This takes place Rory's summer after freshman year, so basically right before

the pilot episode.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~



"Mom! Can I take the jeep?" Rory called, already picking up Lorelai's keys.

Lorelai walked into the kitchen.

"Hold on there missy, you don't even have your liscence yet."

"That's never stopped me before." Rory protested. It was true, she was only

fifteen and was only supposed to drive accompanied by an adult.

"Okay, I'll let you go only if you tell me where you're going." Lorelai

said mischieviously.

"Hartford mall." Rory replied simply.

"This wouldn't have anything to do with a certain someone's birthday would

it?" Lorelai asked. She had been trying to find out what Rory was going to

get her for forever.

"Nope, I just felt the need for some new jeans." Rory said innocently and

left out of the house.

"Evil, evil child." Lorelai muttered, drinking the rest of Rory's unfinished

coffee.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rory strolled around The Gap looking for anything that screamed "Lorelai".

Unfortunately she hadn't found anything yet. All of a sudden a shirt caught

her eye. Lorelai would love it. A hand reached for it at the same time she

did.

"Hey!" They both said at the same time. Rory turned to the owner of the

hand, it turned out to be a very handsome boy with tussled blonde hair and

the most amazing blue eyes she had ever seen.

"I need this shirt." Rory said, unfazed by the boy's charming face.

"Yah, well so do I. My cousin's birthday is coming up and I need to get this

for her." The boy said.

Aww, he cares for his family, Rory thought.

"Yeah well, I need to get this for my mom." They both started tugging on the

shirt until the shirt ripped.

"Now look what you did!" They both yelled. An employee came over and saw the

ripped shirt, which resulted in them having to buy the shirt.

"I'll pay." The boy insisted.

"No, I ripped half, I'll pay half." Rory said. But the boy wasn't listening

and pulled out some bills from his wallet.

Great a rich boy, Rory thought as she rolled her eyes.

"Yeah well sorry you couldn't get it for your mom."

"That's okay sorry about your cousin's ruined present." Rory replied.

"I guess that makes us even, then."

"Yeah, well I gotta get going. Bye"

"Bye." The boy whispered as she walked away.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rory was coming out of Starbucks and making her way towards the food court

when someone collided with her, sending warm coffee splashing on her top.

"Watch where you're going!" Rory shouted. The culprit turned around. It was

the boy from The Gap.

"Oh I just keep getting lucky with you huh?" The boy said.

"Hey, it's your fault." Rory said, still mad that her top was ruined. The

boy's face softened.

"You're right. How about I buy you another...." The boy wiped his finger

across her shirt and then licked it.

"... Cappuccino." He said with a smirk. Rory smiled.

"That would be great, I have to go back in there anyway. I need some

napkins."

The boy held the door open for her and bowed her in.

"After you milady."

"Why thank you." Rory replied, walking in.

After he had ordered and got Rory's coffee and some for himself, he took a

seat next to her.

"Thanks." Rory said, sipping her coffee quietly.

"Do you always have coffee with strangers?" The boy asked. Rory colored

slightly.

"No, I'm actually for that whole 'don't talk to strangers' thing. I was

very serious as a kid. But this is a first time thing. It would suck if you

turned out to be a murderer or something but how about we become aquainted

with each other and then we'll be unstrangery." Rory rambled.

"Sure, lets start with the basics... your name?" The boy said, amused. Rory

set down her coffee and held out her hand.

"Lorelai Leigh Gilmore the Third. Rory for short."

The boy grasped her hand.

"Good, I don't think I would want to call you Lorelai Gilmore the Third

forever. I'm Tristan DuGrey."

"Nice to meet you Tristan."

"Likewise Rory."

"Okay, so you said something about getting aquainted with each other."

"Okay I'll start asking you stuff but then I have to answer for me also,

then you ask me a question."

"Okay, go."

"School?"

"Chilton, you?"

"Stars Hollow High. Wow Chilton! I applied to go there, but I haven't heard

from them yet. I'm a little nervous that I won't get in."

"Hey I might not know you very well, but I think that you're smart enough to

get into Chilton."

"Thanks." Rory whispered. She hadn't had alot of experience with boys so she

was getting a bit flustered. Tristan noticed and went back to their game.

"So uh ... favorite band?" He said. Rory smiled and answered.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"You're kidding!" Rory exclaimed. Tristan just told his most embarrasing

moment.

"Nope, I'm not. I actually ran around the mess hall naked only to find that

it was the day for the parents to visit." Tristan shook his head.

"Never pick dare, when playing truth or dare." He said.

"Amen to that." Rory said, giggling. They sat there enjoying each others

presence until a shrill ringing sound snapped them back into reality. Rory

checked her purse for her mom's cell. She answered it.

"Yeah." she said.

"Where are you!" Lorelai's voice came over the reciever.

"I'm at Starbucks in the mall."

"Oh, well I guess since you were getting coffee it's a good excuse for being

late."

"Late? Wait, what time is it?"

"Eight thirty."

"Oh man! Mom, I'm sorry. I've just been talking to Tristan and I lost track

of time."

"Tristan? Who's Tristan?" Lorelai asked, confused.

"I'll tell you when I get home. I'm on my way. I'm really sorry." Rory said

and then hung up. She looked over at Tristan who had been staring at her the

whole time.

"That was my mom. Did you know that it was eight thirty?" Rory said.

"Oh shit!" Tristan said, getting up.

"What's wrong?" Rory asked getting up, also.

"I gotta go."

"Oh, well that's okay I have to go too." Rory said, sounding disappointed.

"It was nice meeting you Rory Gilmore." Tristan said. He gave her a kiss on

the cheek and left the coffee shop, leaving Rory there in a daze. She felt

the spot on her cheek where he kissed her. It was warm, Rory supposed,

because she was blushing. She smiled, grabbed her purse and made her way out

to the parking lot.

She hoped she ran into the mysterious Tristan DuGrey again someday. Yeah,

someday.

A/N:What do you think?