A tired Rory got off the bus. She looked at her watch. 'Ten thirty.' Rory stuffed her hands in her jacket pocket and started to walk across the Green. It was nice to back at school, but at the same time, she dreaded confronting Paris. 'I betrayed my best friend,' Rory shook her head. 'She'll never forgive me.'

Rory trudged up the stairs to her dorm room and walked down the quiet hall. She hesitantly turned the key to open the door.

Paris turned around and jumped up from her chair. "Oh my gosh, Rory!" She ran over and hugged her friend. Startled, Rory hugged Paris back. "This isn't about Tristan, is it?" She asked, trying to keep the mood light. Paris pulled back.

"I'm still mad at you, but I thought you had been kidnapped, raped, and killed!"

"Imaginative," Rory commented. "This means that you're not that mad, right?"

"Oh, I'm still pretty mad." Paris furrowed her brow. "You don't run off without telling people where you're going! You didn't even call! Not even once!"

"And you don't kiss other people's boyfriends...I'm sorry.. I was at home and I did a lot of thinking.."

Paris sighed. "I did some thinking too."

Rory sat down on her bed. Paris sat back down on her chair. "I was dreaming. I should have known that Tristan was playing with me," Paris continued. "He's always liked you, not me. I tell myself that every day, but when I see him, I just melt." Paris shook her head. "I'm an idiot." She turned to Rory. "It's not your fault that he kissed you."

Rory looked at her with wide eyes. "Paris, it wasn't..." She started.

"No, Rory, you don't have to explain. Don't try to protect him. I should have known..," Paris sighed and stood up from the chair. "Friends again?"

"No, you don't understand...," Rory said.

"Rory, I understand, I do. I understand that Tristan played with me and then kissed you. I really don't want to talk about this anymore." Paris sighed again. "I have to go to the library now. I'll see you later?"

Rory nodded sadly and sat down. Paris grabbed her bag and left the room.

'It's not his fault...,' She thought.

****************************

Lorelai and Luke sat together in the dimly lit diner. "Thanks for cheering me up," Lorelai said.

Luke nodded. "No problem. Friends help friends." "You're more than just a friend.. you've always been there for me," Lorelai said.

"You mean, with the coffee pot?" Luke joked.

Lorelai smiled slightly. "You know what I mean." Luke nodded.

Lorelai swallowed. "Are we... just friends?"

Luke put his beer down on the table. "Do you.. want to be more?"

Lorelai sipped her coffee. "I think so."

Luke smiled at her. "Me too." He reached for her hand across the table.

They held hands and sat quietly.

****************************

Rory was sitting at her desk trying to concentrate on her work. A knock on the door startled her from her thoughts.

"Come in," She called out and turned her chair towards the door.

"Hi," Tristan said as he poked his head in. He tentatively walked into the room. "Paris isn't here?"

"She went to the library," Rory replied. "Tristan.."

"Rory.." Tristan said at the same time.

"You go," Rory said.

Tristan breathed deeply. "Look, I don't know what to do about this.. I like Paris and I don't want to hurt her..." Rory had a look of pain on her face. "Are you okay?" Tristan stopped and looked at her.

"Yeah, fine, keep going," Rory said and tried not to think about how Paris thought that Tristan had been the one who kissed her, and not vice versa.

"I didn't know what to think when you kissed me on Friday..," Tristan continued.

"Paris thinks it was you," Rory interrupted. "She thinks it's your fault, and she refuses to listen to what I have to say." Tristan looked at her.

"Me?" Tristan sighed. "Well, considering my history with girls, I guess I can't blame her."

"But it's not your fault," Rory said furiously. "But she won't listen and I'm the bad one here..."

"You're not bad," Tristan said, shaking his head. "It's a misunderstanding..."

Rory started to cry. "I screwed it up between you guys and......"

Tristan kissed her to quiet her.

"Mmrrrphhh," Rory said as she pulled away.

"What?" Tristan asked softly.

"I think... I like you." Rory said with tears in her eyes.

**************************

"I should go, it's already eleven," Lorelai said, putting her mug down.

Luke smiled at her through the dark. "Did I ever tell you that you're beautiful?"

Lorelai smiled shyly at him. "You're too nice to me."

Luke took a gulp of his beer. "Don't go yet. I'll walk you home later."

"Town's probably looking through the windows at us right now," Lorelai sighed.

"Does it bother you?"

"No." She smiled and put her hand over his.

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TOo musshy? Review, cuz that's what keeps me going! hehe