A/N: Hello to the people that read my fic! (Luv u all!!!) Thanks for all the positive feedback, you people have made my self-esteem go up to –2!  Now on with chapter 6!

XOXOXOXOX

Maria

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Love can be pain in the butt- Chapter 6

One week later… (Wednesday)

Chilton

For the past week, Rory tried to avoid Tristan and vice versa. When she had the courage to; she would try to talk to him when she saw him in the hallway but as she approached him, he'd spot her and walk in the other direction.

School had ended. Rory looked for Tristan among the students that had poured out into the hall. She was determined to talk to him… again.

'Where could he be?' Rory thought to herself. After ten minutes of searching, she gave up. She was heading to her bus stop when she spotted him in the courtyard.

Tristan's back was to her and he was making his way towards the parking lot.

Rory sprinted across the courtyard, not wanting to miss the opportunity of talking to Tristan alone.

"Tristan!" Rory called out.

He ignored her and kept on walking. Rory was now frustrated; she grabbed his arm and turned him around.

"We really need to talk." Rory let go.

Tristan didn't say anything.

She sighed.

"Nice afternoon isn't it," she added nervously

Rory realised he was giving her 'the silent treatment.'

"Are you that mad at me? If you are, I want to apologise. I didn't mean what I said to Dean and I was not myself then." She tried to think of what she also wanted to say. Funny, how you rehearse in your head what you are going to say to someone and when you talk to them, the words suddenly fly out of your head. "And, I was wondering if that offer at trying to be friends is still on the table?"

Tristan was still quiet. He had heard Rory. 'She doesn't understand that I don't just want to be her friend, I want to be more than that…but hey, you can't get everything you want… friends is better than nothing though.'

"I guess your answer is a no." Rory turned and started walking away disappointed.

"Rory, wait!" Tristan walked up to her and held out his hand. "Need to put the shit behind us…friends?"

Rory grabbed his hand.

"Friends it is."

Both ignored the fiery sensation that was going through their body as they shook to seal the agreement.

"So."

"So." Tristan repeated.

"Uh Tristan, I was wondering if you could do me favour?" Rory asked.

"And what's that?"

"You give me a lift home. You, being so stubborn, made me miss my bus."

Tristan smirked. "Me? Stubborn?" He shook his head. "I'll give you a ride."

They headed towards the parking lot.

Unbeknownst to them, a green-eyed Summer watched the whole exchange.  

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Stars Hollow

The car trip was silent but relaxed. Rory would glance at Tristan every now and then and see him focusing on the road.

As the car pulled into the driveway, Lorelai came scrambling down the steps.

"Roryyyyy!!! Guess what!?" she skidded to a stop when she saw a blonde 'hottie' in the driver's seat.

"Um, mom, this is Tristan." Rory introduced.

"Tristan? As in bible boy, evil, and spawn of satan Tristan?" Lorelai asked Rory.

"Yep that's him." Rory replied. She turned to look at Tristan who was looking very uncomfortable about how Lorelai was eying him.

"Hi…Ms Gilmore."

"It's Lorelai and I'm in need of coffee so if you drive me to Luke's then you would be my best friend!"

"Mom, I thought I was your best friend." Rory complained.

"Oh yeah, I forgot about you."

"How can I be forgotten so easily?"

"It's simple. Bring a really spunky guy within a 5 feet radius and it's instant amnesia." Lorelai winked at a now smirking Tristan.

"So Tristan, if you want me to forgive you for causing absolute hell to my little baby girl, I suddenly remembered, you would take me to Luke's and get me at least one cup of coffee and presto! Not only will you be my best friend but you have 100% approval to be Rory's… exactly what are you?" she asked.

"He's a just a friend mom." Rory answered for him. 'Later' she mouthed to her mom. Lorelai simply nodded.

"So are we gonna be best friends Tristan?" Lorelai chirped.

Rory shook her head, as Lorelai jumped into the back.

"Ooh nice car. Very cushiony." She patted the seat. "So what are we waiting for? Coffee is waiting for us!"

Tristan mouthed a 'Huh?' to Rory and started the car up.

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Lukes's

Jess was behind the counter when Lorelai, Rory and Tristan walked in.

"Howdy Jess! Where's Luke?" Lorelai asked as she sat at 'their' table. Rory sat down in the other seat and Tristan bought a chair over.

Jess walked towards them. "Luke went to Hartford to do something."

"Yee Ha! I don't have to beg for coffee today!!!" Lorelai clapped her hands like a two year old. "Jess I'd like three coffees thanks."

"You should just make that two, I don't want anything." Tristan broke in.

"Who said it was for you?" Lorelai smiled. "Coffee's all mine!"

"I'll have three coffees too." Rory ordered.

