you two are together?" Rory asked Madeleine and Louise, "What about you, Paris?"

"She's still looking." Louise explained.

"I'm weighing up my options."

"We since Rory doesn't have a partner and you don't have a partner..." Madeleine said.

"Oh no." Paris said.

"Yeah, the fact that we don't work well together is about the only thing the two of us can agree on." Rory concurred.

"It would save a lot of time if you both acknowledged that neither of you has a partner or knows anyone else to ask."

Rory looked at Paris "she has a point."

"Can you play?" Paris demanded.

"I did last weekend."

"For the first time!?"

Rory nodded.

Paris looked pained, but couldn't think of another option. "Okay, I'll set up a practice roster."

She sighed dramatically. "Well at least I'm set for the mixed competition, I'm partnered with Henry, the best male player at Chilton, so you can forget about nabbing your little friend and winning THAT."

"Uh oh, you mean I have to find ANOTHER partner?"

"That's right." Paris smirked.

"Well who's the next best player?" Rory wanted to know, determined not to let Paris show her up completely.

"Only your favourite person."

"Tristan DuGrey." Louise provided.

"At your service, ladies." Tristan materialised behind Rory, "you wanted me, Mary?"

"Oh brother." Rory sighed.

"You and me, Mary, it's gonna be a beautiful partnership." Tristan slung his arm around Rory's shoulder as he walked her to her locker and then leaned casually against it.

"What do you want now Tristan?"

"I just want to make sure you were okay," he said quietly, "you know, after the other night."

"I'm fine, thank you."

"So, you and bag boy break up?"

"As the matter of fact we did, not that it's any of your business."

"Fine," Tristan backed off; "I'll see you tomorrow afternoon."

"What?" Rory called after him.

"We need to practice. Wear something short!" Tristan winked as he sauntered down the hall.

Rory just rested her head on her locker. How did she get herself into these situations?



That afternoon Rory went to Luke's after school. As usual, he and Lorelai were arguing about coffee.

"No more, I'm cutting you off." Luke insisted.

"Did you know that under Turkish law a woman can divorce her husband if he doesn't give her her daily coffee requirements?" (A.N: This was the 'thought of the day' on the board at c2k, my local coffee supplier, this morning. I have no idea if it's true, but it made me smile!!)

"Well it's a good thing we're not married then." Luke replied, still refusing her demands.

Lorelai looked stumped.

Rory laughed "hi mom, hi Luke."

"Shhh, I'm thinking of a comeback."

"Aw Luke's just sorry he isn't married to ya."

"Yeah, ha! Take that coffee man!" Lorelai said, "Thank you honey, how was your day?"

"Well you know that tennis competition? It turns out I need not one, but two partners."

"Really, so who'd you draw?"

"Two guesses."

"Paris and Tristan?"

"My two favourite people, how did you know?"

Lorelai gave her a supportive look, "Luke we need some coffee for the girl over here!"

"As long as you don't let her" Luke glared at Lorelai "drink any, you may have some coffee, Rory."

"Thank you Lukey." Rory said sweetly.

"You are such a bad influence on her!" Luke accused Lorelai as he went back to work.

"I know!" Lorelai said happily before turning back to Rory, "I thought practice with Tristan went okay on Saturday?"

"It did." Rory admitted. "He might actually be easier to work with then Paris. She has us practicing before school tomorrow morning."

"BEFORE school? That girl is a freak!"

"Tell me about it," Rory rolled her eyes, "anyway, I better go get started on my homework."

"Will you pick up some milk on the way home?" Lorelai asked before remembering, "Oh sorry, don't worry, I'll do it."

"No that's fine, mom."

"You don't care if Dean's working?"

"Nope, all fine. Really."

"Well, if you insist."

"I do." Rory stood up to leave.

"Ooh, can I finish your coffee?" Lorelai snuck a look around to see if Luke was watching. She managed to gulp down the rest of Rory's coffee and make it halfway to the door before Luke realised.

"Hey!" he called.

"Bye Lukey!" Lorelai waved.

He sighed. That woman drove him crazy. He loved it.



The next morning Rory stumbled on to the deserted tennis courts at Chilton rubbing sleep out of her eyes.

"You're late." Paris stood with her arms crossed, looking impatient.

"Good morning to you too, sunshine."

"Let's started, do you want forehand or backhand side?"

"Huh?"

"Well what's your strength?"

"Oh, I can do the double handed one." Rory said, remembering her practice with Tristan.

"Good, I'll take first court then."

"Right." Rory looked confused.

Paris sighed, "Just go over the other side and we'll warm up."

20 minutes later Paris was moderately impressed.

"You don't completely suck!" she called to Rory.

"I must be a natural!"

"This might actually work." Paris sounded surprised.

"Well I don't think we're going to win." Rory said realistically.

"Okay, maybe not, but we're definitely better than Madeleine and Louise, which means we have a good chance of making it past the first round."

"Yay for us." Rory muttered, jumping as Paris wacked the ball at her again.



"Ow Ow Ow" Rory groaned as she lifted her backpack at the end of the day.

"Ready to go?" Tristan appeared by her side.

"Ugh, I'm still recovering from practice with Paris this morning," she complained.

"Come on," Tristan held out his hand, "I'll even carry your bag for you."

"If you insist." Rory handed it over and watched him buckle under the weight.

"Jeez Mary, what do you have in here?"

"If you can't handle it…" Rory offered to take it back.

"No, I can handle it." Tristan gritted his teeth as he struggled with both their school bags and tennis racquets.

Rory smiled as she walked off ahead of him. Boys and their egos.



Between tennis practice and school work, Rory's week was hectic. By Friday morning she was slumped on the counter at Luke's.

"No practice this morning?" he asked, offering her coffee which Rory gratefully accepted.

"No, I finally have a day off. Are you coming to watch me play tomorrow, Luke?" she asked. After several successful practice sessions with Tristan and even more unsuccessful ones with Paris, Rory figured she was a ready as she'd ever be for the competition.

"I'm sorry, Rory, I can't miss another Saturday here." Luke hated to disappoint her.

"Besides, everyone at the club thinks your mom and I are dating."

"And is that such a bad thing?" Lorelai butted in.

'No' Luke thought to himself, but out loud just said, "well, it's weird."

Lorelai looked hurt, "Well I'm sorry I repel you that much. Would you like me to go sit on the other side of the room?"

"I didn't mean it that way!" Luke protested.

"I'd offer to leave but I'd have to take your coffee cup with me." Lorelai stood up and moved to a free table, leaving Rory at the counter talking to Jess. Luke followed her.

"You're being an idiot." He said.

"So I don't disgust you?"

"Of course not!"

"So prove it!"

"Huh?"

"Come tomorrow to watch Rory play, be my man again... for the day."

"But..."

Lorelai sulked and refused to look at him.

"Okay, okay." He agreed.

She broke out in a big grin. He was almost too easy.

"He's coming!" she called out to Rory.

Luke realised he'd been had but didn't really mind. Another date with Lorelai...