"Actually, I think I'll have a coke." Tristan told Jess. Jess turned around heading to the counter.

"Do I know you?" Jess asked turning back to face him.

"Uh, I dunno if you do. It's Tristan by the way."

"As in…" Before Jess could go on, Rory butted in.

"Yeah it's him."

"Oh, OK then." Jess walked back behind the counter after giving Tristan a 'If you hurt her I'll hunt you down and kick your ass' kinda look.

"OK, does everyone in Star's Hollow hate me?"

"Nah Tristan. Rory and I don't hate you and I think Jess doesn't as well. Don't know about everyone else. But, when Ms Patty sees you, I'm sure that everyone will miraculously begin to love you." Lorelai looks at Rory who had burst out laughing. Coincidently Ms Patty walked in.

Spotting Rory and Lorelai as well as Tristan. She walked over to them.

"Why who's this fine hunk of meat?"

Both Gilmore's tried to suppress the laughs that were about to come out. Jess saved them by giving them their coffee.

"Hi, I take it that you are Ms Patty." Tristan took her hand and kissed it.

"I say charming too." Ms. Patty flirted.

"OK!" Rory broke in. "Before Tristan becomes your gazillionth husband. I'd like to tell you that what you are trying to do is illegal and I don't think an orange jump suit suits you Ms. Patty."

"You just want him for yourself!" Ms. Patty joked.

Rory's cheek turned beet red. When Tristan saw he nearly choked on his coke. 'Is it even possible to choke while your drinking.' He stupidly thought to himself.  

"Well I must be going. I'm going to teach Luke how to waltz." Ms Patty covered her mouth after she said that.

Lorelai spat out her coffee. "Wha! Luke's going to learn the waltz! This I gotta see. Meet you at home in a few hours. K! It was nice meeting you Tristan… my new best bud!" And with that Lorelai joined Ms Patty outside.

"I've been around the world, yet I only have to travel half an hour from home to be in the strangest yet unique town on the face of the earth. And was that a troubadour we passed outside before we came here?"

"Yeah, that's Star's Hollow for ya!" Rory simply concluded.

The door opened and a hysterical Lane ran in.

"Rory, I'm so sorry that I left you all by yourself at Madeline's party on Friday. I couldn't talk to you or see you because my mom found out about Henry and I was under lock and key! Can you please forgive me and I'll promise to be the bestest best friend from now until I die!" Lane took a deep breath. She suddenly noticed Tristan and her mouth was hanging wide open.

"Lane, please pick up the bottom part of your face off the floor."

Lane snaps out of it and mouths a 'WOW" to Rory.

"Hi! I'm Lane."

"Tristan" He offered his hand and Lane willingly shook it.

"Well, my mom doesn't know that I'm here. I'll see you later." She waves to them as she heads out.

Tristan sips more of his coke. Rory is on to her last cup of coffee.

"I should be heading home now. How bout we start the tutoring thing tomorrow at your house?"

" Sure. See you tomorrow." She replied as he stood up.

"Bye Mary. Sweet dreams about me and make sure it's in the present not in medieval times. I don't look so great in tights." He teased and walked out the door missing Rory scowl at him. 

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(8:30ish)

Rory was on her way home from the library when her cell phone rang.

Rory- Hello?

Paris- Hi Rory.

Rory- Hey Paris.

Paris- I've been meaning to talk to you but when I tried today, you were running after Tristan. And what's with that? You two looked pretty intense. Not to mention the look I saw on Summer's face. Now that was once in a blue moon.

Rory recall the many times she received sneers from Summer and her group. 'She doesn't even know me…what did I even do to her?'

Rory- Too bad I missed. Anyway Tristan and I decided to be friends. And he's going to be my tutor for biology.

Paris- That's all?

Rory- What do you mean by that's all?

Paris- Uh well…never mind.

Rory- No, tell me.

Paris- I have to go now. I need to study for my maths test.

Rory- You are lucky you are on a phone because if I was talking to you in person, I would have gotten the info I want from you by now.

Paris- I'll tell you some other time OK? So I'll see you tomorrow?

Rory- Yeah. Bye Paris.

Paris- Bye.

Rory turned off her cell as she reached the front yard of 'the crap shack'.

'What did she mean by that's all? What did she think? That we proclaimed our nonexistent love for one another?' She thought about the soap opera she mocked yesterday with her mom. 'Hell must freeze over before I do something like what that girl did to tell that guy who looks like… Dean…' Rory shuddered at the thought of Dean. 'Damn him!' she silently cursed her ex boyfriend before she went into the house. 

A/N: Is it up to your standards? Don't mean to nag but please review and 'may the force be with you' (gotta get into the star wars hype!).

Maria!